logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
39m 31s

Jennifer Hudson

Higher Ground
About this episode

Dreamgirl, American Idol finalist and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson joins us for the last episode of the season. She takes us back to her early years in the Southside of Chicago where she and her siblings grew up in a kitchen filled with song and where she spent precious late nights with her grandma in front of the TV. Plus, we hear about the poundcake recipe of her childhood.


Jennifer Hudson is a renowned singer and actress. She’s won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony, earning her an EGOT status. She currently hosts her own self-titled show where she invites celebrities, community heroes and viral sensations to bring empowering conversations to light.





Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
How Pyet DeSpain Won Next Level Chef By Embracing Her Roots
Chef, cookbook author, and winner of Next Level Chef, Pyet DeSpain, shares how her Mexican and Native American roots shaped her extraordinary culinary career. Pyet talks about growing up on the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma, debunks misconceptions about Native culture and cuisine ... Show More
56m 30s
Jul 1
Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich History
Bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan, reflects on his “Huck Finn-style” childhood in Singapore. He shares the real-life inspirations behind Crazy Rich Asians (including a memory from director Jon Chu’s own life that made it into the film) and regales Michele with s ... Show More
1h 10m
Jun 24
The Borinquen Family that Keeps Lala Anthony Grounded
Actress, producer, best selling author, and previous MTV VJ, Lala Anthony talks about her Brooklyn upbringing. She shares how boricua food was a constant in her household, the power of her lively Puerto Rican family, and how a cross country leap landed her right into the world of ... Show More
54m 59s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Lily Allen
Renowned for the autobiographical candour of her lyrics, Lily Allen has sung about the pitfalls of fame, drugs, broken relationships and motherhood. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for her debut album Alright Still and after the release of It’s Not Me, It’s You in 2010 won a ... Show More
43m 24s
Sep 2024
Minnie Driver
As a child growing up in Barbados, Minnie Driver developed an affinity for the water—and her love for the beach and its restorative properties has only grown since. For Driver, recharging is necessary: since her breakthrough role in the 1997 classic Good Will Hunting, she’s starr ... Show More
37m 10s
Jul 2024
Ariana Grande
ERK Chats with Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress ARIANA GRANDE. The pair discuss her latest album, ETERNAL SUNSHINE (and share some exciting news relevant to that), her appearance in the upcoming film adaptation of WICKED, our shared love of musical theater (and ... Show More
1h 2m
May 21
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon, the actor whose five decade career has earned her six Primetime Emmy nominations and an Academy Award for Best Actress, joins the pod to talk about her early days as a God-fearing Catholic kid in New Jersey. She details the unexpected and serendipitous path that l ... Show More
43m 48s
May 30
Battle of the Broadway Divas, e.l.f. Buys Rhode, and Nora Went to the Cowboy Carter Tour | We’re Obsessed
The divas are diva-ing! Jodi and Nora start out with a recap of Nora’s experience at the Cowboy Carter Tour in New Jersey, which famously had a tremendous amount of rain and a gender reveal (1:00), then go through some fake-sounding real-life headlines sent in by listeners (12:00 ... Show More
1h 29m
Dec 2020
40:Performance Coach Jennifer McGill
Insecurities happen to everyone, especially those thrown into the spotlight at young ages. We all have this idea in our head on what is considered perfect or ideal. When we make the decision to stop those thoughts and create a mindset of success, we are on our journeys to crush t ... Show More
32m 42s
Apr 2024
Angie Harmon's Dog Shot & Killed By Instacart Driver: New Details
Angie Harmon revealed in a heartbreaking post that her Instacart driver shot and killed their family dog. The iHeartRadio Music Awards was a star-studded night, with Beyonce & Taylor Swift both giving speeches following their wins. JoJo Siwa debuted a unrecognizable look at the a ... Show More
18m 44s
Sep 2024
Streisand’s Way
Singing, acting, directing, writing: Barbra Streisand always insisted on doing it her way. Malin Hay, who recently reviewed Streisand’s 992-page autobiography, joins Tom to discuss her performances on stage and screen, her prodigious voice and why her best movie may be one where ... Show More
50m 36s
Oct 2024
Julie Bowen: ‘Modern Family’ Success Came After I Gave Up on My Shakespeare Dreams
Julie Bowen is a celebrated actress and two-time Emmy winner who brought the iconic character of Claire Dunphy to life for 11 seasons.In this episode, Julie chats with Guy Raz about her childhood love of theater in Baltimore, waiting tables while studying acting in New York, brea ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2024
Food Network Star Sunny Anderson Always Has Cookies On Tap
Katie talks with her Food Network co-host of The Kitchen, Sunny Anderson. They reminisce about their audition for the hit series, in which they had to give a how-to on making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The two share more hilarious and heartfelt memories on the show, incl ... Show More
40m 20s