Most people might know the host of Podcrushed from his breakout role as Dan in Gossip Girl. Others might associate Penn Badgley with his lovable but deadly stoker role on You. But on his podcast, Pedgley portrays neither of these personas. He is his most open, earnest, and lovable self, and it's nothing less than captivating.

But Podcrushed is not a one-person show. While Badgley might be the only household name, he doesn't carry the whole show on his two shoulders. His two best friends and cohosts take an equal part in making this podcast the joy that it is to listen to.

First, there's Sophie Ansari, who used to teach fifth grade. She spent her childhood moving around seven different countries. Then there's Nava Kavelin, who was a middle school director in her former life and spent her teens in Puerto Rico. This information is important . because the podcast has a singular focus. It talks about awkward events people went through in middle school. So the hosts' childhoods always come up in conversation. Badgley reveals his unconventional and sometimes troubling experiences as a teen actor.

In each Podcrushed episode, the three hosts invite a celebrity to open up about their childhood and teenhood. These candid conversations might start at age 12, but it's hard to know where they will end up. It might be about the secret to a successful marriage or maintaining one's mental health.

Since Badgley spent many years in Hollywood, many of the guests are people he met in one way or another. His costars, Chace Crawford and Victoria Pedretti, make an appearance. Also, stars such as Drew Barrymore and Conan O'Brien open up about their most embarrassing stories.

The conversations on Podcrushed always feel natural and intimate. These are not planned-out interviews with a strict structure. Instead, the listeners feel like they are eavesdropping on friends chatting. But it's nothing lewd or racy. Instead, it's charming and the most endearing conversation they can have. New episodes release each week.