Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - Ep 23: Erika Christensen

Episode Date: September 11, 2018

Erika Christensen (Traffic, Parenthood, Swimfan) discusses getting into showbiz at an early age, how she was able to book commercials are twelve years old, and the different ways she’s learned to deal with her nerves. Erika opens up about the role religion and Scientology plays in her life, her long run on the hit show Parenthood, and the time she tried to kiss me at a Foreigner concert and I apparently turned her down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get to Toronto's main venues like Budweiser Stage and the new Roger Stadium with Go Transit. Thanks to Go Transit's special online e-ticket fairs, a $10 one-day weekend pass offers unlimited travel on any weekend day or holiday anywhere along the Go Network. And the weekday group passes offer the same weekday travel flexibility across the network, starting at $30 for two people and up to $60 for a group of five. Buy your online go pass ahead of the show at go-transit.com slash tickets. You're listening to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. And Rob Hollis. It's not actually called that. I'm sure maybe if we renegotiate someday, who knows, but I doubt it.

Rob, I love you. We had a great episode today. We talked to Erica Christensen. She walked right up the street here. She lives down the street. Nine months pregnant. Nine months pregnant. Walked up the street.

What is she doing? What is she thinking? That's uphill to you. We had a blast with her. Let me tell you something. She talks openly, freely about Scientology. She educates my dumb. ass about it. And we talk a little bit, very little about religion, but we talk mostly about

life as usual and just all the crazy things that happen in our lives. Rob, um, Erica is a fascinating person. You might know from traffic, parenthood. You've been around the block. And she gets personal about a story, you know, with the whole movement, the Me Too movement and everything. And she gets a little personal and tells us a story that was, uh, it's just good to hear her perspective on things that happened and what happened to her. And it's important to hear. Yeah, she had a very healthy outlook of what happened to. Yeah, and I can appreciate that.

I think we'll appreciate that. Inside of you is brought to you by hymns. Michael, you were bald for a long time, right? I played a bald guy on a show called Smallville. How does your hair hold up? Are you turning into... Well, you know what? My hair has been holding up pretty good.

But my dad had good hair for a while. And then all of a sudden, I started to notice, Dad's going bald. He's looking like the lead actor from Polter Guys. Yeah, you got a receding. I can kind of see. It's receding a little bit. Are you doing anything for that? You're receding, you son of a gun. You got any bald spots popping up? Well, let me just tell you. Besides me, Rob, a lot of guys deal with this stuff. They deal with a lot of issues. They got, you know, the hair loss, 6% of men lose their hair by 35, which you're right around the corner. The thing is when you start to notice hair loss, it's too late, Rob. So what's the solution for this? I think the solution is for hymns.com. A one-stop shop for hair loss, skin care, sexual wellness for guys. like us for guys everywhere around the world for men in general robert it's science man uh i i think that you know these guys can if you're starting to get a bald spot and you can get some help

guys deal with a lot of issues man we deal with you know not be able to get it up i'm sure you're young so you still get it up frequently yeah how is your uh erectile you know i'm still getting you know i'm still doing pretty well but you know uh you could use some help okay well i think everybody could use some help so what what hymns does is they connect you to real doctors with medical grade solutions. No waiting room, no awkward in-person doctor visits, save hours by going to forehems.com, F-O-R-H-I-M-S dot com.

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Inside of you with Michael Rosenbaum was not recorded in front of a live studio audience. I was a little worried because not every guest comes over to the house pregnant. Oh, I don't know what the worst thing could happen is. Well, I could think of a couple things. Yeah, no, I'm ready to pop. But even, like, it's not like in the movies. Like, if you go into labor, you're going to have the baby. sitting on a couch right here.

Like, you're, I'd be like, oh, I'm in labor. Well, we got several hours. Let's wrap this up, you know? Yeah, you'd know, right? Yeah. Would you just give me a wink or, uh... I'd be like, oh, wow, that's a pretty intense contraction. Wow, your couch is wet.

I, with my first pregnancy, my water never broke. So, I don't know. Because I was having really strong contractions. What are cramps like? What are contractions like? Feel like a muscle cramp. Like when you're working out and you, it's like a Charlie horse almost. like it just contracts really hard.

Yeah. So it's just like, it's a physical exertion that you're not doing intentionally. Were you nervous first baby? Not really, because I thought that it would not be productive. And you can go down. Not be productive. Yeah. Productive to be nervous?

Yeah. You meditate, don't you? I don't. But I really, I educated myself on like what the body's doing. Just like, this is what your body's trying to do. So instead of being freaked out the whole time, you're like okay i'm going with what my body is doing it it's doing the right thing it's having the baby do you know for a long time i thought your name was erika christensen i'm sure it's

actually christensen it's true i'm sure very many people still think that it is and i so first of all thank you for allowing me to be inside of you today erica christensen always this is a real treat for me uh you walked to my house you tweeted me back a few minutes ago and you said i'm walking to your house because we're neighbors now this walk isn't it's not like jane lynch lives a couple houses away oh yeah that that's a feasible uh plausible uh plausible walk for you you're you're not that close and you're how many months pregnant uh nine if we're counting pregnancy is 10 which most people don't but the doctor does but yeah you walked it was a little far i was a little worried i was like holy shit she's kidding right you're nine months pregnant and you're walking

I'm going to go, I'm going to say three-fourths of a mile. That's both ways. That's a little generous. I think it's like a half a mile. Yeah, but here's the reality. There's not a lot of signal up here unless you have Sprint. I don't have team. Wait, I have Verizon rather, which is terrible in this neighborhood.

But somehow I was able. Yeah, so what happens if, you know, all of a sudden the contractions? Do you know how we met? I don't remember the exact moment, but I know that we were both working in Vancouver. What were you doing? I think I was doing the perfect score. Perfect score. Yeah, that's right.

And you were, yes. Great cast. Yeah, and we hit it off somehow. I forgot where. Oh, was it probably at the Sutton Place Hotel where everyone meets everyone? Where everyone meets, yeah, maybe. And you were clearly, like, deep into your Vancouver life. And Smallville, shooting Smallville up there, yes.

And I remember we hit it off, but it was just we were friends. and I asked you to go with me. To a foreigner concert. Is that not what you were going to say? Yeah. Oh, good. What? What?

Go ahead. No, I was like, yeah, I totally remember. We had a great time. Yes, but you don't remember? Didn't we go to the Lord of the Rings? Oh, the premiere of Lord of the Rings back in L.A. Back in L.A. It was with my friend Tom and didn't even went to the Lord of the Rings premiere.

And I remember it was a great time. And afterwards, you're like, hey, I got to go. My dad's picking me up. Nice. Remember? I don't remember that. You don't remember that, but I remember that. I remember that because I saw pictures from that and I was like, oh, I didn't look cute.

Why didn't you think you look cute? Because I don't know. I wore my hair natural, girls. What's wrong with natural? Exactly, but it wasn't working for me that day. You've been in the biz a while, right? I have. Wait. Okay, yeah. Yes, I have. I started working as an actor when I was 12. When you were 12. Yeah.

How did you know you're going to be an actor when you were 12? You're in Seattle, right? No, we had moved here already, thankfully. or I don't know how it all would have worked out but I'd been performing live with a group of kids basically like church group we'd perform around town singing, singing, dancing,

singing Michael Jackson songs and dancing and whatever What Michael Jackson songs? Beat it? Man in the mirror. That's probably the best Michael Jackson song there is. What, beat it or man in the mirror? Man in the mirror.

Yeah. Do you know that song, Rob? Yes, I know that song. My dad was a big Michael Jackson fan. Your dad's a big Michael Jackson fan. Do you know Man in the mirror? You know man in the mirror. Yes, I know man in the mirror.

I'm going to make a change for once in my life. That's the song you sang. It is. So you're a good singer. I don't even know you sang. I just thought you were a great actress, but I didn't know you were a singer. Oh, I love to do it, but I don't always do it. So I'm not, so just I'm not in shape.

You know what I mean? You have to be in shape to be a singer? Yeah, you can vocally in shape, the muscle. Is that true? Is that like a constant muscle you have to work if you want to be a great singer? I believe so. I mean, I guess you don't forget how to sing. Like, I could.

I can carry a tune for sure. Do you sing in front of your husband? Yeah. Yeah? Is he sing in front of you? Yeah. He does. He has a nice voice?

I think so. For some reason, he gets a little embarrassed when I compliment him on it, but I think it's beautiful. Really? Yeah. So you're acting at a young age. Your parents always like supportive type. Did you have the supportive?

Yeah. Well, here's the whole story is, okay, actually the whole story. If you want the whole story, speaking of my husband, he'll be so happy that I told you the whole story. Why is that? Because he just, like, he has these little things. things that he knows about me that he wants other people to know for some reason he's like but they don't know that part of the story you have to tell so okay so we moved to california from

seattle when i was four okay and i think my mom just got a lot of like oh your kid is cute you should get in the business and you were the middle kid yeah my older brother is eight years older and so he kind of he went to boarding school and he wasn't super in the home but um my younger brothers. Brando and. Brando and Dane. And Dane. I hear they're really hot. They're super hot. They're super good looking. They are. They're six foot three and very handsome. And you were the middle kid though. So didn't you see. Well, what? No problems as is the middle kid? Well, I feel like I'm the oldest because my older brother was so old, much older. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have that dynamic. All right. But so my mom got me going in extra work when I was five. She got you going an extra work. Yeah, and I, I don't remember that I disliked it or anything, but, you know, I got some work. I got, I was on Webster, the Webb Touchables episode, double episode. You worked with Emmanuel Lewis? I did.

Was he awesome? I don't remember. Is he alive? I'm saying yes. Rob, check it out. Manuel Lewis, see if he's alive. I think so. Well, because I know the other person, the other guy from different strokes, Dabney Coleman, Gary Coleman, he died.

No, no, no, no. No, wait. No, it's, it was Gary Coleman. What, right from? Gary Coleman from different strokes. Shit. Which, which short person did you work with? Am I going to get in trouble for saying? No, I'm going to get, I'm going to get, I'm going to get, I'm going to get, I'm going to get shows at the same time. Is Emmanuel Lewis alive? I bet he is. He is alive. He's alive. And was Ann Webster is the question? No, yeah, that is actually the question. He was. He was Webster. Of course he was a Webster. All right. All right. Okay, good. And so, I was five years old. I don't remember. I was an extra. I was one of many.

You weren't allowed to talk to Webster. Probably not. Dressed as a little flapper in the like Untouchables episode. So what did your mom do? She just said, hey, I want you to be an extra. So she just, it was her idea. Is that your idea as a five-year-old? Exactly.

And so we did it for like a year. And then they were making a pilot of dirty dancing, which clearly didn't go. But they offered me a line. And I was like. A line of Coke? They offered me a line of Coke. And I said, no, thanks. Like a good little girl.

But they offered me a line of duff. dialogue and I said no thanks and my mom was like oh bad idea cool not going to do the acting thing and so we didn't and six years later I'm performing live singing dancing all that stuff and my parents were like so where's all this go like what do you have you know ideas about what you want to do and I was like I knew at that point I want to be an actor no like but five years ago you wouldn't even say one effing line yeah for reals and then they discussed amongst themselves and they said, whatever, let's give her a little trial period. And I started working right away. And they were like, okay, I guess we can. You started booking right

away, didn't you? Yeah, commercials. How old were you? Twelve. Twelve years old. You're booking the McDonald's commercials? Did you speak in these commercials? No, unfortunately. I didn't speak in the McDonald's commercial. I did a Volvo commercial. How much money do you make? Do you recall a lot, right? If you're in a commercial and it runs for a six months or a year, you can make 50 or 100,000, right? I would say I probably made close to 50 on at least one of those. $50,000 on a commercial. Yeah.

We haven't even made $50,000 on this podcast. And we have to like divide it between us. And work. Yeah. And we have another partner. More than like a day. But McDonald's, you worked there for a day. Did they give you, offer you free coupons for Big Macs?

Were your parents into health foods? My parents were super into health food. So you didn't eat Big Macs? It was like an occasional thing, like an occasional. I remember specifically. we were on a hike with my dad and me and dana brando were not into it like it just got to a point where it was hot and we were tired and we're like kind of stuck on the sale or something and he was using McDonald's to bribe us like we're going to go to McDonald's after this and you did and we did but that's my only recollection of eating McDonald's as a kid pretty much it was like my mom made protein shakes which i still drink to this day protein shakes as a 12 year old there weren't protein shakes back i know there weren't they were gross she made like some kind of healthy protein powder and and berries and stuff like or something and we were just like oh mom this is disgusting there's chunks in it always of like protein powder the mixers weren't as good right you shook

them remember those little shitty shakers you put some ice in there and it just like you taste everything all coagulated it was gross so you're 12 years old you start working you're doing commercials you're doing dancing you're like I'm going to do this yeah and so then you start taking acting classes yeah and they're supportive somehow especially when you're paying their rent yeah were you pretty much no i wasn't no i wasn't but i but i was definitely i was definitely working um i was definitely getting work and enjoying it and i was really committed to it like really willing to go to acting classes and spend all the time preparing for my auditions and all the stuff right i mean did your parents take it seriously they were like you know

like you're an actress that's it my dad even like is like come on what do you do right you act how hard can that be you know he thinks you just go and you sit you act for five minutes and your day's over. I mean, the time between action and cut, if you could just count it as that, that would be amazing. Wouldn't that be amazing? Amazingly, myself and my parents all believed in me.

We were all like, this is a worthwhile thing to do. So you're a very supportive family. You come from a supportive. Now, do you think, now you've talked about this a lot. I know you talked about it on Dax, our mutual friend Dax's podcast, but do you think religion had a big part in your life? Because here's what I say.

I want you to talk to. me about this and we don't have to we talk as much as you want or as little as you want but i see religion really working for some people and i see it not working for other people yeah totally obviously the value is when it works for people and when we respect each other for it because we have seen on the you know the macrocosm of what happens when we don't respect each other's religions wars it's bad um yeah um it's pretty simple i mean if you think about it's pretty simple it's like why don't you believe whatever the hell you want to believe? Yeah.

And if that makes you happy and that's what you believe, then you believe it and just stop worrying about, I think that's, it's just such an easy idea to think that. Like, okay, you're Catholic, you're a Jew, do whatever you want, great. Just don't tell me what to do. Yeah. I'll decide what I want to do. Exactly. And so, I mean, how did they get, was your dad, did he start practicing Scientology?

My parents both started practicing Scientology, like, in the 70s in Seattle, and then met, through that and then and what they love about it my dad read dionetics i know i know i know my elron hebrd right yeah released in 1950 essentially i don't know like if self-help books were really a thing before that but this was a self-help book it's basically like a biology book for the mind it's very it's very technical but the whole point of it is this is why we do the things that we do that are irrational that we don't want to do that we don't know why we do them this is the structure of your mind and how how it got to be that way and how you can undo it and be rational and respond to things appropriately in present time instead of responding to things that happened before and stuff right

so it sounds like psychology in a lot of ways exactly psychology if the word were a broader word if it didn't define what we know as psychology if you just took it as like a study of the mind then absolutely. So you're saying that they fell in love with this idea, this concept, this belief, and that it worked for them. And they were able to change ways that they didn't like about themselves and sort of mold this new person based on knowledge and awareness of who they are in a way. Exactly.

Except I would say that it's not molding a new person so much as it's stripping away the stuff that is not who you really are. It's just, I'm speaking from personal experience now, but it's, getting at the core of who you are, all of the good things about you, all the things that you like about yourself are the real things. And the other stuff

that you don't like about yourself are not the real things. Because a lot of kids in high school, they start to rebel. My parents are Scientologists. My parents are Jewish. My parents are this. I don't want to believe that.

I'm atheist or I want to believe. Did you ever go through a stage we're like, I don't know if I buy this stuff? No, but I... But Dane. did or Brando or somebody definitely there wasn't any enforcement so there wasn't anything to push back against what do you mean enforcement I mean I know what the word means I mean it's not like you they said that I had to do any of it it's like this is what we're doing and these are the some of the things that we believe obviously there's it's actually impossible to force anybody to believe anything you can force somebody to say they believe something well if they have a weak mind I think think you can do that you can you can like trick them or something yes exactly but but they said this is what we believe and this is why we're doing some of the stuff that we're doing so i took a course at 12 years

old and i was like yeah i'm into it i dig this the course that i took which was like a few hours and i was like all right cool i'll do another one and they were like okay great and they cost 30 bucks or something they're like sure go ahead whatever and i just kind of kept looking into it and kept looking into it and i was into it so it was just never a thing it was it's so personal did they take you out of school because of the acting things and that's why you're homeschooled. It had nothing to do with Scientology. No, no, no. Yeah. It was because I was working. I was like in my classes and working and auditioning and the school that I was going to, which was rad, was nine to five or eight 30 to five. And so. That's a long school day. Yeah. Eight 30 to five. That's a job. I had no

concept of anything otherwise. It was lots of electives and it was great. But I couldn't do both. Like I I had too much school work to reconcile with my work work with studying my lines or whatever. And so it just didn't work out scheduling-wise. And so we ended up just doing homework. I mean, also do you get into the place where, like, I don't know how this works, but like Hasidic Jews are allowed to marry Hasidic Jews. They date, you know what I'm getting at. When you're a young woman and you're doing movies and you see a cute boy on set,

Does it matter if he's a Scientologist? Does it matter if he's Christian or whatever? I mean, is your husband a Scientologist? I don't know. You'd have to ask him. Really? Yeah. Because he's, he was super open to it always.

Like, okay, you know, obviously whatever you want to do is great. And then I'd explain more. And I'm doing it like, at the time that we met, I had the time to be studying essentially every day. So I'm like, here I go. Okay, bye. And then at the end of the day, yeah, this is what I was reading about and this is whatever. So you talk to him about it.

You say, this is what I'm learning. and this is what I, but isn't it a private institution where your ideas you can't tell people your idea? Absolutely not. You're educating me. I'm so glad. I'm asking, but why would I know any of these things? I don't even know when Hanukkah is.

I'm the worst Jew in history. These are why I want to know these questions. I have friends that are very religious Catholics and Mormons. I have my friend John Heater, who's Napoleon. He's a Mormon. I love him. I go to have dinner. It is whatever works for you if you're happy.

And sometimes I go, geez, maybe I should be a Mormon. They're freaking happy up there. Yeah. Family-oriented. and they just, that they're present, and they're like, maybe I need some religion in my life. What's going on with me? I'm a little bit all over the place. Maybe I need something that works.

I agree with all of this, that you've just said, wonderful. I'm not saying that you need religion. I'm saying, yes, it's beautiful the way it works for some people. Basically, yeah, so I was telling him all about it, and he was just like, cool. And then eventually, oh, well, he kept expressing ideas just in life and conversation that were aligned with things that I had learned by reading and studying Scientology and I was like where did you get that idea and he was like I don't know it was just what I think and I was like okay pause because I had to learn what you just expressed by studying it so let me find it and I could like find it in a book and go look

read this and he would read and go well that's what I just said and I'm like that's my point you agree with me on something that I read in a book but you just have in you and so that kept happening and we came to the conclusion that we tend to agree. So you tend to agree on a lot of things. Yeah. I see what you're saying. You kind of want, like, talk to him about it and he'll tell you because that's his business, even though, like you don't need to, like, for instance, Rob could say, oh, yeah,

my wife Natalie, she's Catholic, but you won't say he's a Scientologist, that you, like, that's his. I mean, there are some people like me who are obviously vocal about it and, like, vocal in a way that I end up talking on podcasts about it. You know, I love that. And it's just, I love how honest you are. Because to me, this is an education. This is an education for me who doesn't know a lot about it.

And it's also like it makes you, I think the world, a lot of times or society, Hollywood, they could paint a certain picture of things. And this is bad and this is horrible and don't go there. And you're like, you know, why don't I talk to someone who actually it works for and it's great and has positive things to say and educates me? And that's what it sounds like you do When you don't know something You look it up and you I just have people in the pocket

Instead of reading I have I have you come over the house and educate me That's a great solution Isn't it? It is Rob It is a great solution Just have yes everything Anything that you're curious about

You're like I don't know anything about that Find someone who will tell you Who come over the house Yeah so you don't have to leave Yeah And tell you all about it No I think it's great So you in your quest for

Not quest but you wanted to get married eventually you wanted to have a family right these are things that you've thought about a long time but you didn't think i have to marry another scientologist or someone who has my beliefs entirely i'm open right it's but they have to be they have to be happy and like let me live and and believe what i want to believe of course they couldn't say like that i i can't believe what i believe or do what i do or and not like be happy for me but and i've never encountered anybody like that in all of my dating experience but things that you believe

mostly hopefully I guess would lead you to act a certain way and so that's where it becomes important and practical so as long as we could get on the same page with things that we do then we're cool when you're in a relationship you're living with somebody

you're raising a kid with somebody then that you find areas where where there may be a little bit of friction are just areas. Or compromise. Yeah. Where we haven't figured out, what, wait, what do I believe and what do you believe? Oh, I'm, I had read this thing that said, if you let the kid, whatever, then it'll lead to this.

And that's what I was thinking. That's why I was getting upset that you were letting her do that. Cool. Well, it came from an email that who knows, like, what this website, if that's true or not. But we have to try it your way and try it my way or whatever. Or if it's a Scientology concept, this is why I'm. I was thinking that is because here's the concept that I'm operating on. And so do you think it would be cool if we can handle this that way?

Yeah? Okay, good. We're good. Inside of you is brought to you by Rocket Money. I'm going to speak to you about something that's going to help you save money. Period. It's Rocket Money. It's a personal finance app that helps find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions,

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Quince.com slash inside of you. Can you be a Scientologist and get away with breaking some rules? I don't know what rules. Like, for instance, like, Rob, then you say, like, no drugs. You could drink, but you can't do drugs. Yeah, well, that's not a rule. Rob, lift your voice up.

Yeah, sure, sure, sure, thank you, Rob. Rob's pretty educated for a 29-year-old. 30. 30. It's not a rule per se because, it's an action that comes from a belief. It's an action that comes from the belief that ultimately, to use my word from the beginning of this,

it's not productive. And it's kind of exactly counterproductive to what Scientologists are trying to do, which is be more aware and more present and more responsible for themselves and their actions and their decisions and all of that and confront things head on. Right.

I mean, I know a ton of Scientologists that have a history of using drugs, and stuff like that but there's a history of every religion yeah you don't really do not just like yeah commandments and it's not like you get kicked out of the religion if you break yeah thank god because you break them all the time rob all the time but it's like what do you what do you want to be doing do you want to be doing this or do you want to be doing that because they're they don't really go together but we hear things like you know you hear stuff and like i question this about john and being a Mormon and i asked my friends who are catholic but like you read a lot about the stuff

like travolta and the blight man the reason he can't get out is because he's so blackmailed and he they have all these things on him oh you know what i mean no i mean not really but like okay but they'll say they'll though you can't get out now because we have pictures of you with a man or they'll say certain things this but you see how this it's sort of uh blows up and it becomes something else and but you hear about this stuff i i don't really but i but i totally believe you and i think it's interesting now living in the you know the post truth era as we do now yeah right how easy it is to spread information that is if it's exciting enough or if it's somehow connected to something true that it just it just sticks and goes wild and whatever right i mean i definitely know people that have been scientologists and then decided it wasn't for them and then you know i know people that have kids that aren't scientologists or other members of the family or whatever you know like it's it's really it's a thing that you do so either you're doing it's like literally it's like do you go to the gym or do you not but see that's the thing thing. I look at you, and I see a woman who is together. I see a woman who's extremely

pregnant, who walked up my street, nine months pregnant. You felt like you could do it, and you did. Right. You didn't perspire too much. That was my whole aim. That was my whole, I was like walking, I kind of hiking up to me and I was like, slow down, slow down, slow down, bring the body heat level down. This is why I brought it up because I was like, for you, it works. Religion works for a lot of people. I see you as someone who's together, who's happy, who's friendly, who's compassionate, who has a huge amount of talent, who has always seemed so happy and together. And so I say, awesome. I appreciate that. That's what I will say. That's very complimentary. Thank you. Are there anybody in the family that's not into that? Does their own thing?

My nuclear family is all into it. What's nuclear? Mom, dad, three brothers. so all the tight all the yeah so but there's some people do uh those that don't believe are like whatever do you still are you still friends with their family yeah there's there's no like friction it's not a wholesale like whole cloth like you must take this it's like oh you you know you got injured we could do this scientology thing called a touch assist where i put my finger on your body and it could help you heal faster and feel better and you want to do it sure okay oh whoa whoa is that true? Yeah. You can do it? Yeah, yeah. Anybody. It's like... Can you do my neck right now?

Yes. But we'd have to pause for, I don't know, maybe a half hour or just in case it took that long to have you get some improvement out of it. Really? Here's the thing. Because I have a herniated disc in my neck. Yeah, there's another assist. There's all this is a whole grouping of like very basic processes or, you know, exercises that are called assists that anybody can do and they're super simple. I think this is hilarious because we could get a lot. off. I'm talking about this. But it's basically getting you in communication with your body by directing your attention to different parts of it. And so you kind of, it increases blood flow and stuff. Yeah, I don't pay attention to enough areas of my body. Just a couple. Too much attention on some and not enough. The main attention grabbers. I mean, I probably need to work more on my mind, that muscle. My neck muscle, obviously, there's some pain. Rob, are there any things that you need to work on? I'm sure, yeah. That's vague. It's quite vague. I mean, literally it's like,

Oh, I twisted my ankle. Like, oh, okay, let's do an assist on that. Does your husband assist you? Yeah. He does some assist work? Totally. Right. It's because it's very simple stuff.

You don't have to be a Scientologist to do it. You don't have to, you know, like, yeah. This is like, could be considered a form of acupuncture. Absolutely. A form of, just another form of healing. Yeah. There's so many variations, so many ideas. And if it works, it works.

Great. But you don't take norco for those pains. Is that a drug? that I am just not familiar with. It's a, it's a pain pill. Got it. So you wouldn't do that. No, probably not.

Right. So you probably never taken pain pills. I had some ibuprofen when I skinned my whole leg really bad. Really? Yeah. You're not drinking your pressed juice that I got you. I'm not drinking it fast enough, are you saying? Well, you can just mix it up a little so you get those things in there and then have a drink.

Okay. You know, you're pregnant. I just want to keep you hydrated. Did you have an epidural for your first baby? Mm-mm. All natural. In fact, I had my first baby at the house. You did?

I could have passed by yelling while you were pregnant. I could have caused her. Yeah. I've had an, I had an epidural this week. Monday had an epidural in my neck. It didn't help. I'd rather do assist points. Oh, my God.

Yeah. And they give me what's called Verset, Fettonol. It's everything Michael Jackson died of. Rolled into one. But I had a really good anesthesiologist. His name is Dr. Cicorian, not Cicorcavorkian. Cricorian.

He was a bandana. And he's very kind. But we're looking for alternative. of medicine and other things to help me out. We're getting off topic, off topic. It's super easy to do. It sounds like you had it together family. Like everybody was supportive.

Was Brando and Dane acting where are they? They have done and they're good at it. But they don't have, I think, the same drive to pursue it that I had in that obviously one needs. Did you have confidence that no one else had in the family when it came to that? Like you just, you were just alive with that? yeah it's a weird thing because you know like have you had people ask you like well did you think you were going to make it and you're like I don't know if I thought so yeah I don't know if I would

have tried if I really thought that I wasn't going to make it like my my intention was definitely to make it quote unquote yeah like I'm going to be an actor yeah so I'm going to be working at that my brothers are super artistic Dane is a photographer and a hunk and fantastic actor and Brando is a painter and a writer very prolific on the spec scripts that I just like it's amazing and books and things so your family is just they're very diverse yeah do you ever did you ever get nervous as a kid were you nervous on auditions did you get a panic attacks did you get anxiety you're nodding your head yes yes well I there's one thing that I specifically remember was so frustrating that would happen when I would get nervous and Mace Still someday in my future, my throat closes up. Like just in the middle of a word, it'll just close up. Has it happened at all in an adulthood? I don't think so.

But I've also grown into myself a lot. Do you get nervous when you're working? Not usually. I get nervous if there's something that I don't understand about it. You know, if. And then obviously there's work to be done there. But it's not a confidence thing. You don't go, I can't do this.

I have fear. I don't believe in myself. I'm going to get anxiety. Those things don't go through your head. No. See, that's a gift from God. And dionetics. And dionetics.

Yes. And dionics. Yeah. But it is. Yeah, absolutely. Whatever. It is because, shit, I talk about this all the time.

I talk about tons of people, actors and musicians and athletes and all the time about their anxieties and their things. And what do you think keeps that, you know, in check? There's part of a. acting method, I guess, that I have, that basically, like, a step of it is to, like, remove that part that thinks that you can't do it. Don't, that's not part of the equation. Like, you don't get to decide that. You get to do the preparation and then you execute it.

It's not for me to decide whether it was bad or good. It's for the director to decide if it was bad or good. Okay. Oh, let's dissect that for a second. Okay. Because that is an incredible, I mean, there's a confidence in you that you separate that, that just doesn't happen overnight. This is something you worked on. Was this through just growing up and taking acting classes and getting the right teachers and having the right energy and not being in a dysfunctional family?

And having the support stat that you just, the fear of the, I'm going to fail, I can't do this isn't part of the equation. it never has been? I'm sure it has evolved through many of those factors. I mean, as we also discussed, I did start out with a healthy dose of self-confidence. Like, I remember one of my first auditions, the feedback that my agent got was that I was green, quote, unquote. And I didn't know what green meant. And then I found out, oh, it means inexperienced, which I was completely inexperienced. And I was so offended.

I was like, how could they tell? Like, what gave me away? What racists? What? How could they say that? But then all of that kind of acting approach crystallized with this school called the acting center where they're like, this is the criticism that comes from your own mind and from your classmates and everything like that is it's counterproductive. What's productive is practicing what you're supposed to be doing and getting a grasp on who the character is and letting the character do their thing, you know. Did you ever get on set and you're doing something and you do the first?

take and the second take and the director says you're not even close this is not what we want uh i think we got to take a step back oh my god or we cast you oh have you ever been fired no that would could you deal with it i mean yes and i would also be i'm sure it would be a process for me to deal with it i would be like okay cool so why did you hire me because let's figure this out what were you expecting from me that you're not getting here or whatever well that's also scary talked about this but if you get cast sometimes you get what's called an offer without having to read and i've had those and i think those as much as you love them they feel good for the ego i got an offer today um yeah so i'm not auditioning for what you did i got an offer for it but here's

the reality then you get to work and you're like i didn't audition i don't know exactly what they want i don't so now you're going on set and you're just hoping that you are what they want no you open your mouth because when you audition and they go uh-huh let's test him let's give them another audition and then they're like yes well that's what they wanted because that's what i did oh 100 so there's something this weird balance right it's a yeah i'm so agree with you there's when you are given an audition you do the work and you find the character or you know what you think is the character and whatever and and you come in there and then they say yes and you're like got it good we're on the same page here right whereas you show up and you're like did i do my all of my work oh shit and then

there there can be like that whole okay navigating and then okay i think we're on the same page here yeah but you have to know the character is do you are you a good sleeper not really i'm no i have you in your head a lot no it's more physical usually what with physical um restless leg syndrome really yeah is that really what that's called it's a thing of course i don't take anything for it yeah but it's a thing i just put it together that's like so you know see i i did that, Rob, R-L-S. Look it up. Look it up.

It's a thing. Just like RPO. Rob's pissing me off. They have all kinds of, I think, you know, probably over the counter and prescribed muscle relaxants for things like this, but I take homeopathics and magnesium and stretch and whatever. I had a little numbness when I woke up this morning, a little tingling in the arms and the hands and the legs.

Maybe I just slept wrong. I don't know. And I've had some, what's the stuff called? Acid reflux? Not mucus, acid reflux a little, like twice in the last week. Huh. I don't know what that's about. A spicy food?

Maybe. Maybe a little spicy food. Wait, to solve it or maybe that's what caused it? Because that's what I meant. That could have caused it. Okay. That could have caused it. Okay.

So you don't get nervous. You do your job. You're able to let it go. You've always been, you don't hold things in. Do you stress? Are you a stressful person at all? I'm, are you a screamer? Do you yell at your husband?

Do you ever just lose your mind? What if I was? I don't feel like I would say yes, but I'm not. You never, I can't imagine you raising your voice. No, I'm not a screamer. There's, it's so funny the other day, we were having one of those parenting things where he wanted to, he wanted to rip off the band-aid that she had on her arm, and I was afraid it was going to hurt her.

And she was tugging at it and hurting herself by doing it kind of just tugging at it. And it was like getting the hairs or whatever. and it was too slow. So he was like, I'm just going to pull it off. I was like, no, we're going to go swimming. I told her the pool will help it take it off. So don't do it right now. Just wait, wait, wait.

And he's like, I'm going to do it. And I'm like, no, no, wait. And then he ripped it off and she was fine. But I was like, babe, if we're having an argument, we have to have the argument. That was an argument. That's the most you've gotten in you. I don't think you should take off the band-a. Yeah.

I told her I'd take it off in the pool. Yeah. Now, I'm going to do it. Now, that's your argument. God, I want to be in that house. raised our voices a little bit more than that but she was right there and that and that was like okay so pause here's what happens she adds this urgency because she's just like whimpering and crying and you don't want her to cry and i don't want her to cry so we're both trying to solve this thing too

fast you can't just opt out of the argument and make the decision and he's like i knew but i was i knew that i was right and i was like of course you go into every argument knowing that you're right we both do but we have to go through it to the other side where we're on the same page and then cool go ahead and rip off a bandit because now we're in agreement, you know? Do you have a rule where you're like, hey, we can't argue. We have to, when we go to bed, before we go to bed, before we go to sleep, we have to, it has to be over. That is such a good rule, but I don't, we haven't particularly specifically expressed that. That's a fantastic rule.

I will say yes, and I will implement it from here forth. Really? Yes. So you have been mad at each other for a good day, maybe? Well, we've never had opportunity to need that rule. We do argue about stupid small things like that, like whether to rip up. off our kids bandaid or not what about people on set like other actors you've worked with have you ever been like gone home and go oh my god this guy is such a douche magnet oh i can't work with this

he doesn't listen to me he doesn't care about my lines he's selfish he's late or she let's go to she maybe she did this right you haven't done a movie with michael yet oh how long even thinking of that one he was thinking about this since the second i started talking um i'm sure i've worked with people that I definitely worked with people that I didn't get along with particularly, but it's more like, like, there are things that, again, growing up and like being progressively more responsible for myself and my own emotions and reactions and everything, I've come to realize like, oh, that person's just, like, that's their sense of humor. Like, don't take it personally. It's cool. And maybe it takes a while to like get cool with it because you're like, I feel attacked by this person. And it's not personal at all.

So cool, okay, whatever. Who's the best actor you've ever worked with? Oh, that's a cool question. Somebody just came to your mind. I could see it. Well, the first thing I thought of was Michael Douglas, and then I was like, well, let's see. Is Michael Douglas the best actor I ever worked with?

Pretty good actor. He's a great actor. I got to work with Tim Roth on his show on me. Oh, I love Jim Roth. He's just delightful. Honey Bunny. Yeah. I love you, Honey Bunny.

um Craig T Nelson i mean Craig t nelson dude Craig t nelson's always been my hero poltergeist and i know dax when he was so excited when oh when parenthood started and getting to work with Craig t nelson and i remember day week one of the show i go i'm coming to set to meet Craig t nelson and he goes all right bud bring it he's the greatest and i went over and i met Craig t nelson hung out with him i was like oh my god i just he's the greatest he's the greatest he seems like a guy that's great and present but then he could just just kind of be like, you know, a little older and like, fuck this, I'm done for the day.

Fuck off. Yeah, I mean, I don't think he, I don't think he'd leave the set, but he would get to that point where he's like, oh, God. This is that, one more take, I'm over it. I'm over it. But, but he's so real. Like, there's no, like, I'm Craig T Nelson. No bullshit.

No, yeah, he's so just his, he's himself. Did you every day. Morning, Craig, Morgan, Erica. Craggers. Yeah? Craig T. Yeah, we all call him Craig T or Craggers or any variation of that. And that had to be just a great show to work on.

A lot of emotions, but a lot of people in that show. It's insane how good of an experience that was. And it's insane in the reaction. People get so excited when I say you or are friends with Dax or they are like, Peronode. Oh my God, Paranoid. Paranhood. I love parenthood.

That show just took off. It really, the people that saw it love it, which is awesome. Very passionate fans of that show, including me. Loved it. Loved it. But what I was going to say was back to like, confidence as an actor and being able to let things go it's such a good i'm sure people get this from like long runs of theater and stuff like that but a long run of a show with the turnover of material

you're like who cares that script's gone next you know like too late right i think it's it's a it's a very healthy you get a very healthy relationship with like okay i did it fincher's not directing this so you got three takes and we're moving on next like what good is it going to do to go home and think about it the rest of the time because you've got to read the next week's script are you constantly learning lines are you easy is it easy for you to learn lines I'll say this if the writing is great always then it's so easy for me if it's not it's the worst thing ever it's hard to learn any lines if it's bad yeah and sometimes it's clunky and you got to be careful well yeah because you don't know like how does that thought lead to that thought I don't understand that and like

what is but if it conceptually flows I'm good I'm I'm like it's I read it and I'm like Maybe I should read it again. How was Dax as a director? Wait, did Dax direct one more episodes? He directed Parenthood. He directed, also, I know, because he directed me in Hit and Run. Yes. He directed me in a couple of things.

He's great. I love working with Dax. No, Dax is fantastic. I'm just trying to remember. Were you in the episode? I mean, was I not? Did he direct the episode with Richard Dreyfus? No, there's no way.

That was like season two. That was season two, I think. Or, yeah, early on. Whereas they didn't let actors really start directing until later on. Did you direct one? I didn't. I wanted to. Did Craig direct one? No. Peter directed one, right? Sam Jager directed one?

Did Tex direct one? Are you backing me? You're going to bring my... Dext did direct an episode of parenthood. Jesus. Which one? He did keep on rolling. Keep on rolling. I mean, there was only a hundred episodes. 2013. 2013.

Wow, that was pretty early on. Jasmine and Crosby contemplate the future of their family as they welcome a new roommate. So it was probably mostly them. So he was directing himself. in that episode. Well, as you know, Dax is incredibly considerate,

incredibly articulate. Smart, funny, Charmingia. Yeah. He's, he's like very much a team player and very articulate,

which are the things that I want in a director. Yeah. So I can say without remembering the specific experience how great it was. Well, maybe you weren't

even in that episode. Maybe. Dax is really going to be pissed and she doesn't murder. I know, this is embarrassing. I bet you don't even have one scene with him. I bet that's what happened.

Did you ever have a, No episode, no scenes in an episode with it? No. Okay, so, so, uh, so, uh, so I was gonna, this is, this is six years ago. Yeah. You, you've had a baby in, and three-fourths already. Yeah. You know?

Yeah. Um, you've done a lot. I mean, you've done tons of movies. You've done tons of TV shows. You've done a lot. Right. And now you're what, 30? Five. 35. You're born in 1982. Do you ever get to the place where you're like, I don't really want to do this anymore. I just want to raise a family.

just kind of hide out and have fun. Or do you really think, I can't wait until this thing comes out of me so I can go work again? Both. There's like a speed of life that I get used to, whatever it is.

So when it's slow like it is right now, like we're just chilling, waiting for this baby to come out. You go crazy? No, I get used to it. And then it scares me where I'm like, I could just sit here and like make a peanut butter

and jelly sandwich or dream up a nice dinner and cook dinner and then what else have I done all day nothing uh you're working having a baby doesn't look that easy it's definitely it's a lot of work it takes a lot of energy i'm i'm definitely hounding my agent and manager for like well so what starts mid-september they're like you're pregnant how about yeah like calm down but i know that they're casting stuff for september soon so let me add you you're ready look at you i could see in your eyes you love work i really do That's what I see in some people's eyes.

Even Dax is when I look at him, when we talk, he's like, he just wants to work. Yeah. He just wants those people. It's the creative high. And it's also, it's my job. So it's one of the main ways that I value myself is by being a part of something and contributing to it. And then hopefully making a product that touches people and moves people and is exciting and all that. So a sitcom on CBS, 630.

you would you do a multi-cam I don't know if it was brilliant but I don't know how to do brilliant multi-cams these days I don't know Yeah I don't know if there's a lot of brilliant multi-cams Yeah I don't know Are you up for anything Is there certain things you wouldn't do?

Would you do nudity? In the right context Like here's a great example of the right context Is Shakespeare in love Gwyneth Paltrow is essentially A woman playing a man And then it's revealed for romantic purposes That she's a woman

and he's like unwrapping her bandages that she put over her breast and it's beautiful and oh look she's a woman and i was like oh that's great whereas sometimes i'm just like they're having a conversation but everyone's just focusing on her nipple like can we get that out of the corner of the frame so we can get back to listening to what they're saying because everybody forgot what they're talking about are you upset there's not enough dongs in uh in the industry that they show or you don't really care i don't care don't aren't as nice to look at right they're not like flapping dongs, Rob? I'm very upset.

They're not. Well, I mean, I'm all, you know, they're quality and all that stuff, but it's just like, you know, women's breasts are nicer than men's balls. Listen, I agree. Oh, good. Okay, you're with me on that.

Yeah, no, I totally agree. And all the more distracting. Yeah. If they're not there for a purpose. It's a weird nose. Well, just like, it has to really be a plot point that we're supposed to be focusing on it.

I know there is to know. about the crying game remember that or else yes that was the movie to show dong and that was needed yes dong was needed it's a huge plot point yes buffalo 66 unnecessary no then we're just distracted that's just distracting did you see that yeah that was the very long blow jobs were you disgusted by it or did you think it was art rob because you're an artist aren't you i mean i like vincent gallo you do like movies but that was a little much hey you know you doesn't like here it got everybody everybody likes it yeah that's true you can't please everybody so you want to be on a show again you want to be in a movie you want to work would you do broadway i think so like i yeah i would but i

also i also know that is so much work yeah it is really that seems like the the hardest thing in the world i would think so eight shows a week three hours a night it just seems a lot you're on your feet can i tell you when the most nervous was that i was recently yeah it was when i was singing I got to sing the National Anthem at Dodgers Padres the last second to last. They warned me about it. It was okay. It was okay. Because I had my headphones on or whatever, but I had my earbud.

So you didn't hear the echo. I mean, I heard it, but it wasn't enough to throw me really. Right. But not having been like a singer in years and years, I was in the bathroom, like, practicing the song, like probably sweating. I just, I remember. Yeah, just being like, basically like, I can't really talk to people right now. That's, that's the worst where I'm just like, nope. Just don't talk to me.

Yeah, I'm just going to hide until this is over. And I ran into friends beforehand. And then I went saying it after where they were like, you didn't mention that. I was like, nope, couldn't mention it. It was like just had to get through it. Very almost. I got a great response and I was very grateful. But, you know, listening to it back, I was like, oh, that was almost.

That was real good. It was almost. See, I'd mess it up. I'd probably sing Oh, Canada by accent. Oh, Canada. Do you know all the words? Oh, yeah. Are you Canadian?

No, but I lived in Vancouver doing Smallville for a long time. Yeah, so I know, I know that. More than six years? Seven years on that, two years in a show called Impaster. Yes. And another pilot, so I've been up there quite a few times. Wow, you guys did Impaster in Vancouver? Yeah.

You've been lucky. I mean, Parenthood shot here, and you're just like, you were in the universal lot, right? Yes. I mean, what a blessing, man. it could not have been better. It originally, very originally, it was supposed to shoot in like Pittsburgh or something, and then it was supposed to shoot in the Bay Area,

and I was down for all of it, but really grateful that it ended up. Do you want your kids to be actors, like your mom kind of took you by the hand and said, here, about an extra, some extra work? Would you do that with them? Only, I think only have they expressed interest in it. How do they not express interest when they're living in Los Angeles?

Yeah, and they're going to be exposed to it because they'll bring them to work with me or whatever, know. Right. But it's one of those things. Like, if it's a real passionate thing, go for it. Who am I to say? Yeah, that's a nice thought. Yeah. I don't, obviously, my overall experience in Hollywood has been very positive. Just because I like my job. Because you work and you go home and you don't get absorbed or sort of, it doesn't become all of you. you're able to let go do what you're supposed to do am i right i mean i do yeah i like i take great pride in just in in showing up to do my job and to just be on the team you know and and

and and and and take orders and like just i like i like being a good soldier i love i love and having those creative highs and everything like that but i i mean all of the also speaking of like the world we're in today the the post harvey winstein whole thing like i look back on stuff that i've experienced and i've been like yeah that was not appropriate um not to say names but what was the moment where you like i got myself down the wrong uh in the wrong place and uh this is kind of like i remember here's here's like the culmination of it is like i was at someone's apartment alone with them they had told me that there like a bunch of people were going there and then we show up and there was no one there

That's a lie. It's not your fault. They lied. No, surely. But basically, like, at that point, I was like, you said there were going to be other people here and there's not. And he was like, yeah, well. And, you know, and so clearly he's like, yeah, well, I wanted to get you here.

And I'm like, cool. I could have left at that point, but I didn't. Basically, let's say I did, hypothetically, because then there was another time that we hung out. And then he's kissing me, whatever. And I'm like, stop. And I'm realizing how physically strong he is. And I was like, okay, no, no, but for real, you got to stop now. stop stop stop and then do you understand what I'm I'm saying no because like I like you as a

human like as a friendly person and I'm interested in things about you and I'm curious about you but I'm not into this and you are uncomfortable extremely uncomfortable yeah I was just I was very much like it got a little bit further along physically than that and I was like okay you could easily overtake me physically so I need you to grasp that I'm saying no well yeah I I was like, I need you to understand what I'm saying. And I understand how you feel like maybe I've misled you. Okay, bye. I better go now.

But that was, it was grasping the point where I'm like, I understand how he could believe that. And I understand that also because I used to be very, let's say, arrogant. Like, boys like me. You know, I used to think, do you remember, this is, this is so. great. Cole's going to be so happy that I'm bringing this back. Like when we went to the foreigner concert and stuff, I like leaned in and you're like, oh, no, no. What? I fully leaned in for a kiss and you're like, nope. I said no. Yeah. I don't remember that. Oh, God. This is, is better? I think I would have totally kissed you. Is it better that you don't remember it or that

you do? I don't know. You really did? Maybe I didn't realize what was happened. I don't think I said, no, no, no. I did? I think you were like, I had mistaken the situation. Really? Yeah. And, And I was like, oh, wow, I'm that person that just makes the assumption that like, oh, you're into me. But I don't think that's an assumption. I think sometimes you feel something and the other person doesn't. And sometimes it's a little shocking or a little jarring or it's a little bit like, oh, I've had a date with a girl. And then I reached it and give a little kiss or something like, uh, and I'm like, oh, wow. I thought it went really great.

Can't even have a peck kiss or not even a kiss on the cheek or something. But look, but your situation, let's rewind for a second because all I could think about was this. All I could think about was the situation that you were in and it wasn't your fault. He said people are coming over and this and that. And then the entitlement. And I feel like, oh, she came over and that's where it gets scary because you get with the wrong person and they can't, bad things happen. And that, you know, you visualize that very good for me and I, you know, very well. And I, and it's kind of scary.

Yeah, it could. I mean, I don't know. Maybe my mom in hearing this would be retroactively scared for me because, because, yeah, there was that moment where I just realized, like, this body is so much more powerful. Like, I don't know how much weight this dude has on me, but, like, if he did not grasp what I was saying or didn't care, which is what I think you're getting at. Yeah, if he really just didn't care. I was very interested in him as a, as a fascinating person. you know like like if i had a podcast i would have him on you know to be like what makes you tick man like you're so interesting and successful like but you weren't attracted to him right right right and

we ended up talking about that at some point like i it made it may have been right then when i was like really trying to make it clear i was like i am impressed with you as a business person you know right right and and you're so successful and i want to understand that and i think it's so interesting and you know but that's a different yeah thing than what you thought it was it's a crazy time and it's a very important time you know all this all this stuff happened in the last year and i think it wakes a lot of people up and it just says hey you're not going to get away with this sort of shit and the behavior that was happening was was just so ridiculous oh and i couldn't i the thing I couldn't believe was like you'd hear about these guys and guys who I just don't understand this

can just whip it out and start masturbating in front of a woman and I'm like that's that to me there's some kind of psychosis how does that happen surely how can you just a woman's there and that's enough to I don't get the psychology of it I don't is it a power thing is that what that is I think that's definitely part of it. Rob? What is it, Rob? What is it? I am not sure. It's just I can't I can't put my mind around. I can understand like that's what gets them going. No, but you know what? There are a lot of things that people are into that gets them going that are like a real foreign concept. But you found Cole.

Yeah. And really pursued him. Really? Yeah. Made him uncomfortable? No, it didn't make him uncomfortable. He somehow. had gotten my phone, my phone number in his phone as Tim Johnson. Tim's our friend who was Massachusetts. And so like three weeks of me texting him and he just thought it was Tim this whole time. And me texting him like, hey, let's hang out. Okay. Let's. He thought who's Tim Johnson. Yeah. Let's go on a bike ride. Let's, which is, Tim rides bikes. And he's a, he's a professional cross racer. Like he, it made perfect sense for three weeks until finally I said, oh, I met your,

I ran into your friend Stephen today, and he was like, Stephen, did you meet Tim? No. Who am I talking to? Oh my God, is this Erica? The whole time he didn't realize you were doing this. Cole's from Memphis. The Lakers were playing the Grizzlies. I was like, hey, you care about the game?

Like, I don't know, just trying to start. Why did you like him? Because he's... Sensitive? It's his, like, joie de vivre. It's his, you know, his adventurous and playful spirit. That's what you loved. Yeah.

That's nice. Yeah. What about his ruggedly good looks? Well, that too. And the fact that I didn't feel like he was aware of how good looking he was. But that was a change. Like, at very first, I was like, this dude, he's so handsome. He probably is an asshole.

And then I met him. And I was like, oh, he's so awesome. Did your folks like him right away? No. They were just like, who's this guy? Like, you just leave for, you just go on bike rides and crash your bike with this guy. Oh, yeah, that big wreck. I got all, yeah, I got, I got, I got, I got, I got, I got scrapes and scratches all ruby.

They're like, what are you, uh, what are you doing? And I was like, this is happening. This is a really thing. This is a real thing. Which is an awesome thing. I granted we were together for like four years before we got married. But getting married is such a, it's so calming and stabilizing for everyone. Everyone knows what marriage is.

They're like, oh, it's for real, you know? And so as awesome as it is for us, and it is totally different being married. than dating. I think it's also awesome for all of our friends and family that are like, yeah, no, it's a real thing. They're not just like having a summer fling that last four years. Who are your Hollywood friends? We all have Hollywood friends.

Rob, unfortunately, I'm his Hollywood friend. Unfortunately. I said unfortunately. You don't have to say it again. I'm reiterating it. I heard you. Scott. Scott Conn.

Yeah. Yep. Scott's one of my main Hollywood friends. And then. Tofer? You ever talked to Tofer? I just had him on the show. Oh, yeah, I loved Tover, but we never hang out.

Right. We see each other at parties and then we like, you're mostly a family guy, girl. Yeah, family guy. Family girl. Yeah. Family, that's, I mean, that's you. Yeah. Family, church, life, work. Yeah.

That's what you do. That's what I do. Okay, lately, extended lately, like the last two years since I had a kid, real happy to just be at home and then go to work and then be at home and then go to work. This is a question. It's just a quick question you could answer them. fast. Wait, are these like Twitter questions or are they? These are Twitter. I mean, these are what people want to know. Lisa Hall at Negation 666. I love parenthood. How was it to work with such a great cast? Everyone in that show was wonderful. Show made me cry a few times so

relatable to my life at the time and probably still is. Awesome. Um, that was good answer. No, no. It was no. Awesome to what you said and what I'll say is it was a dream. I had it. At a certain point, I had to recognize that I was like taking for granted how good everybody was on the show. Watching the show, I was like, everybody's brilliant. Everybody was great on that show. Yeah. So, um, delightful, creatively, very stimulating and rewarding from the experience of being

able to make everyone cry just like you. Yeah, I cried too. Um, Sophie Miller at soft zookeeper. Does she have any good stories from the swim fan set? Oh, man. I have to say, I think, I think I saw some more questions on your Twitter that are about swim fan. And I will say that I was playing like a very sexually predatory character that I was not that way in my life.

Yeah. And so working with Jesse Bradford was awesome because he was full. Every time I'd be like, is this working? He's like, no, it's totally working. You're doing great. Literally, I was like, this skirt makes my ass look so fat. And he's like, no, it looks great. like he really he really was there for me oh and no this is a better story yeah let's hear it don't worry

it's fast um when we shot the uh what is probably infamous scene in the swimming pool i asked the sound department if they would play let's get it on right when we started the first take and i was like way more i thought it was the greatest thing i thought it was hilarious and everything and jesse was like okay cool okay take two you know but i was like i have to break this up and make it not really awkward and serious. Sometimes you have to do that. Sometimes it is. Yeah.

Or it could be really funny. Yes. You're having sex with Rob. But in the movies, it's always very serious. Yeah. This has been a real treat for me. You live down the street. You took the time.

You're going to give birth any minute to your second daughter. Hopefully not any minute. This is a real. What's your Instagram and Twitter handle? What is it? My Instagram is Erica Christensen. Christensen, as you pointed out. And my Twitter, which I should change.

But right now, as it always has been, it's Erica Jane C, my middle name, Jane, after my grandmother. Did you ever, did anybody ever call you, Jane? It was always Erica. E.J. I got E.J. I got E.J. for a while. E.J. E.C., really, mostly. Yeah. This is awesome.

Rob, aren't you excited? She came on the show. Very excited. What a treat, right? And you know, Dax doesn't let Rob talk. He does. He doesn't, right? No. But I do. You do.

You're very gracious. It's become a nice team. Yeah. Right? Yeah. I hope you don't ask for more of a percentage in the company. Oh my God. We'll talk later.

This could go on. I could hang out. Isn't it easy? It's just fun. I feel like that too. This is just, we're just hanging out. Yeah. I hope people find it interesting because I could just chat with you all day.

I hope they do too. You're going to give birth. You're going to move on. You're going to do big and great things. I hope you'll come back and see me. If not I'll yell at you in front of your house. Yes. You can come over while I'm in labor and...

Are you going to have the second baby there? I don't see why not. Thank you for allowing me to be inside of you. Erica Christensen. Erica Jane Christensen, this is a real treat. I love you. Thank you for being so open and honest and sincere. I'm dying.

And educational. My pleasure. You really were. You educated me today. You educated Rob. He didn't know a lot of these things. Very cool. My pleasure.

Yeah. All right. We're ending this. Bye. Football season is here. Believe has the podcast to enhance your football experience from the pros. One of the most interesting quarterback rooms to college. Michigan is set at eight and a half wins.

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