Work in Progress: Kamala Harris

Summary

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Podcast Summary: “Work in Progress: Kamala Harris” (November 24, 2025)

Host: Sophia Bush
Guest: Vice President Kamala Harris
Podcast: Work in Progress with Sophia Bush, iHeartPodcasts

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Overview

Sophia Bush welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris for an in-depth, heartfelt conversation about leadership, resilience, democracy, community, and what it means to persist as both a “masterpiece and a work in progress.” The episode is rooted in reflection—on Harris’s extraordinary 107-day presidential campaign, on the lessons from her upbringing, and on the communal nature of democracy. Together, they explore the reality of public service, sacrifice, hope as action, the importance of community, and the urgent need for truthful information in an era of disinformation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Roots & Early Influences

Timestamps: 06:41–11:27

• Sophia asks Kamala to reflect on her eight-year-old self, evoking stories of confidence, community, and standing up against injustice from a young age.
• Harris credits her “knock-kneed, pigeon-toed” childhood (07:16) and an environment saturated with love and encouragement for her lasting belief in justice and fairness.
• Having parents active in the civil rights movement, she internalized “an emotion that one has or should have about fairness or unfairness, justice or injustice.” (08:53)
• Early instinct to protect: Kamala recounts her first playground fight in defense of a friend with a lisp (10:10), underlining her innate sense of justice and loyalty.

"Nobody should be made to fight alone. ... You step in and don't just let it happen if there's something you can do about it."
— Kamala Harris (10:23)

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2. Leadership, Democracy, and the 107-Day Campaign

Timestamps: 13:14–20:43

• Candid look at the historic 2024 election: Harris steps into the presidential race after the sitting president bows out with just 107 days to campaign. She ran against a former president with little time to prepare.
• She emphasizes the deeply divided electorate (one-third each for her, her opponent, and non-voters) and stresses the importance of understanding why so many Americans abstained from voting.
• Kamala wrote her campaign memoir as a "journal," describing each day’s events and inviting readers to reflect on where they were during those historic moments.

“I wasn't about to have history talk about it without my voice being present.”
— Kamala Harris (14:26)

• A favorite campaign memory: At rallies, crowds of strangers passed babies forward for photos, “the most wonderful, wonderful thing about just community” and a symbol of collective hope and care (17:16).
• Kamala frames the 107-day campaign as an example of optimism, urging listeners:

  “You cannot let any election or individual or circumstance extinguish your light or diminish your light. It is in us and it is in each other.” (19:38)

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3. Public Service: Sacrifice and the Table Metaphor

Timestamps: 24:33–32:31

• Sophia delves into Kamala’s metaphor of the expandable table at the vice president’s residence—a symbol of adaptability and making space for all, regardless of status or familiarity.

• Harris clarifies her approach to leadership as duty-bound, not charity:

  “It’s not about charity... it’s about a duty, and it’s not negotiable.” (27:42)

• She critiques “perversion” of strength as beating down others—instead, true strength is "who you lift up." (28:00)

• On the importance of community and not being made to feel alone, especially amidst societal bullying and division.

• Sophia reflects on the importance of collective contribution, challenging the idea of resisting social support systems.

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4. The Role of Family, Legacy, and Women’s Health

Timestamps: 44:41–54:23

• Kamala frequently invokes her mother as both compass and anchor, recounting how her mother’s strength, activism, and legacy continue to guide her—especially during tough moments like grilling Supreme Court candidates.
• A poignant story: Kamala’s mother was determined and supportive near the end of her life—even as Kamala ran for Attorney General, her mother offered unflinching, sometimes fierce, encouragement (46:13).
• On personal sacrifice: Harris recounts missing her stepdaughter’s high school graduation due to Senate duties, underscoring the continual trade-offs of public life (39:18).
• “Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday” fell near both her birthday and the election, rekindling her sense of purpose around women’s health and dignity (50:47–54:00).
• Larger reflections on “fighting for dignity” in women’s health, maternal mortality reduction, and policy advancements for equity.

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5. Being Underestimated, Momentum, and Policy Lessons

Timestamps: 54:00–62:42

• The challenge of running as a woman and person of color—having to “work twice as hard to get to the same starting line,” echoed in her conversation with Cardi B.
• The campaign’s momentum was real but hampered by lack of time; Harris details her approach to policy during the race (affordable home ownership, combating corporate landlords, supportive policies for the “sandwich generation”).
• Honest self-reflection: Harris says if she had it to do over, she would prioritize affordable childcare, child tax credit, and paid leave before infrastructure, focusing first on “the here and now issues.” (60:33)

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6. Disinformation, Media, and Rebuilding Trust

Timestamps: 66:55–74:33

• Kamala identifies disinformation as a profound threat to democracy: the lowering of barriers to spreading falsehoods via technology, and the challenge it poses to shared reality.
• She warns against assuming people who voted differently “are working with the same information,” and highlights Gen Z’s pivotal role and skepticism regarding information sources (66:55–73:49).
• Emphasizes the power of everyday interpersonal conversations in pushing back against misinformation.

"Some of the most reliable and trusted sources of information for an individual are people they know."
— Kamala Harris (71:51)

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7. Hope, Resilience, and the Long Game of Social Progress

Timestamps: 75:53–81:06

• Sophia observes, “Hope can feel like a radical act right now," and commends Kamala's commitment to optimism, action, and community.
• Kamala insists on refusing defeat, even in the face of electoral loss:

  "You can concede an election, but not the fight for who we are." — Sophia Bush (78:30)
  "Sometimes the fight takes a while. ... So let's understand the nature of it and be up for it. And in the process have joy, have a sense of community, find time to laugh, find time to sing and to dance, eat good food. And fight. All these things coexist in a beautiful way." — Kamala Harris (80:18, 80:55)

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8. Audience Q&A: Advice for Young People and Activists

Timestamps: 85:08–97:48

• Advice to Youth (Darius, age 12):

  • “If you want to be in politics, ... you have to have a purpose that is bigger than yourself. ... Connect it to something that gives you a sense of passion, which you are ready to fight for." (85:44–88:13)

• Advice to Non-politicians (“small” acts):

  • “Never refer to yourself as doing small things. ... Being involved in campaigns and policy is important, but so is helping local nonprofits." (88:24–90:29)

• Sustaining Movement Momentum:

  • Listen to the people you wish to serve, fight with discipline and unity, and avoid infighting (“circular firing squad”). The movement must stay relevant, adapt rapidly, and fight fire with fire, especially against historic threats (91:20–94:28).

• International Solidarity & Canada–US Relations:

  • “The strength of the relationship between nations is ... dependent on the strength between the people of those nations.” (95:55)
  • Grassroots ties and shared values can outlast political turmoil or adversarial leadership.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nobody should be made to fight alone.” — Kamala Harris (10:25)
• “You cannot let any election or individual or circumstance extinguish your light or diminish your light.” — Kamala Harris (19:38)
• “There hasn’t been anyone like me.” — Kamala Harris, on her unique approach and perspective (27:28)
• “True strength is based on who you lift up.” — Kamala Harris (28:00)
• “It is often the people who have the least who give the most.” — Kamala Harris (32:31)
• “Fighting for dignity... is always going to be part of my fight.” — Kamala Harris (53:00)
• “If I had to do it differently, I would have first done affordable childcare, extending the child tax credit, and paid leave.” — Kamala Harris (60:33)
• “Don’t ever underestimate your power to have conversations with the people in your life ... about things you know to be accurate and true.” — Kamala Harris (71:51)
• “You can concede an election, but not the fight for who we are.” — Sophia Bush (78:30)
• “Sometimes the fight takes a while.” — Kamala Harris (80:18)

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Closing Reflections

The episode closes with Kamala Harris reiterating the importance of endurance— “the moral arc of the universe is long” and requires ongoing engagement (81:00). The audience Q&A wraps up with practical ways to make a difference, for both aspiring politicians and everyday activists. Kamala leaves listeners with a sense of hope, calling on everyone to embrace their leadership, nurture community, and refuse to let their spirit be defeated by setbacks or division.

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This summary omits all advertisements and non-content material, focusing solely on the substance of the discussion between Sophia Bush, Kamala Harris, and the audience Q&A.

Transcript

[Kamala Harris]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Kamala Harris]

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[Sophia Bush]

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[Sophia Bush]

Hi, everyone, it's Sophia.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Welcome to work in progress.

[Sophia Bush]

Please welcome to the stage Sophia Bush. Let me just put my notes down. My dog eared copy of this book, you know, well, hi, Canada. This is very cool. I am. I'm so thrilled to be here with you as a moderator, as a dual citizen of the US and this great country, and as a woman who believes very much in democracy. Now, before I bring out the star of our show, there's a few things we need to shore up here, you and I, Toronto. No, I am not related to the former President of the United States. My dad is from Montreal, which is why I know to say Montreal and not Montreal. He is an artist. He's never been a politician. Yes, I am an actor. You could say television personality, but I. Do you actually know the difference between domestic and foreign policy which you think would be relevant in my other country? Now, as someone who's been volunteering in democratic politics for nearly 20 years now, who hails from California, I have had the deep honor of being represented by Vice President Kamala Harris in a number of her roles. Serving the people from being a champion for small business, women who've suffered violence, the LGBT community, and both our love and our rights. She's also, if I may say so myself, a really great person to have announced that you're in love with a woman on Instagram for you. She did that for me, and it was basically my best claim to fame. All right, y', all, are you ready to have a Kiki with the Vice President? Ladies and gentlemen, Kamala Harris. I put down my hood. I look fly. Thank you. Thank you. Please, please, please, Than. Thank you.

[Kamala Harris]

And thank you all for taking the time to spend some time with us this afternoon. Thank you. It's great to see everybody.

[Sophia Bush]

Hi.

[Kamala Harris]

Hi.

[Sophia Bush]

Well, that made me emotional. Whoa. There's so much love in this room. Thank you for continuing.

[Kamala Harris]

For each other.

[Sophia Bush]

Right?

[Kamala Harris]

That's what we do. That's what we all do.

[Sophia Bush]

But in a time that is really so divided. Thank you for helping us gather in this way. It's really profoundly meaningful.

[Kamala Harris]

We're all here together.

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[Sophia Bush]

Okay. Before we dive into all the things, because 2025 really is 2025 ing. And even into this magnificent window, into this 107 days you've given us, I actually really want to go back.

[Kamala Harris]

Okay.

[Sophia Bush]

Because you are someone who we know sort of. We know your history. We know Your record, we know all these incredible things you've done, but if we could perform a really cool science experiment and suddenly in this room, be on the playground with Kamala Harris at 8 years old.

[Kamala Harris]

Oh, third grade.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah. Like, what would you see in her? What aspect. Aspects of that little girl would you, and maybe those of us who follow you, recognize today?

[Kamala Harris]

You would not recognize that I was pigeon toed and knock kneed and I used to run a lot scrapes on my knees to prove it. You know, I grew up in a family and a community. It's a real blessing and I know it. I grew up in an environment that every signal that was sent to the children was that you can be and do anything, that you are loved. And something else that I think we all do or should try to do, which is what I received, which is people telling me I was special. And I wasn't particularly special, but I believed them when they said it. And there's something about being in an environment that sends a signal to the children of the community. And I do believe that's how I think about it. Children are the children of the community, sending them signals that lets them know how special they are. And that's the environment I grew up in. I grew up as a child in a stroller. My parents were active in the civil rights movement. So, you know, all the adults around me were spending full time marching and shouting for justice, for equality. And, you know, that influenced me in just very substantial ways about also not only just intellectually and academically. And then later in my life as I went to law school, understanding the law, but from the very earliest years of my life, I understood there is an emotion that one has or should have about fairness or unfairness, justice or injustice. And for whatever strength or weakness it is for me, it remains an issue, which is I feel something and I feel strongly, especially when I witness or see an injustice or unfairness.

[Sophia Bush]

I think that that points to something that feels so disparate in our modern moment. There are people who see an injustice and want to respond in defense of others. And there are people who see injustice and relish in witnessing cruelty.

[Kamala Harris]

Or who witness it. And either it instills in them some fear that maybe if they do anything about it, then it will turn on them. And. Or they decide I better walk away from it because I don't want it to affect me. And I feel very strongly that an injustice, obviously against any of us is an injustice against all of us. But probably even more importantly, that nobody should be made to fight Alone. Nobody should be made to fight alone. I mean, when I was growing up, you know, in fact, well, thank you. One of the first fights I got in was in kindergarten, because my best friend in kindergarten, who is still one of my best friends, Stacy Johnson, I talk about her in the book, actually. Her mom came to the convention with her. Stacy had a lisp when we were growing up, and this kid was picking on Stacy, and I told him, stop picking on her. And then he and I got into a fight. But the point being that, you know, it's just, I guess, for me, instinctive that you step in and don't just let it happen if there's something you can do about it.

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[Sophia Bush]

I like that story. I got in my first playground fight in second grade.

[Kamala Harris]

All right.

[Sophia Bush]

See what I'm saying?

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[Sophia Bush]

I definitely got called to the principal's office because I'd seen every 90s comedy ever and, you know, a swift kick and didn't go well for my opponent. But, hey, look at us out there defending our people. Now, on that sort of humorous note, there's a really funny moment in your book that feels apropos for Toronto. Keegan. Michael Key says that the choice between you and your opponent in the 2024 election was like a choice of how to get from Canada to the United States. He said, and I quote, you can take the train to get over the border, or you can take a barrel over Niagara Falls. Feels, unfortunately, like we all wound up in that barrel together. But knowing how crazy it was, and I don't just mean running against that man whose name I'm gonna try not to say, that's just for me. Y' all can do whatever you want to. I don't have to be as classy as her. I wasn't the vice president. I can be petty. The stunning vision that you've given us of not only what it was like to run that race, but to run that race in a way that I think maybe didn't dawn on a lot of people around the world. At the time, you were our active vice president. You were running a presidential campaign, and you were preparing for a would be transition. So, like, memos, plans, appointing staff. I mean, you were doing three of the hardest jobs in the world all at the same time. And in a pair of stilettos, to be clear. The ladies know.

[Kamala Harris]

Or converse.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah.

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[Sophia Bush]

With pearls, though. Always the Chucks and the Pearls together. You write in this book about that crazy kind of roller coaster that you.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Were on, and you also talk about.

[Sophia Bush]

As a planner Some things went exactly according to plan and some didn't.

[Kamala Harris]

Oh, yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

And I'm curious for our friends with us today, when you think about what's encapsulated in this book, can you share a memory that comes to mind, good or bad, that still makes your heart race when you think about it, either something that went well or something that really did not go according to the schedule.

[Kamala Harris]

So there are many reasons I wrote the book. And one is it is unprecedented, those 107 days. So we had a sitting president running for re election who three and a half months before the election decided not to run. So the sitting vice president, I stepped in to run against a former president who had been running for 10 years with 107 days to go. And it turns out it was the closest presidential election in the United states in the 21st century. And I will add then in particular from my Canadian friends and many of you know, I went to school in Montreal. My mother did her work at McGill and did research at the Jewish General Hospital. My aunt, my Chinny Titi is here who lives in Mississauga. Where are you, Titi? I don't know where she is. She's here. So I care deeply about this relationship between the United States and Canada. But I mention also the historic nature of the race to also point out something that I think is important we all hold onto right now. One third of the US electorate voted for him, one third voted for me, and one third did not vote. And I mention that because I know that within the United States and among our friends outside of the United States, there has been this ongoing concern about what does this mean in terms of who is America. Please remember, 2/3 of the electorate did not vote for him. Now, But in terms of the work that we have to do, it also should be a point of emphasis to ask and think about why one third did not vote. And that is part of the work that I am thinking about and doing as we go forward. But writing the book was about ensuring that one, that we would acknowledge the unprecedented nature of it. But equally important, it is part of America's history. Those 107 days it has been written about, it will be written about. And I wasn't about to have history talk about it without my voice being present. And I wrote the book to the point of your question, in a way, for those of you who haven't yet read it, I wrote it like a journal. So the first chapter is that first day that I got the call from President Joe Biden that he was stepping out, July 21st of last year. And I write each chapter is a different day in the race. And I invite you, to the extent that you keep a journal of any sort as you're reading it, to also think about what you were doing on that day and the alignment of what we were all doing around that time. You know, one of. I'll tell you the. And there were, you know, there were incredible moments, but I tend to be very task oriented. And so during those 107 days, I never really allowed myself a moment to reflect on any particular day. My prayer every night was, God, I hope I have done everything I could possibly do with this day because I knew we had such a short period of time. And it was only in the writing of the book that I was able to really reflect on what it felt like each of those days. But one of my favorite memories that I think speaks volumes to the first point that you raised. I would do rallies with thousands of people showing up and without seats. So people are standing. And at the end of speaking on the stage, I'd get off the stage and walk into the crowd and there would be a rope line and I'd interact with folks, often hugging. Many people would cry. We would talk, take pictures, selfies. And it was not uncommon that maybe a parent 10 rows back who had their child on their shoulder would lift the child off their shoulder because the child wanted to come and they wanted me to take a picture. And the crowd would pass the baby all the way down and then I'd take the baby and we'd take a picture and then the crowd would pass the baby back. And it was the most wonderful, wonderful thing about just community, perfect strangers to each other. And, you know, there were so many moments like that. And in the midst of the darkness that we are all witnessing about to your point, 2025, I hope in the reading of the book and in the reflection, we will remember the light that we brought in those 107 days because it was in us and it is still in us. And I am a firm believer and I almost admonish people. You cannot let any election or individual or circumstance extinguish your light or diminish your light. It is in us and it is in each other. And we have to see it in each other. And in particular in moments of darkness. That is when that light is most important. Because the fight, back to the point, the fight is for something. The fight, from my perspective, is born out of a belief in what is possible. It is born out of a sense of optimism about what we can do, what can be, and that is what fuels then the fight. It is for something.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah. And now a word from our spirit sponsors that I really enjoy. And I think you will too.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

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[Sophia Bush]

Shh.

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[Sophia Bush]

Well, you talk in the book about how this is not a genteel profession.

[Kamala Harris]

Oh, it's a bloody knuckle sport.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

You gotta be ready to brawl, you said.

[Sophia Bush]

And I, I think about there was a, you know, there was like a little, not a poem, like a little Instagram, you know, screenshot of text that went around after the election talking about how hopefully hope isn't a pretty little thing. Hope is bruised and she's got a tooth missing and she's got blood pouring out of her face and she's getting up to keep fighting. And I think you've managed to give us a reminder that no matter how hard it gets, we have to keep fighting. And that there's joy in the fight. And that there's integrity in the fight. And that no matter who might be in charge today, good people who come together can always do more good than one bad person that wants to harm. And something that's really stuck with me. She's a very inspiring lady. You know, I've been thinking about this a lot. Something that's really stuck with me and I don't even, I don't know if you intended it to be a metaphor, but now it's become, in all my notes, the metaphor of your table.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

And you talk about how when you.

[Sophia Bush]

Moved into the Naples Observatory, which is where the vice President lives in Washington, D.C. you designed a table for the dining room that could be this, you know, big, gorgeous table for full staff meetings or big family holiday dinners, but it could break down into pieces, and four people could sit at a normal sized table for four. Or when you were in the process of vetting your three vice presidential candidates, it could be small enough for just two people to sit and have a conversation. And it was kind of like an itch I couldn't scratch on the inside of my brain. I couldn't figure out why it moved me so to hear you talk about that. And I realized it's the metaphor of who you've always been as a politician, which is you don't expect people to come to you. You go to where your voters are. You show up to talk to people who agree with you and people who don't. You promised that had you won, you'd have been a president for people who voted for you and for people who didn't. And you, as the vice President of the United States, thought it might be intimidating for somebody to sit at a giant table just with me. So let me make sure that in this residence, we can just sit one on one. And I don't know that there's anybody else like you who's held your office. And I just want to make sure you get your flowers for that.

[Kamala Harris]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Sophia Bush]

Makes me cry.

[Kamala Harris]

Well, there hasn't been anyone like me.

[Sophia Bush]

Oh, you mean that obvious? Factor seven.

[Kamala Harris]

But it's. Listen, it's a great privilege to lead. And with it comes not just. Not just a responsibility, but a duty. And I was raised that way to think of the work I do not out of. You know, when you are helping someone, it's not about charity. Oh, if I have a little extra, I will give. Oh, look at benevolent me. It's about a duty, and it's not negotiable. I was raised with a sense of understanding that we each have a responsibility to serve, no matter your profession. And often in the campaign, I would talk about what inherently was, I think, a great difference of perspective on this point between us and my opponent. And it is this. There is some perversion coming from that camp a lot. But that suggests. Hello, that suggests that the measure of strength is based on who you beat the down instead of what we know to be the real measure of strength, which is who you lift up. You know, I mentor. I mentor a lot of people and even the youngest of them. And I'll say if you want to really see your muscle. And it's an extraordinary thing that we all know in our lives, one seemingly small thing that you do that helps someone else and the difference it can make in their life. And if at moments in time we're wondering what is our strength? Those acts that are what I believe is the act of a duty that we have to each other reinforces the strength of the individual in the context of a community, you know, in this moment, I also believe that there is so much about what is coming from that side that is about an intent to spew hate and division with an intention to make people feel alone. And there can be nothing as disempowering as feeling alone. And if you compound that with the feeling anyone naturally has when you are witnessing the injustice that we are seeing, it has and can have an effect intended, I believe sometimes it to be to just create despair and despondency. What does it matter? What is my power? What can I really do? Pull the covers over, wake me up when it's over. And it's important for us to be clear eyed and intentional in this moment. That that is what we are experiencing that may be an intended effect from that bullying, from that attempt to beat down, whether it be norms and rules or relationships or values or principles. And it is at those very moments that we need to say, I know what you're up to and I'm not going to let you get away with it. I'm not alone. We exist in the context of a community in which we see and know and care about each other. We exist with the philosophy that nobody should be made to fight alone. And that will be evidence of our strength.

[Sophia Bush]

Got to be community over everything. You know, we, we only exist on this planet in a community project when people do that whole, like at least this happens, you know, with your downstairs rowdy neighbors. Apologies for us. Sometimes to our Canadian friends, you'll hear this adage in America people will say, oh well, I don't, I don't want to pay taxes for that, or I don't want to pay taxes for this. And I'm like, you don't want to contribute to people's kids having lunch in school. Like you don't want to contribute to your community. I don't get it.

[Walgreens Pharmacist Voice]

And.

[Sophia Bush]

I so deeply admire and respect that. That's always the point you come back to. You remind us that this earth is a group project.

[Kamala Harris]

I think it's important to understand.

[Sophia Bush]

The.

[Kamala Harris]

Generosity of individuals which I do believe most individuals have. You Know, part of what I write about is it has been my life experience that it is often the people who have the least who give the most. So with. So let's not conflate that with certain individuals who are in power, who have a desire and an intent to covet their power and grow their individual power at the expense of others, and who will, in so doing, push this. There are children here who will gaslight and suggest that you have less because people who have even less than you. This is the garbage they're pushing. Yeah, the garbage they're pushing is to say that you have less because of the powerless as a way to distract from the actions of the powerful. And we have to see that as it's happening and decipher what is happening. And that's part of what's at play right now. And the stuff they're trying to push, thinking that people are not smarter than to see what's really happening. And I would ask everyone to really take a moment to. To know and think about the elections that just happened a couple of Tuesdays ago in the United States as evidence of the point that the people are watching and they're not gonna be duped. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

I think a lot of those people who googled can I change my vote? The day after the election? Showed up this time, and that is important.

[Kamala Harris]

That was one of the most frequently asked questions of Google the day after the election. Yeah, how can I change my vote? And then my Canadian friends will appreciate the other most frequently asked question, which is, what is a tariff?

[Sophia Bush]

That was special. I was just filming a movie in Ottawa when the. When the Ontario tariff ad dropped, and I was like, I'm just so proud to be on Canadian soil this week. I love. Was great, you know, but I think about that for you, we have to have humor or we'll cry. I mean, I've obviously been crying up here, but that's what I do. You have displayed great humor and tenderness. You are on the road again, reminding everybody of the sacredness of this group project that is democracy. I know that can't be easy. And I also know you are a public servant. You put the people ahead of yourself all the time because it's who you are. On the individual side, though, I'm so curious. Yes, the fire for us, for the people, burns deep in you, but that kind of service demands sacrifice. As you climb the ladder of leadership, you. You give things up. And I'm. I'm very curious. Not just as our AG senator, vice president, advocate, people, person, Performing marriages for queer people way before anybody else in our state. Thank you very much. But just for you, not Madam Vice President, Ms. Kamala Harris. What, as a person, did you have to let go of in order to serve? And what, as the woman you are, did you refuse to surrender no matter what?

[Kamala Harris]

None of us have achieved any success that we've achieved without the support of others. I've had people in my life who have, and I hope and want this for any and everyone you know. I will say make sure that especially when you're going through something where you're in a competition, you're up for something. Have ambition, by the way. Have ambition. I applaud that. But try to have in your life that be intentional about maybe that small group within the group of people, you know, who will be the ones who have some sense of what you're going through and are the ones that you can call late at night and laugh about the thing you're not supposed to laugh about or say the words you may not say in the place where you pray or who will be with you. And when you trip, they will laugh at you, and then they will will pick you up and they will push you back out. It is part of my success is because I've had those people in my life, including my family. Again. My aunt is here. I had an extraordinary mother, her elder sister, my husband Dougie, who sends his love to everybody. And it is they who have supported me in extraordinary ways, and it is they who have sacrificed. When I was in the United States Senate, and I was elected to the United States Senate the same night that Trump was elected the first time, and it was a very obviously bittersweet personal experience because I thought we were going to have our first one woman president that night. And so I went to the Senate with a completely different agenda than I thought I'd have. And I served on the Senate Judicial Committee and ended up cross examining a lot of people, including people who now serve on the United States Supreme Court.

[Sophia Bush]

And.

[Kamala Harris]

One of those hearings was happening, and I had to be there, which meant that I missed our daughter's high school graduation. And it pained me to the point I was. But if I hadn't been there, it literally would have affected the outcome of the hearing. And I could go on and on about examples. I mean, my aunt is always saying, when are you coming to Toronto? I'm here, Chitti. I'm here right now.

[Sophia Bush]

She made it.

[Kamala Harris]

We got her here, you know, but so there are sacrifices that we all make, right? And I'VE made many, but my family and my friends have made those sacrifices with me. But you know, it's also about having moments where we can be together in celebration of the victories, whether it be the work that we have done that has been about, you know, one of my areas of focus, maternal mortality and extending benefits for postpartum care for women. I could go on and on. This is not a campaign event to give you a these are my accomplishments. But there are those high points where the work and the sacrifice is completely diminished as compared to the impact and.

[Sophia Bush]

Now a word from our wonderful sponsors.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

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 then the space hamster flew his.

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[Sophia Bush]

You always carry your people into rooms with you. You know, you talk about your aunt who's here, you talk about all of your family so beautifully. You write in the book about your mother and she appears over and over again in your story as both a compass and an anchor. And I'm curious in the moments of the most intense political pressure, be it grilling that Supreme Court candidate.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

Thank you for that.

[Sophia Bush]

I was screaming at the TV at home when that happened. No shock to anyone who knows me. You know, you. You stand up for people and I have a hunch that it's because you see the faces of the people you love in every room you're advocating in. And I'm curious in moments like that, when things are so intense, or in moments like you describe in the book Are there faces or voices that always rise above the noise for you?

[Kamala Harris]

Certainly my mother is one of them. My baby nieces are also those voices I write in the book. In fact, they appear in the very first chapter because we were. We just had pancakes and bacon and sausages and I was in my sweats and I hadn't showered when I got the news that I was going to be running for President of the United States.

[Sophia Bush]

If my memory serves me correctly, you were on the floor doing a piece.

[Kamala Harris]

We were cross legged on the floor doing a puzzle, which is the best thing to do with your very young children for hours at a time and get everyone in. Yeah, that's where we were. So their voices, you know, my mother's voice. I hear my mother's voice a lot. You know, when I ran for Attorney general, it was when my mother, as it turned out, was dying of cancer and I took care of her and I, you know, as any of you have sadly experienced, we were back and forth to the hospital a lot. And there was one day we were at the hospital, she was in the bed, she was exhausted and I was sitting next to her on a chair. She was on the bed and she was looking in that direction and I was here. And she said she was very tired. And she said, how's the race for Attorney General coming? And I looked at her and I said, well, mommy, they said they're going to kick my ass. And my mother turned around and looked at me and smiled because she knew what they were in for.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah. And that smile was a high Darum.

[Kamala Harris]

And that was. That smile. That smile was bread on, you know. But you know, like I said about like that group of people that you should have with you. So in the beginning I thought one of those people in that group should be my mother. And then I realized that was a huge mistake because she just wanted to kick everybody's ass. And so I'd have to spend full time talking her down.

[Sophia Bush]

Oh yeah.

[Kamala Harris]

And so I realized, yeah, no, Mommy cannot be a part of that group because it would be disastrous just for other people. Yes, I love that. But you know, those are the voices. And again and that I think it's just very intentional in life. And I've learned this through all that I've experienced in terms of highs and lows to try as much as possible and be intentional about who's in your life. And to the extent that we have the luxury or ability to make choices about who is in that closest circle and that makes life better. I think when we do that.

[Sophia Bush]

You watched your mom march for justice, organize help to isolate the progesterone gene that absolutely changed breast oncology, eventually suffer from cancer herself. It's such a beautiful American dream story and a really crushing reminder that no matter how you live or where you live or what you do, you can't avoid, you know, illness, life. The things you advocate as a leader to help people through, to open more access, to open more pathways to care. And you wrote in your book, talking about her legacy, how special it was close to the end of the. The run that it happened to be pink Sunday, a day of prayer for breast cancer sufferers and lost in October.

[Kamala Harris]

Yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

And how that fell on your birthday.

[Kamala Harris]

Yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

And you got to be with all of these people and be reminded of, you know, community. You write about the parable of Isaiah, to be encouraged not to otherize, not to see a stranger, but a neighbor.

[Kamala Harris]

Mm.

[Sophia Bush]

Can you share a little bit about that moment? It's such a personal one in such a national time. But I. I'm so struck by the way you were able to be covered in a day that was hard to miss her. And in a big day in your own life.

[Kamala Harris]

That day was so. It was days before the election. So My birthday is October 20. The election was on November 5.

[Sophia Bush]

Happy belated birthday, Madam Vice President.

[Kamala Harris]

That's not my point, but thank you.

[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Thank you.

[Sophia Bush]

I had to do it.

[Kamala Harris]

And I was, of course, campaigning and it was. And October is always in the States, Breast Cancer awareness month. And that particular Sunday obviously happened to follow my birthday. And it was a special day because the congregation, in particular, all the women were in pink to commemorate breast cancer awareness. And, you know, my mother really did, and I learned it again at a young age. And part of the fight that I've always been engaged in is to fight for the dignity of women in the healthcare system. And that was a day that, in particular, that close to the election was a reinforcement of why we were in the fight. Because still there is so much work we have to do, certainly in the states, on the issue of women's health and reproductive health and the dignity that women deserve in the health care system. We still have one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any so called wealthy country in the world. We still have globally, so much work to do that is about increasing funding and resources that go into scientific research around the health issues that specifically impact women's bodies. And it is part of my fight. It is always going to be part of my fight again. You know, I think what's interesting Also, in terms of what you've been witnessing recently is people ask, what are some of the biggest differences between Republicans in terms of the elected party representatives and Democrats in elected office? And probably one of the biggest differences in the United States is the fight and who's waging the fight for affordable health care. And again, it really does come down to as much as anything, yes, equality and fairness and justice, but also dignity. An undercurrent for me, and most of my work has been just that point, which is the dignity to which everyone is entitled. But if you look at certain disparities in systems, you will see do not receive. And that is the point when we talk about equity, when we talk about diversity, when we talk about inclusion, these issues fundamentally are also about dignity and recognizing the dignity in each other. And so that day represented one of those days. And there are many days like that.

[Sophia Bush]

It's really beautiful. It's a passage that reads in such a moving way in the book because it feels like you just got some sort of, like, sign, you know, some really special moment from her. And to your larger point about how she inspired you to look at the standing of women in the world, the way we are treated, the way we are often held back in arenas like health care. You know, the book touches on being underestimated. There are passages that I read along with photographs sent to girlfriends who were like, you tell them, you know, talking about how we've got to work twice as hard to get to the same starting line. And you had a great conversation about this with Cardi B. I was obsessed. You've really taken it into every arena. And I'm curious where you felt like, for you, as this candidate who had to do so much catching up in just that three and a half months you spoke of, is there a point on the trail when you felt like that shifted, or do you feel like it was close to shifting and you just needed a little more time?

[Kamala Harris]

There's no question we needed more time. And. But the momentum was absolutely on our side. And the, you know, as you mentioned earlier, Sophia, there was. There was an enthusiasm about what is possible, dare I say joy. And it continued to grow. And again, one of my great experiences in those 107 days was as the room would grow larger and larger, you would see that people who seemingly had nothing in common knew they had everything in common. And. But we needed more time. I mean, running for President of the United States means you have to earn the vote. And I was keenly and fully aware of that. You can't Assume that anyone is going to vote for you. You got to earn the vote. And that was, as you read the book, you will see perhaps the tension in the short time we had to talk with as many people as possible. You know, marketing people will say that someone needs to hear the same message three times before they actually absorb it. So that's about repetition. The campaign in the 107 days, although obviously national, really focused on seven states, the swing states, and it was about going back to those states as frequently as possible, while not neglecting other states, but knowing that this is where the decision would be made. And so the task at hand was to be present. It was to give people an understanding of my background and my accomplishments. You know, one of the things that I enjoyed. You've asked a lot of questions about just what the personal experiences brought to bear on the campaign. It includes, during the convention, the Democratic convention, I gave a speech that I took a lot of time thinking about and preparing. That was what I knew would be an introduction or reintroduction. And part of what I talked about there, you'll appreciate this, is that I have a family by blood and a family by love, and they are both family. I talked, yes, But explaining that my. My sister and I would ride around the neighborhood on our banana seat bikes. Anybody remember those? Exactly. I talked about my best friend from high school, Wanda, who is here, and she and I were in high school together in Montreal. I talked about who I am as a person and my life experiences, including my priorities, which included, for example, that as President of the United States, I intended to honor our relationships with our allies and understand the importance of the interconnection and interdependence and the importance of honoring the relationship and its history. But I needed to do that as much as possible to let the people who are going to invest their time and think, thought about who would be their next president. In knowing who I am, there was the work to do about introducing policy. You know, one of the things I write about in the book is that I had. My focus on policy really was about something I think Democrats have got to do better, which is focusing on the here and now issues. You know, our administration did extraordinary work, including honoring the relationships. But if I had to do it differently, I would have delayed the infrastructure bill that we did and the CHIPS act bill that we did that was about obviously upgrading America's infrastructure and investing in chips. And I would have first done the affordable childcare, extending the child tax credit, and paid leave as the first thing that we would have done as an administration to address the here and now issues in my campaign. That is why, as my priority policies were to offer for the first time, that we would give a $25,000 down payment for first time home buyers, that we would take on corporate organizations that were buying up properties and jacking up rents, that I would take on predatory practices that included price gouging, something I dealt with when I was attorney General. These were the things that I was offering as a new policy approach to dealing with everyday issues. 107 days to let everybody know. And it took time. One of the policies that I still feel so strongly about as a segue on health care was again, we have a very different health care system in the United States than in Canada. And the health care system that exists now has, although we have the Affordable Care act, which was an incredible breakthrough, there are still so many holes in the system, including what it means for what we, and I refer to as the sandwich generation. People who are raising their young children while they're taking care of their senior relatives and parents. They're in the sandwich generation. And for so many who are there, it is almost impossible to take care of both. So I was, as part of my policy and did all the homework that it was absolutely something that was feasible and could be done, would have offered Medicare to cover home health care for people who are in that situation so they don't have to quit their job, which means paying rent to be able to take care of their children, take care of their elder relatives, and then be completely overwhelmed and bankrupt again. To talk with the number of people that needed to hear this and for them to be able to hear it and know it in 107 days was a huge challenge. Part of the momentum that I'm referring to in terms of, of what we were building, if you track it, you can see that as more people started to hear that I attribute to the momentum about the growth. And so there you are. But these are the realities of running for president or any office. And I don't bemoan the responsibility, which is that the candidate must earn the support, right?

[Sophia Bush]

And now a word from our sponsors.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

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.

[Sophia Bush]

Shh.

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[Sophia Bush]

If you could go back to that first day 107 and write yourself a post it note to slap on your mirror. What would it say being able to look back.

[Kamala Harris]

Get more days.

[Sophia Bush]

Get more days. I want that too.

[Kamala Harris]

But here's the other thing that I will mention about what I write about and a challenge that we are all facing right now that I think is underestimated in terms of its impact on democracy and the well being and health of us as societies. And that is the issue of mis and disinformation. It is profound and I most recently probably in one of the most public ways have been the subject of disinformation. And I will tell you that if we want to deconstruct the concern that we have about divisions in society and and challenges and threats to democracy, this is one of the issues that we have got to take on with force. Often I am actually suggesting to people who are having disagreements with people who voted differently than them in the last election is I think we have to think about are we making certain assumptions and challenge those assumptions and one of them is the assumption that the person who voted differently than us is working with the same information we are that part and I purposely by the way said information not fact because two plus two equals four every day of the year but different information and the reality of it is that mis and disinformation being widely spread is not a new phenomena in terms of the threats to a democracy. It has always existed whether it be the wide dissemination of flyers and all that. But what we are seeing now is that unlike before where for it to widely, to disseminate widely, it would really take nation states ability to do that. You should adversarial now because of the Internet and technology which has otherwise democratized voices and there is a strength to that. But it has also lowered the bar of entry for those who want to engage in mis and disinformation. And if it's hot enough, it will attract forces that allow it to grow quickly. And it is a huge challenge. I've been convening. First of all, I love Gen Z. I love Gen Z. I love this generation of people. Go on, just go for it. Gen Z, by the way, for anyone who does not know, they are at least in the states and I'm pretty sure here in Canada, they are demographically a larger population than boomers. They are between about age 13 and 28. They have only known the climate crisis. They lost critical phases of their education and socialization during the pandemic. It is estimated that they will, upon graduation from high school or college, have in their lifetime 10 to 12 jobs. Whereas older generations came out of high school, came out of college, that one job is where they retired. They are acutely aware if you have anyone in your life who is college age or in college, they are acutely aware that what they are studying now may or may not lead to an employable job because of technology. And in convening them, as I've been, one of the things they will share with me is one that they are aware of how they are basically a commodity in the way that technology is playing around, around social media. But a point that they are also raising with me often is we intuitively know and can decipher mis and disinformation, but where do we go for accurate information?

[Sophia Bush]

Yes.

[Kamala Harris]

And so as we move forward, and certainly as I think about it, that is one of the challenges we face is how do we ground these discussions that are in particular when we are faced with a disagreement of at least opinion, have as our entry point not the difference of opinion, but a query about whether we're working with the same information.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah.

[Kamala Harris]

As a beginning point, and then also having some idea about where we all collectively trust to be the sources of accurate information. But I mention again, Gen Z because they're not for the most part, and I say this to people of my generation, they're not watching the evening news. They're not. And a lot of their information, for example, they're getting on TikTok, Instagram. Right. And so as we are thinking about the future of democracy as the future of society, how we are going to deal with what we see and feel and witness to be the divisions in society, one of the issues that, that we have to confront and really think about is this issue of where and how do we share accurate information? And interestingly enough, and I can tell you, certainly in politics, we know it to be true. Some of the most reliable and trusted sources of information for an individual are people they know. So I offer that to the friends here to reinforce. Don't ever underestimate your power to have conversations with the people in your life, colleagues, friends, neighbors, which are grounded in sharing information about the things you know to be accurate and true. And do that knowing that you should not assume that we're all working with the same information.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah, yeah. Figuring out how to get back to the foundation of the house being facts and not the phrase coined by you know who downstairs. Cause alternative facts are not a thing.

[Kamala Harris]

They're just downstairs from you. Who are you talking about? I'm talking about America.

[Sophia Bush]

Like the crazy downstairs neighbors sometimes to Canada.

[Kamala Harris]

She's like, ma', am, who is that person?

[Sophia Bush]

She's like, you moved to the east coast and suddenly your neighbors are crazy. No, it's us. Okay.

[Kamala Harris]

I just want to make sure I didn't disrepute.

[Sophia Bush]

And like, you know, there's facts or there's lies, frankly, we've got to have the foundation be. Let's meet to talk about the facts and then figure out with our differences of opinion how we're going to build the house.

[Kamala Harris]

Yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

And I'm thrilled that this is something you're focusing on. It's. You know, I've got a thousand more cards and we're running out of time.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

So I'm not going to be able to ask all those questions.

[Sophia Bush]

But particularly watching you move into new media despite not having had all that many days. You know, I say this as a person who has a podcast. Podcast equipment has gotten. And far too inexpensive. Some people, I'm like, you shouldn't have a podcast. You're literally spouting the lie parts that are gonna get people killed.

[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

Stop it.

[Sophia Bush]

So knowing that you are on the case of helping us cut through some of the noise and return to some truth telling thrills me. Dare I say it makes me feel hopeful. And hope can feel in the world right now, not just for us and folks in the United States, but I think globally. Hope can feel like a radical act right now. And it strikes me that you are moving through your leadership clearly and tactically and with hope. You're not letting go of the joy that you gave to us last year. And I'm curious for you, when you look at the landscape of your life right now and you look at what you're excited about, what feels like your work in progress.

[Kamala Harris]

You know, when I look at. When I look at Gen Z, when I look at the young people, when I look at those who are young, whatever your age, who. We still have a glimmer and a light. And I just. I strongly believe that no election or individual should be allowed to defeat our spirit. Because then the bad guys are winning, right? You can't let something defeat your spirit. And I feel that way. I feel that you never let anyone take your power from you.

[Miko Mini AI Advertiser]

And.

[Kamala Harris]

There'S so much worth fighting for. Look, you know, for those of us who have. And everyone here has experienced some conflict, some form of defeat or disappointment. But wherever you started your day, we're all here together. And that tells us something about ourselves. That it is our nature. And I don't suggest that we should be blind to what's happening. I don't suggest that we should be deeply troubled and angry and, you know, and, you know, depressed and sad and all of those things. Those are good emotions to have when you care. It's important to care. And then we gotta just say, okay, I understand what's happening here. I'm gonna get back out there. Cause there are gonna be people there when I go back out there. And we're gonna need to see each other. I mean, I ask you just look at the person next to you and say, hey, how you doing? Just like, look, we're all here together.

[Sophia Bush]

Hi.

[Kamala Harris]

We're all here together right now. It's really great. You know, it's really great. We're all here together, you know, and let's hold on to these feelings. This is who we are by nature. And we can't be defeated. Cause there's too much worth. There's so much to do and so much good to do.

[Sophia Bush]

So it's refusing defeat. It's like you said, you can concede an election, but not the fight for who we are.

[Kamala Harris]

Absolutely right. And to that point, Sophia. So in the rallies, I would end every rally with a call and response, which is that I would say when we fight, and the audience would say, we win. Because I believe that. And election night and writing that chapter of the book was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done. So that night, our plan was that we would have gone to. To the campus of my alma mater, Howard University, to give a victory speech. We thought we were going to win. And of course, that is not what happened. And so I had to figure out the speech I was going to give the next day to all the people who came back assembled from the night before and I was just battling with myself. I have to figure out how to reconcile. Reconcile for the people who are there and everyone who heard me and believed me when I said we fight, we win. I had to reconcile that because it was not when I said that and then given the outcome, it was not as trite as all you win some, you lose some. And on my way to Howard, to the university, I actually wrote into myself speech the thing that I believe equally to that. And sometimes the fight takes a while.

[Sophia Bush]

Yep.

[Kamala Harris]

And sometimes the fight takes a while. Right. So let's understand the nature of it and be up for it. And in the process have joy, have a sense of community, find time to laugh, find time to sing and to dance, eat good food. And fight. All these things coexist in a beautiful way.

[Sophia Bush]

Yeah.

[Kamala Harris]

In a beautiful way.

[Sophia Bush]

The moral heart of the universe versus long. It's long.

[Kamala Harris]

Yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

And we have to remember to stay engaged for the long haul. And now a word from our sponsors who make this show possible.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

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. Expires 12.8C paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc. Nmls 910457 then the space hamster flew.

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[Sophia Bush]

It's a perfect segue to the Q and A from some of our audience I have for you. Farah is asking on behalf of my 12 year old nephew Darius. What advice would you give to youth like him who want to pursue a future in politics? How do you?

[Kamala Harris]

Farah, where are you? Hi Farrah. Is Darius here? Hi Darius.

[Sophia Bush]

Stand up, let's see you.

[Kamala Harris]

Oh I'm so glad you're here and that you guys are here together. See, this is why we're excited, right? This is why we're excited. So here's the thing to write. So first of all, I have to tell you that I'm so excited you're here. And I love seeing our young leaders. I believe we were all born as leaders. And it's just a matter of when you decide to turn it on. And the fact that you're here means you have decided already. And that's the beginning step. If you want to be in politics, here's what I would encourage you to do. Think about and talk with people about the Ask people in your life what are the things that make you afraid and what are the things that make you hopeful. And then start to listen to what they're talking about. And it may be they are afraid about the climate crisis. And then if they talk to you about that, I want you to do some research to understand exactly what is the nature of the crisis. You're going to find that human behavior has a lot to do with it. Find out what people are hopeful about. Maybe it's that they're starting a family. And then you're going to think about, well, what would make for a health family. And that could be about the education of the children, the health care that they have, their ability to afford a home. And listen to these things and then pay attention to what just kind of gives you a little tingle, like, oh, that's something I want to know more about. Because if you're going to decide to get in politics, you have to have a purpose that is bigger than yourself. And it's about figuring out how you can help people. But connect it to something that gives you a sense of passion, which you are ready to fight for it. You stay up at night thinking about it, and that's how I want you to think about it. Okay, High five. Virtually. High five. Virtually. There we are.

[Sophia Bush]

Beautiful. Alexa would like to know, for those of us who might never run for office but want to make a difference where we are, what is a small action you actually think is powerful?

[Kamala Harris]

Where's Alexa? Where are you?

[Sophia Bush]

Hi. Hi.

[Kamala Harris]

So, first of all, I want you to never refer to yourself as doing small things. Okay? Just don't do that. Also, like, please don't ever say sorry unless you break something. You know what I mean? Oh, I'm sorry. I have a question. No, just ask the question. There is no smile. There's no small thing you can do. One of the things I think so, first of all, being involved in campaigns and policy around advocacy around the policies that you care about is very important. I think one of the things, especially now, that is incredibly important is figure out in your community where there are nonprofits that are doing work that is the work that you care about. So many of our nonprofits are just stretched around their resources, be it the people who work there or just their funding. And when a stranger walks in and says, or calls and says, or emails and says, how can I help you guys? That's really great. And there are nonprofits that are doing a range of good work that would love, I'm sure, to hear from. From you, to figure out how you can contribute to what they're doing. And, you know, here's the great thing about politics, about nonprofit work. You meet the best people. You meet the best people when you're in those places because you just. It's other people who are just, you know, they just. They're ready to roll their sleeves up and do it. And sometimes it's about baking cookies, and sometimes it's about, you know, doing whatever needs to be done around writing or just out there knocking on doors. So I would encourage you to think about it that way. Okay. All right. Thank you.

[Sophia Bush]

I've got one more for you. And forgive me, I don't have a pronunciation guide here, so I'm going to try my best. Princess Geld.

[Kamala Harris]

Princess, where are you? Well, there are so many here. I know, but.

[Sophia Bush]

I don't know.

[Walgreens Pharmacist Voice]

Where.

[Kamala Harris]

Oh, where. It's okay. You don't. Oh, there. Are you there? Yes, there. She doesn't want to stand up.

[Sophia Bush]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[Kamala Harris]

There. We're gonna pretend that we don't see you, even though we do.

[Sophia Bush]

It's okay. We know your general vicinity now. Given the incredible momentum the Democratic Party has built recently, what guidance would you give to ensure the movement stays energized, united, and connected to the people it serves?

[Kamala Harris]

You gotta listen. I mean, part of it is just that basic. You have to listen to the people. You can't lead as a party or as an individual by telling people what's in their best interest. You have to listen. And right now, the future of the Democratic Party has to also be fueled as it's been. And we've got great leaders around fighting. You gotta be ready to fight. I mean, this is a time truly to fight fire with fire. This is not a time to sit around and complain about, oh, they're cheating. They are cheating. And so that's how I think about it. And we have to be, you know, part of connected with the first part about listening is you have to be relevant. And that means being clear eyed about a moment in time and challenging assumptions and being prepared to. This sounds so cliche, but to meet the moment. And that is yes, about the fight, but it's also about, you know, I mean again, my earlier point that we've discussed about mis and disinformation about how technology is having such an impact at such a radical rapid pace and what that's doing around displacement. And I don't mean to say that technology is bad, but there are impacts that we cannot overlook when we as a political party are professing to have a vision for the future. And, and also the future of the party has to be about understanding that we cannot have a circular firing squad and we have to be disciplined. You know, so there is the tactical piece of it all. You know, there's a piece of it that's about policy, there's a piece of it that's about messaging and then there is the tactical piece of it. And that's maybe where you can put it under that category that's about knowing how to fight. And part of it is understanding that given what's at stake, this is not a time to have a circular firing squad when the stuff that we are dealing with is historic in nature and has the potential to end up causing an extraordinary amount of debris because of destructive policies. And on that happy note, let's see, let's not end with that. Okay, Come on, give me one more. I have so many more questions I.

[Sophia Bush]

Didn'T get to ask. Hold on.

[Kamala Harris]

I'm not sending you guys back out into that cold with this.

[Sophia Bush]

But you know what? It's all about staying engaged. And I am really curious, you know, part of the way we do that to your point is partnership.

[Kamala Harris]

Yeah.

[Sophia Bush]

Whether it's showing up at a non profit, whether it's encouraging people to get active early, whether it's doing something for your neighbor. And we are up, we're upstairs. If you're picking up what I'm putting down with our neighbor Canada. And I'm really, I'm really curious from your vantage point, you know, there's big bad global forces moving. Fascism's on the rise everywhere. It's scary on the planet.

[Kamala Harris]

You're supposed to go to a happy place.

[Sophia Bush]

I know, I'm gonna just follow me there. I'm long winded too, you know, But I think, think of not only how we can show up in our communities, but how we can show up across our continent. And when you think about the potential for allyship, as you mentioned earlier, for partnerships between countries like ours in Canada, both mine love it. For me, like, how do you envision that kind of international progressive advocacy working?

[Kamala Harris]

That's great. I love how you framed it. This is how I think about it. The relationship between nations. I believe I, as vice president of the United states, met over 150 world leaders, presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings and have traveled the world, as you can imagine. I am convinced that the strength of the relationship between nations is completely and almost entirely dependent on the strength between the people of those nations. The people. The relationship between Canada and the United States, and I know it. It's a lived experience for me. I lived in Canada, is as much as anything, not about the relationships between the prime minister and the President. It's about the people. And let's remember that. Let's remember that. Let's remember that it is about mutual respect and admiration and shared experiences. And especially in moments like this where to your point, around the world, we are still seeing an ascendancy in some places of leadership that is working against that spirit. Let's have some faith in the fact that we still do have those relationships between the people and that that will carry us through a specific moment of conflict or crisis. And I certainly believe that's true as it relates to the United States and Canada. I do.

[Sophia Bush]

That's beautiful. I have so many more questions, but we are out of time. So if I may, I would like to echo one last sentiment from your book. Your pastor, Bishop Leah Daughtry, sent you a meditation every day of your campaign. And this is after 20 years of your friendship. On the final day, she told you to stand, to stand in the strength that was given to you, believing and knowing that you've done your part. Oh, I'm gonna cry. Sorry, guys, I'm fine. Tonight, I would really love if you would do me and everyone here the honor of standing so we can just shower you in the appreciation you deserve. Ram.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

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. Expires 12.8C paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc. NLP MLS 910457 Then the space hamster.

[Children's Story Narrator]

Flew his hot air balloon all the way to the bottom of the ocean.

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

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[Pharmaceutical Advertiser]

Xolair Omalizumab is proven to significantly reduce allergic reactions if a food allergy accident happens. Xolair 150mg is a prescription medication used to treat food allergy in people 1 year of age and older to reduce allergic reactions due to accidental exposure to one or more foods. While taking Xolair, you should continue to avoid all foods to which you are allergic. Don't use if you are allergic to Xolair. Xolair may cause a severe life threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Tell your doctor if you have ever had anaphylaxis. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing or if you have swelling of your throat or tongue. Xolair should not be used for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Xolair is for maintenance use to reduce allergic reactions including anaphylaxis while avoiding food allergens. Serious effects such as cancer, fever, muscle aches and rash, parasitic infection, or heart and circulation problems have been reported. Please see xolair.com for full prescribing information. Ask an allergist about Xolair. This is an advertisement for Xolair paid for by Genentech and Novartis.

[Sophia Bush]

Amazon Five Star Theater presents real customer reviews performed by a real serious improv podcaster. Tonight's review Spatula for the Stars When I'm dead and civilization eventually collapses, this spatula will remain. It will be the only rune uncovered by some unknown species of the future upon which they base their assumptions of our existence. Eggs they will posit These extinct people like to eat their eggs and this was their primary tool for cooking them. Let us teleport and put this device.

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In the Milky Way exhibit.

[Sophia Bush]

5 stars Zachary, find your perfect gift this holiday on Amazon.

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[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

First.

[Kamala Harris]

There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes. This is an Iheart podcast.