ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Where did the idea for the podcast come from?
Had you been wanting to do this for a while?
I do them with a friend of mine who’s a nurse out of Philly.
Ellen Pompeo on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.ABC
I wanted to find a way to be productive during lockdown.
And people really responded to those videos.
So that made me think more about using the medium.
Ellen Pompeo and Kate Walsh on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.Karen Neal/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
The next time I was approached about a podcast, I took it more seriously.
It’s important that young women have a place they can go to hear people have positive conversations.
Every lesson I’ve learned, I’ve had to learn the hard way.
Scott Speedman and Ellen Pompeo on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.ABC
Were you hesitant to put yourself out there in such a major way?
It’s terrifying, especially when you are someone who tries to be super authentic.
I really venture to be myself all the time.
And I’m an actor.
We love connection, right?
We love emotion and we love connection.
I thrive off it.
What is the process for selecting guests?
But it’s maybe a bigger platform than some other people have.
Let’s make a run at give them space.
Let’s reach out and give them a platform.
Let’s venture to introduce people to new people.
And I’m like, “I get it, I get it.”
What is their dynamic like now after everything they’ve been through?
It’s like life.
Everyone’s older and more mature, and we have respect for each other as surgeons.
And, of course, Kate and I always had a great relationship and always got along.
I mean, she is probably one of the most entertaining people you could ever work with.
She is so funny.
Obviously the big twist of this season has beenScott Speedman’s return.
Were you aware of the fandom’s response to his season 14 episode?
No, I really wasn’t.
Scott and I are friends.
We’ve known each other a long time, and we always got along really great.
I was like, “I think he would be amazing.”
He was generous enough to come on and we had a great time.
So this year, I feel really lucky that we were able to get him.
We just have great chemistry.
We think the same about scenes.
Sometimes connection TV is very on the nose and a lot of stuff is very obvious.
We share ideas and collaborate.
So I feel pretty lucky to have him as a scene partner this year.
Grey’s Anatomyairs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
