No matter where we end up in life, the street we grew up on played a powerful role in shaping us into the people we become. For actor Kerry Washington, who grew up on Simpson Street in the Bronx, her first home left such an indelible impact that she named her production company after it. In a full circle moment, Washington launched a video series in 2021 that invited famous friends to answer her favorite ice-breaker question.
Originally launched as a pandemic project, Street You Grew Up On has grown into an award-winning franchise. Past guests include Michelle Obama, Jane Fonda, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Issa Rae, and Jay Shetty.
For the show's Season 5 return, Street You Grew Up On is expanding into a weekly podcast series produced by Simpson Street in collaboration with Daylight Media, the network that recently launched hit podcast Wildmen with actor Dylan Sprouse and his friend Brendan Columbus.
We can reveal that future guests will include Dwayne Johnson, Demi Lovato, Colin Kaepernick, and Chelsea Handler. The season has launched with a conversation with award-winning actor Ben Affleck.
“I’ve always been curious about the experiences that shape us before the world knows who we are,” Washington told us ahead of the relaunch. “Street You Grew Up On is an invitation to look back at those formative people, places and moments, and I’m so excited to create even more space for those stories through this next chapter of the series.”
The format of the show is extending from is original short run time to luxurious hour-long episodes. From September 30, the new season will be avaliable on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all other RSS enabled platforms.
“This is exactly the kind of opportunity we get excited about at Daylight — taking an already beloved and distinctive format and helping it reach its full potential across platforms,” said Ben Curtis, President of Daylight. “Kerry and Simpson Street have built something incredibly special with Street You Grew Up On, and we’re proud to help grow it into a larger audio and video franchise.”
In the saturated celebrity podcast landscape, Street You Grew Up On provides an endearing and thoughtful alternative. It's light on current affairs and heavy on childhood memories, providing a fresh insight into the experiences of your favorite celebrities. The first episode with Ben Affleck is out now.
