Podcast Summary: Therapuss with Jake Shane
Session 97: Glen Powell Returns
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Jake Shane
Guest: Glen Powell
Main Theme / Episode Overview
In this lively, candid, and often hilarious episode, Jake Shane visits Glen Powell at his new house in Austin, Texas. The conversation is a blend of deep friendship, nostalgia, and introspection as they recount an epic Austin weekend—including a University of Texas (UT) game day—while promoting Glen’s new Hulu series, Chad Powers (premiering September 30th). Glen offers behind-the-scenes insights into his career, personal philosophy, Austin roots, and the making of Chad Powers. Jake and Glen’s genuine chemistry provides endless entertainment, weaving in stories of college, family, fame, and even pranks. The episode wraps up with “Tell Me What’s Wrong,” with advice for listeners navigating life’s small humiliations and bigger anxieties.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Austin Weekend and UT Game Day (02:23–12:16; 23:34–32:36)
- Jake recounts being Glen’s first houseguest in his new Austin home, referencing their “wild” Friday night and UT game experience, including shooting off (a not-real) game cannon, meeting the mascot Bevo, and donning full cowboy attire.
- Jake’s transformation: The hosts joke about Jake’s cowboy alter ego and fitting seamlessly into Austin culture.
- "When you put that hat on earlier today, I stopped. Time stopped. I was like—this man has been put into Austin for a reason." – Glen (23:51)
- Initiation rituals: Shooting the game cannon, drinking from a cowboy hat (or boot), learning fight songs, and attending pre-games capture the spirited UT tailgate traditions.
- UT’s significance: Glen reminisces about his college years (Sammy fraternity, game day pranks, his family’s deep roots at UT), reinforcing Austin’s “community magic.”
Deep Dives into Glen Powell’s Projects and Career (05:22–06:45; 12:19–36:45)
- Chad Powers: Glen’s new series, a college football comedy.
- Show premise: Canceled ex-pro QB (Russ Holiday) dons prosthetics to pose as a new, anonymous college athlete.
- Inspirations: “Mrs. Doubtfire” meets college football. Glen’s real-life college experiences, including campus traditions and the electric atmosphere, influenced the series.
- Makeup: Prosthetics for the disguise honed from 2 to 1 hour per day during production.
- Writers’ room insight: Glen explains the collaborative and fun environment in developing the show.
- Philosophical note: Chad Powers explores cancel culture, public forgiveness, and the human desire for second chances.
- “...the world doesn’t really let you forget your mistakes…We talk about with phones, with TikTok and Instagram…it’s like, so many people make mistakes, and the internet doesn’t let you forget, right?...Having a character that’s learning to say ‘I’m sorry’…is a really beautiful thing.” – Glen (36:00)
- Acting journey:
- Early break: Childhood roles in Spy Kids 3 (hilarious side story about mismatched auditions), and being eliminated early on Endurance: Mexico (the kids' Survivor, with his sister later nearly winning).
- Notable misses: Audition stories from Glee, Divergent, and Friday Night Lights—all of which he didn’t book, explaining “not dancing before you’re in the end zone.”
- Career grind: Glen reflects on hustling in LA, money struggles, and the financial relief after Expendables.
- “You look at a rotisserie chicken and you’re like, how long could I make this last?” – Glen (71:10)
- Set stories: Cameos with his family (mother as the “moaning woman” in Chad Powers, both parents in Expendables), and rough cuts (his scenes being cut in The Wendell Baker Story).
Hollywood, Friendship, Visibility, and Balance (42:03–47:50; 72:05–79:05)
- Sudden visibility: Glen describes the whirlwind post-Hitman, Twisters, and filming Chad Powers, Running Man, and a J.J. Abrams project back-to-back—barely experiencing his rising fame firsthand.
- Navigating fame: Jake and Glen trade advice on handling fan interactions, setting healthy public boundaries, and protecting private moments.
- “If you do [pictures] while you’re sitting down, everybody will see that you’re open for business. And then we can’t hang out and have a good time.” – Glen (46:31)
- Friendship and adventure: Glen and Jake’s rapport emphasizes the importance of keeping life adventuresome, resilient, and not letting external pressures curb family, friendship, or fun.
- Relationships: Glen shares how career demands affect dating and friendship, stating he’s “deliberate” now, not dating carelessly due to limited free time.
Family, Nostalgia & Pranks (79:09–85:47)
- Powell family pranks: Glen’s family loves to initiate newcomers (especially in-laws) with elaborate pranks, from fake redneck welcomes to mock murder scenes.
- “My family’s big on pranks…if you don’t know if you’ve met them, you haven’t met them because they’re, like, so rowdy.” – Glen (84:46)
- School prank: Glen infamously released 3,000 crickets into his school on the last day of eighth grade.
Meaningful Life Lessons & Introspection (93:33–97:01)
- Self-forgiveness and grace: Glen reflects on being too hard on himself and learning to accept that showing up and trying is enough, even when one can’t please everyone.
- “If you can look at yourself in the mirror and go, ‘I did my best,’…that kind of releases all the chaos of the world…” – Glen (93:44)
- Conspiracy theories and personal accountability: A discussion inspired by Chad Powers’s protagonist—Glen argues that conspiracy theorizing is often a deflection from personal accountability.
- “A lot of conspiracy theorists…are a lot of people that just aren’t taking accountability for the fact that the world is hard to explain sometimes.” – Glen (96:55)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On fitting in with Austin:
- “When you put that hat on earlier today, I stopped. Time stopped.” – Glen (23:51)
- On cancel culture & second chances:
- “…the internet doesn’t let you forget…Having a character that’s learning to say ‘I’m sorry’…is a really beautiful thing.” – Glen (36:00)
- On career perspective:
- “I’ve never been competitive with other people. I’ve been competitive with myself.” – Glen (55:01)
- On road trips & family adventure:
- “No good story happened from things going right.” – Glen (75:13)
- On public visibility:
- “Sets are a very normalizing place.” – Glen (44:48)
- On pranks:
- “I released 3,000 crickets in the school on the last day of school.” – Glen (85:47)
- On handling embarrassment:
- “As you say, no good story comes from a good situation.” – Jake (82:32)
- On self-compassion:
- “…if you are genuinely well-meaning…giving yourself a little bit of grace…if you can look yourself in the mirror and go, I did my best, I tried to show up…that releases all the chaos of the world…” – Glen (93:33)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|---------------------------------------------| | 02:23–12:16 | Austin weekend, UT traditions, game day fun | | 05:22–06:45 | Prosthetics/makeup for Chad Powers | | 12:19–16:55 | Glen’s early acting roles, Endurance | | 23:34–32:36 | Cowboy aesthetics, Austin fit, UT memories | | 33:37–36:45 | Inspiring Chad Powers, cancel culture | | 37:44–39:59 | Writers’ room & comedy on set | | 42:03–46:50 | Navigating fame & friendship boundaries | | 55:01–59:27 | Auditions for Glee, Friday Night Lights | | 71:10–79:05 | Financial grind, family, travel adventure | | 79:09–85:47 | Family pranks, school prank | | 93:33–97:01 | Self-forgiveness, accountability, lessons | | 97:01–End | Conspiracy theories, closing thoughts |
"Tell Me What’s Wrong" Advice Segment (82:11–97:09)
- Cigar faux pas: Glen reassures a listener who threw up after trying to impress their girlfriend’s dad with a cigar—“it means they like you,” and tells a family prank story at a first meeting.
- Friend mismatch & FOMO: Glen and Jake advocate for seeking out friends who share your interests, not just legacy ties, and for resisting social media-induced FOMO.
- Reading a room/social anxiety: Both share strategies for increasing self-awareness and not spiraling over social faux pas; Glen admits even he sometimes fails and is learning to give himself grace.
- Best lesson: Glen’s takeaway—trying your best is enough; you can’t make everyone happy, and that’s okay.
- Dealing with conspiracy theorist friends: Glen: “Conspiracy theorists…often just aren’t taking accountability for the fact that the world is hard to explain sometimes.”
Closing Notes & Tone
Jake and Glen maintain a warm, irreverent, and introspective tone. The episode seamlessly fuses frat-house shenanigans with vulnerable self-examination. Glen, candid and unfiltered, elevates the conversation with humor, honesty, and hard-won wisdom—making this a standout installment for fans of celebrity interviews that go deeper and for those craving a taste of Austin’s legendary hospitality.
End of Summary.