Ten years after urging him to start a podcast, Jamie Lee Curtis returned — this time as his guest
The celebrity had ever so supportively told him she was waiting for the day he had his own show, and a decade later, he made it happen.
Wisdom and advice from experienced individuals never go to waste. Kevin McCarthy, a film journalist and podcaster, shared a post on how advice from Jamie Lee Curtis from 10 years ago changed his life. When he recently spoke with her again after the release of "Ella McCay," he took the opportunity to let her know how she encouraged him to host his own show someday. While it wasn’t on the cards, it subconsciously remained in his mind, and just 4 months ago, he took a chance, moved from Tennessee to LA, and launched “On Film with Kevin McCarthy.” Having Curtis sitting as a guest speaker there with him, it was a “full circle moment.”
The host was speaking with Curtis, and at one point, it took him back to their conversation from 10 years ago. McCarthy mentioned how he was going through old footage and came across the clip. It struck a chord because they were words he’d been holding onto without knowing. Sharing a glimpse into the conversation from a decade ago, the actor asked him why he wasn’t taking control and taking a chance on himself. “Why aren’t you running the universe?” she asked, further questioning why he wasn’t hosting shows.
At the time, the host never thought it would be something he could do. However, the “Freaky Friday” star refused to put up with his doubt and told him that she was looking forward to the day he had his own show. “I will be waiting, and you might be the greatest,” she supportively said, adding that he would have to step out of his comfort zone for it. “Get on it, break out,” she told him. McCarthy, after showing her the clip, said, “I did break out.” He revealed that his previous contract with a news station was to end in June 2025, and he thought it was the perfect time to “take a chance.” He moved to LA with his wife and started the podcast.
McCarthy gratefully told Curtis that though he didn’t quite remember the exact words she said, the crux of it was etched in his subconscious and had been preparing him over the years to get to this point. “It’s real,” he exclaimed. That’s when the actor revealed the truth. She said that when it comes to the film or creative industry, every side of it, “You have to work for yourself… over and over and over again. Because the universe is not going to work for you.” She explained how the universe won’t come get you if you don’t believe in yourself. “You have to be your own cheerleader until someone else comes to cheer for you,” she added.
When she said those words to a then-young and confused man, she didn’t say it out of the blue. Curtis confessed that she’s not always intrigued by journalists she meets, but when she spoke with McCarthy, she knew he had a different spark. “You love your job, you believe in your job, you have a different point of view about it,” she said, which is what assured her that he has what it takes to excel. The thing she loved the most about his interview was that he “cut through” with Curtis, a stranger at the time, to build a connection and bring a natural rapport to the conversation with his intriguing questions.
A study on 1988 participants revealed that a higher self-efficacy is associated with better health and well-being. According to the study, self-efficacy is defined as “the individual’s belief in their ability to successfully execute specific behaviors to achieve desired outcomes,” thus indicating confidence. On one hand, 52.9% of participants who recorded elevated self-efficacy had healthy lifestyle behaviors compared to those who didn’t. On the other hand, those who reported self-efficacy also recorded a healthier BMI, reduced prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions. 61.1% of participants had higher self-efficacy. Out of these, there was only a 13.1% prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. 50.4% reported Hypertension, but these numbers were lower than those with reduced self-efficacy (65.3% and 24.8%, respectively).
While some conditions were not affected by the level of belief, for most, the case was in favor of the study. McCarthy believed in himself after that booster of a conversation with Curtis, and it rendered wonderful results. People were touched by the warm conversation. @felicia.hitz wrote, “The way she seems genuinely happy and excited for you warms my heart and goosebumps.” @bravissimohoops added, “I love full circle moments & how special to have one with someone as supportive & magnificent as Jamie Lee Curtis?”
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