Work in Progress with Sophia Bush
Episode: Amanda Knox, Part 2
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Sophia Bush
Guest: Amanda Knox
Overview
The second part of Sophia Bush’s conversation with Amanda Knox is a profoundly personal and philosophical exploration of survival, stigma, and self-reclamation in the aftermath of one of the world's most infamous wrongful convictions. Knox and Bush discuss the psychological toll of public scrutiny, the uniquely gendered aspects of public shaming, the struggle to reclaim a personal narrative long hijacked by the media, and the healing—and complexity—of facing one’s antagonists. The episode also explores Knox’s new role as executive producer of her own narrative in the Hulu series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, her ongoing work as an advocate, and her journey toward peace, meaning, and creativity after trauma.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Transforming Advocacy and Public Shame
(03:13–04:36)
- Sophia praises Amanda’s advocacy work, especially The Scarlet Letter Reports, highlighting its exploration of gendered public shaming.
- They discuss the persistent media and societal tendency to scrutinize and vilify women differently than men.
- Sophia draws parallels between Amanda’s case, Britney Spears, and Karen Reed.
Sophia (03:49): “You’re examining the very gendered nature of public shaming and the way we treat women is just horrific.”
2. Psychological Survival in Prison
(04:36–10:50)
- Sophia asks Amanda how she coped with being wrongly convicted under intense public judgment as a “kid.”
- Amanda describes cycling through stages of grief, denial, and the childlike hope that “some adult would fix it.”
- She outlines the surreal brutality of enduring court proceedings where she was repeatedly cast as a villain.
Amanda (06:00): “I spent a while there in prison feeling like I was living somebody else’s life by mistake. And that, like some adult was going to figure it out and give me my life back.”
- Amanda highlights:
- Gendered scrutiny in court (“If you cry, you’re guilty; if you don’t, you’re cold.”)
- The need to endure each moment: “I think I can, I think I can…”
- After her sentencing, the focus shifted from hope for justice to just surviving each day.
Amanda (10:43): “If I could find a reason to live today, that would be enough. And then I’d worry about tomorrow.”
3. Finding Purpose in Prison
(10:50–13:56)
- Amanda shares how she couldn’t pursue a formal degree in prison, but became a translator and scribe for other prisoners, finding value and meaning in helping others.
- Her sense of purpose, even if not “happy,” was vital for her survival, allowing her to adapt to her new reality.
Amanda (12:42): “Suddenly I realized I was actually a very valuable resource. And that sort of became my unofficial job… I was the translator because there was no translator, and I was the scribe because there was no scribe.”
4. The Aftermath of Exoneration and The Lingering Stigma
(14:15–19:36)
- Sophia asks whether Amanda felt relief upon exoneration or whether trauma overshadowed it.
- Amanda discusses how, even after DNA evidence confirmed the actual perpetrator—and even as she was released—the Italian authorities never publicly corrected their narrative, leading to ongoing suspicion and media misrepresentation.
Amanda (16:55): “They doubled down. And… when I was acquitted, it wasn’t this sweeping, universal acknowledgment of my innocence… Instead, it was, oh, well, they got one of the murderers, but the other one got off on a technicality.”
- She explains the permanent branding effect: “I was forever branded the girl who was accused of murder… that was the trajectory of my life, carrying this scarlet letter forever.” (19:19)
5. The Media and the Economics of Vilification
(24:05–25:28)
- Sophia reflects on how the public and media are drawn to the most “juicy” version of a story, rarely returning for the corrections or exonerations. She calls for societal reckoning with the way we devastate people for profit and entertainment.
- The two bond over the trauma shared by those with PTSD and public victimization.
6. Facing the Adversary: Correspondence with Her Prosecutor
(25:28–37:01)
- Amanda details her deliberate and courageous decision to reach out to her former prosecutor, motivated by the universal desire for “closure”: wanting to know if those who harmed you understood the implications and felt remorse.
- Correspondence began during the pandemic, taking a surprisingly positive and humanizing turn as they developed a relationship based not on animosity, but on mutual respect and the willingness to see each other’s humanity.
Amanda (32:22): “This man, who at one point in my life was describing how I was taunting and torturing another young woman, now turned around and said I was the sweetest and most compassionate and non-violent person that he'd ever met… and, like, who he genuinely likes and cares about.”
Amanda (34:11): “What it shifted for me… [was] this feeling like this man had control over my life. And that went away... he shrank in his scariness… he was no longer an obstacle between me and my self-actualization.”
- Amanda urges listeners to consider facing their own “monsters” as a route to regaining personal power: “Whoever you think is between you and your own self-actualization is not actually the obstacle.” (36:40)
7. Taking Back the Narrative: The Hulu Series
(37:13–43:44)
- Sophia and Amanda discuss Amanda's executive producer role on The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, and the importance of a survivor reclaiming their own story.
- Amanda explains how raw and intense the series is intended to be, with a focus on humanizing those involved and accurately portraying what happens inside prisons and courtrooms—realities many viewers may never witness.
Amanda (41:57): “Stories are an incredible thing because they’re a way of taking what matters and keeping it alive. And that includes Meredith. That includes me… before she and the truth were buried.”
- Sophia underscores the hope that this more truthful account may challenge stereotypes about wrongful convictions, and force broader questions about the justice system itself.
8. Purpose and Unexpected Healing Through Creativity
(48:49–54:25)
- Creating and producing the Hulu series gave Amanda new purpose and moments of unexpected catharsis—like being able to “say goodbye” to her recreated apartment, a ritual denied to her by her sudden imprisonment.
- Amanda describes this as “very high quality immersion therapy,” allowing her to grieve and release what she could not process at the time.
Amanda (51:42): “I just got to, like, sit in my apartment one last time. … I never got to say goodbye. … The last time I was there was when we discovered a crime scene.”
- Amanda and Sophia discuss how grief, while hard, is also vital and can make room for light to return.
9. Living with Trauma: Hypervigilance, Joy, and 'Pre-Grief’
(54:25–59:56)
- Amanda acknowledges that trauma follows her into positive life experiences—she is hypervigilant, fearing loss even in moments of happiness with her family.
- She has learned to accept—and even be grateful for—this “pre-grief,” as a reminder to savor the present.
Amanda (57:01): “Uncertainty is the principle of the universe. Impermanence is the principle of the universe. I don’t know what is going to happen… I just have to hold on to what matters to me while I can.”
10. Ongoing Work in Progress: Processing and Transformation
(58:03–59:56)
- Amanda sees herself as a work in progress, currently “juggling immense feelings at once,” and bringing “green shoots” of creativity from years spent processing darkness.
- Sophia likens Amanda’s emergence to leaving a chrysalis: “You've literally been in that chrysalis experience. You’ve composted. And you're making all new nutrient rich life.”
Amanda (59:56): "Yeah, it's a great place to be in."
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Gendered Scrutiny:
Sophia (07:53): "If you cry, maybe you're crying because you're guilty. If you don't cry, you're a frigid who has no feelings... no matter what you do, they're gonna tell you it's wrong." -
On Survival Mantras:
Amanda (09:12): “I was just sitting there in court just going, I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I just need to get through this moment.” -
On Ongoing Stigma:
Amanda (19:19): "I was forever branded the girl who was accused of murder. And I would be living with that being the role that had been cast for me." -
On Facing the Prosecutor:
Amanda (34:11): “The big shift was realizing like this man… was no longer an obstacle between me and my self-actualization.” -
On Taking Ownership of Her Story:
Amanda (42:29): “Someone like me normally does not get to do this. Typically, our stories are told without our consent and without our cooperation…” -
On Nurturing Post-Trauma:
Amanda (58:03): “Right now I feel like I have… processed and… churned through all of this really rich, dark material. And now I have it all coming out… all these green shoots sprouting out of me.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Female Public Shaming & The Scarlet Letter Reports: 03:13–04:36
- Surviving Prison Psychologically: 04:36–10:50
- Finding Meaning as Translator/Scribe in Prison: 10:50–13:56
- Exoneration Without Vindication: 14:15–19:36
- The Media's Preference for the "Juicy Lie": 24:05–25:28
- Correspondence with the Prosecutor: 25:28–37:01
- Taking Back Her Narrative Through the Hulu Series: 37:13–43:44
- Purpose and Ritual Healing via Creative Work: 48:49–54:25
- Joy, Hypervigilance, and Pre-Grief in Daily Life: 54:25–59:56
- Transformation and Life as a 'Work in Progress': 58:03–59:56
Episode Tone and Closing
The conversation is candid, heartfelt, intellectual, and often darkly humorous, sustaining Amanda Knox’s trademark blend of self-awareness, empathy, and dry wit. Both Sophia and Amanda emphasize the importance of seeking meaning, creative expression, and connection—even, or especially, after catastrophe. The episode closes with optimism, celebrating Amanda’s ongoing journey, her creative projects, and the possibility of repurposing pain into growth.