This week: Fans were asked what kind of content they want most from James, and the votes came in loud and in one direction. Real talk, nothing polished or performed. So this week we're bringing you the conversation that answer set off, from the book he's writing to the people-pleasing habit he had to unlearn to the friendships he's redrawn along the way.

James Maslow joined this Fanward conversation from a hotel room in Hawaii, where the lighting was questionable, the storm was getting louder, and the camera kept trying to follow him around the room.

It was not polished, but that was exactly the point.

Fans had been asked what kind of content they wanted most from James. The answer leaned heavily toward real talk, which opened the door to a conversation about his upcoming book, authenticity, disagreement, and the boundaries that make honest relationships possible.

James has never been especially drawn to mindless content. When he listens to a podcast, he wants to learn something, hear a difficult conversation, or understand why people think the way they do.

He mentioned shows like Huberman Lab, The Joe Rogan Experience, and SmartLess, but admitted that books have taken up more of his attention lately. He often has several going at once, including audiobooks for the gym and physical books he can underline and return to.

That preference connects directly to the book he is writing.

James sees a book as the chance to do something a podcast cannot always do. A conversation can wander before an idea is fully explored. A book lets him slow down, tell the full story, and shape the message exactly the way he means it.

James hopes the Fanward community will be among the first people to read the book because the people here have shown that they want more than the public version of him. A lot of people know Big Time Rush, far fewer have taken the time to understand who James is away from a stage.

Actors used to be encouraged to stay mysterious and keep their private lives separate from their work. James believes that has changed. Audiences can tell when someone is hiding behind a manufactured image.

Fanward lets him share his experiences honestly, but it also lets him hear about the people supporting him. He learns about their music, their goals, and the risks they are taking in their own lives. That makes the relationship feel less like a one-way street.

The conversation then moved into one of James’s favorite sayings:

For James, that idea is about preparation and choice. It is part of why he trains physically, but it also applies to education, emotional strength, and the ability to stay calm when life gets difficult.

He would rather build skills he may never need than reach a crisis and realize he has no idea what to do.

That same desire for choice is one reason he has moved away from people-pleasing. Trying to keep everyone happy may look generous, but it often keeps people from knowing who you actually are.

James has little patience left for pretending. He would rather ask questions, admit when he is wrong, and say what he truly thinks than shape himself around the reaction he hopes to get.

James described a difficult conversation with a close friend who is also his doctor. They had very different opinions, but eventually realized they wanted the same outcome.

Neither person had to surrender his perspective. They simply recognized that two intelligent people could look at the same information and reach different conclusions without becoming enemies.

James also shared a story about someone who had been warned about working with him because of a political label. Instead of accepting someone else’s judgment, the person chose to base his opinion on how James had actually treated him.

That decision stayed with James because it cut through the pressure to dislike someone you do not really know.

He sees the same thing at concerts and Fanward events. People with different backgrounds and beliefs still find common ground through music. They meet each other as people first, and that changes everything.

Being open to hard conversations does not mean James will accept every kind of communication.

He has asked longtime friends to stop sending him opinionated clips and posts when they are unwilling to pick up the phone and actually talk. He is willing to have the conversation, but he is no longer interested in being used as a target for someone else’s endless stream of content.

That boundary may change some relationships, but James would rather leave the door open for an honest call than keep participating in exchanges that go nowhere. The fans who voted for real talk want the funny moments, but they also want conversations that make them pause, reflect, and feel less alone.

James seems ready to give them both.

What kind of real talk should James cover next? Share your answer in the comments, then watch the whole video here to hear the complete conversation, including the book update, the Hawaii storm, and the camera that refused to sit still.

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