Lena Waithe spent her childhood watching classic '90s sitcoms, dreaming of one day becoming a writer — and she made it happen! The Hollywood powerhouse made history as the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing for "Master of None" and is the creator of several shows, including "The Chi."

The Emmy-winning writer, actor, producer, and podcast host shares with Sophia the invaluable advice she got in college that set her on the path to success, the writers that influenced her, what it was like when she first got to L.A. without any connections, embracing the things that make you different, and her advice to aspiring writers.

Plus, Lena reveals what inspired her new podcast, Legacy Talk (distributed by Lemonada Media), why she got into the publishing game, and all the details on her company’s first ever children’s book “What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice” — out now! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Lili Reinhart lit up the small screen as Betty Cooper on the CW hit series Riverdale, but her off-screen work is just as bright. In addition to her acting career, she's a producer, author, advocate, and entrepreneur.

The busy multi-hyphenate joins Sophia to chat about launching her own production company, the pros and cons of social media, dealing with anxiety and depression, and how her struggles with acne led to her new skincare brand, Personal Day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Sophia feels grateful and ready to tackle the new year and a new Q&A!

Yes, Sophia is answering fan questions, including revealing what's on her vision board for next year, her lifelong dream and how she is going to make it a reality in 2025, her Spotify Wrapped playlist, One Tree Hill holiday traditions, how she is practicing hope, and her top Christmas movies, including one film that some might not consider a holiday classic!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Holidays are here, a time of joyous celebrations, delicious foods, and gift-giving. However, for millions of Americans, it's a time of stress and worry about where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity is not just a holiday issue but a year-round crisis, and Feeding America is tirelessly working to end hunger one meal at a time.

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, and award-winning actress and advocate Karen Pittman join Sophia for an emotional and revealing chat about the country's hunger crisis and how Feeding America is working to combat it. Karen also opens up about her own experiences with food insecurity over a decade ago as a single mom, the shame and fear she felt, how the experience shaped her perspective and activism, and the joy and healing energy from volunteering and making a difference.

Ready to make a difference? You can donate, volunteer, or learn more about Feeding America's mission at feedingamerica.org.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TV fans got to see Megan Park shine in front of the cameras in the popular series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but her work behind the camera is bringing her critical acclaim. First, with her film “The Fallout,” and now her latest “My Old Ass,” Park has taken Hollywood by storm.

The writer-director joins Sophia to talk about “My Old Ass,” her coming-of-age comedy that has film critics buzzing! She also shares her experience watching movie-goers react to her film at Sundance, Margot Robbie’s hands-on support as a producer, her transition from acting to directing, and an inside look at her writing process. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a podcast crossover! Real-life besties, former "Grey's Anatomy" co-stars, and "Call It What It Is" hosts join Work In Progress!

In this fun chat, Jessica and Camilla share their journey into acting with Sophia, including their audition experiences for "Grey's Anatomy," the inside scoop on why Jessica was … not a fan of Camilla initially, which one of them auditioned for "One Tree Hill” but never got a callback, and their work in progress!

Listen to part two of the conversation on Call It What It Is —out now! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emmy-nominated actress Yvonne Strahovski first turned heads as a CIA agent in the popular NBC series Chuck, followed by a role in another hit show, Dexter, and, of course, as Serena Joy Waterford in the award-winning series The Handmaid's Tale.

Yvonne joins Sophia to chat about the final season of The Handmaid's Tale, including how she feels about the show coming to an end, the scenes that made her feel uncomfortable, how significant and relevant the show is in the current political space, and how she would love to dive into a comedy next!

Plus, she talks about juggling her globe-trotting career with motherhood, what she was like as a child, and starring and executive-producing her new horror series, Teacup, on Peacock! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zachary Quinto has thrilled audiences with his performances on stage, film, and TV, starring in huge hits like Heroes and American Horror Story and playing the iconic character Spock in the Star Trek reboot. The brilliant actor is now tackling a new role in NBC's medical drama "Brilliant Minds."

In a candid chat, pals Zachary and Sophia get very vulnerable about the election's outcome and how they plan to move forward. Zachary also talks about his journey through sobriety, shares the impact meditation has had on him, the biggest shift in his life that set him on the path to acting, and how booking Heroes and Star Trek at age thirty affected him.

Plus, Zachary reveals why he initially was not interested in playing the leading man in NBC's new medical drama, "Brilliant Minds," and what changed his mind.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian, performer, and host Amber Ruffin knew she was funny at a young age, so it's no surprise she is making viewers laugh out loud on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and CNN's "Have I Got News For You."

Amber joins Sophia to talk about her road to comedy, making history as the first black woman ever to write for a late-night talk show in America, her decision to share her own experiences with police brutality on late night, writing a best-selling book with her sister, her decision to come out as queer earlier this year, and why humor is such an important force for good. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people are feeling heartbroken and terrified right now, and the biggest question in the air is, what went wrong? 

The View co-host, political strategist, and commentator Ana Navarro joins Sophia to try to make sense of the election outcome, the Latino vote, the role misogyny, racism, and misinformation played during the election, the importance of supporting organizations that help our most vulnerable, and how we move forward.

Ana also discusses the importance of Democrats finding strong candidates to run for office in 2026, choosing hope vs hate, the importance of self-care at a time like this, and a reminder - you are not alone! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.