October 14, 2025 • 37 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by actor David Henrie who left an impact on a generation with his portrayal of Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. Now, both OG and new audiences are getting to know this iconic character in Season 2 of the spin-off, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Today, David opens up about what he’s most fond of when he thinks back on his time of originating his role in Wizards of Waverly Place, what growing up in the spotlight was really like for him, if he ever wanted to give up or quit, if he ever thought he would play Justin Russo again, how the idea came to be over the course of many conversations with former co-star Selena Gomez, the nerves he felt before playing Justin again, directing his very first episode, how his friendship with Selena has evolved over the years, the piece of wedding advice he gave her, the piece of advice he wishes he was given as an 18-year-old Disney star and wants to pass on to future generations, the kinds of stories he hopes to tell in the future with his production company, the top secret project he is announcing for the very first time, and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy Di Dario, I think I'm in a bromance with
today's guest. That guest is mister David Henry. The conversation
flowed a little too easily, as if I've known him
for my entire life. His energy is literally fire, and
you were in for a treat today. So David became
(00:22):
a household name, starring in Disney's Wizards of Waverley Place
alongside Selena Gomez, who together decided to bring that magical
world back. In Wizards Beyond Waverley Place, David is reprising
his role as Justin Russo in season two, which is
out right now. And he's just a creative mastermind. He acts,
he directs, he produces, and he even has a few
(00:43):
things cooking that you're gonna hear about today for the
very first time. And a big shout out to travel Guard,
my personal sponsor for today's episode. Get this, you guys
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(01:07):
for your chance to win that ten k so entered out.
Let's go baby. Okay, let's see if today we can
get David to say something that he has never said before.
David Henry, how are you, my man?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
How are you? I am fantastic. I'm so happy to
be chilling with you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
This is fun, this is really fun. Good to be
in your town.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Oh well, thank you, thank You're happy to have you.
You have a lot going on, a lot of exciting things. Wait.
Did I just see we're traveling too? Or was that
a while ago?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes? I did a I did a travel show in Italy.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Oh my homeland. You're Italian, I'm Italian. I'm Italian as
well well part Okay. My family is a small town
called Dragonia by Naples. Okay, by Naples.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I'm Sicilian. Okay, all right, we're the Sicilians Napolitanos. Yah.
We got a thing.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, that must have been affect.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
That's true. It was awesome. Yeah, six weeks all over Italy.
It's kind of like the Stanley Tucci, you know, travel
show that's about food all over Italy, except for us,
it's more about culture. So we're going behind the scenes,
asking like, why did they build these things? They'd be
dead by the time it was done. Why did they
build these things? And just understanding the ancient mind. Yeah,
it was fun. It was really deep and profound.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I love that We're going to Milan in a couple
of weeks. One of the main reasons is to see
the last Uppercs. We always wanted to see that work
of art. We just gotta go.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You gotta go, you gotta go. You gotta see the
Duomo there too. Of course, the duomo wasn't dude. The
duomo blew my mind got. I got to the very
top of the duomo, and I recommend you go there.
There's statues up there that are so beautiful and so intricate.
If you're on the ground, you see you don't see
that they have veins in their arms. And I asked
our guide why it doesn't seem cost effective to put
(02:44):
veins in the arms of statues that are hundreds of
feet off the ground that no one will ever see.
And he turned me with a smile and he said,
some things are for God only.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I like that, And I went whoa like that was
the mind of the artists back then, that they literally
they were trying to chase something intangible. They're trying to
touch something that you couldn't touch.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
That's cool, that's really cool. That's really cool. I love
that you got me psyched. Now I can't wait to
go all right, enough about my trip?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yes, yeah, sorry, we can talk for about mine. I know.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So people have been watching you for years, right, they
think they know you, but of course you live a
real human life. You're not your characters you play. So
to kick this off, I'm going to put my timer
on for thirty seconds. Love it, and I want you
to tell me who David Henry is in thirty seconds. Okay,
I love you, yes, and you will see my ready.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Okay, First and foremost, I am a husband, I'm a
father of three. I'm my main focus is on making
myself and my family the best possible version of themselves.
Then after that, I love my job. I love what
I do. So my goal is to make entertaining and
(03:56):
elevating content in front of the camera and behind the camera.
And I'm running out of time, So that's it. No
family man entertain how they've done.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Done well done. Okay, thirty on the spot. We're gonna
find out a lot more about you on this interview.
But that was a pretty good teah, those are the
things that matter. That was a good tea up. I
really really enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Well.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Congratulations on everything going on in your life. I mean
season two is out of course of Wizards Beyond Waverley Place,
you have the travel show, a production company. I mean,
there's just there's so much happening, and I imagine it's
all things you've wanted to see come to fruition at
this point of your life.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yes, exactly, right, exactly. It's it's one of those things
that you know you have in the back of your
mind for a very long time, and then it all
starts to happen and it's like, all right, you got
to keep this train on the tracks. So time allocation
is really more important to me now than it's ever been,
just making sure that my life is on the right tracks.
(04:54):
It's easy to get derailed. It's easy to say yes
between people. That's something that I have to work on,
is like stop saying yes so many things, be more intentional,
more specific. Yeah, but it's good. I'm very grateful there's
a lot of good things going on right now.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah, Well, the world fell in love with you through
playing Justin Rousseau right and Wizards of Waverly, and it's
a role that defined a generation. I feel like, I mean,
when you think back to starting that role, what do
you think of? What are you most fond of?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
You know. I talk about this with our current cast,
who are young kids, and they're asking me, like, what's
it going to be like for us? And what was
it like for you? And my response is always like,
it's just different now. It's so different. Back then, you
only had like five shows. I mean, the entire world
of children watched two networks. It was like Disney and Nickelodeon,
(05:42):
and that was really it. And on those networks you
only had a few shows. So it's like the whole
world watched a few shows. Now it's just that's not it,
you know, kids, nowadays you have a million billion things
to watch. It's like you have twenty different programs on YouTube,
fifty one hundred diferent things you can watch on YouTube,
and then there's you know, streaming platform. So it's just
(06:05):
it's fragmented in different now, you know. So back then
it really was like this the last glimmer of the
old ways, you know, and you know, in a lot
of ways, there was this democratization of distribution platforms now right,
so everything has changed, but in a lot of ways
it's I feel like we're coming back to a center
(06:27):
and I think we're trying to capture a nostalgic spirit
with this show, but at the same time invite kids
into the sitcom experience that we had when we were younger.
Sitcoms are a really beautiful thing. It's like problem and
solution and always a good ending, and that's really good
for society that like there's always a comically horrible problem
(06:48):
in the beginning of the show and then it works
out and that's a nice message for life. And I
think they've worked for one hundred years. They need to
keep working. So we're trying to bring that back now
for a whole new generation and seeing seeing that still
be relevant is very meaningful to me, like very meaningful.
It makes me very happy to see that we're able
(07:10):
to make a family show that can like touch kids' hearts.
Like for instance, the episode that I got to direct
this season is a Christmas episode, right, but under the
current is this wonderful found family message that anyone out
there who's adopted or who has found a family that
wasn't their biological family is going to feel very recognized
(07:34):
and appreciated. But on the surface it just looks like
a fun Christmas episode, But there's this heartbeat going throughout
it that by the time it gets to the ending
hits you hard. Like that stuff motivates me that I
can make a kid who's feeling lonely out there feel
loved and like put a blanket on that kid. That
drives me. That makes me excited. So sorry I went
(07:55):
that was kind of a long winded answer there, but
I get fired up by this time.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, I love it, man. I mean that feeling of
like nostalgia and coziness and just you want to feel good,
and we need more of that. We have plenty of
content out there that's not that, and yes, people, there's
a place for it, for sure. But I love content
like this, and it's so cool that it's been a
part of your life for so long. I mean you
were eighteen.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did the pilot. I was sixteen
in the pilot. Six By time I started going, I
was like seventeen, almost eighteen, and then yeah we were
it was a baby. I'm thirty six now.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, man, growing up in such a public way because
this the show, I mean, it just went crazy. Yeah,
it's spread like wildfiren't you Suddenly were just in the spot,
like growing up in front of everyone. Were there any
challenges with that? Because I think if that were me,
I don't know, I don't know how I would have
handled that.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Oh for sure, Yeah, for sure. You know, I was
very fortunate that I had good good that I have
good parents. A lot of kids who are growing up
in the entertainment business, they they want their kids to
be the breadwinners, especially if you're a child actor, and
it flips the printal dynamic. It's like the kid is
suddenly the boss and the parents work for the kids,
(09:05):
and that creates a really bad environment. So then when
temptation comes along, you're going to, you know, follow the
shiny object. And that's the tough part I found with
a lot of my peers. I was so grateful that
I had parents that just treated me like you treat
a kid in a sport. It was like, as long
as you're having fun, you know, keep doing it. As
(09:26):
long as you're doing well and having fun, keep doing it.
But I always knew at any moment, I could leave,
and that my parents didn't need me and they didn't
have to stay here to pay the bills. I was
fortunate in that sense. But a lot of you know,
I talk a lot to kid actors and to young
people especially, and the number one thing I say is
(09:46):
it's all about the parenting. It's all about the parents.
What are your motivating And I talked to the parents too,
It's like, what are your motivations in this with your kids?
Like is there anything in for you? Are you just
supporting your kid? Because the second that dynamic flips, man,
I see it coming from a mile away too. I've
seen it. It's like, that's a recipe for disaster. Yeah,
(10:07):
that's a rescue for disaster. So thankfully, Like, yeah, I
was a knucklehead as a kid. I partied, I did
stuff that you know, I'm not proud of now, but
it never crossed the line in terms of it. Just
I always had a dad and a mom would straighten
me out, and so it never crossed the line. But
a lot of kids don't have that, man. But it's
(10:28):
all the parenting one hundred.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So was there ever a moment where you wanted to
quit or give up during that entire period?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
You know, there were moments where I was like, this
is harder, I'm not having fun, and then we'd leave.
We'd leave, we'd go back to Arizona, and it'd be
like I'm done. And then time would pass and I'd
be like, I want to do it again. I want
to do it again, and then an opportunity would naturally
come up. But I've always really loved this. Like, my
(10:59):
grandfather was a storyteller. He immigrated here from Italy and
I just remember sitting at his feet. He'd be playing
the guitar telling stories. He was also a veteran too,
so he sp speak like broken foreign languages and be
acting out his time at war. And he was a storyteller.
And that was always in my blood to like captivate
(11:21):
an audience. So like, I genuinely love this stuff and
like this is it. It's in my dna to want
to do this, so I always I always come back.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
And I like that You're, you know, of course an actor,
but you're doing other things in the business as well,
like flexing those creative areas that you've wanted to do
for quite some time, and we'll get to some of that.
Of course, did you ever think you would play this role? Again?
I mean did you did.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
You want to?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Did you dream about it? Or did it just kind
of happen?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
It happened very organically and very naturally. Selena and I
just you know, kept in touch over the years. She
literally lived two blocks away from me when I got married.
She became good ends with my wife, and so the
three of us would just hang out, should come over
for dinners, we'd make food together, and we just talked
about the show. We just talked about like what are
(12:10):
our characters doing and what would they be doing now?
And oh that's fun for you and oh yeah my
character could be doing that. What's what's Max up to?
And we'd just be talking and so these conversations kept
going on and on over the years, and then eventually
it was like I start, I have kids now, and
I'm like the time it's been like over a decade,
maybe we do a show, And Selene was like, now's
(12:33):
the perfect time. Hell yeah, Like this is when the
world kid use some positive, uplifting, unitive family values right now,
Like now is the time to do it? Yeah, And
we pitched Disney and originally it didn't work for them.
We pitched them and they liked they liked the basic idea,
but they said, you know what, we're there's some you know,
higher strategies we're working on. So let's just pause on
this for a bit. So I came back a year
(12:54):
later and I said, is now the right time? And
they go, yes, now is the perfect time. It all
makes sense. Let's go. So we did a pilot, pilot
tested through the roof, and it's tough, you know, how
do you bring back something people really love? Like that's
a really tall order and a lot of times it
doesn't work. But our goal was like give a hug
(13:15):
to the original fan and invite them to bring in
someone new. That was the goal. And Selena I got
to give her so much credit because she burnt the
midnight oil to make sure the love from the original
show is felt in this new show. She's on it, man,
she's on it. I got to see a whole new
side of her. You know, she's just my friend and
someone I literally grew up with. Our show was like
(13:38):
school to us, Like it was like our college and
high school experience and we were just like super tight.
But to get to see her now work as a
professional was so cool. I mean she's literally on marketing
calls with like fifty people, and she got her little
notebook there, she got her glasses. She's like sitting in bed,
like taking notes, and at the end of the call,
she just takes over. She literally the calls like everyone
wraps up their part and then goes, Okay, I have thoughts,
(14:00):
and she sits up and just pulling out her notes,
going through things, throwing out ideas like she didn't got it.
She didn't have to be on that call, like that
was not in her job description. She wants to be.
She's constantly saying, make sure I'm included in this. Make
sure I'm included in that. I want to see this.
I want to give notes on that. From the casting,
I mean, she helped pick our main girl. When I
(14:20):
showed her the different girls, she saw Genie and she
was like, that's it, that's it. Yeah, it's cool. I
give her so much credit because, like she's poured a
lot of love in this and I think the fans
feel her life.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
It's passion. Man, when you have a passion. You want
to make it the best damn thing you can.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah, you're not gonna stop. Yeah you get out of
her way, Yes for sure. Yeah she gets it done.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Well, that's awesome and thank god because people are resonating
they wanted this. To your point, the world needs something
like this right now. So when you played your character
again for the first time after all these years, what
in the world does that feel like?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Dude? It was nothing. Because when you're building it right,
when you're building this thing in your mind and you're
hiring people and you're writing the script and you're setting
it up, there's almost like no time to think because
there's just so much going on in all directions. There's
so much to set up. I remember, though, I got
in hair and makeup and it was like the moment
now to finally shoot. You know, this is like years
(15:19):
in the making, and it had been over a decade
since the last time I actually did this, And like,
right before the moment I was about to shoot, I
was just hit with nerves and I took a little
selfie video and I posted it not too long ago,
and I was like, I just want everyone to know
my internal state right now, Like I am very nervous,
like I'm hit with so much nerves, and I think
it's because I care a lot and I want to
(15:39):
get this right for you guys, and I want it
to go well. So something about that took the nerves
away because I was just like, I'm almost going to confess,
like I'm just going to tell everyone how nervous I am.
And that was therapeutic. That helped me just realize, you
know what, it's because you really care. And then I
took a big deep breath and then I was like,
I'm just gonna go out there and do my best.
I'm gonna go absolutely trying my hardest. And it was
(16:03):
I remember the first scene that I did was just
like the door opens and I walk into the first
scene in the script and I just felt there. I
felt there. Second the door opened, all the nerves went
away and I was like, it's go time, and I
popped right back into it. You know, I think I've
become more justin the longer I live like I'm more
and more my original character. I care about responsibility, I
(16:26):
care about my kids, like, yeah, I'm him. So I
just trusted my instincts and thankfully it worked out really well.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
How how cool that you get the opportunity to revisit
something that is so meaningful that's not the norm in
the business, right, Oh you're doing it and I know.
I mean, I get the impression you want to do
this for as long as you can.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
That's yes, one hundred percent. That's me. Like, I have
a in my mind, what is a clearly defined goal,
Like I was that little kid sitting in the movie theater,
just mesmerized in awe, and it was a samee fel
ahead at my grandfather's feet, listening to him tell stories
and like hold court with my whole family. It's this
magical feeling and that's that motivates me to want to
(17:10):
do that for another kid. And I've gotten to meet
people all over the world that have been touched by
things that I've made, and I'm like, yeah, man's that
motivates me. That gets me excited. I live for that moment.
I live for that moment seeing someone take something in
that I've helped be a part of that means something
to them. I can live on that feeling the rest
(17:30):
of my life.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, it's a good feeling and it means like to
your point, it means a lot to someone, right, and
it's the light they need in a crazy world.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
One hundred percent, that's what it is. I didn't realize
it even we were making the original show, but getting
to like travel around the world, people told me really
moving stories, things like I was in a really dark
time and I was contemplating very scary things in my
head and your show happened to be on, and I
just sat down and plopped down and I watched it,
and it was light that I needed. That took me away.
(17:58):
It was a laugh that I needed. It took me
out of that place in my head, and then I
forgot about those scary feelings and it helped me. I
mean for real, Selena and I've had some like really
moving encounters with young people all over the world, and
you just don't realize it when you're doing it. But
then in hindsight, it's cool. You don't realize the effect,
(18:19):
you know, the domino effect.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And it's still fulfilling for you and you're getting to
do other things like directing what you mentioned, which is
such a such a boss move, you know, to be like,
I'm not just go direct and and you know, I
know you've you've probably studied it and have had experiences
throughout the years of course with it. But to now
see it in this Christmas episode that you mentioned, I mean,
that is a new territory for you. How do you
(18:43):
not let those little fun things I like to call
anxiety and fear and you know, trepidation, like stop you
from doing it.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yes, it's a great it's a great question because yes,
it's a lot, and everyone's looking at the director at
every second for another answer, and it's a lot. So
for me, I had directed single cam before, so I'm
the movies that I directed were single cam, Indie atmosphere,
high pressure. So to me, I wasn't afraid of this
(19:13):
because I'd been in a crazier environment before. Because when
you're shooting a TV show, it's all in one location,
and when you're shooting a movie every day you could
be in a different location. It's just a very different atmosphere.
So to me, I was like, this is one location.
I feel good about this, I can I have a
way of touching everything that I need to touch all
in one place. So I felt confident going into it.
(19:34):
And it's just done so many episodes as an actor,
and I always took mental notes of different directors. I
was always like, ah, this person did this really well.
Oh I love the way this person blocked. Oh this
person is a great way of communicating. I don't like
the way this person communicated. I'm not going to talk
to the kids like that. So I brought all of
those experiences to the table and it went well. Like
(19:56):
little things too, Like I know, as an actor, when
I hear cut yelled, I'm always wondering why did we cut?
And video village where the director is is like fifty
feet away, so it's like so far, it's a distance
away where I can't look over and like see what
they're talking about. So cut for actors can be nerve
wracking because it's like did I screw up? What did
I do? What's going on? So when I directed, I
(20:20):
was like cut, and I'd always call out to the
actors why I was cutting, to take the tension out
of the room, you know, it's like cut camera problem,
hold on, be back, and the actors would get to
get to relax in a minute. It's like, oh, I'm not
coming in and being you know, corrected. Just little things
like that. I knew how to make the actors feel
comfortable and yeah, it was. It was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
I like that you do that because so much of
the time people don't get feedback. Yeah, And it's like
we just want I mean you should just want to
know the why behind something, right.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Yes, exactly right that we want to be understood. Yeah,
And like a lot of times, as an actors, someone
will come in and just get you the note and
walk away, and it's like it just takes a little
more effort to give you the note behind the note. Yeah,
it's just a little more effort. Yeah, and I totally
focused on the why. And a lot of times it's
like I just want something different, and you could just
(21:14):
say that. It's like hey, so I would always come
in and be like we got that take good. You
give me exactly what I wanted. I want an alternative. Yeah,
So now I want you to try it this way,
where most directors will come in and give you the
this way, they'll come in and be like, be do A,
B and C, and then they leave and it's like, no,
just tell them, like, we got what we got. I
want something different. Now you didn't do bad before. I
(21:36):
want something different.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Well, it's clear that you're invested in how people feel
as well, and it's not just the job. It's like,
I want people to actually feel good. Who are in
my orbit, who I'm working with, who I'm friends with,
you know, and even hearing how you so beautifully spoke
about Selena and her work ethic, Yes, you know, that
shows that you care about that stuff. And it's so
cool that you guys have maintained a friendship for all
(22:00):
these years, because in our business it's not always easy.
And you're on set with somebody and your best friends
and then you don't talk, and it's crazy. People lose,
you know, they don't want to make the effort. So
it's like, what was that? But you guys really have
maintained this amazing friendship. I mean, how has that evolved
for you over the years.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
It's a great question because isn't it crazy how you
can go to a project with someone and you're the
best of friends. You're like, I've done so many projects
where I've worked with people and I'm like, this is
a friend for life, Like and then it just you
go home.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Like why are they not texting me back?
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Right? Like what happened? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And you just like disappear, You just fade away like
that is crazy. All actors have that experience, by the way,
I've had beers are so many actors where it's like, yeah,
we all had that experience. You hit it off at
some foreign location, you're in a foreign place, and then
you just leave and you never talk again. It's so weird.
But with Selena and I, I don't know, man, we
always had this like family thing. There's something a little deeper,
(22:53):
There's something a little more meaningful there because it was
such a coming of age experience for us both, you know,
like it was our high school, was our college like
all in one. So yeah, we just have this deeper
thing that like, and I think her in particular, like
anyone who's who's in her category. You it's hard to
(23:16):
make friends. It's so hard to make friends because everyone
wants something from you. People don't even realize they want
something from you, but they do want something from you.
And and she has a close knit circle of a
few of us that are people that she can go
do that have been like and I've been there for
her before anything, right like before she was she had anything.
(23:38):
So she just knows like for better or for worse.
I'm gonna give it to her straight. Yeah, like whatever,
that's valuable. Yeah, whatever the thing is right, Like, so
sometimes she wouldn't come to me on things because she
knows what she's gonna get from me, But a lot
of times she does. And it's been a beautiful friendship.
And now seeing her and my wife like get along
and have that girl connection.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Partners blind and actually love each other. When you have
someone meaningful in your life and they love each other,
that's the best feeling ever.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Yes, I totally agree. It does something to you, makes
you feel like I picked a good person, Like, yeah,
your your soulmate is hitting it off with someone you
really care for, and that's awesome to see. Awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Yeah, that's really cool. It's it's also like a brother
and sisterhood too, right, Like you told her, with somebody
for that long, it's beyond a friendship. It's like it's family.
I mean it's family exactly right.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
That's how it feels that, you know, she can wear
pajamas over to my house and feel like she's like, yeah,
part of the family one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Did you get emotional at the wedding?
Speaker 2 (24:38):
So I'm emotional because I have to tell you I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Able to go to go.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It was really heartbreaking. My ever project. I'm gonna be
announcing soon I was out of the state and there
was just literally no way I could get back. We
talked all about the wedding. I gave her my best
advice someone told me on my wedding day, David, take
one minute, hold your spouse's hand and just look at
the room. And this This is like literally my only
memory that I have for my wedding because it was
(25:02):
so crazy. There's you know, weddings are nuts, so there's
so many things going on. Yeah, and like I took
that minute, like right before dinner started. Ife and I were
sitting at the table, and I go, this is our minute.
We held hands and we just looked at the room
and took everything in. Oh yeah, so and so is there.
Oh so I'm glad my grandparents are here. And like
we took the whole room in. I still know where
everyone's seated in my mind, I can see it. So
(25:24):
I said, yeah, just take your minute, you know, and
just like look, take take everything in because her wedding,
you know, in particular, is just going to be you know,
off the charts, but yeah, I'm so heartbroken I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
That's good advice, though, that's really good advice. Weddings go
fast fast, I mean unbelievable. Yeah, I'm going to be
ten years in April married. Wow, but I still remember
every little piece nice because we took it in. Yeah,
we took it in. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
So smart, yeah, so smart? Right, because it is so
much going on in all directions that like you remember
these things?
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yeah, I know. We joke, we're like, we need another
one because I feel like I didn't miss quite a lot, right,
I look at pictures of what was going on there.
Why wasn't I in that conversation? Yeah? Oh that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You're on your take a big, big fiftieth.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
There we go, There we go. That would be fine.
You strike me as someone who gives a really good advice.
And you you because you seem to care, You seem
to genuinely have an interest in people, which I do too.
So why I began the show And I'm curious, is
there a piece of advice you wish you were given
when you were that eighteen year old as a Disney
(26:33):
star that you didn't get that you would pass on
to other generations.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's a really good question. That's a really that's a
really deep question. Lots of things come to mind. I wish,
I wish someone. I wish someone grabbed me at that
age and really forced me to say, Hey, I want
(27:02):
you to get a mentor in your life. I want
you to find a mentor, and I want this person
to be everything that you hope to be in life,
someone you really respect, that's not your family, and I
want you to spend time with this mentor. I wish
someone would have given me a mentor, because now as
I've gotten older, I seek that out and I seek
out wisdom from guys that I when women that I
(27:25):
really respect, and that has meant a lot to me.
I've learned so much from mentorship, and I really wish
as a young person someone would have said like, Hey,
you need a mentor. Find a mentor, and that would
have What's great about a mentor is they've lived it.
They've just lived it, and they can give you thirty
(27:45):
years of what you're about to go through in whatever
your field is in a second. They can just sit
down with you and tell you the principles that will
help you weather the storms and will save you a
lot of heartache. So I wish someone would have sat
down and give me a mentor and said, find a mentor,
really find it. You must find a mentor.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I think that's so valuable in this dandage, especially with
social media and the disconnection happening so much in our world. Yes,
it's nothing beats you know, human and human connection and
learning from somebody, not learning from your phone. I mean, yes,
you can learn from your phone, but like not relying
on only that, but relying on someone who has actually
lived it.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, CHATCHBT cannot be your mentor. No, no, you cannot
be your mentor. Okay, you're being mentored by a real person,
Like yes, you can sit down with have a couple
of coffee, you have a glass wine, whatever it is,
like on a regular basis, check in with this person
and tell them exactly how your life is going to
be brutally honest and uh yeah. The wisdom that I've
learned from guys, especially in regard to marriage too. It
(28:47):
doesn't just mean professionally, like personally too, Like yeah, I
don't mean business mentor, although that's great, but like more
personal like someone who who's who? Someone who who uh,
who's eyes, someone who's wisdom they can give you.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Hmmm, I like that. Yes, it's so important. I like,
especially getting older, you want to surround yourself with people
who who reflect your values, right and like who you
are inspired by and motivated buy and you're like, oh
my god, they make me a better friend or husband
or whatever. Right, like it.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
It's so important one hundred percent, because whether we realize
it or not, we're constantly, constantly being mentored by the world.
So the world is just going no, no, no, no, no,
no no no, especially the phones, like you were just
talking about, We're constantly being bombarded, and you got to
clear that clutter. And a mentor can help you the
thing the knife that cuts through that and helps you go.
(29:40):
If I don't take control of my life the way
the world, the algorithm is, it's going to take control
of me. So like, yeah, a mentor I think is
ultimately important this day and age.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
One hundred percent. One hundred percent. You clearly like to
put out messages that matter and shape the world as
much as you can and a positive way, right, And
that's what mentors to. That's what you do through your work.
You have a production company yes, What kinds of things
do you want to do with that company? What stories
do you want to tell? I know your faith is
very important to you. Do you want to do more
faith based programming? What interests you?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yeah, I really see I want to make stuff for
my family, for my children. I really see an underserved
audience in the family and the faith and in the
value space. I think there's not a lot out there
for them. And I think the past ten years has
just been crazy for the world, right, And I think
(30:35):
especially during the pandemic, parents were sitting down with their
children and watching shows that they're watching, and people were like,
what is going on? Like maybe this doesn't necessarily reflect
my values, And so I think there's this massive problem
that I'm trying to solve with our content of just
going back to unitive content, just going back to themes
that brings the world together and that I feel like
(30:57):
there was a more of a common culture in the
you know, when I was growing up, we could all
sit down and watch things and it was just good
for everybody. So we just want to make old stories new.
That's why we named our company Novo, so it means
new in Latin. So we just want to take old,
timeless themes and represent them and make them new again.
So we have some really exciting things that we're working
(31:17):
on that I can tell you a little bit about.
We're making a kid's show, an animated show for kids
called Halo Heroes, which is like a time travel show
kind of like Wishbone Where or Wildcrats, where you go
back in time and you visit a historic saint. So
like people have heard of Valentine's Day, Patrick's Day, Christmas,
(31:38):
they don't know the real stories there, Like there are crazy,
intense adventures that I want to go on with these saints.
And so it's an animated show that goes back in
time and travels with them. We're actually doing it with
Jonathan Rumy who's Jesus and the Chosen, And we're excited
for that because we think there's a universe of great
stories out there, faith stories that haven't been told. Like
(32:00):
Valentine was like kind of a badass, like duck shucking
and driving through catacombs. It was illegal to marry people then,
like yeah, he was running from authorities, Like it's kind
of a badass. So like I want to tell that
epic adventure of Valentine or Nicholas, Saint Nicholas. He was
he'd literally gotten a fight with a guy and at
the Council of Nicea and like punched the guy in
(32:21):
the face, like his nose was broken because he was persecuted.
Like these are. There's some incredible, harrowing stories out there.
It's not Hallmark cards and you know, lollipops. Like, there's
some really cool stories. So I'm excited for that. There's
there's a few different things we're doing as well. We're yeah,
I can't announce that one yet, but anyways, yes, there's
there's some really exciting things we're working on.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
So cool. I'm invested already. I want to watch it now,
let's go. That's amazing, Thank you, And I love to
see you light up when you talk about it, you know,
and you've you've done that throughout the whole interview, talking
about you know, lizards and the new series of it
and this, and it's so cool to see the passion
(33:05):
behind what you do because we all hope for that
in life, right we all hope for it. And if
even people listening who feel like they don't have it
with what they're doing now, hopefully there's a creative outlet
or another way to feel that because it's such a
beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Totally agreed, Totally agreed. I think we've all been given
a talent. All of us have been given a talent,
and it's like, how do we find an access and
utilize that. Sometimes it can be your job or a hobby,
but like, we all have a talent, and it's like
you get peace when you are exercising that thing one
hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Oh, man, David, I feel like I could talk to
you for hours. I love it, but it's in the
interest of getting you out. You're busy, man, busy and booked.
I wrap up every interview with a question based off
the title of the show, which is I've never said
this before, And it was born because I cover a
lot of red carpets and junkets and you just don't
get a lot of time with people. And I'm all
(33:55):
about real, you know, human to human interaction and connection.
I think that's where you get the most beautiful moments
out of these conversations. So I ask every yuest, what
is one thing you've never said before? Whatever that means
to you, however you interpret it. It's a chance for
you to just say something that you want to say.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I love it. I think it's a great question. I
think we're going to see I thank you for this question,
because I think we're going to continue to see an
increase in unplugging. I think as time continues to evolve here,
I think unplugged trends are going to grow. I think
you're going to see unplugged parties and unplugged social gatherings
(34:34):
and unplugged bars and all sorts of things being popping up, because,
like I think it's really dangerous how plugged in we are.
So it's awesome that you want to do that, that
you recognize that and you want you want to plug in.
The thing that I would say is well, I mean
there's a couple of things. One is personal. One is
(34:55):
like more of a business thing. I haven't told anyone
this yet, but I'm writing a children's book which I'm
really excited about. My four year old son he comes
up to me and pesters me with one question specifically
and pestures the wrong word because I find it adorable
and it was good, but he peppers me with this
question all the time. He is God bigger than fill
(35:15):
in the blank, Like literally just the other day he
knew I was coming here, and he goes, Papa, is
God bigger than New York City? And it cracks me up.
There's a smile on my face every time is God
bigod in? At dinosaur? Is God bigod in dis much? Like?
He just constantly is hitting me with is God bigger than?
And it just came to me one day. I was like,
that's a kid's book, and like, what a beautiful way
to teach your kids about God. It is God bigger
(35:38):
than fill in the blank. So we're doing a kid's
book called Is God Bigger Than? I wrote it with
my wife and we rhyme in a response, so the
response is rhymed. And then at the very end of
the response, we put a little Bible verse, but we
don't say what the Bible verse is. We just say
the Bible verse he saw M such and such or
the Gospel of this. And at the very end of
(35:59):
the book there's a note to the reader from my
wife and I and we said, hey, hope you enjoyed
the book. Turn this into a Bible study with your kids,
So grab a Bible, go to the image they liked,
go to the verse and open it up and read
it with your kids and sit down there and take
it in. So we're so excited about this because we
think it's a way that you can really have fun
with your kids. First and foremost, the book's fun. It's silly.
(36:20):
It's God bigger than New York City, It's God bigger
than the biggest dinosaur. But then it starts to shift
like is God bigger than my fears? And if God
is that big, how can you hear me? So it
actually starts to get a little deep and what hopefully
ends on an emotional note. So I'm really really excited
about that. Yeah, really excited. I've never haven't told anyone
(36:40):
about that.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
When does that want come out?
Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's going to We're aiming for Christmas next year. Okay, yeah,
maybe we'll get it a little earlier, but we're aiming
for Christmas next year. It's called the is God Bigger
Than the series?
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Good for you, man, good for you? You keep surprising us.
What can't you do it? What can't you do?
Speaker 2 (36:56):
Man?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
God? Am I feeling inadequate? Scenario? Croud?
Speaker 2 (37:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (37:00):
No, no, no, no, oh my God, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Dude.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Like I said, I'm super psyched for all your success
and everything you have going on and Wizards Beyond, we
really play. Season two is out now. Everybody go go
streaming over and over again, and I just I can't
wait to see what you keep doing.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Man. Thank you, bro, I really appreciate it. Thank you
guys for your time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
I've Never Said This Before is hosted by me Tommy Dederio.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio
and by me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've
Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis Duran
podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(37:44):
tell your friends. Until next time. I'm Tommy Dederio
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy Di Dario, I think I'm in a bromance with
today's guest. That guest is mister David Henry. The conversation
flowed a little too easily, as if I've known him
for my entire life. His energy is literally fire, and
you were in for a treat today. So David became
(00:22):
a household name, starring in Disney's Wizards of Waverley Place
alongside Selena Gomez, who together decided to bring that magical
world back. In Wizards Beyond Waverley Place, David is reprising
his role as Justin Russo in season two, which is
out right now. And he's just a creative mastermind. He acts,
he directs, he produces, and he even has a few
(00:43):
things cooking that you're gonna hear about today for the
very first time. And a big shout out to travel Guard,
my personal sponsor for today's episode. Get this, you guys
that are looking for the world's unluckiest traveler and they're
giving away ten thousand dollars to that person. All you
have to do is share your most Onny Hinge, unforgettable,
totally Unlucky travel Story to World's Unluckiest Traveler dot com
(01:07):
for your chance to win that ten k so entered out.
Let's go baby. Okay, let's see if today we can
get David to say something that he has never said before.
David Henry, how are you, my man?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
How are you? I am fantastic. I'm so happy to
be chilling with you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
This is fun, this is really fun. Good to be
in your town.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Oh well, thank you, thank You're happy to have you.
You have a lot going on, a lot of exciting things. Wait.
Did I just see we're traveling too? Or was that
a while ago?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes? I did a I did a travel show in Italy.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Oh my homeland. You're Italian, I'm Italian. I'm Italian as
well well part Okay. My family is a small town
called Dragonia by Naples. Okay, by Naples.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I'm Sicilian. Okay, all right, we're the Sicilians Napolitanos. Yah.
We got a thing.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, that must have been affect.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
That's true. It was awesome. Yeah, six weeks all over Italy.
It's kind of like the Stanley Tucci, you know, travel
show that's about food all over Italy, except for us,
it's more about culture. So we're going behind the scenes,
asking like, why did they build these things? They'd be
dead by the time it was done. Why did they
build these things? And just understanding the ancient mind. Yeah,
it was fun. It was really deep and profound.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I love that We're going to Milan in a couple
of weeks. One of the main reasons is to see
the last Uppercs. We always wanted to see that work
of art. We just gotta go.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You gotta go, you gotta go. You gotta see the
Duomo there too. Of course, the duomo wasn't dude. The
duomo blew my mind got. I got to the very
top of the duomo, and I recommend you go there.
There's statues up there that are so beautiful and so intricate.
If you're on the ground, you see you don't see
that they have veins in their arms. And I asked
our guide why it doesn't seem cost effective to put
(02:44):
veins in the arms of statues that are hundreds of
feet off the ground that no one will ever see.
And he turned me with a smile and he said,
some things are for God only.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I like that, And I went whoa like that was
the mind of the artists back then, that they literally
they were trying to chase something intangible. They're trying to
touch something that you couldn't touch.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
That's cool, that's really cool. That's really cool. I love
that you got me psyched. Now I can't wait to
go all right, enough about my trip?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yes, yeah, sorry, we can talk for about mine. I know.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So people have been watching you for years, right, they
think they know you, but of course you live a
real human life. You're not your characters you play. So
to kick this off, I'm going to put my timer
on for thirty seconds. Love it, and I want you
to tell me who David Henry is in thirty seconds. Okay,
I love you, yes, and you will see my ready.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Okay, First and foremost, I am a husband, I'm a
father of three. I'm my main focus is on making
myself and my family the best possible version of themselves.
Then after that, I love my job. I love what
I do. So my goal is to make entertaining and
(03:56):
elevating content in front of the camera and behind the camera.
And I'm running out of time, So that's it. No
family man entertain how they've done.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Done well done. Okay, thirty on the spot. We're gonna
find out a lot more about you on this interview.
But that was a pretty good teah, those are the
things that matter. That was a good tea up. I
really really enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Well.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Congratulations on everything going on in your life. I mean
season two is out of course of Wizards Beyond Waverley Place,
you have the travel show, a production company. I mean,
there's just there's so much happening, and I imagine it's
all things you've wanted to see come to fruition at
this point of your life.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yes, exactly, right, exactly. It's it's one of those things
that you know you have in the back of your
mind for a very long time, and then it all
starts to happen and it's like, all right, you got
to keep this train on the tracks. So time allocation
is really more important to me now than it's ever been,
just making sure that my life is on the right tracks.
(04:54):
It's easy to get derailed. It's easy to say yes
between people. That's something that I have to work on,
is like stop saying yes so many things, be more intentional,
more specific. Yeah, but it's good. I'm very grateful there's
a lot of good things going on right now.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah, Well, the world fell in love with you through
playing Justin Rousseau right and Wizards of Waverly, and it's
a role that defined a generation. I feel like, I mean,
when you think back to starting that role, what do
you think of? What are you most fond of?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
You know. I talk about this with our current cast,
who are young kids, and they're asking me, like, what's
it going to be like for us? And what was
it like for you? And my response is always like,
it's just different now. It's so different. Back then, you
only had like five shows. I mean, the entire world
of children watched two networks. It was like Disney and Nickelodeon,
(05:42):
and that was really it. And on those networks you
only had a few shows. So it's like the whole
world watched a few shows. Now it's just that's not it,
you know, kids, nowadays you have a million billion things
to watch. It's like you have twenty different programs on YouTube,
fifty one hundred diferent things you can watch on YouTube,
and then there's you know, streaming platform. So it's just
(06:05):
it's fragmented in different now, you know. So back then
it really was like this the last glimmer of the
old ways, you know, and you know, in a lot
of ways, there was this democratization of distribution platforms now right,
so everything has changed, but in a lot of ways
it's I feel like we're coming back to a center
(06:27):
and I think we're trying to capture a nostalgic spirit
with this show, but at the same time invite kids
into the sitcom experience that we had when we were younger.
Sitcoms are a really beautiful thing. It's like problem and
solution and always a good ending, and that's really good
for society that like there's always a comically horrible problem
(06:48):
in the beginning of the show and then it works
out and that's a nice message for life. And I
think they've worked for one hundred years. They need to
keep working. So we're trying to bring that back now
for a whole new generation and seeing seeing that still
be relevant is very meaningful to me, like very meaningful.
It makes me very happy to see that we're able
(07:10):
to make a family show that can like touch kids' hearts.
Like for instance, the episode that I got to direct
this season is a Christmas episode, right, but under the
current is this wonderful found family message that anyone out
there who's adopted or who has found a family that
wasn't their biological family is going to feel very recognized
(07:34):
and appreciated. But on the surface it just looks like
a fun Christmas episode, But there's this heartbeat going throughout
it that by the time it gets to the ending
hits you hard. Like that stuff motivates me that I
can make a kid who's feeling lonely out there feel
loved and like put a blanket on that kid. That
drives me. That makes me excited. So sorry I went
(07:55):
that was kind of a long winded answer there, but
I get fired up by this time.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, I love it, man. I mean that feeling of
like nostalgia and coziness and just you want to feel good,
and we need more of that. We have plenty of
content out there that's not that, and yes, people, there's
a place for it, for sure. But I love content
like this, and it's so cool that it's been a
part of your life for so long. I mean you
were eighteen.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did the pilot. I was sixteen
in the pilot. Six By time I started going, I
was like seventeen, almost eighteen, and then yeah we were
it was a baby. I'm thirty six now.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, man, growing up in such a public way because
this the show, I mean, it just went crazy. Yeah,
it's spread like wildfiren't you Suddenly were just in the spot,
like growing up in front of everyone. Were there any
challenges with that? Because I think if that were me,
I don't know, I don't know how I would have
handled that.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Oh for sure, Yeah, for sure. You know, I was
very fortunate that I had good good that I have
good parents. A lot of kids who are growing up
in the entertainment business, they they want their kids to
be the breadwinners, especially if you're a child actor, and
it flips the printal dynamic. It's like the kid is
suddenly the boss and the parents work for the kids,
(09:05):
and that creates a really bad environment. So then when
temptation comes along, you're going to, you know, follow the
shiny object. And that's the tough part I found with
a lot of my peers. I was so grateful that
I had parents that just treated me like you treat
a kid in a sport. It was like, as long
as you're having fun, you know, keep doing it. As
(09:26):
long as you're doing well and having fun, keep doing it.
But I always knew at any moment, I could leave,
and that my parents didn't need me and they didn't
have to stay here to pay the bills. I was
fortunate in that sense. But a lot of you know,
I talk a lot to kid actors and to young
people especially, and the number one thing I say is
(09:46):
it's all about the parenting. It's all about the parents.
What are your motivating And I talked to the parents too,
It's like, what are your motivations in this with your kids?
Like is there anything in for you? Are you just
supporting your kid? Because the second that dynamic flips, man,
I see it coming from a mile away too. I've
seen it. It's like, that's a recipe for disaster. Yeah,
(10:07):
that's a rescue for disaster. So thankfully, Like, yeah, I
was a knucklehead as a kid. I partied, I did
stuff that you know, I'm not proud of now, but
it never crossed the line in terms of it. Just
I always had a dad and a mom would straighten
me out, and so it never crossed the line. But
a lot of kids don't have that, man. But it's
(10:28):
all the parenting one hundred.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So was there ever a moment where you wanted to
quit or give up during that entire period?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
You know, there were moments where I was like, this
is harder, I'm not having fun, and then we'd leave.
We'd leave, we'd go back to Arizona, and it'd be
like I'm done. And then time would pass and I'd
be like, I want to do it again. I want
to do it again, and then an opportunity would naturally
come up. But I've always really loved this. Like, my
(10:59):
grandfather was a storyteller. He immigrated here from Italy and
I just remember sitting at his feet. He'd be playing
the guitar telling stories. He was also a veteran too,
so he sp speak like broken foreign languages and be
acting out his time at war. And he was a storyteller.
And that was always in my blood to like captivate
(11:21):
an audience. So like, I genuinely love this stuff and
like this is it. It's in my dna to want
to do this, so I always I always come back.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
And I like that You're, you know, of course an actor,
but you're doing other things in the business as well,
like flexing those creative areas that you've wanted to do
for quite some time, and we'll get to some of that.
Of course, did you ever think you would play this role? Again?
I mean did you did.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
You want to?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Did you dream about it? Or did it just kind
of happen?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
It happened very organically and very naturally. Selena and I
just you know, kept in touch over the years. She
literally lived two blocks away from me when I got married.
She became good ends with my wife, and so the
three of us would just hang out, should come over
for dinners, we'd make food together, and we just talked
about the show. We just talked about like what are
(12:10):
our characters doing and what would they be doing now?
And oh that's fun for you and oh yeah my
character could be doing that. What's what's Max up to?
And we'd just be talking and so these conversations kept
going on and on over the years, and then eventually
it was like I start, I have kids now, and
I'm like the time it's been like over a decade,
maybe we do a show, And Selene was like, now's
(12:33):
the perfect time. Hell yeah, Like this is when the
world kid use some positive, uplifting, unitive family values right now,
Like now is the time to do it? Yeah, And
we pitched Disney and originally it didn't work for them.
We pitched them and they liked they liked the basic idea,
but they said, you know what, we're there's some you know,
higher strategies we're working on. So let's just pause on
this for a bit. So I came back a year
(12:54):
later and I said, is now the right time? And
they go, yes, now is the perfect time. It all
makes sense. Let's go. So we did a pilot, pilot
tested through the roof, and it's tough, you know, how
do you bring back something people really love? Like that's
a really tall order and a lot of times it
doesn't work. But our goal was like give a hug
(13:15):
to the original fan and invite them to bring in
someone new. That was the goal. And Selena I got
to give her so much credit because she burnt the
midnight oil to make sure the love from the original
show is felt in this new show. She's on it, man,
she's on it. I got to see a whole new
side of her. You know, she's just my friend and
someone I literally grew up with. Our show was like
(13:38):
school to us, Like it was like our college and
high school experience and we were just like super tight.
But to get to see her now work as a
professional was so cool. I mean she's literally on marketing
calls with like fifty people, and she got her little
notebook there, she got her glasses. She's like sitting in bed,
like taking notes, and at the end of the call,
she just takes over. She literally the calls like everyone
wraps up their part and then goes, Okay, I have thoughts,
(14:00):
and she sits up and just pulling out her notes,
going through things, throwing out ideas like she didn't got it.
She didn't have to be on that call, like that
was not in her job description. She wants to be.
She's constantly saying, make sure I'm included in this. Make
sure I'm included in that. I want to see this.
I want to give notes on that. From the casting,
I mean, she helped pick our main girl. When I
(14:20):
showed her the different girls, she saw Genie and she
was like, that's it, that's it. Yeah, it's cool. I
give her so much credit because, like she's poured a
lot of love in this and I think the fans
feel her life.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
It's passion. Man, when you have a passion. You want
to make it the best damn thing you can.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah, you're not gonna stop. Yeah you get out of
her way, Yes for sure. Yeah she gets it done.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Well, that's awesome and thank god because people are resonating
they wanted this. To your point, the world needs something
like this right now. So when you played your character
again for the first time after all these years, what
in the world does that feel like?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Dude? It was nothing. Because when you're building it right,
when you're building this thing in your mind and you're
hiring people and you're writing the script and you're setting
it up, there's almost like no time to think because
there's just so much going on in all directions. There's
so much to set up. I remember, though, I got
in hair and makeup and it was like the moment
now to finally shoot. You know, this is like years
(15:19):
in the making, and it had been over a decade
since the last time I actually did this, And like,
right before the moment I was about to shoot, I
was just hit with nerves and I took a little
selfie video and I posted it not too long ago,
and I was like, I just want everyone to know
my internal state right now, Like I am very nervous,
like I'm hit with so much nerves, and I think
it's because I care a lot and I want to
(15:39):
get this right for you guys, and I want it
to go well. So something about that took the nerves
away because I was just like, I'm almost going to confess,
like I'm just going to tell everyone how nervous I am.
And that was therapeutic. That helped me just realize, you
know what, it's because you really care. And then I
took a big deep breath and then I was like,
I'm just gonna go out there and do my best.
I'm gonna go absolutely trying my hardest. And it was
(16:03):
I remember the first scene that I did was just
like the door opens and I walk into the first
scene in the script and I just felt there. I
felt there. Second the door opened, all the nerves went
away and I was like, it's go time, and I
popped right back into it. You know, I think I've
become more justin the longer I live like I'm more
and more my original character. I care about responsibility, I
(16:26):
care about my kids, like, yeah, I'm him. So I
just trusted my instincts and thankfully it worked out really well.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
How how cool that you get the opportunity to revisit
something that is so meaningful that's not the norm in
the business, right, Oh you're doing it and I know.
I mean, I get the impression you want to do
this for as long as you can.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
That's yes, one hundred percent. That's me. Like, I have
a in my mind, what is a clearly defined goal,
Like I was that little kid sitting in the movie theater,
just mesmerized in awe, and it was a samee fel
ahead at my grandfather's feet, listening to him tell stories
and like hold court with my whole family. It's this
magical feeling and that's that motivates me to want to
(17:10):
do that for another kid. And I've gotten to meet
people all over the world that have been touched by
things that I've made, and I'm like, yeah, man's that
motivates me. That gets me excited. I live for that moment.
I live for that moment seeing someone take something in
that I've helped be a part of that means something
to them. I can live on that feeling the rest
(17:30):
of my life.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, it's a good feeling and it means like to
your point, it means a lot to someone, right, and
it's the light they need in a crazy world.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
One hundred percent, that's what it is. I didn't realize
it even we were making the original show, but getting
to like travel around the world, people told me really
moving stories, things like I was in a really dark
time and I was contemplating very scary things in my
head and your show happened to be on, and I
just sat down and plopped down and I watched it,
and it was light that I needed. That took me away.
(17:58):
It was a laugh that I needed. It took me
out of that place in my head, and then I
forgot about those scary feelings and it helped me. I
mean for real, Selena and I've had some like really
moving encounters with young people all over the world, and
you just don't realize it when you're doing it. But
then in hindsight, it's cool. You don't realize the effect,
(18:19):
you know, the domino effect.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And it's still fulfilling for you and you're getting to
do other things like directing what you mentioned, which is
such a such a boss move, you know, to be like,
I'm not just go direct and and you know, I
know you've you've probably studied it and have had experiences
throughout the years of course with it. But to now
see it in this Christmas episode that you mentioned, I mean,
that is a new territory for you. How do you
(18:43):
not let those little fun things I like to call
anxiety and fear and you know, trepidation, like stop you
from doing it.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yes, it's a great it's a great question because yes,
it's a lot, and everyone's looking at the director at
every second for another answer, and it's a lot. So
for me, I had directed single cam before, so I'm
the movies that I directed were single cam, Indie atmosphere,
high pressure. So to me, I wasn't afraid of this
(19:13):
because I'd been in a crazier environment before. Because when
you're shooting a TV show, it's all in one location,
and when you're shooting a movie every day you could
be in a different location. It's just a very different atmosphere.
So to me, I was like, this is one location.
I feel good about this, I can I have a
way of touching everything that I need to touch all
in one place. So I felt confident going into it.
(19:34):
And it's just done so many episodes as an actor,
and I always took mental notes of different directors. I
was always like, ah, this person did this really well.
Oh I love the way this person blocked. Oh this
person is a great way of communicating. I don't like
the way this person communicated. I'm not going to talk
to the kids like that. So I brought all of
those experiences to the table and it went well. Like
(19:56):
little things too, Like I know, as an actor, when
I hear cut yelled, I'm always wondering why did we cut?
And video village where the director is is like fifty
feet away, so it's like so far, it's a distance
away where I can't look over and like see what
they're talking about. So cut for actors can be nerve
wracking because it's like did I screw up? What did
I do? What's going on? So when I directed, I
(20:20):
was like cut, and I'd always call out to the
actors why I was cutting, to take the tension out
of the room, you know, it's like cut camera problem,
hold on, be back, and the actors would get to
get to relax in a minute. It's like, oh, I'm not
coming in and being you know, corrected. Just little things
like that. I knew how to make the actors feel
comfortable and yeah, it was. It was a blessing.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
I like that you do that because so much of
the time people don't get feedback. Yeah, And it's like
we just want I mean you should just want to
know the why behind something, right.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Yes, exactly right that we want to be understood. Yeah,
And like a lot of times, as an actors, someone
will come in and just get you the note and
walk away, and it's like it just takes a little
more effort to give you the note behind the note. Yeah,
it's just a little more effort. Yeah, and I totally
focused on the why. And a lot of times it's
like I just want something different, and you could just
(21:14):
say that. It's like hey, so I would always come
in and be like we got that take good. You
give me exactly what I wanted. I want an alternative. Yeah,
So now I want you to try it this way,
where most directors will come in and give you the
this way, they'll come in and be like, be do A,
B and C, and then they leave and it's like, no,
just tell them, like, we got what we got. I
want something different. Now you didn't do bad before. I
(21:36):
want something different.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Well, it's clear that you're invested in how people feel
as well, and it's not just the job. It's like,
I want people to actually feel good. Who are in
my orbit, who I'm working with, who I'm friends with,
you know, and even hearing how you so beautifully spoke
about Selena and her work ethic, Yes, you know, that
shows that you care about that stuff. And it's so
cool that you guys have maintained a friendship for all
(22:00):
these years, because in our business it's not always easy.
And you're on set with somebody and your best friends
and then you don't talk, and it's crazy. People lose,
you know, they don't want to make the effort. So
it's like, what was that? But you guys really have
maintained this amazing friendship. I mean, how has that evolved
for you over the years.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
It's a great question because isn't it crazy how you
can go to a project with someone and you're the
best of friends. You're like, I've done so many projects
where I've worked with people and I'm like, this is
a friend for life, Like and then it just you
go home.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Like why are they not texting me back?
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Right? Like what happened? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And you just like disappear, You just fade away like
that is crazy. All actors have that experience, by the way,
I've had beers are so many actors where it's like, yeah,
we all had that experience. You hit it off at
some foreign location, you're in a foreign place, and then
you just leave and you never talk again. It's so weird.
But with Selena and I, I don't know, man, we
always had this like family thing. There's something a little deeper,
(22:53):
There's something a little more meaningful there because it was
such a coming of age experience for us both, you know,
like it was our high school, was our college like
all in one. So yeah, we just have this deeper
thing that like, and I think her in particular, like
anyone who's who's in her category. You it's hard to
(23:16):
make friends. It's so hard to make friends because everyone
wants something from you. People don't even realize they want
something from you, but they do want something from you.
And and she has a close knit circle of a
few of us that are people that she can go
do that have been like and I've been there for
her before anything, right like before she was she had anything.
(23:38):
So she just knows like for better or for worse.
I'm gonna give it to her straight. Yeah, like whatever,
that's valuable. Yeah, whatever the thing is right, Like, so
sometimes she wouldn't come to me on things because she
knows what she's gonna get from me, But a lot
of times she does. And it's been a beautiful friendship.
And now seeing her and my wife like get along
and have that girl connection.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Partners blind and actually love each other. When you have
someone meaningful in your life and they love each other,
that's the best feeling ever.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Yes, I totally agree. It does something to you, makes
you feel like I picked a good person, Like, yeah,
your your soulmate is hitting it off with someone you
really care for, and that's awesome to see. Awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Yeah, that's really cool. It's it's also like a brother
and sisterhood too, right, Like you told her, with somebody
for that long, it's beyond a friendship. It's like it's family.
I mean it's family exactly right.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
That's how it feels that, you know, she can wear
pajamas over to my house and feel like she's like, yeah,
part of the family one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Did you get emotional at the wedding?
Speaker 2 (24:38):
So I'm emotional because I have to tell you I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Able to go to go.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It was really heartbreaking. My ever project. I'm gonna be
announcing soon I was out of the state and there
was just literally no way I could get back. We
talked all about the wedding. I gave her my best
advice someone told me on my wedding day, David, take
one minute, hold your spouse's hand and just look at
the room. And this This is like literally my only
memory that I have for my wedding because it was
(25:02):
so crazy. There's you know, weddings are nuts, so there's
so many things going on. Yeah, and like I took
that minute, like right before dinner started. Ife and I were
sitting at the table, and I go, this is our minute.
We held hands and we just looked at the room
and took everything in. Oh yeah, so and so is there.
Oh so I'm glad my grandparents are here. And like
we took the whole room in. I still know where
everyone's seated in my mind, I can see it. So
(25:24):
I said, yeah, just take your minute, you know, and
just like look, take take everything in because her wedding,
you know, in particular, is just going to be you know,
off the charts, but yeah, I'm so heartbroken I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
That's good advice, though, that's really good advice. Weddings go
fast fast, I mean unbelievable. Yeah, I'm going to be
ten years in April married. Wow, but I still remember
every little piece nice because we took it in. Yeah,
we took it in. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
So smart, yeah, so smart? Right, because it is so
much going on in all directions that like you remember
these things?
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yeah, I know. We joke, we're like, we need another
one because I feel like I didn't miss quite a lot, right,
I look at pictures of what was going on there.
Why wasn't I in that conversation? Yeah? Oh that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You're on your take a big, big fiftieth.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
There we go, There we go. That would be fine.
You strike me as someone who gives a really good advice.
And you you because you seem to care, You seem
to genuinely have an interest in people, which I do too.
So why I began the show And I'm curious, is
there a piece of advice you wish you were given
when you were that eighteen year old as a Disney
(26:33):
star that you didn't get that you would pass on
to other generations.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's a really good question. That's a really that's a
really deep question. Lots of things come to mind. I wish,
I wish someone. I wish someone grabbed me at that
age and really forced me to say, Hey, I want
(27:02):
you to get a mentor in your life. I want
you to find a mentor, and I want this person
to be everything that you hope to be in life,
someone you really respect, that's not your family, and I
want you to spend time with this mentor. I wish
someone would have given me a mentor, because now as
I've gotten older, I seek that out and I seek
out wisdom from guys that I when women that I
(27:25):
really respect, and that has meant a lot to me.
I've learned so much from mentorship, and I really wish
as a young person someone would have said like, Hey,
you need a mentor. Find a mentor, and that would
have What's great about a mentor is they've lived it.
They've just lived it, and they can give you thirty
(27:45):
years of what you're about to go through in whatever
your field is in a second. They can just sit
down with you and tell you the principles that will
help you weather the storms and will save you a
lot of heartache. So I wish someone would have sat
down and give me a mentor and said, find a mentor,
really find it. You must find a mentor.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I think that's so valuable in this dandage, especially with
social media and the disconnection happening so much in our world. Yes,
it's nothing beats you know, human and human connection and
learning from somebody, not learning from your phone. I mean, yes,
you can learn from your phone, but like not relying
on only that, but relying on someone who has actually
lived it.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, CHATCHBT cannot be your mentor. No, no, you cannot
be your mentor. Okay, you're being mentored by a real person,
Like yes, you can sit down with have a couple
of coffee, you have a glass wine, whatever it is,
like on a regular basis, check in with this person
and tell them exactly how your life is going to
be brutally honest and uh yeah. The wisdom that I've
learned from guys, especially in regard to marriage too. It
(28:47):
doesn't just mean professionally, like personally too, Like yeah, I
don't mean business mentor, although that's great, but like more
personal like someone who who's who? Someone who who uh,
who's eyes, someone who's wisdom they can give you.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Hmmm, I like that. Yes, it's so important. I like,
especially getting older, you want to surround yourself with people
who who reflect your values, right and like who you
are inspired by and motivated buy and you're like, oh
my god, they make me a better friend or husband
or whatever. Right, like it.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
It's so important one hundred percent, because whether we realize
it or not, we're constantly, constantly being mentored by the world.
So the world is just going no, no, no, no, no,
no no no, especially the phones, like you were just
talking about, We're constantly being bombarded, and you got to
clear that clutter. And a mentor can help you the
thing the knife that cuts through that and helps you go.
(29:40):
If I don't take control of my life the way
the world, the algorithm is, it's going to take control
of me. So like, yeah, a mentor I think is
ultimately important this day and age.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
One hundred percent. One hundred percent. You clearly like to
put out messages that matter and shape the world as
much as you can and a positive way, right, And
that's what mentors to. That's what you do through your work.
You have a production company yes, What kinds of things
do you want to do with that company? What stories
do you want to tell? I know your faith is
very important to you. Do you want to do more
faith based programming? What interests you?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yeah, I really see I want to make stuff for
my family, for my children. I really see an underserved
audience in the family and the faith and in the
value space. I think there's not a lot out there
for them. And I think the past ten years has
just been crazy for the world, right, And I think
(30:35):
especially during the pandemic, parents were sitting down with their
children and watching shows that they're watching, and people were like,
what is going on? Like maybe this doesn't necessarily reflect
my values, And so I think there's this massive problem
that I'm trying to solve with our content of just
going back to unitive content, just going back to themes
that brings the world together and that I feel like
(30:57):
there was a more of a common culture in the
you know, when I was growing up, we could all
sit down and watch things and it was just good
for everybody. So we just want to make old stories new.
That's why we named our company Novo, so it means
new in Latin. So we just want to take old,
timeless themes and represent them and make them new again.
So we have some really exciting things that we're working
(31:17):
on that I can tell you a little bit about.
We're making a kid's show, an animated show for kids
called Halo Heroes, which is like a time travel show
kind of like Wishbone Where or Wildcrats, where you go
back in time and you visit a historic saint. So
like people have heard of Valentine's Day, Patrick's Day, Christmas,
(31:38):
they don't know the real stories there, Like there are crazy,
intense adventures that I want to go on with these saints.
And so it's an animated show that goes back in
time and travels with them. We're actually doing it with
Jonathan Rumy who's Jesus and the Chosen, And we're excited
for that because we think there's a universe of great
stories out there, faith stories that haven't been told. Like
(32:00):
Valentine was like kind of a badass, like duck shucking
and driving through catacombs. It was illegal to marry people then,
like yeah, he was running from authorities, Like it's kind
of a badass. So like I want to tell that
epic adventure of Valentine or Nicholas, Saint Nicholas. He was
he'd literally gotten a fight with a guy and at
the Council of Nicea and like punched the guy in
(32:21):
the face, like his nose was broken because he was persecuted.
Like these are. There's some incredible, harrowing stories out there.
It's not Hallmark cards and you know, lollipops. Like, there's
some really cool stories. So I'm excited for that. There's
there's a few different things we're doing as well. We're yeah,
I can't announce that one yet, but anyways, yes, there's
there's some really exciting things we're working on.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
So cool. I'm invested already. I want to watch it now,
let's go. That's amazing, Thank you, And I love to
see you light up when you talk about it, you know,
and you've you've done that throughout the whole interview, talking
about you know, lizards and the new series of it
and this, and it's so cool to see the passion
(33:05):
behind what you do because we all hope for that
in life, right we all hope for it. And if
even people listening who feel like they don't have it
with what they're doing now, hopefully there's a creative outlet
or another way to feel that because it's such a
beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Totally agreed, Totally agreed. I think we've all been given
a talent. All of us have been given a talent,
and it's like, how do we find an access and
utilize that. Sometimes it can be your job or a hobby,
but like, we all have a talent, and it's like
you get peace when you are exercising that thing one
hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Oh, man, David, I feel like I could talk to
you for hours. I love it, but it's in the
interest of getting you out. You're busy, man, busy and booked.
I wrap up every interview with a question based off
the title of the show, which is I've never said
this before, And it was born because I cover a
lot of red carpets and junkets and you just don't
get a lot of time with people. And I'm all
(33:55):
about real, you know, human to human interaction and connection.
I think that's where you get the most beautiful moments
out of these conversations. So I ask every yuest, what
is one thing you've never said before? Whatever that means
to you, however you interpret it. It's a chance for
you to just say something that you want to say.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I love it. I think it's a great question. I
think we're going to see I thank you for this question,
because I think we're going to continue to see an
increase in unplugging. I think as time continues to evolve here,
I think unplugged trends are going to grow. I think
you're going to see unplugged parties and unplugged social gatherings
(34:34):
and unplugged bars and all sorts of things being popping up, because,
like I think it's really dangerous how plugged in we are.
So it's awesome that you want to do that, that
you recognize that and you want you want to plug in.
The thing that I would say is well, I mean
there's a couple of things. One is personal. One is
(34:55):
like more of a business thing. I haven't told anyone
this yet, but I'm writing a children's book which I'm
really excited about. My four year old son he comes
up to me and pesters me with one question specifically
and pestures the wrong word because I find it adorable
and it was good, but he peppers me with this
question all the time. He is God bigger than fill
(35:15):
in the blank, Like literally just the other day he
knew I was coming here, and he goes, Papa, is
God bigger than New York City? And it cracks me up.
There's a smile on my face every time is God
bigod in? At dinosaur? Is God bigod in dis much? Like?
He just constantly is hitting me with is God bigger than?
And it just came to me one day. I was like,
that's a kid's book, and like, what a beautiful way
to teach your kids about God. It is God bigger
(35:38):
than fill in the blank. So we're doing a kid's
book called Is God Bigger Than? I wrote it with
my wife and we rhyme in a response, so the
response is rhymed. And then at the very end of
the response, we put a little Bible verse, but we
don't say what the Bible verse is. We just say
the Bible verse he saw M such and such or
the Gospel of this. And at the very end of
(35:59):
the book there's a note to the reader from my
wife and I and we said, hey, hope you enjoyed
the book. Turn this into a Bible study with your kids,
So grab a Bible, go to the image they liked,
go to the verse and open it up and read
it with your kids and sit down there and take
it in. So we're so excited about this because we
think it's a way that you can really have fun
with your kids. First and foremost, the book's fun. It's silly.
(36:20):
It's God bigger than New York City, It's God bigger
than the biggest dinosaur. But then it starts to shift
like is God bigger than my fears? And if God
is that big, how can you hear me? So it
actually starts to get a little deep and what hopefully
ends on an emotional note. So I'm really really excited
about that. Yeah, really excited. I've never haven't told anyone
(36:40):
about that.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
When does that want come out?
Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's going to We're aiming for Christmas next year. Okay, yeah,
maybe we'll get it a little earlier, but we're aiming
for Christmas next year. It's called the is God Bigger
Than the series?
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Good for you, man, good for you? You keep surprising us.
What can't you do it? What can't you do?
Speaker 2 (36:56):
Man?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
God? Am I feeling inadequate? Scenario? Croud?
Speaker 2 (37:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (37:00):
No, no, no, no, oh my God, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Dude.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Like I said, I'm super psyched for all your success
and everything you have going on and Wizards Beyond, we
really play. Season two is out now. Everybody go go
streaming over and over again, and I just I can't
wait to see what you keep doing.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Man. Thank you, bro, I really appreciate it. Thank you
guys for your time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
I've Never Said This Before is hosted by me Tommy Dederio.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio
and by me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've
Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis Duran
podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(37:44):
tell your friends. Until next time. I'm Tommy Dederio
Elvis Duran and the Morning Show ON DEMAND News
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