Work in Progress: Amanda Kloots

Summary

Work in Progress with Sophia Bush

Guest: Amanda Kloots
Release Date: November 18, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

In this moving and deeply personal episode, Sophia Bush welcomes Amanda Kloots—dancer, fitness entrepreneur, television host, memoirist, and single mom—for an honest conversation about grief, healing, creativity, and reinvention. Reflecting on past hardships and celebrating ongoing transformations, Amanda shares her journey through profound loss and the ways she has found joy, purpose, and new creative outlets in its wake. The discussion moves from childhood memories to the hustle of Broadway, the devastation of losing her husband Nick Cordero to COVID-19, motherhood, and her recent leap into creating an accessible, wellness-oriented supplement brand.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Surviving Grief, Finding the Light (05:31–07:27)

• Amanda’s Current Place: Amanda shares that she’s in a “really good” spot in life, enjoying motherhood and travel after years of hardship and grief.
  • Amanda (05:31): “Elvis and I have the best summer ever... Life is really nice right now. I’m like good, feeling good about a lot of stuff and it’s just nice to be in that place, you know?”
• The New Shape of Goodness: Sophia observes that surviving deep grief changes one’s appreciation of life’s goodness.
  • Sophia (06:19): “There’s a different degree of goodness, I think, after you’ve processed heavy grief.”

2. Looking Back: Embracing All Versions of Yourself (07:27–11:05)

• Inner Child Reflection: Amanda recounts a powerful exercise—putting her 10-year-old self in a chair and talking to her, feeling pride and compassion for all the “19 versions” of herself she’s lived through.
  • Amanda (07:27): “I do see the little girl that just loves to ride her bike around the neighborhood... just had this free spirit of adventure and curiosity and dreaming... I’m really proud of all the different versions of myself.”
• The Nesting Dolls Metaphor: Sophia references Cheryl Strayed’s metaphor—that as women we carry every version of ourselves inside, like nesting dolls.
  • Sophia (08:50): “Can you love yourself enough... to listen to whether your inner self says yes or no to that thing and then continue growing around it?”

3. Navigating Change and Family Dynamics (11:05–16:02)

• Chasing New Chapters: Both discuss the feeling of standing on the “precipice” of a new chapter, unsure but excited.
  • Amanda (11:05): “I’m almost on board because I know it’s coming, but I’m kind of holding on for dear life.”
  • Sophia (11:16): “It’s like when you’re driving somewhere you’ve never been... you can feel it getting close to the destination, but you don’t know what it’s going to look like yet.”
• Family and Trust: Amanda explores how change and adult independence present new challenges for close-knit families living far apart. She emphasizes the importance of “support and trust” when you can’t fully relate to each other's daily lives.
  • Amanda (16:01): “We just have to support and trust each other.”

4. The Broadway Years: Grit, Glory, and Growth (19:33–30:17)

• Family Support: Amanda’s leap from Ohio to NYC, and the support (and reservations) her family had as she bypassed a traditional college path for dance.
  • Amanda (20:14): “My dad was still convinced I should go to this performing arts [school in] Dayton, Ohio... and we sat down with my choir teacher and he was like, I know she can do this.”
• The Rockette Experience: Vividly recalling her first moments as a Radio City Rockette, Amanda shares what it meant to fulfill that childhood dream.
  • Amanda (23:31): “My first move as a Radio City Rockette... was just like a jump kick, right? And I was dead center because I was the tallest... it was amazing. Never forget.”
• Life Lessons: On looking back, Amanda is proud yet amazed she managed 16 years on Broadway, highlighting its demands and the unglamorous, relentless hours.
  • Amanda (25:21): “I’m always like, how did I do this?... Broadway teaches you everything in life, especially resilience and belief in yourself.”
• Comparison to Film & TV: Both discuss the different rhythms and challenges of theater versus film work, how each builds different skills and endurance.

5. Love, Music, and Nick’s Legacy (30:24–35:08)

• Finding Connection Through Music: Amanda describes early days with Nick Cordero—falling in love, sharing music over Skype, and how his eclectic, prolific creativity charmed and sometimes bewildered her.
  • Amanda (31:16): “He was constantly making music, and a lot of it never had lyrics... one song sounded like rock and roll, the next song sounded like a country song... he just loved music.”
• A Full-Circle Moment: Amanda shares the moving story of Nick championing Billie Eilish early on, and later, Billie’s brother Finneas writing her a supportive, healing song after Nick’s death.
  • Amanda (34:14): “The how the world works. You’ve written a song now about... He would roll over in his grave, like, if he knew that you wrote me a song... that’s life though. It’s so beautiful.”

6. Public Grief, Community, and Enduring Trauma (38:42–47:25)

• Sharing in Real Time: Sophia reflects on Amanda’s transparency during Nick’s battle with COVID, how it became a touchstone for thousands navigating fear and uncertainty.
  • Sophia (40:18): “It struck me that you took something so tragic and chose to give to other people. Like, it was such a profound act of service...”
• Processing Trauma: Amanda describes the complicated layers of processing such public, profound trauma—feeling both distance and closeness to it, and the guilt of each.
  • Amanda (42:04): “I’ve processed it so many times and yet I also, like, I have never processed it... It’s just a remembrance of time and, and anytime you can clock that time is, I think, just also a trigger.”
  • Amanda (43:47): “It’s a scar that is in me, that will always be in me. And there’s a lot of beautiful parts about that scar, and there’s a lot of really hard parts about that scar.”
• Honesty Over Everything: Amanda explains that brutal honesty surfaces in profound crisis.
  • Amanda (44:47): “When you’re going through severe trauma or life and death situations, it’s just all the bullshit removed. You’re just being honest... nothing matters other than that if when death is on the table.”

7. Claiming Joy, Moving Forward (47:25–52:16)

• Courageous Joy: Even with tragedy so present in her story, Amanda pushes herself to live and find joy, knowing Nick would want that for her and their son, Elvis.
  • Amanda (47:25): “I am proud of how I’m living my life... I know that Nick would want me to live that life as beautiful and big and as full as possible.”
• Navigating Public Perception: Amanda recognizes the tension between public expectations and her own path forward, choosing to focus on “living her life.”

8. Building a Wellness Business: Proper Supplements (52:16–60:55)

• The Spirit of Creation: True to her entrepreneurial core, Amanda describes her journey into launching Proper, a line of affordable, tasty supplement powders available at Target and Amazon.
  • Amanda (53:54): “My first creation was my jump rope with my fitness company... and then a CBD muscle relief pain cream. I love creating products that I believe will be beneficial and helpful to people.”
• Meeting Real Needs: Amanda wanted wellness that was realistic for everyday people (not just for “LA people getting NAD injections”), especially for busy moms like herself and “Linda in Ohio.”
  • Amanda (57:03): “She doesn’t live in New York City or LA... She’s going to Target, and she’s trying to find one thing that’ll help her feel better in her day.”
• Wellness Without Guilt: Amanda and Sophia talk about how Proper aims to remove guilt from wellness—emphasizing flexibility, approachability, and inspiration rather than rigid routines or shame.
  • Amanda (59:53): “In wellness, we don’t make ourselves feel guilty... I don’t ever want anybody to look at my supplement line Proper on your countertop and walk by and feel guilty. I want you to feel inspired.”

9. Parenting, Perspective, and Looking Forward (60:55–66:57)

• Motherhood and Connection: Amanda shares a touching anecdote about her son Elvis’ empathy, seeing glimmers of the adult he’ll become.
  • Amanda (62:17): “He lifts up his arm and he goes, come here, Mom... he was trying to, like, console me... Like, he knew that I was sad and he knew that I needed a hug and love."
• Work in Progress: Amanda keeps many projects burning: growing Proper, continuing her fitness community work, acting, and hosting—and she revels in the freedom to pursue them all.
  • Amanda (64:43): “I’m very much... casting a net of like 10 different things... If you see me teaching a fitness class or acting in a show or hosting a red carpet, like, I am equally passionate about all of those things.”
• Rejecting One-Lane Careers: Both Amanda and Sophia reflect on being told to “pick a lane” early in their careers, and celebrate the multi-hyphenate opportunities of their present lives.
  • Sophia (67:03): “I remember thinking, why am I supposed to reduce the subjects that I’m interested in... The things I find fascinating. Why shrink that?”
  • Amanda (67:36): “I think so, too... I think [the world] still needs some shifting, but we’re getting there.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amanda on the Journey of Healing:

  “Healing is such a journey and it never stops... it’s going to process so many times in so many different ways because we keep growing and I keep living and Elvis keeps living... It’s a scar that is in me, that will always be in me.” (43:10–43:47)

• Sophia on Joy After Grief:

  “I think it actually takes some, like, ferocious courage to claim your joy in, in public, out loud." (47:09)

• Amanda on Public Perception and Moving Forward:

  “At the same time... I’m also a 43 year old woman that has a lot of life to live. And Nick would want me to live that life as beautiful and big and as full as possible.” (47:25)

• Amanda’s Entrepreneurial Ethos:

  “I love creating products that I believe will be beneficial and helpful to people.” (53:56)

• Sophia on Rejecting the One-Lane Requirement:

  “Why am I supposed to reduce the subjects that I’m interested in... The things I find fascinating. Why shrink that?” (67:03)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Amanda reflects on current happiness – 05:31
• Discussing connecting with her inner child – 07:27
• Family support and trust as an adult – 14:03
• Broadway beginnings and family’s reaction – 20:14
• First time as a Rockette – 23:31
• The grueling Broadway/work-life balance – 25:21
• Nick’s musical legacy and the Billie Eilish/Finneas story – 34:14
• Processing public grief and trauma – 38:42, 42:04
• Creating a wellness line for ‘Linda in Ohio’ – 53:41, 57:03
• Motherhood and raising Elvis – 62:17
• Refusing to “pick a lane” in her career – 67:03

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Tone & Style

Throughout the episode, Sophia and Amanda maintain a tone that’s warm, vulnerable, resilient, and empowering. Their conversation blends laughter, tears, and practical wisdom, with Amanda’s openness about struggle and growth serving as continual inspiration.

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For anyone navigating change, struggling with loss, or seeking courage to carve out new paths, Amanda’s story—told here with Sophia Bush—offers moving testimony that it’s possible to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, all at once.

Transcript

[Amanda Kloots]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

Hi everyone, it's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Hi Whip Smarties. I know we're all itching for some inspiration and perhaps a reminder that no matter how hard things get, there's always an opportunity for healing, for reinvention and for creation. And today's guest is a shining example of all of those things. We are joined today by none other than Amanda Kloots. You might know her as an incredible former Broadway dancer and Radio City Rockette, a fitness entrepreneur, a television host from CBS's the Talk to being a best selling author. Her memoir, Live youe Life, My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero is centered on her story of her life as a new mom and a wife in 2020. Losing her partner to Covid in early days and managing to be such an incredible advocate who took so many of us learning how to stay safe, learning how to protect our families and communities, and learning how to protect ourselves. Her memoir about that time is truly a lifeline for readers that are navigating grief. And now, as a single mom to her young son, Elvis, Amanda has really continued to channel her loss into creativity. She wrote a gorgeous children's book called Tell Me youe Dreams as a love letter to memory, connection and hope. And now she is here in her incredible wellness element with a new supplement line that is honestly solving problems I know myself and so many of you have been begging to have solved. She always manages to see a problem and figure out how to fix it. And it's something that I really admire about her as a creative, as a woman and a mom and a friend. So let's dive in today and talk with Amanda about her journey to realize that healing is not really about moving on. It's about moving forward and loving every version of you that you're carrying with you. Let's dive in with Amanda Kloots. How are you? Like before we, you know, get dive into interview things, I just like, I just adore you and I never get to see you and I'm just so happy I'm seeing you now.

[Amanda Kloots]

I know. It's so nice to see you too. I'm good. I'm really good. Elvis and I have the best summer ever. We traveled for like over a month together and yeah, I can't complain. Sophia. Life is really nice right now. I'm like good feeling good about a lot of stuff and it's just nice to be in that place, you know? You know?

[Sophia]

Yeah. When you're really in the thick of it and and in something that feels so dark, like there will never be light again and then your life feels light. It. It's not that. I think people can't love their life or be grateful or really be tapped into goodness if they haven't gone through heavy grief.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

But there's some, there's a different degree of goodness, I think, after you've processed heavy grief.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, yeah. And it's bad like, I think, because it's been five years now. Five years was a weird mark and we can talk about it if you want to, but I was with Nick for five years. So now that five years has passed.

[Sophia]

Yeah, like a weird.

[Amanda Kloots]

I don't know, it, it just, it hit me like that, it hit me that timeline.

[Sophia]

Okay, well, before we get into all the amazing things happening now and what's. What we're doing now, and perhaps our spiritual practices now, I always really like to go backwards with people because your audience knows you, your life, your career, sometimes your personal life as this adult doing great things out in the world. But I'm always really curious if you could go back in time and spend time with your younger self. If you, if you would see yourself in her. Like if you could rewind in 1992, Canton, Ohio, what would you say to 10 year old you.

[Amanda Kloots]

You know, I think I do see myself in her. I, I had a therapist a couple of years ago and she was the first person that made me do this. But she said, put your 10 year old self in a chair and look at her and talk to her. And it was the first time that I had to do that. And at first I thought it was really dumb and I was like, this is dumb. Why am I doing this? I don't wanna, like, I, you know, it was the whole process and then I really started to see like the benefits from it and, and I do, I do see the little girl that just loves to ride her bike around the neighborhood and get Dairy Queen ice cream cones and go hang out with her friends and just had this like free spirit of adventure and curiosity and dreaming and literally believing I could do whatever I would want to do in life and just dancing every day and loving it and yeah, they really do connect with her. I think the poor little girl has no idea what's coming out of her. But I'm also, yeah, really proud of all the different versions of myself. I feel like I've had like 19 versions of myself.

[Sophia]

Oh, me too.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

Yeah, I, I think it was, if I'm not mistaken, I think it was Cheryl Strayed. Who wrote about how in our lives as women, we almost become nesting dolls. You carry every version of the woman you were inside yourself. And I just. I love that as a metaphor, and I think it is so true, because sometimes you'll talk about, you know, the versions of life you've lived. And I think I've watched that bump for some people. People be like, no, I don't like that. It sounds like, then, what are you saying? You didn't know yourself? Or, like, I didn't know myself when I did this, Or I was somehow a different person. And I actually think it's not that you've been trying on versions of yourself that weren't authentic. It's the journey of life where you. You lean into something and explore it. And can you love yourself enough? Can you learn to love yourself enough to listen to whether your inner self says yes or no to that thing and then continue growing around it?

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And I don't know, I. I think that's really special that you can sit and say, yeah, I like all the women I've been before, and I care about the younger versions of myself that are in me.

[Amanda Kloots]

I like that, too. And I think what I love to do is, like, look back, like, retrospect, you know, Like, I love looking back at my life and being like, you know, oh, wow, that was interesting. Or how that affected me. I think of it as lately, like, my life is chapters. Like, I feel like I just have these different chapters of my life, and I do feel like I'm in now a different chapter or. Or I feel like I'm on the precipice of a new chapter. Like, have you ever felt that within yourself where you're like, yes, they're changing and, like. And it's good. And I just have to, like, I'm. I'm almost on board because I know it's coming, but I'm kind of holding on to dear life. But also, like, okay, I feel it, and I know I want it, and I know it's there. I know it's there. I just am like. I just have to, like, be brave enough to turn the page to ju. That next chapter.

[Sophia]

Yes, absolutely. It's like. It's like when you're driving somewhere you've never been, and you can tell that you're only five miles from there based on your gps, but you still have no idea where you are.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

You know, you can feel it getting close to the destination, but you don't know what it's going to look like yet. And it's so surreal to be in that place.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, it is. It's crazy.

[Sophia]

I have a question. It may seem unrelated, but just talking about your younger self and the younger yous and the change coming. I'm so curious about this because I grew up an only and you're one of five kids and I know you're really close to your family. Do you think that change, you know, impending shifts, those things that you can feel. Do you think because you have such a close relationship with your siblings, you have maybe a little more practice at that? Because not only are you going through those life moments, but your siblings are so at least know you're not like totally on a path alone or insane.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, that's an interesting question. I, you know what's funny though, is just to like oppose that a little bit. So close to my. My siblings and my mom and dad, we really are each other's best friends, but we all live in different cities. The closest sibling to my brother in San Francisco, Anna, my. My youngest sister lives in Paris. So we are literally the place. And I just said to my mom and dad because I was home in Ohio spending a week with them, and I was like, you guys. Cuz again, we were talking about like, just change in life and stuff. And I said to them, I was like, you guys have to like, really just at this point in my life, support and trust me, I said, because we're at a point with our family that we all see each other maybe one or twice a year, like when we're all together and I, you know, I'll come home to Ohio maybe once or twice a year. Christmas and a summer, you know, maybe, but it just always depends, right? And I said like, you aren't around me every day. You don't know what my life is every day. And so you have to like, it's just different than when we were younger and we saw it because we weren't all married or we didn't all have kids and it was easy to just like, you know, go and. And different. It's like, oh, it's not my Christmas or it's not my Thanksgiving or no, we can't travel, or mom has knee surgery so she can't travel. So it's like, it's, it's. I think we're at a point right now where I think life is changing. And for me especially, and I actually am asking for my family just to like, support and trust me because you're not gonna actually know or understand fully where I am in life.

[Sophia]

Totally.

[Amanda Kloots]

It's hard for a family to do that when you're so close.

[Sophia]

Yeah, of course. But I think you're right. The, the intrinsic knowledge you have about your people when you're around them. You observe so much. It's impossible to get that same deep knowing when you're in separate places. Because you have to explain everything.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

You have to tell people the story of your day or your week and. And it's hard. It's like, it's actually one of the things that as much as I love, you know, being a creative and doing the things we all get to do in our work, my greatest mourning from that comes from the fact that I'm always somewhere else to my most important people and my family.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

I'm always the absent person. And yeah, I'll jump on a plane for a Saturday to make sure I can be, you know, at somebody's baby shower and then get on the red eye and go right back so I can go to work or, you know, I'll do whatever I can. Yeah, but man, it does like, smart when you just miss that close proximity. For sure.

[Amanda Kloots]

You're right. The everyday things just change.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

And it's hard. You know, you try to relate to, like I try to understand and relate to my sisters and my brother's life as much as possible, and I think they try to relate to mine, but it's like, it's just, it's impossible. Right. Like, my sister's in Houston. She's a stay at home mom. She has three kids and she's lives out of her car, driving her kids everywhere she goes. And it's like, it's, it's so hard to relate, you know, for her to relate to me, a single mom who is, you know, a widow and, you know, living the life I'm living. So, like, it's impossible to relate. That's why I think, like, this new idea of like, support and trust.

[Sophia]

Totally.

[Amanda Kloots]

We just have to support and trust each other totally.

[Sophia]

And now for our sponsors. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, friends, let's talk holiday shopping. From now through December 8th, you can get 20 cash back when you pay in 4 with PayPal. No fees, no interest. This limited time offer is perfect for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you've been eyeing. Save the offer in the app now. Whether you're shopping for the kids, your co workers, or yourself, PayPal helps you make the most of your money. This holiday expires 12 8c paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc.nmls910457 okay whip smarties, let me tell you a brand I adore. Ador Me. Whether you're looking for more comfort, more cleavage, or both, Adormi has you covered. Adormi offers tons of sizes with new, thoughtfully designed bras, panties, lingerie, shapewear, sleepwear and swimwear to choose from each month. You can elevate your underwear drawer with high quality sets that won't break the bank. Also, it's so nice to find a silhouette for every occasion with expertly fit bras and shapewear that defy gravity and bold lingerie styles that are just as comfortable as they are sexy. Let me tell you what I'm a fan of the silhouette for every occasion idea, guys. Because sometimes you want something beautiful, colorful, satiny, and sometimes you need something that goes full incognito nude simple T shirt bra. You know what I'm talking about. Whether it's bows or lace or whether it's sleek, undetectable fit and support, Ador Me has you covered. And with styles starting as low as 24.95, you can feel confident even if you're on a budget. Head to adormi.com now to shop styles from comfortable to sexy in over 67 sizes. Degree Advanced the world's number one antiperspirant provides up to 72 hours of protection against sweat and odor that comes with life. Degree is the wake up workout. Antiperspirant the dashing, darting, carpool, honking, get the kids off to school. Antiperspirant the work from home and do the laundry, grocery shop on your lunch hour, never take a break. Antiperspirant so do what you need to do. Work how you need to work. Sweat moves you forward. Degree is here to make sure it doesn't hold you back. Degree Here for sweat.

[Amanda Kloots]

Shh.

[Sophia]

You won't believe what my new friend just told me about dinosaurs.

[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

Do you think that that sort of support system when you were young, when you all did get to be together and it was like easier to be in the jumble, did that help you with the confidence to get out and pursue this crazy dream? Because, you know, I know you wanted to be a Rockette. The jumping into that world of performance and dance and Broadway and the auditions and the rehearsals, I mean, it's so big and so hard. So how did you decide to go for it and what was it like? You know, moving and, and getting into this whole new pace and whole new way of life for you?

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, no, so true. I mean the support I had from my family doing that. I was the first of five kids to not go to regular college, four year degree and move to New York City. You know, my brother and my sisters all went to Ohio colleges and they were studying, you know, marketing or business or literature, you know, and I was like, I want to dance. And I have to say, my choir director, my choir teacher in high school, my parents were so, they were on board, but they were like, not really on board. My dad was still convinced that I should go to this performing arts Dayton, Ohio and get a four year degree. And we sat down with my choir teacher and he was like, I know she can do this. You gotta, you know, believe in her. And it was that, that my, it was only then, sorry that my mom and dad were like, okay, we will. You can go to New York, go to this two year conservatory. And I remember my dad being like, that two years equals what I spent on your siblings. Four years of college. So after those two years, Amanda, like if something doesn't happen, like you're on your own where you're siblings had two more years of college and I was like, okay, I could do it, don't worry. And I mean, Sophia, I still can't believe that my mom and dad drove me to New York and dropped me off in New York City at 18 years old. Like if Elvis asked me to do that, I'd be like, hell no. Or I'm going to like it's like not happening. But yeah, they just, they just believed in me. And I mean still to this day, you know, they'll say an audition, like how'd your interview go? And I'm like, audition?

[Sophia]

That is so cute.

[Amanda Kloots]

But like, but they've always supported me and they were always at everything from high school you know, practices and. And performances to Broadway shows and Rockette shows. I mean, they've always there. So, yeah, that support, I think, definitely helped me think that I could do it where, like, you know, the stats to be on Broadway are insane. And at that point, I was a dancer. I really wasn't even a singer. I could sing, but I couldn't sing. I learned how to sing in college, and then kind of as I was performing on Broadway, learned how to really sing. So, like, I really went into it with just being like, I can dance. I didn't even do mama in high school. So, yeah, I mean, it doesn't make sense. You know what I mean? You. You think grounded in. In thinking I could, like, just go on, be on Broadway, but I really was just a dancer.

[Sophia]

But it's amazing. And I think the. I think that sort of youthful freedom to pursue your dreams, just to be like, this is gonna work. I'm gonna make it work. I mean, God, imagine if it could be bottled and sold, you know, it's so cool. What was it like to be on that Rockette stage for the first time? It's like, it's such an iconic thing. It fills me with such wonder and this feeling of nostalgia, because I remember going, like, with my mom and my grandpa to see the Rockettes when I was little at Radio City. It's, like, so iconic. Do you still get a little. A little nostalgia for it?

[Amanda Kloots]

Oh, 100. I try to take Elvis every year, and this is the 100 years celebration of the Rocket legacy. So they're doing, like, a big thing, but I'll never forget it. We. My first season was 2003. The opening costume was this. It's still, to this day, probably one of my favorite costumes I've ever worn. Velvet green, long sleeves, fur on the cuffs, a big fur hat, fur around, like, the. And a big holly thing right here. It was gorgeous. We were all lined up backstage, and you come flapping the tap move. A flap. And we came, two by two, flapping out of the Rockefeller Christmas tree set. And my whole family was there. And the first step was jump kick, bevel. So, like, my first move as a Radio City Rockette, like, was just like a jump kick, right? And I was dead center because I was center girl because I'm the tallest in Rockettes. The tallest girls are in the center, and then the shortest girls are out to the side. It gives the illusion, and. And I'll never forget, I was so nervous because they just, you know, drill perfection in you, and when you're a rookie. They just make, you know you're a rookie. At least at that time. You know, I don't know, it's probably different now, but in that era, it was definitely a hierarchy and you knew that you were one of the newbies. But, yeah, it was amazing. It was so amazing. Never forget.

[Sophia]

I love that.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And I love that you guys go together. When you, when you come out this way and you go to Broadway musicals now, like, what goes through your mind? You know, you. You have this whole other career now, and when you come back, what. What is that like?

[Amanda Kloots]

I didn't. I. I see shows a lot. Like, I try to take Elvis to see shows here in LA and on Broadway. It's. I'm always like, how did I do this? Like, it's so. It's so much like eight shows a week, and you start your workday at 8pm and, you know, you're dancing until 11 and then you come back the next day and you do two shows and it's like. And it's such a. It's such a drill and it's constant competition and never feeling settled, and you never know if you have a job the next day. When I think about how I did that for 16 years, I'm. I'm very proud of myself. But I'm also like, how did I. How did I do that? But I'm also. I'm so glad I did it, and I'm so glad that I did it at the age I did it. And I think Broadway teaches you everything in life, especially resilience and belief in yourself. So I'm very proud of it. But I'm also just like, oh, my God, how did I do that? You.

[Sophia]

Have you done Broadway? I can't. I haven't done Broadway. I did a show on the West End, okay. And was so incredible. I had the time of my life. And I will never forget, before I went, I got all excited because, you know, I'm used to, like, network TV hours. I'm used to being at work 16 hours a day, 17 hours a day. Sometimes, like, by the time I've left my home and then gotten back and I was like, eight shows a week. I mean, the show's two and a half hours. I'm going to have all the time in the world. I have my whole day to myself. There's going to be a day off a week. Like, this is so incredible. I can't wait. And I will never forget, I randomly was at a thing right before I left for London with Brian Cranston. And after Breaking Bad, he did LBJ on Broadway and then he did Network Fabulous in both shows, of course. And I was like, oh, I'm so geeked. And what advice do you have for me? Like, I'm really nervous, but I'm really excited. I love theater. And he said, well, what are your plans while you're there? And I kind of talked about like, oh, well, you know, I have a list. Every Monday I'm going to go to a new art exhibition and I'm going to. And he goes, oh, kid, I hate to tell you, you're not. He said, sophia, you're just not. You are going to be the most exhausted you have ever been. You're going to sleep all day because it's going to take you hours when you get home at night for the adrenaline and the cortisol to pass through your body. You're not going to be in, you're not going to be sleeping by 12:30. You're going to be asleep at 3 or 4 in the morning and you're going to go to work the next day. And on Monday, he said, when? When are your two show days? And I said, oh, Saturday and Sunday. And he goes, so you're doing a five show weekend. He said, Monday, you're going to be a corpse.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And I was like, oh, oh. I had just never considered the difference in the kind of hours.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And I loved it. And I can't wait to do it again. And I hope to do it, you know, in New York when the right show comes up.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, you should.

[Sophia]

Holy crap.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah. It's such a different skill set. And it's, it's so funny because he's so right. Like Monday is complete rest, massage, and that's about it. I mean especially. I did three national tours and a national tour is, is almost even worse because you, you're on the road. Yeah, you're on the road, you're in a hotel, traveling. It's like, it's so hard. It's. And, and, and you can't really understand it unless you're in it. Because even you said it's like you think it's like this glamorous, but you never have a weekend, you never have a night, you never have a holiday. It's really, really tough. Yeah. Funny because, you know, doing Broadway first and then going more over to like film and tv. I remember when I did my Christmas movie and we like shot the first scene, it hit me that I was like, oh, I can forget those lines. Like, I don't have to.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

I was like, I don't ever have to do that again. And they're like, no. I'm so trained to do the same thing every day and the same lines and having to remember. I was like, oh, I can just delete that. And they're like, tomorrow's scene 201. I'm like, oh, yeah. Like. And I was like, this is amazing film.

[Sophia]

Yeah. You're like, oh, my God, I never have to have that fight scene again. I don't have to do it eight times a week.

[Amanda Kloots]

What? You do it. You do it for that day, and then you're done.

[Sophia]

I was like, yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

I was like, I love film. It's just so funny how you get used to one thing and then you transfer over and then.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

Started off with film and then went to Broadway. It would be a whole different. Like, you mean I have to do this all the time? Like, it's so funny.

[Sophia]

Oh, it's crazy. And. And when you talk about, you know, I mean, even just the. What a cool thing that you got to start vocal training in college and then really open up as a singer because you were working on Broadway was. You know, when I think about, obviously the last couple of years, it seemed like an outsider. Like, music was such an important part of. Of your life and career, of Nick's life and career, and then became something so important to the two of you together was. Was the sort of early overlap in your working worlds when you guys were, like, getting to know each other. Were you just like, oh, my God, this man and his music?

[Amanda Kloots]

Yes, but it was. It was. It was like a twofold. So when we started dating, I was ending my first marriage, so we had to, like, we were very, like, secret about our relationship. So after the show, we were doing Bullets Over Broadway. We would each go home, and then we would Skype for, like, gosh, five in the morning, and Nick would just play me music over Skype. But it was a twofold, like, because there were some things, like, he would play me some of his original stuff.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

That moment of being a girl where you're like, you've seen the Barbie movie, right? Like, the guy is playing you music, and you're like. And then you're just like.

[Sophia]

You're like, I get it. I adore you, and I get it.

[Amanda Kloots]

You know? And so it was like part, part, part, you know, but that is very much the dynamic of Nick and I and Nick's music. And, you know, he. He was constantly making music, and a lot of it Never had lyrics. And then some had lyrics and then some had jumbled lyrics. And then. And then all of a sudden he would, you know, be doing a show and they'd all have lyrics. And one song sounded like rock and roll. The next song sounded like a country song. The next song sounded like. Like Broadway, like. And then the next one sounded like Frank Sinatra. Like, he was all over the place. And so it just. Now it makes me laugh. It used to frustrate me, but now it just makes me laugh because it's just very much him. He just. He did. He loved music. I get to meet anyone that knew more about music than Nick Cordero. He would wake listening to BBC podcasts. He would read Rolling Stones cover to cover. I remember this is one of my favorite stories. He early, early dating years. I'm in his apartment in Washington Heights and he's like, babe, there's this girl and she's making music in her bedroom with her brother. And they are going to be huge. And I was like, oh, okay. And he was like, she's like 16 years old or like 14 years old. And they, I'm telling you now, they're going to be huge. And I was like, okay. And he was like, her name's Billie Eilish. And I was like, okay. And years later, what's so beautiful about this story is years later, during Nick's battle with COVID Phineas writes me a song. And after Nick passes away, he DMS me and I don't see it. And my realtor friend, who's his realtor friend is like, I think Phineas o' Connell sent you a dm. And I was like, okay. So I looked at my DMs, there it was. I wrote your song. I've been following your story. And I was like, what? I listened to this song. It is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. And it's like very Coldplay esque, which I love. And I write him back immediately. We become instant friends. He ends up singing me the song live many times in his concert. It's like. And I. If I could. I ended up telling him. I'm like, you don't understand. Nick told me about you guys when we first started meeting. Like, he clocked you guys in your bedroom in Echo park or Highland Park. I was like. And the how the world works. You've written a song now about. He would roll over in his grave, like, if he knew that you wrote me a song. Like, it just is. That's life, though. It's so beautiful. You know what I mean?

[Sophia]

Yeah, it's beautiful. And now a word from our sponsors that I really enjoy. And I think you will too. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, friends, let's talk holiday shopping. From now through December 8th, you can get 20% cash back when you pay in four with PayPal. No fees, no interest. This limited time offer is perfect for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you've been eyeing. Save the offer in the app now. Whether you're shopping for the kids, your co workers, or yourself, PayPal helps you make the most of your money. This holiday expires12.8 see paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc. Nmls910457 okay whip smarties let me tell you a brand I adore. Adore Me. Whether you're looking for more comfort, more cleavage, or both, Adore Me has you covered. Adormi offers tons of sizes with new, thoughtfully designed bras, panties, lingerie, shapewear, sleepwear, and swimwear to choose from each month. You can elevate your underwear drawer with high quality sets that won't break the bank. Also, it's so nice to find a silhouette for every occasion with expertly fit bras and shapewear that defy gravity and bold lingerie styles that are just as comfortable as they are sexy. Let me tell you what I'm a fan of the silhouette for every occasion idea, guys. Because sometimes you want something beautiful, colorful, satiny, and sometimes you need something that goes full incognito nude simple T shirt bra. You know what I'm talking about. Whether it's bows or lace or whether it's sleek, undetectable fit and support, Ador Me has you covered. And with styles starting as low as $24.95, you can feel confident even if you're on a budget. Head to adormi.com now to shop styles from comfortable to sexy in over 67 sizes. Degree Advanced the world's number one antiperspirant provides up to 72 hours of protection against sweat and odor that comes with life. Degree is the wake up workout Antiperspirant the dashing, darting, carpool, honking, get the kids off to school. Antiperspirant the work from home and do the laundry, grocery shop on your lunch hour, never take a break. Antiperspirant so do what you need to do, work how you need to work. Sweat moves you forward. Degree is here to make sure it doesn't hold you back. Degree here for sweat. Then the Space hamster flew his hot air balloon all the way to the bottom of the ocean with.

[Amanda Kloots]

Where did that story come from? Book Dream? Nope. It came from a conversation. Meet Mikomini, the AI companion that co creates personalized story adventures with your child in real time.

[Sophia]

What color was the hamster's cape? And what did he pack for lunch?

[Amanda Kloots]

Unlock your child's imagination. Discover Miko Mini plus and the magic of AI Exclusively at Costco. At Walgreens, we know flu season can feel a little chaotic, so we're going to give you our flu info in.

[Sophia]

A meditation, keeping you calm, just like a certified Walgreens pharmacist will do if you're a little needle nervous. So walk in or schedule an appointment and Walgreens will handle the rest.

[Amanda Kloots]

That's the human kind of help. Walgreens vaccines subject to availability, state, age and health related restrictions may apply.

[Sophia]

What a wild experience it must have been. I mean, both of you, you know, with your gorgeous careers in your own rights, you know, you were both known people. But then his Covid battle, it. I remember, you know, we have so many friends in common. We hadn't met yet at the time, but I remember hearing what you guys were going through and. And suddenly it seemed like every single person I knew anywhere was like, do you know what's going on with this Nick and Amanda couple in la? And I mean, you were so generous with so much pain. You had every right not to take time out of your day to try to help other people. But while you guys were going through this battle of his sickness, you. You tried to tell so many people, you know, you. You became, at least for me, as, again, someone who didn't know you personally yet, such a guidepost, like a. A beacon, because you just told the truth. And everyone was so scared and people didn't know what was happening, and it was so hard to know where we were going to get any sort of information. And then, you know, you had all this disinformation happening. People claiming, you know, oh, don't worry, it's like the flu. No, it's not.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And you were like, let me tell you what's happening to my husband. Like, let me explain what this does to someone's body. Struck me as being, oh, I'm gonna get emotional. Sorry. It struck me that you took something so tragic and chose to give to other people. Like, it was such a profound act of service to watch in a time when, like, everyone should have been serving you. You know, I'm like, you. You should have had Someone like make you a meal train and you were like trying to tell people how to get vaccinated.

[Amanda Kloots]

We have a meal trains thanks to Shell Geller, actually. She set up that meal train. Yeah.

[Sophia]

Anyway. Sorry.

[Amanda Kloots]

Thank you. That's it. Thank you.

[Sophia]

You're just a gem of a human. And I. I know you've. You've talked about it and shared about it and you don't have to repeat anything you don't want to, but I just. I guess I wonder, like, looking back on five years, what. How do you kind of process that journey? You know, the fact that we were also isolated and yet you were having this incredibly intimate moment with so many people. I. I don't know. I just. I guess I wonder like, how it. I don't want to say how it feels to you now. That's a stupid word, but you know, how, how it settles. I guess.

[Amanda Kloots]

I. It's like the oddest thing, to be honest. Like, it. I've processed it so many times and yet I also, like, I have never processed it. And what was I. I was watching something the other day. I think I was watching a movie. And something will just trigger something. And then like I can't even focus because I'm like back in that world. And then when I think about it, I'm like so completely like. Like I can't believe that happened, that I. I get kind of like pulled away. And then I. And then I try to process it again in that respect. And then sometimes I feel like I've processed it so much that it's not near to me anymore. And then I feel bad that am moving away from it. And then I feel guilty about that.

[Sophia]

Right.

[Amanda Kloots]

And then there's times where I'm too close to it and I feel guilty about being. Holding on to it. I think that's just trauma, though. I think.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

Which is why I think it's so important to understand that healing is such a journey and it never stops because. Yeah. And you have to keep treating it because it. It's going to process so many times in so many different ways because we keep growing and I keep living and I done that. Keeps growing and keeps living. So our lives are moving forward. So it's impossible not to love and attach myself to that time in my life. But also I have to learn how to separate myself from that time in my life.

[Sophia]

Right.

[Amanda Kloots]

Both feel wrong. So it's very. It's. It's a very hard. It's a very hard thing to process. And. And I think that's when like any kind of anniversary, be it our wedding anniversary or Nick's birthday or Elvis's birthday or his death anniversary or my birthday are very, very hard because it's just a remembrance of time. And, and anytime you can clock that time is, I think, just also a trigger. So I don't know. I think it's, It's a. It's. I don't know if I'll ever not be healing from that. And I also think that, hey, you know, it's just. It's just life. It's a part of my life. It's a scar that is in me, that will always be in me. And there's a lot of beautiful parts about that scar, and there's a lot of really hard parts about that scar. I still can't believe it happened. Like, I mean, there's so many times where I, I cannot believe that happened. And I, I. It's like talk about that little girl. I look back on that chunk of my life, that Covid part of my life, and I'll even like, I have, you know, Instagram saves everything. So like, there's times where something will pop up and then I'll. I'll see something. It's like I don't even recognize that version of myself. Like, yeah. Such a fight or flight moment in life. And I think that you talked about my honesty and thank you so much for everything you said. I think that in our lives, when you're going through, like, severe trauma or life and death situations, it's just all the bullshit removed. You're just being honest. There's nothing else to worry about. Is. Is just. It's just pure honesty and truth. That's it. Like that nothing matters other than that if when death is on the table. So I think that was just a version of myself that came out because nothing else mattered.

[Sophia]

Right.

[Amanda Kloots]

To. To the world. I mean, we were. We were all worried about death at that moment in our lives. You know, you got covet. That means you could die. Possibly.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

Like, it was just such a weird time in our world and lie.

[Sophia]

Yeah. And I, and you know, I think what you just said reminds me. I. I heard you say something recently that I thought was so beautiful that you haven't had a fight with anyone since Nick passed. Because what's the point in fighting with anybody? And it almost feels like that's one of those. Everything's whittled down to just what's necessary, things that you took from that journey. And again, just as an observer, you know, I've watched You write a memoir that has also been so incredibly honest. Find joy again. Like, get back into your dance, which I imagine is so healing for you. You know, doing Dancing with the Stars, we were all like, so geeked and excited. You know, you've, you've shared really beautiful stories with your audience on the talk. It's really interesting to watch you share the honest truth and also really courageously, I would say find your joy again. I just wonder about in this place where you're so tender and you also have no bullshit left. I would imagine it actually takes some, like, ferocious courage to claim your joy in, in public, out loud.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, it does. You're absolutely right. It really does. Because I think in a beautiful way, the world got to know me and my story, but also in a very hard way. It's like they're still attached to that story and I'm very grateful for it. And I have a beautiful community of people that support me that I know and that I don't know. But at the same time, yeah, like, I, I, I'm also a 43 year old woman that has a lot of life to live. And Nick would want me to live that life as beautiful and big and as full as possible. I know that I would want the same thing for him if the roles are reversed. And yeah, I do. I have a gorgeous son. And like, I'm gonna still, like, I'm not perfect. I'm gonna make mistakes, I'm gonna do silly things or do smart things. But yeah, I think you're right. People do get attached to who they think you should be or what they think you should do. And, you know, it's also like, well, no one actually lives my life except for me. And I, and I'm, I am proud of how I'm living my life. So, yeah.

[Sophia]

We'll be back in just a minute after a few words from our favorite sponsors. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, friends, let's talk holiday shopping. From now through December 8th, you can get 20% cash back when you pay in four with PayPal. No fees, no interest. This limited time offer is perfect for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you've been eyeing. Save the offer in the app now. Whether you're shopping for the kids, your co workers, or yourself, PayPal helps you make the most of your money. This holiday expires12.8 see paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc.mls910457 okay, whip smarties, let me tell you a brand I adore. Adore me. Whether you're looking for more comfort, more cleavage, or both, Adormi has you covered. Adormi offers tons of sizes with new, thoughtfully designed bras, panties, lingerie, shapewear, sleepwear and swimwear to choose from each month. You can elevate your underwear drawer with high quality sets that won't break the bank. Also, it's so nice to find a silhouette for every occasion with expertly fit bras and shapewear that defy gravity and bold lingerie styles that are just as comfortable as they are sexy. Let me tell you what I'm a fan of the silhouette for every occasion idea, guys. Because sometimes you want something beautiful, colorful, satiny, and sometimes you need something that goes full incognito nude simple T shirt bra. You know what I'm talking about. Whether it's bows or lace or whether it's sleek, undetectable fit and support, Adormi has you covered. And with styles starting as low as $24.95, you can feel confident even if you're on a budget. Head to adore me.com now to shop styles from comfortable to sexy in over 67 sizes. Degree Advanced the world's number one antiperspirant provides up to 72 hours of protection against sweat and odor that comes with life. Degree is the wake up workout. Antiperspirant the dashing, darting, carpool, honking, get the kids off to school Antiperspirant the work from home and do the laundry grocery shop on your lunch hour, never take a break Antiperspirant so do what you need to do. Work how you need to work. Sweat moves you forward. Degree is here to make sure it doesn't hold you back. Degree here for sweat. Then the space hamster flew his hot air balloon all the way to the bottom of the ocean.

[Amanda Kloots]

Where did that story come from? Book Dream? Nope. It came from a conversation. Meet Meiko Mini plus, the AI companion that co creates personalized story adventures with your child in real time.

[Sophia]

What color was the hamster's cape and what did he pack for lunch?

[Amanda Kloots]

Unlock your child's imagination. Discover Miko Mini plus and the Magic of AI exclusively at Costco. At Walgreens, we know flu season can feel a little chaotic, so we're going to give you our flu info in.

[Sophia]

A meditation keeping you calm, just like a certified Walgreens pharmacist will do if you're a little needle nervous. So walk in or schedule an appointment and Walgreens will handle the rest.

[Amanda Kloots]

That's the Human kind of help. Walgreens vaccines subject to availability, state, age and health related restrictions may apply.

[Sophia]

You are a generative person. You know, even when you think about every, every step of your career, you know, dance to Broadway to, to moving up through that world to, you know, film and TV and the show and the, and the writing, I mean, it's like you, you continue to gather creative inspiration, forms of expression and, and to me, that goes, that says to me like, oh, that my friend, is like a very entrepreneurial person like you are. You always want to learn something and then learn another thing. And I, I feel like when I saw the announcement that you were expanding into wellness, you know, again, as a dancer, as a mom, and, and creating supplements, I was like, I'm obsessed with that for her. You know, like, it just felt, it felt like the next right thing for you to get your hands on something completely brand new and completely your own and completely creative. Where do you think the idea came from? I mean, does it, does it go way back to early days of career or does it also track to the fact that a public health crisis was so incredibly personal for you and your family and, and health has become wealth, essentially?

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, well, definitely. Health is so wealthy. You know, it's. I've always loved creating things. I, My first creation was my jump rope with my fitness company and then I created a fitness. Right.

[Sophia]

Oh my God.

[Amanda Kloots]

I created this mat that I sold for a while and then I created a CBD muscle relief pain cream. I love creating products that I believe will be beneficial and helpful to people. And so cut to, you know, this chapter in my life. I do many things. One of them is I'm an influencer. So I, you know, get paid to influence products or things or whatever. And the amount of supplements I have influenced over the years, I imagine. And some of them I love and some of them, you know, I don't like. And a lot of them though are, you know, extremely expensive pills or powders that I would try and then on my counter and I would get over them, you know, because like, how many pills can we take? And I think this powder tasted good, but now I think it tastes like grass. And I, I just got to the point where as a mom and as a single mom and somebody that's just trying to find things in the day to make me feel like a whole human being and that I can keep moving in life, felt like there was a need for a supplement company that allowed a woman or a man or anyone to be able to take 5 minutes Put a powder in water, have it taste great, have it be affordable, have it be accessible and have them feel good about what they just did. And so, yeah, so I created property. There it is.

[Sophia]

It's so cutie. I got my. Got my box. Oh, God. I should have brought it in here from the kitchen.

[Amanda Kloots]

But the point of it is, is that I truly believe I'm not the same person every day. I don't need the same supplement every day. Some days I'm feeling under the weather, so I want to boost my immunity. Some days I'm not eating great, so I want to have my greens. Some days I'm super anxious and I need a powder that'll calm my anxiety. So I created five powders. And then we just launched our Daily Glow, which is their six powder. So that you can. It's like, it's your fun. Like, what am I need? What do I need today? And mix them and you can use two or three of them in a day. Whatever you need. But it's all about their $28, which is affordable. Available at Target, Amazon, and on our website. But, like, they not only are affordable, but they taste so good that it's like you. You. You don't even mind getting all the greens in your day because, like, a bright green apple and it's so refreshing. So it was more so just that. Sophia just being, like, at a point in my life that. Where I've. I've influenced a lot of things now I'm a single mom. I'm just doing things in my day to try to make me feel better. I do love health. I do love wellness. I. I'm obsessed with longevity. So it's. Yeah, just giving. I always think about. Because I'm from Ohio, I always think about, like, Linda in Ohio. What does Linda in Ohio need?

[Sophia]

Yes.

[Amanda Kloots]

You know, she doesn't live in New York City or la. She's not getting NAD injections, She's not sitting under red lamps. She's going to Target, and she's trying to find one thing that'll help her feel better in her day. And so that's why I created Proper.

[Sophia]

I love it. And what I think is. So, I mean, for me, as you know, your friend and a recipient of the line, what I love about what you're talking about is the simplicity of it. I will never forget, after a show that I'd worked on, my sweet writer had went on this, like, whole Twitter thread. We. We created this series together that was supposed to be about, like, foreign adversarial espionage. In the nsa. And it turned out that when we made it, some things had shifted in our landscape, and suddenly that seemed like American reality. And, yeah, the network was like, we're not going to become targets of the most powerful people in the country, so this show's not going to go on the air. Um, we laugh about it now, but we were very sad. And. And the back. The backstory matters because my sweet writer was like, here's what I'm gonna talk about. The amazing people who put this show together. And he went on this, like, gorgeous thread rampage on Twitter and was talking about, like, our collaboration and our writing. And he. And he goes, and you've never slept better or felt better than when you work with this woman, because she carries around a bag with. With 35 potions and things and bottles and whatever, and she makes you take all your vitamins every day. And it turned into, like, a little bit of a thing for a while with people being like, what's in the bag? And, like, what are the 35 things you take? And I hit a point where I just was like, I can't do this. Like, I. Yes, I feel better when I make sure I'm getting everything I need and I'm getting the vitamins and minerals I need, but I. I don't have it in me to figure out what to take with what food, so it doesn't make me nauseous. And to figure out how to car this around with me all the time. Like, at least when I go to set, I have, like, a little beat.

[Amanda Kloots]

And this is an hour after.

[Sophia]

Yeah. And it's like, what? And, you know, when I go to set, I. I wheel around a little bag like a grandma, like a trolley, so I can do it. But in my life, I don't have time for this. And. And when I got your line, I was like, oh, I have time for this. And I love that I can say, this is most of everything I need. And if I want a combo, I can double down on this. I can, you know, to your point, energy and greens and whatever it is. And it just feels like somebody solved a problem that I know I have that I didn't know how to solve. So on behalf of myself and everyone nodding along to this conversation, thank you.

[Amanda Kloots]

Well, I think that it's important that in wellness, we don't make ourselves feel guilty. Like, yeah, with fitness, too. Like, don't feel guilty if. If today you can only do five or 10 minutes. That's not tomorrow. You know, don't feel guilty if you Didn't I don't, I don't ever want anybody to look at my supplement line proper on your countertop and walk by and feel guilty. I want you to feel inspired. So I, I hate when pills just look at me. I call it my supplement graveyard.

[Sophia]

Yes.

[Amanda Kloots]

Where I'm like, I know I should take them, but it's four pills and it's like I already took, took three.

[Sophia]

Like I just can't do it.

[Amanda Kloots]

And so you feel guilty about not doing something good for yourself. And I just never want that to be the case. And so proper isn't about like you have to take your daily greens on a daily basis. Sure you can. But you can also just take it when you need it so that you feel good about that choice at that moment on that day.

[Sophia]

I love that so much. When you think about, you know, all of these projects you've brought into the world, they're, they're all things that it strikes me that you mother, you know, you, you create something and you get it ready to release out to people. And I think raising kids is kind of like that. You know, I, I had a conversation on this show a few months ago. What an insane thing I'm about to say was Michelle Obama. And she talked about how her mom's best advice was that she was raising adults, not raising babies. Like, yeah, you raise your babies but you want them to be adults when they go out into the world. And I, I guess, I wonder, you know, now I'm at this stage where everyone in my life has littles and it's so much fun to be surrounded by kids all the time. And, and yours is six and like he's still a baby but he's on his way to adulthood.

[Amanda Kloots]

Right?

[Sophia]

Like, what do you, what do you see in him? Are there things in the same way that you can look back at your 10 year old self and see yourself in her? Are there things you can see in him now by six where you go, oh, that's, that's how you're gonna be when you're 15 or oh, I see something about you that you'll take out into the world as an adult man someday.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah. Yes. Like perfect example is this happened, I don't know, about a month ago, but he still sleeps with me and we, we climb into bed and I had, had, I had just like had a night. I was, I was sad. So we got into bed and I said to Elvis, I was like, I was like, elvis, I'm really sorry. I was like, mommy was on her phone A lot tonight. And I was like, I'm sorry about that, buddy. I was like, I. I feel like I didn't. I didn't spend any time with you tonight. And I was like, I just, I miss dad. And. And he goes, he lifts up his arm and he goes, come here, mom. And, like, ask me to, like, come in and cuddle like I do to him. Yeah, I entertained the thought. And I, like, got under his little arm and, like, put my head gently on his chest, his, you know, little chest. And he's so tall and skinny right now that he's like, you know, just bones. And so, like, I gently laid down, he was like, mom, you're heavy. And I was like, adult. And he's like, you're like a ten pound weight. And I was like, okay, all right. And then I was like. And he like. But he was trying to, like, console me. Like, he knew that I was sad and he knew that I needed, like, a hug and, and love. And so then I pulled his arm away and I was like, get in here. I was like, you'll be bigger than me one day and you can, you can hug me then. And then he got back in his spot. But, like, I think it's those things where I just. I hopefully am seeing, like, who he will be at 15. Man. He'll be, you know, at 25.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

A partner. So I just. Yeah, I treasure that little kid. He's a good little boy.

[Sophia]

Oh, it's so, so sweet. Well, when you think about all these things, you know, all the, all the things you hold, your family and your work and your company and, you know, your. Your navigation of the sort of ends of the spectrum of all of this experience as you look forward because you've done so much. What, what feels like it's ahead. What feels like your work in progress out on the horizon.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, well, you know, like you said before, I love creating, so I have, like, I have. I'm very much. It's. And I think it's from Broadway. Never feeling, like, completely stable. You know, it's an actor performing, you know, and so I kind of cast a net of like 10 different things, and I kind of have them all, like, burning, so that if one goes out, I still have nine, and then if one, like, starts really getting hot, then, like, I can kind of fine tune the others. So, you know, I'm really excited about proper and all the fun things that we have in store for that. And there's a lot coming down the pipeline, so that's like my entrepreneurial business side, I get to travel a lot for fitness and teach. And I love teaching fitness so much because I love what fitness community is and I love helping people and I love challenging people, and I love helping people understand that fitness can be fun and filled with joy and filled with gratitude instead of yes, please. Yeah. Instead of, you know, pushing hard and hurting your body and all that stuff. So I love, I love all of the things on the horizon for just, just teaching and, and connecting with people all over the world with that. And then, yeah, my, you know, creative brain is always, you know, trying to do more movies and TV shows and hosting and all that stuff. So there's fun things. Pipeline with that. I don't know, I just feel like we're in a day and age where. And I feel like you probably relate to this too, is like, I feel very lucky that I get to do a lot of things. And there's times where I feel lost, and there's times where I feel like I can't do this and I don't know what I'm thinking. And then there's times where I'm like, I can absolutely do this. I can. Yeah. Who's going to tell me no? You know, and if they tell me no, one day, they'll tell me yes. So, like, we'll just keep pushing and it's fun. So that, like, keeps me going. So. Yeah. I don't know. I just love all the different things, and I am equally passionate about all of them. I. If you see me teaching a fitness class or you see me, like, acting in a show or hosting a red carpet, like, I am equally passionate about all of those things.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

I love them all equally. I don't want to choose, like, I just. I want to do them all.

[Sophia]

I love that. I. I will never forget, you know, really early in my career being told, like, you have to pick a lane.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

And I. I remember thinking, why am I supposed to reduce the subjects that I'm interested in?

[Amanda Kloots]

The.

[Sophia]

The things I find fascinating. Why shrink that? And I think we're really lucky that through our adulthood, the, the ability for people to be multi hyphenates really feels like it's shifted.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah.

[Sophia]

I'm. I'm happy we're here.

[Amanda Kloots]

I think so, too. Yeah, I think.

[Sophia]

Yeah.

[Amanda Kloots]

Still needs some shifting, but it. We're getting there. Yeah.

[Sophia]

Yeah. We're on our way.

[Amanda Kloots]

Yeah, definitely.

[Sophia]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, friends, let's talk holiday shopping. From now through December 8th, you can get 20% cash back when you pay in four with PayPal. No fees, no interest. This limited time offer is perfect for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you've been eyeing. Save the offer in the app now. Whether you're shopping for the kids, your co workers, or yourself, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Expires12.8 See paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc. Nmls910457 Shh. You won't believe what my new friend just told me about dinosaurs.

[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

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[Sophia]

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[Amanda Kloots]

This is an iHeart podcast.