And That's What You REALLY MissedHave we found not just Glee's biggest superfan but the podcast's biggest and funniest fan?
Super Gleek Anna Soden (@annasoden on TikTok) hops on with Jenna and Kevin from across the pond to chat about her love for the show! She has them laughing throughout the convo, especially when she shares that Glee is basically her origin story, why she listens to ATWYRM episodes more than once, and her idea for the podcast once they finish their rewatch! Anna also gets the duo to reveal cool behind-the-scenes stuff like tech details involving singing on set, wild fan moments, and their thoughts on her bold claim that the Glee pilot is the best pilot ever!
For fun clips and more inside scoop, don't forget to follow us on Instagram @andthatswhatyoureallymissedpod!
And that's what you really missed with Jenna.
And Kevin An. iHeartRadio podcast.
Welcome to and that's what really miss podcast. It's a fan audition.
I think we have our number one listener here. I think she keeps our podcast going. The search is over, Anna Sodan. She listens to the podcast over and over again. So this is the first person I've heard that like actually listens to our podcast because well, I'm not even gonna tell you, because she's gonna explain it a treat.
She's just for hours, so funny, so charming, good, Like thank god she's an actor and comedian because she's in the right line of work.
Yeah, I'm really self aware. I appreciate that she's like very aware that she like listens to podcasts a lot, and like, again, look, we all have our things. I'm a friends at it. I'm a junkie. I love friends. It's my go too. If I were on a podcast with any of the friends, I would.
Not be well.
Yeah that's not true. Yeah you wouldn't have you met any of them.
No, I don't think I could.
If I met like Lisa Kudro, my life would be complete.
I get it. I get it. Anyway, she's wonderful.
Anna, Oh my god, our.
Number one podcast fan, she's here.
Is this a dream?
This is this is so exciting for us.
I can guarantee you it's more exciting for me.
I would just like to say that we've watched your TikTok really breaking it down, you know, your obsession, and I just want to ask, are you okay?
Guys? I'm fine. I might be really over familiar because I do deeply feel like I know you because my own family. I love this podcast, and I'm actually so stressed that you're coming to the end. What am I going to do with all my time? I don't know that In silence forever.
I think what we should do is get together on a call and like we'll just pitch ideas to keep going. We can just keep it going, Okay, go for it.
Okay. You know, when you get to the end of the cycle of recapping the episode, go back again and see what's different the second it's fertile ground. Oh my god, that I would listen to that.
Maybe we should recap our recaps, no.
World, think of something. We've got to come up with something.
Yeah, we'll keep going. Don't worry.
Well, Thank you so much for coming on and chatting with us. This is very exciting you really do you break it down on your kicked out Anybody not listening, go go watch it, but we'll post it.
But also.
You have this these crazy fan facts about yourself. Well, this one is that you've you listen to this podcast over and over, like probably more than you've seen Glee. How many times have you seen Glee?
A lot? I actually couldn't put on it because, wow, I'm kind of it's kind of always like consistently I'm doing a rewatch, like you know in the Pandemic when everyone's like, I'm rewatching Glee. I was like, when I'm not rewatching.
Glee, I actually were already doing this.
Yeah, I'm sorry you guys. I think it's because a lot of people have like full time jobs. I think that's the difference. Is that, like in the just before the Pandemic, right, I finished it for the whole way through, And so I was watching Gray's Anatomy for the first time and in lockdown, Oh my, that's so good your use of time, But like that's quite intense, right, So I'd watch like five episodes of Gray's Anatomy and then i'd have to like destress with an episode of Glee. It's probably through the cycle of the seasons. And maybe I'm going to say like eight or nine, but who's to say, who's to say.
Who's to say?
Yeah, you never know.
That's pretty good.
How did you originally find Glee?
Well, back in back in my youth, when the when the air I caught it. I remember it so vividly. It's like one of this sounds like so dramatic, but it is one of my like key formative memories. Is the origin story, guys, truly, Glee is my origin story. Is the whole thing is I'm literally losing my mind right now. Guys.
You're very calm, Yeah, very calm. Yeah you're hiding it.
Well, it's the British, British people calm. I don't know that at all.
I think so I feel like you come across very calm.
Yet like the joke to me, it was always like the British people told me that, So don't get mad at me. Like, if you're walking down the street and see somebody fall, just look down, walk around them and keep going like nothing happened.
That's London. I'd say, yeah, okay, but but yes, my origin story. I saw the pilot. It was like halfway through episode, like late at night when I should have been in bed, and like, for some reason, I caught it half of the episode and I literally was like, what what is this? Magic isn't it? And then I just rewatched the pilot over and over and over and over until the series came out in the UK, because I think it was a lot. I don't know, but it seemed like it was a longer. So I was just like, was this just like a magic one off show? Oh?
Yeah, you really did catch it because they did the same thing they did in the US where they aired it earlier. It was like an E four I think.
Yes, I was talking about it because they only eded like once. I think yeah. I was like, was it a film? Did I dream it? I did, think, I but this this is the hill I'll die. The Glee pilot is the best pilot that's ever been made in the history of pilots ever, And I'll fight anyone on that. Like I watched Lost recently and I've never seen it before, watch all of it, and that pilot is obviously really good. But I did yeah, God, I did think if they sang don't stop believing at the end of that episode, it would have been better.
You're a comedian, is that you're an actor in a comedian.
But I'm not going to create jokes tonight, Guys. I take this story seriously.
No naturally funny.
Yah, yeah, so hard.
You said you've listened to the podcast on repeating. What is it about this podcast that makes you want to go back and listen more than once? I hear my voice, I'm like, I'm good, avum, I don't.
I guess like I love the ship volume of it. Guys, you're really you give a lot of episodes that I love you that thank you. I think I think it's that, like I still just want to talk about Glee, like twenty four to seven, right you guys, Like by listening to you do that, that's my outlet, you know.
What I mean?
So so nice and it's nice to hear you recap, especially like the later seasons because I don't know what's going on with that, but I've seen it so much and I can never remember what happens past season three. So yeah, it's a great podcast. Guys. You're doing fantastic work.
Do you have other friends that watch Glee or listen to the podcast? Do you have friends? Do you have somebody to talk to?
I actually have loads of friends, like my friend Liam Michelle, right right, yeah, I was like, yeah, Leah Michelle is my best friend. You don't.
She doesn't know.
She doesn't know, but I.
And the court order says that I should stay.
It's just a suggestion.
Wait, what was the question? I was just do.
You have other friends that like share your obsession with?
Right?
So?
I do to an extent because I like work in musical theater and just generally, like you know, everybody watched it and it's a formative thing for everybody. But like, whenever I start a new job, I'm like, hey, guys, did you watch Glee? And they always did, but then like they don't want to talk about the niche things that I want. So I think, like extent, but no one cares as much as me.
Got it?
Got it?
Now?
Since you've seen it so many times, I'm curious to hear some of your uh, your favorite some of the things that you find that bug you like? Tell us about it since you've listened to the podcast, tell us like your favorite, like Unhinged storyline that feels like completely after rails to you.
Okay, well it is is a classic and everyone talks about it, but it's because it's just goddamn good writing. Is when Quinn is convincing Thinn that he's the father of her baby, Yeah, you spermed in the hot up and therefore that means I'm pregnant. I was in the pub yesterday telling my friend through tears of excitement, that I was doing this, and he was like, oh, I've never seen it. And I tried to start explaining what happened. I said that, and he was like, are you doing a bit? I was like, I'm not doing I'm not doing a bit like Ages ago.
It sounds funny, it is true. It is kind of hard to.
Explain and convince people, and as they see it for themselves.
Especially that the two characters right, one of them gets pregnant. How did you frame that? What is your pitch to people for Glee? If you're trying to get them into Glee?
Oh, I don't know. I don't think I need to pitch Glee. Everybody just knows what it is, don't they? Apart from my friend yesterday, but even he does know he was just being Yeah, I know that's the most basic, like crazy storyline, but it really just did kick off the whole world of book.
Right right, it did. Do you have a favorite couple?
Who is my favorite couple? Guys? I think it's you two in.
Real although I think it's a couple. It's fine.
Also. Yeah, by the way, when that came out, like back back when season Warm was out and it was all the like tabloids being like they're dating, I was like, Oh, that's so nice.
I love that it happened in England.
Actually, yeah, really fueled it there.
Yeah, love story. Yeah, it really is. I think it is Artie and Tina by Tina and Mike. But I think Artie and Tina first, just because that's the episode. I think it's dream on with where with the crutches and then oh and then when Artie falls. Honestly, that scene is like seeing into my brain with your face like smushed on the floor and you're like, just guys, that's so artbreaking. And then I think, is it the same episode where you have a little kiss and you're outside and then there's like a like the sunflair.
It's the sunflair about the sunflow. It was an accident.
It was an accidental sunflair actually when we were shooting and just the director was like, there's a sunflair.
Keep going, do it again.
It is beautiful, It's amazing.
Yeah, so sweet.
So you grew up, did you work in musical theater? Like your musical theater.
A little bit? Both? I well, I grew up being a stagey fan. Obviously, I kind of do a bit of everything because yeah, I don't know actual I don't know all the listeners know, but like it's really hard to be an actor, so you kind of have to do like all the bits.
Of it everything.
Yeah, yeah, for sure, So yeah I do.
I do work in musical theater, but I also do all the other elements as well.
And what were you like in school?
Like, did you guys have any kind of program to do musical theater in high school?
And what were you like in high school? Who would you have liked? What character would you have been like in high school?
Yeah?
I don't really know. I was probably like unfortunately, and I think it is true for like most stagey adults, is that like everybody was accused of being Rachel Berry to a point. But I don't want to say, because I was not what's the word, and I was talented enough to be right, and I was lame. I was actually way lamer. Like I play I still play the trumpet, but I played the trumpet, which is like.
Oh that's really that's pretty good, that's amazing.
Yeah.
I had to stop for a bit because I wanted to have what's that word sex? I want to have sex?
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, smart. At least you learned. Yeah. I heard the other day that Lady Gaga used to play on the piano every lunch break, like in front of her class, like her friends, and I would have absolutely hated her. Yeah, but like classical like classic musical theater kid though, like yeah, I'm just I'm good at this. I'm going to do this, and I'm going to do it for you. You're welcome, yeah, yes, or I don't care. Musical theater kids are always struggling, you.
Know, Yeah, the god they are. I've just got so much emotion. They've got it, They've got to get it out.
It's a lot of emotion, very very and that's a good amount of delusion, because like, if you're not believing in yourself, who else is gonna.
Kevin, don't stop believing.
Special makes you special?
You know, no, it does. You know.
Did you get to see the Glee three D movie when it came out? Did you get to see any of the concerts when you were when like we came around.
Right, I actually didn't because I grew up in in in Yorkshire, which is not close London. But I went to London like one because I went to drama school in London when I finished school. But before that point, i'd been to London once, maybe twice, like for some reason, like I just acted like London was like the other side of the world and we never went. So I was like, oh, guys, they're doing a they're doing Glee in London. That's a shame that that's the other school of the world. Baby, It's like, I don't know why.
I was like, so I didn't know.
And then Glee three D movie, I it was marketed so weird that I just was confused. I thought it was like a game and I did not understand until actually this podcast that it was a recording of the show. So no, didn't get to see either of those.
Truth.
I feel that market Yeah, it was very strange. We didn't understand either what was going on totally.
We were just told that we were doing a movie.
Yeah, okay, I guess we're contractually doing.
But we really didn't shoot a movie, like it just happened during the tour, so we didn't really make a movie.
But I won't watch it now in solidarity because true colors, that's not in it. I don't care. I don't care.
And dog Days, well, dog Days made it in the extras. But okay, so since you are our number one listener, I would like to open the floor if you have any questions for us.
You know I have so many questions. Okay, my first question. You know, when Rachel was singing Don't Stop Believing for her Funny Girl audition on Broadway, I find that insane and inappropriate. What do you think?
Agreed?
Yeah, totally, absolutely agreed, Like, why in the world would she That's not even close to the correct genre.
Oh, you needed to go back to Nada. That was crazy.
It was very strange. And also enough of the song, enough of the song. Yes, the more you do it, the less it makes it special. Huh.
That's right.
It's like being a part of something makes you special. Singing don't stop believing does not make you special. No, no, okay, great, okay, this big question. I am so interested to know how it worked with filming the songs when you were like miming to them, because so did you sing a little bit live? And if so, how did that work? If like, obviously some of those songs were super difficult, and did you ever like vocally crack and then was that really funny? That's my question.
Everything except I think Darren sang live a couple times. Everything was pre recorded. So even if we sang out loud while we were filming it to make it look like we were actually singing, like so our face and like throat looked like singing, the audio was not being recorded.
Yeah, but was any sound coming out?
Yeah?
Yeah, behind the scenes sound was coming out. Some people were singing and some people were not. So now it some people felt like lip singing without singing was better, and some people felt like singing was actually helpful. So for me, I would sing generally most of it, not at full volume, but I would sing because I always thought it looked the most real. And yes, I yeah, I sounded like complete crap, like especially after your your when you're singing to a fully produced song that you did in the studio, you have plenty of times to redo. They put their magic touch on it. Like I'm singing and I'm like, people, actually I'm revealing myself because this is what I actually sound like.
No, because they're playing that. They're playing the music so loudly that.
It's really loud.
You can't really hear yourself at all. It doesn't we're not focused on what's actually coming out. It's more about that we're having so it looks like something's coming out.
And at a good point, it was really rash.
The other issue was if we did that for every single take of every song, we'd never have any voice because we would I mean we'd shoot some things up to like thirty forty fifty times and so like if our voices would be gone, Yeah that's right. So on close ups maybe we would sing out loud so world look more realistic, but the wider the shot than we probably were just doing doing it with no sound coming out.
Okay, so interesting, Yeah, think about that all the time time. Yeah, that's good to know. And in so you're like when it was his height, that was like twenty tens that was like crazy fan culture. So what's the craziest thing that a fan did in the height of Glee to you?
Honestly, in London. It happened every time we were in London. And I'm not just saying this because.
It wasn't me. I wasn't that I was going to tell you.
I know, it was the other side of the world to you. You were too far.
I like camp that much.
Yeah, fans would camp out and sleep outside our hotels for a week days at a time.
Yeah.
Yeah, and we would be like, where is your parents? Like them go home, sleep like we talk to them too. It's not like, you know, they wait for us to like for us to stay hi to them, Like we would talk to them and then we would be like, please go home, sleep in your beds sake, and then come back if you want.
But yeah, not really weird.
Yeah, yeah, I think people generally like camping outside hotels.
Didn't happen to me either, But I know that some multipleple people got tattoos for Glee. Specifically, somebody got Corey's uh name, his autograph they tattooed it on their arms.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah, I met someone last week who was very sweet and was like so nice and then was like look and rolled up their sleeve and it said snakes. And I was like, wow, the.
Episode, you're going to be talking about me like that. You're gonna be like she was.
So they were honestly so sweet and genuinely like.
Does because it's such a that's like a quest.
PERM didn't think, Yeah, well, I mean I get it to like, I have weird things tattooed on me, and I imagine if I went up to Paul McCartney, I was like, look, let it be all right.
Yeah, I have a Florencer machine quote, so like, yeah, totally.
It's weird when you're a part of the thing that people have tattooed.
Yeah, I get that. That was a very nice, rational answer. I think if I was in your position, I'd be like, they're crazy.
They can't get No, there's been this person was not crazy. I have met other people who think about them and they have crazy tattoos. I try not to judge.
I try I don't have a glee tattoo. I feel like I need to say that now.
I thank you for clarifying. We didn't want to directly ask, so thank you.
I know you were thinking it. Are you either of you in any way like your characters?
Yeah, for sure, in more ways, I think, like initially, like because Tina wasn't like written so clearly on the page like Rachel Berry, Like we started to create her together, so there are parts of me that were written into her as well as like parts of her that I saw in me, and so specifically, like I always explained her as like an onion that you peel back and you've gotten you see more layers as you go, so every time, like and it kind of justified like along the way, her different seasons and her different kind of like personalities that would come out. I feel like that was always inside of her. She didn't change, but like you just saw her bloom and so there was a lot of there's It's similar in the way that like I kind of just like would stay back and people wouldn't know exactly who I was or what I was about, but like you'd see more of me as you come to know me over time.
That's so cool.
I love that beautiful. I would say I was similar in the way, I think same as Jenna, where they would sort of right to us in real life, and so yeah, at the beginning of the show, Already and myself were like much meeker and shy and like wouldn't speak up as much. Always loved R and B music, so like that was very that was very similar. And as the show goes on, Alreaty's not afraid to like speak up and speak out even if he's wrong about things, or like calling out Rachel or like whatever it may be. And I think I was also learning that as the show was going on. It's like coming into my own of being able to like stand up for myself and speak out and that sort of thing, because coming into it, I was not that way at like deathly shy, and so I think about, like already in the pilot, how like nervous and nerdy he is was definitely more also, so you know, closely related to me at that time. So yeah, I think Artie and I grew at the same pace in a lot of ways.
Definitely nice, nice answers. I can't wait to watch it all again and remember that.
I have a question for you. What is the feeling that Glee leaves you it?
Oh, maybe like youth. I think it's just such a formative thing, Like it just makes me think of being young. Everything I discovered through Glee, Like I heard rumors for the first time through Great Glee, which is mental that's a huge iconic.
It was like the most exciting thing about it was like introducing younger generations to music that like they didn't or wouldn't naturally know, and like that was really exciting. I think especially for the artists that were like, you know, this gives us a chance to like introduce our music to other people.
Yeah, truly and even yeah, so much, so much music. I know that there's that joke as like they did this on Glee, but I'm literally like I learned this song from Glee. I only know this song because of Glee.
Yeah.
Yeah, It's really made me have a much better music taste.
Yeah, I love that.
That's actually one of my favorite things to hear. Yes, I haven't heard a lot. Yeah I love that because I mean I learned a lot of music from it as well. So I think anytime you can expose other people to other type we get stuck in our little bubbles. And exactly through storyline and through song, I think We're the show is constantly trying to like shake it up and introduce people to different ways of life and different music. So it's nice that it worked.
I did. I don't listen to any music now because I just listened to this podcast over time anymore.
I just started doing music for you before we let you go.
I'm just curious, like, if you had to pick one of your most listened to songs, what what would you say?
Oh? I, I'm sorry, I have three, but one's really you will tell us, you know? Yeah, so sure, but so good?
Twenty seconds, so crazy, Okay, what's the one you?
Wow, it's so good. Crush yeah. My other one the boy next door?
Oh my god, Wow, you have such an interesting time.
I love this yoh kay?
Exciting?
Okay, well, and then my third one is one last bell to answer slash. A house is not a home.
You like her? That's okay, that's right. We love that one, you know, Kevin loves that one.
That's the good one.
That is one of the greatest recordings.
I truly agree with you so right. I was listening it today, I had like a tear in my eye.
I was like, yes, no matter what I'm doing, and if I put that on, I am taken to that place whatever they want me to feel. I feel it.
Really, I don't know what I don't. I still to this day won't listen to the original of those two songs because I don't care. I don't care for it.
No, I don't. I've listened to the two originals, like I don't. It's fine, good, they're very good whatever. But something about that mashup I don't. I have no idea what it is. It is like crack, like.
Just yearning to listen to it right now, immediately after I stop talking to you, guys, put it on.
I am honored that we are honored that you came on here and that you listen to our show. It seriously means so so much. The best part of doing the show is getting to talk to people like you, and the fact that like people like you listen to this and over there even a little bit is amazing, And we're just thankful that genuinely, genuinely thankful that you and took the time to come on today.
Well, thank you for having me, because this is, yeah, probably the best things one to me.
You're so sweet.
I think we're going to have to have you great.
I will make what I make myself free.
I will make myself free. I will pull out of literally anything.
Oh my gosh, do.
You live in London now?
I live in Brighton, so you're kind.
Of I've never been to Brighton so much.
I imagine you love it, but I know you love it. I don't know you.
I'm no. I think you're right. That's OK.
You can stay here.
Thank you so much. It really just a joy. Thank you so so much much.
Thank you.
Yeah, Ay, I see you bye?
Wow? What just a breath of fresh air. Love love her.
I know it.
Means I know, you know, she said it meant a lot for her to come on here, but it means a lot for us to have someone like her take the time to like all of you who come on here or listen every week, or like her who listen repeatedly everything.
No, truly, it's like a shock to us sometimes that you guys really do enjoy this so much.
So it keeps us going, like we really appreciate it.
And do it for you. You know, I appreciate it. And again, if you see us out on the street. I was taking my dog for a walk the other day and some guy at like eight am was like, love your podcast, Like I look like I got punched in the face right now. But thank you so seriously, thank you to all of you and from wherever you are. I love how we have people from all over the world on here and it's never not surprising. We do not take it for granted. So thank you very much. And that's what you really missed. See you, thanks for listening, and follow us on Instagram at and that's that's what you really miss pod and make sure to write us a review and leave us five stars. See you next time.
