One Chicago Podcast: Jessy Schram (Dr. Hannah Asher on Chicago Med)

Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Brian Luce
Guest: Jessy Schram (Dr. Hannah Asher, Chicago Med)

Episode Overview

This episode of the One Chicago Podcast features an in-depth, candid conversation between host Brian Luce and actor Jessy Schram, who plays Dr. Hannah Asher on Chicago Med. The main theme centers on Jessy's journey with the character—from first audition through her complex story arcs, especially Hannah's battles with addiction and her recent pregnancy storyline. Jessy reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing Hannah, the chemistry with her castmates, her approach to deeply emotional scenes, and what it means to be embraced by a passionate fanbase.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jessy's Path to Chicago Med

• Casting Journey
  • Jessy began as a guest star in season five, in a storyline revolving around addiction and her character's complex relationship with Dr. Halstead.
  • She describes shooting her first scenes: “You find me. I’m ODing.” (05:15)
  • COVID caused a sudden halt to her arc: “I was supposed to be on for a while, and then they’re like, hey, Covid finances, storylines... I’m so sorry, but we're not continuing with this story.” (06:40)
• Unexpected Return
  • After being off the show for over a year, Jessy got the call to return: “Literally a month later, I got a phone call saying, hey, we'd love to bring you back. Do you have any interest in that?” (06:57)

2. Early Love for Acting

• Jessy shares her lifelong passion for performance, beginning with singing at age 7 and pursuing acting by age 10.
• She reflects on early rejection (not being called back for “Harriet the Spy”) and credits these moments with motivating her.
  • “So that was one… the first time I realized it’s possible.” (09:19)
• Her move to LA and discovery of “the business side of acting” happened in her late teens.

3. First Impressions & Audition Stories

• Lands the role of Dr. Hannah Asher while on a surf retreat in Nicaragua:
  • “There is something about Hannah. There is something about this character… I have to try.” (10:45)
  • Describes filming her audition at 4 a.m. in the jungle, using her mom for line reads (11:44).
• The show's producers and director Melina Govich saw something unique in Jessy and championed her for the role:
  • “She just saw something with me…” (13:50)
  • Fun fact: “Hannah Asher” = “HA” for heroin addict (13:23).

4. Contrast Between Hallmark and Wolf Worlds

• Jessy, well-known for Hallmark movies, compares those roles to Chicago Med:
  • “Hallmark, I get to play in love and smiling, and in the Wolf world… it is life and death that we’re dealing with. There’s different nuances.” (14:56)

5. Chemistry & Relationships On-Screen

• Discussion of the evolving, unexpected dynamic between Dr. Asher and Dr. Archer (Steven Weber):
  • Jessy didn’t initially see the romantic chemistry, but credits writers and showrunner Alan MacDonald for leaning into it:
    • “While Archer and Asher… are so interesting on their own, we really… have this fascinating relationship.” (16:29)
  • Key shift: Archer begins trusting Hannah, ceasing her drug tests—identified as a pivotal moment in their relationship (19:07).
• Memorable scene: Archer’s vulnerability during an LSD trip—reveals deeper intimacy between characters (20:21).

6. Portraying Addiction & Recovery

• Jessy’s research includes therapists, psychiatrists, documentaries, and attending open 12-step meetings (25:05).
  • “Everybody has their own personal experiences… and you can understand certain levels of it.” (25:35)
• The challenge in portraying both Hannah’s confidence and addiction honestly:
  • “Hannah was way more confident and way more of a ball buster than I maybe knew how to project.” (26:46)
  • “There’s a responsibility to the people out in the world that have had experiences with this.” (27:28)

7. Pregnancy Storyline & Emotional Weight

• Jessy discusses the unique challenge of playing a pregnant medical professional with a past addiction:
  • “I have to bring in, like, what does that look like? Am I waddling the right way?... It’s been a really challenging season.” (28:10)
• Fans' reactions to the “baby daddy” reveal—an unintended cliffhanger:
  • “It was an unintended cliffhanger that was never meant to be a cliffhanger.” (30:46)
  • She wasn’t told initially who the father would be—only learned before the “Crunchberry” episode (31:35).

8. Favorite and Most Impactful Scenes

• Cites a moving arc (this season, “Cost of Living”): character connections, loss, and vulnerability with Dr. Archer.
  • “We just got to sit in it. This episode was very personal for our director as well... It meant so much. I’m really proud of that.” (39:16, 39:24)
• Emotional toll of certain medical storylines:
  • “We had, like, a date rape storyline… I thought I was prepared for it, but I wasn’t… It took me out.” (42:19, 43:15)
  • Heart-transplant storylines, especially when parents and children are involved, also hit home for her and Brian (45:29–46:54).

9. Behind-the-Scenes Nuggets

• The cast often hangs out together in the doctors’ lounge set between takes (47:24).
• Steven Weber calls Jessy “Peter Pan” and “Mexican jumping bean” for her energy (47:33).
• Jessy credits Nick Gehlfuss (Dr. Will Halstead) for kindness and inclusion as lead actor (47:54).

10. Rapid Fire: “Answers Stat!”

• Wolf Universe Crossover Dream: Would bring Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson to Chicago Med, recognizing the synergy with Hannah’s story and women’s rights (51:11).
• Med Dream Team: Archer, Lennox, Goodwin, and Doris (52:00–52:40).
• Vacation Buddy: Would choose Dr. Frost for fun and dancing (52:48).
• Karaoke: Loves singing; last did it at a Hallmark convention (53:35).
• Character Swap: Would choose Kim Burgess (Chicago PD) for a day (54:29).
• Best/Worst Hallmark Fit: Dr. Archer in a Hallmark movie (54:46).
• Actor Bucket List: Wants to do action, play a spy, and explore mental health arcs for Hannah (50:11, 50:19).

Memorable Quotes

• On Hannah Asher's complexity and why she pursued the role:

  “There’s something about Hannah. There’s something about this character. There’s something about the show… she’s not just a doctor. She’s not just an addict. She’s not just a love interest.” (13:01–13:27) — Jessy Schram

• About fan reactions and the unexpected baby daddy cliffhanger:

  “It was an unintended cliffhanger that was never meant to be a cliffhanger.” (30:46) — Jessy Schram

• On the most challenging aspect of the role:

  “The hardest part was Hannah’s confidence… Hannah was way more confident and way more of a ball buster than I maybe knew how to project.” (26:46) — Jessy Schram

• Regarding her proudest recent scene (“Cost of Living”):

  “It had an air to it and a breath to it and this, like, this heaviness that I think wasn’t the typical... I’m really proud of that.” (37:51–39:24) — Jessy Schram

• A message to fans:

  “Thank you for bringing Hannah into your heart and for really being her security system throughout the year and for trusting her, because I know she wasn’t a very trustworthy character in the beginning… Thank you for being so protective of her and for loving us just as much as we love you guys.” (55:22) — Jessy Schram

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jessy's early life and first acting jobs — 07:44–10:16
• Auditioning as Hannah Asher; Nicaragua story — 10:27–13:32
• Differences between Hallmark and Chicago Med roles — 14:50–15:36
• Dr. Archer & Asher chemistry arc — 16:13–21:29
• Reaction to character departures & returns — 22:19–23:56
• Approach to portraying addiction — 25:05–26:19
• Pregnancy storyline, working woman challenges — 27:41–29:32
• Baby daddy cliffhanger discussion — 30:34–32:22
• Favorite/most emotional scenes — 35:42–39:24
• Heart transplant storyline & emotional impacts — 43:15–46:54
• Behind-the-scenes cast culture — 47:17–47:42
• Rapid-fire segment “Answers Stat!” — 50:41–54:46
• Fan appreciation and final words — 55:22

Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is candid, warm, and full of mutual admiration between Brian and Jessy. Both balance humor and depth, moving seamlessly from touching memories to fun banter. Jessy's immense gratitude for the role, her colleagues, and the fans comes through, as does her meticulous, heartfelt approach to her work—both as an actor and as a steward for complicated subjects like addiction and recovery.

Whether you’re a longtime Chicago Med fan or just curious about the process of bringing multidimensional TV characters to life, this episode offers emotional resonance, industry insight, and plenty of entertaining moments.