"Work in Progress with Sophia Bush"

Episode: Jerry O'Connell – Part 1

Podcast Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt on-set conversation, Sophia Bush welcomes her friend and co-star Jerry O'Connell for an in-depth chat while filming "Summer's Last Resort" in South Africa. The episode explores Jerry’s legendary, decades-long career – from child acting and his breakout in "Stand By Me," to lessons from Rob Reiner, his life as a husband and dad, and his comedic sensibility. It’s also a candid look at life on set, parenting, ambition, career anxieties, and the pressures and joys of being "a masterpiece and a work in progress." Expect plenty of laughter and honesty as Sophia and Jerry reflect on growing up in the business and supporting others through it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Recording On Set: The Setting of Friendship (03:26–06:28)

• Sophia shares that they're recording inside her (spacious) hotel suite in South Africa, bantering about Jerry’s much smaller room. They debate logistics and sound quality, vividly painting the picture of a fun but exhausting film shoot.
  • Quote: “My hotel room is—you walk in, the bed is right there. There is a small desk which I write letters on. I'm kidding.” – Jerry (06:28)

Jerry’s Upbringing, Family, and Early Career (07:39–13:00)

• Jerry details his background: growing up in a diverse, accepting Greenwich Village in the '80s, being a hyperactive child, and having artist parents who encouraged his creativity. His parents sent him to improv acting classes to channel his energy, which led directly to his early acting work.
• He credits that environment for his openness, resilience, and acceptance of all kinds of people.
  • Quote: “My parents put me in an acting class when I was a kid. Yeah. Because I wasn't shutting up and I wasn't sitting on my hands.” (23:49)
  • Quote: “I just have been chasing that older kid, smoking a cigarette, saying, ‘You’re really funny in that scene’ ever since.” (25:13)

The “Shut Up and Sit on Your Hands” Mantra (11:26–12:25)

• Jerry humorously reflects on the childhood advice from his mother to “shut up and sit on his hands,” which shaped how he’s managed impulsivity and blurting things out.
  • Quote: “‘Shut up and sit on your hands.’ That was my mantra through my life.” (12:25)

Marriage, Long-Distance, and Family Life (13:45–16:16; 78:36–81:41)

• Jerry describes his 20-year marriage with Rebecca Romijn (noting she’s also an actress/model), sharing insights on sustaining love while careers take both partners abroad for long stretches, and how communication and trust change with time.

  • Quote: “I know I’m in a loving relationship because...I talk to my wife now every day. And now that I’ve been away for a little over three weeks, I can hear how happy my wife is that I—I'm not joking, Sophia!—you know this is true. There is like an ease that comes with that.” (14:41)

• Later, they muse on empty-nesting, loneliness, and maintaining connection:

  • “Once it’s over, it’s—a real emotional shift. There's all this energy...and then that energy is going to be gone.” – Jerry (78:57)
  • “You have a high frequency. You're interested. You want to go for walks. Like, we lost you on set yesterday; you were swimming in the fucking ocean.” – Sophia (81:41)

Sophia’s Maternal Set Energy & Learning to Lead (26:07–35:30)

• Jerry highlights Sophia’s empathy and leadership on set, particularly her “maternal” care for younger cast and crew, contrasting with his own "every man for himself" approach.

  • “You’re very maternal on set...You make sure people are being taken care of.” – Jerry (26:07)

• Sophia shares her instinct to protect and nurture comes from childhood and family, recounting both positive and adverse experiences that shaped her, especially during "One Tree Hill":

  • “When I got on set, I saw a lot of the opposite from people in power...And then there were really wonderful people who did...I think for me...leaning into producing...allows me to help set a tone on a set and make sure I can have everyone’s back.” (28:29)

• She learned through trial and error when her care helped – and when, as an actor, she had to let others handle hard conversations to avoid being misperceived:

  • “Sometimes I have to say, like, shut up and sit on your hands. You gotta go talk to an ad...Because if they go do it, they're very firm and professional. But if I do it, I’m a—[expletive]” (33:34)

The Realities of Career on the Road (56:44–62:07)

• Jerry notes how much of Sophia's adult life has been lived on the road. Sophia describes the "Twilight Zone" quality of set life versus real life, building relationships, and learning to distinguish work and home. She values real, lasting friendships forged across many years and cities.
  • Quote: “It was sort of this aha moment, I think, for all of us to go, oh yeah, wow, that’s wild. And then you can try to build a life at home, but you’re never really there. And that presents its own set of challenges.” (57:51)

Child Acting Memories: "Stand By Me" and "One Tree Hill" (62:19–66:20)

• Jerry reflects with wonder on how his childhood filming "Stand By Me" feels at once deeply personal and weirdly public, as fans recount those memories back to him.

  • “My memories of it are of a kid...The fact that people still to this day come up and talk to me about it is kind of the surreal part.” (62:19)

• Sophia and Jerry discuss the reality of filming pivotal moments—like Sophia's grandfather dying during the high school graduation scenes on "One Tree Hill"—and the inability to pause production for personal tragedy.

  • “I remember when we were shooting all the high school graduation stuff, Season four, was the day my grandfather died...A producer had to walk up to me and say, it’s been five minutes. We need you back on set.” – Sophia (65:16)

• Both reflect on how their emotional memories are often tied to what was happening in their real lives more than what's on-screen.

Craft, Comedy, and Evolving Roles (66:35–76:17)

• Jerry praises Sophia’s extensive on-set craft after years in long-form TV. He contrasts the experience and professionalism from the “old school” network era with younger actors from newer, social media–driven backgrounds.

  • “You have a real old school craft...I don’t think I’ve ever worked with someone who had a decade of experience. Thousands of hours of experience.” (67:15)

• On comedy, riffing, and typecasting, Jerry shares that despite being known for comedic parts, he’d love to sink his teeth into dramatic roles. Both reflect on wanting more diverse opportunities in their careers.

  • “Oh, we’re doing a family comedy—get Jerry O’Connell. He’ll be good. I would like to do some dramatic roles...I know you can’t tell from this interview, but I’m a somewhat serious person.” – Jerry (75:53)

Wig (and Haircut) Mishap: A Showbiz Story (44:49–52:29)

• Sophia recounts a recent on-set hair disaster—getting part of her real hair unexpectedly chopped while prepping for a wig. She uses this as a window into her present emotional resilience and how “I don’t flip out anymore,” thanks to therapy and self-work.
  • Quote: “I said, it’s done. Like, what’s the point? And truly, this is how I know my therapist is as important to me as I say he is. I just—I don’t flip out. I just don’t care...But my sprout is sad.” – Sophia (49:52)

Podcast within a Podcast: Interviewing the Host (39:22–44:13)

• Jerry turns the tables on Sophia, peppering her with questions about work, conflict, and leadership, keen to reveal her character to listeners.
  • “Sophia may be one of the most intriguing persons I’ve ever worked with.” – Jerry (39:27)

Cherished On-Location Camaraderie (76:21–78:36)

• They share the joys (and sometimes challenges) of location shooting: late-night dinners, group games, forming a mini family with the cast and crew, and being each other's support network far from home.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On childhood advice: “Shut up and sit on your hands. That was my mantra through my life.” – Jerry (12:25)
• On giving and receiving professional care: “You’re very maternal on set...You make sure people are being taken care of.” – Jerry (26:07)
• On being out of town for filming: “It’s sort of like living in the Twilight Zone all the time.” – Sophia (57:51)
• On emotional moments on set: “I remember when we were shooting all the high school graduation stuff...was the day my grandfather died...A producer had to walk up to me and say, it’s been five minutes. We need you back on set.” – Sophia (65:16)
• On showbiz resilience: “I just—I don’t flip out. I just don’t care...But my sprout is sad.” – Sophia, on her wig/hair mishap (49:52)
• On meeting Sophia: “You’re really an interesting person. You really are. And it’s honestly why I came in here wanting to ask a couple questions about you, because I think people have a right to see what a character you are. You’re like an old-school movie star.” – Jerry (73:49)

Important Timestamps

• 03:26–06:28: Sophia and Jerry set the scene in South Africa; playful banter about hotel rooms.
• 07:39–13:00: Jerry’s childhood, Greenwich Village, and discovering acting.
• 13:45–16:16: Marriage, distance, and authentic partnership.
• 26:07–29:23: Maternal leadership on set; Sophia’s journey to producing.
• 56:44–62:07: Life spent on location, the blending (and separation) of real life and set life.
• 62:19–66:20: Jerry’s memories of “Stand By Me” and Sophia’s of “One Tree Hill”; handling personal loss during production.
• 66:35–67:54: Generational changes and professional craft in acting.
• 44:49–52:29: The “Sprout” hair mishap story and Sophia’s approach to conflict.
• 73:49–75:11: Jerry on wanting to break typecasting and praising Sophia’s versatility.
• 76:17–78:36: The cast’s camaraderie, group dinners, and creating a surrogate family on location.

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is playful, candid, and supportive, full of quick-witted humor and honest self-reflection.
• Both Sophia and Jerry display vulnerability as they share lessons learned, anxieties navigated, and the gratitude they feel for their winding, unpredictable paths.
• It’s an uplifting, insightful conversation for anyone curious about the realities of long-term creative careers, the evolving nature of relationships on and off set, and the work of showing up for yourself and others—a true reflection of the podcast’s “masterpiece and work in progress” ethos.

End of Part 1. To be continued in the next episode…