SmartLess: RE-RELEASE – Emma Stone

Podcast: SmartLess
Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Emma Stone
Release Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this re-released episode, the SmartLess trio welcomes Oscar-winning actor Emma Stone for an hour of candid, often hilarious conversation. With her trademark wit (even while under the weather), Emma dives into topics ranging from her techy teenage years and unique career trajectory to unexpected injuries and her deeply relatable approach to work-life balance. The hosts deliver their signature blend of good-natured ribbing, personal stories, and exploration of Emma’s versatile filmography, resulting in an episode that’s both heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood, Early Career & Name Change

[06:24–13:12]

• Emma shares the story of her move from Arizona to LA at age 15 to pursue acting, supported by a PowerPoint pitch to her parents ("Project Hollywood").
• As a teen, she built websites using GeoCities and AngelFire:
  • Emma: “This is not coding by any means … Just very primitive HTML. … I would not. If you … In fact, I don’t have a computer now.” ([10:07])
  • She now describes herself as a "Neo Luddite," working from her phone and avoiding social media.
• The origin of “Emma Stone”:
  • SAG already had an "Emily Stone," so she first tried "Riley," then permanently chose "Emma" after her Spice Girls idol, Baby Spice.
  • Emma: “I had the opportunity when I was in, you know, like, second or third grade, I asked the teacher to call me Emma … But then I had the chance to do it permanently, and here I am.” ([25:04])

2. Hilarious Work Stories & On-Set Mishaps

[14:03–27:12]

• Sean and Emma reminisce about working together on the film The Rocker and trading stories about the star-studded but underseen cast.
• Emma discusses her early job at a dog bakery in LA, “Three Dog Bakery,” and her Scottsdale roots, with asides about quirky jobs like dog-poop pickup services.
• Physical mishaps and bone density come up repeatedly:
  • [25:29] Emma recounts breaking her shoulder the night before meeting the Spice Girls, followed by a recent toe break (“I have bone density issues. That’s clear, because I broke my toe yesterday.” [27:26])
• She reveals she broke seven bones before turning 30 and details her real (and comedic) struggles with medical oddities, including childhood colic—which contributed to her husky voice ([29:52]).

3. The Digital Detox, Phones & Coping with Boredom

[10:14–13:22]

• The group discusses the world’s dependence on technology and social media.
• Emma admits she uses only her phone for everything, eschewing computers entirely.
• Will: “People would learn how to manage boredom, which I think is a lost talent … Being bored is okay.” ([12:15])
• Emma confesses she’s actually on her phone more than people with computers.

4. Family Life, Relationships & SNL

[31:05–32:25]

• Emma talks about her 2½-year-old daughter and meeting her husband, Dave McCary, while hosting SNL (“He was a writer/director there for about five years, doing digital shorts.” [31:28])
• She reveals excitement about hosting her fifth SNL—earning her “Five-Timers Club” jacket.

5. Career Highlights — Projects Old & New

[33:32–40:07]

• The Curse: Emma describes her new dark comedy series with Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie.
  • The premise involves a married couple haunted by a child's “curse” as they try to launch an HGTV show ([34:01]).
• Poor Things: Emma discusses her collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos.
  • She became a producer and beams with pride: “It’s probably my favorite thing I’ve ever gotten to do.” ([37:24])
• The group covers her earlier films (Superbad, The Favourite, La La Land, and Birdman) with playful confusion over award wins and losses.
• Emma confirms she won her Oscar for La La Land, not The Favourite ([40:16]).

6. Stage vs. Film – The Hardest Job

[43:50–46:07]

• Emma reveals her most challenging professional job: playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret on Broadway.
  • “You have to live like a monk … I’ve never experienced something that physically taxing as an actor.” ([44:19])
  • She tells a stage horror story about losing both contacts during a key number: “I couldn’t see a thing in the world. And I just went and, like, slammed it. … It was terrible.” ([45:29])

7. Health, Quirks & Life Balance

[27:14, 29:52, recurring]

• Medical mishaps are a recurring source of humor: broken bones, bone density, asthma, and even hiccups treatments get lengthy, giddy discussion.
• Emma’s daily essentials when working: “Every day for a snack, I have apples and peanut butter. Every day I have a Starbucks coffee. … Could be in the greatest coffee places in the world … Doesn’t matter. Find a Starbucks.” ([38:32])
• Sean and Emma bond over snack choices; Will questions their mutual addiction to peanut butter.

8. Notable Tangents: Tattoos, Brothers, and Arizona

[49:33–53:29]

• Emma shows off a family tattoo ("bird feet") that has become, in her words, “poorly done”—and tells the story of her entire family sporting the design.
• She reminisces about her close relationship with her brother, who has a tech career and no Hollywood ambitions.
• The cast pokes fun at the heat and “quirks” of growing up in Arizona.

9. The “Oscar Curse,” Career Perspective & Acceptance

[53:49–56:36]

• Jason asks Emma if she worried about the “Oscar curse,” where post-win careers sometimes stall.
  • Emma had no anxiety, thanks to immediately shooting The Favourite after her La La Land win.
  • Emma: “The next day I went right back to work … It was kind of amazing.” ([55:16])
• Will pitches a coffee table book of unused acceptance speeches; Emma expresses genuine amusement.

10. Closing Playfulness & Farewell

[58:44–end]

• Sean quotes the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” lyric to Emma in a sweet, awkward send-off.
  • Emma: “You not knowing that that was a Spice Girls lyric—that’s one of the more painful things.” ([59:16])
• The group affectionately voices their admiration and appreciation for Emma’s work ethic and diverse talent.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Emma Stone on her career launch:
  “At 14 years old, I performed a PowerPoint presentation titled Project Hollywood in order to convince my parents to let me drop out of high school and move to LA…” ([06:30])
• Will Arnett, poking fun at post-Oscar nerves:
  “Some actors who win Oscars … you kind of don’t see them for a long time. Like years and years and years.” ([54:37])
• Emma Stone, reflecting on injuries:
  “I’ve broken seven bones before I was 30. … There’s an endocrinologist [who] was like, we gotta talk about this, like, something’s up with you.” ([28:05])
• Sean Hayes, about Emma’s “never sucked” streak:
  “She’s in that category. She’s in that never sucked. I always say, John Goodman, number one … And she’s one of them.” ([61:39])
• Emma Stone, on choosing Emma as a stage name:
  “I was a huge Spice Girls fan. … There was Emma, who was Baby Spice. … The teacher didn’t ever stick. But then I had the chance to do it permanently, and here I am.” ([25:02])
• Emma Stone, closing out with trademark humility:
  “Thank you guys for having me. … I’m sorry I was such a sick mess, but this was lovely.” ([58:29])

Timestamps for Important Sections

• Comedy/Jovial Opening, Pranks: [02:34–06:23]
• Emma’s Introduction & Tech/Name Origins: [06:24–13:12]
• Pre-Acting Jobs, Dog Bakery: [17:35–19:04]
• Physical Mishaps/Bone Density: [25:29–28:40]
• Family Life & SNL Five-Timers: [31:05–32:25]
• The Curse/TV Projects: [33:32–34:56]
• Poor Things & Collaborating with Yorgos: [35:05–37:36]
• Stage vs. Film, Cabaret Stories: [44:02–46:15]
• Tattoo Story: [49:33–51:07]
• Oscar Win/Industry Perspective: [53:49–55:16]
• Heartfelt Sign-Off and Spice Girls Callback: [58:57–59:33]
• Host Debrief & Emma’s “Never Sucked” Status: [61:36–61:52]

Tone & Atmosphere

Authentic, improvisational, and irreverent—with frequent tangents, supportive ribbing, and poignant moments. Emma’s humor and candor match perfectly with the hosts’ playful banter, making for an episode that feels like a hangout between old friends, even when discussing serious topics.

For Listeners:

This episode is a celebration of Emma Stone’s genuineness, resilience, and curiosity, seasoned with the unique chemistry and humor that define SmartLess. Even if you’re new to Emma or to the show, you’ll find plenty to appreciate and many reasons to laugh.