Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson
Episode: "Don't Metz with Texas"
Date: September 8, 2025
Guest: Chrissy Metz
Episode Overview
This episode features actress and singer Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us,” “The Hunting Wives”) in a candid, in-person conversation with Oliver Hudson (Kate was not present in the interview portion). The discussion explores Chrissy’s personal journey of self-acceptance, family dynamics, and wellness, delving into body image, career struggles, vulnerability, and the deep impact of parental relationships. The tone is relaxed, humorous, and at times, deeply moving, reflecting both the podcast’s irreverent spirit and its sincere exploration of what it means to grow up and grow into oneself.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Shift to In-Person and Podcasting Real Talk
- Return to In-Person: Oliver and Chrissy note the rarity of face-to-face podcasting post-COVID.
"In person has sort of died as far as the podcasting goes...everyone gets so comfortable with Zoom." (Oliver, 05:13)
- Lighthearted Banter: Humorous anecdotes on podcasting in underwear, keeping things casual—making guests, even Michelle Obama, laugh.
"I suited up and... I looked like a young Republican. And then... I was in my underwear. I was like, but it's a little bit...party down below." (Oliver, 06:08)
2. Wellness, Self-Acceptance, and Body Image
- The Wellness Journey: Both discuss struggles with consistency, the wellness industry, and doing what feels good while aging.
- Supplements & Health: Chrissy shares the transformative impact of magnesium, managing anxiety, and learning about her health as she ages.
"Magnesium ... helps with sleep and heart health ... and just, I suffer with anxiety." (Chrissy, 10:05)
- Body Positivity: Chrissy reflects on always being the “chubby girl,” the stigma attached, and the journey toward body acceptance.
"I've always been sort of chasing contentment with my body, so I've yet to really find that, but I'm certainly in a better place mentally and emotionally." (Chrissy, 11:10)
3. Family Dynamics & Healing Parental Relationships
- Estrangement and Loss: Chrissy discusses her estranged relationship with her father, how his death shaped her, and how she found healing through therapy and even a medium.
"You really grieve a relationship...I grieved the relationship I didn't have." (Chrissy, 30:23)
- Mother’s Influence: The shift in perspective after a heartfelt, clarifying conversation with her mom before her stroke.
"Our perspective is different...it was nice to have that conversation...I didn't consider what they might have gone through or our parents doing the best they could." (Chrissy, 28:44)
- Forgiving Parental Absence:
"I have to love myself the way he couldn't. And that is so hard." (Chrissy, 13:03)
4. Humor as Coping Mechanism and Self-Deprecation
- Deflecting Through Comedy:
"It's like my knee-jerk default...I need to make fun of myself first before you do." (Chrissy, 20:02)
- Insights: Both note how self-deprecating humor can be both a shield and a subtle form of self-harm.
- Therapy Nuggets: Sharing breakthroughs from therapy retreats, like receiving the words of acceptance from surrogate ‘fathers’ during exercises.
"I was like, that's it. Take me out. I gotta go. But it was so helpful..." (Chrissy, 21:33)
5. Sibling Bonds, Support, and the Challenge of Giving
- Being in the Middle: Chrissy describes her place as one of five siblings, always the middle child, and her sense of responsibility.
- Giving Back: Insights into the complications of financial support for family, the emotional cost, and the need for boundaries.
"You're not Santa Claus. You're not the bank...I cannot just be an endless source of this...it's now creating a wedge." (Chrissy, 28:04)
6. Career: From Choir and Service Jobs to Stardom
- Early Steps: Music was Chrissy’s first love, but her family couldn’t afford music lessons or instruments. Choir became her refuge.
- Talent Shows, Auditions, and a Serendipitous Advisor:
"A woman ... said, 'Are you here for auditioning?' I was like, no, I'm just taking my sister...She gone! She gone, she gone." (Chrissy, 48:01)
- LA Struggles: 12 years in LA, nine spent as an agent, all while nurturing the dream of performing.
"I was out here for 12 before This Is Us happened." (Chrissy, 51:54)
7. Breakthrough Roles & Artistic Growth
- First LA Gigs: Recounts mix of humble beginnings and high-pressure moments (e.g., Entourage, American Horror Story).
"They rewrote [the line]...I could not get the line...I flubbed it again. [James Cameron:] 'Is there something that I'm doing?'" (Chrissy, 54:03)
- Impact of Acting Experience: Lessons in perseverance, self-doubt, and learning not to equate performance with self-worth.
"People don't really understand, like, unless they're in it...you just feel like...the writers are talking about me...they're going to write me out of the show." (Chrissy, 55:43)
8. The Hunting Wives & Breaking Out of Typecasting
- New Role: Chrissy discusses her character in Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives”—a sweet, God-fearing woman, different from her “This Is Us” role.
"Literally, people don't even consider me as Chrissy Metz...they're like, oh, Kate Pearson...doesn't mean I don't want to do other roles." (Chrissy, 57:36)
- Show's Popularity: Notes the show’s success across demographics, its “sexy” vibe, and being happy to try new things.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Progress and Self-Compassion:
"When I wrote that memoir years ago, learning to love yourself for who you are today, that was...I'm literally learning to accept myself for who I am right now. Because if you don't, you can't get to the place you want to be..."
(Chrissy Metz, 11:37) -
On Filling the Parental Void:
"There's no substance that can plug it. Even though you keep fucking trying."
(Oliver, 13:49) -
On Self-Deprecating Humor:
"Our subconscious still hears that stuff and we're still putting ourselves down just in the event someone might... that negative self talk... even though it's couched in humor, it's still...'
(Chrissy, 20:19) -
On Accepting Life’s Path:
"You would not change it...it has all led you to who you are right now."
(Oliver, 36:02) -
On Artistic Serendipity:
"A random guy comes up to me and he's like... 'I just heard the voice of God say, talk to her about music.'...turns out he's Kelly Clarkson's MD..."
(Chrissy, 41:10) -
On Audience Perception:
"People at the airport were like, 'justice for star.' I won't spoil anything, but...it's so wild because people are really into it."
(Chrissy, 57:36) -
On Sibling Solidarity:
"I've been very intentional about giving back to my family and to my friends because they were there for me."
(Chrissy, 27:11)
Timestamps of Important Segments
- In-person Podcasting and Michelle Obama story: 05:13
- Chrissy on body image and starting her wellness journey: 09:14
- Learning to accept herself & memoir inspiration: 11:37
- Overcoming parental abandonment: 13:03
- Humor as deflection and its cost: 20:02
- Therapy exercise on healing father-daughter wounds: 21:08
- Chrissy describes family, siblings, and childhood: 23:10
- Building boundaries in giving to family: 28:04
- Last conversation with her mom before her stroke: 28:44
- Processing her father's death: 30:23
- Finding forgiveness and healing: 32:20
- How music became her safe space: 34:39
- The pivotal open call and her “ghost” motivator: 48:01
- First acting jobs in LA, being an agent: 51:54
- "This Is Us" breakthrough and acting nerves: 54:03
- The Hunting Wives and moving beyond typecasting: 57:36
Conclusion
Chrissy Metz’s candidness about her struggles, the power of self-acceptance, and her commitment to finding joy in both music and acting make this episode a standout. The conversation covers the importance of self-compassion, the therapy of creativity, breaking out of familial and career roles, and ultimately, learning to "give yourself grace" as you keep moving forward.
The episode’s tone embodies what Sibling Revelry does best: blending humor and honesty to illuminate the universality of family trials and the lifelong journey toward self-acceptance.