Work In Progress with Sophia Bush

Episode: Monica Lewinsky, Part 2

Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid, insightful follow-up conversation, Monica Lewinsky joins Sophia Bush for a second time to continue exploring the complexities of public life, shame, resilience, anger, media narratives, and reclaiming one’s story after public humiliation. Both women reflect on personal journeys, the generational evolution of misogyny and media treatment, and their shared mission to make space for nuanced, healing conversations—on their own terms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life on a Public Stage: Shifting Realities (03:05-07:04)

• Sophia draws parallels between her own early fame and Monica’s shift into the limelight, highlighting how isolation and long hours reframe one’s social circle and sense of belonging.
  • “The uniqueness of having a human life on a public stage cannot be overstated. And people want to roll their eyes and go, oh, poor you. Nobody gets how hard this is.” (03:15, Sophia)
• Monica reflects on her move from the White House to the Pentagon, feeling like an outsider, and recalls being patronized in ways unthinkable today.
  • “I mean, I joke about being like Private Benjamin...I just was a fish out of water there.” (05:29, Monica)
  • “My supervisor said to me, well, it’s a much sexier job at the pen. I mean, like, can you imagine someone saying that in today’s world?” (06:40, Monica)
• Discussion of how physical and emotional distance from friends and family shapes vulnerability and trust.

2. Youth, Maturity, and Society’s Double Standards (07:04-10:44)

• Both recall being very young adults (early 20s) and discuss the myth of maturity at that age.
  • “We were still kids. Yes, we were young adults, but there is this odd obsession with when you know enough.” (07:31, Sophia)
  • “Exactly. You can’t, you can’t even rent a car by yourself.” (07:50, Monica)
• Critique of society and media figures who excuse the abuse of underage girls, and discussion of developing self-awareness over time.

3. Fantasizing Alternative Lives & the Cost of Scandal (10:44-13:13)

• Monica talks about her career ambitions before the scandal and the unreality of nostalgic “what ifs.”
  • “So what my life might have looked like, had this not all happened, is one version of a fantasy.” (11:54, Monica)
• Sophia acknowledges the intoxicating power of “being chosen,” and the challenge of truly making choices for oneself instead of just picking from limited options.

4. Media Narratives, Misogyny & Bearing the Burden (13:13-17:11)

• Sophia addresses the frustrating pattern where women bear the brunt of blame in public scandals.
  • “For some reason, even reflecting on it, I get judged instead of being like, no, I actually have quite a mature understanding of what that was and I don’t care anymore.” (14:04, Sophia)
• The pair highlight how misogyny and profit motives drive coverage—often knowingly at the expense of women’s reputations and wellbeing.

5. Online Shaming, Anger, and Agency (15:07-18:52)

• Monica is recognized as “patient zero of modern online shaming” and considers changes in societal discussions around age, power, and consent.
• They discuss the suppression of anger as a survival method for shamed women.
  • “There is a level of anger I never allowed myself to get into, to talk publicly.” (16:52, Monica)
  • “God forbid a woman have so much agency that she’d be furious at the way she’s been treated...” (17:19, Sophia)
• Monica mentions undergoing a SPECT scan for brain health and interest in “rage therapy” to confront suppressed anger.

6. Social Media: Double-Edged Sword (22:16-25:09)

• Debate about how Monica’s story might have played out differently in the social media era.
  • “I think it would have been both...more of an opportunity to have a fuller sense of who I was...but my humor...being taken out of context.” (22:55, Monica)
• Importance of supportive messages—however rare—and the isolation of pre-digital scandal.

7. Surviving Isolation and Finding Support (25:09-28:02)

• Monica shares her reliance on friends, a forensic psychiatrist, and a PR professional to survive the ordeal.
  • “I had to spend the first few weeks of the investigation without any psychological help because they weren’t sure if I was going to get immunity or not...but I eventually ended up with a forensic psychiatrist who helped save my life.” (25:43, Monica)
• The role of antidepressants and small comforts in getting through.

8. Grief, Reclamation, and Rebuilding (28:02-31:19)

• Monica reflects on the “waves” of grief—for lost career, privacy, and dreams—and how rebuilding her life required both luck and support.
  • “The grieving has had to happen in tiny pockets as I’ve moved forward, because I’ve also had to try to rebuild...It was not a given, you know…” (28:38, Monica)
• They discuss the privilege—and burden—of time to heal.

9. Amanda Knox, Retelling Narratives, & the Culture of Blame (31:19-38:22)

• Sophia lauds Monica’s efforts as producer for Amanda Knox’s Hulu mini-series, highlighting public appetite for shaming women.
  • “There was glee at her destruction, even though the destruction was based on a lie.” (33:14, Sophia)
• Monica describes the intent behind the show: not only Amanda’s reclamation, but an examination of why certain stories stick.
  • “Why do I know Foxy Knoxy...and I don’t know who Rudy Guede is...that macro is so reflective of the culture.” (35:44, Monica)
• Importance of showing the aftermath, emotional truth, and cultural resonance.

10. Double Standards, Abuse of Power, and Societal Responsibility (42:16-46:46)

• The hosts discuss revelations about Jeffrey Epstein, victims’ stories, and the persistent double standards in holding abusers accountable.
  • “We failed these young women. As a society, we failed these young women.” (44:23, Monica)
• Monica urges survivor-led narratives and accountability, regardless of political alignment or reputation.

11. Telling Your Own Story: Limits and Possibilities of Reclaiming (47:43-54:13)

• Candid discussion about the healing (or not) that comes from publicly reclaiming your story.
  • “There is no three step process....You can do reclaiming in the way that works for you.” (49:11, Monica)
• Warning that writing a book or going public isn’t always healing, and might not be right for everyone.
  • “Make sure you’re going to be okay...it may be a step that’s farther down the road.” (51:13, Monica)
• Echoes the value of non-prescriptive, context-rich conversations and trusting listeners to find their own lessons.

12. Podcasting as Reclamation (58:07-60:59)

• Sophia asks what feels most meaningful to Monica about her podcast.
  • “People...have told me they felt safe. That people who listen to the show have said, ‘Oh, I feel like I saw or heard a different side to this person that I didn’t realize or didn’t know.’” (58:31, Monica)
  • “When I finish listening to an episode, I feel less alone. Like, I mean, what bigger gift could you get?” (59:00, Monica)
• Commitment to providing a safe space, not sensationalizing guests’ trauma.

13. Ongoing Growth and Work in Progress (62:39-End)

• Monica shares what’s next for her: growing the podcast, developing entertainment that shapes conversations, and embracing imperfection.
  • “There’s that Latin phrase...mutatis mutandis...with changes still being made. I’ve often joked that’s going to be on my tombstone.” (62:57, Monica)
• Recognition of good days and hard days—even now, the work of being a “work in progress” never ends.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being a Young Adult in the Spotlight:
  • “We were still kids...there is this odd obsession with when you know enough...your brain isn’t even done developing.” (07:31, Sophia)
  • “Exactly. You can’t, you can’t even rent a car by yourself.” (07:50, Monica)
• On the Press and Misogyny:
  • “The misogyny is still so alive...they love it because they can be so much more misogynistic with women...and they know it’s wrong and they don’t care.” (14:27, Sophia)
• On Suppressed Anger:
  • “There is a level of anger I never allowed myself to get into, to talk publicly.” (16:52, Monica)
  • “I don’t know that you could handle my anger, world.” (17:33, Sophia)
• On Reclaiming Stories:
  • “There is no three step process...You can do reclaiming in the way that works for you.” (49:11, Monica)
  • “For many of us, it is about vocalizing that story...until there was a competing narrative, there was no other option.” (50:12, Monica)
• On Survivors and Support:
  • “We failed these young women. As a society, we failed these young women. I have felt for a while all of this should be driven by the survivors.” (44:23, Monica)
• On Her Podcast’s Legacy:
  • “When I finish listening to an episode, I feel less alone. Like, I mean, what bigger gift could you get?” (59:00, Monica)
  • “I want the listener to find what they need in the conversation because I trust that people are wise enough.” (53:31, Monica)
• On Being a Work in Progress:
  • “There’s that Latin phrase...mutatis mutandis...with changes still being made. I’ve often joked that’s going to be on my tombstone.” (62:57, Monica)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Reflections & Belonging in the Workplace: 03:05-07:04
• Youth and Society’s Perceptions: 07:04-10:44
• Lost Dreams & the “What If” of Life: 10:44-13:13
• Media, Misogyny & Scapegoating: 13:13-17:11
• Anger as Agency & Emotional Healing: 15:07-18:52
• Social Media’s Hypothetical Impact: 22:16-25:09
• Surviving Isolation: 25:09-28:02
• Grief and Rebuilding: 28:02-31:19
• Amanda Knox, Reclamation, and Cultural Memory: 31:19-38:22
• Epstein, Abuse of Power, and Societal Blindness: 42:16-46:46
• Reclaiming Narratives & Cautions: 47:43-54:13
• Podcasting as Healing and Solidarity: 58:07-60:59
• Work in Progress - Ongoing Journey: 62:39-end

Tone and Language

The conversation is frank, empathetic, and generous—often blending dark humor, personal insight, cultural criticism, and mutual care. Both Monica and Sophia speak in a natural, relatable, and candid tone, acknowledging the messiness of “work in progress” and rejecting easy answers or prescriptive lessons.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a moving, accessible primer on the complexities of surviving—and thriving—after public scandal, with lessons for anyone confronting shame, anger, loss, or the challenge of rewriting a narrative written by others. Monica Lewinsky and Sophia Bush model vulnerability, accountability, and resilience, offering validation and solidarity to listeners navigating their own work in progress.