Life & Work with Sophie Wade of Los Angeles, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Wade.

Hi Sophie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I first fell in love with storytelling when I was in elementary school. Although I wanted to be an iPad kid SO BAD, I spent most of my playtime reading books from the library, typing my own books on the computer, and reenacting spy movie scenes with my siblings. Growing up in Burbank, my curiosity for filmmaking grew as I passed by Warner Brothers and Disney Studios almost everyday. I decided to pursue this later in college when I studied Cinema and Television Arts and focused on film production. Although I enjoyed helping others bring their stories to life, I knew I wanted to take a bolder step to be the director behind my own stories as well. After graduating, my years of creativity turned into months of job applications, coffee chats, and questioning whether I was good enough to do what I loved. I knew that I still wanted to create, but knew it would be harder to cope financially and emotionally if I waited for someone to take a chance on me rather than taking a chance on myself. So I decided I would create my own opportunity because I still saw my potential in myself, even if an exciting company did not. I reached out to my friend Derrick Hinton about recording at his studio, and officially released my debut video podcast “andsoph” in February 2024, which has allowed me to bring my love for storytelling, visual aesthetics, editing, and authenticity life. Younger Sophie would have never imagined herself as a podcast host, but I believe she’d be proud of my boldness to share my creativity to the world.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been character-building for sure. As an introvert, it feels terrifying to willingly share what’s actually on your mind in detail, uninterrupted. I’m still getting used to inserting myself in conversations outside the podcast when I have something to say. I’m in a constant battle between living in my confidence and falling back into the fear of not feeling good enough, interesting enough, or smart enough for my voice to matter. However, I love finding ways to push myself out of my comfort zone with each podcast episode, because I always see the beauty that blossoms after from imperfect growth. My favorite bold girl moments have been interviewing old friends, solo episodes, and discussing relatable experiences that some people struggle to talk about out loud. I’ve accepted that I’ll never be perfect or have it ALL together, and that’s what makes the episodes resonate with others who also desire to feel understood.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My video podcast “andsoph” highlights ordinary people with extraordinary impact. Every other Friday, I’m honored to sit down with incredibly wise, hilarious, and kind souls who share their stories with friendship, creative projects, mental health, and faith. I enjoy sharing from a faith-based perspective that embraces healing instead of perfectionism, shame, or guilt for navigating the harder parts of these areas with God. In my solo episodes, I dive deeper into my experiences with grief as a young adult to help normalize and validate grief in conversations with loved ones, because we’re all grieving something. Whether you’re an introvert like me or an extrovert, the fear of how you’re perceived online can feel overwhelming. So I’m especially proud and grateful for the friends who have made andsoph feel more homey with their genuine joy, laughter, and advice.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I can see video podcasting continuing to grow and take up space on streaming services and mainstream media. I hope to see more young women pursue their dreams of being podcast hosts who are being given the opportunities they deserve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/andsoph
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andsophpod/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andsoph/videos
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/48lb9uPMdtstIUu2KTxVKr?si=d625a93699b0481d

Image Credits
Marisa De La Torre