Stay ConnectedKerry Washington takes her guests back to where their stories began. Starting with one simple question — Can you tell me about the street you grew up on? — Kerry explores the people, places, family stories, and defining moments that made them who they are.
Past guests include Michelle Obama, Jane Fonda, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Issa Rae, Jay Shetty, and more.
Billy Porter joins Kerry Washington to talk about growing up gay in Pittsburgh, the women who raised him, and how music and theater helped him find his voice. He revisits the church that celebrated his singing but struggled to accept him, the performances of The Wiz and Dreamgirls that changed his life, and his mother’s journey toward embracing her gay son. Plus, chosen family, Sunday-best fashion, an elaborate senior portrait shoot, and the little boy who knew his voice could take him somewhere new.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse, physical punishment, and homophobia.
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If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse or is experiencing emotional distress, you are not alone.
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN)
Call 800.656.4673 | Text “HOPE” to 64673 | rainn.org
Free, confidential 24/7 support in English & Spanish
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Support)
Call 866.488.7386 | Text “START” to 678-678 | thetrevorproject.org
Free, confidential 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention for young people
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (General Mental Health)
Call or Text 988 | 988lifeline.org
Free, confidential 24/7 support for emotional distress
00:00 Billy Porter’s Pittsburgh Childhood
06:27 Family’s Big House
17:25 Identity & Childhood Abuse
23:53 From Preacher to Performer
38:30 Church Fashion & Self-Expression
44:54 Activism, Pride & Chosen Family
59:25 Style, Advice & What’s Next
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Demi Lovato joins Kerry Washington to revisit growing up on Wilkes Drive in Colleyville, Texas—from singing in her bedroom until sunrise to the auditions that led to Barney & Friends and Camp Rock. She shares how Kelly Clarkson shaped her voice, what her Dallas Cowboys cheerleader mom taught her, and how she’s finding joy in marriage, cooking, and accepting herself. Plus, thrift-store pageant dresses, her first song about a crush, and a heartfelt conversation with Kerry about eating disorder recovery and the home she hopes to create for her future children.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders and body image.
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💥 Follow Street You Grew Up On:
https://linktr.ee/streetyougrewupon
🎤 Follow Kerry Washington:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywashington
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekerrywashington
Follow Simpson Street:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simpsonstreet
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simpsonstreet
Follow Daylight:
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Website: https://daylightmedia.com/
➡️ Get $15 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with promo code STREET.
00:00 Growing Up on Wilkes Drive
04:21 Her Bedroom & First Songs
15:28 Kelly Clarkson’s Influence
29:12 From Pageants to Barney
39:01 Camp Rock & Leaving Home
52:21 Food, Body Image, Recovery
1:00:16 Her Hopes for Future Children
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Colin Kaepernick joins Kerry Washington to talk about growing up Black in a white adoptive family, his childhood NFL dream, and the experiences that shaped his activism. From driveway basketball on Pine Valley Court to finding community in a Black barbershop, he revisits the moments that taught him who he was—and how to stand up for himself. Plus, the fourth-grade prediction that came true and why his wife, Nessa Diab, refuses to play games with him.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes released weekly!
💥 Follow Street You Grew Up On:
https://linktr.ee/streetyougrewupon
🎤 Follow Kerry Washington:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywashington
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekerrywashington
Follow Simpson Street:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simpsonstreet
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simpsonstreet
Follow Daylight:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daylightmediahq/
Website: https://daylightmedia.com
➡️ Try ZipRecruiter for free at https://ziprecruiter.com/street to save time and meet great candidates sooner.
➡️ Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit https://ARTICLE.COM/STREET and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ben Affleck joins Kerry Washington for a deeply personal conversation about growing up on Cottage Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the mother who shaped him, and the childhood experiences that still influence the father, actor, and filmmaker he is today.
Ben reflects on being a latchkey kid, his legendary friendship with Matt Damon, the high school drama teacher who helped him discover his voice as a writer, and the path that eventually led to Good Will Hunting. He and Kerry also explore what his upbringing taught him about empathy, collaboration and directing—and how those lessons shaped their experience making their new film, Animals.
Plus: childhood movies, Boston vs. New York, the story of Ben’s stolen Big Wheel, and what the kid from Cottage Street might think of his life now.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes released weekly!
💥 Follow Street You Grew Up On:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetyougrewupon/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestreetyougrewupon
🎤 Follow Kerry Washington:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywashington
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekerrywashington
Follow Simpson Street:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simpsonstreet
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simpsonstreet
Follow Daylight:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daylightmediahq/
Website: https://daylightmedia.com/
➡️ Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Head to https://RULA.com to find a therapist the easy way.
➡️ Shop at Sephora or get 10% off your first purchase at https://k18hair.com with code KERRY.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kerry Washington’s Street You Grew Up On is back. And this time, with a NEW FORMAT. NEW GUESTS. SAME QUESTION.
“What is the street you grew up on?”
The digital series is now a full-length podcast, and Kerry is sitting down with Ben Affleck, Colin Kaepernick, Demi Lovato, Billy Porter, Jessica Alba and more for conversations about the childhood memories, neighborhoods, people and experiences that shaped who they are today.
From Simpson Street and Daylight.
Follow Street You Grew Up On for new episodes every week.
Street You Grew Up On:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetyougrewupon/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestreetyougrewupon
Kerry Washington:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywashington
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekerrywashington
Follow Simpson Street:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simpsonstreet
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simpsonstreet
Follow Daylight:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daylightmediahq/
Website: https://daylightmedia.com/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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