Stay ConnectedPodcrushed — the podcast where Penn Badgley reads your middle school story — explores the heartbreak, anxiety and self-discovery of being a teenager. Hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari bring you stories and conversations about middle school – from childhood crushes, to battles with body hair, to schoolyard scuffles. The results are sometimes awkward, sometimes heartwarming, and always relatable.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Copyright: © 2025 Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
The gang sits down with Gaten Matarazzo — the quick-witted Broadway kid who became a global sensation as Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things. Gaten takes us all the way back — from hustling backstage at Les Mis, to the chaotic on-stage disaster he’ll never live down, to the moment the beloved Steve-and-Dustin duo was born. We also dig into who Gaten is off-set — the music he’s making, the life he’s building, and what comes next now that Hawkins is in the rear-view.
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Lizzy Caplan -- the Emmy-nominated actor you know from Mean Girls, Cloverfield, Party Down, and Fleishman is in Trouble -- joins the hosts to open up about everything from her first crushes to the impact of losing her mother at only 13. She recounts her experiences filming Mean Girls and Fleishman is in Trouble, and spills the tea on her new film Now You See Me: Now You Don't.
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Head to https://prettytasty.com and use code PODCRUSHED at checkout for your first subscription order FREE (up to a $49 value), plus 15% off every subscription order after that.
Podcrushed listeners can grab Rosetta Stone’s LIFETIME Membership for 50% OFF at https://rosettastone.com/podcrushed.That’s unlimited access to 25 language courses, for life!
Go to https://airalo.com and use code PODCRUSHED for 15% off your first eSIM. Terms apply.
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The star of Riverdale and Chemical Hearts, Lili Reinhart, joins Podcrushed to discuss her journey from a 12-year-old aspiring artist to a booked-and-busy actor. Lili reflects on her early struggles and auditions, the transformative experience of Riverdale, and the challenges of bringing indie projects like Hal & Harper to life. She also opens up about her latest productions and the pressures of adapting popular IP, all while maintaining her sanity in Hollywood. Don’t miss this one!
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Podcrushed listeners can grab Rosetta Stone’s LIFETIME Membership for 50% OFF at rosettastone.com/podcrushed.That’s unlimited access to 25 language courses, for life!
Our new book Crushmore is out now! Go go go! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crushmore/Penn-Badgley/9781668077993
00:00 Introduction
04:19 Lily’s Early Acting Journey
10:05 Challenges and Rejections
15:52 Moving to LA and Booking Riverdale
25:13 First Crushes and Heartbreaks
28:08 Embarrassing School Memories
30:18 Transition to Adulthood
30:54 Moving Back to LA and Auditioning for Riverdale
33:03 Booking the Role and Moving to Vancouver
34:20 Chemistry Tests and Initial Reactions
37:05 Shooting the First Season of Riverdale
39:01 Impact of Riverdale’s Success
39:28 Favorite Storylines and Behind-the-Scenes Memories
42:36 Challenges and Rewards of Independent Television
54:10 The Love Hypothesis and Handling Fan Expectations
57:16 Upcoming Projects and Future Plans
01:02:24 Advice to 12-Year-Old Self
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Sam Smith joins us for a raw and revealing conversation. Discover the surprising revelation about their journey from a young, talented singer to a global pop sensation. Sam talks about overcoming stage fright, the inspiring moments of writing their hit songs, and the unique way they find peace in New York City. Plus, get a sneak peek into Sam's intimate Brooklyn residency and learn why this next album might be their best work yet.
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00:00 Intro
04:53 Sam Smith’s Childhood and Early Influences
06:28 Navigating School as a Queer Kid
09:52 The Power of Music and Female Voices
20:41 Struggles with Weight and Self-Acceptance
26:27 First Experiences with Love and Heartbreak
31:30 Embarrassing Moments and Overcoming Stage Fright
34:21 Pursuing a Career in Music
36:22 Early Career and Record Deal Challenges
37:11 Deciding Between Musical Theater and Pop Stardom
37:58 Musical Influences and Recording Experiences
40:04 Family Influence and Early Performances
42:04 Themes of Love and Safety in Music
46:18 Personal Growth and Mental Health
47:34 Creating Authentic Music and Overcoming Challenges
49:40 New York Life and Relationship
54:27 The Importance of Water and Flow in Life
59:27 Reflecting on Career and Future Projects
01:07:55 Intimate Performances and New Music
01:12:07 Final Thoughts and Advice to Younger Self
Our new book Crushmore is out now! Go go go! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crushmore/Penn-Badgley/9781668077993
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We’re so excited to share a new show from Lemonada Media, Don’t Listen To Us, an advice show for advice-skeptics and wisdom-lovers, hosted by Mandy Patinkin, Kathryn Grody, and their son Gideon.
Legendary actor Mandy (The Princess Bride, Homeland, Criminal Minds) is the consummate entertainer who shoots from the hip, stage actress Kathryn is the thoughtful connector who sees all the nuance, and Gideon is the brave soul keeping them on track (or at least trying). Together, Mandy and Kathryn have 40+ years of marriage, 140+ years of life experience, and a series of viral social media posts where Gideon interviews them and watches both chaos and wisdom ensue.
They don’t always agree on what advice to give—in fact, they rarely do. But they draw from their highs and lows as artists, parents, lovers, and humans, to give their unique take on real dilemmas submitted by you -- the listeners. Hang out with this family and you’ll walk away with insights you didn’t expect, stories you’ll want to repeat, and comfort knowing that you’re not alone in figuring out how to survive this fakakta world.
You’re about to hear the first episode from Don’t Listen To us. After you listen, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/DontListenToUsfd to hear the full episode and follow the show wherever you get your podcasts.
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OUR BOOK IS OFFICIALLY OUT! To celebrate the release of "Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age", we sat down with Phoebe Robinson and a few hundred fans in NYC to chat about the process and stories behind the book. Check out Crushmore everywhere you get books and audiobooks, or click here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crushmore/Penn-Badgley/9781668077993
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In this special host AMA, we're diving deep into the mystical world of spirituality. Join us as we get personal and discuss our own spiritual journeys, all sparked by your questions and comments. We'll talk about transcendental experiences, faith, near-death encounters, and much more. Sophie shares a poignant story of feeling her late grandfather’s presence, Penn recounts an unexpected moment of peace among chaos, and Nava reveals a life-saving divine intervention.
Our new book Crushmore is out now! Go go go! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crushmore/Penn-Badgley/9781668077993
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Comedian Adam Pally joins Penn, Nava, and Sophie for an episode that’s equal parts hilarious and tender. From the chaos of constantly moving as a kid to finding his voice (and trouble) at Livingston High, Adam opens up about the lessons behind Happy Endings, The Mindy Project, and his brand-new comedy special. But it’s what he reveals about marriage, fame, and why he almost quit comedy that’ll stick with you long after the episode ends.
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Our new book Crushmore is out now! Go go go! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crushmore/Penn-Badgley/9781668077993
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There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back. And this week, we’re here to tell you about it.
Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s death, sex, taxes, and all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream dead? What’s the future of truth?
Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together. Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be alive.
You’re about to hear a clip from the first episode, where Steve sits down with hospice nurse Julie McFadden to talk about death. To hear more of Alive with Steve Burns, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/AlivewithSteveBurnsfd
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This week we’re joined by author and actor Tembi Locke. She takes us from her whirlwind childhood to her life today as a bestselling writer and performer. We talk about the heart behind her memoir From Scratch and her new audiobook Someday, Now, the rituals and traditions that keep us grounded, and why midlife can feel a lot like adolescence (in the best way). It’s a rich conversation on grief, creativity, and finding light through it all.
Preorder our new book, Crushmore, here: geni.us/CrushmoreBook
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