Hey everyone, it's Sophia and welcome back to this very special two part work in progress. Last week, we kicked off the new year on w I P with my good friend and castmate on good Sam sky P Marshall. If you haven't listened already, go check it out because we had such a fun conversation. In fact, Sky is such an interesting human and we had so much to talk about that today you are listening to part two of our chat. I could not bear to edit this episode down because she is magic. You are not gonna want to miss this one, because today we dive into so much about good Sam and how we ended up working on the show together. Let's get to it. Do you want to tell the people how it started? I absolutely do. Oh my gosh, okay, how did I become Dr Lex? Truly so? As Sophia has shared, I'm from Chicago, Illinois. I I was very much obsessed with Chicago Pet solely because of Sophia Bush. I don't know what it was about you, I honestly don't. I just knew that it was like it was a collect It's not one thing. There's a collection of things about you that make your wholeness so dope from obviously your beautiful, warm face, this swagger that you have um that you wouldn't know unless you were able to see yourself. You can't even feel it. You have this certain you have, like a certain swag about you. Then obviously the voice. Then on top of that, you're acting skills like it was. It's like layering in the smile. It's like layers of thing that Like I'm watching and I'm like who is this because I never watched One Tree Hill, but I got into Chicago Pete and I'm like, who is this woman? So I like researched you. And then I then started watching some of One Tree Hill, and I was like, how did I not know about this? And I mean I knew about the show, but I just didn't know about you. But you just popped and I'm like, I'm in. I'm sold. And then like when you left, I was I started watching it again and I was just like, good show, but not it's not the same show. So I'm just like, I'm I'm out. I'm out. So I tapped out. And then what year was that that your last season aired? I left left three months before the Harvey Weinstein story broke. Oh, wow, would you look at that? Um. The only reason why I asked a year is because cut two, I go and do an episode of This is Us. It airs, uh fall of twenty when't so my episode airs. I'm obsessed with This is Us. So it's great for me to be on the show. My episode airs, and then the very next episode you air, and I'm like, where got there? She goes where been? And I was like it's and I was like, this is so cool. I had an episode right before, but while awesome moving on February eighth of a few months after This is Us episode aired November of me and my friend Jania go to a it was a Black Aids Institute event in Los Angeles for one of our friends, Karama Brown and who's being honored. And after the red carpet situation, I see Sophia and I say that you need to like I'm gonna go say something, and and he's like, girl, go back. So then I like rush, I like rushed to Sophia and like fan girl her really fast her face because I knew she was like being like taken away because she had to speak and and and the ceremony was starting. So anyway, so I like, I gotta da, I love you, hones no no no, and like I was on this It's us, and then your episode there after mine this is us, but like I really loved Anna and then she's like, oh my god, thank you and like you were so sweet and kind and then you were like being pulled off and then you were gone, and I was like, did it awesome? I love when that happens, when you get to life me someone that you're a fan of. Great, let's go inside. That was that. That was February eight of two and a half. Three weeks later, not even two weeks later. I'm sitting on my couch and I opened up Instagram and I see Katie Wesh's post that her new series Good Sam has Sophia Bush is her lead. And I'm like, stop it. And I had worked with Katie once before on her pilot in two thousand nineteen that I guess start on and didn't move forward, but I stayed in contact with Katie because I absolutely loved her, and um, I'm I messaged my manager and I was like, hey, have you guys read Good Sam? And they're like, yeah, I got the script, read it, loved it. Is there anything in there for me. Um, there's only one other female lead in your age range. Um. And they gave me the whole character breakdown and I was like, okay, um, I could do that. Did you submit me? And They're like, yeah, we submitted you like a few times to casting, but didn't hear anything back. And I was like interesting, all right. So I just kind of set still and I just like just I was like, spirit, I don't know what I'm a new tell me what the new here? And then I was screw it and I pulled my phone out and I just messaged Katie directly and I was like, Hey, Katie, hope all as well. I just wanted to add congratulate you again. I'm getting Sofia push and wondering like could you ever see me playing? At the time, the characters name was Pappa. And she's like, wait, you're available. I'm like, yeah, I'm available. And she's like, oh, okay, Well, I hate to do this to you, but can you come to CBS today at five thirty? Remind you it's two pm? Oh my god, m M. She's like okay, um, So this is for what's called a test, and this is where you audition for the studio network executives, it's about five or six of them, and just for the people listening at home. This skips like the first audition, the crawl back the seed, which for some reason casting didn't connect with Katie about you don't worry. We've set fire to that failed chain since and and so Sky, I just need y'all at home to understand is getting this information at the last possible stage, which is also the biggest deal with three hours to learn a bunch of scenes, the hair and makeup, get to get far from your house. Oh my god, I'm my neck hurts, just like yeah, so I had there's twelve pages of dialogue and um so Katie's like, Okay, so you only have to do two of the three scenes because they know you just got it. And I was like, no, I'll do all three. She's like okay, Skuy, but like you don't have to like have it all memorized because like again, they just they know that you just got it. I was like, no, I'll have it all memorized. And she's like, Okay, Sky, Look, I really like feel good about this. I'm gonna go to bat for you, but I really want you to do your best. You don't like you know. I was like, Katie, listen, pressure is a privilege. I somehow work really well under these conditions. But what you can do is you can meet me there an hour early and like we can do like a work session that whatever these other girls may have, you know, gotten notes on, like we can. She's like yeah, absolutely, so I'm like great, So I grab a friend. I put the friend in the car, were running lines as we get to the studio. Run line drill line, drill line, drill line, drill lines. Put friends in uber since friend home, goes into the studio and then do a work session right with Katie and Jenny and Joanna, and uh it was. It was incredible. It was just magic. You know, it was just real magic because I went in there and I just I should I told these amazing women. I was just like, look um, I've read the character breakdown. I love it. I'm kind of here to change your mind about it, Like whoever you have coming, I'm sure they are, Pippa, but I want to kind of change your mind a little bit about about the slice of life of this character. And they're like, yeah, let's go, like let's play let give it to us, and we did it. So then I come out and I see the other two three girls there and it wasn't as welcoming as I hope, of course. But I sit down and it's game times to your executives come in. I am completely frozen in fear of the unknown. I don't know what notes. I may not remember that they just gave me. In the room, Um did I did? I lock the beats and it's just a lot, it's overwhelming, and now these suits are walking in and these are the money people, so you know they're not the creative team for saying so I yeah. I went in the room and I had to just the narrative in my mind at that time was I heard y'all need to me? What's up? I heard y'all need to me? Like I just kept saying that in my head as if like you need me like you asked me. I was supposed to be in the grocery store. I had errands to do today, Like what's the emergency? I'm here, what's going on y'all? Good? Like that was like my mentality and I went in the and went in the room like that right, um, with that energy and uh, you know. They were like, how are you. I was like, I'm good, just trying to keep you from self and weed. I was like, but y'all are in the blessing business, so let's just go in and get this going. And I was just kind of and I just was laughing at myself because I was hearing the matra in my head and it made it fun and I just took all the stakes out of it. And then I leave out of the room and like I'm chatting with the other girls and we're having a chat and we're like, oh my god, Pilot season, it's so crazy. Pilot season is when all the new shows are coming in and everyone's trying to figure out what shows are going to move forward or not. Um So of course all the actors are being auditioned all over the place. So we're just talking about like, oh my god, it's just so stressful, all right, And I'm like, yeah, I know, it's crazy. So we're all like throwing our audition paper in the trash that have all the lines and our notes and stuff on it. And I say to them because they were actually like pretty nice, and I was like, oh my god, wish was like a picture together because I was totally going to send this photo to Katie with me like in the middle, because like my petty chakra lit up in this moment for whatever reason. So like we take a photo together, and as we're taking the photo, I get that text pop up and I see Katie's name with a bunch of caps in emoji. So I hurry up and swipe it because the two girls could see my camera because I'm about to take a selfie. So then I take the selfie and then I'm like, okay, guys, when my god was so nice meeting, you can walk crazy. And then they walk away. I opened my phone and I like, hurry up and read it, and it's Katie and it's all caps. He was like, you killed it. They loved you. We'll see you Monday for the network test. Network test, which is like another fifteen executives, but now from the network of CBS. So I'm like, oh my god, Oh my god. And then I waited to make sure the other girls were gone, and then I went in the trash and I got my audition lines out and like hop in the car, like I need these notes, as I need all these notes. I got in the car and then UM and then that weekend it was go time. But when I when I got home after that experience that night, I sat back on the couch and I was like, what just happened? Four hours ago? I was scrolling Instagram, procrastinating from doing errands today, and now I'm back on the same couch four hours later. But I just did a studio test for Sophew Bush and CBS. Because let me remind you, CBS was on my very first vision board, right and my very first apartment was on Radford, across the street from CBS. So here I was with my secret. I had the whole starter kid of manifestation. I had my crystals and my angel cards, and I could see CBS Network. So I said, I wanted to be a series regular on a CBS show, and I want to be in a medical drama. And I went and I got head shots. You've seen the head shots. My head shots are me and scrubs. And I was sitting on my balcony looking at CBS and then I realized I manifested an extra job for a year on c S I New York, and that's where I learned best ficity. I said, I actually manifested what I asked for, but I wasn't specific about it. So that's when I learned, like, okay, I gotta get very even more clear on what I want. So now here's the moment has now come back ten years later CBS, except now Sophia Bush and it's a medical drama. Come in, I do the network test, I have fun with it. I'm out and I'm waiting that it's a Monday, which, as you know, Sophia, every hour of waiting to see if you got a job or not is like a debt. And so I hear nothing on Monday. Afterwards Tuesday, I hear that the other girls out, but I have to do a chemistry read with Sophia Bush. And I was like, say, less, when do I show? And then I'm debating my whole way. They're like, do I tell her that I was the crazy fan who the beautiful girl in the white suit fum rushed her and completely because again this is just my head playing tricks on me. But I'm like, that's gonna make me a fan and not like an actor. And then the other side was like, no, you should be a professional actor meeting a professional actor, and I was like that sounds boring, So yeah, I was like screw it. So as soon as I came in the room, I was just like I'm the girl. And then you were just like oh oh yeah, oh my god. Yes, So like that to me helped just break the ice, Like I felt like, at least for me, I just kind of like relaxed and exhaled, and I looked at Katie, and Katie knowing me now for a year, just kind of gave me this nod of like do it all right? And I remember you and I having this physical play in the room, like and I remember you accidentally dropped a line and I was like, okay, come on now, I'll get it together. This is actually your audition, not mine. And we were just like it was just so playful and fun in the room. And and I left there thinking, if it's not me, they better be casting a man. It has to be something so outrageous it better not not be me. It was. It was just like a dream opportunity right there, so close that I could taste it, and here I was the next No, two days had gone by, now I haven't heard anything, So now I'm ready to like cry into my pillow. And tear down my good sam shrine that I built. And um, I'm sitting in an audition room having to now audition for something else. And I came out of the audition and I got the call from Katie. And when I answered the phone and she said it, I sprint in heels down the side walking studio city, screaming at the top of my lungs. And then I'm just like besides myself and I can't wait to just harry up and get off the phone with her so I can call my mom. And I called my mom and I just burst into tears. And she knew I was waiting, so she knew with me calling and crying, she already knew, Like is this happy tears? The sad tears like she's trying to read. But it's like it was like ugly cry. It wasn't like we did it, Joe, you know what I mean? We did it? But yeah, and then and then I just stood on that sidewalk and I savored the moment because I realized from this moment on, I I'm officially a series regular actor. Like I can never not say that I hadn't had a series regular no matter what happened with the pilot and um, and then I d M you because I didn't have your number yet and uh and yeah, and it's been a love story since. I love that. It's one of my best stories of of getting a role because I don't have an agent, I don't have a talent agent. And while my manager is absolutely brilliant, nothing can compare to me really being obedient to whatever this magical spiritual energy is that is this force field, the universe, God, whatever anybody wants to call it. It's so real and so effective if and when we are able to just be still and tap into it and just plug in, you know, it's such a resource for me. And if I ignored that push to reach out to Katie, I wouldn't be sitting here with you right now, you know what I mean. And here I was judging Instagram like I need, I should, I should, I should be spending less time on Instagram. Had I not been spending time on Instagram to even see that post, to be able to be there within that three hour window for that opportunity, you know what I mean. Like, it's just it blows my mind and it makes me. It makes life fun for me, it makes life so fun. It feels like a riddle. So every day I wake up with a mentality of expectancy. I'm expecting God to just play. Something's gonna happen, some play is going to take place. I don't know what it may be, but you know, it just makes it makes things very fun in life, I will say, And it makes it less. It makes it easier for me to not take so many things personally, you know, because whatever I'm supposed to experience, I'm supposed to experience. Whether it feels good or not, it's my experience. Um and then whatever someone else is supposed to experience, that's theirs. But it's not for me to ingest everything and take things so personally, because, as you know, as an artist, we are extremely sensitive, but paradoxically we have to be very strong because you have to take on the nose for years, you know, or take on the critics, or take on the fill in the blanks. So to be sensitive and strong simultaneously going through the experience and make time to be authentic and enjoy the journey like that has just been the balance for me. Is balancing that and allowing it all to just run his course. But I do have fomo, so we all do. Okay, what was on the vision board? Up? So did you put the picture of you the head shot in your scrubs on the vision board? Well, not on the vision board, but the scrub headshot was next to the vision board. I had a logo, legit logo of CBS. I had a legit logo of um Netflix on there, which the Netflix job got me. You know, the uh, the noise if you will for more opportunities, um Katie knew I was on Sabrina. Like everything on that vision board. When I think about it now, I mean, I'm like ten vision boards later, because I still do vision boards should do for this year, let's do it. I love vision What went on the Good Samshrine? Oh, the Good Sam Shrine. There's one thing that I know. I'll never tell you that I love it the most. You you don't have to. I think it's the cutest. I just love your depth of research. But what else it? Because I'm like a psychopath, I don't think you know what it is. I call it my lab, right, So like for me when I'm when i'm creating a goal, when I'm creating, when i'm co creating um and a life experience, if you will. My bedroom starts to turn into what I what I like to call a lab. My bedroom. The walls are not so much decorated for anyone else. It is there so that I can constant remind myself on what am I laser being focused towards. So yeah, I had CBS logo, had a Netflix logo. I had a like one of those cute buffalo houses in l A, like a you know, three bedroom, cute little um. I had one on Love and Relationship, which it was like, you know, happy couple, but then also like a photo of a couple that are clearly working through something, you know, because I don't want to. I don't need to be happy one of the time in a relationship, like also be able to challenge me and make me have to like see my put the mirror up right, Let's grow together. And then I had the Health and Wellness Staff, which you know work in progress, um forever and uh. And then I had the had one that was like it was a photo of an eyeball um, but but the universe it was kind of like was an eye like so it's like a very spiritual um image of just like spirit of just like staying open um to receive, but also being obedient when it's time to like move, act or do. Um. That was yeah, So that's usually and then the family photo one. So that's usually my vision board. I like my vision board to not just be career oriented. It also has to be my health. It also has to be my finances, my love and relationship, my spirituality, and my family. Yeah, which also good Sam has pulled from that first vision board as well with family, because now I get to have a relationship with my father, who I did not have a relationship at all with before because he's very much like Griff, like he he can only really have a relations and ship as a doctor. So he keeps texting me like need any help, need any help. I'm like not good, good with today's scenes. Um. And then but then sometimes I'll send him scenes that I don't need help with, just to stimulate them and get them all excited and to just hear his voice and like we just now we get to like talk for hours and have fun. So like that's a huge long term goal that has also manifested because of this opportunity that um just makes my heart explode. More than I can even muster words for like, I can't even put it into words. It's in it's insane, like I'm still processing at all, like having so many different things manifesting at the exact same time. That was a ten year old goal. But again, I love, I love to be frank about what it takes to get to this moment, you know, relationships for me well, and just the amount of work, the work on the relationships that is work for me, not like work like I don't want to do the work. I actually really do love the people that I admire in the industry. And as you know, um, I love staying in contact with people, even if I don't even know them. I'll find them on like social platforms and I'll just follow their work. There are my of course, personal relationships. That's one thing I just have to show up and be present and be and be and that not having an agent has required me to really work and hone in on relationships in the industry and that's where I have I was I honestly, I would say, yeah, I've definitely kind of mastered that at least for me because I can look at my results and if it wasn't from my relationship with Katie, we wouldn't be sitting here. Um. If it wasn't from my relationship with Karamo, I wouldn't have met you, which I do think created some kind of energetic pool that got me into that room. Who knows, right, Like, we don't know what's behind the curtain in Oz, but what happened with us that would never make sense to me, the timing of that wild that would that would never make um when not your resensance to me, but hey here we are so but yeah, no when you say that, you you like the frank um response around like how did we get here here? Meaning no, I just I just mean like to this point in the journey, you know, like even for me when people ask me about what they admire or see in my career and then say, you know, and it all seemed to be great or what I'm like, it's this to twenty years to be right here where I am right now, you know, it's it's a it's a big, long journey and you've got to be in it, you know, for for the beginning, all the way up the climb. And I think I always want to be frank with people like our our job is all peaks and valley. It's not like the corporate world where you do a steady climb forever. And I don't know, I think I think it requires gumption and faith and incredible emotional availability and a tough skin. It's it's a lot of things that don't feel like they go together. You know, you're spinning a lot of plates. But I think that when it's the thing you love, you know, you said it, you wanted to be on a medical drama from the beginning. I've always loved this genre, like I love a family drama, I love a medical drama, I love um and you know, I love sort of stranger, slice of life things that I get to go and do and like that independent world. But there are certain things that work because they allow us to go through the doorway of feeling. And I think that's what a hospital is for sure. You know, how does it feel different now compared to the years that you have been in this industry? What makes this year different? And like feeling wise, I mean, how do you feel the whole thing feels different? You know. My first job was just like I was out hustling, going on hundreds of auditions a year, and I booked this show, and we never knew it was going to be a big deal, let alone a hit, let alone last for a long time. But when you kind of have like lightning in a bottle, you you you ride it, you don't like jump off that train. Looking back, I realized what was really not okay about it, especially in terms of the way that we as young people were being treated. Um and so it's like it's it's been a mixed bag of like joy and pain for all of us. You know. It's why me and the girls decided to do the other podcast, to do Drama Queens, because we were like, we gotta we gotta throw the trash out. And when you have nine years of trash but also nine years of beautiful moments, like it's a really confusing relationship. It's kind of like being in an abusive relationship. And we were like, how do we how do we take the garbage out and just remain in love? Like we have this opportunity to do that, But it's certainly as an artist, can contain your relationship to your career. And it's taken me until my adulthood to understand that some of that stuff has almost made me inclined to reject success because I don't trust did and I went to a more successful world. I went and did my show in Chicago, and it got worse, like so much worse. But I had this group of people who I really loved. But then I also experienced like real abuse and violence at work, and the people I loved didn't have the tools to stand up for me, and we're also very afraid that they were going to lose their jobs. And so again there was love, but it was really violent, and so I needed for me, I needed space from all of it. It's like when people go through a bad relationship and then they give up dating, you know, you're like, I'm gonna be celibate for a year, like I'm out of the game, which I also highly recommend um. But I was like, I'm going I'm not going to do this for a minute. I have to do something completely different for a minute. And for me, I felt like service. That was like I'm going to go work for a bunch of nonprofits and a bunch of community organizers, and I'm going to go work on an election, and I'm I'm just going to go to work for the people, and like that's just what I'm gonna do. And so I would do a project here, I would do a movie there, but I didn't do anything that took ten months of my year because I needed to do the opposite. And and then, you know, I developed the show that I really loved, but it was not the right time. I mean, and even we knew it. We were like, oh man, we developed this show that was written before the election, and it's all about like foreign government interference in the United States politics, and like we were like, it's too close to home. We're all traumadized, Like we don't even want to watch this show right now. I think, you know, I had things been different, that show probably would have gone. But again, nothing will miss you. And this was for us, so I couldn't do that job, so I could do this job. And and that was an experience, Like you said, if you can learn when you quote unquote lose, you're not losing yourself. And I think that if you always get what you want, you're probably pretty bored. So that was a really cool experience where I just got to learn and learn, learn, And then it really prepped me for this. When I took my first meeting with Katie, and she pitched me four scripts she was working on in twenty nineteen. Yeah, I remember when she was like, what was it September and October? She had like three press releases of three different shows. I was like Jesus, she was just working like crazy, and I was like, how is she going to do this? And then sort of similarly to you, by the way, like somebody screwed up and I was told I was going to get this script as soon as it was ready, and then Katie heard that I just hadn't read it yet, but nobody had sent it to me, so she thought I was like blowing off the show, and I was like, where is my script? And so then everyone kind of figured it out and it was can you test tomorrow? And I was like, but same exact experience as you. I at least got a night to sleep on it. But I was like, yep, sure can and I'll be off book and it's five scenes watch me. Because I was like I know this woman already. I know Sam and this is mine and you know me, like I'm the most self dowdy, self loathing, confused, anxious person on the planet. I'm very if it's for us I'm like, this is what we're doing, like if we're protesting, if we're doing election work, if we're I'm doing it. But when it's for me, I'm always like, no, I'm so sorry. I think I'm in the way. I'll just move. And I was like, this is mine, it's mine, like I knew it was mine, and and yeah, I just went in and I did it. And then I did the final tests for all the suits in the room. And then when they were reading you and Edwyn and Travis and all the other actors they read for the show, I was like, I'm coming in to read everybody. And they were like, oh, no, you don't have to do that, and I was like, no, no, I'm coming in to read everybody because this is the tone I want to set on this show. Because everybody always says, well, the number one, the number one, the number one. All the number one is responsible for doing is setting a tone. And my tone is a team tone. I don't I like to be a team leader, but I don't like to be the one in charge. I want us to be a team. And so for me it was so important. Katie and Jenny and Joanna already felt like my team, and I was like, no, I'm coming in when the cameras aren't on, when no one will know we did this us. I'm going to come in and read every single person who's up for every single job because it's a sign of respect. And they were like okay. Everyone was kind of like whoa wow. Alright, wait. So when that happened, I was always curious, was that meant to happen before? Does that usually happen before testing or does that usually happen after the network? The studio and the network already see the talent, so they were into testing for your role already, and it was it was all happening in the same week, me and you. Everything was happening at the same time, these these characters. And so once I was set, I was like, this is what I want to do. And they said, oh, well, we tested people for the role of Pippa, which became lex and and they were like, but we have a favorite. Well, will you come to a chemistry read just with one person? And I was like yeah, obviously, And then I went in and I read everybody for Malcolm and everybody for Caleb and everybody like I went and read lots of people for all the other parts, but you were you were always the only legs. Oh I love that. Yeah, and I just like, I guess I tell that story in this moment to illustrate how it feels different. It's in the bones of this project. Everything about this is different. The way the women at the Helm run it. Everybody's happy, and not just the women, which like l O L. People are like, what's it like to have a show run by women? And I'm like, it's just amazing that it's not even about women, it's amazing for everybody. Like that's actually the point of equity is that everybody gets to be happy, and like nobody even really notices it until we have executive meetings and they're like, wow, look at all the ladies at the table. This is cool, Like they forget. It's just everything is so good. Our set is happy, people are laughing, They feel appreciated. Like we as a cast are amped. We love our jobs, and we as a cast we're lucky. I mean, obviously the timing was, but during that break from work, we were able to create real relationships, and I I believe that that's what shows up in that pilot. Most pilots when they are filmed, the actors get to know each other for maybe a week and a half two weeks prior to filming, and now they have to portray the bestie or the boyfriend or the father or you know. I'm obviously heartbroken for the pandemic, but grateful for the time that we were able to share prior to filming that pilot, because when I watch the pilot for now the seventh time, I still just beam because me having a personal experience knowing all of our friendships, I can see it. I can see it on the screen even in the pilot, and the audience has no idea what they're in store for, you know. It's just like I'm so excited to see each episode following. And I've had so many people that are actors and are professional actors that are working on shows that have messaged me over the time saying, like, my cast does not hang out like you guys do, like waiting, like you guys are always hanging out, Like I can't get my cast to get together, or I can't get my cast to do things um together, And I'm like, are we is this not normal? Because we like it feels just so right, um well, but we have something very switch, we really do, and that's part of it. That's why it feels different. It's not always like this, but but we have fostered an environment together as a team, and you know, I think there's something really special in the fact that you and me and Edwin and Jason, like we all had that year and so in in that year of relationship, we were able to welcome Dobvy and Michael and Omar, Like, isn't it crazy to think they weren't with us, No, it's insane, But they feel like they've been here the whole time. Yeah, But even from shooting the pilot February of February March of and not starting production until October, I know, we were still able, Like I was like having dinner at Dobby's apartment and Dobby and I were hiking, like still had months to really get to know each other. Even with Omar and Dovey. You know that a lot of people really even get that because with the pilot once once you just once you find out that the pilot is getting picked up, you're shooting in July. You know, everything worked, it worked on everything worked out really really great. And you know, to quote the great Chasing Isaac's. You know, they may be able to control how long we shoot this, but we control how we shoot this and and how we have created this experience as just truly, deeply been a dream come true. I wish that I can just record every minute of it so I can watch it when I'm in my eighties and just just sit and watch all of these moments. I am going to dust my camera. I'm gonna start bringing my camera around more, my professional camera. I know. I was thinking the same thing. Actually over the holiday, I put mine in my carry on bag. I charged it up. I was like, I gotta, I gotta be better about this. But it's interesting, like I love that we have had this whole experience together and that we're sharing in the magic of it, Like this is a dream come true for me. Yeah, even after all this time doing all this work, like this is a dream come true. This one. It's pretty unbelievable. Tell me about it. It's I just I'm just realizing that I'm having the same experience that you are, and like, what a what a privilege it is that we all get to experience it in this way, and like, whether it's your first series, regular or not, like this is magic. Yeah, it's magic. I love it. And I I think about the opportunities to be here for each other, Like we've been through like all the highs and lows together, you know, like we were supporting each other through family stuff and act. Yeah, like we threw barbecues and we also marched for months. Yes we did, you know. And and I just so value the the reality of friendship that wants to show up in every circumstance. I remember watching you watch the crowd on the day that the protests started at the Pacific Park. Yeah, that was that was wild for me. It was it was incredible. That was a wild for me. It was my first protests, like a real like pulling of my heart strings and her freedom writer protests that I've shown up to on fire and uh and you know, had a couple of Sabrina cast members with me and then and then my future cast member with me. It was just like, Oh, we're gonna bring this all together, and we're gonna go out there and we're gonna you know, and then we got to that corner and yeah, just looking around it was I was it was like I wish that my mom had been standing there because she would she she's never seen anything like that. It's just as far as my eye can see, from the alleys to the streets, to the park to the hills, it's just hundreds of white people just angry, just furious, furious, And it was just great to see that I needed because we were in the prime lockdown time. I needed to get out of my house, stop watching the news, turn the phone off, and see it and feel it. And I did, and it was shul It was soul shifting. And I remember after I like picked my job I did, I looked at you and you were already looking at me, and I was like, Sophia, and then like and you were just like nodding your head like yeah, this is happening, and yeah. Then I just burst into tears and that was Yeah, That's definitely a day I'll never forget. That was wild. That was um spiritually wild for me. And I love that you were there for that and so many other moments after that. One thing I will say, though, my first experience of having and actor not just think of self is you like when they the first instance when they reached out wanting to interview for the Hollywood reporter on all of the protesting and and the elections, and you were just like, yeah, I'll do it if Sky Marshall can be interviewed as well. And I'm like what what what what? And you know, and I was like, oh my gosh, like what like you put your you were willing to not do it if they didn't interview me. Yeah, I care, like I want you have to interview you if they're gonna interview me. Like that was powerful. And you've done that a like a few different times, even like little subtle things that you may do. I pay attention to and I notice it, like when I talk to people about you, because they asked me, like, what's it like to wear a suffing your blush? And I do tell them I like, the woman is a humanitarian first and the act or second, like she thank you. She does not take any of this for granted. But you also you know the value of passing batons, You know the value of delegating. You know the value of power and how to not abuse it and and able to check the people that do whether they're abusing the power of privileged, the power of economy and power of politics. Whatever. You know, you're really good at at making sure that people, at least I can speak for myself, have equal opportunity to shine, and that especially during the Black Lives Matter protests. With that interview, that was the first where I was like, what, like, I've just never had an actress or act or act or period ever do that, not just for me, but with other actors as well. It's usually very much. I have to go and do all these things. I'll call you guys later, you know. So thank you for all of that. Thank you for for being so so sofia ish so bushy, thank you, um goodness. I'm really working on taking love in. I can tell I'm watching your eyes process it and then you're rubbing your ear. But I'm like, you're gonna receive this whether you or not. I know, it's probably funny for some people to hear because they assume that in our you know, position and our profession, we're always receiving, receiving. I'm always out putting and I'm really trying to learn to receive. And that was very touching. Thank you, You're welcome, my low. Um. This is probably why I'm not good at receiving comments, because they hit me really hard and then I cry, that's that's that's really Yeah, that's a good emotion. I cherish that. Thank you. It's funny, I I it's it's interesting because I don't think I ever would have told that story because I'm like, what am I going to do? And be like, well, white people, because this is an example of how you could be an ally like God, it's so insufferable, um, but it's it's special to hear you tell it because it does make me realize that, Like that was my first thought that day. Like when I got the all and they said they want to talk to you about being there, I was like, well, I'm in sure, but this is dumb. I'm not the person who supposed to be centered here, Like and I want I want to encourage people to read this, but also the only way I'm going to walk through the door is if my friend gets to walk through the door with me, Like I want I want to know what her experiences. It's her story I want to read. And yeah, I I think that that instinct. Really, it's like it's more than an instinct for me. It feels like a calling, like I can't imagine, Like when people say, why can't you just be an actor. Why do you have to be all political? I'm like, because you think I'm gonna blow the privilege of having a megaphone and not use it to advocate for other people, Like when our crews are fighting for better treatment, you think I'm not going to do an Instagram live to talk about ship I've witnessed on sets and like also to be very clear that most actors don't have a lot of power either, and like to tell our friends, like hold the line. You deserve to hold the line. There are so many more of you than there are of us on a set. Please shut that shift down and win for yourselves, win for all of us, Like do it? You know? And I think it's It's why when I say this whole experience, this is magic. Like even to work on a set and finally be in a position where as a producer I get to call all the executives and say, like what are we doing for our people? Like how how are we looking at our hours? What do we have to prove to earn more time? Like I'm not naive, I realize there's pragmatism that's required here, Like, but tell me what it looks like, tell me how we get to advocate for these people, and that is like it's the dopest thing in the world to me, not just to pass the baton, but like, if there is a room that I get to walk in to try to pull somebody else in it with me, and if there is a room that I have to walk in by myself because I'm like I've been allowed in there as of the last three weeks, then I'm going to carry everyone else's batons in there and be like, have you looked at all of these? And that that's the being rather than the time doing Like, that's the being that I want for all of us on our on our set. That's whether people see it or not, that's the being. That's who you are because I kid you, not like because you are my friend. I want to like like vent about my little things and I'm like no, no, no, no no. At work, but then I have to like be careful because I'm like, wait, she's still producer, Sophia, and she will fix this. When sometimes I'm just like because like everyone I was like Sophia the makeup for the like they did the makeup and it was lighter than my actual skin tone, and like I know that. She's like what and I was like, oh uh uh, let me dial back. That was they were just trying out. Um, she's gonna get the dark makeup and immediately gone, somebody has gone. She's now calling. I was like, like, you definitely are, like you're like my own personal robin Hood. But so I'm like, I have to be careful about like what I like friendly bant to you because I'm like, she's still a producer and you can't even say like that the almonds were stale. The almonds are not going to be stale ever again. And I have to be careful who who I say that too when it comes to definitely tried, because you will. You want everyone's experience to be pleasant. You want everyone's experience to be great. And I love that about you because yeah, you do. You're You're very tapped in and you're extremely empathetic. So it's like if someone feels like they're not having a good time or that they're they want something or need something but they're scared to ask, it's like you feel it and you know it, and then like it's gone. You're you're at a there the doors are swinging and then you're coming back with the thing that they needed, and I think it's such a beautiful thing. At the same time, I'm like Sophia Delegate. Every once in a while, you're so good, you'll be like this is not Nope, don't just let somebody else is going to answer that question. Just wait, and I'm like, oh, all right, you're right, I'm just gonna But it's funny. It's like I'll give you a thing that that grant and I do that's so helpful, which like is a it's a great relationship tactic, but I think it's good for you know, we're all in relationships, whether they're romantic or not. Is purge your problem solved? Purge or problem solved? So like someone can come to you, like you could come to me with a problem and I could be like what is going on and you're like, this is just a purge and then it's like I just need to vent, versus being like I need you to help me problem solve, and then it's like okay, and it and it's and it's beautiful, especially in partnership, like romantic partnership, because sometimes we just want to vent and sometimes we're like help me. But when someone like immediately goes into fix it mode. When you're trying to vent it doesn't feel great. And then sometimes when you really want to help fixing and someone's like, yeah, well you got a lot on your plate, and then like walks away, You're like, what the fuck, help me fix it? And so it's funny to learn that, like if you if you give somebody just a little qualifier and I like, I like the alliteration, so perjuror problem solved. Um, but it's great. So you can be like, oh, you convent to me all you want at work, but just be like, this is just a purge, and then I'll know not to go set something on fire in your definite Yeah I will. I I'm starting that tomorrow. I love it. I definitely did drop a line about your experience with the foundation. Was like, I'm just gonna say this in his friendly a manner as possible so that I don't blow a gasket, but just know that on the inside I am. The fact that our other lead actress is being met with foundation that is not her skin shade is completely fucking unacceptable. And in case no one's seen, fenty is a seventy five million dollar quarterly brand that Rihanna launched with seventy skin shades, So fix it, and everyone was like okay, but I know the next day I was like, this is actually a perfect match. Did you is this? And literally I'm not giving you we have fenty all over. Listen was just like, we're not going to debate about this. I will even give you a footnote. There will be a resource goodbye. Oh my goodness, that was hysterical how quick it got fixed. But I was like, but I don't me to like to like ask for what I want as well, Like it didn't need to be a bit. It could have been me directly having the conversation with someone. It didn't have to be you know you. But you know that's been a learning curve for me. Is is as you know, which I've expressed to you before, is like using my voice and asking for what I need and not just being a good soldier, you know what I mean, Like just yeah, you want me to stand here, cool, let me do that. Yep, you do it faster, awesome, slow down, cool, Like I just versus like you and Jason are really good at Like, no, this is a process for you as well. If you have questions or if you want to, you know, try something a little different, like just speak up. And I'm like it sounds easy, doesn't it. Well, you know, but that's still a learning process for me. And like you were there that night that I even said to Jason, I was complimenting him for how much he's pushing me to not just be as professional as quickly as possible, but to like really take my time as an artist. And he's helping me turn that lens. That is so easy for me to offer to other people about like take your time, get what you need, what do you need to be comfortable. He's been very helpful to me in terms of being like, but when do you do that for you? Like why do you just why do you try to assist camera to get the shot as quickly as possible? Like what do you want to experience in the scene? And I'm like, oh shit, shit, all right, god, okay, this is hard, but it I think it's good too. It's good to check in about that stuff. Well, that's a healthy relationship is when someone can put a mirror up and and as you said, we are all in relationship. An authentic relationship to me is when people can be like, here's the mirror. Do you see what you're doing? Do you see it? Do you see it? And not scared to do that at a fear of loss, yeah, or fear of confrontation, you know, to be able to do that. And I feel like we've all been able to learn how to, you know, gracefully and slowly move into that space naturally without forcing it of like knowing when we're at that place in our relationship, or we can just be like stop, don't do that, like yell like I did with Jason, and then immediately hug it out right, but then like you and I were like little girls, like and meanwhile he has not mad at all, right, Like it's but it's just like that's what makes to me such real relationships that we can do that and not edit ourselves and be on our best behavior for twelve to fourteen hours a day Monday to Friday, you know, because that mask will drop real quick. So I'm glad that we've all been able to get to that space that's so real because it is also showing up on screen. You know. I sneak and look at playback a lot now just to like, you know, see let's and I'm like, it's just so delicious. It's delicious. Oh my god. I know. Somebody tweeted me after the pilot and was like, my life goal is to have Sophia Bush described something I do as delicious, and I was like, it is my highest compliment. It really is, and we are doing some delicious things. When you think about how good this is, and you want to stay present and this is like the both and right, this is the whole point of like when I wrote about being a work in progress, it's like, cherish where you are and celebrate it, but also certainly look at what you want to do. What do you think about goals, Like what is the goal beyond right here right now? Honey? Well, yeah, I definitely want to have my own travel show because I'm addicted to traveling, as you know, that's my heartbeat. So oh that way be cool. I've been working on that. I have I think like five episodes of different destinations that I've shot and i've edit. I've edit on my own, which I'm pretty proud of. So I'm just kind of building my not kind of I am building my resume of videos so that come time um to produce my own travel show. I will have some proof in my putting the show when it comes time to pitching time. So because you know, I never I used to watch so many different travel shows growing up, and I'm never seeing a black female travel host. They might be out there, I just I haven't seen it, especially with my personality. And I would love to be able to UM have like a different co host in every episode, and that co host be someone from that country that is an influencer in that country, whether it be in beauty or dating or um politics or whatever the case may be. UM and it'll be called culture shock. And yeah, so excited about that. It's still you know, a work in progress as always. And then I want to direct more. I've directed before, and I really loved it. It was, um such an incredible opportunity. I worked with my girlfriend Joseels, who you've met, on a project called Killing Karen Soloway and it was such a such a fulfilling experience, which I know you've you've had. It's just so that was something I've always said, like, oh, those are two projects that will happen when I get the series regular. I had such a laser being focused on getting the show. I did not want to steer off that road. I didn't want a multitask. I didn't want to be the person that's like, I'm this, slash this, slash this, Like I just wanted to really just focus on on that. And now that it's accomplished, those are the two things I have brewing. UM. Relationships, you know, relationships are always nice. Um, my goal is always to grow in love and relationships because that is the one thing I personally feel I can't do on my own. I can read as many books as I want, and I can watch as many Ted talks as I want, and I can tap in burn sage and rub crystals all I want, but at the end of the day, I need real world experience with another human being to to really see my progress in love and relationships. So I'm always looking forward to that, to those experiences, and um, buying a house is a huge goal of mine, so I've been looking at properties, but I'm gonna absolutely talk to you and Grant more about that since you have such great experience and in real estate, the two of you, because I'm very much green in that sense. Those are yeah, yeah, I think that's a pretty solid solid list. Um. And then seeing my family more would be fun. But that's where the house comes in, because then I want to have a guest house and toss my mom and I want you close. I just don't want to, but not like with me, with me, you feel me, but like just during the cold months of Chicago, like she could be a snowbird, she would that would be her heaven if I like had that opportunity set up for her. So yeah, those are those are the majors. Those are the majors for sure. Um. And then I also have like some charitable stuff that I have a mind and um and a foundation that I'm working on that I want to talk to you about as well. Yeah, I mean, the percentage of young black and brown kids passports is so extremely low. It's so extremely low. And backpacking through Europe is just not a part of our dinner table conversation growing up. It's just not you know, UM, A lot of families just believe that they could spend that money on something more important like bills and food and healthcare and education. That traveling is not ever anywhere really close to high priority for a lot of black and brown families in America. So I would love to, um do like a contest every year where high school students have to submit an essay, but in in order to be considered for the trip overseas first destination will be gonna Um, they have to submit a photo of their passport. So whether they get selected or not, they got a passport. At least at least they got the passport. I mean, I just yeah, I have so many different really cool ideas in my head that I plan on flushing out, and but I'm not touching any of them until we're done filming because I just want to sit in this. So until April, I'm just good Sam all day, every day and creating new vision boards for post season one production. Yes, I love that. I'm starting to think about It's like I wish this whole wall was a white board and we could just you know what I mean, I think we should do. This would be a great lab wall, right, like maybe we just put paper up. But I love the idea of beginning to board out postseason one. And then I've actually been thinking, because you inspire me about really getting serious with the universe about what we want. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna then make a list of what we're going to do during season two, absolutely right, Like, let's plot the years. We want to do this job for many years yep, together and have a time such a time. I've already reserved the Airbnbs for our weekend trips. Perfect season two and three, can't win. We're out here like spring, we will be on the lake. We're going. Oh my god, that's the other thing. Guys, our our Toronto friends listening. If you have great travel info, please send it to the podcast. Where should we be going? Give us your tips please and thank you. I've never met a bad meal in Toronto. Some of the best food in this city. But I want to know those hidden gyms as well, like the school speakeasies or the great day trips yep. And then the weekend getaway the hiking spots. Tell us your secrets, give it to us. Okay, so we have a lot of progress plans. What in your life right now feels like you're work in progress? You knew that question was coming, but it always takes me but my surprise. Ah yeah, yeah, yeah, I have a battle, an inside battle with marriage and kids. That's the work in progress. I definitely would like to and roll The Therapist after production to help me unpack that, because I feel like I'm at the stage where I am constantly repeating the same narrative that has kept me safe and with love, marriage, family, all of that, it's very scary territory that is so worth it. It's so worth it. It's scary, it's always scary, but it's so worth it. And the brain is not designed to make you happy. The brain is designed to keep you safe. So I'm very clear on the way my brain has operated around love, marriage, and kids, which I've shared with you before, and I'm I'm kind of you know, when you get to that point when you're kind of tired of your own bullshit. M I would like to know why. I would like to know why has the idea of no marriage, no kids that has protected me for so long? Why am I still holding onto it when I have had the opportunity to meet such incredible people, such incredible men. So yeah, that's a work in progress that I have just recently decided that I'm going to have a professional help me, like help facilitate that experience and and see where it goes if it leads me right back to like, actually, nah, I'm okay with that, but at least I'm allowing myself to look at it. I haven't really quite looked at it. I've just repeated it. Well, and remember what happened when you looked at what you thought about acting? I see what I mean. You became a serious regular on a CBS medical drama and I started late. M hmm. So even in this area where I've told myself, well, you're not a young chicken anymore. You you know, you know, I'm I'm considering, and that consideration comes when you do experience someone treating you really incredible. And I'm currently having that experience. So now in that space, UM, I would like to I would like to explore that. So that's a work in progress right now. I'll keep you updated. I will give you all my resource. Please do like a late bloomer, I had to do much therapy to get here. Oh yeah, amazing, Please, I just loved. I think we had a conversation right before UM, you and Grant got serious, Like you were excited about Grant. But remember we went on that hike and we were both like having that conversation and like now like two years later, look at look at this, this is incredible. My goodness, takes work. It does, especially for I got it. I'm good, I've handled it. I've got it women like us. Yeah. I love homework. Okay, I'm ready. So that's fine, all right, that's yeah. Here we go, Here we go, bring it. I'm so excited for this year. I love you too, Booby