Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson & Oliver Hudson

Episode: Song Sung Hugh!
Date: December 22, 2025
Guest: Hugh Jackman
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Sibling Revelry, Kate and Oliver Hudson are joined by Hugh Jackman for an open, candid, and often hilarious conversation that touches on the joys and complexities of sibling bonds, growing up in big families, handling creative ambitions, and their collaboration on the new movie Song Sung Bloom. The trio dives deep into family dynamics, vulnerability in performance, and the nature of trust, all peppered with revealing anecdotes and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sibling Gifts and Family Holidays

• Discussion starts at [04:06]
  • Kate and Oliver banter about late Christmas shopping, with Oliver joking about asking for boat equipment as gifts.
  • "What's a transducer?" Kate teases Oliver about boat gear, cracking, "Sounds like a sex toy." ([05:02], Kate)
  • Conversation lightens as they poke fun at each other’s wish lists and family traditions.

2. Kate’s Awards Season Whirlwind & The Changing Movie Landscape

• [06:30]
  • Oliver congratulates Kate on her Golden Globe nomination.
  • Both reflect on the unpredictability of movie releases today and reminisce about the emotional range of classic films.
  • Kate: "This is one of those movies that you're like, oh, come on. I really want it to have great success... it gives you that feeling, like extraordinary circumstances, real life. But you are entertained, and then you go through the gamut of things." ([07:23], Kate)

3. The ‘Scent’ of Co-Stars: Hugh, Justin Theroux, Ike Barinholtz

• [10:01] and continued
  • Oliver asks what Hugh Jackman "smells like."
  • Kate describes Hugh as "fresh cut grass" ([10:24], Kate), to which Hugh responds, "Wow. I love that smell... I thought you meant like grass." ([14:45], Hugh)
  • Playful breakdowns about co-stars’ “scents,” including Justin Theroux ("Palo Santo with a citrus high note" – Kate, [12:23]) and Ike Barinholtz ("brisket with some caramelized onions" – Kate, [15:28]).
  • Group laughs about how everyone has a particular aura or essence.

4. Hugh Jackman’s Family: Sibling Dynamics & Childhood

• [15:36] and [16:00]
  • Hugh shares he was the youngest of five, later six, and disliked being the baby, feeling left out and envious of older siblings’ privileges.
  • "Everyone else was allowed to do stuff that I wasn't allowed to do... my whole life, everyone's getting more than me or staying up later than me." ([16:30], Hugh)
  • Talks about strict upbringing, milestones, and the significant age gap with siblings.

Notable sibling story:

• Hugh recalls the pride and nervousness of finally beating his brother Ralph in a table tennis competition:
  "I could win an Oscar. It would be behind that beer can." ([18:49], Hugh)

5. Family Changes & Support after Divorce

• [24:46]
  • Hugh opens up about his parents’ divorce and living with godparents when his mother became unwell.
  • Describes being raised from age 8 largely by his dad and siblings.
  • Speaks about his relationship with each sibling and how family roles shifted over time.

6. Gender Roles & Masculinity in Australia

• [26:48]
  • Hugh discusses 'old school' Australian masculinity and the pressures for men to avoid seeking help.
  • "You don't ask for help, just get on with it, mate... there's still a little bit of that... but it’s changed, thankfully, a lot." ([27:23], Hugh)
  • References close friend's work with Gotcha for Life, a foundation addressing mental health.

7. Creativity in the Family

• [27:31]
  • Hugh traces roots of creativity in his family—his great-aunt, his mother, and several siblings had creative pursuits.
  • His dad, though strict and an accountant, valued the arts and encouraged theatrical experiences.
  • "He was the most creative accountant." ([28:42], Hugh)
  • Candid about his father’s concern that Hugh was "too thin-skinned" for acting ([31:14], Hugh).

8. Handling Criticism & Watching Yourself

• [31:44] and [32:47]
  • Hugh: Doesn’t read reviews or comments; doesn’t love watching himself but is trying to get better at it.
    • "I'm often, like, pleasantly surprised... that actually looked better than it felt..." ([32:09], Hugh)
  • Kate: Her own worst critic — "I think everything's awful.” ([32:47], Kate)
  • The two discuss using video monitors on set and the value of seeing the frame for choreography.

9. Vulnerability, Trust, and On-Screen Chemistry

• [63:25] – [66:22]
  • The trio dives deeply into what it takes to do emotional scenes well.
  • Kate: "A great acting partner elevates you... you feed off of each other... when it's working, you kind of lose yourself." ([63:47], Kate)
  • Hugh: "If I don't have it in the actor I'm working with, I'll find it on set... it's the courage to allow people to see parts of your own heart." ([64:59] and [66:22], Hugh)
  • They discuss building trust and the fine line between authenticity and performance.

10. Audition Stories: Nerves, Luck, and Self-Tapes

• [49:06] and [51:16]
  • Hugh recounts his pivotal X-Men audition: "I was pissed and didn’t give a [expletive]... perfect for Wolverine, right?" ([49:27], Hugh)
  • Kate shares an acting tip she heard from Jacob Elordi: treat auditions "like a crime scene and the blood's all over your body." ([51:23], Kate)
  • Discussion on the differences between classic in-person auditions and today's self-tapes and their impact on actors' nerves.

11. Sibling Gatherings & Aging

• [40:52]
  • Hugh shares plans for a rare sibling reunion: "It's happening in January. I'm so excited." ([41:54], Hugh)
  • Discussion about the comfort and chaos of big family reunions.

12. Health, Sleep, and Aging Bodies

• [45:18]
  • Lighthearted chat about waking up at night to pee, drinking water, and coping with “restless leg syndrome.”
  • Hugh on sleep changes: "I haven't drunk in 18 months. That's really helped my sleep a lot." ([45:55] and [46:03], Hugh)
  • Jokes about the joys of sitting down to pee and the convenience of modern toilets ([47:16]).

13. Song Sung Bloom: Casting and Collaboration

• [58:03]
  • Movie discussion: "Who had the gig first?" Hugh says Craig (director) came to him first.
  • Kate knew she wanted to do the film but worried about being away from her kids ([59:35], Kate).
  • Their previous acquaintance from a workshop for a Houdini musical is revealed.
  • Reflections on instant chemistry and working together as co-stars.

14. Performance Anxiety and Pushing Through

• [67:05]
  • Both Kate and Hugh affirm they still get nervous ahead of big scenes or new projects.
  • Hugh shares that "first two days of any film... I still get it," referencing John Travolta’s wisdom ([67:11], Hugh).
  • Kate: "I'm good at like, powering through my nerves... it's my fuel." ([68:17], Kate)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I'm sure there's been some funk in some points and there's... but even in those moments, you're always kind of... there's like a freshness." — Kate Hudson on Hugh Jackman’s scent ([15:03])
• "I could win an Oscar. It would be behind that beer can." — Hugh Jackman, recalling beating his brother at table tennis ([18:49])
• "If I don’t have it in the actor I’m working with, I’ll find it on set... it’s the courage to allow people to see parts of your own heart." — Hugh Jackman ([66:22])
• "A great acting partner elevates you... when it’s working, you kind of lose yourself." — Kate Hudson ([63:47])
• "I was pissed and didn’t give a [expletive]... perfect for Wolverine, right?" — Hugh Jackman on his X-Men audition approach ([49:27])
• "Don't let him catch you acting." — Kate, quoting Spencer Tracy ([66:22])
• "I'm often, like, pleasantly surprised... that actually looked better than it felt." — Hugh Jackman on watching his own performances ([32:09])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:06] — Holiday gift banter & sibling dynamics
• [06:30] — Kate’s Golden Globe nomination & the state of movies
• [10:01, 14:31] — “What does Hugh Jackman smell like?”
• [15:36] — Hugh on being the youngest of five/six siblings
• [18:49] — Humorous table tennis victory story
• [24:46] — Handling family secrets and advice after parents' divorce
• [27:31] — Masculinity and mental health in Australia
• [31:14] — Hugh as a “too thin-skinned” actor, per his dad
• [32:47] — Watching your own work, being your own worst critic
• [40:46] — Planning a big sibling reunion
• [45:18] — Sleep, water intake, and getting older
• [49:27] — Audition stories: Wolverine and more
• [58:03] — Song Sung Bloom: Casting and the collaborative process
• [63:25] — On-screen vulnerability and actor trust
• [67:11] — Dealing with nerves as a veteran actor

Tone & Language

Throughout, Kate and Oliver balance thoughtful conversation with humor and sibling playfulness, while Hugh brings warmth and openness, unafraid to discuss childhood vulnerabilities, family, and failures with equal honesty. The conversation is peppered with jokes, bursts of laughter, and occasional gentle ribbing that feels authentic and deeply familial.

Bottom Line

This episode stands out for the vivid, relatable way its hosts and guest discuss the realities of sibling life, the importance of trust for creative risk, navigating nerves even as seasoned professionals, and the essence of family—whether related by blood or found on set. Listeners are treated to both inside-Hollywood stories and genuinely moving reflections about what binds people together, on-screen and off.