Jodie Sweetin Podcast
In a surprising revelation that’s left fans both amused and intrigued, actress Jodie Sweetin—best known for playing middle daughter Stephanie Tanner on the beloved ABC sitcom Full House—has admitted she never actually watched the show while it was on the air. In fact, she didn’t sit down and truly start watching full episodes until decades later, when she teamed up with former co-star and close friend Andrea Barber to launch their nostalgia-filled rewatch podcast, How Rude, Tanneritos!.
Sweetin, now 43, spent the majority of her childhood on the set of Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995 and became a cultural staple in American television. While millions of viewers tuned in weekly to see the heartwarming antics of the Tanner family, Sweetin said she was too busy living the experience to watch it from the outside.
“People are always shocked when I say this, but I never really watched the show,” Sweetin admitted in a recent interview. “We were filming it. That was my everyday life from the time I was five. I didn’t go home and rewatch what we’d just done. It just wasn’t something I ever thought about doing.”
A Rewatch Decades in the Making
That all changed in 2023, when Sweetin and Barber—who played the quirky and unforgettable Kimmy Gibbler—decided to revisit the show together for a weekly podcast. How Rude, Tanneritos! offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at each episode through the eyes of two of its stars. What started as a fun project quickly became a meaningful journey for Sweetin, who found herself rewatching her childhood in real time.
“I honestly didn’t know how emotional and insightful it would be,” she said. “It’s surreal to watch little me deliver catchphrases like ‘How rude!’ and now, as an adult, dissect the emotional beats of the episode or remember what was going on in my life that week. Some episodes hit me really hard.”
Sweetin says the podcast has not only given her a new appreciation for the show’s writing and heart, but has also helped her reconnect with moments and memories that had long since faded.
“There are episodes where I have vivid memories of the set—what I wore, what we were laughing about backstage, the way Bob [Saget] made us all laugh during a serious scene,” she shared. “Then there are episodes I swear I’ve never seen before. It’s like rediscovering your childhood through someone else’s scrapbook.”
A New Lens on a Classic Show
Rewatching Full House as an adult has given Sweetin a completely new perspective—not just on the show, but on her own life. As someone who has been open about her struggles with addiction, mental health, and personal transformation, revisiting her childhood on-screen has stirred up deep feelings.
“There’s a strange sort of distance, like I’m watching another little girl’s life,” Sweetin reflected. “But I also feel proud of her. That girl was professional, funny, and holding her own alongside some of the biggest stars on TV. Now, I get to cheer her on.”
The podcast also serves as a therapeutic outlet, as both Sweetin and Barber use it as a space to talk candidly about their experiences as child actors in the entertainment industry. The two women have a natural chemistry and humor that draws in listeners—whether they grew up watching Full House or are just discovering it for the first time on streaming.
“We laugh a lot, but we also have some very honest conversations,” Sweetin said. “We talk about the weirdness of growing up in front of millions of people, the challenges of transitioning into adulthood, and the responsibility of being role models for a generation.”
From Stephanie Tanner to Serious Roles
Outside of the podcast, Sweetin has been redefining her career with a series of mature, socially relevant acting roles. Her recent Lifetime film, Dateless to Dangerous: My Son’s Secret Life, explores a mother’s painful discovery that her teenage son has been radicalized by incel communities online. The movie delves into the growing issue of online extremism and the emotional toll it takes on families.
“This role was incredibly important to me,” Sweetin said. “I’m a mom. I understand the fear that comes with not knowing what your child is going through. It’s a topic that isn’t talked about enough—how these online groups prey on isolation and insecurity. It’s dark, but it’s real.”
Critics have praised Sweetin’s performance as raw, grounded, and heartbreaking—far removed from her bubbly sitcom past. For the actress, taking on such serious subject matter is not only a creative challenge but also a personal mission.
“I want to keep growing as a performer and a person,” she said. “Stephanie Tanner will always be a part of me, but I’m not limited by her. If anything, she gave me the platform to explore these new paths.”
Looking Back—and Forward
As How Rude, Tanneritos! continues to thrive, Sweetin says she’s enjoying the unexpected journey of reliving her early years on screen, especially now that she’s doing it through a lens of friendship, healing, and growth.
“I never thought I’d be 40-something sitting on a podcast laughing about the time Uncle Jesse wore a mullet wig, or crying over a sweet moment between Danny and Michelle,” she said with a smile. “But here we are. And I’m loving every minute of it.”
For fans of Full House, Sweetin’s rewatch is more than just entertainment—it’s a rare glimpse into the life of someone who helped define a generation’s childhood, now looking back with grace, humor, and renewed understanding.
“I may be late to watching the show,” Sweetin said, “but I’m right on time in appreciating it.”
