Chat Was Us | Success

This week on That Was Us…we’re back with another Chat Was Us! This time, inspired by the many journeys of ambition and self-discovery in This Is Us, we’re tackling one big question: What does it really mean to be successful? From chasing dreams and career milestones to fulfillment, purpose, and legacy, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris reflect on how their definitions of success have evolved over the years.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* How their definitions of success have shifted from external achievement to personal fulfillment

* The difference between being successful and feeling successful

* Why our brains naturally fixate on failure and how encouragement can quiet the inner critic

* The role childhood competition, sports, and early ambition played in shaping their drive

* Fame versus fulfillment, and how public recognition differs from lasting happiness

* The career milestones that made them feel like they had finally ""made it""

* Why longevity, meaningful work, and the respect of your peers matter more than awards

* The artists and mentors who have redefined success through decades of purposeful careers

* Why passion (not money) is often the clearest path toward purpose

* How luck, preparation, and saying ""yes"" to opportunity all play a role in building a career

* Raising children to value effort, curiosity, and joy over simply winning

* The legacy they hope to leave behind and what a truly successful life looks like at the end

Plus, along the way, the conversation takes a few unexpected detours into childhood summers, Slurpees and hose water, youth sports, camp counseling, terrible self-talk, and an emotional compliment game that reminds the hosts just how much they mean to one another.

And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual!

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.

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🍋 About the Show:

The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it.

Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments.

Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday.

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Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz

Creative Producer: Sam Skelton

Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley

Video Editor: Todd Hughlett

Mix & Master: Jason Richards

About Headgum:

Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.

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