132 - ERIKA CHRISTENSEN - THE ACTRESS FROM THE FILMS TRAFFIC, SWIMFAN, HOW TO ROB A BANK...TV SHOWS PARENTHOOD AND WILL TRENT - CURRENTLY ON ABC/HULU CUZ I HAVE TO...when living your dream is the only option - with JULIE SLATER and JASON FRIDAY.

Hosts Julie Slater and Jason Friday chat with actress Erika Christensen. Jason grew up with Erika..and we all watched her grow up on film and television...from commercials for McDonald's, Volvo, and Payless...to staring in the Oscar-winning film Traffic at age 17...she's also appeared in the films Swimfan, The Banger Sisters, How to Rob a Bank (to name a few)...Erika also played Julia Braverman-Graham on one of Julie's all-time favorite shows Parenthood...you've seen her on Frasier, too (among other shows)...she currently stars in the ABC/Hulu show Will Trent which just got picked up for a second season...Season 1's finale is tonight....





We talk about Jason being the body double for Ryan Gosling when he was young...all the kids who became famous from Mickey Mouse Club...Erika's start in the b'ness doing commercials...how acting is Erika's truest passion - but she did have some competition when she was younger for wanting to pursue dancing and singing...She was 12 when she knew she wanted to act...her first film was Leave it to Beaver - and then her next film was Traffic...going to Oscar and Golden Globe parties...Erika talks about the biggest factor of acting - trusting yourself (even if you have to fake it)...how her parents supported her career...being 17 and getting Traffic (wtf!!)...how that movie made her feel like she was where she was supposed to be in life...whether she wants her two kids to pursue acting...how her five year old has already aged out of Hollywood for a part (lol)...being able to watch her own work - including her new show Will Trent...how she started to shadow the Director on Episode 11 of Will Trent - maybe she'll direct an episode or something else if it feels right...the short film she directed but didn't finish...identifying with things like "being a director," "being a runner," etc...how Erika blames any weird acting she sees herself doing on her character (ha)...learning everything she can about directing to see if it fits...how acting to her is "being a soldier" and a "good cog in the wheel"....Julie suggests Erika is an over-thinker...the safe space of the podcast...





Julie asks Erika about her experience on Julie's favorite show Parenthood...how it kind of worked out how long it was on (6 years) before it was canceled...how Parenthood was such a magical safe space and how cool everyone was on the set...plus, how the show sent her into a new chapter as well...





Erik's "cycling" "sports model" husband Cole Maness...his amazing beard...how they met...and how he thought he was texting his buddy when he was texting her...how she's not really a paddle boarder even though an interview online made it seem like she does it all the time...IDENTITY AGAIN...she doesn't IDENTIFY as a paddle boarder...her favorite scrunchie...how Erika keeps her guns going (her arms)...pull-ups/carrying the kids around/push-ups/rock climbing/bouldering...NOT identifying as a runner, but doing it anyway...using "ya'll" now that she has a home in Atlanta...what it feels like living in Atlanta (btw, she's all in about being FROM LOS ANGELES...although she is originally from Seattle)...does she IDENTIFY with humidity in the South...how people love Florida (gasp!)...





IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE: find out which actor was one of the most interesting/surprising Erika has worked with...any roles she wishes she got...has she ever been in a heated discussion at a PTA meeting...a song she tunes into to feel the feels...and how she hopes to be remembered.






Follow @cuzihavetopodcast on Instagram for all the latest news.  We'd love to hear from you - email us at cuzihavetopodcast@gmail.com.  Find other episodes or leave us a voice message for the show on the anchor website. Thanks for tuning in! Keep on living those dreams, friends, CUZ YOU HAVE TO!! - jULIE AND jASON




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