SmartLess

RE-RELEASE: Emma Stone | SmartLess

Guest: Emma StoneMarch 12, 2026

emma stone smartless podcast celebrity interview acting career hollywood journey screen actors guild name change bone density the curse tv show poor things movie cabaret musical personal anecdotes daily routines oscar win spice girls

Episode Summary

AI-generated · Mar 2026

AI-generated summary — may contain inaccuracies. Not a substitute for the full episode or professional advice.

In this re-release episode of SmartLess, hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett welcome Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone for a candid and humorous conversation covering her unique path to Hollywood, personal anecdotes, and current projects. The episode opens with the hosts' playful banter, including a story about a water bottle prank and a discussion about Sean's homemade cheesecake, before Emma Stone is introduced as Jason's "favorite red-headed firecracker" who once created websites for free and presented a PowerPoint titled "Project Hollywood" at age 14 to convince her parents to let her move to LA.

Stone delves into her early career, revealing that she initially dyed her hair brown for auditions, only to find success when Judd Apatow suggested red hair for *Superbad*. She shares her teenage job at a Three Dog Bakery at The Grove and the story behind changing her name from Emily to Emma due to Screen Actors Guild regulations, choosing Emma as a nod to Baby Spice, whom she later met in an amusingly painful encounter. A recurring theme throughout the interview is Stone's propensity for breaking bones, recounting a shoulder fracture before a Spice Girls concert and a recently broken toe, leading to a humorous discussion about bone density and Sean's milk-drinking habits.

The conversation also touches on Stone's significant professional endeavors, including her acclaimed new show with Nathan Fielder, *The Curse*, which originated from a loose idea about a haunting curse, and *Poor Things*, her third collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos, which she also produced and describes as her favorite project to date. She discusses her daily routines, like her consistent consumption of apples with peanut butter and a Starbucks coconut misto, regardless of her location.

Later, Stone reflects on the challenges of her stage debut in *Cabaret*, describing it as the hardest physical and emotional work she's ever done, including a memorable moment where her contact lenses popped out mid-song. The hosts engage her in a rapid-fire Q&A, covering everything from her hiccups cure (tiny sips of water while lowering a raised arm) to her family's matching, poorly done tattoos. The episode concludes with Stone's thoughts on winning an Oscar, explaining that she started filming *The Favorite* the day after her *La La Land* win, thus avoiding the "curse of death" many actors fear after such an achievement.

Listeners will walk away with a richer understanding of Emma Stone's down-to-earth personality, her dedicated work ethic, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of her most notable roles and personal experiences, all delivered with the signature comedic flair of the SmartLess hosts.

👤 Who Should Listen

Fans of Emma Stone eager for personal stories and behind-the-scenes insights into her career.
Listeners who enjoy the comedic banter and lighthearted interview style of the SmartLess hosts.
Aspiring actors curious about the unconventional paths to Hollywood, including early career challenges and industry name changes.
Anyone interested in celebrity daily routines, personal health anecdotes, and overcoming physical challenges.
Individuals curious about the creative process behind critically acclaimed films and TV shows like *The Curse* and *Poor Things*.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1.Emma Stone, at 14, convinced her parents to let her drop out of high school and move to LA to pursue acting by delivering a PowerPoint presentation titled "Project Hollywood" [04:54].
2.Her natural hair color is blonde, but she dyed it red for her role in *Superbad* at the suggestion of Judd Apatow, which led to significant career success [07:55].
3.Emma Stone changed her name from Emily to Emma because "Emily Stone" was already taken at the Screen Actors Guild, choosing Emma as a tribute to Baby Spice from the Spice Girls [17:48].
4.She has significant bone density issues, having broken seven bones before age 30, including a shoulder before a Spice Girls concert and a toe the day before this interview [22:15].
5.Her role in *Cabaret* on stage was the hardest thing she's ever done physically and emotionally, requiring a monk-like discipline due to singing and the demanding schedule [36:37].
6.Emma Stone avoided the "curse of death" often associated with Oscar wins by immediately starting work on *The Favorite* the day after winning for *La La Land* [47:45].
7.She maintains simple, consistent daily routines, including a snack of apples and peanut butter and a Starbucks coconut misto, regardless of her location [33:04].
8.Emma Stone co-developed and starred in the new show *The Curse* with Nathan Fielder, based on the premise of a couple trying to create an HGTV show while dealing with a young girl's curse [28:26].

⚡ Actionable Takeaways

→Consider creating a compelling presentation, like Emma Stone's "Project Hollywood" PowerPoint, to persuade others about your ambitious career or life goals [04:54].
→If you have an unusual name (like Emily Stone), research professional guild rules, such as the Screen Actors Guild, to ensure your desired professional name is available [17:48].
→Adopt simple, consistent routines like a daily snack of apples and peanut butter and a specific coffee order to bring comfort and stability while traveling or working on demanding projects [33:04].
→If struggling with hiccups, try Emma Stone's method: raise one arm above your head and take tiny sips of water while slowly lowering your arm [39:38].
→For those with bone density concerns, incorporate weight-bearing exercises like heavy lifting, as advised to Emma Stone by an endocrinologist [23:24].
→If facing a major career milestone, consider quickly transitioning to a new project to maintain momentum and avoid potential anxieties, as Emma Stone did after her Oscar win [47:45].

⏱ Timeline Breakdown

00:06Jason Bateman shares a dream about the episode and describes the hosts' pre-show state.

01:06The hosts recount a funny story about Jason slapping a water bottle out of Sean's hand.

02:08Sean asks Jason if he liked his cheesecake, leading to a discussion about whipped cream and a British white chocolate bar ingredient.

03:09Sean explains driving an hour and a half for a special chocolate bar and then stopping at Portillo's for a large meal.

04:36Emma Stone is introduced, noting her past as a computer nerd who made websites and her "Project Hollywood" PowerPoint at 14.

05:10Emma reveals she's "a little under the weather" and discusses her natural hair color versus her famous red hair.

07:12Emma shares that she dyed her hair brown for auditions before finding success with red hair in *Superbad*.

08:14Emma talks about her early interest in creating primitive HTML websites and her current lack of a personal computer.

09:14Discussion about not having a computer and the role of social media in modern life.

11:15Emma explains she does all her digital tasks on her iPhone, leading to a joke about being in a pile of feathers.

12:15The hosts guess Emma Stone's age, and she confirms she's "north of 30" at 35.

13:16Emma and Will recall working together on the movie *The Rocker*, mentioning its notable cast.

15:16Emma discusses her brief job at Three Dog Bakery in LA when she was 15, and Sean mentions his friend's "poop patrol" business.

17:34Emma explains changing her name from Emily to Emma for the Screen Actors Guild and her choice being inspired by Baby Spice.

19:20Emma recounts breaking her shoulder after a David Blaine magic trick, the night before meeting the Spice Girls in 2019.

21:22Emma reveals she has bone density issues and recently broke her toe, leading to a discussion about calcium and vitamin D.

24:24Emma talks about having severe colic as a baby, which may have contributed to her raspy voice.

25:40Emma shares that her daughter is two and a half and that she met her husband, Dave McCary, at SNL, where he was a writer/director.

26:38Emma announces she will host SNL on December 2nd to get her five-timers jacket.

27:10Emma discusses her new show *The Curse* with Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, based on a loose idea of someone being cursed.

29:34Emma talks about *Poor Things*, her third project with Yorgos Lanthimos, which she also produced and calls her favorite work.

32:32Emma shares her constant travel companions: apples and peanut butter, and a Starbucks coconut misto.

36:08Emma states that *Cabaret* on stage was the hardest thing she's ever done, recalling a time her contacts popped out during a song.

38:43Emma shares her unusual hiccups cure: drinking tiny sips of water while slowly lowering a raised arm.

40:39Will Arnett admits his unconventional hiccups cure involves making himself gag.

41:39Emma describes her "very poorly done" wrist tattoo, which she shares with her family, and its issues with bleeding ink.

44:27Emma discusses her younger brother and growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, noting the oppressive heat.

45:43Emma recounts how she avoided the "curse of death" after winning an Oscar for *La La Land* by immediately starting *The Favorite*.

48:15Emma denies having unused acceptance speeches but acknowledges the idea of a book for them is great.

49:09Emma's previous Oscar nominations for *Birdman* and *The Favorite* are mentioned.

50:56Will Arnett concludes the episode by quoting Spice Girls lyrics, which Emma Stone does not recognize as such.

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💬 Notable Quotes

“"I had a dream last night that it was the best episode we've ever done. So, uh, I couldn't sleep the rest of the night." – Jason Bateman [00:06]”
— Emma Stone

“"At 14 years old, she performed a PowerPoint presentation titled Project Hollywood in order to convince her parents to let her drop out of high school and move to LA from Arizona to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress." – Jason Bateman [04:54]”
— Emma Stone

“"I was so excited that I ran. I was like, I can't stand it because I'm such a big fan of magic and I couldn't stand it. And I ran and I was wearing these these heeed boots and I slipped on the wood floor... and I broke my [__] shoulder." – Emma Stone [20:56]”
— Emma Stone