Grab your frosted tips and denim jackets because we’ve got a member of 90s music royalty in this episode! From his rise to *NSYNC superstardom to Broadway hits like & JULIET, Joey Fatone drops into the neighborhood for a big-hearted convo about how friendships last when life gets loud. He dishes on about being the “harmonic glue” of *NSYNC, why tough love and follow-through matter more than grand gestures, and the long-distance habits that keep the connection alive. We swap stories about that infamous cut STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES cameo and an awkward family dinner with Lance Bass, then test Joey’s Star Wars trivia (hint: he’s a Jedi Master). Despite being upstaged by his poodles, Vinny and Bruno, Joey’s true superpower shines through: communication. It’s equal parts behind-the-scenes pop history and a friendship playbook you can use today.

(00:00:00) Cold Open – Joey Fatone’s Dog Vinny Steals the Spotlight

(00:01:49) Welcome: Friendship, Fame, and Fun

(00:06:02) Pageants & Golden Corral: nostalgia lightning round

(00:08:04) Ashley’s Live Taste Test: Spanish vegan olive oil almond cookies

(00:09:32) Hypes & Gripes: Missing socks (👻), IRL friend reunions, and the joy of the grocery store

(00:26:27) Good Gossip: Australian postman or laundry man?

(00:32:46) Neighborhood Drop-In: Special Guest Joey Fatone (*NSYNC)

(00:36:09) High School HypeFriends: How a tough drama teacher shaped Joey Fatone’s career

(00:38:44) Why Florida’s Dr. Phillips High School spawned so many stars

(00:40:17) Theater troupe throwback with Michael

(00:42:55) Positivity with guardrails: tough love in his friendships

(00:45:28) Long-distance friendships that stick

(00:47:21) You’ve gotta work before you “kiki”

(00:49:12) Meet Bruno: Joey Fatone’s Poodle and Podcast Scene-Stealer

(00:57:21) *NSYNC as friendship and family

(00:58:45) Culture shock dinner: Lance Bass meets Joey’s family

(01:16:41) Life after *NSYNC: pivoting

(01:21:11) The Attack of the Clones cameo that didn’t make the cut

(01:24:07) Padawan or Master: Joey Fatone’s ‘Star Wars’ quiz showdown

(01:31:48) One Last Thing: Why communication is Joey Fatone’s superpower

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one barking poodlebye, bye, bye) at a time!

Emmy-nominated multi-hyphenate Arian Moayed, (From Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Succession, to the Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning stage alongside Robin Williams in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams), Arian Moayed sits down with Michael and Ashley to discuss the friendships and philosophy that power his work. We trace the moments that shaped him—from movie-rental marathons and early theater obsessions to the Bill Murray “you’ve got one chance—do what you want” lesson that changed a scene and stuck for life. Arian opens up about co-founding Waterwell to make art in the service of communities, and the Zoroastrian mantra “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds” that anchors how he shows up for people. Plus: a 90s hip-hop pump-up, the nicest wedding crash of all time, and why you can’t miss season 2 of Netflix’s hit comedy, Nobody Wants This.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one good deed) at a time!

From paw prints to magic carpets, Josh Dela Cruz, host of BLUES CLUES & YOU!, has been chasing clues and chasing dreams as long as he can remember. Josh shares his HypeFriend journey — from performing opposite Michael James Scott on stage as “Aladdin” in ALADDIN on Broadway to inspiring millions of kids with “Blue.” Along the way, Josh opens up about how stepping into beloved roles didn’t just entertain audiences—it helped him discover his own voice and the courage to live it out loud. Consider this episode as your cue (and your clue) to be unapologetically you!

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one clue!) at a time!