Check out our interview with super popular PodCo’s “Wizards of Waverly Pod” hosts Jennifer Stone & David DeLuise.
As announced exclusively through Variety, in early February, Disney icon, Christy Carlson Romano and her husband Brendan Rooney have officially launched their new podcast company PodCo with a slate of exciting new series including with Wizards of Waverly Pod, hosted by Jennifer Stone and David DeLuise, Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide hosted by Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw, and Daniel Curtis Lee, as well as the Brotherly Love Podcast hosted by Joey, Matt, and Andy Lawrence.
Follow Jennifer @jenniferstone & David @daviddeluise
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Jennifer: Honest, creative, and sarcastic.
David: Hot, Entertaining and Funny
How did you get into the industry?
Jennifer: At six, I followed my older brother into doing community theatre in Texas. Theatre turned into local commercials which turned into going on a “two-month summer vacation” to Los Angeles to audition when I was nine. That “two-month summer vacation” never really ended and I’m still in LA twenty-four years later. My family still jokes it’s a hobby that got way out of control.
David: My Dad and Mom were in the entertainment business, and I followed in their footsteps.
Who influenced you guys and what inspired you to start Wizards of Waverly Pod?
Jennifer: I became a huge fan of podcasts in the true crime podcast space alongside many others a few years ago. When PodCo approached me about doing a Wizards rewatch podcast, I was so excited not only to explore a space that I love, but also to reminisce with DeLuise (who is one of my favorite people) and our incredible fan base on a show that meant a lot to us and them. It’s been such a gift to reflect on the experience of making each episode with DeLuise and our fans after all these years.
David: My dad and my mom. We started Wizards of Waverly pod for the fans.
What kind of topics and content can we find in your podcast?
Jennifer: In our episodes we either rewatch and reflect on episodes and the behind the scenes of how each episode came together, we interview and get to reconnect with guests who were a part of the show both in front of and behind the camera, and we have episodes where we answer fan questions. We want to really create a full experience of the show for Wizards fans, because the show is for and because of them!
David: We will talk about the show Wizards of Waverly place, and also the entertainment industry.
What is different from your podcast to other podcasts?
Jennifer: David and my dynamic is unique in the fact that we aren’t the most obvious pairing from Wizards to do a show together, but we have known each other for 16 years and just really enjoy each other as people and really loved working together. I think people can feel that. I like to think it’s like turning on that warm, fuzzy feeling of being with your TV dad and best friend and watching a show together that you all loved while learning more about how it was made.
David: One thing that makes it different from other podcasts is Jennifer Stone and I are different ages, generations, different perspectives and different genders. Also, we have inside knowledge of the television show wizards of Waverly place. Also, the show business in general.
How often do you release new content?
Jennifer: We release a new episode of the show every Monday to get your week started off with a smile.
David: Every Monday.
What do you think is the secret to a successful podcast?
Jennifer: Leaving the BS at home and being passionate about the topic you’re discussing. I know for me as a podcast fan I just love listening to people who share a love for something that I have and are genuine and unafraid to geek out about a topic. One of the things I love about DeLuise is just his genuineness as a human and his excitement about life! DeLuise and I don’t know how to bring anything else to the mic, but ourselves and our love for each other, acting, and getting to be a part of something as special as Wizards.
David: When the fans come up and tell us how much they enjoyed the show. They always say “you were my childhood “ and then I say now I feel really old.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Jennifer: With my work on the podcast, getting to see the fans’ responses to the show and to see how their passion is still so strong after all this time! It’s so special and I am so grateful to have been a part of something that meant something to so many people. It’s rewarding to be able to bring people joy on a weekly basis like we used to when the show originally aired.
David: When the fans come up and tell us how much they enjoyed the show. They always say “you were my childhood “ and then I say now I feel really old.
How was it reuniting for an episode with your co-star Selena Gomez? Do you have plans to have her back on in the near future?
Jennifer: It was so therapeutic and just made my heart happy to see her at this stage of her life maturing into the beautiful soul that she has always been, but taking ownership of herself and her life while still keeping a special place in her heart for where she came from. I’d love to have Selena back! I know she mentioned wanting to watch her favorite episode with us. I honestly don’t know what her favorite episode is so I’d love to find that out. It’s just all about scheduling. Coordinating everyone can be really tricky and she has a tough schedule which, God bless her, she handles with such poise.
David: It was great to catch up with Selena. It was so nice how open and candid and personal she was with us. Yes, in the episode she said she’s going to watch a specific episode of Wizards of Waverly place and then come back on the show when she’s in town.
How do you feel about that pressure of always doing the right thing and encouraging people to follow their dreams?
Jennifer: I know I’m still, relatively, young, but one of the things I love about getting older is you care so much less about what people think. I’ve taken a lot of the pressure of social media and people’s responses off of myself, because I feel really solid in who I am and what is, ultimately, important in the kind of life I want to live. It makes it easier to take it all with a grain of salt and appreciate the love and dismiss the hate. I feel the most pressure when it comes to exploring an experience I may not fully understand, because I never want to disrespect anyone’s experience.
David: One of the special things about social media is getting to interact with people who are getting into acting or nursing and cheering them on, because both take a lot of work and perseverance. If I can be in a position to encourage someone to keep going towards what they love, I am more than happy to shake some metaphorical pom poms!
Other than ‘Wizards of Waverly Pod” what other projects are you guys working on together or individually?
Jennifer: Together, David and I teach actors at an acting school which is something we’ve done for years together. It is really such a beautiful opportunity to give back to the next generation of actors.
Individually, I’m continuing to find the balance of working full time as a nurse in the emergency room, defining myself as an actor in this next phase of my career, and now adding podcasting to the mix is a constant lesson in self-care and balance.
David: I currently produce scripted podcast called Grandma For President. We even have Mel Brooks voicing one of the characters. I played the dad, produced it, directed it and acted in it.
Jennifer Stone and I both teach acting at my acting studio. The David DeLuise, Acting Studio; Actors Giving Back, you can find us on Instagram @theAGBstudio.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
Jennifer: I would say to soak each experience in for exactly what it is and to let go of your idea of how life is supposed to go. That’s my advice to my younger self, because I think when I was younger (and still sometimes now) I really struggled with staying in the moment. I was always concerned with what’s next and this idea I held of what my life was supposed to be. In the last decade or so, my life has been anything but what I thought it was supposed to be. The beauty of it all, though, is that I am exactly where and who I am meant to be right now. I wouldn’t have gotten here without all the twists, turns, and surprises that life has brought that teenage me could have never fathomed.
David: I would tell my younger self not to worry. Because of this quote.
“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose.” – Eckhart Tolle
How would your best friends describe you?
Jennifer: You’ll have to ask them. They would probably say I’m too hard on myself and don’t see myself the way others see me. I strive to be the kind of friend they would describe as loyal, trustworthy, honest, reliable, and also funny. I love making and laughing with the people I love.
David: I don’t know exactly, but I would think funny and generous.
If you are a book, what would be the title of your book and why?
Jennifer: “Eternal Learning”, because I think you’re never done learning and growing. I’m certainly not!
David: The Adventures of Mr. Wizard a Journey Into the Unknown. Because I played a wizard.
What’s next for “Wizards of Waverly Pod” and for Jennifer Stone and David Deluise in 2023?
Jennifer: We are just getting started with “Wizards of Waverly Pod”! There is still so much to share and discover with the fans of the show and the podcast. We’ve got A LOT more rewatching to do, guests, and more questions to answer so to the fans keep ’em coming!
David: We have 106 episodes and two movies of Wizards of Waverly Place. After that, and during that, we will be discussing many other topics.
Do you support any charities or want to give a philanthropic organization a shout out?
Jennifer: I’m a type 1 diabetic and support any charities or groups that work towards making the current day to day and the future of living with diabetes easier. Ones I currently love are Beyond Type 1, JDRF, and The Diabetes Research Institute.
David: I support the Charity Elixir. It brings comfort care, items to cancer patients and their families.
What do you think of social media?
Jennifer: I think social media like so many things is what you make it. I think there is a lot of beauty in the community that social media grants us access to. I also think there are a lot of pitfalls with social media of the temptation to live your life unauthentically, because it makes for a better feed or in trying to please voices in the dark. For me I try to find the beauty in it and to make sure I keep it in its place as simply an app on my phone, not my identity.
David: I wish it was simpler. It is a necessity in the world now, but I think we would all be better off without social media
Where can we follow you both and your series?
Jennifer: You can follow me at @jenniferstone on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter and @jenniferlstone on TikTok.
David: You can watch us on YouTube. You can listen to us on Spotify and Apple.
Favorite (optional):
Book
Jennifer: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
David: My dad’s cookbook “Eat This It Will Make You Feel Better”
Quote
Jennifer: “God is within her she will not fall.” -Psalm 46:5
David: Don’t worry be happy
Movie
Jennifer: Too many to choose!
David: Shawshank Redemption
TV Series
Jennifer: I have a few I loved and come back to, but recently I really connected with “The Bear”.
David: Wizards of Waverly Place
Favorite food
Jennifer: Anything where peanut butter and chocolate meet
David: Whatever my wife cooks / pizza
Travel destination
Jennifer: Paris
David: Germany
Sports team:
Jennifer: Not much of a sports person, but as a Texan I am required to say the Cowboys.
Credits:
David photo credit: Julia DeLuise
Jennifer photo credit: Adam Hendershott
Cover image: Courtesy of PodCo.
