Work in Progress with Sophia Bush

Episode: Kristen Welker Part 2 (Feb 6, 2026)

Overview

In this candid and inspiring episode, Sophia Bush continues her conversation with Kristen Welker, NBC's "Meet the Press" moderator and acclaimed journalist. Through a blend of personal storytelling and professional insights, the pair discuss surrogacy and infertility, the gravity of political reporting, memorable interviews (including with President Zelensky), fostering bipartisanship, the pressures of debate moderation, and balancing a demanding career with motherhood. True to the podcast's theme, both women explore the idea of being a "work in progress," modeling vulnerability, resilience, and the pursuit of growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Speaking Out on Infertility and Surrogacy

[03:03–10:35]

• Sophia praises Kristen for her open discussions around infertility and surrogacy, noting "how you manage to be the anchor you are, but also to show us things that I didn’t really feel like I’d ever seen before." (Sophia, 04:54)
• Kristen shares her emotional journey with infertility, the decision to pursue surrogacy, and why she felt compelled to discuss it publicly:
  • "Infertility is incredibly isolating and lonely and common. One in six people experience infertility. And that's one of the reasons that I thought I have to speak out and share this journey." (Kristen Welker, 05:48)
  • She details juggling fertility treatments with a demanding job: "I would leave my live shots at the White House, rush to my appointments, rush back to work. Oftentimes would go to my appointments and get really tough news. My husband and I would... cry, wipe away the tears, go to work for the day, try to sweep it under the rug." (Kristen Welker, 06:32)
• The public’s response to her story was overwhelmingly supportive, making her feel less alone and offering comfort to others facing infertility.
• Kristen emphasizes the importance of "celebrating" her daughter's journey and maintaining relationships with their surrogates: "We still have relationships with both of our beautiful, incredible surrogates who are angels here on Earth." (08:49)

Notable Quote

"I wanted my daughter to feel celebrated. I wanted her to feel like her journey to this earth... is just as normal and excited and something to be celebrated as every other beautiful child who exists on this earth."
— Kristen Welker (07:58)

2. The Extraordinary Work of Surrogates

[10:35–13:29]

• Kristen and Sophia share personal anecdotes about surrogates, highlighting their selflessness and ongoing bonds with families.
• "It's an act of bravery, and it's just incredible. And again, we think of our two surrogates as angels on earth, truly." (Kristen Welker, 13:16)

3. Behind the Scenes: The President Zelensky Interview

[13:49–17:56]

• Kristen recounts her challenging journey to interview Ukrainian President Zelensky, revealing logistical hurdles due to a recent name change and tight scheduling.
  • "We are about to board the plane to Munich... and a big X comes up on the screen. ...I'm like, 'No, I have to get on the plane. You don't understand. I have an interview with President Zelensky.'" (Kristen Welker, 14:46–15:06)
• The interview’s significance:
  • It occurred a month into the second Trump administration, when U.S. support for Ukraine was in question.
  • Zelensky, for the first time, conducted most of the interview in English: "The crux of the interview, the majority of the interview he conducted in English, which was incredibly powerful and from the perspective of a US Audience, I think helped people really understand his point." (Kristen, 16:35)
  • Zelensky’s message: “Ukraine cannot survive without the United States support militarily.” (16:49)

Notable Quote

"All of the hurdles were absolutely worth it for what felt like, quite frankly, an historic moment."
— Kristen Welker (17:40)

4. Journalism, History, and Context — The Rolodex Mind

[17:56–22:30]

• Sophia and Kristen explore the importance of historical context in news reporting.
• Kristen describes Meet the Press’ approach: "We read through hundreds of pages every single week... We are always looking for that moment in time that we can reference, that we can bring back, that we can unearth." (19:55)
• Past interviews, especially Zelensky's, continually inform current coverage: “I always think back to his words then and how meaningful they are and how meaningful they continue to be.” (21:43)

5. Bridging Divides: Bipartisan Conversations

[26:52–33:29]

• Sophia highlights a favorite Meet the Press segment featuring bipartisan dialogue between Senators Raphael Warnock (Democrat) and James Lankford (Republican).
• Kristen explains this interview laid the groundwork for their ongoing "Finding Common Ground" series, in which lawmakers find points of agreement, often starting from shared values like faith.
  • "Their biggest area of agreement was we have to keep talking. We have to keep having these conversations." (Kristen Welker, 28:37)
  • "It was so powerful. And just the two of them sitting there together, I think was part of what made it so powerful..." (28:41)
• Kristen underscores the risks politicians take in seeking bipartisan dialogue, but affirms its necessity for progress.

Notable Quote

"People coming together across the aisle to bridge these divides... to find a way to push beyond those differences, to find some areas of agreement."
— Kristen Welker (29:36)

6. Moderating the 2020 Presidential Debate: Pressure and Preparation

[33:43–36:56]

• Sophia references social media acclaim for Kristen’s adept moderation; Kristen opens up about the stress and meticulous preparation:
  • "That was the hardest assignment I've ever had. ...That's when I really started to understand the power of mock debates." (Kristen Welker, 34:32)
  • Describes meditating before going on stage: “You’ve got to find your breath. You’ve got to center yourself. ...I almost put as much work into those two minutes as I did for the hour and a half debate.” (35:22)
  • Physical aftermath: “When I got through the debate, I stood up and I’ll never forget, my legs started shaking. …I was holding all this tension in my legs.” (35:51)
• Balancing satisfaction with constant demands: “I don’t linger on the kind of relief because every weekend I have another debate basically to prepare.” (36:46)

7. Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Personal Identity

[42:02–47:59]

• Sophia steers the conversation toward work-life balance, acknowledging the unfair pressures women face to "do it all."
• Kristen reflects: “My work in progress is trying to find that right mix of giving 150 to work and 150 to being a mom, which is always my top priority...” (Kristen Welker, 43:44)
  • She humorously recounts her toddler's 3am wakeups, juggling snow days and breaking news, and striving to be present for her children.
  • “I want them to be proud of me and I want them to look back at this body of work... and feel proud of it too. So I hold both things at once. And I think that that is my ongoing work in progress.” (44:53)
• The conversation turns philosophical about embracing the “both/and” of life:
  • Sophia: “The work of my life is to constantly be able to hold more things at the same time, including oppositional truths that are both true about the world.” (46:29)
  • Kristen: “It is both/and because they both have to exist, and I have to nurture both of them at the same time.” (47:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We still have relationships with both of our beautiful, incredible surrogates who are angels here on Earth, and we are just really grateful for them."
  — Kristen Welker (08:48)

• “We read through hundreds of pages every single week...to make sure that we’re not missing anything.”
  — Kristen Welker (19:58)

• "That was the hardest assignment I've ever had. ...That's when I really started to understand the power of mock debates."
  — Kristen Welker (34:32)

• "My work in progress is trying to find that right mix of giving 150 to work and 150 to being a mom, which is always my top priority..."
  — Kristen Welker (43:44)

• "It is both/and because they both have to exist, and I have to nurture both of them at the same time."
  — Kristen Welker (47:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Infertility and Surrogacy Discussion: 03:03–10:35
• Surrogates’ Stories and Impact: 10:35–13:29
• President Zelensky Interview Behind-the-Scenes: 13:49–17:56
• Role of Historical Context in Journalism: 17:56–22:30
• Bipartisan "Finding Common Ground" Segments: 26:52–33:29
• Moderating the 2020 Presidential Debate: 33:43–36:56
• Work, Motherhood, and Ongoing Growth: 42:02–47:59

Tone & Style

The conversation is frank, warm, and deeply personal, occasionally punctuated with humor and mutual admiration. Sophia uses her natural curiosity and empathy to draw out Kristen’s insights on both public and private fronts, while Kristen is open, thoughtful, and genuinely reflective about the weight of her responsibilities and the humanity that underpins her journalism.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in journalism, modern motherhood, or the pursuit of progress in both the personal and public spheres.