May 4, 2026 • 50 mins
The week Ashlyn is talking to Stephen Colletti, you know and love him from his days on Laguna Beach or One Tree Hill, and most recently as a contestant on The Traitors. They discuss what it takes to be successful in the reality TV format and what he wants his legacy to be as a father and husband.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Wide Open.
I'm your host Ashlyn Harris, and today's guest is someone
a lot of us feel like we grew up with.
From the beaches of Laguna to the halls of Tree Hill.
He was part of a generation of television that just
didn't entertain us. It shaped the way we saw relationships, identity,
(00:21):
and what it meant to come of age in the spotlight.
But what's interesting about Stephen Coletti isn't just where he started.
It's how he's evolved from reality TV to acting and
now stepping fully into his own as a creator, writer,
producer with everyone is doing great. He's taken back control
of his story in a way that feels honest, grounded
(00:44):
and real, and now years later, he's stepping back into
the world that introduced him to all of us. We
get to see the reunion of Laguna Beach on his
own terms. This one's nostalgic, it's fun, but it's also
about growth and perspective and figuring out who you are
(01:04):
when the cameras aren't telling you who to be.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Let's get Wide open. This is Stephen Colletti.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Wide Open.
I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris, and today's guest really needs
no introduction. Stephen Colletti, the og heart throb from Laguna
Beach and the show that raised most of us One
Tree Hill.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Welcome to the show, Steven. How are you?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Thank you so much. I'm doing well. Thank you. It's
good to be here. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Of course, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
The only reason I was like, yes, we need to
get Stephen on this show is because, a you might
be the only one that Sophia didn't date on One
Tree Hill.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So it makes me feel a little bit better about
the banter.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, but I I told Sophia today that we were
going to hang out for an hour and she was like,
oh my god, let me tell you all these stories.
And I was like, honey, uh, there's a there's a
lot here that shows me you were gay a long
fucking time ago. But sure, we'll get into that later.
(02:23):
She told me she took you to a shooting range
like your first your first week on set.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I mean, there's so much to to unpack here. I mean, yeah,
I'm glad that we're not burying the lead as far
as our connection here, and I mean to me that
moment in my life first getting out to work on
One Tree Hill and and being this kid from this
MTV reality show, and I knew a little bit about
(02:51):
Hillary Burton. She had an empty connection, but not this
like full like personal life love triangle situation. And then
we're gonna jump on a scripted show, which is where
I wanted to be. But I wasn't sure how everyone
on that show is going to going to take it,
because if I was them, I'd be like, why is
this guy here? So showed up very nervous. Sofia was
incredibly gracious with me from the jump. I would just,
(03:15):
you know, I would just be asking a million questions,
constantly banging on her trailer door, like hey can we
ren some lines? Hey can we talk about this? And Hey,
what's the backstory here? She was incredibly gracious the entire time,
and it really set the tone for me feeling comfortable
to be able to, you know, to stay on that show.
So that then also she was you know, she would
(03:37):
she was gracious enough to invite me some dinners, and
then one day she was like, yeah, hey, I'm going
to go to a gun range. Do you want to come?
She's like, you know, it's great to just practice, like,
you know, hold a gun. And I'm like, I didn't
see this in the script. I don't know if she
knows something more than me, but I was like, yeah,
why not. And I'm from an Orange I'm from Orange County.
It's a California kid here and I'm South And it's
(03:57):
like a Wednesday at like four pm and I'm going
to the gun range with Sophia Bush. And I was like, man,
this life is coming at me fast and a whole
different way I could have ever imagined. And so we
show up there there's like two guys in like three
piece suits, like you know, just right out of this
right out of the South there. It was so funny
and she was showing me here's what I learned about
(04:18):
like holding a gun and shooting gun. And that was
one of the first times I ever shot a gun.
So kudos to her for really just like, you know,
being very gracious in the beginning, but also like let's
throw them in a little bit of an uncomfortable environment
and see how he hangs.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, she was like, I'm coming out at the age
of forty three, I said, honey, there were signs.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Here is one of the signs.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I was like, okay, girl, you're fulling absolutely no one,
but bring me back to the beginning because you're it's
so true, like you got your start so early on
Laguna Beach and I imagine you know, I always say
this genuinely. I'm so happy that there wasn't social media
when I in high school.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And here you are.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Your shit's all over, like that's all we watched. You
guys were really the beginning of teaching us about the
inner workings of like social constructs and hanging out on
the beach and relationships like you name it. We learned
so much of who we were by watching you guys.
(05:25):
And I don't know if you guys realize the weight
of which you were carrying and how quickly that was
going to change your life. Who was Stephen before the.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Camera showed up?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Like why did you choose to do this kind of
stepping into something you didn't really know what the outcome was.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, it's so interesting you talk about our lives, our
lives changing at that moment, because we really did not
see it that way. We knew that there was an opportunity.
Here you're engaging with people from MTV and MTV at
that time, of course, was still massive, and you know,
for me personally, there was an opportunity to I'd always
(06:05):
wanted to work in entertainment. I actually thought originally I'd
probably go into sports broadcasting. I really grew up enjoying
listening to you know, Dan Patrick and folks like Keith Olberman,
the way that they would write their highlights to highlight
descriptions on Sports Center and discuss that and do some
commentating as well. So that was kind of an avenue hosting.
(06:28):
And so MTV I was drawn to and Carson Daily
another person I looked up to and was like, that
would be a job that I want. I remember they
had the super superlatives where middle school most likely to whatever,
and and in like eighth grade, one of them was
most likely to become an MTV VJ. I did not
get that, but I really really hope that I and
(06:51):
so it's it's so funny. I wasn't gonna go campaign
for it, but that's where my mind was at.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I I grew up just you know, being a kid
that was on the beach every day and really just
laid back lifestyle. And and that's kind of the the
j exposition between Laguna and this MTV show is it's
it's an artsy community. It's it's it's not flamboyant. It's
not it's become more and more as of course, the
(07:18):
real estate is worth so much down there, and there's
a lot of wealthy folk there, but it's always been
this little pocket of arts and and very liberal, very hippie,
you know. So it it's just that's that was the environment,
you know. To me, it was like, all right, well,
which beach am I going to today? Are there any waves?
And what are we doing tonight with our friends? I
(07:41):
will say second semester senior year is when things were
changing for me, even before MTV appeared. That was that
time where I feel like a lot of people can
relate where you're just you're done with high school and
and a lot of the experiences you've had there, Like
all right, I've enjoyed these these people and my time here,
but I'm ready for I'm ready to go to college.
You're ready to experience some culture outside of here. And
(08:03):
you know, I actually went to apply to San Francisco
State University knowing that not a lot of kids from
my high school were going there and I was going
to have I wasn't looking for a fresh start. I
was just looking for I mean, I guess you could
call it that. I wasn't running from anything. It was
just more I just wanted to like to experience more
culture and a big city, so I did that and
looking for opportunity. Of course, I didn't think it all
(08:26):
the way through, as I'm signing up for this you
know show for MTV and thinking I'm just going to
network and meet some people at MTV that they were
actually going to put together a show that was you know,
well cut and edited and something that drew the attention
of viewers because it was something unlike they'd ever seen
before with these random kids who have no skill up
(08:46):
to this point other than just socializing that are going
to be you know, in ten episodes of this drama
and make it look like the OC that show. So yeah, yeah,
life really changed at that moment, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Well, how do you feel like that exposure at such
an early age shaped you?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Was it?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because I imagine there were really great things about it,
and there was you know, invasive things because I imagine, Stephen,
you became so popular and you were such a big character.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
In this show.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Even though it's a reality television, people thought they knew you,
and people adored you and loved you and your personality.
And you're right, you are soft, You are laid back,
that type of like people could feel it through the camera.
It was so infectious and contagious. How did it change
the way you moved in the world, because I imagine
(09:47):
overnight at some point, you know, you couldn't go to
the grocery store without these young little girlies hollering or
wanting to take a picture or wanting to sign an autograph,
Like what was that about?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
You know, because you were.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So young, even though this is what you wanted, people
always are like, oh, I want to be rich and famous,
until they become rich and famous and then they're like,
I actually want the simple life.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
How did that shape you at such an early age?
Speaker 3 (10:17):
You know, I'm still learning just exactly how I changed
in those early years through that time, and it's taking
years to kind of figure that out and have the
perspective of being much more mature and kind of replaying
some of the decisions I was making and the moves
that I made at that time. And it's so interesting
(10:39):
because there was a lot of like, all right, this
isn't really happening, right, this is ridiculous, Like we have
there's nothing that people should be admiring about. As I understand,
we come from this beautiful city. But for us, as
people like you could go to any high school in
America and find those exact situations, and we just happened
to do it in this kind of beautiful seaside community.
(11:01):
So and with the you know, the the very well
shot creatives behind the show that are you know, filming
in and of course editing it all together. So you know,
it's interesting. I just tried to act as normal as possible,
but yeah, life was not allowing you to do that.
And it's funny because I also had dreams and aspirations
(11:24):
in the business, so it's not like I was trying
to run and hide from everything, like oh my gosh,
please everyone just ignore me. I just want to go
to school. There was a lot of also chasing opportunity
and wanting to take advantage of some of the doors
that were being opened for me at that time. But
the apost syndrome was massive. You know I talked about,
(11:44):
you know, getting on that set for One Tree Hill.
I did try to turn a lot of things down
for a little while and just stay in LA and
acting classes, and just when I was going to get
the opportunity to get onto a set, show people that
I'm not some kid who's out here just chasing fame.
I understand it comes with it, and if it's happening,
(12:05):
that's great. So I'm not going to sit here and
like bash on that. Like we all understand, it's a
part of the business, and it's if you have the
opportunity to be in that position, you're very fortunate. But
it was just really about trying to because I'd done
some hosting and it was like, Okay, I enjoy this,
but acting is something I always wanted to dabble in,
and when I started studying it, I got the bug
and wanted to just really keep doing more of it.
(12:26):
So you know, that's I just tried to buckle down
and actually work. And so I feel like I could
provide somewhat of a skill or something I had to
offer that was more than what was going on in
my personal life. Because so that's kind of really what
was driving me was like, all right, I'm not going
to be defined by this reality show at this time.
It may follow me for the rest of my life
(12:47):
and it has that's okay, but there there's more to us,
and I wanted people to show that, especially when you had,
you know, a version of you set out a certain
way by by the powers that be and editors and stuff,
so you know, it was just yeah, it was all
about kind of focusing on the work and trying to
(13:09):
find opportunities that I can work towards and be more
proud of because I felt like I earned you know, yes, well.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
You also did the work. You know, you weren't cutting corners,
you knew. I think it's really important to just acknowledge
where we all came from and like what doors open
and however you want to see it, Like what a
blessing that that was the start of a you know,
you're still so young. You know you're going to have
(13:39):
this long, incredible career because you choose to do the
work and you're not expecting people to open doors for
you just based on a reality television show when you
were seventeen. So I think that shows who you are
as a human and how you move and I think
there's a lot of power in that, and that's why
you have longevity in the entertainment industry.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I'll be back in just a moment after this brief
message from our sponsors. I say this often, it is
so cutthroat when I hear and watch the inner workings
of you know, I see it firsthand with Sophia. I'm
just like, God, it's just so different than the sports world.
(14:24):
I'm like, how are you? It's amazing. You all are
so normal. And then when I see people losing their mind,
I'm like, oh, it totally makes sense. It is that
shit crazy. It's like Hunger Games twenty four to seven,
and I thought I had it. It's so I'm like, honey,
how are you not chewing your hair in the corner?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Like I've always admired that with Sophia i'voyd. I remember,
even you know, back on she was always she's always
been this way. She's got so much going on, wearing
a million hats, a bunch of spinning plates. And when
we were working on One Tree Hill, I mean, that
was the other thing that was great about that show,
and that I see is such an instrumental time was
I was just turning twenty one. I think James Lafferty
(15:05):
was a couple months older than me, so, and he
was the youngest of that main cast. Everyone else was
just a little bit older. So, but in you know,
your twenties, when you're looking at twenty compared to around
twenty five, you know, there's some serious maturing, especially between
females and males, like the females on the show maturing
quite a bit faster than the males there. So you know,
(15:29):
always had a really good group of people to look
up to and you know, see how they were going
about their business, especially being the stars of a very
successful show like one Trio.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Absolutely and I hear I saw on roku is doing
the Laguna Beach reunion.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
What do we have to look forward to with this?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I think fans of the show and people if you're
just discovering it for the first time, but a fan
of reality TV and maybe you have seen some reunions,
are I think going to be surprised by striking a
different tone than what they're used to. You have a
show that was you know, it's twenty years old. Now,
you've had other scripted shows that have this really feel
good moment where they bring people back together and they
(16:14):
talk about the old times, and I think it really
leaves people with a very positive feeling and reflect personally
how far they've come from maybe when they first watched
that show. And I think that they could find something
similar in that in Laguna and the fact that it's
a reality show and it's not we're gonna flip tables
and I'm gonna come at your throat like it's been
(16:34):
twenty years. And the reason we could do this is
because of that time, and everyone's moved on and have
great families and are legitimately happy to see everyone else
from our cast doing well. And we all share that
bond of the fire that we played with in two
thousand and four as we were still developing frontal lobes
(16:55):
and got this you know, attention that was so undeserved
and yeah, and where that could have all led us.
But everyone's come a long way, and it's been a
tricky thing to, you know, to maneuver, or at least
it was back then, but easier as we got older,
and I think we could we shared that bond and
so to come together and just bust each other's chops
(17:17):
and able to laugh at at like you watch that back,
like listen to us, look at listen to what's coming
out of your mouth? Look at listen how you're speaking.
You're you're you're you're not enunciating. Your diction is terrible.
You just sound like you just you crawled out from
the ocean and and you're you know, coughing out sand
(17:38):
and and just it's it's so funny to have such
detailed images of ourselves at that time, and especially when
it's like some of those like behind the scenes personal moments.
So you know, I think that people will will appreciate seeing,
first of all, how much has changed in that time.
This was before social media, so there was an innocence
(18:01):
that we no longer have, not just our age and yeah,
for that, I think people will will hope and I'm
hoping that will come away with it feeling like, man,
it was different from a reunion that I'm used to seeing,
and I actually really enjoyed watching that. It's got me
feeling good and I want to connect with, yeah, some
of my old friends a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
It really does seem sweet.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
And I only saw the trailer of it, but the
emotional depth that it even shows in that short you know,
little sneak peek it really you can see the emotional
ties and strings you have together and the connective tissue
that you probably will carry with you forever, I imagine,
(18:43):
and to just put a bow on it, to have
you all come back and unpack this wild time and
then just nostalgia in general, I think it's going to give.
And I say this often, especially in a time that
feels like our world is a dumb stir fire. It
is going to be nice to bring good TV that
(19:04):
just like feels like a like you're coming home right
and we need a little more gentle not you know,
reality television two has gotten to be as you know,
you just did Traders.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's just it's always these.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Gotcha moments and we forget of when it originally started.
It wasn't crazy, it wasn't always chaotic. It was like
these beautiful coming to age stories. And I'm excited to
go back and feel that type of warmth because I
haven't felt that in reality shows or much. You know,
when you even think of documentaries. Now everything's dark like
(19:43):
I missed nineties rom coms, like I miss the lightness,
and I'm excited to be able to watch this.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, you know that was a you hit the nail
on the head. There a few things we really felt
like we wanted to all together put a bow on
the whole experience. It's in a positive way. And it
was Lauren Conrad who said she was like, you know what,
I feel like this is timely and not only being
twenty years, but really an opportunity to give people something
(20:14):
that is a little more refreshing and positive, you know,
and for that could come away feeling good about you know,
watching this and and and so for her that was
a big selling point was you know, we have an
opportunity to do something that you could be a celebration
and and have people feeling positive. And when you've got
(20:35):
so much of that other yeah, like you're saying a
lot of the more, you know, hey, the more you
guys can go at each other, the better for our show.
I think this will be a nice contrast to that.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I think that's great.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And not to jump pivot to the other reality side
of things, why traders, what made you step.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Back into this chaos.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And give it a go, or you just like, hey,
maybe this will be fun or the competitive side in
you like, what was it about stepping back into reality
television that made you want to do this?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Yeah? You know what, I never really shared it, but
I think in the back of my mind, I always
knew I'd love to do something in the competitive reality space,
whether that's going on to Jeopardy or you know, even
an amazing race style. You know, I'm a competitor at heart,
and watching that show, it was it started as a
personal test of like, you wouldn't do it. You don't
(21:35):
have the balls to do that. And they actually the
first time they had offered me a previous season, and
I thankfully could not do it because I remember watching
it and going the show is great. I like the
way that they cut this together. It's very intriguing. It's
got this murder mystery vibe. You got Alan Cumming who
was just brilliant, and they seem with each season to
(21:57):
just raise the stakes more and more. And I was like,
I would never fit in there, like I'm not you know,
wardrobe wise, I mean a lot of respect for fashion
on there, Like I'm gonna I would keep it laid back,
so i'd probably you know, stick out like a sore thumb.
And so there was all these reasons not to, but
I actually regretted not being able to do it even
(22:18):
the first go around. And when it came back around,
it was that immediate like oh no, you know, you
have to do this, like you want to do this,
and you can, You're available, so it's like, oh my gosh,
and so you know, and yeah, after not doing reality
for so many years. The thing about the show is
(22:39):
they they really actually focus on the game. That's a
part of what they think is their success is the
integrity of the game and and the way that they
keep everything a secret and and the stakes just continue
to get hired and hire as you go throughout. And
when you have all these people coming together who have
no idea you know who who they are really, you know,
there's no previous relationships for the most part, and and
(23:00):
you're expected to trust, which you just can't. It just
leads to such a delicious dynamic. And for that, I
really think that it's what makes a show so great.
And for them to sell to me like hey, look,
the game comes first and the kind of reality part
comes second, I'm like, Okay, that's fine, But like a guys,
like again, I'm pretty laid back I'm not going to
(23:22):
be a loud voice in the room. Are you sure
you want me? And they're like, look, we need to
have a little bit of balance. You know, we've got
people that do that, but we also need some folks
that are a little more quiet and you know, can
can more observe. And so it's like, look, that's probably
who I'm going to be. So so yeah, Look, there
was a lot of a lot of reasons where this show,
in particular, it just struck me from the beginning and
(23:45):
it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
But I felt like there's also some fear, some fear
of regret if I passed it, that I wish I
had done it for the rest of my life, and
I'm really glad I did it, because yeah, that would
have been a major regret.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I don't know, did you go in with a strat
or you were just like, I don't know what to expect.
I'm going to roll with this like that is It's
just the whole thing feels stressful to me, and I'm
like a weird competitor.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I'm like, this would bring out the worst.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Side of me, and it trust me and the way
they depict everyone. I'm like, oh, who's going to be
who's going to be the villain? Who's going to be this?
There's always like these the little list of people who
come to life in that.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, I'm just like, it's it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The whole dynamic is like you're playing a live board game.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
It like really fucks me up a little.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Bit, and there's so much that's out of your control, right, Yeah,
and that's that's the part that was that was scary
to me. There's a lot of unknown Like, first of all,
who's going to be there? Right? You don't even going
to be sitting across the table from and going to
have to engage or you know, is there somebody that
I just I would never want to share the screen with,
you know, for one reason or another. So yeah, it
(24:59):
left a lot unknowns. But I think in talking through
with folks actually like okay, let's step into this, and
usually it's those experiences I think for the villains, you know,
there are folks that really jump into that ready to
take on that role. You know, you look at Michael Rappaport,
you know he he was more than happy to just
(25:20):
run his mouth from the jump. You know, either the
worst trader or the worst faithful, just because he's constantly
stirring the pot and everyone'sn be like, you know what,
we don't have a lot on everybody, but you're giving
us plenty of reason to just say he should probably
get out of the castle so you can focus on
what we need to focus on. So you do have
And that was another part. Is I so intimidated that
(25:42):
first day. I remember driving up to the castle and
even sharing the car. You know, I'm in the car
with Maura Higgins. You know, she's this beautiful Irish girl,
you know, very well spoken and funny. And Jam Jam
from Survivor. He's one survivor. He's hilarious and a big personality.
You've got Candice who from The Housewives Potomac. She is
(26:02):
just whip smart and her background was very interesting to me.
So you know you're going in. It's like these are
seasoned vets at reality here, and I've been out of
the game for so long and always you know, kind
of consider myself even an outsider to that because I
just I didn't continue on in reality and I don't
feel like I was ever able to quite grasp my
position in it and be that personality that a lot
(26:26):
of these people do. And so yeah, I was very
intimidated going into the castle, but I will say once
we got in there, everyone was great and the cast
really bonded pretty quickly. So it makes the insanity of
what's happening in the game and those crazy frickin' roundtables
where everything just goes sideways so fast, you know, it
(26:47):
makes it a little bit easier to manage when you
actually like the people you're doing it with.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
That's so great.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Did you do a lot of prep walking into it,
Like did you kind of watch previous seasons? Did you
pick people's mind, did you have a strategic plan?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Or you kind of just were like, this is so unpredictable.
I can't control anything.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I'm just going to walk right into this like blindly
a little bit literally and figuratively, you know.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
I honestly I took it on kind of like taking
on a role in scripted television. It was like, Okay,
you know, what's what's my place in here? How am
I best suited to you know, to maneuver in this environment?
You know what? What am what's my goal here? What
am I trying to do with this? And and you know,
(27:36):
how do I best kind of manage the environment where
you know the motions are going to run high. If
you are one to speak out, you could easily put
yourself up for murder and make yourself look suspicious. So
a big part of the strategy going forward and reading
a lot of what people who had been on the
show before, what they had said about their experience, and
(27:56):
especially people that went out early, because one thing I
was not going to do was going to go out early.
And it's not because of my wardrobe choices or this
whole closet of outfits I really wanted to share with people.
But if you could imagine me after so many years
going like and working myself up to be on the
show that I'm a fan of and been like, Oka, right, great,
we're we're on Traders, and then damn getting knocked out
(28:18):
the first day. I don't know if I would have
ever come back. I would have just moved to another
country and changed my name. And that's it. That's a
wrap on me. So yeah, I look, it's it's pretty
well known that if you know, as long as you
do not make yourself stand out in the crowd, I
think early on without being too suspicious. You can at
(28:40):
least get past the first couple of days there because
there's nothing to really go off of early on, and
so people are looking for anything, and it's usually people
that speak a little bit more, a little too much,
and people jump on that. And you saw that with
Porsche on our season. So look, just let the game
come to you, sit back, observe, make some nice friend ships,
(29:00):
engagements in conversation, get to know people on that level,
but don't point the finger anybody too soon, and and
don't call anything out unless you're one hundred percent certain
of what you saw. So that was that was the
strategy going in. But then everything shifts once you get
in the game, the dynamics and the relationships. I also
got very sick after the first couple of days, so
I was like, oh no, I'm they're going to vote
(29:20):
me out because I'm the sick guy. It's just paranoia peaks,
and to what you were saying earlier, like that, it
screws with your mind so much about what's what you're
actually seeing and what's happening. So I'm happy I made
it as far as I did.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
You did, and you you had a really great run.
Is there anything that you would have changed now looking back, like,
do you feel like I could have done this maybe
not to get voted off or it's just like the
dice just rolled and that's how it ends up.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, you know, I it's so funny. I don't even
remember saying this, but when I saw back the the
episode that I was banished, and I talk about my
eagerness so funny, egret, So I don't even really roll
that out often, but so it speaks to where my
mind was at in that moment, which I think is
the fact we were really on Johnny. We're a few
(30:10):
of us and including Robin Eric, who of course I
didn't know we're traders at the time before they flipped
to me. So I was convinced that Johnny won, that
he was a trader and he was getting voted off,
and a lot of that had to do with, you know,
it was like clear that Tara was not and Johnny
(30:30):
it was you know, there was a good case for
why he wasn't a trader, but not as good as Tara,
and it was like maybe one of them has to be.
And he was also close with Candace in a way.
There was there was a not too obvious dynamic between
Johnny and Candace. So when Candace started to get the
heat the way she was engaging with Johnny, I was like,
(30:53):
I just felt like and that's where I was like, Okay,
I'm picking up on them. You know. There there's a
dynamic there, so maybe he's a trader as well. So
I was convinced. And what I did not do was
ever discuss it with Johnny. So I sat back and say, hey,
I got this. I remember coming back from that last mission,
Mark and I are like fist bumping, like dude, we're
(31:13):
making it to the semi finals, and then all of
a sudden we're at the roundtable and everything shifted. And
because of look not going to Johnny. I think if
we had done that, Johnny and I would have given
each other the opportunity to explain why we're both not
traders and then okay, if not, then what else? Who
else could it be? And maybe he would have told
(31:33):
me his conversation with Candace about Rob, and then I
could have connected the dots about when Candace was trying
to talk to me and Rob came in the room.
So there there's a lot there of what it could
have should have as far as you know when it
comes to Johnny in the end, but that's that's a
point of getting out of there. And then I would
say also from the beginning, I wish I was a trader,
(31:56):
Like they have all the fun, they're in control. You know,
it's like true, you know what's actually happening. A lot
of that unknown because you feel like such a dumbass
when you come out and you're like, man, I'm sitting
there in those interviews and I'm convinced it's Johnny and
I'm like, we got them, like you're going down. And
then it's not Traders never they're never in that position.
(32:17):
So yeah, so you talk about things that are out
of your control. You you worry about looking like an idiot,
and those are those moments when you're convinced and you're
completely wrong.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
And what all of this, you know, all all of
these different You've had such an incredible journey of scripted
and unscripted shows, but now you're creating, starring and producing.
For those of us you know, listening and watching, I
would love for you to talk about the show. Everyone
is doing great, what it's about for our audience, And
(32:50):
you know, if I'm correct.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It just got picked up for a season two right.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yes, we're so happy to share that we've got season two.
But we just acquired both seasons and it's going to
be a premiere for season two. No one's seen season
two yet, so that's being released and yeah, we're super
excited about it. That is.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Tell me about it, tell us about the project, how
it came to be. My guess is you know is
it partly based on your life? Is it because I
know you James is a part of this as well,
co writing and producing and directing and starring in it.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Is that correct? Yeah, One Tree Hill. I love it.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
I love it exactly. Yeah. James and I we started
working on the show about twenty seventeen. He actually first
came to me with an idea, came over to my
house piece of paper, outlined some beats and a tone
of a type of show he was thinking about, and
I was like, I love this, this is great, and
let's do more of this. Let's write and see what
(33:56):
comes of it. And from there it really just momentum
kept building on a show that had some some dark
comedy that was based on our experiences in the industry,
but not necessarily our lives. We like to say, if
we had always listened to the Devil on our shoulder
for our entire lives, this is probably what we would
(34:17):
have ended up like, because those two guys could never
be able to put together a show, but we wanted
to set it in a world that we knew very well.
Let's let's have these guys. You know, they've they were
on a hit vampire drama in their early twenties. They
were teen heart throbs. Life was coming at them super easy.
And now they're they're thirty and somebody is just out
(34:37):
of work, somebody's losing their marriage. You know, everything's falling apart,
and they have really no business leaning on each other,
but they're kind of forced to. So there's a comedy
of errors there. And then he also bring in some
of the other actors in the show, Alex Park and
Cree Behind, who you know play started out as our
love interest. But you'll see in the second season they've
(34:58):
got you know, much much more expanded roles that that
are fleshed out and being able to see what's happening
in their lives as well. And we're really excited about
that with with with season two. But It's been this
long labor of love, love with a tremendous group of
creatives that have sacrificed a lot to be able to
(35:19):
make this show. You know, we crowdfunded the first season.
Really had no idea what we were doing. We're like,
let's let's shoot up you know, kind of a proof
of concept, you know, and and and that went well,
So let's do more. Let's you know, write all the episodes,
let's try to go sell it. And we did that
a little bit, but you know, we felt like we're
not really getting our real opportunity here. So you know
(35:42):
what if we try to crowdfund it and make an
episode and we'll take it to some TV festivals and
maybe we can you know, find an investor to do
a season. So we kind of just kept going, even
though there are places where, you know, not people weren't
jumping at us to take on the show. But we
felt really strong about the tone that we're striking, the
way we can execute it, felt like we could do
(36:04):
it on a low budget. You've got the Nelms brothers
who have been in the indie filmmaking world for a
long time, uh that that are are great at executing
films on a lower budget, making it still premium quality. Uh,
they're they're producing partners Michelle Lang and their cinematographer, Johnny Durango.
They all came in and just jumped in on the
(36:24):
project to help us and elevate it, and they enjoyed
the experience as well. So it really was this, you know,
group of creatives that I really wanted to see this
show succeed and and see it through and and you know,
very non traditional is getting it done, making eight episodes
then going all right, let's see who will take it.
(36:44):
And we did that with with season one. It went
to Hulu which was great, and season two to Paramount
Plus and and felt like we've had a positive response
where you know, there's something different. It's these little vignettes
on life that we shoot, and it's it's found a
little audience that has enjoyed it and motivated us to
(37:04):
continue to make it even though we might not have
the backing of a big studio. So we're still an
independent TV show and that's why this moment for us
to partner with Sony TV and to be able to
get on Netflix has been credible, massive, It's incredible. We
just feel so so fortunate, and I'm so excited to
share it with everyone who's supported because it's not just
(37:25):
us and our team, it's the whole cast and crew.
Everyone sacrificed something to be on the show, and then
of course the community behind the show as well, who's
been asking for it for a couple of years now.
So yeah, we're super excited.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
And how do you so, as someone now who's lived
on both sides of the camera, what has this been
a really reflective and a big learning process for you?
Do you prefer one or the other now that you
you know it's taken you guys, you've clawed, You've just
scrapped your way to it to this point, and I'm
(38:02):
curious what side has that really told you, Like I
need to be in front of camera or I need
to be behind it?
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Like which which one?
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Now? Can you walk away and say, oh, this has
opened my eyes up to something different I didn't expect.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Yeah, it's a great question, you know. I there's a
lot that I like about both sides of the camera,
but it's really a part of starting this is to
be able to do what we want in front of
the camera. And I'm always drawn to that and the
acting and the goals that I still have to hit
there places that I want to go feel like we've
just been getting started. And so that was a big
(38:43):
motivation of making the show, is let's do something that
we're not necessarily getting cast for, but we feel like
we could have a lot of fun in and you know,
with that, learning all the aspects behind the camera, I've
always been drawn to it, even we were shooting Laguna
Beach and knowing that I wanted to work in entertainment,
just the you know, what it takes to get a
(39:05):
crew together and have a common goal and making something
that's going to get zapped to someone's TV. Like I
was obsessed with that even when I was a kid.
There's been so much that everyone has to take on
in the show within our team, and you find some limits,
you know, early on when we were like, look out
of necessity, we don't have the money, so we got
(39:25):
to figure out how to do this, and so you know,
we take on a lot within the show and you
do learn like, all right, how do I prioritize, you know,
where the attention needs to be spent the most. As
far as I'm concerned, in this project so that we
can keep it to a certain level that we're expecting
of ourselves. And so, if anything, I'm interested in all
of it and I love learning about it all. But
(39:47):
you also learn like there are certain things we have
to be able to dictate, all right, well who needs
to handle what so that we can focus on the
things that are important and ultimately, of course that's everything
on screen. And to me, yeah, at the end of
the day, there's a lot we still want to do.
And even with the show, it's like with the second season,
it was like, all right, this is gonna be so
fucking fun, Like we finally get the opportunity to do
(40:10):
a second season knowing everything we know after the first
season and everything it's going to take when you're being
pulled in a bunch of directions to also you know,
jump on on camera and be in your scenes. So
we did that and then there was its own set
of challenges and it was completely overwhelming. And it's a
crazy how you get in that. You know, it's just
(40:30):
a mode for a couple of months of like all right,
this is you're completely stressed out from you know, sun
up to sundown, but you're also like you're going to
be happier about what you're making like it's it's just
a great thrill. So yeah, at the end of the days,
it's probably the front of the camera we enjoy, but
we still have a lot to learn behind the camera
as well.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Super fun though, I mean, I love hearing the passion
because I know this has been a journey and it
really is a testament to really stick.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Into what you believe in. And I think that there's
a lot of power in that.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
I think a lot of people quit too early instead
of banging on every fucking door being like, no, I
believe in this. I just need the right people in
my circle to make this a reality, to get a chance,
and you're getting that right now. And I'm excited for
everyone to be able to see it, especially our audience
today who's getting to listen to this episode. I hope
everyone goes and checks out. Everyone is doing great.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Thank you, Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I'll be back in just a moment after this brief
message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
But outside of the show.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
And the labels and you know, teenage heart throb Stephen,
like who's Stephen today? Without the show, without the fame,
without you know, all of the noise.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Yeah, you know what's so funny. In my twenties, I
probably would have some sort of uncomfortable answer as figuring
it out. You know, i'd be nervous right now and
being like, you know, who the fuck am I I'll
still figure it out. But I think today and it's
you know we were talking about earlier. It's like, there's
all these wonderful things that have kind of all arrived
(42:16):
at this moment for me professionally, but personally none bigger.
I think that I'm, you know, a new husband. My
wife and I just got married last year, and we're
expecting a baby. So I'm about to be a father,
and to me, that is that's the priority of the
(42:36):
craziness of everything else going on. Still, at the end
of the day, I'm a proud husband and I'm as
soon to be a very proud father, So that that's
what's super exciting and who I am today.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
I love that and congratulations. That gave me goosebumps. I
say this often. It's I have two children, and they
by far the greatest gift that I've.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Done a lot in my life.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I've chased a bunch of titles and success and being
mom is there is nothing greater better. Every day I
show up, I want to be a better human for them.
So I'm so excited for you both, and I'm glad
you shared that because it really is.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
That's all. That's what it's about, Like.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
You really reflect on your life when you see life
through the lens of them at an early age and
just exploring and curious and seeing things for the first time.
You just like it takes you back to not being
so damaged or desensitized to the reality we live.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
And what a gift. I mean, you're turning forty soon, correct.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Just turn forty, Just turn for what a gift to
like to get older and to get wiser and to
get your priorities straight.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
And there's just so much much more to life than
what we do.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
Yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
I'm excited for you.
Speaker 3 (44:07):
I appreciate that. Yeah, I love what you said right there.
It really is, you know, to me, I don't look back,
first of all, in regret of anything that I've done
or moments that I wish I could go back to,
because I think being at this age is it's so
much better than being the twenty year old who thinks
(44:28):
he's invincible and also has life figured out. And so
I welcome the new decades and again, you know what,
I'm so happy to have this knowledge and experience. Now
feel like, Okay, we've actually earned a spot of where
we're at. And yeah, to me, I know that there's
so much that I don't know in what parenthood involves.
(44:50):
And the only thing I really do feel like is
it's gonna bring a lot of joy and a lot
of hard work and for all that, just like anything
in life, you know you'll be spit out the other
side much better off for it. So we're really pumped
about that.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
And as someone who has chased so much in your
life success and you know now with your your your
wife and having this family, I imagine you've always wanted.
What is something you want that you haven't checked the box? Like,
I know that's a loaded thing to say for someone
who's done so much, But what do you feel like
(45:29):
you're chasing next? Like, what is what's going to excite
you that you haven't done yet?
Speaker 3 (45:35):
M you know, back in the day, there was a
lot of a lot of a lot of stuff that
I was working on or doing was really for me
and I, Uh, it was. It was a lot. It
was very selfishly driven, and when I look back on it,
I see it that way, and you're not thinking very
much about your your family and representing you know, your
(45:59):
friends and family a certain way. And I started to
kind of realize that, like, man, I want to make
more of people around me proud and and I want
to be able to do things that my nieces can watch,
right So I and I got a little taste of
that with with Traders. You know, my sister and her
kids were able to watch it and and you know,
just their questions about the show, and I was like,
(46:20):
it's it's it's fun to have that kind of engagement
with them and bring them something that you know that
they enjoyed watching together as a family. And to me,
there's a lot more to do there, you know. I
just I just saw Hail Mary and uh, you know
the way Ryan Gosling was talking about, you know, making
this one for his kids was I was like that
(46:42):
to me, is I would love to be in that position,
you know, ten years from now, going like, you know,
made this one you know for my kids. They couldn't
be happier. They think I'm a I'm a rad dad
because like, you know, fine, like there's I feel like,
what's what's coming is me wanting to prove myself to
my kids, which we'll see. It could if the you know,
(47:04):
it could be a Sysaphian task of constantly, you know,
hoping that they're going to think I'm doing something cool,
but ultimately like that's lame, dad, But to me, that
is come on, we'll see, we'll see. I was joking
the other day about even with Lagunda, Beacho's like, maybe
I'll encourage them to watch that show so that they
won't watch it because like dad wants them to watch it.
(47:26):
Like I think it's very uncool, but so funny when
you feel like you contributed something. Early on, I didn't
think that Laguna was contributing something to our society whatsoever.
When I hear you say it, and it's honestly also
why I did the podcast and the specials. There were
people eventually coming up to me on the street and
speaking about how they could relate to what was going
(47:48):
on their experience of watching the show, whether it's joy,
whether it's to feel a little less alone. That to
me was like, oh, thank god, like it contributed something
in a positive way, even though everything for me fell undeserved,
so to now you know, there's that motivating factor of
wanting to do something that is going to contribute positively
(48:09):
for folks. And it'll start with my family first.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
I love that, Steven, and thank you so much for
being on the podcast. And what I will say is
you are very deserving and I'm looking I'm really looking
forward to everyone checking out. Everyone is doing great, and
I highly recommend all of our audience who's listening and
watching today to go check out season one and season two.
Speaker 2 (48:34):
And I can't wait to see what you create next.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
I think you have endless possibilities and you've proven yourself
at every turn, and I think, like that's a really
cool thing to do, is bet on yourself and keep
proving it and proving it improving it. And like, I'm
excited to see what you do and continue to do
and building this family and the life you've always imagined.
(48:59):
And I shit you getting wide open with us today,
and yeah, thanks for being here a hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
Keep the foot on the gas. I'm a girl who
works in NASCAR and uh oh, I love this. You
can know what you look back and maybe sometimes we
would rest on our laurels when you're younger, but they
found that it's where we're at our best as long
as we keep the pedal to the metal and uh yeah,
keep looking.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
For new ground, right it so the wheels fall off, honey,
that's well way to go. I like it, all right, everyone,
Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Wide Open.
I am your host, Ashlyn Harris, and we will see
you next week. All right, everyone, that was Stephen Coletti,
someone we thought we knew, but like most of us,
(49:42):
he's grown, shifted and rewritten his story along the way
from being a teenager figuring it out on camera to
building his own projects and stepping back into the spotlight
with a whole new perspective. This conversation is really about
ownership of your story, of your identity and your evolution.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
And maybe that's the takeaway.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Everyone isn't always doing great, but there's power in being
honest about it and even more power in choosing what
comes next.
Speaker 2 (50:16):
I appreciate you all for listening. This is Wide Open.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris, and we will see you
all next week.
Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Wide Open.
I'm your host Ashlyn Harris, and today's guest is someone
a lot of us feel like we grew up with.
From the beaches of Laguna to the halls of Tree Hill.
He was part of a generation of television that just
didn't entertain us. It shaped the way we saw relationships, identity,
(00:21):
and what it meant to come of age in the spotlight.
But what's interesting about Stephen Coletti isn't just where he started.
It's how he's evolved from reality TV to acting and
now stepping fully into his own as a creator, writer,
producer with everyone is doing great. He's taken back control
of his story in a way that feels honest, grounded
(00:44):
and real, and now years later, he's stepping back into
the world that introduced him to all of us. We
get to see the reunion of Laguna Beach on his
own terms. This one's nostalgic, it's fun, but it's also
about growth and perspective and figuring out who you are
(01:04):
when the cameras aren't telling you who to be.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Let's get Wide open. This is Stephen Colletti.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Wide Open.
I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris, and today's guest really needs
no introduction. Stephen Colletti, the og heart throb from Laguna
Beach and the show that raised most of us One
Tree Hill.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Welcome to the show, Steven. How are you?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Thank you so much. I'm doing well. Thank you. It's
good to be here. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Of course, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
The only reason I was like, yes, we need to
get Stephen on this show is because, a you might
be the only one that Sophia didn't date on One
Tree Hill.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So it makes me feel a little bit better about
the banter.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, but I I told Sophia today that we were
going to hang out for an hour and she was like,
oh my god, let me tell you all these stories.
And I was like, honey, uh, there's a there's a
lot here that shows me you were gay a long
fucking time ago. But sure, we'll get into that later.
(02:23):
She told me she took you to a shooting range
like your first your first week on set.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I mean, there's so much to to unpack here. I mean, yeah,
I'm glad that we're not burying the lead as far
as our connection here, and I mean to me that
moment in my life first getting out to work on
One Tree Hill and and being this kid from this
MTV reality show, and I knew a little bit about
(02:51):
Hillary Burton. She had an empty connection, but not this
like full like personal life love triangle situation. And then
we're gonna jump on a scripted show, which is where
I wanted to be. But I wasn't sure how everyone
on that show is going to going to take it,
because if I was them, I'd be like, why is
this guy here? So showed up very nervous. Sofia was
incredibly gracious with me from the jump. I would just,
(03:15):
you know, I would just be asking a million questions,
constantly banging on her trailer door, like hey can we
ren some lines? Hey can we talk about this? And Hey,
what's the backstory here? She was incredibly gracious the entire time,
and it really set the tone for me feeling comfortable
to be able to, you know, to stay on that show.
So that then also she was you know, she would
(03:37):
she was gracious enough to invite me some dinners, and
then one day she was like, yeah, hey, I'm going
to go to a gun range. Do you want to come?
She's like, you know, it's great to just practice, like,
you know, hold a gun. And I'm like, I didn't
see this in the script. I don't know if she
knows something more than me, but I was like, yeah,
why not. And I'm from an Orange I'm from Orange County.
It's a California kid here and I'm South And it's
(03:57):
like a Wednesday at like four pm and I'm going
to the gun range with Sophia Bush. And I was like, man,
this life is coming at me fast and a whole
different way I could have ever imagined. And so we
show up there there's like two guys in like three
piece suits, like you know, just right out of this
right out of the South there. It was so funny
and she was showing me here's what I learned about
(04:18):
like holding a gun and shooting gun. And that was
one of the first times I ever shot a gun.
So kudos to her for really just like, you know,
being very gracious in the beginning, but also like let's
throw them in a little bit of an uncomfortable environment
and see how he hangs.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, she was like, I'm coming out at the age
of forty three, I said, honey, there were signs.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Here is one of the signs.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I was like, okay, girl, you're fulling absolutely no one,
but bring me back to the beginning because you're it's
so true, like you got your start so early on
Laguna Beach and I imagine you know, I always say
this genuinely. I'm so happy that there wasn't social media
when I in high school.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And here you are.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Your shit's all over, like that's all we watched. You
guys were really the beginning of teaching us about the
inner workings of like social constructs and hanging out on
the beach and relationships like you name it. We learned
so much of who we were by watching you guys.
(05:25):
And I don't know if you guys realize the weight
of which you were carrying and how quickly that was
going to change your life. Who was Stephen before the.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Camera showed up?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Like why did you choose to do this kind of
stepping into something you didn't really know what the outcome was.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Going to be.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, it's so interesting you talk about our lives, our
lives changing at that moment, because we really did not
see it that way. We knew that there was an opportunity.
Here you're engaging with people from MTV and MTV at
that time, of course, was still massive, and you know,
for me personally, there was an opportunity to I'd always
(06:05):
wanted to work in entertainment. I actually thought originally I'd
probably go into sports broadcasting. I really grew up enjoying
listening to you know, Dan Patrick and folks like Keith Olberman,
the way that they would write their highlights to highlight
descriptions on Sports Center and discuss that and do some
commentating as well. So that was kind of an avenue hosting.
(06:28):
And so MTV I was drawn to and Carson Daily
another person I looked up to and was like, that
would be a job that I want. I remember they
had the super superlatives where middle school most likely to whatever,
and and in like eighth grade, one of them was
most likely to become an MTV VJ. I did not
get that, but I really really hope that I and
(06:51):
so it's it's so funny. I wasn't gonna go campaign
for it, but that's where my mind was at.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I I grew up just you know, being a kid
that was on the beach every day and really just
laid back lifestyle. And and that's kind of the the
j exposition between Laguna and this MTV show is it's
it's an artsy community. It's it's it's not flamboyant. It's
not it's become more and more as of course, the
(07:18):
real estate is worth so much down there, and there's
a lot of wealthy folk there, but it's always been
this little pocket of arts and and very liberal, very hippie,
you know. So it it's just that's that was the environment,
you know. To me, it was like, all right, well,
which beach am I going to today? Are there any waves?
And what are we doing tonight with our friends? I
(07:41):
will say second semester senior year is when things were
changing for me, even before MTV appeared. That was that
time where I feel like a lot of people can
relate where you're just you're done with high school and
and a lot of the experiences you've had there, Like
all right, I've enjoyed these these people and my time here,
but I'm ready for I'm ready to go to college.
You're ready to experience some culture outside of here. And
(08:03):
you know, I actually went to apply to San Francisco
State University knowing that not a lot of kids from
my high school were going there and I was going
to have I wasn't looking for a fresh start. I
was just looking for I mean, I guess you could
call it that. I wasn't running from anything. It was
just more I just wanted to like to experience more
culture and a big city, so I did that and
looking for opportunity. Of course, I didn't think it all
(08:26):
the way through, as I'm signing up for this you
know show for MTV and thinking I'm just going to
network and meet some people at MTV that they were
actually going to put together a show that was you know,
well cut and edited and something that drew the attention
of viewers because it was something unlike they'd ever seen
before with these random kids who have no skill up
(08:46):
to this point other than just socializing that are going
to be you know, in ten episodes of this drama
and make it look like the OC that show. So yeah, yeah,
life really changed at that moment, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Well, how do you feel like that exposure at such
an early age shaped you?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Was it?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because I imagine there were really great things about it,
and there was you know, invasive things because I imagine, Stephen,
you became so popular and you were such a big character.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
In this show.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Even though it's a reality television, people thought they knew you,
and people adored you and loved you and your personality.
And you're right, you are soft, You are laid back,
that type of like people could feel it through the camera.
It was so infectious and contagious. How did it change
the way you moved in the world, because I imagine
(09:47):
overnight at some point, you know, you couldn't go to
the grocery store without these young little girlies hollering or
wanting to take a picture or wanting to sign an autograph,
Like what was that about?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
You know, because you were.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So young, even though this is what you wanted, people
always are like, oh, I want to be rich and famous,
until they become rich and famous and then they're like,
I actually want the simple life.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
How did that shape you at such an early age?
Speaker 3 (10:17):
You know, I'm still learning just exactly how I changed
in those early years through that time, and it's taking
years to kind of figure that out and have the
perspective of being much more mature and kind of replaying
some of the decisions I was making and the moves
that I made at that time. And it's so interesting
(10:39):
because there was a lot of like, all right, this
isn't really happening, right, this is ridiculous, Like we have
there's nothing that people should be admiring about. As I understand,
we come from this beautiful city. But for us, as
people like you could go to any high school in
America and find those exact situations, and we just happened
to do it in this kind of beautiful seaside community.
(11:01):
So and with the you know, the the very well
shot creatives behind the show that are you know, filming
in and of course editing it all together. So you know,
it's interesting. I just tried to act as normal as possible,
but yeah, life was not allowing you to do that.
And it's funny because I also had dreams and aspirations
(11:24):
in the business, so it's not like I was trying
to run and hide from everything, like oh my gosh,
please everyone just ignore me. I just want to go
to school. There was a lot of also chasing opportunity
and wanting to take advantage of some of the doors
that were being opened for me at that time. But
the apost syndrome was massive. You know I talked about,
(11:44):
you know, getting on that set for One Tree Hill.
I did try to turn a lot of things down
for a little while and just stay in LA and
acting classes, and just when I was going to get
the opportunity to get onto a set, show people that
I'm not some kid who's out here just chasing fame.
I understand it comes with it, and if it's happening,
(12:05):
that's great. So I'm not going to sit here and
like bash on that. Like we all understand, it's a
part of the business, and it's if you have the
opportunity to be in that position, you're very fortunate. But
it was just really about trying to because I'd done
some hosting and it was like, Okay, I enjoy this,
but acting is something I always wanted to dabble in,
and when I started studying it, I got the bug
and wanted to just really keep doing more of it.
(12:26):
So you know, that's I just tried to buckle down
and actually work. And so I feel like I could
provide somewhat of a skill or something I had to
offer that was more than what was going on in
my personal life. Because so that's kind of really what
was driving me was like, all right, I'm not going
to be defined by this reality show at this time.
It may follow me for the rest of my life
(12:47):
and it has that's okay, but there there's more to us,
and I wanted people to show that, especially when you had,
you know, a version of you set out a certain
way by by the powers that be and editors and stuff,
so you know, it was just yeah, it was all
about kind of focusing on the work and trying to
(13:09):
find opportunities that I can work towards and be more
proud of because I felt like I earned you know, yes, well.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
You also did the work. You know, you weren't cutting corners,
you knew. I think it's really important to just acknowledge
where we all came from and like what doors open
and however you want to see it, Like what a
blessing that that was the start of a you know,
you're still so young. You know you're going to have
(13:39):
this long, incredible career because you choose to do the
work and you're not expecting people to open doors for
you just based on a reality television show when you
were seventeen. So I think that shows who you are
as a human and how you move and I think
there's a lot of power in that, and that's why
you have longevity in the entertainment industry.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I'll be back in just a moment after this brief
message from our sponsors. I say this often, it is
so cutthroat when I hear and watch the inner workings
of you know, I see it firsthand with Sophia. I'm
just like, God, it's just so different than the sports world.
(14:24):
I'm like, how are you? It's amazing. You all are
so normal. And then when I see people losing their mind,
I'm like, oh, it totally makes sense. It is that
shit crazy. It's like Hunger Games twenty four to seven,
and I thought I had it. It's so I'm like, honey,
how are you not chewing your hair in the corner?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Like I've always admired that with Sophia i'voyd. I remember,
even you know, back on she was always she's always
been this way. She's got so much going on, wearing
a million hats, a bunch of spinning plates. And when
we were working on One Tree Hill, I mean, that
was the other thing that was great about that show,
and that I see is such an instrumental time was
I was just turning twenty one. I think James Lafferty
(15:05):
was a couple months older than me, so, and he
was the youngest of that main cast. Everyone else was
just a little bit older. So, but in you know,
your twenties, when you're looking at twenty compared to around
twenty five, you know, there's some serious maturing, especially between
females and males, like the females on the show maturing
quite a bit faster than the males there. So you know,
(15:29):
always had a really good group of people to look
up to and you know, see how they were going
about their business, especially being the stars of a very
successful show like one Trio.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Absolutely and I hear I saw on roku is doing
the Laguna Beach reunion.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
What do we have to look forward to with this?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I think fans of the show and people if you're
just discovering it for the first time, but a fan
of reality TV and maybe you have seen some reunions,
are I think going to be surprised by striking a
different tone than what they're used to. You have a
show that was you know, it's twenty years old. Now,
you've had other scripted shows that have this really feel
good moment where they bring people back together and they
(16:14):
talk about the old times, and I think it really
leaves people with a very positive feeling and reflect personally
how far they've come from maybe when they first watched
that show. And I think that they could find something
similar in that in Laguna and the fact that it's
a reality show and it's not we're gonna flip tables
and I'm gonna come at your throat like it's been
(16:34):
twenty years. And the reason we could do this is
because of that time, and everyone's moved on and have
great families and are legitimately happy to see everyone else
from our cast doing well. And we all share that
bond of the fire that we played with in two
thousand and four as we were still developing frontal lobes
(16:55):
and got this you know, attention that was so undeserved
and yeah, and where that could have all led us.
But everyone's come a long way, and it's been a
tricky thing to, you know, to maneuver, or at least
it was back then, but easier as we got older,
and I think we could we shared that bond and
so to come together and just bust each other's chops
(17:17):
and able to laugh at at like you watch that back,
like listen to us, look at listen to what's coming
out of your mouth? Look at listen how you're speaking.
You're you're you're you're not enunciating. Your diction is terrible.
You just sound like you just you crawled out from
the ocean and and you're you know, coughing out sand
(17:38):
and and just it's it's so funny to have such
detailed images of ourselves at that time, and especially when
it's like some of those like behind the scenes personal moments.
So you know, I think that people will will appreciate seeing,
first of all, how much has changed in that time.
This was before social media, so there was an innocence
(18:01):
that we no longer have, not just our age and yeah,
for that, I think people will will hope and I'm
hoping that will come away with it feeling like, man,
it was different from a reunion that I'm used to seeing,
and I actually really enjoyed watching that. It's got me
feeling good and I want to connect with, yeah, some
of my old friends a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
It really does seem sweet.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
And I only saw the trailer of it, but the
emotional depth that it even shows in that short you know,
little sneak peek it really you can see the emotional
ties and strings you have together and the connective tissue
that you probably will carry with you forever, I imagine,
(18:43):
and to just put a bow on it, to have
you all come back and unpack this wild time and
then just nostalgia in general, I think it's going to give.
And I say this often, especially in a time that
feels like our world is a dumb stir fire. It
is going to be nice to bring good TV that
(19:04):
just like feels like a like you're coming home right
and we need a little more gentle not you know,
reality television two has gotten to be as you know,
you just did Traders.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's just it's always these.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Gotcha moments and we forget of when it originally started.
It wasn't crazy, it wasn't always chaotic. It was like
these beautiful coming to age stories. And I'm excited to
go back and feel that type of warmth because I
haven't felt that in reality shows or much. You know,
when you even think of documentaries. Now everything's dark like
(19:43):
I missed nineties rom coms, like I miss the lightness,
and I'm excited to be able to watch this.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, you know that was a you hit the nail
on the head. There a few things we really felt
like we wanted to all together put a bow on
the whole experience. It's in a positive way. And it
was Lauren Conrad who said she was like, you know what,
I feel like this is timely and not only being
twenty years, but really an opportunity to give people something
(20:14):
that is a little more refreshing and positive, you know,
and for that could come away feeling good about you know,
watching this and and and so for her that was
a big selling point was you know, we have an
opportunity to do something that you could be a celebration
and and have people feeling positive. And when you've got
(20:35):
so much of that other yeah, like you're saying a
lot of the more, you know, hey, the more you
guys can go at each other, the better for our show.
I think this will be a nice contrast to that.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I think that's great.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And not to jump pivot to the other reality side
of things, why traders, what made you step.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Back into this chaos.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And give it a go, or you just like, hey,
maybe this will be fun or the competitive side in
you like, what was it about stepping back into reality
television that made you want to do this?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Yeah? You know what, I never really shared it, but
I think in the back of my mind, I always
knew I'd love to do something in the competitive reality space,
whether that's going on to Jeopardy or you know, even
an amazing race style. You know, I'm a competitor at heart,
and watching that show, it was it started as a
personal test of like, you wouldn't do it. You don't
(21:35):
have the balls to do that. And they actually the
first time they had offered me a previous season, and
I thankfully could not do it because I remember watching
it and going the show is great. I like the
way that they cut this together. It's very intriguing. It's
got this murder mystery vibe. You got Alan Cumming who
was just brilliant, and they seem with each season to
(21:57):
just raise the stakes more and more. And I was like,
I would never fit in there, like I'm not you know,
wardrobe wise, I mean a lot of respect for fashion
on there, Like I'm gonna I would keep it laid back,
so i'd probably you know, stick out like a sore thumb.
And so there was all these reasons not to, but
I actually regretted not being able to do it even
(22:18):
the first go around. And when it came back around,
it was that immediate like oh no, you know, you
have to do this, like you want to do this,
and you can, You're available, so it's like, oh my gosh,
and so you know, and yeah, after not doing reality
for so many years. The thing about the show is
(22:39):
they they really actually focus on the game. That's a
part of what they think is their success is the
integrity of the game and and the way that they
keep everything a secret and and the stakes just continue
to get hired and hire as you go throughout. And
when you have all these people coming together who have
no idea you know who who they are really, you know,
there's no previous relationships for the most part, and and
(23:00):
you're expected to trust, which you just can't. It just
leads to such a delicious dynamic. And for that, I
really think that it's what makes a show so great.
And for them to sell to me like hey, look,
the game comes first and the kind of reality part
comes second, I'm like, Okay, that's fine, But like a guys,
like again, I'm pretty laid back I'm not going to
(23:22):
be a loud voice in the room. Are you sure
you want me? And they're like, look, we need to
have a little bit of balance. You know, we've got
people that do that, but we also need some folks
that are a little more quiet and you know, can
can more observe. And so it's like, look, that's probably
who I'm going to be. So so yeah, Look, there
was a lot of a lot of reasons where this show,
in particular, it just struck me from the beginning and
(23:45):
it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
But I felt like there's also some fear, some fear
of regret if I passed it, that I wish I
had done it for the rest of my life, and
I'm really glad I did it, because yeah, that would
have been a major regret.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I don't know, did you go in with a strat
or you were just like, I don't know what to expect.
I'm going to roll with this like that is It's
just the whole thing feels stressful to me, and I'm
like a weird competitor.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I'm like, this would bring out the worst.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Side of me, and it trust me and the way
they depict everyone. I'm like, oh, who's going to be
who's going to be the villain? Who's going to be this?
There's always like these the little list of people who
come to life in that.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, I'm just like, it's it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The whole dynamic is like you're playing a live board game.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
It like really fucks me up a little.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Bit, and there's so much that's out of your control, right, Yeah,
and that's that's the part that was that was scary
to me. There's a lot of unknown Like, first of all,
who's going to be there? Right? You don't even going
to be sitting across the table from and going to
have to engage or you know, is there somebody that
I just I would never want to share the screen with,
you know, for one reason or another. So yeah, it
(24:59):
left a lot unknowns. But I think in talking through
with folks actually like okay, let's step into this, and
usually it's those experiences I think for the villains, you know,
there are folks that really jump into that ready to
take on that role. You know, you look at Michael Rappaport,
you know he he was more than happy to just
(25:20):
run his mouth from the jump. You know, either the
worst trader or the worst faithful, just because he's constantly
stirring the pot and everyone'sn be like, you know what,
we don't have a lot on everybody, but you're giving
us plenty of reason to just say he should probably
get out of the castle so you can focus on
what we need to focus on. So you do have
And that was another part. Is I so intimidated that
(25:42):
first day. I remember driving up to the castle and
even sharing the car. You know, I'm in the car
with Maura Higgins. You know, she's this beautiful Irish girl,
you know, very well spoken and funny. And Jam Jam
from Survivor. He's one survivor. He's hilarious and a big personality.
You've got Candice who from The Housewives Potomac. She is
(26:02):
just whip smart and her background was very interesting to me.
So you know you're going in. It's like these are
seasoned vets at reality here, and I've been out of
the game for so long and always you know, kind
of consider myself even an outsider to that because I
just I didn't continue on in reality and I don't
feel like I was ever able to quite grasp my
position in it and be that personality that a lot
(26:26):
of these people do. And so yeah, I was very
intimidated going into the castle, but I will say once
we got in there, everyone was great and the cast
really bonded pretty quickly. So it makes the insanity of
what's happening in the game and those crazy frickin' roundtables
where everything just goes sideways so fast, you know, it
(26:47):
makes it a little bit easier to manage when you
actually like the people you're doing it with.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
That's so great.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Did you do a lot of prep walking into it,
Like did you kind of watch previous seasons? Did you
pick people's mind, did you have a strategic plan?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Or you kind of just were like, this is so unpredictable.
I can't control anything.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I'm just going to walk right into this like blindly
a little bit literally and figuratively, you know.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
I honestly I took it on kind of like taking
on a role in scripted television. It was like, Okay,
you know, what's what's my place in here? How am
I best suited to you know, to maneuver in this environment?
You know what? What am what's my goal here? What
am I trying to do with this? And and you know,
(27:36):
how do I best kind of manage the environment where
you know the motions are going to run high. If
you are one to speak out, you could easily put
yourself up for murder and make yourself look suspicious. So
a big part of the strategy going forward and reading
a lot of what people who had been on the
show before, what they had said about their experience, and
(27:56):
especially people that went out early, because one thing I
was not going to do was going to go out early.
And it's not because of my wardrobe choices or this
whole closet of outfits I really wanted to share with people.
But if you could imagine me after so many years
going like and working myself up to be on the
show that I'm a fan of and been like, Oka, right, great,
we're we're on Traders, and then damn getting knocked out
(28:18):
the first day. I don't know if I would have
ever come back. I would have just moved to another
country and changed my name. And that's it. That's a
wrap on me. So yeah, I look, it's it's pretty
well known that if you know, as long as you
do not make yourself stand out in the crowd, I
think early on without being too suspicious. You can at
(28:40):
least get past the first couple of days there because
there's nothing to really go off of early on, and
so people are looking for anything, and it's usually people
that speak a little bit more, a little too much,
and people jump on that. And you saw that with
Porsche on our season. So look, just let the game
come to you, sit back, observe, make some nice friend ships,
(29:00):
engagements in conversation, get to know people on that level,
but don't point the finger anybody too soon, and and
don't call anything out unless you're one hundred percent certain
of what you saw. So that was that was the
strategy going in. But then everything shifts once you get
in the game, the dynamics and the relationships. I also
got very sick after the first couple of days, so
I was like, oh no, I'm they're going to vote
(29:20):
me out because I'm the sick guy. It's just paranoia peaks,
and to what you were saying earlier, like that, it
screws with your mind so much about what's what you're
actually seeing and what's happening. So I'm happy I made
it as far as I did.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
You did, and you you had a really great run.
Is there anything that you would have changed now looking back, like,
do you feel like I could have done this maybe
not to get voted off or it's just like the
dice just rolled and that's how it ends up.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, you know, I it's so funny. I don't even
remember saying this, but when I saw back the the
episode that I was banished, and I talk about my
eagerness so funny, egret, So I don't even really roll
that out often, but so it speaks to where my
mind was at in that moment, which I think is
the fact we were really on Johnny. We're a few
(30:10):
of us and including Robin Eric, who of course I
didn't know we're traders at the time before they flipped
to me. So I was convinced that Johnny won, that
he was a trader and he was getting voted off,
and a lot of that had to do with, you know,
it was like clear that Tara was not and Johnny
(30:30):
it was you know, there was a good case for
why he wasn't a trader, but not as good as Tara,
and it was like maybe one of them has to be.
And he was also close with Candace in a way.
There was there was a not too obvious dynamic between
Johnny and Candace. So when Candace started to get the
heat the way she was engaging with Johnny, I was like,
(30:53):
I just felt like and that's where I was like, Okay,
I'm picking up on them. You know. There there's a
dynamic there, so maybe he's a trader as well. So
I was convinced. And what I did not do was
ever discuss it with Johnny. So I sat back and say, hey,
I got this. I remember coming back from that last mission,
Mark and I are like fist bumping, like dude, we're
(31:13):
making it to the semi finals, and then all of
a sudden we're at the roundtable and everything shifted. And
because of look not going to Johnny. I think if
we had done that, Johnny and I would have given
each other the opportunity to explain why we're both not
traders and then okay, if not, then what else? Who
else could it be? And maybe he would have told
(31:33):
me his conversation with Candace about Rob, and then I
could have connected the dots about when Candace was trying
to talk to me and Rob came in the room.
So there there's a lot there of what it could
have should have as far as you know when it
comes to Johnny in the end, but that's that's a
point of getting out of there. And then I would
say also from the beginning, I wish I was a trader,
(31:56):
Like they have all the fun, they're in control. You know,
it's like true, you know what's actually happening. A lot
of that unknown because you feel like such a dumbass
when you come out and you're like, man, I'm sitting
there in those interviews and I'm convinced it's Johnny and
I'm like, we got them, like you're going down. And
then it's not Traders never they're never in that position.
(32:17):
So yeah, so you talk about things that are out
of your control. You you worry about looking like an idiot,
and those are those moments when you're convinced and you're
completely wrong.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
And what all of this, you know, all all of
these different You've had such an incredible journey of scripted
and unscripted shows, but now you're creating, starring and producing.
For those of us you know, listening and watching, I
would love for you to talk about the show. Everyone
is doing great, what it's about for our audience, And
(32:50):
you know, if I'm correct.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It just got picked up for a season two right.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yes, we're so happy to share that we've got season two.
But we just acquired both seasons and it's going to
be a premiere for season two. No one's seen season
two yet, so that's being released and yeah, we're super
excited about it. That is.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Tell me about it, tell us about the project, how
it came to be. My guess is you know is
it partly based on your life? Is it because I
know you James is a part of this as well,
co writing and producing and directing and starring in it.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Is that correct? Yeah, One Tree Hill. I love it.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
I love it exactly. Yeah. James and I we started
working on the show about twenty seventeen. He actually first
came to me with an idea, came over to my
house piece of paper, outlined some beats and a tone
of a type of show he was thinking about, and
I was like, I love this, this is great, and
let's do more of this. Let's write and see what
(33:56):
comes of it. And from there it really just momentum
kept building on a show that had some some dark
comedy that was based on our experiences in the industry,
but not necessarily our lives. We like to say, if
we had always listened to the Devil on our shoulder
for our entire lives, this is probably what we would
(34:17):
have ended up like, because those two guys could never
be able to put together a show, but we wanted
to set it in a world that we knew very well.
Let's let's have these guys. You know, they've they were
on a hit vampire drama in their early twenties. They
were teen heart throbs. Life was coming at them super easy.
And now they're they're thirty and somebody is just out
(34:37):
of work, somebody's losing their marriage. You know, everything's falling apart,
and they have really no business leaning on each other,
but they're kind of forced to. So there's a comedy
of errors there. And then he also bring in some
of the other actors in the show, Alex Park and
Cree Behind, who you know play started out as our
love interest. But you'll see in the second season they've
(34:58):
got you know, much much more expanded roles that that
are fleshed out and being able to see what's happening
in their lives as well. And we're really excited about
that with with with season two. But It's been this
long labor of love, love with a tremendous group of
creatives that have sacrificed a lot to be able to
(35:19):
make this show. You know, we crowdfunded the first season.
Really had no idea what we were doing. We're like,
let's let's shoot up you know, kind of a proof
of concept, you know, and and and that went well,
So let's do more. Let's you know, write all the episodes,
let's try to go sell it. And we did that
a little bit, but you know, we felt like we're
not really getting our real opportunity here. So you know
(35:42):
what if we try to crowdfund it and make an
episode and we'll take it to some TV festivals and
maybe we can you know, find an investor to do
a season. So we kind of just kept going, even
though there are places where, you know, not people weren't
jumping at us to take on the show. But we
felt really strong about the tone that we're striking, the
way we can execute it, felt like we could do
(36:04):
it on a low budget. You've got the Nelms brothers
who have been in the indie filmmaking world for a
long time, uh that that are are great at executing
films on a lower budget, making it still premium quality. Uh,
they're they're producing partners Michelle Lang and their cinematographer, Johnny Durango.
They all came in and just jumped in on the
(36:24):
project to help us and elevate it, and they enjoyed
the experience as well. So it really was this, you know,
group of creatives that I really wanted to see this
show succeed and and see it through and and you know,
very non traditional is getting it done, making eight episodes
then going all right, let's see who will take it.
(36:44):
And we did that with with season one. It went
to Hulu which was great, and season two to Paramount
Plus and and felt like we've had a positive response
where you know, there's something different. It's these little vignettes
on life that we shoot, and it's it's found a
little audience that has enjoyed it and motivated us to
(37:04):
continue to make it even though we might not have
the backing of a big studio. So we're still an
independent TV show and that's why this moment for us
to partner with Sony TV and to be able to
get on Netflix has been credible, massive, It's incredible. We
just feel so so fortunate, and I'm so excited to
share it with everyone who's supported because it's not just
(37:25):
us and our team, it's the whole cast and crew.
Everyone sacrificed something to be on the show, and then
of course the community behind the show as well, who's
been asking for it for a couple of years now.
So yeah, we're super excited.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
And how do you so, as someone now who's lived
on both sides of the camera, what has this been
a really reflective and a big learning process for you?
Do you prefer one or the other now that you
you know it's taken you guys, you've clawed, You've just
scrapped your way to it to this point, and I'm
(38:02):
curious what side has that really told you, Like I
need to be in front of camera or I need
to be behind it?
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Like which which one?
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Now? Can you walk away and say, oh, this has
opened my eyes up to something different I didn't expect.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Yeah, it's a great question, you know. I there's a
lot that I like about both sides of the camera,
but it's really a part of starting this is to
be able to do what we want in front of
the camera. And I'm always drawn to that and the
acting and the goals that I still have to hit
there places that I want to go feel like we've
just been getting started. And so that was a big
(38:43):
motivation of making the show, is let's do something that
we're not necessarily getting cast for, but we feel like
we could have a lot of fun in and you know,
with that, learning all the aspects behind the camera, I've
always been drawn to it, even we were shooting Laguna
Beach and knowing that I wanted to work in entertainment,
just the you know, what it takes to get a
(39:05):
crew together and have a common goal and making something
that's going to get zapped to someone's TV. Like I
was obsessed with that even when I was a kid.
There's been so much that everyone has to take on
in the show within our team, and you find some limits,
you know, early on when we were like, look out
of necessity, we don't have the money, so we got
(39:25):
to figure out how to do this, and so you know,
we take on a lot within the show and you
do learn like, all right, how do I prioritize, you know,
where the attention needs to be spent the most. As
far as I'm concerned, in this project so that we
can keep it to a certain level that we're expecting
of ourselves. And so, if anything, I'm interested in all
of it and I love learning about it all. But
(39:47):
you also learn like there are certain things we have
to be able to dictate, all right, well who needs
to handle what so that we can focus on the
things that are important and ultimately, of course that's everything
on screen. And to me, yeah, at the end of
the day, there's a lot we still want to do.
And even with the show, it's like with the second season,
it was like, all right, this is gonna be so
fucking fun, Like we finally get the opportunity to do
(40:10):
a second season knowing everything we know after the first
season and everything it's going to take when you're being
pulled in a bunch of directions to also you know,
jump on on camera and be in your scenes. So
we did that and then there was its own set
of challenges and it was completely overwhelming. And it's a
crazy how you get in that. You know, it's just
(40:30):
a mode for a couple of months of like all right,
this is you're completely stressed out from you know, sun
up to sundown, but you're also like you're going to
be happier about what you're making like it's it's just
a great thrill. So yeah, at the end of the days,
it's probably the front of the camera we enjoy, but
we still have a lot to learn behind the camera
as well.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
Super fun though, I mean, I love hearing the passion
because I know this has been a journey and it
really is a testament to really stick.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Into what you believe in. And I think that there's
a lot of power in that.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
I think a lot of people quit too early instead
of banging on every fucking door being like, no, I
believe in this. I just need the right people in
my circle to make this a reality, to get a chance,
and you're getting that right now. And I'm excited for
everyone to be able to see it, especially our audience
today who's getting to listen to this episode. I hope
everyone goes and checks out. Everyone is doing great.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Thank you, Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I'll be back in just a moment after this brief
message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
But outside of the show.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
And the labels and you know, teenage heart throb Stephen,
like who's Stephen today? Without the show, without the fame,
without you know, all of the noise.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Yeah, you know what's so funny. In my twenties, I
probably would have some sort of uncomfortable answer as figuring
it out. You know, i'd be nervous right now and
being like, you know, who the fuck am I I'll
still figure it out. But I think today and it's
you know we were talking about earlier. It's like, there's
all these wonderful things that have kind of all arrived
(42:16):
at this moment for me professionally, but personally none bigger.
I think that I'm, you know, a new husband. My
wife and I just got married last year, and we're
expecting a baby. So I'm about to be a father,
and to me, that is that's the priority of the
(42:36):
craziness of everything else going on. Still, at the end
of the day, I'm a proud husband and I'm as
soon to be a very proud father, So that that's
what's super exciting and who I am today.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
I love that and congratulations. That gave me goosebumps. I
say this often. It's I have two children, and they
by far the greatest gift that I've.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Done a lot in my life.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I've chased a bunch of titles and success and being
mom is there is nothing greater better. Every day I
show up, I want to be a better human for them.
So I'm so excited for you both, and I'm glad
you shared that because it really is.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
That's all. That's what it's about, Like.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
You really reflect on your life when you see life
through the lens of them at an early age and
just exploring and curious and seeing things for the first time.
You just like it takes you back to not being
so damaged or desensitized to the reality we live.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
And what a gift. I mean, you're turning forty soon, correct.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Just turn forty, Just turn for what a gift to
like to get older and to get wiser and to
get your priorities straight.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
And there's just so much much more to life than
what we do.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
Yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
I'm excited for you.
Speaker 3 (44:07):
I appreciate that. Yeah, I love what you said right there.
It really is, you know, to me, I don't look back,
first of all, in regret of anything that I've done
or moments that I wish I could go back to,
because I think being at this age is it's so
much better than being the twenty year old who thinks
(44:28):
he's invincible and also has life figured out. And so
I welcome the new decades and again, you know what,
I'm so happy to have this knowledge and experience. Now
feel like, Okay, we've actually earned a spot of where
we're at. And yeah, to me, I know that there's
so much that I don't know in what parenthood involves.
(44:50):
And the only thing I really do feel like is
it's gonna bring a lot of joy and a lot
of hard work and for all that, just like anything
in life, you know you'll be spit out the other
side much better off for it. So we're really pumped
about that.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
And as someone who has chased so much in your
life success and you know now with your your your
wife and having this family, I imagine you've always wanted.
What is something you want that you haven't checked the box? Like,
I know that's a loaded thing to say for someone
who's done so much, But what do you feel like
(45:29):
you're chasing next? Like, what is what's going to excite
you that you haven't done yet?
Speaker 3 (45:35):
M you know, back in the day, there was a
lot of a lot of a lot of stuff that
I was working on or doing was really for me
and I, Uh, it was. It was a lot. It
was very selfishly driven, and when I look back on it,
I see it that way, and you're not thinking very
much about your your family and representing you know, your
(45:59):
friends and family a certain way. And I started to
kind of realize that, like, man, I want to make
more of people around me proud and and I want
to be able to do things that my nieces can watch,
right So I and I got a little taste of
that with with Traders. You know, my sister and her
kids were able to watch it and and you know,
just their questions about the show, and I was like,
(46:20):
it's it's it's fun to have that kind of engagement
with them and bring them something that you know that
they enjoyed watching together as a family. And to me,
there's a lot more to do there, you know. I
just I just saw Hail Mary and uh, you know
the way Ryan Gosling was talking about, you know, making
this one for his kids was I was like that
(46:42):
to me, is I would love to be in that position,
you know, ten years from now, going like, you know,
made this one you know for my kids. They couldn't
be happier. They think I'm a I'm a rad dad
because like, you know, fine, like there's I feel like,
what's what's coming is me wanting to prove myself to
my kids, which we'll see. It could if the you know,
(47:04):
it could be a Sysaphian task of constantly, you know,
hoping that they're going to think I'm doing something cool,
but ultimately like that's lame, dad, But to me, that
is come on, we'll see, we'll see. I was joking
the other day about even with Lagunda, Beacho's like, maybe
I'll encourage them to watch that show so that they
won't watch it because like dad wants them to watch it.
(47:26):
Like I think it's very uncool, but so funny when
you feel like you contributed something. Early on, I didn't
think that Laguna was contributing something to our society whatsoever.
When I hear you say it, and it's honestly also
why I did the podcast and the specials. There were
people eventually coming up to me on the street and
speaking about how they could relate to what was going
(47:48):
on their experience of watching the show, whether it's joy,
whether it's to feel a little less alone. That to
me was like, oh, thank god, like it contributed something
in a positive way, even though everything for me fell undeserved,
so to now you know, there's that motivating factor of
wanting to do something that is going to contribute positively
(48:09):
for folks. And it'll start with my family first.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
I love that, Steven, and thank you so much for
being on the podcast. And what I will say is
you are very deserving and I'm looking I'm really looking
forward to everyone checking out. Everyone is doing great, and
I highly recommend all of our audience who's listening and
watching today to go check out season one and season two.
Speaker 2 (48:34):
And I can't wait to see what you create next.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
I think you have endless possibilities and you've proven yourself
at every turn, and I think, like that's a really
cool thing to do, is bet on yourself and keep
proving it and proving it improving it. And like, I'm
excited to see what you do and continue to do
and building this family and the life you've always imagined.
(48:59):
And I shit you getting wide open with us today,
and yeah, thanks for being here a hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
Keep the foot on the gas. I'm a girl who
works in NASCAR and uh oh, I love this. You
can know what you look back and maybe sometimes we
would rest on our laurels when you're younger, but they
found that it's where we're at our best as long
as we keep the pedal to the metal and uh yeah,
keep looking.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
For new ground, right it so the wheels fall off, honey,
that's well way to go. I like it, all right, everyone,
Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Wide Open.
I am your host, Ashlyn Harris, and we will see
you next week. All right, everyone, that was Stephen Coletti,
someone we thought we knew, but like most of us,
(49:42):
he's grown, shifted and rewritten his story along the way
from being a teenager figuring it out on camera to
building his own projects and stepping back into the spotlight
with a whole new perspective. This conversation is really about
ownership of your story, of your identity and your evolution.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
And maybe that's the takeaway.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Everyone isn't always doing great, but there's power in being
honest about it and even more power in choosing what
comes next.
Speaker 2 (50:16):
I appreciate you all for listening. This is Wide Open.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris, and we will see you
all next week.
Host
Ashlyn Harris
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