Tracee Ellis Ross: the actress who has lived many lives

Tracee Ellis Ross has spent a lifetime forging an independent identity. She regales Trevor and Eugene with stories of growing up in the embrace of her iconic mother, Diana Ross, building her own beauty empire with Pattern and starring on Broadway. Together, the three candidly dissect the societal pressures women face to be "chosen," the racial biases of '90s television, and how to reclaim your agency in work and love. Packed to the brim with lessons on life, love, and picking the perfect heirloom tomato, this episode is a masterclass in belonging to yourself. Subscribe for more conversations from What Now? with Trevor Noah: http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah Or follow the podcast on your other favorite platforms... SiriusXM Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnApplePodcasts Spotify - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnSpotify #TraceeEllisRoss #TrevorNoah #whatnow 00:00 – Trevor's Friends Won't Stop Texting Him About Tracee 02:00 – The Heirloom Tomato Revelation 05:00 – Tracee's Life in Europe 08:00 – Growing Up at a Swiss Boarding School 12:00 – Becoming a “Child of the World” 16:00 – Tracee's Famous Friends & Her Life Outside Hollywood 21:00 – The Problem With Having Famous Friends 28:00 – Tracee's Family & the Fake Pregnancy Story 30:00 – Why the Internet Makes Up Celebrity Stories 35:00 – What Fame Taught Tracee About Reading a Room 42:00 – Why America Is Obsessed With Celebrities 45:00 – Tracee's Broadway Debut 52:00 – Building Pattern Beauty 55:00 – Dating When You're a “Whole Planet” 57:00 – The Best Dating Advice Tracee Ever Heard 01:03:00 – Success Doesn't Guarantee Love 01:05:00 – “I'm the Chooser” 01:07:00 – The Comedian Tracee Had to Eviscerate 01:11:00 – Why Girlfriends Never Got Its Due 01:17:00 – Tracee on Finding Joy 01:20:00 – How Tracee Learned to Trust Herself 01:24:00 – “What Do You Want to Do?” 01:27:00 – Gratitude vs. Compliance 01:31:00 – Choose Your Friends by How They Make You Feel 01:33:00 – What Rihanna Taught Them About Owning Your Power 01:36:00 – Tracee's Broadway Routine 01:38:00 – The Importance of Sleep

Trevor NoahhostTracee Ellis RossguestEugenehost

Aug 13, 20261h 40mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: August 13, 2026
Duration: 1h 40m
Channel: What Now? With Trevor Noah
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Tracee Ellis Ross has spent a lifetime forging an independent identity. She regales Trevor and Eugene with stories of growing up in the embrace of her iconic mother, Diana Ross, building her own beauty empire with Pattern and starring on Broadway. Together, the three candidly dissect the societal pressures women face to be "chosen," the racial biases of '90s television, and how to reclaim your agency in work and love. Packed to the brim with lessons on life, love, and picking the perfect heirloom tomato, this episode is a masterclass in belonging to yourself. Subscribe for more conversations from What Now? with Trevor Noah: http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah Or follow the podcast on your other favorite platforms... SiriusXM Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnApplePodcasts Spotify - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnSpotify #TraceeEllisRoss #TrevorNoah #whatnow 00:00 – Trevor's Friends Won't Stop Texting Him About Tracee 02:00 – The Heirloom Tomato Revelation 05:00 – Tracee's Life in Europe 08:00 – Growing Up at a Swiss Boarding School 12:00 – Becoming a “Child of the World” 16:00 – Tracee's Famous Friends & Her Life Outside Hollywood 21:00 – The Problem With Having Famous Friends 28:00 – Tracee's Family & the Fake Pregnancy Story 30:00 – Why the Internet Makes Up Celebrity Stories 35:00 – What Fame Taught Tracee About Reading a Room 42:00 – Why America Is Obsessed With Celebrities 45:00 – Tracee's Broadway Debut 52:00 – Building Pattern Beauty 55:00 – Dating When You're a “Whole Planet” 57:00 – The Best Dating Advice Tracee Ever Heard 01:03:00 – Success Doesn't Guarantee Love 01:05:00 – “I'm the Chooser” 01:07:00 – The Comedian Tracee Had to Eviscerate 01:11:00 – Why Girlfriends Never Got Its Due 01:17:00 – Tracee on Finding Joy 01:20:00 – How Tracee Learned to Trust Herself 01:24:00 – “What Do You Want to Do?” 01:27:00 – Gratitude vs. Compliance 01:31:00 – Choose Your Friends by How They Make You Feel 01:33:00 – What Rihanna Taught Them About Owning Your Power 01:36:00 – Tracee's Broadway Routine 01:38:00 – The Importance of Sleep

SPEAKERS

Trevor Noah
host
Comedian and TV host; creator/host of the podcast “What Now? With Trevor Noah.”
Tracee Ellis Ross
guest
Actress and entrepreneur, known for roles including “Girlfriends” and for founding the haircare brand Pattern.
Eugene
host
Co-host/sidekick on “What Now? With Trevor Noah.”

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of What Now? With Trevor Noah, featuring Trevor Noah and Tracee Ellis Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross: the actress who has lived many lives explores tracee Ellis Ross on global upbringing, fame, joy, and agency Ross describes how moving to Paris and attending a Swiss boarding school made her a “child of the world” and reshaped her view of American identity, freedom, and patriotism.

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