Photo: Variety
Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush returned for an intimate, heartfelt Part Two of "Wide Open" that felt less like a podcast episode and more like a front-row seat to a love story built on healing, humor, and hard-earned peace. Set against the holidays, the conversation moved effortlessly between playful banter — ugly Christmas sweaters, parenting chaos, and rapid-fire couple questions — and deeply vulnerable reflections on growth, safety, and choosing joy.
One of the most powerful moments came when Harris reflected on the gift their relationship has given her this year: “I feel totally safe. My nervous system has finally regulated. I’m sleeping through the night. I don’t know when the last time was that I genuinely felt safe.” Bush echoed the sentiment, adding that their relationship has brought a long-awaited calm: “There’s just a little less helium in the balloon. It’s not overstretched anymore. It’s right where it should be.”
The two also shared what they hope listeners take away from their story, with Bush offering a resonant reminder: “You have to sign your own permission slips. No one’s going to sign them for you. And it’s never too late — you are not running out of time.” Harris reinforced the message, adding, “What you’re accepting, you’re choosing,” a line that underscored the episode’s theme of intentional living.
Throughout the episode, laughter balanced the heaviness — from debates over who hogs the blankets to stories about their wildly different kids and chaotic holiday mornings. But at its core, the conversation centered on redefining home. “I want our home to always represent love on love,” Bush shared. “Not perfection. Real positivity. Go to the depth of the lesson, even when it’s hard.”
As the season one finale, the episode closed on a hopeful note about rebuilding after hardship and allowing yourself to receive happiness. “I’m learning in real time that I’m worthy of this kind of love and joy,” Harris said. “And that might be the greatest breakthrough this year has given me.”
"Wide Open" wrapped its first season as it began — honest, raw, and deeply human — reminding listeners that even after the hardest years, it’s possible to begin again. Listen to Part 2 of Sophia Bush on "Wide Open" on iHeartRadio.