logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
50m 36s

From “The Wood” to “The Mandalorian”: Ri...

Wondery
About this episode

There are SO many different ideas out there about what it takes to make it in Hollywood. But our guest today, Rick Famuyiwa, is living proof that carving out your own lane is the move. You probably know him from his recent work, like the hit show “The Mandalorian,” or his 2015 indie smash “Dope” with Zoë Kravitz and A$AP Rocky. But today, we’re throwin’ it all the way back to where it started. Rick’s breaking down exactly how he paved his own way in the industry, the magic of telling stories that hit close to home, and y’all…he’s spilling some tea on how, at just 24 years old, three guys who would go on to become pretty big stars—Terrence Howard, Jamie Foxx, and Usher (ever heard of them?)—auditioned for his first movie, “The Wood.”

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Baby, This is Keke Palmer on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/baby-this-is-keke-palmer/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 8
What REALLY Happens In the Villa? with Love Island’s JaNa Craig
We all fell for JaNa Craig on Love Island USA last season, and today, she’s revealing what really goes down in the Villa. From swerving producers’ “suggestions” to run-ins with HR and how those Islander cliques actually form, JaNa is spilling all the behind-the-scenes secrets. An ... Show More
54m 44s
Jul 1
Groovin’ Through Every Era With Rom-Com Royalty, Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs has been killing it on stage, screen, and now all over social media…let’s just say, he never really needed to get his groove back! Today, he’s choppin’ it up with Keke for a deep, hilarious, and unfiltered convo about his career wins, the missteps (c’mon HONESTY), work ... Show More
49m 28s
Jun 24
Getting Paid with Influencer Besties Raymonte Cole and DeAndre Brown
What happens when the funny, fierce Raymonte Cole and DeAndre Brown pull up? We already know—it’s about to be CHAOTIC, in the best way possible. They bond with Keke over friendship, fame, and finding their lane in the wild world of social media. They break down how they built a l ... Show More
51m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Snoop and Martha: To Live and Die in Long Beach (Encore) | 257
Richies, because you all have been so good this year, we're bringing you one of our favorite ETR arcs just in time for the New Year. Calvin Broadus has so much to prove if he’s going to make it out of gang life. But that’s nothing new. He’s been proving people wrong his whole lif ... Show More
38m 36s
Dec 2024
Snoop and Martha: Snoop Dreams (Encore) | 258
Meeting Dr. Dre finally gives Snoop his big break. It’s the start of his new life. But before he can make it out of Long Beach, he'll have to learn that old lives die hard.Binge the full season early and ad free with Wondery+ in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/eventheri ... Show More
41m 20s
Dec 2024
Lou Pearlman: Pop Music Con Man | Behind the Hit Charade | 4
Journalist Tyler Gray was working in Orlando when he first heard about Lou Pearlman and his growing business empire. But it wasn’t until authorities apprehended Pearlman in Bali in 2007 that Gray began to investigate the story behind the man who created the boy bands NSYNC and Ba ... Show More
35m 25s
Apr 22
Tyler Perry: Turning Pain into Power | 274
Born in New Orleans, young Tyler Perry is forced to contend with all sorts of abuse. Some is at the hands of his explosive and alcoholic father, as well as neighbors and people he thought he could trust. Eventually, he escapes to Atlanta to pursue his dreams of writing and perfor ... Show More
46m 35s
Oct 2024
Listen Now: The Best Idea Yet
The untold stories behind the products you’re obsessed with and the bold risk-takers who made them go viral. How did Birkenstocks go from a German cobbler’s passion project 250 years ago to a starring role in the Barbie movie? Who created that bottle of Sriracha permanently livin ... Show More
6m 32s
Apr 2024
Buried Alive | The Elusive Gary Krist | 5
Atlanta-based journalist Steve Fennessy began researching Gary Steven Krist’s past for an article he was writing for Atlanta Magazine back in 2006. The assignment took him on a deep dive into Krist’s life, from his upbringing through the aftermath of one of the most notorious cri ... Show More
35m 13s
Dec 2024
Pedro Pascal: Living the Dream | 255
Pedro Pascal is a testament to persistence. When he was just a baby, his family fled Chile for America. As a young man, he decided he wanted to be a movie star, and began that journey. But the obstacles and hardships he faced on that path were more than those of the typical strug ... Show More
43m 53s
Nov 2020
Episode 1: Dating Apps & Dating Pt. 1
On Part 1 of the first episode of I'm With All That, listen to CJ introduce the podcast and welcome his featured guest Nigel, Kendall, and Erik, as they voice their opinions on topics ranging from romantic comedies, parents catching you in the act, and dating apps that you have h ... Show More
1h 3m
May 20
Ke Huy Quan: Don’t Stop Believing | 278
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Richies! In light of AAPI Month, we have a story about someone who has given “comeback” a whole new meaning. After fleeing North Vietnam as a child with his family, Ke Huy Quan turns to acting and is immediately cast in “I ... Show More
44m 13s
Jun 10
RuPaul: You Better Work (Encore) | 281
RuPaul is born feeling like an outsider. Rejection by his father and peers makes him doubt whether he’ll ever fit in. But instead of conforming, he doubles down and becomes a gender-bending punk musician.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendation ... Show More
49m 48s