#18 “I’m Gonna Keep Calling” with Joey Fatone

HypeFriend! with Ashley Eckstein & Michael James Scott

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!