Are You A Charlotte? - Oh, baby that’s sweet... with Jason Lewis 

Episode Date: September 16, 2026

Jason Lewis (Smith Jerrod) returns!  There was so much more you wanted to know, so this time, he’s answering all your questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. There's no shortcut for saving time, but saving money is simple. Just combine your car and home insurance with Bel Air Direct and save. Get a quote at bellair direct.com. Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, and I want to know, are you a Charlotte? We're here, you guys. Jason Lewis's bye.

Hi. Yay. It was so much fun last time. Thank you so much for coming back. We had a tremendous day together, which we're going to talk about later. But first, I asked our Instagram, kiddos, what they would like me to ask you. And so I have a whole list of questions. And I haven't shown them to you, even though I felt like maybe I should have.

But I haven't. No, more fun in the surprise of the moment. Okay, great. If there's something that you want to skip, just let me know. Obviously, do your Jason thing. you'll handle it. Now, the first one, I'm just going to go in order. I'm sure you have probably been asked this 8 million hundred times,

but I'm going to ask you, what similarities do you have with Smith, Jared? What's your biggest difference? Oh, similarities in expansive and luminous soul. Yeah. What do I have similarities with? I think I've always tried to distract. for compassion.

Biggest difference is, I think Smith was really good about not taking things personal, and I still struggle with that. Yeah, that's a good point, isn't it? Yeah, Smith was, like, quite mature. For his age, for my age, yeah. I definitely was not channeling that if it wasn't on the page. Well, I don't, in my perspective, which obviously I wasn't there every day with you, because I wasn't in that relationship right on camera.

But my reality of you on set was that you didn't take things that personally. Like I thought you were pretty good about that. I think I have always strove for kindness. And so I think, you know, in that way. But I think the understanding was different. Of course. I think more than it was just about, you know, protecting and managing space. and now it's really done with awareness.

I prefer to not take anybody else's pain because if somebody's heaving something at you, that's all it is. It's their pain being directed at you. Absolutely. But sometimes in the moment. Right. That's so hard, though, in the moment.

Oh, yeah, but that's what it's practiced. And that's also why I said I'm not Smith. Definitely, definitely. But he had that shit down. I mean, yeah, he, we have a question about that later. But like one thing I remember, it just came in my mind. I remember a lot of conversation, you had your longer hair.

And I remember the hair being like this huge thing where the hair department, obviously, but then also I think Pat got in there. I think Michael Patrick had thoughts. I think John Melfi had thoughts. And I remember you just being so calm. Whereas if it was me, that would have really bugged me. I think one of the things I've always been good at is,

look, sometimes conflicts arise simply because the conflict is in place. and I think there comes a point where you realize adding another energy to the conversation isn't moving it. That's true. And better to sit back and implement what you think and feel at a useful and appropriate time than to rush in just to be heard.

Definitely. But the thing that I will say back, because yes, in theory, I believe every single thing you say to be very wise and true. But like this was your actual hair on your head and they were all touching it and you had to act, right? Do you know what I'm saying? Yes.

Yes. Yes. But that's the take things personally. I think I've always challenged myself to be that person. I think I'm better at it now. And you're asked for a difference. Yeah, no, this is perfect. Smith was like a Buddhist monk with how detached he was with it.

Yes. It doesn't mean there wasn't an interior monologue. Yeah, yeah, yeah. but also, you know, with good cause. So I think that's something, you know, for me that always, like where's the person coming from? And so I have a lot more tolerance with good cause. And I knew what the storyline was and I knew how important. And so.

True, true, true. That's good. That's very good. Good answer. Okay. How much of yourself did you bring into the character? I think quite a bit at the time. I mean, you know, I just said I tried.

I did not take that. I was in a very, I mean, circumstantially, it sort of worked when I came in to read from it. I just got done spending two weeks surfing and hanging out in a very remote part of Costa Rica. And so I was in a very, oh, just let life be. And so, again, I don't think I always practice it as well, but I've always strove for that sense of equanimity and, decency and kindness towards others, whether or not I was capable of it at all times.

But I think that the idea and the philosophy of it was certainly something I brought into. Cool. So like you were kind of already there. I believed in the mindset. I don't know how well I practiced it. You probably can ask some of like my exes and they'll tell you not so well. I would never go there. Okay.

Who we are in our romantic relationships is a different thing, all right? and I have no one to talk. You know what I'm saying? It's a more challenging space. Big time. I'm with you 120% at least. Okay. Do you think that Smith would have worked as a love interest for any of the other three women?

Interesting question. Okay, so absolutely not for Miranda because she wouldn't have put up with that bullshit. Carrie, I don't think so because Carrie was. looking for something else in the challenge. I think actually probably would have worked with you. Oh, gosh. Because you, your character was very much about, like, love. True.

And finding, like, which I think, you know, what a wonderful character arc you have in the end when you have to realize, oh, it doesn't come in the package that you expected it to. Totally, totally, totally. I mean, we, I mean, I can't remember enough about, because in so many ways, and this is what was beautiful, I think, about Smith,

you kind of, you had your own thing, but like Samantha really says to you know, I'm going to make you an actor, and she kind of like inspires you to go for it, right? Like pushes you to go for it. But it's unclear, like, were you into being more traditional, relationship-wise? Because I know at a certain point,

you push her in that way, right? I think the character, yes, I think he does. He did. he definitely, like, wanted an affirmation. I mean, you know, that whole, just hold my hand. Right. But I don't think it was so much about boxing her up as making her feel capable or giving her the space or even making the demand of her to express that she cared, you know?

Right, right. And I think for that character, that was something, you know, the popular word, we were talking earlier with the kids today is authentic. I think for him, especially with the backstory of it all, having been an, you know, if you're an alcoholic, there's probably a reason you got there. Yes. And so I think authenticity of emotion was important to him as a character. Most definitely. Most definitely.

That's so interesting. Yeah, he's a very interesting, very interesting character. Okay. Especially in hindsight, we can really spin this up. Right? How do you feel about the way the relationship ended between Smith and Samantha? I actually think it was understandable because, you know, what he wanted from her was not who she wanted to be. Uh-huh.

You know? Yeah. And whether or not she was ever going to make that change should have been, you know, something for that character's journey alone. Yeah. And you can't force anybody into a space they're not ready to occupy. That is so true. Hear that, everybody. Golly, that's some truth.

You can't make anyone do anything they don't want to do. And sometimes in like a very Charlotte way, I do share this with Charlotte. You know, you can see the possibilities, right? And so you're kind of living in what could be, but that is just wasted. It is, but I understand the compassion of that. You know, like you want to see people for the best they can be. Yeah. But I think the balancing act is, you know, hold them as they are.

are. Absolutely, which is, that's tough if you have the kind of personality type or whatever that wants to be in this, everything is beautiful. Everything is beautiful and they're, you know, what it is. It's a difference between empathy and sympathy. Oh. Empathy is a deep imaginative understanding of another person in their circumstances. Right. Sympathy is filling what they feel. Right. And so you are making, we end up making it about ourselves. And I've certainly done this once or twice There ain't no lecture coming here, but it is the line I try and understand when I'm communicating. That's very good. That's an interesting frame to be looking at it through.

Yeah. Yeah, that's interesting. I'm going to, I'm going to like, you're over there in your space. Right. And the more I think you do that, then you see what that space actually looks like. And then you're like, I don't know that I want to be there. That may be true. That may be true.

That's good to think about it that way. I like that. That's good. Let's keep going with our fan questions because they're pretty interesting, I have to say. The fans did well. Okay. How do you see Samantha and Smith? Oh, do you see Samantha and Smith getting back together?

And do you think that they were each other's endgame or could have been? I know I know someone had someone in my world had a lot of thoughts about this was devastated that they didn't end up together because felt like the kind of energy. and vibe of you two was so interesting and different and strong, you know, that that could have really just been kind of just a magical pairing forever. I have my own thoughts about why that didn't happen, but what are yours? You mean within the fictional world? The fictional world of that. Yes. Sorry, we talk about it. No, no, no, no, no. I just want to make sure that's where I was at. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I just have a friend who felt strongly. I think, I think they both were offered a healing journey. So she gave him a.

sense of validation and wanting to see himself as more. Yeah. And he sort of did the same thing for her, for her emotions. I don't know that those relationships are forever. That's a good point. You know, sometimes they help move each other into new spaces. Right. But then they were in new spaces.

Right. That's good. That's so good. We're going to tell Amy that. Hi, Amy. So my question now is, because I might have asked you this before, but I can't remember what you told me. What did you think, like remember when we ended the show? Did you think that was the end of you as Smith?

Oh, you mean in the sense of like, in the movies and this episode of day? Did you know of our plan? No, I had no concept of it whatsoever. So both it was a surprise and a lovely surprise. I've always sort of operated in as much gratitude as I can cobble together. And I just looked at it. Like, it was such a gift to be included in something that was so wonderful already. And so I didn't have expectations or any embitterment, like, not to be included.

Right, right, right. The end was the end. I was like, what a great ride that was. Got it, right. But when it came around, I was like, oh, wow, bonus wonderful. Definitely. Definitely. That's how I felt too for sure. Except I really, I did believe we were going to do the film,

and then we didn't do the film right away. And then that was so frustrating and mysterious, like, what's going on? And what will we ever get to do that? I was very wrapped up and all that. Obviously, it was a big deal. And then when we did, it was amazing. Well, I mean, especially for you ladies, because it was really ultimately about you ladies.

And I mean, we talked about this before, but just in case people didn't listen to that one, you know, how did you, I mean, you came in kind of towards the end, right? And you had such a great attitude, I remember at the time. Some of the guys, I'm not going to name any names, some of the guys would occasionally feel frustrated, you know, that it was about us, right?

And that they kind of, sometimes they didn't know what was going to happen with them. And I think that's a hard place to be in as an actor, right? Yes, no. I think, you know, we were talking about this earlier, just about story in general. And I have always maintained, I love story. The only reason I got into acting in the first place is because I love stories.

I think story is one of the most important and wonderful traditions of any society. And it certainly played a huge role in my life. And so I didn't look at it as mine. I never looked at it as mine. I'm in service. you know, as an actor or a writer or a director, we're all in service to the same damn thing, and that's the story.

And then the story is there for the audience. And so we are, in a way, servants, as much as you get lauded and you're put up is the really most important thing. It's kind of like the lead singer of a band. He's getting all the attention, but did he write it? Some do, some do, yeah. Right, right, right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. So that was never an issue for me. It's never been an issue. I'm always kind of just enjoying when it does come around. Amazing. I love it. Okay, very good, very good. Let's see.

This is interesting. We are deep into that this is real now. So just, you know, just roll with it, okay? This is funny. Do you see Samantha and Smith getting back together? No, but they've maintained a friendship. There you go. Okay, great.

Thank you for giving us that gift. That's a nice gift to think of. I think that there's, because they did move to different spaces. but I think that was one of the things about Samantha's character. She's a brutally honest person. Yeah. Whether or not she understands what she's talking about was always, you know, like any character, like the conflict of self-awareness.

But I think that they probably maintained a really great friendship. That's nice. I'm so glad. I would totally picture that. Okay. What was your reaction when you found out you'd be shaving your head? Well, again, that goes back to the story thing. And when I, you know, because they didn't just say, hey, we want you to shave your head.

You know, Michael Patrick held on to what was coming down the pipe. Like, it was a vault. So I had very little, like, understanding of where things were going to go. But they shared that with me, and it was such a beautiful story. So amazing. To get to participate in a moment like that where you're having an impact on people. And it did, too. I remember shooting that episode, not just that scene, but when she whips off the wig in that roomful,

because they had cancer survivors there. And you got to see in real time how impactful story can be for people. Yeah, beautiful. So when they told me, I was all in. I thought it was, wow, cool. Okay. That's amazing. It's such a great scene.

Oh, my God. It's the only time I had any real control on set. Really? Yeah, because, you know, Michael, there I'll figure you out when to roll cut. It was like it came down to, really, I have to take my own cue. Amazing. Amazing. Take it where you can get it.

I got to call action on that one. I love it. I love it. I love it. Okay. That was a good question. What was your favorite Smith and Samantha moment in the show? Maybe it would be that one, but let's say other than that.

Honestly, for me, and this is like, Less to do with the character, but more to do with, acting is of itself kind of a personal journey because you have to ask questions. It was waiting for her when she went up to see Richard. Wow. Fascinating. Because that was hard for me to understand. For sure.

And I had to find a way to understand that. Got it. In that way, there was like a growth of like, oh, like that seems beautiful because it's a statement of Love isn't about what you want. That's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love is about the consideration and care of another. That's amazing.

Good one. Good answer. I like that. Okay. Fans still argue that Smith was the best boyfriend on the entire show. Do you think Smith was the best boyfriend on the whole show? I think Smith had the benefit of a lot of practice swings before he got there. Really?

Yeah, you were articulating. a lot of dysfunctional relationships. So finally you gave a character who could offer up a little, you know. That's true. Functionality. Also, it makes me, because obviously I look at everything differently now from all this time passing. And, you know, when I watch it back, I see things differently. I'm so curious who you are based on.

Like for me, and I think I've said this before, I think it's okay that I'm saying this. I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure Harry is based on Michael's husband. you know, because this is about when he came into life and there's a lot of similarities. It's like the sweetest, sweetest man. And it was part of how I knew in my gut that Harry was going to work out, right?

Because I can't exactly remember everything that Michael told me in the beginning. I remember that the contradiction between what Charlotte wanted versus what Harry presented on the outside, but was what I wanted on the inside. I never thought about it because I just looked at it from story instruct. sure.

Right. Well, I know the writers, right? So like sometimes over time, and I don't think I thought it at the time when Harry first shows up.

Who saw, who had that relationship? Right. Who had? Yeah, I want to know because I do feel like Smith is very,

it's like a whole creation. Yeah, you know? Very much so. Oh, no, he was in place before I got there. I think I just shooed in well.

You were the, you were absolutely, I think you shoot in well even more than that. I think you brought a deeper layer because I do believe as much as I totally agree with what you're saying that we are in service to the story. I also think that, you know, actors are working in an energetic way. Oh, absolutely.

Just being a service story doesn't discount the fact that the actors showing up and bringing something to. Absolutely. It's a collage. Yes, absolutely. And it's like sometimes just a happy, happy union, you know, where everything just comes together and fires all of one. Yeah, which I think you absolutely were as Mr. Smith. Okay. Oh, did they actually put a real gigantic billboard in Times Square for the absolute hunk episode?

No, actually they didn't. That was one of the early uses of CGI. No way. Amazing. And I think it came down to, if I remember correctly, it was stupid bureaucracy. They wanted to. I thought they wanted to and did. They did.

No, it ended up like, it was weird. I remember that. That was, I forget who was mayor at the time, but they were being so weird. Yeah, they were being so crappy about it. Wait. What year was it? I don't know if it was. I don't think it could have been.

Giuliani. Yeah, let's go pick on him. He's easier to pick on him. I do think it was Giuliani. I think Bloomberg was the movies because he's in movie. The only reason they chose to do is CGA is they made it so prohibitive for them to do, like, they made it near impossible. Which I remember thinking that that's not cool. This is like, this is.

got to be one of the best advertisements for New York City, period. 100%. You weren't aware of Manhattan before you're aware of Manhattan now. Totally, totally, totally. And worldwide. Yes. And so I was like, you should give it. You should give it to this show.

Definitely. So we had to CGI that. Oh, that's interesting. Good question. Whoever wrote in this one. Cool, cool. Okay. Can you tell us a little bit about the process of filming the intimate scenes?

Ooh, yeah. Double-sided tape. Wow. Okay. Okay. Interesting. That little pretend barrier of decency. Look, you're there to do a job. And I was certainly working with somebody who had to go through that plenty. So there was a level of professionalism onset before you ever got there. Is it ever comfortable? No. God, no.

but I think if you know a little good clear communication and everything but no yeah no it's like a little a lot of double-sided tape but then like so obviously we didn't have intimacy coordinators no so in terms of I mean we had different directors you know often would you and Kim talk about it before you went on the set or would you just get there see what the director wanted everyone discuss it would depend on the day um one of my favorite memories because of just being esoteric and weird. Michael Patrick was directing the scene. It is the wild sex scene where, you know, we try.

That's very good. It's very good. It was fun. And trying to coordinate it, you know what the answer was? Do you remember back in old Manhattan? There was like this stupid diagram that people would sell on the street. for like a dollar that had all the commissue possessions. And it was just like, it was like the honey roasted peanuts.

You just saw it out there. Right, right, right. And I think the internet killed that. Yeah. Somebody went and got one of those and literally it became pick from the menu. Wow. I didn't know that. That's interesting.

That's a good. I like that montage because it's fun. It's funny also. It's also, there's something, like, weirdly realistic about it. I don't know how to put it, but, like, I don't know. The vibe, you know, it's not in a gross way, in a, like, a fun way that you're like, oh, yeah, sex can be so much fun. Which, honestly, was one of the great things I think about that show is it brought up the uncomfortable topics and made them less. I mean, sex should be fun, folks.

Right. And, you know, you got to give credit to. Kim because boy did that girl have to put up with some stuff and she did it well. Like, you know, she, more than me, I think, made that scene work. I mean, I'd have to look back on it. I felt like it was both of you guys. I did some good athletics. Yeah.

She sold them. Well, for sure. For sure. I mean, it takes two. She made me look good. Let's just say that. I mean, I was doing the job. I think that's always true.

That's always true, right? Because, like, to sell for 10 sex, you're both going to have to give it your all. And definitely she did so many incredibly brave things with the body. I mean, I could never have pulled it off. Like, I do not know how she did it, right? It was a lot. It was a lot. And she did it well.

And then you came, and I think it was for me, I mean, maybe there's a guest are here and there where I was like, oh, yeah, they were good. In the sex part, I mean. But, like, you were just so much equals in it that I think that's what made it so much more kind of interesting. I think, you know, for me, part of it too, is, man, I spend my life near naked and board shorts. So I was comfortable with body.

Yeah, that's important. Yes. And I'd done this, you know, I started in fashion. And I'd learned very early on how to coordinate that space. Got it. To make somebody feel safe, to make them feel safe. scene to know that this is not always going to be supported by the director or photographer. Right.

And so that's important. You know, that's really interesting. The, you know, tongue and cheek aside, I've always, you know, check in with the person in front of you. And the safer that somebody fills, then you can perform, you know, because it is an uncomfortable and strange event. For sure. So you acknowledge that and you move on from there. Definitely.

Definitely. It did a great, great job. There's no shortcut for saving time, but saving money is simple. Just combine your car and home insurance with Bel Air Direct and save. Get a quote at bellairdirect.com. What was the most challenging part of playing a Smith? I didn't really look at it like that. Okay. Since everything, I think the initial challenge was just feeling comfortable and fitting in,

but I was so well invited. I didn't really experience terrible challenges for it. Good, good, good, that's good. So I guess one thing, like sometimes, like for me... You mean for finding the character? Any way you want to look at it. One thing that I would think, I mean, I do think coming onto a show that's already established

is awkward and weird in the beginning for everyone, right? What we just talked about, the most challenging thing is I was derobing all the time. Totally, totally, totally, because you derob a lot. And in very, like for prolonged periods of time. So yeah, let's just go with that. But the other thing that I would have said, and I would be curious your thought on it.

So, you know how for a long time you, well, actually, when we first meet you, we're all there at the restaurant, right? As were all those other women who were trying to, you know, get your attention or whatever, which apparently you had been a waiter before. So, you know, this was not. With a little less objectification, but yeah.

Well, that you know. That I was aware of, yes. I bet not, right? That you were aware of. But I remember that day, and I remember that day because I feel like, first of all, we had to try to say a moose bouch, which we'd never heard these words before. Don't ask me why. But we hadn't. We were like, how do we say it?

How do we say it? Because the internet and social media didn't exist then. Exactly. That's why. You're so right. And veganism was new. It was like, what? Yeah, there certainly wasn't vegan restaurants at the time.

Right? Yeah. I remember because I also feel like there was a lot of built up excitement about you and your character, right? because we'd been looking for you, we'd heard about that we were looking for you, and we found you, and they were so excited about you. But that's a lot of pressure to walk into. Yes and no, because that was happening more internally. It wasn't bleeding out into my day and day because I wasn't in your conversations.

You couldn't feel it from us? Oh, no, that's why I said yes and no. It was like walking, I think I told you the story of the cafeteria and how inviting you guys were. Yes, yes. But, yeah, I was walking. I was a kid who just moved into the small town and first day at school and everybody knew about it. And yeah, you feel that when you walk in the room. For sure, for sure.

Again, it was a, like the crew, from the crew to the cast to the producers, it was a wonderful work environment. It was lovely to be inside of it. That's good. That's good. Because I know everyone was just so excited. But sometimes that's like blood pressure, you know, because you don't really know us, right? And then you're having to live up to some thing. Well, I remember one of the first people I met was,

Dear Miss Amy Harris. Oh, we were, it was like at the kickoff party at a bar. And she was just neat. She's great. Yeah, I was like, oh. She's this whole show on Amazon now. She's like a showrunner. Was she running?

Yeah, what's it called? The lake, the something, someone look it up. I will look it up. She was just on. And I'm going to watch it just because. It's a YA thing. Oh, good. Yeah, they got a second season.

Oh, good for her. It's very excited. Yeah, it's really, really amazing. Decent is the day as long. Exactly. She's a great person. I think if I remember correctly, she's like, you come over here and have a drink with me.

Oh, I'm sure. It's very neat. I was like, I will come over there and have a drink with you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a great first person to me. That's a great first person in me. Good. Okay, good. That's a great answer.

Okay, good. All right. But do-doo, were you ever surprised by how much the audience sexualized Smith, especially given that the show was so much about women being sexualized? I would kind of twist this question, But go ahead. You answer it.

I want to hear your twist. Well, my twist was I didn't feel that the show was about sexualizing women. Oh, yeah. I didn't do it. Right? No, no. Yeah. I felt, and this was a question in the beginning that was not clear, right? Because there was no show like us, right?

It wasn't like you could look at something and go like, oh, we're like that, or we're like that, or we're like that. But there were questions in the beginning about, like, how we were going to film the sexual stuff. Sure. Was it for the male gaze? Was it for the female gays? My thing was, I didn't want to make the women watching feel uncomfortable, right? Because, you know, sometimes in the olden days you'd watch a sexy, you'd be like, ew, gross. You know what I'm saying?

This is from a male's perspective. Yes. They're really, like, closeted and don't spend a lot of time with women. Yeah, and like that woman looks uncomfortable. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. The objectification, I just saw the most horrible thing, like, like from flashback where men were fishing women out of a pond in a old, like, 30s film. Oh, my God. insane, wow.

Like that. But like in my mind, I think like 80s and 90s film sex scenes were a lot. Yeah, I agree with you. I don't think even or Smith, I think, you know, look, folks, entertainment is about sensationalism. It is about entertaining you. So is the sex there as part of the entertainment? Sure. But it was also wasn't the only thing and it was never outside of the conversation.

It wasn't sex for sex saying. Right. And we were driving the fact that the women were driving. And so it was never like just there for the exhibition of it alone. Right. It had to do with these like conversations being had. Right. And the characters.

Yeah. Where you're, it was a device almost to expose vulnerability and how these people felt and communicated about themselves. Absolutely. And we were like. One of the things we wanted to do is to bring into the light things that people were afraid to talk about, mostly women. Usually so, especially with women. Again, you have to remember context of time. Like, what was the only old, like all women show at the time was the Golden Girls?

There was nothing that spoke to a modern and practical and realistic conversation for women about women. Right. So I would not say we were sexualized. We were running the show about, like, like. like taking it on. Like we're going to talk about this. We're going to uncover it. We're going to investigate it.

What I had seen and have seen the amount of female empowerment that came out of that show to own that conversation for self, I don't think that's sexualized at all. Right. Me neither. But then the next question would be as a guy on the show where the women were kind of in charge, did it ever feel uncomfortably? Again, I was within the bubble of my own experience. And it would be wrong to say that it's not uncomfortable. It's an uncomfortable thing. Even if you're good at giving a speech going up on stage is an uncomfortable thing.

You mean the naked time? The naked times were like, you know, like a little. I was dying for you. Dying, dying. Deep breathes and get in there. You can do this. So brave. But I never felt like the conversation was simply about that.

Right, right. we certainly weren't shooting soft porn. No. You know, it was like everything, everything had to do with character development and story arc. And so did I feel like I was sexualized in the space of what I was doing? No, I got to be with the sex pot. So, of course, there was going to be a lot of sex.

But her character being the sex pot wasn't just, oh, I'm horny because a woman needs sex. It was about individualism and taking on a role that she was told she wasn't. It was a declaration of. Expression. Yeah. Expression. Absolutely.

But then you and I have shared a few little tidbits about fan reaction to you. So maybe that was maybe more aware. Oh, in real life, I've been sexualized because of the show. And that must be interesting as a guy. I mean. Yes and no. Again, like I said, you know, I'd started. in a space.

And I think it is interesting. Interesting is a good word for it. I think things happen to you in life and you can take them as you will. And I think for me it was actually a good thing because to see how women are treated in the same way that women are treated, I think it was great for my empathy and understanding. Amazing. To be treated as an object to somebody else. else and not seen as a person in front of them.

Right. It is a very shi thing to do. It is. And men, I think, generally have very little understanding of how much women have to face that in every moment of their day. It's so true. Yes. It's so true. Just being.

Yep. So that's amazing. Yeah, that's really well put and really interesting. And would it have been something that you would have been aware of before the show because of your modeling? Yes, and also I just always liked girls, not like in the sense of I like them as the objects of my, you know, useful lust. But like I had a lot of girls as friends. And so I think I was aware of the female conversation from a very young age. And, you know, certain things like girls talk in way more details, guys.

So they know what you're doing. It's true. Yeah. But yes, I think it was definitely honed and got, I have a chance. to practice it because, you know, again, there were no intimacy coordinators. Right. And unfortunately at that time, you know, pushing the envelope sometimes does not take into consideration what's right or wrong.

And I remember once I had a fiery temper putting a photographer up against the wall because he was over-sexualizing this young girl. And she's literally shaking my arms. And like, this is, I'm like, this is not for her. like you're trying to sell sex and you're trying to ramp this up to a level. You had a photo shoot. Yeah.

Got it. At a photo shoot. Yeah. And for a campaign for something. Oh. And like you've got some vision and you are like not seeing what's happening in front of you. Awful. You know, to see that girl's fear.

Horrible. And the pressure she probably felt to do what he wanted even if she'd want to and all. It's awful. From both sides. Yeah. Yeah. You know, being done to young men and young women. Yeah.

And I luckily had, I don't know, enough acumen of holding space to create a different sort of environment for myself and treat it as business. Yeah. But I'd been aware of it for a long time. That's amazing. That's really interesting. That's good. That's suited you well in our world. I mean, I do feel like people are respectful, but I also feel like because of the who they wanted Smith to be in our world, like within our world, you know.

it asked a lot of you. Yeah. It wasn't a walk in the park. No, right. It was a naked walk in the park with a lot of people watching. But you handled it really, really well. All right. This is the last one.

When you watch Sex and the City now, first of all, do you watch Sex and the City now? I have. I don't. I'm not. You don't seek it out. I don't tend to do that with any story. Sure.

I mean, you don't want to relive. I don't. I get it. I love Newside. I didn't either. I love the novel experience. Sure, sure, sure.

And when you did rewatch, was it how you remembered it or was it different? Very much so. I think, again, having rewatched it recently, and I didn't watch all of it, but it was nice to see, because we form impressions and our memories are, you know, imagination, really. And it's nice to see that there is real substance. And it's a lovely, lovely piece of work. I feel the same way. Yeah, yeah.

And there's so many things I've forgotten. So it's like a discovery. I should probably go through, like start with your podcast and go all the way through this. You don't have to do the whole thing. Only you need to finish your books. Okay. I definitely do. You have a big task.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then the second part of that question was, do you see Smith differently now than you did when you were playing him? Yeah, that kind of goes up. to what we were talking before. I think I have a better understanding. Like if I could go back and just drop me into his, I think I could have played it with more depth than more. I think this all the time about Charlotte,

but people tell me I'm silly and I should be quiet. I think I'm going to say that to you. I think you did a wonderful job. But there is a different contextual understanding. There's things that, you know, look, sometimes you just do your best and it works out. And so I think there's moments that that was, true. Definitely. Where now I could, with deep and compassionate understanding, know why I was doing

those moments. That makes sense. I mean, I think, too, for us, like, it's been so long and we forget because the writing is so good and it holds up, right? But, like, we were who we were at the time and we were products of that time. Right. So, like, when I watch, especially the early seasons of Mr. Big, now I'm like, he's so awful. But at the time, that never entered my mind because this is what we were used to. Well, and it was like, I mean, talk about a great exploration of characters. That was a very much in acceptable relationship dynamic, not just in entertainment, but in life. Yes.

Yeah. That's what I mean used to in life. Oh, yeah. Right? Like, there was nothing weird about him. I mean, like, it's interesting. And now it looks like the most toxic dysfunctional. Exactly.

Which is, you know, hopeful. That's a hopeful. sign, right? I think so. I think, you know, look, I think we, you know, generalizations being generalizations, I think we've never been a more informed world. True. For better or for worse, right?

For better or for worse. But the conversations and emotional insights, especially with men. Like, you don't remember, like, basically, it's kind of like the madman era. When you look at that show, I thought they handled it really well. We had geminized, meaning we created a same. singularity of how to think that didn't necessarily exist in the world before in the advent of post-World War II advertising. And that's when men don't cry became so prevalent.

And so men were taught since like the 50s to bottle up them emotions and shove them down and ignore it. And that's healthy. Right. So sad. I think now we have a lot more understanding of context. And so like when you're looking at like the Mr. Big relationship, that was more of a paradigm of what men were like. Men didn't deal well with their emotions and feelings.

Well, how good they? They were not taught or allowed. Yeah. Really. Which again, one of the bravest is. So you know, you were talking about sexualization of men. No. I mean, like when you look at the different men that were there, whether it was Aiden or Burger, like,

Berger's whole thing is, is performance anxiety and. adequacy. That's a man who hasn't learned to face himself. Where on the inverse of it, you have like Aden, who's a man who's like, you need to face yourself to be with me, you know? Right. That's true. It exposes like different types of male dynamics as well. Definitely. I hadn't thought about it that way. But yeah. And then also like I've just gotten to the part where Harry comes. You know, and I mean, what a great character. Totally like the most emotionally intelligent man in the whole world. Right. And also like. He's just so like, this is me.

I'm here. You know, and then I kind of try to order him around because Anthony tells me that I should. And he's like, okay. And I'm just like, what's happening? I've never had him. I'd be like, okay to whatever I say. Like, it's really interesting. And not in a weak way.

Like, that's a, he's strong. No, no, he was showing you love. And he's grounded. He's, you know what he is? He's Wesley from the princess. Is it the Princess Tires? What I'm forgetting the Princess. The Princess Bride. I haven't watched that in a long time. As you wish. As you wish, as you wish, where she learns at first. He's saying, he's saying that and she thinks it's capitulation. He's saying, I love you. Right. That's good. That's so good because he's so grounded that he can do that.

And eventually she realized the strength of it. That's so right. Oh my gosh. That's good. That's very good. It's so interesting to look back. But again, like we talked about earlier today, is because of the writing being so strong. strong that it connects us as people to the characters and to each other and our own lives. The styling will change. Right. The social political events will change. Definitely. The humanity won't. Right.

And that's what it held at such humanity. So true. So true. Now that brings me so well to our day. We had a day. And thank you for inviting me into that. Thank you for coming. It was so beautiful.

We got to go to this event called the Hyundai Hope on Wheels handprint ceremony. I didn't really even understand what we were going to. It was so amazing. It was really beautiful. You know, in this world of corporatism and celebrityism, you have a lot of different charity events. And they're ecosystems. And I thought the ecosystem of it was so healthy and well run. Absolutely.

The organizers, like the guy that heads the nonprofit. at John that you introduced me to. He was as lovely as it could be. So lovely. The effectiveness, because the doctor you introduced me to. Yes. Talking about because of the funding they're able to get, they're able to push forward therapies that traditional funding,

you know, through government and won't allow for because they play. Yeah. Right. And let's just fill everybody in. We're talking about pediatric cancer. So one of the most horrific, difficult. things for any child or family to go through. And we went to the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. And this year, they received, I think it's a total of over $3 million from Hyundai.

Every Hyundai that sold, and I didn't know this, I have a Hyundai. I had no idea. I know. I know. I don't have a Hyundai. Every Hyundai that is sold, part of that sale price goes to Hope on Wheels and is given out all across the country. And now we learn today it's going to Canada now and Mexico, different countries. I was talking with the, so they've got over like 850 of their dealers and they've been doing this silently forever. Amazing. John, the guy who's heading the 501C.

The Hope and Wheels they call it. Yeah, the Hope and Wheels. They're independent organizations. Right. So Hyundai's funding them, but he's operating as an independent organization. And so he's really pressing for them to make it more aware. I mean, yeah, I had no idea. I had no idea.

And it's so impressive. They've given over $300 million. Which is an insane amount of money. An insane amount of money. And one of the biggest things they do, they do many things. So they're working on research. They're funding research. And as Jason said, sometimes the National Institute of Health, they cannot fund something

if it's a brand new idea. They need research stats already in existence to fund something more. So if someone has a great idea, for instance, one of the doctors we met today is working in the field of immunology, which is the cutting edge of cancer research. And so if they have a great idea and they need money to research it, they can go to Hope on Wheels and Hope on Wheels can just say yes, because it's a great idea. And this is obviously very established hospital with incredible track record.

The other thing they're doing is efficacy of treatment, right? So if there are these new ideas, actually putting them in place for children right away, so that they're not having to wait for a trial or this or that. That was one of the things. I think his name was Dr. Moore who runs. Yeah, so sweet. Yeah, lovely people. That was another thing.

Like, it's just nice to be around deeply human people today. I mean, it's so impressive. Yeah. And then we got to meet Isabella. Who's a rock star at 10. A warrior rock star at 10 years old telling us about fourth grade, already survived cancer. So incredible. And she is an ambassador where she wanted to be able to inspire other children who were going through this, that it can be okay.

That everything can be okay. So there was the little girl, Emily, and you can see she's racked by treatment right now. And that was so sweet. I wanted to, like, because Isabella went over to Emily and just, they were two little girls all of a sudden. This poor girl who's sitting there feeling like a weirdo, all of a sudden was accepted. Nice. Yeah. So powerful.

So powerful. These kids are so strong. And we met some moms today. And, oh, it's just some things they've been through. and then that other incredible doctor who's in her third year residency. Oh, that was a beautiful story. Incredible. Tame.

I forget what her last name, but Dr. Tate. Butler? I think it's Dr. Butler. Yeah, the two of us, we can figure that. Yeah, we got this. I had a good tell with her. What a beautiful story that was. Incredible.

So she had had cancer herself as a child, had gone to this UCLA, Mattel Hospital, children's hospital, had been treated by Dr. Moore, who had given her a stethoscope because she asked so many questions. She still has it. She's now a third year resident. And she is treating all the children, whether they have cancer or not, in the hospital. So sometimes she's in the ER even. Yeah.

And then sometimes she's on the cancer ward. So she's using her expert, you know, in terms of her schooling, but also what she's been through. Yeah. Her personal experience. So, so incredible. What an incredible day. Yeah, it was pretty neat. It was amazing.

Thank you for inviting me into it. Thank you for coming. I mean, I just feel so lucky we got to go. Yeah. So inspiring. When you get to dip your toe in the waters of other people's deep wells, it's nice to get to. Absolutely. And just to know that, you know, it's so easy to get stuck in the negative stories of life.

There's a lot of good people doing a lot of good things out there. Absolutely. And sometimes it's kind of quiet, but you've got to find those stories. And it just makes me so proud to be working with Hyundai. Because I didn't even know this about them. And here they are doing this incredible work. Okay. So if you would like to see more of Jason and I at the incredible Hyundai Hope on Wheels handprint ceremony,

go over to my Instagram where we created a video of our day. I also want to thank Hyundai for giving us the opportunity to learn more about the meaningful work Hyundai Hope on Wheels is doing for children and families facing pediatric cancer. If you'd like to learn more about Hyundai Hope on Wheels, support their mission or how you can get involved, visit Hyundai Warriors.com. Jason, thank you for sharing this experience with me. Thanks for having me, Kristen. You're the best. You are. You win.

Hey there, everybody. Amy Roboc and T.J. Holmes here from the Amy and T.J. podcast. We are your one-stop shop for the biggest newsmaking headlines of the day. We've got you covered. Yeah, there's a lot of news happening these days and some of it's breaking. We are on top of it every single day. There's a bunch of true crime going on out there as well and so much of it dominating on social media.

We have our eye on it all. Listen to the Amy and T.J. Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.