What We Learned from Justine Lupe on ‘The World’s First Podcast’

Remember Willa from Succession or Morgan from Nobody Wants This? On The World’s First Podcast, Justine Lupe reveals a different side: deeply funny, wildly honest, and refreshingly normal despite her high-profile career. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to balance new motherhood with red carpets and landing dream roles, Justine spills it all with Erin and Sara Foster in this warm, funny, and surprisingly emotional episode. 

What We Learned from Justine Lupe on ‘The World’s First Podcast’

1. She treats every audition like her only shot

Justine might have trained at Juilliard, but she approaches every audition as her only chance. “I frame my auditions as like, this is the time to do the part,” she said. “You might not get to get that part. So like, if you wanna act this part, this is your moment.” And while other actresses balked at reading for the role of Morgan, Justine was all in—even for a chemistry read. “Not every actor is willing to do a chemistry read,” Erin pointed out. But Justine’s mindset? “I’m serving a function in your dream,” she said. That’s called humility with a side of hustle.

2. Morgan was a manifestation moment

Justine felt a weird, immediate pull toward the role of Morgan. “There’s a few auditions where you get a flash, like a recall of seeing the audition email on your phone,” she said. She had the same gut feeling when she got the audition for Succession. And once she read Erin’s pilot for Nobody Wants This? “I heard the people really, really clearly… It was just so clear.” She stalked Sara’s Instagram to get the look, voice, and vibe just right. “I did the black turtleneck, high-waisted jeans, belt, boots. I was like, this is Sara Foster.”

3. She’s an actress and a real one

Erin and Sara Foster gushed over how down-to-earth Justine was during casting for Nobody Wants This. “The actress that elevated the show the most was the one who was like, ‘What do you need? I’ll pre-read. I’ll do anything,’” Sara said. Contrast that with the actresses who wouldn’t audition because they were “offer only.” (Justine, on that: “Are they working?”) It’s no wonder the set fell in love with her—this woman shows up, does the work, and makes everyone feel like they’re in it together.

4. Motherhood has changed her

Balancing a hit Netflix show with a newborn required adjustments. “My brain feels like mush,” Justine admitted. “It’s not the same as it used to be where I could just show up and do it.” She’s had to work harder to feel prepared, and supplements from Erewhon might be helping (cue $500 vitamin haul). But even through the fog of mom brain, playing Morgan offered unexpected therapy. “Morgan helped me let go of the pressure to control what I look like on camera,” she said. “She’s confident, she’s fun, she’s lively. And that helped me just be in my body and show up.”

5. She doesn’t even have a sister!

The chemistry between Justine and Kristen Bell is so electric, everyone wants (ha!) a Morgan + Sasha spinoff. But the real star moment? That blowout fight in Episode 8. “There’s something primal about women fighting,” Justine said. “It’s so visceral and satisfying, but also devastating.” Despite not having a sister IRL, Justine channels that sibling chaos perfectly—and credits Erin’s writing for giving her the freedom to play. “You don’t get stuck in one delivery,” Erin told her. “You’re just being a real person. That’s what being a great actress is.”