Podcast Summary: "Call It What It Is" with Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Podcast: Call It What It Is
Host: Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington (iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Original Air Date: October 21, 2025

Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, real-life best friends and Grey’s Anatomy co-stars Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington welcome actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley to their show, “Call It What It Is.” The episode dives into authentic female friendship, working motherhood, behind-the-scenes stories from their new show "911 Nashville," dealing with loss and personal evolution, and what it takes to build tight-knit connections under the pressures of busy careers and public life. The hosts and guest peel back the facade of Hollywood glamour, discussing the real work and vulnerability involved in forming friendships and balancing family with demanding work schedules.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Forming Real Friendships in Hollywood

Timestamps:

• [05:00] Camilla recalls, “Camila and I did not like each other when we first met.”
• [05:37] Jessica describes how one honest apology at a group dinner sparked a deep friendship bond.
• [08:09] Shared experiences as moms and actors created immediate understanding.

Takeaway: Genuine, lasting friendships can start from rough first impressions, soften through vulnerability, and are deepened by common experiences, like motherhood and career uncertainty.

2. Motherhood & Career: The Double Life

Timestamps:

• [08:51] “I feel in my body that I have two full time jobs at all times when I'm working outside the house. Because I never, ever give up my full time job as a mom.” (Co-host)
• [09:27–09:45] Kimberly and Camilla bond over sending their children off—one to college, one just moving to Nashville—and the bittersweet pain and pride that comes with it.

Memorable Moment:

• [09:45] Kimberly on the role of mothers: “That's our role as mothers, is to raise our children so they can exist without us there. And that is so hard.”

Takeaway: The group expresses the complex emotions of working mothers. They strive to model positivity and purpose for their children, even when grappling with personal ache and separation.

3. Celebrating Small Wins & Surviving Industry Lows

Timestamps:

• [11:10–12:04] Jessica acknowledges the invisible struggle behind media success—“You don't promote the...truly tens, twenties, thirties, forties, maybe hundreds of auditions that you tape and maybe don't even get feedback.”

Takeaway: There’s a conscious commitment to gratitude and celebration for every role and opportunity, honoring the hard work behind every “big break.”

4. Kimberly’s Health Journey

Timestamps:

• [12:04] Kimberly reveals her two-year struggle with losing her voice, the fear she wouldn’t act again, and the gratitude she feels for working on a show close to home.

Quote:

• “The older I get, the more I just am so grateful that I'm still working in this business and still get to...Now more than ever, because I just went through a health issue for, like, two years where I lost my voice...” (Kimberly, [12:04])

5. Behind the Scenes of 911 Nashville

Timestamps:

• [13:15–16:03] Fun stories from set—Kimberly’s launch party snafu: a cake ordered to say “Happy Launch Week” arrives reading “Happy Lunch Weekly.”
• [17:05–18:57] The unique challenges and realities of filming 911 call center scenes, acting to off-screen voices, and juggling multiple episode storylines at once.

Quote:

• “I'm filming, like, three episodes at once of all the emergencies. It's highly dramatic, and so it's hard to keep them all straight too.” (Kimberly, [17:48])

6. Call Center Visits & Real-Life Inspiration

Timestamps:

• [35:00–37:42] Kimberly recounts her visits to the real Nashville 911 call center; expresses awe and admiration for longtime operator Yvette.

Memorable Story:

• [36:58] Kimberly arranges for a signed photo from actor Laroise Hawkins (Chicago PD) to surprise Yvette—showcasing her thoughtfulness.

Quote:

• “Do you know that I went to the 911 call center in Nashville before we started filming, and I met this woman, Yvette, who's been at the call center for 27 years. She's incredible.” (Kimberly, [35:40])

7. Juggling The Show’s Fiction and Reality

Timestamps:

• [24:32–28:07] Fan questions touch on character relationships, hints of rivalry, and upcoming plot mysteries (like Cammi’s husband’s fate), all discussed with playful secrecy.

Revelation:

• Kimberly (jokingly) admits her character is secretly a Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes’s character) fan, which could set up new drama (or laughs).

8. Cast Chemistry & Set Antics

Timestamps:

• [28:18–29:54] Discussion of the “smoke shows”—the attractive male cast members—highlights camaraderie and fangirl energy.
• [39:18–41:58] The group discusses who breaks character the most (Jessica, by general consensus), and the serious actor Chris’s very limited tolerance for laughter during takes.

Quote:

• “Chris does not have time for my shenanigans. The first time it happened...I just have never been with someone who didn’t find, you know, a crack up here and there charming.” (Jessica, [40:10])

9. Balancing Fun and Professionalism

Timestamps:

• [41:38–41:58] The hosts reflect on the need for humor during long, high-stress shoots of network television: “I mean, a lot of this is very serious...you need a little chuckle.” (Host)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Apology and Friendship:

  • “We ended up at a dinner together and everyone dipped on us. It was just the two of us. And she apologized...it takes a lot for someone to apologize…from then on out...she’s one of my besties.” – Jessica Capshaw ([05:37])

• On Motherhood:

  • “That's our role as mothers, is to raise our children so they can exist without us there. And that is so hard.” – Kimberly Williams-Paisley ([09:45])

• On Being Calm Under Pressure:

  • “I like that [Cammi] is calm under pressure, and I like that she knows what to do.” – Kimberly Williams-Paisley ([35:50])

• On Set Goofs:

  • “Did you hear about the fail, though, at that party?...They misunderstood and wrote Happy Lunch Weekly.” – Kimberly Williams-Paisley ([15:16])

• On Real Call Center Work:

  • “I have so much respect for what they do, and the turnover rate is very high in that job. It is a hard job.” – Kimberly Williams-Paisley ([37:26])

Episode Timestamps: Important Segments

• [02:21–04:00]: Introduction to Kimberly Williams-Paisley, anticipation for deep-dive questions.
• [05:00–06:44]: The real story of Jessica and Camilla’s rocky friendship start and breakthrough.
• [09:13–10:42]: Bonding over collective “mom ache” and holding it together for their kids.
• [12:04]: Kimberly’s account of her vocal health crisis and gratitude for her current role.
• [15:11–15:59]: Hilarious launch party cake mix-up.
• [17:05–18:57]: Inside the unique acting challenges in 911 call center scenes.
• [35:40–37:42]: Real-life inspiration from Nashville’s 911 call center and a surprising gift for a 911 operator.
• [41:38–41:58]: The value of humor and “shenanigans” in a high-stress creative environment.

Final Takeaways

This episode pairs warmth, honesty, and humor, blending behind-the-scenes TV drama with emotional real-talk about life, loss, and friendship. Listeners are treated as members of the circle, invited into both the struggles and triumphs of working women supporting one another. Whether it's Kimberly's humility and gratitude, confessions of on-set laughter, or vulnerable stories of both onscreen and offscreen family, the heart of the episode is friendship’s enduring strength—even when life (or network TV) is as wild as a season finale.

For full context, listen to the episode on your favorite podcast platform.