This is the second clip from Kelly's conversation with Sharon McMahon — former public school teacher, America's unofficial government teacher, and someone who has spent years reminding the rest of us that we've been here before. This week she tells the story of a woman named Septima Clark, who was fired for her civil rights work, went on to teach some of the most consequential figures in American history, and arrived at the end of her long life with a belief that feels almost impossible to hold right now — and maybe more necessary than ever.Check out Sharon's book The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movementhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/0593541677?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

The Consumer Price Index determines your grandmother's Social Security, your SNAP benefits, your divorce settlement, and — historically, at least — whether the president keeps his job. It is also, according to British journalist and novelist John Lanchester, intellectually thrilling. In the fourth episode of our Unsung series, Kelly talks with the writer The Economist called "a down-to-earth and witty guide to the most complicated ideas of our time" about what it means to live in a country that counts everything — and what happens when we start to lose faith in the numbers.If you haven't yet, pick up Michael Lewis's Who Is Government? and John Lanchester's new novel Look What You Made Me Do (Norton, May 2025).To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack.

Nobody calls it therapy. That's why it works. Kelly's husband Edward rides bikes several times a week, and keeps coming home saying the conversations are deeper and richer than Kelly might expect. This week, a piece of writing started circulating among cyclists everywhere that explains exactly why - and we thought it was worth sharing. Written by Anthony Walsh (host of The Roadman Cycling Podcast), it's about what happens when a group of men show up in a parking lot at eight in the morning and head out together, shoulder to shoulder, for a three hour bike ride. This one is for every group that shows up, week after week, without quite knowing why it matters — until it does.

Sharon McMahon is a former public school teacher who now teaches civics to over a million people on the internet. Kelly caught up with her at the Aspen Ideas Festival, and this clip is about something that feels urgent right now: the difference between just knowing more and actually doing something — and why cynicism, left unchecked, might be the most dangerous force in a democracy.Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded - especiallyTricia Johnson, Kara Stein, Sophia Greiper, Katie Trenchard and Gabe Chenoweth.

Somewhere in the National Archives, there are 13 billion documents that belong to every American — and for most of our history, you had to get yourself to Washington, DC if you wanted to see them. In the third episode of our Unsung series, Kelly talks with historian and writer Sarah Vowell about Pamela Wright — a woman who grew up on a ranch in Conrad, Montana, became the Chief Innovation Officer of the National Archives, and spent her career making sure those records were available to everyone, not only those who could make the trek to DC. This conversation is a reminder that democracy is not just an idea — it's a practice, carried out every day by diligent, caring people, most of whom we'll never know.To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack.Check out Sarah Vowell's essay in Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service.

This week we're sharing listener Andra Cardow's reflection on twenty years of marriage. She shows us how love grows through everyday moments—dog walks, car rides, and cozy nights at home. It's a delightful reminder that our most treasured relationships aren't built on big, dramatic moments, but in all those small, seemingly ordinary times we spend together. Andra beautifully describes finding joy in the simple things and how those little shared experiences can add up to something pretty special over time. (Previously aired)

In this episode, Kelly shares a piece of writing she's kept in her drawer for years about the power of choosing "good enough." She reflects on her mom's wisdom about saying "no" to the endless invitations and expectations that pile up in our daily lives and how learning to be selective creates space for what truly matters (Previously aired)

Michael Lewis went looking for the people holding this country together and found something he didn't expect — not just competence, but a kind of devotion so pure it made him want to keep writing about it. In the second episode of our Unsung series, Kelly sits down with one of the greatest storytellers alive to talk about what he's discovered inside the federal government, why the material keeps pulling him back, and what it means to dedicate your life to a problem nobody else thought was worth solving. Also: the story of how a one-man play about his daughter came to be — and why actor Jason Bateman was involved before Michael had written a single word. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Partnership for Public Service. Check out Michael's book Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack.

What is it that actually makes a home? Is it four walls? A neighborhood? A partner? Or is it something far less expected?In this week's Thanks For Being Here, Kelly reads a beautiful essay from listener Elisa Haggarty, who reflects on leaving the tiny Brooklyn apartment that quietly reshaped her understanding of love, belonging, and community.

Who's actually holding this country together? Not the people you see on cable news. Kelly delivered this talk at Montana Festival (2026) as a love letter to the hard working folks most of us will never know — the ones doing the slow, unglamorous, essential work that makes everything else in America possible. This is what kicked off our Unsung series — a good reminder of what we have and what we owe.

There are people working inside the federal government right now solving problems so enormous and so unglamorous that most of us will never know their names — or what we owe them. In the first episode of our new series Unsung — inspired by Michael Lewis's book, Who Is Government? — Kelly talks with Max Stier, CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, about who these people are, what drives them, and what we stand to lose if we stop paying attention.To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack.Check out Michael Lewis' book, Who Is Government? HERE

Kelly shares a Marine Corps wife's essay (titled "Cincinnatus") honoring her husband's quiet retirement after 20 years of service. Instead of ceremonies, his legacy lives in small, meaningful actions like giving away his expensive uniform to help a young officer and driving a beat-up Corolla with a trunk full of first aid supplies - so he can help anyone, on a moment's notice. It's a moving reminder that true service isn't captured in plaques or uniforms but in "small private acts of dedication" and the humble wisdom to know that our real legacy is "to give it all away. (Previously aired)

An apology is not a transaction. Kelly learned this the hard way — and if you've ever said sorry and then immediately started asking if you're forgiven yet, this one is for you.

Sadly, this is the last conversation with Claire Danes and Kate Bowler about what makes life worth all the trouble, worry and suffering. In this freewheeling ride, we dig into just how inevitable personal ethical failure is and therefore, what does repair require. Like, how good are you at apologizing? Have you really accepted the people you love — as they are — or are you still trying to change them? How do you keep yourself and your choices aligned with your values? Enjoy the honesty. Share widely. We all need to stay in touch with these fundamental questions about how we live. (Previously aired) Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Some people meet old age and loss with bitterness. Dick Bolz met it with gratitude so genuine it left everyone around him a little changed. Lutheran pastor & author Nadia Bolz-Weber's eulogy for her father is short, funny, and moving — the kind of thing you'll want to listen to twice. Kelly and Nadia will be doing another Substack Live together (this one will focus on grief) on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 7pm ET. You can find Kelly's Substack HERE. https://kellycorriganwonders.substack.com/

Ten years ago, when Kelly's dad Greenie was nearing the end of his life, she stumbled onto a question that quietly reorganized the way she has moved through almost every interaction since. It's just a single question — which when asked early enough — and honestly enough — can change everything about how you show up for the people you love.

Claire Danes, Kate Bowler and I try to figure out how the hell to live lives of real meaning and discovery, how to depersonalize the slings and arrows of any season, how to remember our agency and mobility. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund. (Previously aired)

Every Sunday at 5:00 PM, the door was unlocked, the table somehow always had room for one more, and the sauce was already on the stove. Pat Minitti fed everyone who found their way to him — family, strangers from the Fry's checkout line, future in-laws — and in doing so, taught his grandson Cody about unconditional love. This is the eulogy Cody wrote and delivered at his grandfather's funeral. This episode will remind you of the incredible power of showing up for the people you love — even those you've just met.

A young friend of Kelly's, Sophie G, shared this speech that she had saved from her high school graduation week. It was given by Dr. Chris Cunningham, then at Lawrenceville, now at Whitfield, who gathered 10 takeaways for the students that are actually quite useful to every one of us. (Previously aired) For a review of Kelly's weekly takeaways join her free Substack.

How do the values we inherited clash or complement the cultures we come of age in? How can we stay the right size in the world and in our own minds? What do you worship and nurture - art, the church, politics, food? Claire Danes and Kate Bowler join Kelly to talk about all the things that came up as they read Life Worth Living, our first Kelly Corrigan Wonders bookclub pick. (Previously aired) Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Listener Mary Plisco watched a documentary about a summer camp from the 1970s and came away with a new hero — a woman she'd somehow never heard of, despite a career spent doing work this hero made possible. This one is a letter to Judy Heumann, the so-called mother of the disability rights movement, and a reminder that some of the most consequential people in history did their work quietly enough that you have to go looking for them. The documentary mentioned in this episode is Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. . https://cripcamp.com/

We can see the menu before we go to the restaurant. We can watch the trailer before we buy the ticket. We can read three years of someone's Instagram before we agree to meet them for coffee. Kelly wonders what all of that preparation is actually costing us — and whether the novelty we keep optimizing out of our lives is the very thing we need the most.

There's a game Cava Menzies plays with her students. She asks each of them to say a word — snowfall, nightmare, dragons — and then she translates it into music on the piano right in front of them. Every time, something magical happens in the room. In the tenth and final episode of our Wired to Create series, Cava — musician, educator, and founding faculty at Oakland School for the Arts — makes the case that music isn't a talent reserved for the few. It's a birthright we've somehow talked ourselves out of using. Please share this episode with anyone in your life who has decided music isn't for them. Check out Cava and her OSA students singing Purple Rain on stage with Coldplay's Chris Martin HERE. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's ⁠free Substack⁠.

This weekend marks what would have been producer Tammy (Tiehel) Stedman's mom's 85th birthday — she passed away in March 2022. All three of the Tiehel sisters eulogized their incredible mom PT but this one, written by daughter Amy, really sums up the way PT lived her life: always on the lookout for the person having a tough go of it, the loner, the one who needed a helping hand. This is a story about taking the time to really notice people and to help make the world a better place, one small, kind gesture at a time. (Previously aired)

There's a body of research that says the clothes you wear don't just change how others see you — they change how you see yourself. Kelly traces this idea from her conversation with Denver high school principal Steve Day back to a foundational psychology study, and lands somewhere unexpected: that identity might be less something you earn and more something you assume.

What if a high school student could spend their day fixing a plane, machining a part destined for a rocket launch, or building a house that a family will actually live in? At the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) in the Denver metro area, that's just a Tuesday. In the ninth episode of our Wired to Create series, Principal Steve Day makes the case that when you stop underestimating teenagers and give them something real to do, everything changes — for the students, for the school, and for the families whose lives are transformed as a result. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

Sometimes all it takes is one person asking the right question at the right moment. Listener Christina Bonvouloir was fourteen, grieving the loss of her beloved father, and quietly falling apart — until a gruff Latin teacher with a twinkle in his eye pulled her aside and asked what was wrong. She never forgot it. Neither will you

In a speech to high school graduates, Kelly shared her take on the things only we know about ourselves — and how keeping our internal dialog honest sets the table for a good and happy life. Please share with all the 2026 graduates in your life. (Previously aired) Please join Kelly on her free Substack. https://kellycorriganwonders.substack.com/

There's a version of education that produces brilliant test-takers and has very little to do with learning. Aditya Vishwanath, Stanford-trained education researcher and co-founder of MakerGhat — a nonprofit makerspace network operating in thousands of schools across India — knows that version intimately, and has spent his career building the antidote. In this episode of our Wired to Create series, he and Kelly make the case that what kids need most might also be the thing we've neglected to give them. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

Some people teach us things. Others show us how to live. Kelly's cousin Lena writes beautifully about her godmother Linda — painter, cook, creative force — and what it means to be shaped by someone who savors all of the beauty life has to offer. Check out Lena's Substack "Cooking with Littles" https://cookingwithlittles.substack.com/

Kelly's cousin Kevin Corrigan has been coaching the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team for decades — and this weekend his team is playing (yet again) for the national championship. In honor of that, we're sharing two clips from Kelly's longer conversation with Kevin about what it really means to lead, what it takes to build something that lasts, and why winning is so much harder than it looks from the outside. Check out Kelly's longer interview with Kevin HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-kevin-corrigan-on-great-coaching/id1532951390?i=1000727017947

Fred Rogers (aka "Mr. Rogers") looked at television and didn't see it as a danger for kids — he saw it as a door. Sara DeWitt has spent her career walking through it. As Senior VP and General Manager of PBS Kids, she has devoted decades to asking what children's media can be when the people making it are optimizing for something other than revenue. In the seventh episode of our Wired to Create series, Sara makes the case that the right story at the right moment can do things nothing else can — and that the most powerful screen in a child's life might be the one a caring adult is watching alongside them. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

Graduation season is upon us, and if you're a parent in the thick of it, listener Stephanie Wass wrote this for you. It's a small, quiet essay about a game of Uno that somehow holds everything — the pride, the grief, and the very specific ache of knowing the cards are no longer in your hands.

Kelly recently appeared on Nora McInerney's podcast called, "It's Going To Be OK" — and the conversation was too good not to share here. Two people with a low tolerance for small talk and a high tolerance for the messy, beautiful, occasionally terrifying truth of being alive, trading the things that are giving them hope right now.

Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now. https://link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD

Kids walk into Rediscover Center in Los Angeles with nothing but an idea and leave with something that will last a lifetime. Jonathan Bijur has spent decades figuring out what makes that possible — and what gets in the way. In the sixth episode of our Wired to Create series, he makes the case for the most counter-cultural idea in education right now: that children learn more when adults get out of the way. It turns out the hardest part isn't teaching the kids. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: ⁠waltonfamilyfoundation.org.⁠ To learn more about Rediscover Center visit: https://rediscovercenter.org/ To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack.

For Mother's Day, we're sharing the eulogy Kelly wrote for her mom, Mary Corrigan. Mother's Day means something different to everyone — whether you're celebrating today, grieving, or somewhere in between — we're thinking of you. (Previously aired)

Today's episode is a part of our "About Your Mother" series honoring Every Mother Counts. Bono lost his mother Iris when he was 14 years old. She had an aneurysm at her father’s funeral and as he says, he’s been singing to her ever since. This is a very special conversation, possibly my favorite interview of all time, made more lovely and intimate by the friendship between Bono and Christy going back many years now. (Previously aired) This series supports Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please consider joining us with a donation here. https://everymothercounts.org/donate/ Maternal health is a human right and as Bono says, raising kids takes a village and a mother is a village.

Beth Stelling grew up making people laugh before she knew it was a skill worth taking seriously. It took years of open mics and a lot of hard-won stage time before she found her truest voice. In the fifth episode of our Wired to Create series, Beth talks about the family that shaped her, the speech and debate program that first put her on a stage, the years it took to finally sound like herself in front of a crowd, and what she's learned from helping younger comedians find their way. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's ⁠free Substack⁠.

Some people move through the world so quietly and so generously that you don't fully understand what they were doing until they're gone. Courtenay Rudzinski's almost 90 year-old mother was one of those people. This is the essay Courtenay wrote after losing her.

Jen G, as we call her in my house, is as special and wonderful as you think she is. She is such a ready learner that she carries around a pen and notebook everywhere she goes. She cares about all the right things and not one bit of the nonsense. She is still, in many essential ways, one of the “Garner girls” from West Virginia. Today’s conversation, co-hosted by Christy Turlington Burns, celebrates Jen’s mom, Pat (and a little bit, Jen’s dad, Billy Jack Garner, who died only 10 days before we recorded). I have loved knowing Jen since we met at The Nantucket Project many years ago and am grateful she could be with us for this series. (Previously aired) This series supports Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jennifer-garner-and-christy-turlington-burns-talking-moms/id1532951390?i=1000654904522

At 22, Blythe Harris was hit by an 18-wheeler in downtown San Francisco, pronounced dead on arrival, and spent the next several years rebuilding her identity from a hospital gurney. What she discovered in that long, humbling process set her on a lifelong inquiry into creativity — not the capital C kind that most people assume doesn't belong to them, but the small, daily, five-minute kind that turns out to be one of the most underused tools for mental health we have. Blythe went on to co-found and lead the creative vision of Stella and Dot, a jewelry and accessories company that put flexible income in the hands of tens of thousands of women, and more recently co-authored (with Mallory May) Daily Creative: The Five Minute Habit to Rewire Your Brain. In the fourth episode of our Wired to Create series, Blythe makes the case that every single one of us is more creative than we think — and that the cost of ignoring that might be higher than we realize. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

Some teachers don't just teach you things — they show you who you are. Listener Nicole McDermott wrote this the night she found out her high school English teacher, Wendy Marber, had died — a caring educator who never went easy on her students, never stopped believing in them, and somehow shifted the way a teenager saw herself in a single hallway conversation. This one is for every teacher whose belief in a student has outlasted the classroom.

This episode is part of our special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Christy and I recently spent an unforgettable Saturday afternoon talking to the singular force of nature that is Spike Lee about his mother, Jackie, who died when Spike was a sophomore at Morehouse College. Spike has 134 directing credits over four+ decades, in each case imploring us to Wake Up. Here’s a chance to understand something about the development of this legendary voice. Please share. (Previously aired) This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right. https://everymothercounts.org/donate/

Jeff Kinney spent eight years working on Diary of a Wimpy Kid almost entirely in silence — no feedback, no applause, no guarantee it would ever amount to anything. He just kept going. In the third episode of our Wired to Create series, Kelly sits down with the creator of one of the bestselling book franchises in history to talk about why the siren song of instant validation might be the enemy of great work, what constraints actually do for creativity, and why making a place — a bookstore, a basketball court in Tanzania, a downtown in a town of 9,000 — might be the most powerful creative act of all. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

Janice Finn Weekes retired from a career in adult training and wasn't sure she was qualified to teach an AARP safe driving course. Her friends set her straight: you don't have to be an expert driver, you have to be an expert trainer. Five years later, she's still showing up — and noticing something unexpected in her classroom. In a scary world, her students have gotten sweeter with each other. Someone finally said it out loud: when we come in here, we want to be the way we used to be: positive, considerate, patient and caring. Janice went looking for a way to keep giving — what she found was that the secret to volunteering is that you always get more than you give.

Funny with a touch of Irish melancholy. That's how actor, director, producer Edward Burns described Molly, his mother, to me and my co-host, Christy Turlington Burns (who has been married to Eddie for 20+ years). In celebration of his novel, A Kid From Marlboro Road, Eddie joined us in studio to talk about childhood, parenthood and grief. (Previously aired) Our About Your Mother series has raised funds to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please consider making a donation ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. https://everymothercounts.org/donate With special thanks to Tracy and David at Laughing Man Studios in Tribeca who support this series with pro bono studio time and superb coffee. Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways: hello@kellycorrigan.com . Check out our other episodes from the About Your Mother series: Jennifer Garner, Amy Schumer, Bono, Cindy Crawford, Spike Lee, Melinda Gates

Before there were algorithms and tape submissions and studio approved lists, Allison Jones was sitting in the back rows of comedy clubs — memorizing faces, taking notes, and developing the kind of taste that can't be taught. In the second episode of our Wired to Create series, Kelly sits down with the casting director whose fingerprints are on some of the most beloved comedies ever made — from Freaks and Geeks to Bridesmaids to Barbie — to talk about what she's really looking for when someone walks into the room, why "funny or not funny" is still her most reliable compass, and what gets lost when studio oversight starts to crowd out pure creative instinct. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org. Allison and Kelly mention writer/director/producer Judd Apatow in this episode. To learn more about Judd, please check out Kelly's previous interview with him HERE. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-deep-with-judd-apatow-on-women-collaboration-and/id1532951390?i=1000668137267

A listener named Jane Curran was coming in the door from her morning walk when she got the call that her sister had been airlifted to the hospital. She fell to the floor. Her 22-year-old daughter Jessica — a brand new nursing school graduate — took one look at her mother and quietly took over. This is a letter about what it looks like when a child becomes exactly who you hoped they would be, right when you need it the most.

Amy Schumer is as sharp a writer as she is a performer. I love her always-on-point work in Life & Beth, Trainwreck and all 44 episodes of Inside Amy Schumer. She’s honest in way I wish more people were and you’ll hear that in this candid conversation about her mother, Sandra. (Previously aired) Please consider supporting maternal health in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. You can make a donation here. https://everymothercounts.org/donate

Ed Helms has a well-organized workshop, a banjo, a treehouse he built during the pandemic, and a deeply inconvenient habit of doing his best work at the last possible second. In the first episode of our new series Wired to Create, Kelly sits down with the actor, comedian, musician, and all-around maker to talk about what flow actually feels like, why limitations might be the secret ingredient in all great creative work, and what Owen Wilson taught him about feedback and being vulnerable. This episode was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more, please visit: waltonfamilyfoundation.org. For those who have listened to this podcast and are curious: the correct, traditional term used is nunchaku (Japanese: ヌンチャク), but in English, nunchucks is the most common accepted spelling and pronunciation, often pluralized as "set of nunchucks". ( Merriam-Webster)

As part of our Women of Consequence series, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jane Perlez writes a letter honoring a woman she watched from a distance as a child — a writer who sat on a balcony overlooking a river, filling up legal pads in a curvy scroll, and showed a young girl what one person could accomplish when they refused to be defined by others. Some influences arrive early and never leave. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com/

Over the past month, Kelly sat down with five women who are quietly — and not so quietly — changing the world: an entrepreneur, an Olympic champion, a philanthropist, a governor, and a film/television producer. What she found wasn't a set of tidy leadership lessons or a checklist for getting things done. It was something harder to name and more useful to carry — a pattern of thinking that shows up again and again in the people who actually move things forward. This Go To is Kelly's attempt to distill what she learned across all five conversations into a handful of truths worth keeping. Not theory. Not empty inspiration. Just the real stuff, from women who have been in the room and know what it takes to make change happen. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com.

Reese Witherspoon has built an empire by betting on one simple truth: when you put women in charge of telling stories, you uncover whole themes that get missed when men are calling the shots—and it turns out to be wildly entertaining. In this fifth and final episode of our Women of Consequence series, Kelly sits down with the actress, producer, and founder of the media company Hello Sunshine, to talk about why she developed the Wild screenplay outside the studio system, what happens when women control the buying power, and why her ultimate goal is to make a lot of women a lot of money. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com.

As part of our Women of Consequence series, Kelly sits down with podcaster and author Nora McInerny, who says without hesitation that her life is the product of women. The woman at the center of it all is her grandmother Mary Jane — a ceramicist who lived alone in a one-room cabin in the Minnesota woods, went back to college in her eighties, and moved through the world with a kind of fearless delight that rubbed off on everyone lucky enough to be around her. Nora lost her husband Aaron and her father within weeks of each other, and when the world fell apart, it was Mary Jane she thought of — a woman who had buried two of her own children and still showed up wildly in love with life. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com

For 16 years, advocates in New Mexico asked for a constitutional amendment to fund pre-K, and for 16 years the answer was no. Then Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham asked a different question: "If we can't agree on a constitutional amendment, what could we agree on?" The senator appropriated $320 million on the spot. Kelly reflects on what she learned from the governor about why the question you ask determines the answer you get and how to find the place where someone can say yes and build from there—because 16 years is a long time to push on a locked door when there's an open door right next to it. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com⁠

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham once dyed her hair red, said goodbye to her husband, and went undercover in a nursing home to expose the neglect that no one else was willing to see—much less work to change. That's who she is. She grew up watching her parents navigate an impossible road for her disabled sister — no roadmap, no safety net, no one coming to help — and she has never forgotten what it feels like to be out there alone fighting a system that isn't built for you. She went on to become a two-term governor who moved New Mexico from 50th in childhood poverty to 17th, made it the first state in the nation to offer universal childcare, and launched free college for every resident. Those wins matter enormously but what Kelly really wanted to dig into was how she got there— and what she found was a leader who owns her impatience like a superpower and knows that asking the right question can unlock everything. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com

As part of our Women of Consequence series, journalist Poppy Harlow sits down with Kelly to read a letter she wrote to her mother Mary, who is turning 80. There is so much in this letter — the leap to Sweden, the PhD, the art museum trips — but what stops you cold is the part about what Mary did when the love of her life died and her children still needed dinner on the table and someone to say it was all going to be okay. That's the one. That's the woman worth knowing more about. Here's to Mary Harlow, and to all the moms who hold it together long after they've earned the right to fall apart. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com/

There's a problem with leading with your heart: empathy doesn't scale. One sick child and we open our wallets. A thousand sick children and we change the channel. Behavioral psychologist Paul Slovic has spent years studying this—the more people suffering, the less we feel. Kelly reflects on her conversation with investor and philanthropist Olivia Walton, who figured out how to beat compassion fade by doing something smarter than making the moral case for maternal health. She built a business case: for every dollar you invest in maternal health, you get eleven back. It's about understanding that empathy burns hot and burns out, but when you make the business case, you've built a diesel engine—it just keeps running. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ⁠https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com⁠.

Ever wonder “What should I actually do with my life?” Today we’re excited to introduce you to Suzy Welch. As a three-time New York Times bestselling author and the professor behind NYU’s wildly popular "Becoming You" class, Suzy has spent years studying the art of decision-making and the pursuit of authentic purpose. On her podcast, Becoming You, Suzy helps you find your authentic purpose in this messy, scary, and altogether beautiful world we share. Find Becoming You with Suzy Welch wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olivia Walton went from asking questions as a business journalist to creating solutions as a philanthropist—and she's learned that the best way to fix maternal healthcare in America isn't just a moral argument, it's an economic one. In this third episode of our Women of Consequence series, Kelly sits down with the founder and CEO of Ingeborg Investments and Ingeborg Initiatives, chair of Crystal Bridges Museum and maternal health advocate to talk about why storytelling is the through line of everything she does. It's about understanding that maternal health isn't just about moms—it's the groundwater for thriving families, communities, and economies. This episode was made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ⁠https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com⁠ Olivia Walton recently wrote an op-ed in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and in it she announced a moonshot call-to-action for maternal health: a five-year sprint to cut U.S. maternal mortality in half. At a time when far too many mothers in the United States are dying from preventable causes, we believe meaningful progress will require urgency, collaboration, and a willingness to scale what works. We hope you’ll take a moment to read Olivia’s op-ed HERE. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/11/opinion-olivia-walton-a-five-year-sprint-to-cut-us-maternal-mortality-in-half/

Most of us are still waiting for that one perfect mentor to appear and show us the way. Podcaster Liz Moody decided to stop waiting and start sending emails to strangers instead. The result was a room full of powerful women comparing notes on things nobody talks about out loud, and a philosophy that might just change who you invite into your corner. In this special Thanks For Being Here episode—part of our March Women of Consequence series— Kelly and Liz talk about why the group you're craving probably won't build itself, what happens when women stop holding their cards to their chests, and the one rule Liz lives by that has gotten her a book deal, a husband, and a thriving career: never be the one to say no to yourself. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com⁠

We carry around this dangerous myth that brave people feel brave—that somewhere out there, women are standing up in meetings and saying the hard thing without their heart rate changing, that courage is a feeling you either have or don't have. Kelly blows up that whole idea by sharing what she learned from her conversation with Olympian Allyson Felix: when Allyson hit send on the New York Times op-ed that would take on Nike and change their maternity policy, she was shaking. There was never a moment she felt ready, never a moment she wasn't scared. It's about understanding that courage isn't a feeling or a personality trait—it's what you do in the moment between knowing what you need to say and saying it. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com".

Allyson Felix has 11 Olympic medals, which makes her the most decorated American track and field athlete in history. But here's the thing—most people know her name because of what happened when she got pregnant. After nearly a decade with her sponsor Nike, they offered her a new contract at 70% less than her previous salary. And when she asked for one thing—protected time to recover from childbirth without performance penalties—they said they wouldn't set that precedent for all female athletes. So, Allyson sat in her daughter's NICU room, watched her tiny baby fighting to come home, and decided to risk everything by going public. In this second episode of our Women of Consequence series, Kelly talks with Allyson about integrity, knowing your worth, and understanding that sometimes you speak up not for yourself but so the next woman doesn't have to fight the same battle. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ⁠https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com⁠ Link to Allyson's New York Times article. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/opinion/allyson-felix-pregnancy-nike.html Check out our episode with Linda Villarosa which Kelly mentions in this podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-deep-with-linda-villarosa-on-being-seen/id1532951390?i=1000633982048

Writer Anne Lamott tells Kelly about the "other mother" from her childhood—her best friend's mom who thought she was fabulous when her own parents had concerns. It's about the gratitude you carry for the rest of your life when someone champions the parts of you that feel unseen and how those other mothers—the ones who celebrated instead of shaped—end up changing who we become. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: https://www.ingeborginitiatives.com Link to live Zoom event with Kelly and Anne (March 11, 2026 7pm ET/4pm PT): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/R5kpMFa1RfiCJtlV7WsGZA?cmid=cb7fa38f-b413-4923-890e-d8c91450e2fb#/registration Anne's event which Kelly mentioned at the top of the show is Unscripted: Good Writing – An Evening with Anne Lamott & Neal Allen, at the Curran Theater in San Francisco (March 17, 2026 7pm) https://us.atgtickets.com/events/anne-lamott-neal-allen/curran-theater/ If you enjoy listening to Kelly talk with other writers, check out our episode with author George Saunders: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-george-saunders-on-creativity/id1532951390?i=1000746827373

Kelly reflects on a moment from Tuesday's conversation with Laura Modi, founder of the infant formula company Bobbie, who had 48 hours to decide whether to take on thousands of desperate new parents during the 2022 formula shortage or stand by her current customers. Laura went against every growth model and turned the new customers away to protect those who already trusted her—not because of data provided in a spreadsheet or advice from consultants but because she trusted what she knew in her bones.  This episode was made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit ingeborginitiatives.com

Laura Modi had mastitis five days into motherhood— blistered and bleeding, fever raging—and when she finally turned to formula, she discovered the first ingredient was corn syrup. So, she did what any sleep-deprived new mom would do: she went down a 2 AM research rabbit hole and emerged determined to change an entire industry. In this first episode of our Women of Consequence series, Kelly talks with the co-founder and CEO of infant formula brand Bobbie about what happened during the 2022 formula shortage when she had 48 hours to decide between chasing growth or serving existing customer—and why she raised $70 million to buy a manufacturing facility even though less than 5% of manufacturers in this country are run by women. This is a story about being underestimated, trusting lived experience over spreadsheets, and understanding that when you're not just the CEO but also the customer, you're dangerous in the best possible way. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a social impact platform dedicated to improving maternal health and making it easier to raise a family. To learn more, please visit: ingeborginitiatives.com.

Newly appointed Judge Kristine Burk's investiture ceremony became unexpectedly tender when her 19-year-old son Tyler took the podium. Moving beyond the usual formal speeches, Tyler crafted an acrostic poem for "JUDGE" that revealed the everyday magic of his mom - from her unshakeable belief in second chances, to her instinct for helping strangers in need, to the joyful warmth she radiates to everyone around her. (Previously aired)

You may be familiar with this woman: she wakes up before anyone else, eats standing up, clears the dishes first—and if you told her she was good, she'd believe you, because all of that not resting, not asking, not taking up room, is what goodness looks like—doesn't it? Kelly digs into research showing that the behavior we reward in women—being accommodating, putting others first, never stopping—is actually a clinical risk factor for depression. This episode takes a close look at why many of us are so busy being good that we forget to be whole and the quiet cost of following rules we never actually agreed to. Check out Elise Loehnen's book On Our Best Behavior: The Price Women Pay to Be Good https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673282/on-our-best-behavior-by-elise-loehnen/ Elise's workbook, co-written with Courtney Smith is Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness: A Process for Reclaiming Your Full Self https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771811/choosing-wholeness-over-goodness-by-elise-loehnen-and-courtney-smith/

Kelly sits down with Enneagram coach Courtney Smith, co-author (with Elise Loehnen) of the workbook Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness, to explore the cultural scripts women inherit about how we're supposed to be—and what happens when we start questioning them. They talk about why taking responsibility feels both terrifying and liberating, the difference between being stuck and choosing agency, and how fear keeps us playing roles that don't serve us. It's about the courage it takes to face what you've been avoiding, the surprising freedom that comes from talking back to yourself, and why wholeness might be worth risking everything you thought kept you safe.

Karen Frost held hands with a stranger named Frank at a U2 concert in Chicago—a man she sensed didn't have much time left. They didn't exchange contact information, but she knew what they shared was a soul connection forged through music. Years later, when she faced a cancer diagnosis and began guided imagery to prepare for radiation, something unexpected happened. It's a story about the fleeting connections that never really leave, the mysterious ways people return to us when we need them most, and how someone you barely knew can become exactly what saves you. If you have a story to share, thoughts or feedback, please reach out any time: hello@kellycorrigan.com

What if the most powerful response to tragedy isn't professional intervention, but something much simpler and closer to home? Kelly weaves together a George Eliot quote about unhistoric acts, a newsletter from psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman, and decades of research on community resilience to explore a surprising truth: after crisis, your friends and family aren't just holding you until you can get to a therapist—they are the therapy. It's about how natural support systems activate faster and reach more people than formal interventions, why being noticed matters more than we realize, and the quiet power of ordinary people showing up in extraordinary ways.

Quick afternoon nap? Gummies before bed? Hitting snooze? Here’s a thorough look at how to get our sleep right with one of the world’s most informed sleep experts: Dr. Matthew Walker. Why? Sleep is our super power. Put less positively, poor sleep maps terribly closely to poor mental health. Joining me for the conversation are previous guests and friends of the show cognitive scientist and podcaster Maya Shankar, and comedian/producer W Kamau Bell. (Previously aired) Many thanks to COOP for making the best pillows and sheets to help us get a really solid night’s sleep and for sponsoring this episode. You can watch this conversation anytime at www.pbs.org/kelly or stream on the PBS app.

Sometimes kids just know things. Molly Merrihew's almost-three-year-old daughter Cecelia asks out of nowhere, "Why did Caitlin die in February?" while standing on a kitchen chair, her aunt's senior photo mixed in with the daily clutter of mail and coffee mugs. Molly realizes her daughter has picked up on the rhythm of grief, the way February carries both celebration and loss—Cecilia's birthday falls just a week after the anniversary of her aunt's death. It's about how children watch us more closely than we think, how they call us back when we drift away, and how the people we've lost keep showing up in our lives, present and gone at the same time.

Kelly and Tammy explore Pixar's WALL-E, a film that dares to say almost nothing for the first forty minutes—and somehow says everything about curiosity, connection, and what it means to be alive. They talk about how the filmmakers watched silent films for months to learn how emotions work without dialogue, why a frictionless life is enfeebling, and what a lonely robot can teach us about slowing down and looking closer. It's about the magic of noticing small things and why the films WALL-E and Her both arrive at the same moral: meaningful connection is what saves us. This Go To is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit: templeton.org. Check out our previous episode with Pixar's Pete Docter: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-pixars-pete-docter-on-making/id1532951390?i=1000698705898

What if the antidote to our frenzied, overscheduled lives isn't found in distant places or grand revelations, but in the radical act of paying attention? Writer Pico Iyer—who famously traded a corner office in Manhattan for a single room in Japan with no bed, no phone, and no distractions —sits down with Kelly to explore the art of staying curious in an age of constant noise. They wander through ideas about beginner's mind, the tyranny of busyness, and why sometimes the most luxurious thing we can do is nothing at all. Along the way, they discover that wonder is something we awaken by noticing what's already here, hidden in plain sight, just waiting for us to look up from our phones and see. This episode and our entire Super Traits series was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit: templeton.org. Recorded at The Aspen Ideas Festival.

Kelly reads a birthday letter from her lifelong friend Mary Hope McQuiston to her father Bob, who is turning 90. Instead of throwing a surprise party, Mary Hope decided to honor her dad by collecting the lessons he's taught her—one for each decade he's lived. What unfolds is a portrait of a life well-lived, told through stories about elaborate pranks, deep friendships, showing up when it matters, and never missing an opportunity for dessert or— pyrotechnics. It's about the quiet ways we shape the people we love, and how the best parts of who we become are often learned by watching someone live with generosity, courage, and joy.

What happens when a filmmaker refuses to judge his characters and just keeps asking "and then what would happen?" Kelly and Tammy dive into Spike Jonze's Her, a film made in 2013 that somehow predicted our current moment of AI engagement with unsettling precision. They wander through questions about embodiment and consciousness, the dangerous beauty of unchecked curiosity, and why conviction kills creativity before it can bloom. This Go To episode is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit: https://www.templeton.org/

Kelly sits down with visionary neuroscientist Gül Dölen—who FedExed seven octopuses to her lab and dosed them with MDMA to understand how brains learn—and to explore what happens when you let wonder lead the way. Gül explains that our brains have windows when they're wide open to learning, that those windows known as "critical periods" close—and more importantly, how we might crack them back open. She and Kelly discuss why pure curiosity, the kind with no practical application in sight, has always been the source of our most important discoveries, and why deprivation and mystical joy might be two paths to the same place. Gül makes the case that there's magic everywhere if you're willing to see the physical world as miraculous, and that lasting change comes not from a pill but from what you learn while your mind is open. Note: This episode discusses neuroscience research on psychedelics, including MDMA. All references are to controlled scientific studies, not recreational use. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit ⁠www.templeton.org⁠. Recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Sometimes the most powerful thing a doctor can do has nothing to do with medicine. Kelly reads a listener letter from Ellen Versprille, who lost her mother, her husband, and her sister-in-law in the span of just weeks—and then one freezing January night, heard a knock at her door that changed everything. It's a story about what it means to truly show up for someone, and why the moments that sustain us are almost never the ones we planned.

Kelly and Tammy explore creativity through La La Land, a film that uses color like a second language and turns a highway traffic jam into magic. Tammy reflects on her own journey trying to make it in LA and why the film's authenticity around creative pursuit never fails to wreck her, while Kelly considers the deep self-belief required to chase any dream and the humiliation baked into trying. They talk about what happens when two people are more committed to their art than to each other, how the end of the film refuses to give us what we think we want, and why watching people struggle toward something they might not ever achieve is somehow the most relatable thing in the world. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit: templeton.org

In the 4th episode of our Super Traits series, Kelly sits down with her favorite writer George Saunders—author of 12 books including Lincoln in the Bardo and his latest novel Vigil—to explore creativity as a practice of staying open. They talk about how precise language changes the way we receive the world, why specificity lowers reactivity, and what it means that neurologically speaking, we're always writing and revising. George reflects on empathy as a gateway to creativity, why foreclosure is death to the creative process, and the dream of repair—which might be the whole job of fiction. He also shares why he never decides what his books mean before he writes them and why he considers constraints to be essential. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, visit www.templeton.org.

Tracy Hargen shares the story of the night her son Will came to her during his junior year of high school to say he'd been struggling with depression for over a year—and she had no idea. She reflects on what teenage depression actually looks like, how different it can be from what parents expect, and the critical moment when her son asked for help. It's about creating space for the hardest conversations, learning to listen for what isn't being said, and the bravery it takes to ask: "Mom, can we talk?". Content note: This episode includes discussions of suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7. David Begnaud of CBS Mornings will be airing a piece about Tracy, her son Will and the teacher who was so helpful to them on Monday, January 26th, 2026 in the 8am hour as a part of the "Beg-Knows America" segment. Tracy and Will created a poignant song based on their story - click here to listen: https://linktr.ee/TracyHargen

This week's Go To is another film discussion between Kelly and Tammy, this time exploring creativity through Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. They break down what makes the film a masterclass in creative choices: the strict candy-store palette, the impeccable production design/hair/makeup and the intentional postures and snappy pacing from the actors. Kelly reflects on what it takes to hold the line on daring creative choices and why collaboration that comes too early can make something special become ordinary. It's about trusting your audience, the miracle of hundreds of people doing their jobs superbly at once, and proof that radical creativity can also be commercially successful. This Go To is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, visit: templeton.org.

Kelly sits down with theoretical physicist Brian Greene—who might seem like an unusual choice for a conversation about creativity until you learn he's turned the general theory of relativity into theater that makes people cry. They explore what it means to translate the mysteries of the universe into stories that move us, why Brian doesn't believe in free will, and how collections of particles governed by physical law can paint masterpieces and feel transcendent joy. Brian reflects on going from a laser-focused college student who only wanted equations to someone teaching a course called "Origins and Meaning" with no equations at all, and why his father pushed him away from music even though he was a composer. It's about cosmic communion, auditory "cheesecake", and what happens when science gets stitched into the fabric of culture. This is the third episode in our Super Traits series. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more, please visit: templeton.org Thank you to our friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded.

Cassia van der Hoof Holstein writes about her cousin Chris, "captain of the cousins" in a family where cousin love means always having a place to go, advice in any time zone, and guides through every storm. She reflects on planning a Passover feast with Chris in Hawaii, their endless conversations about everything and nothing, and how the phrase "blood is thicker than water" doesn't quite capture it—it's not just blood, it's love. Love through a hundred seders, a million text messages, sharing apartments and childcare and sometimes organs. It's about what home means, what gets transmitted and transmuted across generations, and the ocean of cousin love that sustained them both.

Kelly and Tammy continue their Friday movie tradition, this time exploring humility in The Pursuit of Happyness. They discuss the difference between humiliation—being forced down—and humility—choosing to stay grounded, and how Will Smith's character, Chris Gardener, retains his dignity while losing everything. They talk about being honest when you have every reason to lie, the fine line between owning your struggle without burdening others, and why showing your flaws almost never comes back to bite you the way we fear. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more visit: www.templeton.org.

Kelly sits down with Father Greg Boyle, who has run Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years—the largest gang intervention program in the world. They explore humility not as the kind that makes you small, but the kind that sets you free. Father Greg reflects on burying 263 young people and why he keeps count, what happens when someone can't imagine tomorrow, and why gang membership is often a suicide mission in disguise. He talks about the difference between being other-centered and self-absorbed, why curiosity is the antidote to judgment, and how 90% of success is sheer dumb luck. It's about discovering that loving is your home, catching yourself before judgment takes over, and remembering that none of us are well until all of us are well. This is the second episode in a six-part series on super traits, supported by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more about the John Templeton Foundation, visit: www.templeton.org. Special thanks to the team at the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded.

Chris Duffy—standup comedian and author of Humor Me—writes a thank you letter to Gary, a 10-year-old "food critic" who changed his life. Gary was a fifth grader who hated writing until Chris offered him a column reviewing cafeteria food, and what followed was pure genius: hilarious reviews that brought Chris so much joy he still treasures the hard copies. Chris reflects on how Gary's reviews reminded him to laugh when he was taking himself way too seriously as a young teacher. Gary's goofiness eventually inspired Chris to embrace humor in all aspects of his life, ultimately becoming a professional comedian. Fourteen years later, Gary's an educator himself—helping kids who struggle in traditional school settings...and still trying to figure out what was actually in his vegetarian Hot Pocket. Check out Chris' book: Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744561/humor-me-by-chris-duffy/

Kelly and producer Tammy launch a new Friday tradition for the Super Traits series—breaking down movies that put the virtues of humility, creativity and curiosity on full display. This week, they revisit The King's Speech, exploring how Colin Firth's character must submit to help he doesn't want, from a person he'd normally never acknowledge, using methods that seem absurd. They discuss the different faces of humility in the film: a body that won't cooperate, a childhood that wasn't what it seemed, asking for help in front of people who might use it against you, and the vulnerability of being taught as an adult. It's about what happens when submission becomes the only way forward, and why watching someone get smaller might be the most satisfying thing a movie can show us. This episode was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more visit: www.templeton.org.

What does humility look like when you're standing at the absolute top? Kelly talks with Steve Kerr—nine-time NBA champion—about the tension between winning and perspective, the culture built on values most people wouldn't associate with dominance, and the contradiction at the heart of his best player, Steph Curry. They explore why we're drawn to watching people reach their peak, what coaches taught him that had nothing to do with basketball, and how loss shaped the way he leads. Steve also reflects on using his platform when staying quiet would be easier, what he's learning from the youngest people in the room, and why beginner's mind might be the most important practice of all. This is the first episode in a six-part series on super traits including humility curiosity and creativity, supported by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. To learn more visit: www.templeton.org. Special thanks to the team at the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded.

Beth Mason wrote this love letter to her sister Susan who, as the "in town" sibling, became their parents' default caregivers. Beth encourages us all to pass this along to anyone who's in the trenches doing the hard, essential work of caring for others. We see you - and we're so grateful. (Previously aired)

What if your New Year's resolutions weren't about losing weight or getting organized, but about becoming more curious, humble, and creative? Kelly reflects on why these three traits matter and how they're connected—curiosity as genuinely wondering instead of rushing to conclusions, humility as recognizing there's always more to learn and some things we'll never understand, and creativity as problem-solving with whatever you have in front of you. It's about resolutions that actually lay the groundwork for better days, better relationships, and better work. Check out our new 6-part series called Super Traits, made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The first episode airs Jan 6th, 2026 and is Kelly's interview with NBA coach Steve Kerr on the topic of humility . To learn more about the John Templeton Foundation and the work they do, please visit templeton.org.

Kelly and Kate Bowler return for the second half of their annual "Crappy/Happy" tradition—this time, the happy. They share the moments from 2025 that restored something, surprised them, or reminded them of what's important.

Karen Mulvaney writes about her father—a man who did cartwheels in a cornfield when her mother said "Yes!", who woke his kids with pots and pans at dawn so they could be first on the ski mountain, and who stood by his family through everything that came their way. She reflects on what defined his life: steadfastness, a welcoming heart, and the belief that showing up for others—family, friends, or strangers—is the key to everything. Even when grief and illness reduced him to a wisp of himself, he still showed up. It's about the kind of love that doesn't waver, the kind that makes everyone feel like they matter, and the way a big, wide-open heart lives on in the people left behind.

Kelly had a dream. Over a decade, the dream started to seem stupidly out of reach so she went about her business raising money for non profits. But in a surprise twist involving two crushing diagnoses, a new version of the dream started to look possible and she leapt at it.  Here are 6 takeaways to inspire and motivate, including embracing desires, recognizing personal biases, finding motivation, sharing dreams selectively, taking small steps, and embracing failure - and the case for engaging in five beats.  This episode is a great share. Consider it a loving kick in the backside for anyone who can’t seem to find their way forward. (Previously aired)

Kelly and Kate Bowler return for their annual, end-of-the-year "Crappy Happy" tradition—this week, the crappy. They wade into the losses that don't announce themselves all at once: the thinning of what used to feel full, the realization that some struggles are life sentences, and the slow unraveling of institutions that once felt solid. Kate reflects on what it costs to do slow, unglamorous work in a world that no longer values it and Kelly considers what happens when systems built to protect everyone start serving only one. They talk about acceptance as a form of hope, the surprising need to be bone tired, and how to tell the difference between people fighting for their side and people protecting what shelters us all. It's an honest, grounding conversation—with the happy coming next week.

Colleen Gilroy tells the story of her mother, Mary Pat—a woman who stayed up deep into the night knitting Christmas stockings, thinking about each recipient as her needles clicked in the stillness while everyone else slept. Mary Pat was a night shift NICU nurse who cared for thousands of fragile babies and their frightened parents, a leprechaun of a woman who never let the truth interfere with a good tale, someone who poured 30 hours of attention into every stocking she made—holding each person in her heart as she worked. Colleen shares what unfolded at the funeral when the family lined the church pews with their stockings, then processed out to the sound of thousands of tiny bells ringing at once, each one marking a life Mary Pat had touched.

What does it take to truly see someone before they're gone? Kelly shares an essay she wrote for an evening celebrating awe, reflecting on attention as a practice—learning to notice in wild places with a guide who insists you look closer, then bringing that same discipline to a quiet room where it matters most.

How much can we blame DNA for our depression and anxiety? Is something about our mental health pre-written into our genetic code? How much trauma carries over from one generation to the next? How should we think about epi-genetics? These were 4 of the 20 questions I brought to Dr. Francis Collins, the guy who let the team that mapped the human genome. There’s two things I want to say about this episode: I learned so much just studying for the interview and every minute I spent with Francis Collins was a total joy. He is a very special person — direct, deeply informed (maybe moreso on this topic than anyone else on Earth) and delightful. I am so excited to put his guy in your ear — a happy, loving man filled with purpose and eager to share what he knows (and doesn’t) for the greater good. And he laughs easily and a lot. So, I was getting hits of my dad the whole time. A heavenly experience that comes through in every minute of the conversation. Enjoy. (Previously aired) Thanks to PBS stations across the country for supporting Tell Me More. You can watch an edited video version of this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly.

Wendy Childress shares the story of losing her beautiful daughter Chloe in the devastating Camp Mystic floods in Texas, and writes a deeply moving tribute to her parents, Joanie and Da. She takes us through that terrible night and the days that followed—the phone calls, the waiting, the moment she had to tell her parents the worst news imaginable. Wendy reflects on having to stop protecting them from pain and become their daughter again, asking them to be strong when everything fell apart. She explores what it means when love comes full circle—to be a child, then a parent, then a child again—and how her parents showed up in ways she never imagined possible, refusing to give up even in the face of crushing grief.

After 700 episodes, Kelly distills what matters most: the places where old wisdom meets new science, what eulogies teach us about greatness, and why vulnerability means showing the wound before it heals. She reflects on learning to take up less space, the relief of not needing to know everything, and how listening functions as love. At the core is a question we're all asking—do I matter?—and the small, steady practices that answer it.

For anyone with gift anxiety, for anyone who feels like you can’t win for losing, this is the conversation for you. Full of reminders and insights as we gear up for the season, Anna and Kelly ask all the right questions. (Previously aired) If you enjoyed this episode with Anna Quindlen, please check out Kelly Corrigan Wonders episodes 24-28 featuring Anna Quindlen and podcaster Anna Sale for a series on "How to Make the Most of Family Life".

In this episode, writer Megan Cathlin shares a eulogy written four decades after her father's death by suicide when she was five years old. She reflects on the man he was—a musician, philosopher, and deep thinker whose hands found truth at the piano—and the weight he carried in an era before vulnerability had language. Kaplan wrestles with childhood confusion about sin and punishment, ultimately arriving at a profound understanding: that people can be both radiant and struggling, that suffering doesn't diminish worth, and that love remains even when someone chooses to leave. Through her words, she offers her father what he couldn't give himself—permission to be human, flawed, and enough. Check out Meghan's book: Leading With the Heart: The Courage to Trust Your Inner Wisdom and Rewrite Your Life

Journalist and author Amanda Ripley cuts through the noise with a startling fact: America is on track for its lowest murder rate since 1960, yet most Americans believe the opposite. Kelly shares insights from Amanda's Substack "Unraveled," examining how we've become so disconnected from reality, why conflict entrepreneurs profit from our fear, and what it would look like if media corrected our biases instead of amplifying them. Amanda points to researchers tracking the actual data on political violence, cancer mortality, and public perception, then asks three simple questions we should answer every time we share a story: How often is this happening? Is it getting better or worse? What can we do about it? The antidote to apocalyptic thinking, she argues, isn't denial—it's action, context, and a willingness to see what's actually there. Learn more about Amanda and her work at https://www.thegoodconflict.com/

Anna Quindlen and Kelly share readings, stories and insights on the art of holidaying, regular-people style - and focus on why showing up for those we love matters so very much. Special dro- in by Kelly’s brother, Booker. (Previously aired) If you love Anna Q, you’ll enjoy episodes 24-28 from March 2021.

Kelly shares a grandson's eulogy that captures the essence of an extraordinary relationship with his grandmother. Through William Wallace's memories, we see how his "Grams" created magic through simple but meaningful traditions – from crafting elaborate birthday desserts to transforming spaces just for him – demonstrating how the deepest family bonds are built through consistent presence and thoughtful attention to what makes someone feel special. (Previously aired)

A father in Dublin watches through a car window as his five-year-old son talks to his mother in the front seat—the pale face in the glow of headlights, the hands clasped to the seatbelt, the bare arm raised to point at something. He can't hear a word, but he knows everything about that conversation that truly matters. In this final Go To episode featuring Duncan Keegan's TED talk from Kelly's curated session on AI and family life, a man who lost his son explores what we're really for—being present with each other in ways that require courage, sacrifice, and our full living selves—especially in moments of profound loss and grief.

Anna Quindlen and Kelly work through pre-game jitters about the holidays and how they might turn out okay after all. Kelly shares a reading on the ever-present need for forgiveness. Special guest appearance by Kelly’s brother, Booker. (Previously aired) If you enjoyed this episode with Anna Quindlen, please check out Kelly Corrigan Wonders episodes 24-28 featuring Anna Quindlen and podcaster Anna Sale for a series on “How to Make the Most of Family Life”. Please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts! We read and appreciate every review.

What happens when you show up for someone else's joy while carrying your own grief? A mother steps away from caregiving for 72 hours to witness a bat mitzvah, and discovers that being woven into someone else's celebration—the photo shoots, the prayers, the hours on the dance floor—can lift sorrow without erasing it. This is Emma Nadler's reflection on how we need each other not despite what we're going through, but because of it. Emma Nadler is the author of The Unlikely Village of Eden: A Memoir, and is working on a novel. For more information, check out www.emmanadler.com

A scientist and entrepreneur built an AI to intercept every interruption in family life—the basketball emails, the field trip forms, the play rehearsal schedule buried at the bottom of a message. Then, an investor suggested the product could do more: text the sitter automatically, send birthday wishes to friends, suck up every teacher email so parents never see another one, and Avni Patel Thompson realized something didn't feel right. In this Go To episode featuring Avni's TED talk from Kelly's curated session on AI and family life, a mother who designs AI products for families discovers that not all friction is bad—some of it creates connection.

A text arrives: want to help build a movement around Jonathan Haidt's new book? Within a week, Alexa Arnold is sitting in his NYU office discussing how to change the world—and then she's in a hot tub with friends having a panic attack because she can't figure out how to do this massive job and raise an 18-month-old at the same time. In this final episode of The Tryhards—a three-part series for ambitious parents trying to be the best version of themselves day by day—Kelly talks with Alexa Arnold and Kate Cockrell about intensive parenting, impossible standards, and what it means to choose work you love while raising humans who need you. Through conversations about performing motherhood online, the merge of adult world and kid world, and why competence plus joy might be the actual goal, they explore how modern parenting became unsustainably intense and whether caring for your own purpose is actually one of the best things you can do for your kids.

In 1974, a suburban housewife named Pat Tiehel (aka PT), submitted an essay to a women's magazine about being angry at a system that gave her education and aspirations, then kept her pinned up at home. The magazine rejected it. One year later, everything changed. This is the essay PT's daughters found tucked away in their mom's papers after she died—a document of wanting more...and what happened next.

Andy Laats thought parenting was a complete alphabet—he did A through M, his wife Liz handled N through Z. After she died of ovarian cancer, he learned he'd underestimated the N through Z work, and then discovered there was a whole world beyond language he never even knew existed. In this Go To episode featuring Andy's TED talk from Kelly's curated session on AI and family life, a CEO learns what a mother knows—that the prize of parenting isn't in mastering the logistics or even the emotional check-ins, but in earning access to something beyond words.

What's underneath mom rage and why does it keep happening? In this second episode of The Tryhards—a 3-part series for ambitious parents trying to be the best version of themselves day by day—Kelly talks with Alexa Arnold and Kate Cockrill about the impossible expectations we set, the tasks we hoard, and what our rage is really trying to tell us. This is a conversation about suppression, resentment, love and the moments when mercy appears from the most unexpected places.

A mother stands to speak about her son Pierce—the boy who had style, a memorable laugh, and a way of making ordinary moments feel like love. Lesley Hu delivered this eulogy after Pierce was shot and killed by his father during a custody dispute, one of roughly 52 children murdered each year by a parent or stepparent amid legal negotiations over divorce, separation, or custody. This is Lesley's tribute to her kind, hilarious, energetic boy, and her pledge to transform unspeakable tragedy into meaning through Pierce's Pledge, a campaign working to reduce violence against children by encouraging temporary weapon storage during family law disputes. To learn more about Pierce's Pledge, visit: https://www.piercespledge.org/

A Maasai girl grows up milking cows at dawn, walking ten kilometers for water, sleeping eight to a bed, surrounded by 38 siblings and five mothers who all knew her name and sang her song. Then she leaves for the city—chosen husband, three children, a laptop, shoes with zippers. Kelly shares Ndinini Kimesera Sikar's TED talk about living in two worlds and the question that haunts her: what do we preserve as we rush toward the future? In the village, mental health was strong because life included everything research now tells us we need—movement, nature, community, belonging. In modern life, we've traded all of that for autonomy and advancement, filling bookstores with self-help guides trying to teach us what we once knew naturally. As AI promises to manage even more of family life, Ndinini asks us to pause and decide: do we know what we want to keep and do we know how we'll protect it before the current sweeps us away?

In this first episode of "The Tryhards"—a three-part series for ambitious parents trying to be the best version of themselves day by day—Kelly talks with social impact entrepreneur Alexa Arnold and leadership coach Kate Cockrill about why we track our kids, what we're really searching for when we check our phones at midnight and the hard truth that all this data doesn't actually keep anyone safer. Through stories about location apps, late-night panic and learning when to step back, they explore the gap between monitoring and mattering and discuss how to recognize when you're filling your own need for intimacy rather than protecting your child from danger.

A woman named Karen Burke listened to an episode of Thanks For Being Here and felt an overwhelming sense of certainty about something she'd never considered before. Kelly shares a remarkable full circle story that began with listener Jennifer Cramer-Miller's letter thanking her anonymous kidney donor and ends somewhere none of us could have predicted. This is about what happens when someone else's words move you so deeply that listening isn't enough— and how sharing our experiences can ripple outward with consequences we'd never imagine possible.

Babies attach to whoever responds to them—mother, father, grandmother, or machine. Kelly shares anthropologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy's TED talk about what makes humans fundamentally different from other apes: we're "other-regarding," wired to care about what others think and feel. Through 6 million years of evolution, Sarah reveals why shared care isn't just helpful—it's how our species survived. But if babies will bond with anyone (or anything) that's reliably responsive and if AI can be programmed to respond faster and more consistently than exhausted parents, are we about to create a new species? This conversation wrestles with whether our defining human trait—empathy built through messy, imperfect relationships—might disappear before we even realize what we've lost.

As a 19 year old, Letitia Hanke took a job as a receptionist at the local roofing company. Within 10 years, she bought the business she has now been running (and growing) for 2 decades. If you want to remember that anything is possible, this conversation will wake you up to the possibilities.

A kitchen clock keeps perfect time for 55 years, witnessing countless conversations and quiet moments above a kitchen table. Kelly reads Jerry Kinkead's tribute to her brother-in-law Huck, a story about enduring presence and the people who stay steady when everything else shifts. Through memories of a reliable GE clock and the man who gifted it, Jerry remembers someone who was steady, curious, funny and always there.

When someone admits they're struggling at 2 AM, should they have to wait until morning to talk to another human? Kelly shares her TED stage conversation with Dr. Allison Darcy, creator of Woebot, an AI therapy tool used by over 1.5 million people. From questions about who profits when we share our deepest fears to whether perfect AI responsiveness might make us reject messy human relationships, this conversation explores what happens when technology enters our most vulnerable moments. Through reflections on business models, red lines and the surprising ways people use AI as practice for real conversations, Kelly and Allison wrestle with whether these tools are helping us become more human or less—and how we might tell the difference before it's too late.

Most people run from danger. Raymond Ansotegui spent a decade running toward it. In the final episode of our Great Coaches series, Kelly talks with a retired rodeo bullfighter about what happens when your job is to step between a thrown rider and an animal the size of a car. Through stories about learning to read personality in a bucking bull, finding connection in the most chaotic moments and understanding when getting closer is actually safer than staying back, Raymond reveals lessons that reach far beyond the arena. This conversation explores commitment, presence and the strange grace that emerges when you stop trying to control everything and just learn to move with what's in front of you—whether that's a 1,800-pound bull, an addiction or a father slipping away to Alzheimer's. Raymond's organization is petriCORE Compass: https://petricorecompass.com/ The aversion therapy program Raymond mentioned is the Schick Shadel Hospital which stopped providing behavioral healthcare services as of June 30, 2022.

Sometimes the people we think we're teaching end up being our greatest mentors. Kelly shares a letter from Rachel Hicks—longtime collaborator on Kelly Corrigan Wonders—written to her younger self who spent seven years coaching high school volleyball. Through reflections on tough losses, difficult conversations with parents, and players who taught her more than she ever taught them, Rachel reveals how coaching changed her understanding of success. This is about the shift from measuring wins to protecting the joy that brought young players to the game in the first place—and caring more about who they're becoming than what they're achieving.

Can a machine love a child the way a parent does? Kelly introduces a special GOTO series exploring one of the most unsettling questions of our time: as AI becomes more capable, what is a parent actually for? After curating a session at TED 2025 on parenting and technology, Kelly shares an episode she hosted of TED Talks Daily featuring her own TED Talk about the unglamorous, unmeasurable bravery required in family life—the kind that happens when someone says "tell me more" instead of trying to fix everything. Then she takes us behind the scenes of her work with six speakers who helped her wrestle with whether AI could ever replace the messy, imperfect, irreplaceable work of raising a human. From technologists who insist AI could breastfeed better than humans to psychologists warning about developing intolerance for real people's limitations, this conversation looks at what we might lose if we optimize away all the friction and failure that actually shapes us.

How do you lead when every decision affects someone's dream? Kelly talks with Yael Averbuch West, general manager of New Jersey/New York Gotham FC, about the tricky business of managing professional athletes whose careers are both precious and finite. This conversation explores the difference between coaches who see your strengths versus those who fixate on your weaknesses, why high EQ matters more than tactical brilliance and how fairness and transparency can cut through the noise when egos are fragile and everyone's happiness seems to depend on you. To learn more about Gotham FC, visit: https://www.gothamfc.com

A very special coach can change your life in a single practice. Kelly shares listener Tiffany Hogue's letter to her high school track coach—a letter written decades after one small act of kindness set everything else in motion. This is about a coach who understood that last place can still be the starting line for something remarkable and the decision to include someone can have positive repercussions throughout a lifetime. Through Tiffany's words, we're reminded that the people who believe in us when we're slowest, newest and most uncertain often end up mattering more than anyone else.

What makes a leader stay grounded? Kelly sat down with Maryland Governor Wes Moore at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about power and humility, loss and faith, and the forces that shape who we become. Moore shares stories from his childhood—losing his father at three, finding himself caught between worlds as a teenager, getting sent to military school—and reflects on how those early experiences inform the way he leads today. This conversation explores big questions about fairness and opportunity, asking what we owe each other and how much context matters when we're measuring success. Books by Governor Moore mentioned in this episode: The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-other-wes-moore-wes-moore/1101000890 Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/five-days-wes-moore/1134703904?ean=9780525512387 Special Thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival

Kelly introduces The Lazy Genius podcast. October through December sometimes feels like a really fun roller coaster but you don’t always feel like you have time to buckle your seatbelt. This episode is going to help you not just survive a busy season but really enjoy it.

In Episode 4 of our Great Coaches series, Kelly talks with Ali Truwit, who went from Yale Division I swimmer to shark attack survivor to Paralympic silver medalist in just over a year. Two days after her college graduation, a snorkeling trip in Turks and Caicos ended with Ali losing her left foot and part of her leg as a result of a shark attack. What followed wasn't just a physical recovery but a complete reimagining of identity, guided by coaches who understood that rebuilding Ali meant helping her see what was still there, not what was lost. Please check out and consider supporting Ali's non-profit: Stronger Than You Think . https://strongerthanyouthink.org/

What makes a coach unforgettable? Kelly reads listener Kathleen Ricketts' tribute to her high school basketball coach, Dave Greenberg—known simply as "DG". This isn't a story about championships or statistics. It's about a man who knew his players as individuals, who loved freely and built confidence that shaped the trajectory of their lives. Through Kathleen's words, we meet a coach who became a second father to young women who needed one, and we're reminded that the greatest legacies live not in record books but in the people we help become who they're meant to be.

Kelly's daughter Claire takes the mic to share her experience with Camp Kesem, an amazing organization that runs free summer camps for kids whose parents have faced cancer. As both a cancer survivor's daughter and the current director of UVA's Kesem chapter, Claire opens up about her personal story and shows how this incredible community creates pure magic for children going through tough times. (Previously aired)

In the third episode of our Great Coaches series, Kelly sits down with Eric Ripert, chef and co-owner of Le Bernardin, whose three Michelin stars pale in comparison to his journey from surviving brutal kitchen culture to creating something entirely different. Through stories about the legendary cruelty of mentor Joel Robuchon and the moment Eric realized he was becoming someone he didn't recognize, he reveals how the restaurant industry's tradition of abuse nearly broke an entire generation of chefs. This conversation delves into the hard-won wisdom of a chef who discovered that kindness isn't weakness—it's the secret ingredient that changes everything. Eric's book (written with Veronica Chambers) which was mentioned in this episode is: 32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line Also mentioned: A Return to Cooking

Kelly shares the legendary farewell memo that GQ Editor-in-Chief Jim Nelson sent to his staff when Andy Ward left for Random House in 2009. This is workplace appreciation turned up to eleven—a memo so effusive, so unabashedly emotional and so beautifully over-the-top that it became the stuff of publishing legend. Through Nelson's tribute to Andy's "Olympian generosity of spirit" and "Andy Ward-ness," we get a glimpse into what it looks like when someone's professional impact is so profound that ordinary words simply won't do. Check out Kelly's interview with Andy HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-andy-ward-on-great-coaching/id1532951390?i=1000728012046

Are you good with money? Or are you avoiding taking a close look at what you have and what you need? Kelly shares excerpts from the book Feel Good Finance: Untangle Your Relationship with Money for Better Mental, Emotional and Financial Well-Being by Aja Evans and discusses her own relationship with money. (Previously aired)

How do you help someone see their own work more clearly without breaking their spirit? In this 2nd episode of our "Great Coaches" series, Kelly talks with her editor Andy Ward about the delicate art of literary coaching—knowing when to push a writer toward uncomfortable truths and when to step back and let them find their own way. Through stories about working with David Sedaris, George Saunders and the posthumous publication of When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Andy reveals how great editing is really about asking the right questions, building trust through close attention and helping writers discover what their book is truly about. This conversation covers the psychology of creative partnership, the vulnerability of sharing early drafts and why the best coaches never impose their vision but instead help others see their own more clearly. It's a "must listen" for anyone interested in writing. Books mentioned in this episode: Naked by David Sedaris Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Tenth of December by George Saunders Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg To Obama by Jeanne Marie Laskas When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi North Woods by Daniel Mason The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Lisa's eulogy for her beloved cousin Robby G. (Previously aired)

We are storytelling beings, driven by a need for closure—or what our lit professors called denouement. Today’s Go To talks about the cost of this story-making habit of ours and a few specific ways we might mitigate the downside.

What does it take to build something meaningful from nothing? Kelly talks with her cousin Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame's head lacrosse coach, about the slow work of creating culture and character. Over four decades, Kevin has learned that the hardest part of leadership isn't the strategy or tactics—it's understanding that relationships matter more than being right, that asking "why" isn't defiance but engagement and that true strength comes from knowing when to be tough and when to listen. Through reflections on coaching, parenting and the art of helping people become their best selves, this conversation digs into how patience and authenticity can transform not just teams but lives.

Sheri honors her vibrant co-worker and dear friend Marque. (Previously aired)

Here are 4 pretty perfect poems to slow you down and give a dose of serenity to underwrite your day, whatever may come. (Previously aired) PS: Send us a note anytime - we read and appreciate every email that comes to hello@kellycorrigan.com.

The word is EVERYWHERE. Happiness. I don’t even always believe that it’s a worthy goal honestly, but that might be a matter of semantics. How you define happiness defines how you approach it. This is a careful conversation with Gretchen Rubin that’s based on what research and experience tell us makes a life that feels pretty satisfying most of the time. Gretchen wrote The Happiness Project 15 years back and has been playing with the tenets and practices ever since on her podcast Happier. (Previously aired) Our takeaways were long on this one…if you’d like to receive the weekly list in your inbox subscribe to our Weekly Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

Shawn remembers her father Dave and why being stubborn isn't such a bad thing. (Previously aired)

What would happen if you just started saying "oh well" to life's most frustrating realities? In this episode, Kelly shares what she calls "The Oh Well Anthem" - a brutally honest list of unacceptable things we might as well start accepting. From parenting failures and teenage lies to lost expensive items and the fact that expert advice rarely works as promised, Kelly tackles the messy truths we all face but rarely talk about.

Living in an optimization culture is making parenting much more complicated than it need be. Or so says Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of The Five Principles of Parenting and the host of Raising Good Humans, who spends a lot of time with the latest research and a lot of time with parents in clinic. Today’s conversation is about exactly what does and does not protect us from the worst health outcomes and is to be shared with anyone who is looking for a parenting north star. (Previously aired) Our takeaways were juicy on this one… if you’d like to receive the weekly list in your inbox subscribe to our Weekly Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

19 year-old Harry lovingly remembers his younger brother Charlie - and reminds us all that a heart is not judged by how much you love but by how much you are loved by others. (Previously aired)

In this episode, Kelly shares a piece of writing she's kept in her drawer for years about the power of choosing "good enough." She reflects on her mom's wisdom about saying "no" to the endless invitations and expectations that pile up in our daily lives and how learning to be selective creates space for what truly matters.

We're dropping in an episode of Dave DeSteno's podcast How God Works that explores the profound connection between craft and spirituality. Dave examines why making things with our hands can put us in a transformative state called "flow" - where time disappears, worries fade and we lose ourselves in he work. Through conversations with a Tibetan monk who creates intricate sand mandalas, a Native American glass artist and the former director of Maine's renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, this episode reveals how the simple act of shaping materials can shape us in return. It's about finding meaning in the dialogue between maker and medium and discovering that sometimes the most sacred moments happen when our hands are busy and our minds are still. Enjoy!

Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET and the first African American woman to become a billionaire, sat down with Kelly at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about the power of rebuilding after devastation. From scrubbing floors to help her family get by after her father walked out, to being fired from her own company by her husband during a brutal divorce, Sheila reveals how she transformed repeated setbacks into stepping stones toward success and ultimately created a thriving hospitality business while discovering true love in her third act. Sheila's book is Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Triumph. Recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival (June 2024).

Kelly shares her New York Times opinion piece about tennis champion Novak Djokovic, confessing that while she and the rest of the world were busy swooning over more charming champions, she missed the man who was quietly grinding his way to greatness. Now, as she watches the 38-year-old Serbian fight for every point against younger players who will soon replace him, she recognizes something both humbling and beautiful: sometimes the person we overlook becomes exactly the role model we didn't know we needed.

Ron Shaich, the son of a man who died with a few regrets, started two super successful restaurant chains: Panera and Cava. Today Kelly shares a story from his book, Know What Matters, which describes a clarifying moment between father and son that transformed Ron’s intentions. (Previously aired)

In this finale of our Hard Conversations series, Kelly explores how making things together - singing, stitching, creating art - might be the key to deeper connections and better conversations across differences. Recorded in Bozeman, Montana, the day after our live collaborative event, Kelly is joined by musician Cava Menzies, who is a music educator and leads community singing experiences; artist Jen Bloomer, who has spent over two decades with her organization Radici Studios using art-making to help people connect across differences and embroidery artist Diana Weymar, known for her "tiny pricks" needlework (and popular Instagram account of the same name) which creates space for reflection and conversation. Together, they discover how the collaborative principles needed in all art forms - whether it's harmonizing voices, listening deeply to someone's story before making art about it or slowing down to stitch meaningful words - mirror what we need in our relationships, communities and democracy. It's about how art disarms us, creates space for surprise and vulnerability and reveals the surprising truth that you can't be cynical and creative at the same time. Listen in to hear soundbites from the live event.  This episode, the Bozeman, MT live event and the entire Hard Conversations series were all made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust.  You can learn more by visiting templetonreligiontrust.org. Check out the previous episodes from our Hard Conversations series: Deep Dive with Bob and Amy Allnutt on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-bob-a nd-amy-allnutt-on-hard-conversations/id1532951390?i=1000683888545 Deep Dive with Isaac Slade and Gregg Latterman on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/deep-dive-with-isaac-slade-and-gregg-latterman-on/id1532951390?i=1000684803329 Deep Dive with Simon Greer and Saad Soliman on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-simon-greer-and-saad-soliman-on/id1532951390?i=1000686080499 Deep Dive with Sisters Amy and Meg on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-sisters-amy-and-meg-on-hard-conversations/id1532951390?i=1000688777654 Deep Dive with Karen McKinney and Joseph Herrera on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-karen-mckinney-and-joseph-herrera-on/id1532951390?i=1000691018234 Deep Dive with Rabbi Sharon Brous on Hard Conversations http://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/deep-dive-with-rabbi-sharon-brous-on-hard-conversations/id1532951390?i=1000704424738 Deep Dive with Ami Dar on Hard Conversations https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dive-with-a ...

This week's episode features Jenny Rosenstrach's heartfelt eulogy for her father, Ivan, highlighting his unwavering dependability and his profound love for family. Jenny reflects on cherished memories from her childhood, illustrating her father's unique love language of 'being there,' and the impact his dependable nature had on her life. (Previously aired)

What if politicians could just agree to stop being so awful to each other? Amanda Ripley (bestselling author and co-founder of ⁠Good Conflict⁠, a media and training company that helps people reimagine conflict) thinks it's possible and she's got examples to prove it. This week's Go To digs into her idea for voluntary non-aggression pacts - basically giving politicians permission to step back from the brink without looking weak. Turns out, most people caught up in these conflicts are actually tired of fighting but don't know how to stop. We'll look at how we can reward the good behavior when we see it and why we need to be ready with real solutions before things get even worse. Sometimes the obvious answer is hiding in plain sight.

In this conversation recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Kelly explores two fundamental human drives with panel moderator Dave DeSteno (host of the podcast How God Works) and author of the new book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, Jennifer B. Wallace - our deep need to feel valued and our instinct to create. Jennifer shares her research on "mattering" and why so many people today feel invisible, while Kelly makes the case that creativity isn't a luxury but essential for our wellbeing. Together, they uncover why showing genuine interest in others matters more than praise, how economic pressures are driving perfectionism in families and the surprising ways that making things with our hands can change how we see the world. Kelly and Jennifer Wallace will be together in person, in New Caanan, CT on October 29th, 2025. We'll add the link for the event here in the show notes as soon as it becomes available. Special thanks to our friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Listener Sarah DuMond shares the eulogy she gave for her mother - a woman who embodied the motto, "Take a Tylenol and wear the damn heels." Sarah reflects on navigating life in what she calls, "the sacred Venn diagram of daughter, mother, wife", while planning both a funeral and graduations in the same month. Her tribute captures a remarkable woman who was crowned West Virginia University's Mountaineer Queen, had a self-declared theme song and approached life's challenges with grace and practicality. It's a beautiful portrait of how the women of a certain generation lived with strength, sweetness and an unshakeable sense of what truly mattered - and a reminder that we're all leaving legacies whether we realize it or not.

Breaking down the principles, practices and tactics of conflict resolution to be shared with anyone who is struggling to reach new levels understanding with friends, family and neighbors. A very simple set of moves that just might break the tension. Reference: Bridging Differences Playbook created by the Greater Good Science Center. (Previously aired)

Kelly talks with Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), who challenges everything we've been taught about productivity and time management. Together, they explore why traditional approaches aren't working for women's lives, and offer a revolutionary new framework for finding contentment in the chaos. Kelly and Kendra discuss Kendra's new book The Plan and look at how to stop treating exhaustion as a status symbol and start embracing a more integrated approach to daily life. It's an honest conversation about redefining what a successful life really looks like, perfect for anyone seeking a more compassionate way to navigate their time and energy. (Previously aired)

Once in a great while, maybe even just once in a lifetime, a person comes along who totally changes your perspective, teaches you what matters and gives you an example of what loving your fellow man is supposed to look like. Avery Anderson was that person. She affected people near and far and people around the world showed their love and support of her by wearing rubber bracelets in Avery’s favorite color of teal green. #avethebrave (Previously aired)

If I don't let myself cry, I risk a migraine, which is to risk several days of living. So when the wave comes, I let it. After my most recent release, I stumbled onto some analysis of the benefits of crying and why we might do well by each other to normalize crying as a natural and effective human behavior. Sharing here for the good of the order. Speaking of which, we'd love to hear about the best cry of your life -- if you feel like sharing, write us at hello@kellycorrigan.com. (Previously aired)

What does it really mean to be financially fulfilled, and how has the path to wealth changed for younger generations? In this conversation recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival, host Kelly Corrigan sits down with Edward Jones Managing Partner Penny Pennington and finance influencer and educator Vivian Tu to explore how money psychology shapes our decisions, why traditional retirement models are breaking down, and what families can do to navigate the largest wealth transfer in American history. From the comparison trap fueled by social media to the sandwich generation caring for both parents and children, Pennington and Tu offer practical insights on building financial literacy, having honest money conversations across generations and redefining what middle-class prosperity looks like in today's economy. Whether you're helping your twentysomething get started or planning for your own financial future, this episode challenges assumptions about money, success and what it takes to build lasting wealth. Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded.

This episode is our tribute to poet Andrea Gibson, who passed away recently and left behind some of the most stunning insights about love, illness and what it really means to show up for one another. Kelly shares an excerpt from Andrea's blog regarding being sick—how friends would ask what to bring when they visited and Andrea's partner would say "bring your problems," because being needed was just as important as being cared for. It's such a simple but profound idea: that even when we're struggling, we still want to feel useful, to be more than just someone who needs help. The episode ends with Andrea's gorgeous poem "Love Letter from the Afterlife," which completely reimagines what death might be like—not as leaving but as becoming more present than ever before. It's the kind of writing that stops you in your tracks and makes you think about love and loss in an entirely new way.

After Kelly's conversation with Lenore Skenazy this past Tuesday, we're going deeper into the moment that changed everything for this mom and sparked a national conversation about how we raise our kids. When Lenore's 9-year-old kept begging for some independence, she finally said yes—letting him ride the New York subway home alone from Bloomingdale's. The op-ed she wrote about it in The New York Sun brought fierce criticism and praise in equal measure, with some calling her brave and others suggesting she should be reported for child abuse. It's a story that gets to the heart of something so many of us wrestle with: How do we help our children develop confidence and self-reliance in a world that feels increasingly dangerous? And what happens when our desire to protect them might actually be holding them back from becoming the capable, independent people we want them to be?

When well-meaning parents try to keep kids safe from every possible harm, they might actually be creating more anxious, less capable children. In this conversation recorded live on stage at this year's Aspen Ideas Festival, Kelly talks with Lenore Skenazy, who became known as "America's Worst Mom" after letting her nine-year-old ride the New York subway alone and psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz, who developed "Independence Therapy" to treat childhood anxiety through independence rather than avoidance. They explore how protecting kids from distress, disappointment, danger, and discomfort interferes with essential skill-building, why being around our children too much leads to over-parenting and how simple changes like waiting five seconds before jumping in to help can make a huge difference. The conversation covers practical strategies for fostering independence, the importance of mixed-age play and the hopeful news that 11 states have now passed laws protecting parents' rights to raise free-range kids. Special thanks to The Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded.

Kelly shares a moving piece by her friend Susannah Meadows about the complex relationship she had with her father. Originally published in The New York Times and titled "What My Dad Gave Me," Susannah writes with unflinching honesty about the gifts she received from her father—some welcome, others less so—and how their relationship transformed in his final years. From awkward silences and missed connections to a surprising moment of tenderness in an assisted living dining room, this is a story about how people can change, even stubborn fathers in their nineties. It's a gentle reminder that our most important relationships don't have to be perfect to hold beauty, and that it's never too late for two people who love each other imperfectly to find connection and understanding.

What if the same playbook that made cigarettes addictive is now being used to make our food irresistible? This week we're exploring Ariana Huffington's eye-opening piece about how Big Food borrowed tactics directly from Big Tobacco, using the same scientists and brain research to hook us on ultra-processed foods. We dig into a groundbreaking lawsuit that's drawing explicit connections between food companies and tobacco giants, and why this might be our "big tobacco moment" for the food industry. From a 1962 memo revealing that tobacco companies saw themselves as being "in the flavor business" to the staggering health costs we're paying today, this episode connects the dots between corporate strategy and our current health crisis - and explains why there's actually reason for hope.

I loved being with Ginni Rometty. She is full of insight and clearly oriented toward world-positive work. I was also taken with her Midwestern charm and candor. Emerging from a tricky childhood, she found herself running IBM in a time when very few women were commanding boardrooms (a statement that is maddeningly still applicable today). Now, she is entirely devoted to making good careers available to many more people, and her plan is working. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to build more purpose into life and perhaps one to forward along to the young professionals in your life as inspiration. Thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas and PBS for supporting this work. You can watch this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly. (Previously aired) Ginni Rometty’s book: Good Power: Leading Positive Change in our Lives, Work, and World

A tender meditation on what it means to live fully, told through the lens of loss and love. Kelly's friend Christine Carter shares the eulogy she wrote for her father Tim—a man who turned everyday moments into acts of devotion and found humor even in hospital rooms. Through stories of midnight baby feedings, homemade lattes for gardeners and gratitude spoken with final breaths, we discover how one person's way of moving through the world can illuminate the path for all of us. This is a celebration of the ordinary magic that happens when someone chooses love over fear, laughter over complaint and commitment over convenience—a reminder that how we live echoes long after we're gone.

What happens when your creative passion feels like it's not loving you back? This week we're diving into a brilliant piece by Kelly's good friend, songwriter and music educator Mike Errico, who compares our relationship with creative work to loving a cat - something beautiful, unpredictable, and impossible to control. Mike asks AI how to love a cat, then translates those tips into wisdom for anyone wrestling with the ups and downs of making art. Whether you're a musician, writer, or any kind of creator who's ever felt like you're pouring your heart into something that seems indifferent to your devotion, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to nurture your craft without losing yourself in the process.

Arianna Huffington loves her mom, reading, America, adventure and getting to the bottom of things. She has spent a lifetime asking Why and Why Not? Our conversation zeroes in what any one of us can do to thrive, such that we might have more capacity to contribute. We loved being together, comparing notes, figuring out what leads to what. Please share with everyone you know who needs a reminder that we have agency. (Previously aired) This episode was made possible by AmeriHealth Caritas and can be viewed anytime you like at PBS.org/kelly.

A touching eulogy for Walter Barry, written by his son Stewart (“Bear Bear"). This is a beautiful tale of family bonds, of three sons who loved to play sports (even inside the family home to a refrain of “Boys take it outside!”) and of a father who led with his heart and intuition. Walter Barry stuck to his guns even when his values and standards weren’t popular, brought joy with his humor, modeled hard work and humility and kept loving his sons - despite their “defects”.  (Previously aired)

I had this crazy thing happen one morning trying to get to LAX that I keep reflecting on. Meant to be shared with anyone you think of as one of those people, the ones who go with the grain of life as it happens. (Previously aired) Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Everyone is thinking about war and service. Here’s a conversation with someone who has known many battlefields and paid dearly for his commitment to defend and protect. Retired Colonel Greg Gadson was a kid who dreamed of playing football and who ended up with Super Bowl rings after all. You can watch this episode at any time on PBS. Special thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas. (Please note: this episode was recorded in 2023 and originally aired 10/31/23) Retired Colonel Gadson’s book is Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Toward Peace and Purpose.

In the space between wanting and receiving, between hope and heartbreak, lies the tender territory of human need. This week, we share an excerpt from Jessica Slice's book Unfit Parent about the night her second child entered the world through another woman's body and how love and trauma can occupy the same breath. Her story moves through hospital corridors and sleepless hours, through the weight of knowing that someone you care about has suffered so you might hold what you've longed for. It's a meditation on the fragile web that holds us all - the friends who bring food and sit in driveways, the hands that help us breathe and the truth that our most broken moments might also be our most beautiful ones. Check out Jessica's book - Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World https://www.amazon.com/Unfit-Parent-Disabled-Challenges-Inaccessible/dp/0807013242

In a world marked by division and old wounds, sometimes a single act cuts through the darkness. This week, through the words of Simran Singh, we encounter the story of Aaron Castro and his choice to release decades of hatred and transform his pain into something else. Aaron's story speaks of cycles that can be broken, burdens that can be lifted and the alchemy that turns suffering into sanctuary. It's a meditation on what becomes possible when we choose to heal rather than amplify the hurt around us and a reminder that forgiveness might be less about forgetting the past and more about refusing to let it dictate the future. Link to Simran's pod that he did with Kelly as guest: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-meaning-in-the-mess-with-kelly-corrigan/id1748199932?i=1000691936504

Hank Green has spent his career making complex ideas accessible to millions - from creating Crash Course educational videos to co-founding the Nerdfighters community with his brother, novelist John Green. However, when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, he discovered an unexpected creative outlet: stand-up comedy, writing jokes in his journal during treatment that eventually made it to the stage. In this episode, Hank reveals what really keeps him up at night, why he thinks most of us are terrible at predicting the future and how he knows when to abandon a project that's not working. Plus, we dive into his approach to creating for humans versus algorithms and why he believes the most rewarding part of making anything is watching people actually engage with what you've created.

Shannon Watts thought she had it all figured out - marriage, three kids, and a steady job. But by her mid-thirties, she realized she was living someone else's life. After leaving an unfulfilling marriage and career, she spent years asking herself one crucial question: "What do I want?" That led her to found Moms Demand Action at age 41 after a mass school shooting - despite being an introvert with ADHD and a fear of public speaking. In this episode, Kelly reads a letter Shannon wrote to her younger self, where she shares her "fire formula" for transformation, why pursuing your desires is a radical act for women and how living authentically became her greatest legacy. Check out Shannon's new book: Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age https://www.amazon.com/Fired-Up-Spark-Flame-Alive/dp/0593831934

Kelly dives into a book that's been consuming her thoughts at dinner parties and conferences alike: Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford. It's the story of a guy with a PhD in political philosophy who walked away from a cushy think tank job to open a motorcycle repair shop - and has never been happier. Crawford's book flips everything we think we know about success and asks why we've decided that working with your hands is somehow less valuable than working with your mind. It's an episode about attention, satisfaction and that thrilling "I did it myself" feeling that comes from actually fixing something instead of just buying a replacement.

Kelly sits down with Lisa Gevelber, Global Vice President and Managing Director at Google, to explore how creativity and making can happen anywhere - even inside giant corporations. Lisa shares how she went from putting herself through college to creating Google Career Certificates, a program that's now graduated nearly 1.5 million people into good-paying jobs without requiring a four-year degree. They dig into the importance of listening for human need when creating something new, the art of receiving feedback, and how AI might be the great equalizer that lets everyone become a maker. Lisa's story reminds us that some of the most meaningful making happens when you spot a problem that affects millions of people and refuse to accept that that's "just how things are." To learn more about Google's programs mentioned in today's episode: Google Career Certificates - grow.google/certificates  Google Prompting Essentials - grow.google/prompting-essentials Generative AI for Educators - grow.google/ai-for-educators

This Father's Day, we're re-airing the beautiful eulogy which was the inspiration for Thanks For Being Here and was the very first episode we aired. It was written by Kelly's editor at Random House, Andy Ward, to honor his father.

This week's Go To features a piece from listener Megan Matthews, who shares her thoughts on how we can better support each other during tough times. Instead of the well-meaning but vague "let me know if you need anything," Megan encourages us to get specific with our offers of help - whether that's taking someone their favorite drink, dropping off paper goods or folding a load of laundry. Drawing from her 23 years as a nurse, Megan reminds us that small acts of love don't have to be grand gestures or cost much - they just need to be thoughtful and real. It's a reminder that we're all just trying to help one another navigate life's surprises, one small kindness at a time.

Kelly and her daughter Claire chat with Boone Hogg and Logan Jugler, the duo behind Stick Nation - that surprisingly wholesome corner of the internet where millions of people celebrate finding and reviewing the perfect stick. What started as a silly bit on a Utah hike has become a global phenomenon that's genuinely good for your mental health. As a part of our Makers series, Boone and Logan talk about why people are drawn to something so simple and uncomplicated, how they've built such a positive community online and their dreams of taking it into the real world with festivals and conservation efforts. It's all about slowing down, noticing nature's small wonders, and finding joy in the most ordinary things. Stick Nation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialstickreviews/?hl=en Check out Logan and Boone's upcoming book Sticks https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/778235/sticks-by-logan-jugler-and-boone-hogg/

Kelly shares a beautiful eulogy from listener Jody Antypas which she wrote for her Greek immigrant father George—a man who came to America with one suitcase, built a life from scratch, and somehow managed to love paying taxes more than anyone you've ever met. From his wartime childhood to becoming "Pappou" the pancake-making, Monopoly-playing, sand castle-building grandfather, George's story will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. It's a reminder of why immigrants have always been such a gift to this country, and why the small moments with the people we love matter most.

I’ve been asked to give many graduation speeches. This one was a favorite, making a case for one very simple move that changes everything. (Previously aired) Always happy to hear from you. Write us here: hello@kellycorrigan.com. Sign up for the Wednesday Takeaway email here.

We're dropping in a bonus episode today -  Kelly had the best time talking to a friend you might know, he is Dwight Schrute from The Office among many, many other things.  His real name is Rainn Wilson and his real interest is in spirituality and matters of the soul. That's why he started a podcast called Soul Boom . We loved this episode of Soul Boom where Rainn interviews Kelly and thought we would share it. So, here is a conversation between two friends, Rainn and Kelly, about curiosity versus fear and judgment  and also about the ways that each of us is creative. Check out Soul Boom on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulBoom

Meet George Sweetland, a first-grade teacher from Connecticut who turned his love of drawing monsters and late-night sketching sessions into a dream career as a children's book illustrator. In this episode of our Makers series, George shares how an Instagram post changed everything, why he keeps bins of "failed" sketches, and what happened when he tried to make pickle juice risotto for his family. We dive into the magic of getting lost in creative work, how to handle feedback without losing your voice, and why encouraging kids to build their own imaginative worlds is more important than ever. George brought Kelly and her daughter Claire's new book Marianne the Maker to life with his beautiful illustrations and his story is a reminder that the future truly belongs to those brave enough to create.

All three of the Tiehel sisters eulogized their incredible mom PT but this one, written by daughter Amy really sums up the way PT lived her life: always on the lookout for the person having a tough go of it, the loner, the one who needed a helping hand. This is a story about taking the time to really notice people and to help make the world a better place, one small, kind gesture at a time. (Previously aired)

What if that scrap of paper you're about to throw away holds the seed of something extraordinary? This week, Kelly reflects on the power of saving the small things that might seem insignificant at first glance - from childhood journals and camp letters that sparked a writing career, to a simple bedtime story that evolved into something much bigger. You'll hear the adorable recording of Kelly's daughter Georgia ( just 2 years old at the time) telling the original "Maryanne the Faker" story about a little girl who pretends to be sick to get out of soccer practice. That simple bedtime tale would eventually become Kelly and her daughter Claire's new children's book, Marianne the Maker.

When was the last time your desire to be "better than" someone else got in the way of a meaningful connection - or derailed an important conversation? Kelly welcomes theologian Miroslav Volf to explore how our competitive nature often undermines genuine dialogue. Drawing from his book The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse, Volf shares wisdom on shifting from interactions that destroy to ones that build. Together they examine the hollow pursuit of superiority that affects our relationships, social media, education, and politics while offering a transformative alternative rooted in the simple affirmation: "It is good that you are." This discussion invites us all to consider what might happen if we could break free from the superiority trap and embrace a more collaborative way of being with others. This episode was made possible by Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

Hi all - this is Tammy writing. Today marks one year since Kelly's mom died. On Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, I had the honor of attending the funeral service for Kelly's mom, the indomitable Mary Corrigan - lovingly known as "Jammy" to her six grandkids. One thing (among many) that the Corrigan family does very well is honor and celebrate family. GT, Booker and Kelly each delivered a moving, intimate, often humorous eulogy for their one-of-a-kind mom, in front of the hundreds of people who filled St. Thomas of Villanova church to honor her. Today, we're sharing Kelly's. (Previously aired)

Kelly explores Amanda Ripley's take on navigating our fear-filled world. Through the story of a government employee facing an impossible choice, Amanda helps us discover how to stay human when everything feels divisive. Plus, Kelly unpacks Chasing Peace author Tom Rosshirt's practical four-step approach to taming anxieties - highlighting a powerful shift from trying to impress others to being genuinely amazed by them. It's the perspective flip we need right now—finding wonder when the world feels most chaotic. A fifteen-minute reset for anyone asking, "How do we keep going when everything feels so hard?"

Kelly explores a radical new way to rate politicians with Brad Porteus, the Executive Director of Bridge Grades, who reveals that the most collaborative members of Congress are complete unknowns while the divisive firebrands are celebrities. This eye-opening conversation, part of our Hard Conversations series, challenges our tribal politics and offers a surprising path forward: what if our differences could actually be America's superpower? Discover why humility might be the missing ingredient in our political discourse and how changing who we celebrate in Washington could transform our divided nation. To see the existing scores for members of Congress, go to: www.bridgegrades.org. Subscribe to ⁠bridgegrades.substack.com⁠ to be the first to get the 2025 Bridge Grades. Brad Porteus is also the author of, Roll With It, a heartfelt and vividly detailed love letter to Gen X. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to ⁠⁠templetonreligiontrust.org⁠⁠.

Kelly shares a Marine Corps wife's essay (titled "Cincinnatus") honoring her husband's quiet retirement after 20 years of service. Instead of ceremonies, his legacy lives in small, meaningful actions like giving away his expensive uniform to help a young officer and driving a beat-up Corolla with a trunk full of first aid supplies - so he can help anyone, on a moment's notice. It's a moving reminder that true service isn't captured in plaques or uniforms but in "small private acts of dedication" and the humble wisdom to know that our real legacy is "to give it all away".

Kelly shares the remarkable story of Armia Khalil, a Metropolitan Museum of Art security guard with a secret talent. As a child, Armia played in the mud and created little sculptures by the Nile River. Years later, the artistic young man immigrated to the US with just $375 and a suitcase of woodworking tools. After years of struggle, he landed a job as a security guard at the Met, where a chance conversation with a curator led to his lifelong dream coming true. It's a powerful reminder that everyone—from bus drivers to baristas—carries a universe of dreams inside them. What might we discover if we took a moment to see the artists walking among us? This episode was inspired by Dodai Stewart's New York Times article. (published January 8, 2025).⁠

As a part of our Hard Conversations series, the author of the New York Times best-seller ⁠The Tell and one of TIME's "2025 Women of the Year", Amy Griffin opens up about confronting trauma after decades of silence - and shares with us why sometimes the hardest conversation of all is the one you're afraid to even begin. With warmth and remarkable clarity, Amy shares how perfectionism and achievement served as her smokescreen until a series of events—including a profound comment by her daughter who said, "You're nice but you're not real " and her husband's experience with therapeutic MDMA—led her to face her past. What unfolds isn't just a story of trauma but a testament to the elasticity of love and the freedom that comes with truth-telling. As Amy puts it, "You think secrets keep you safe, but they keep you stuck," revealing how sharing her story allowed her to experience life in "technicolor"—loving deeper, crying harder, and finding joy on the other side of pain. Please note that this episode contains discussion of sexual abuse. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to ⁠templetonreligiontrust.org⁠.

At this time of year, we are knee-deep in sports: college lacrosse, the NBA play-offs and all the golf majors. Where there are sports, there are adjectives describing the athletes and where there are sports championships, those adjectives are garish and piled-high. Kelly wonders if maybe it’s time to use those dazzling descriptors to honor not the elite athletes out there but the army of regular, everyday, hard-working moms. (Previously aired)

Today's episode is a part of our "About Your Mother" series honoring Every Mother Counts. Bono lost his mother Iris when he was 14 years old. She had an aneurysm at her father’s funeral and as he says, he’s been singing to her ever since. This is a very special conversation, possibly my favorite interview of all time, made more lovely and intimate by the friendship between Bono and Christy going back many years now. (Previously aired)This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right and as Bono says, raising kids takes a village and a mother is a village.Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear form listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Build the life of your dreams and learn from the world’s most successful people. Emma Grede, one of America’s richest self-made women - wants you to make the most of your life. On ‘Aspire with Emma Grede', learn through thought-provoking conversations with some of the most successful and smartest minds on the planet. Each episode will unpack their habits, philosophy and strategies, covering career advice, well-being, psychology and of course how to win in business. The show offers personal stories, data-driven advice, real-world strategies, and the experience you need, to turn your dreams into reality.

Mary Louise Kelly (host of NPR’s All Things Considered) has been doing some reflecting. What choices did she make and how do they look now, as her nest is nearly empty? Is it okay to travel through war zones when a kid is home with the flu? What is gained and what is lost, for the individuals in question and for society? This is a conversation to take in slowly, to share with every mother you know, and to discuss. (Previously aired) Thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival. Our takeaways were really good on this one…if you’d like to receive the weekly list, just shoot a note to hello@kellycorrigan.com or pop by the website and sign up there.

Kelly shares a listener's story that perfectly captures what Thanks For Being Here is all about - honoring the people who matter most, whether they're still with us or have moved on. Tracy Hargan's beautiful toast to her 80-year-old mother Janet shows us why these tributes are so powerful and needed. Through the toast given at her mom's birthday celebration, Tracy reminds us all to speak our love out loud - to grab those chances to tell someone exactly what they mean to us, creating moments of connection that stay with us forever.

In this special Go To, Kelly and Christy Turlington Burns sit down with Melinda French Gates to talk about the woman who raised her, Elaine, who taught her to set her own agenda and find a moment every day to really connect with the people who matter most.Our About Your Mother series raises funds to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. (Previously aired)Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right.With special thanks to Tracy and David at Laughing Man Studios in Tribeca who support this series with pro bono studio time and superb coffee.Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.Check out Kelly's Tell Me More episode featuring Melinda French Gates.Past episodes from the About Your Mother series:Jennifer GarnerAmy SchumerBonoCindy Crawford Spike LeeEdward Burns

As we continue our Hard Conversations series, Kelly talks with Ami Dar, the founder of Idealist.org, about finding hope in a deeply divided world. From his days as a teenage soldier in Israel to creating a global platform for good, Ami shares the moment that changed his perspective forever. With genuine optimism, he makes the case that small actions ripple outward, the world is often kinder than we think, and we're all just looking for ways to connect. Their talk offers both comfort and a nudge toward action - finding common ground with others by starting with what we share before tackling the hard stuff. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

This week's Thanks For Being Here comes from listener Hilleary Wright who shares an essay written by her 10-year-old son Bruce titled, "Accidental Growth." Bruce's piece details a skiing accident that left him with a spiral-fractured tibia at age five, requiring a full leg cast for six weeks. But the real magic happens in Bruce's reflection on how challenges make us stronger - just like the burls that form on giant sequoias when they're stressed or injured. Bruce's "little-kid wisdom" feels perfect for all of us grinding through 2025's challenges.

Today is another episode in our series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Today we talk to the iconic Cindy Crawford, an old friend of Christy’s (you may have seen them together in the Apple TV docu-series The Super Models). Cindy is a Midwestern girl, a high school valedictorian who started at Northwestern on an academic scholarship to study chemical engineering before her career took her around the world. She is also the daughter of Jenny, a young bride who had four children and lost one to childhood leukemia. This is a candid and loving conversation about the realities of family life. Please share. (Previously aired)This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. We know that maternal health is a human right; let’s help make it ubiquitous.Love it? Don’t like it? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

This episode is the first in the 2nd half of our Hard Conversations series. Kelly speaks with Rabbi Sharon Brous, who she discovered at the Aspen Ideas Festival and was so captivated by that she waited backstage to invite her onto the podcast. Together they explore forgiveness through ancient and modern perspectives, examining a powerful ritual where those with broken hearts walked against the crowd at the Temple Mount and were asked simply, "What happened to you?" Rabbi Sharon unpacks the Jewish process of teshuvah (repentance), shares why sitting beside someone in their darkness can mean more than offering solutions, and reveals how truly seeing one another might help us bridge our deepest divides. Their exchange offers fresh insights for anyone seeking to repair relationships or create meaningful connections after harm. Check out Rabbi Sharon's book: The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend our Broken Hearts and World. Episode recorded at Aspen Ideas Festival. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

This episode of Thanks For Being Here features a moving eulogy written by listener Maggie Willman for her father. Through a beach photo and thoughtful words, Maggie reveals how her dad became the "somebody" everyone could count on. Her story reminds us of the impact we have when we show up for others.

Continuing our special series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Christy and I recently spent an unforgettable Saturday afternoon talking to the singular force of nature that is Spike Lee about his mother, Jackie, who died when Spike was a sophomore at Morehouse College. Spike has 134 directing credits over four+ decades, in each case imploring us to Wake Up. Here’s a chance to understand something about the development of this legendary voice. Please share. (Previously aired) This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right.Love it? Don’t like it? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Kelly sits down with global philanthropist, women's advocate and friend Melinda French Gates to dive into her new book The Next Day: Transitions, Change and Moving Forward and chat about what Melinda calls "the clearing" – that awkward space between ending one thing and figuring out what's next. They cover everything from pushing back against Catholic school rules as a kid to making tough calls about work, family and marriage. It's a warm, honest conversation about finding your way through life's biggest transitions and coming out stronger on the other side.

This week's Thanks For Being Here comes from Kelly's friend Jill Marshall (featured in our past GOTO's about elder care and planning), who finally took the plunge and signed up for yoga teacher training at 57. Jill tells us about the fantastic group of people she met, the deep bonds they formed, and the life lessons they shared along the way. She gets real about her first time teaching - imperfections and all. It's a lovely reminder that it's never too late to try something new and find your people.

Funny with a touch of Irish melancholy. That's how actor, director, producer Edward Burns described Molly, his mother, to me and my co-host, Christy Turlington Burns (who has been married to Eddie for 20+ years). In celebration of his new novel, A Kid From Marlboro Road, Eddie joined us in studio to talk about childhood, parenthood and grief. Our About Your Mother series has raised funds to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. (Previously aired)Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right.

Listener Duncan Keegan submitted this astonishingly beautiful eulogy which he wrote and delivered for his five year-old son Ruairí. We were so deeply moved when we first read it that we reached out to Duncan to see if he would consider reading it himself for today’s episode. He kindly agreed and said, “I hope it helps some grieving parents out there, especially the fathers. I think some fathers find it hard to find the voice.” We hope this stunning tribute helps anyone who is mourning the loss of a dear loved one to feel less alone. (Previously aired)

Based on her invaluable playbook for anxious parents everywhere, Michelle Icard thinks with Kelly about mistakes and making sure that rebellions don’t become the headline of our kids’ childhoods, but rather a jumping off point. This is a conversation to save us all from the overreactions and regrets that stymie growth. Michelle’s book is 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child A Success. (Previously aired)Warning: this episode includes a brief discussion of suicide.

This week we're sharing listener Andra Cardow's reflection on twenty years of marriage. She shows us how love grows through everyday moments—dog walks, car rides, and cozy nights at home. It's a delightful reminder that our most treasured relationships aren't built on big, dramatic moments, but in all those small, seemingly ordinary times we spend together. Andra beautifully describes finding joy in the simple things and how those little shared experiences can add up to something pretty special over time.

The first of a 5-part series of conversations about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Jen G, as we call her in my house, is as special and wonderful as you think she is. She is such a ready learner that she carries around a pen and notebook everywhere she goes. She cares about all the right things and not one bit of the nonsense. She is still, in many essential ways, one of the “Garner girls” from West Virginia. Today’s conversation, co-hosted by Christy Turlington Burns, celebrates Jen’s mom, Pat (and a little bit, Jen’s dad, Billy Jack Garner, who died only 10 days before we recorded). I have loved knowing Jen since we met at The Nantucket Project many years ago and am grateful she could be with us for this series. (Previously aired)This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support maternal health in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here.

In large and small ways, mattering is essential. Self esteem depends on our ability to contribute to the lives around us. You may know Jennifer B. Wallace from her stints on morning television or her journalism in the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She and Kelly discuss her first book: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It. (Previously aired)Please note: In this episode, Kelly and Jennifer discuss the high cost of having a child see a private neuropsychologist for an evaluation. However, every parent/guardian is legally entitled to refer their child to Special Education.  Schools typically have a procedure in place.  For example: the parent(s) might need to meet with the principal and psychologist to discuss building level interventions. If the parent decides to go through with the referral, the school has 45 school days to complete an evaluation and determine eligibility - if the child has a disability that adversely impacts their learning the child is classified and an IEP is created.  Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) guarantees access to all.

Today's episode features an essay from listener Molly James-Lundak who found unexpected wisdom during her medical leave. Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Molly's time away from work became a journey of personal discovery that transformed her perspective on life. She shares her insights about listening to your inner voice, noticing life's precious details, connecting with others meaningfully, and embracing a slower pace.

Today is #2 in a special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Amy Schumer is as sharp a writer as she is a performer. I love her always-on-point work in Life & Beth, Trainwreck and all 44 episodes of Inside Amy Schumer. She’s honest in way I wish more people were and you’ll hear that in this candid conversation about her mother, Sandra. (Previously aired)This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support maternal health in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here.

Women’s basketball is on the rise and The Women’s Hoops Show is here for every buzzer-beater, breakout star, and game-changing moment. Join host Jordan Robinson as she dives deep into the WNBA, college hoops, and the rise of new leagues like Unrivaled to bring you insightful conversations with players, coaches, and analysts. If you love women’s basketball, this is your year-round home for the biggest stories in the game.

Kelly and her daughter Claire talk with Emmy-winning comedy writer and producer Meredith Scardino about the creative process. Meredith shares her path from visual art to comedy writing, including her work on The Colbert Report and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt before creating the show Girls5eva. She discusses how ideas emerge, the challenges of structuring stories, the importance of creative community, and why she feels an intrinsic need to make things.Check out Kelly and Claire's new children's book Marianne the Maker - you can pre-order HERE.To celebrate the release of Marianne the Maker, Penguin Young Readers is matching each pre-order with a donation of the book to Save the Children’s early education programs in the U.S. — up to 2,000 books. Pre-order your copy today and help inspire a love of reading in the lives of children who may not otherwise have access to books.Occasionally hyperlinks don't work on desktop computers, below you'll find the addresses for the links above:Marianne the Maker website: https://www.mariannethemaker.comTo preorder Marianne the Maker: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marianne-the-maker-kelly-corrigan/1146247121?ean=9780593206096

Today's Thanks for Being Here comes from an anonymous, young college graduate who shared words at her grandfather's shiva. In the midst of the world unfolding at a mad pace around us, she reminds us how one person's presence can transform a family. Her "Poppy" saw her critical eye as rooted in love and justice, encouraged her activism, and promised that nothing she could ever share with him would shock "a Navy man". What struck us most was her realization that the traits she thought made her the "black sheep" were actually the values her grandfather had cultivated in everyone—peace, love, community—manifesting differently across generations. This is exactly what Thanks for Being Here is meant to highlight: how profoundly we affect one another.

While forcing ourselves to exercise at the gym, it can be all too easy to look around and judge others. Maybe it makes us feel a bit better in the moment regarding how we look, how in shape we are (or aren’t) and what we’re wearing…maybe it’s time to stop. (Previously aired)

Filmmaker Edward Burns and actress/designer Gretchen Mol discuss what keeps creative people going through doubt and disappointment. Both share how they discovered their callings, explore the magic of finding flow, whether in acting, writing or filmmaking and talk candidly about resilience in the creative process. Their film "Millers in Marriage" explores relationships after age 50, that golden time when kids are grown and it's finally easier to pursue long-delayed dreams. As Eddie perfectly puts it: "If not now, when?" Whether launching a dress line like Gretchen or making your 14th film like Eddie, they remind us that the joy is found in making itself, not in the outcome. The key to creative longevity? Managing your energy and surrounding yourself with supportive people who believe in your vision.Check out Kelly and Claire's new children's book Marianne the Maker - you can pre-order HERE.To celebrate the release of Marianne the Maker, Penguin Young Readers is matching each pre-order with a donation of the book to Save the Children’s early education programs in the U.S. — up to 2,000 books. Pre-order your copy today and help inspire a love of reading in the lives of children who may not otherwise have access to books.Occasionally hyperlinks don't work on desktop computers, below you'll find the addresses for the links above:Gretchen M: https://gretchenm.comEdward Burns: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0122653/?ref_=vp_closeMarianne the Maker website: https://www.mariannethemaker.comTo preorder Marianne the Maker: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marianne-the-maker-kelly-corrigan/1146247121?ean=9780593206096

Shanti Brien's beautiful reflection on her 40-year friendship with Trish, who passed away. Shanti explores the bittersweet reality of their deep connection—filled with shared memories and adventures—yet marked by emotional boundaries they never fully crossed. Through moments from middle school notes to late-night dancing, she reminds us that true friendship isn't about perfection but about bearing witness to each other's lives. It's a gentle nudge for all of us to cherish and perhaps be more open with the companions who walk alongside us. Please share this episode with anyone who has been there with you over the years - or maybe someone you want to reconnect with.

In today's episode, sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods, Kelly explores the five main reasons we wake up at night with insights from Stanford sleep expert Dr. Cheri Mah, an internationally recognized sleep physician & research scientist (who specializes in sleep optimization and maximizing performance for elite athletes and sports organizations). From environmental factors to stress, we cover practical solutions including the effective "sleep reset" technique for those frustrating middle-of-the-night wake-ups.Visit coopsleepgoods.com and use code KELLY20 for 20% off your order - including their fantastic pillows designed for every type of sleeper.To learn more about sleep expert Dr. Cheri Mah visit: www.drcherimah.com and IG/X: @drcherimah

A deep dive on "making" with Kelly's daughter Claire and Pete Docter, the creative genius behind Pixar classics. Pete shares how he discovered animation, his journey to Pixar, and the evolution of films like "Up" and "Monsters Inc." Despite his success, he remains refreshingly humble about the creative process. His golden advice for young creators: just make stuff and push beyond your comfort zone. Pete reflects on the film "Inside Out": "I was there for every major decision, but where did this come from?". A reminder that creativity remains wonderfully mysterious, even for the masters.Check out Kelly and Claire's new children's book Marianne the Maker - you can pre-order HERE.To celebrate the release of Marianne the Maker, Penguin Young Readers is matching each pre-order with a donation of the book to Save the Children’s early education programs in the U.S. — up to 2,000 books. Pre-order your copy today and help inspire a love of reading in the lives of children who may not otherwise have access to books.Occasionally hyperlinks don't work on desktop computers, below you'll find the addresses for the links above:Marianne the Maker website: https://www.mariannethemaker.comTo preorder Marianne the Maker: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marianne-the-maker-kelly-corrigan/1146247121?ean=9780593206096

Kelly shares Jennifer Cramer-Miller's beautiful story about the life-changing gift of organ donation. Through touching thank-you letters written after her kidney transplant, Jennifer shows us how one act of generosity created a ripple effect of kindness and gratitude. Her story reminds us that heroes walk among us every day, often without recognition.Portions of this episode are excerpted from Jennifer Cramer-Miller's memoir, Incurable Optimist. To learn more about how organ donation saves lives, visit Donate Life.

Food for thought on America Ferrera’s speech at the climax of Barbie, informed by the great Jia Tolentino (a former guest who I found totally fascinating and original) and her book Trick Mirror. Let us never forget that we are a product of our culture. Please share, especially with the younger generation working to figure out who they are. (Previously aired)

In episode one of our Makers series, Kelly and her daughter Claire speak with neuroscientist Susan Magsamen and Google's Chief Design Officer Ivy Ross about how art and creativity affect our brains and bodies. Their book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, reveals that making isn't just a hobby but a fundamental human need that improves wellbeing, helps process trauma, and enhances learning. Susan and Ivy explain how singing to babies releases oxytocin, how arts education closes achievement gaps, and why creative expression matters for everyone from CEOs to doctors to children.Check out Kelly and Claire's new children's book Marianne the Maker - you can pre-order HERE.To celebrate the release of Marianne the Maker, Penguin Young Readers is matching each pre-order with a donation of the book to Save the Children’s early education programs in the U.S. — up to 2,000 books. Pre-order your copy today and help inspire a love of reading in the lives of children who may not otherwise have access to books.Occasionally hyperlinks don't work on desktop computers so here are the addresses for the links above:Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593449231Marianne the Maker website: https://www.mariannethemaker.comTo preorder Marianne the Maker: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marianne-the-maker-kelly-corrigan/1146247121?ean=9780593206096

Today's Thanks For Being Here is a speech KCW producer Tammy Stedman recently delivered at her alma mater, Washington College, about the lasting impact of her college experience. She reflects on how the personal connections, individual attention, and sense of community shaped not just her career in media, but her approach to life and learning. Tammy's story reminds us that education at its best equips us not just with knowledge, but with the curiosity and critical thinking skills needed for thoughtful engagement with our complex world.

Inspired by Derek Thompson's Atlantic article "The Antisocial Century," we're hosting our first ever live event which will take place in Bozeman, MT on July 31st, 2025. We plan to bring 150 people together in beautiful downtown Bozeman for an afternoon of creative activities including writing, singing, art, and stitching. More details at: kellycorrigan.com/bozeman.

This week's Go To is a special Oscar-themed conversation. We (Kelly and producer Tammy) share some of our favorite Best Picture winners throughout the years, discuss what makes a screenplay truly stand out, and have some laughs about past Academy decisions that left us puzzled. Our chat explores the elements that make certain films timeless - powerful storytelling, unforgettable performances, and perfect cinematic moments. Whether you're following the awards closely or just enjoy great films, join us as we count down to Oscar Sunday.

Estimates are that about every 15 minutes we make a decision and that decision often involves a choice of who to put first, ourselves or someone else. The culture and business of self is thriving. Richard Lui is a news anchor whose life has asked him to repeatedly consider the ping ponging we all do between acts of selfishness and acts of selflessness. Eight years ago, he started flying cross-country weekly to take care of his father who had Alzheimer's and if you ask him, caring for them is both a harrowing duty and a privilege with many benefits. After talking to Richard, Kelly did a deep dive into what we know about trauma and grief with research, author and Columbia professor George Bonanno. This conversation is for anyone and everyone who is caring for another person. Please share.(Previously aired)

Today's Thanks For Being Here features a touching eulogy shared by Diana Weymar, creator of the Tiny Pricks Instagram account. Through thoughtful birthday emails, Diana's daughter Liza found connection with her grandfather Tom. At his funeral, she shared how their unique bond shaped her life, even when their relationship wasn't always easy. A beautiful reminder of how family stories help us understand ourselves and those we love.

Looking to boost your happiness? Kelly dives into psychologist Jenny Taitz's fresh take on finding joy in our daily lives. Drawing from Jenny’s New York Times article, Kelly shares simple tricks for savoring the good stuff - from spicing up how we talk about happy moments to flipping disappointments into opportunities.

Bestselling author and recovering stage 4 cancer patient Kate Bowler (Duke Divinity professor and host of Everything Happens podcast) asks as many questions as she answers. Where did we get our ideas about what’s fair, what can be manifested, what we’re owed? When it comes to cultural messages of self help, what’s true and what’s a bunch of profitable nonsense? After Kelly sat down with Kate on the set of her PBS show Tell Me More, she met up with bestselling author Arthur C. Brooks, a happiness researcher who writes for The Atlantic and teaches at Harvard. (Previously aired)

Meg Hayes shares the experience of watching her son Patrick run the Boston Marathon – a day that began with all the joy and community spirit that makes marathon-watching so special, and ended up teaching her profound lessons about grace, luck, and the kindness of strangers in moments of crisis.

Join me as I explore how AI is becoming part of our emotional lives, from helping with daily tasks to potentially supporting our kids in ways both promising and concerning. I'm guest curating at TED 2025 on the topic "What is a parent for in an AI world?" and I'd love your thoughts at hello@kellycorrigan.com on where AI could help – or shouldn't – in your children's lives.

When prosecutor Karen McKinney argued for a life sentence against a 19-year-old gang member named Joseph, she never imagined they would one day share laughs over tacos. Twenty years later, their unexpected friendship challenges everything Karen believed about human capacity for change. After witnessing Joseph's profound transformation at his parole hearing, she took the unprecedented step of reaching out to the man she had once condemned. Their story transcends the boundaries of the justice system, proving that authentic connection can flourish in the most unlikely places – and that it's never too late to see someone, or yourself, in a new light. WARNING: This episode continues detailed descriptions of violence.This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

Newly appointed Judge Kristine Burk's investiture ceremony became unexpectedly tender when her 19-year-old son Tyler took the podium. Moving beyond the usual formal speeches, Tyler crafted an acrostic poem for "JUDGE" that revealed the everyday magic of his mom - from her unshakeable belief in second chances, to her instinct for helping strangers in need, to the joyful warmth she radiates to everyone around her.

Hey friends, in a world that feels like it's constantly throwing storms, floods, and fires our way (both literal and metaphorical), I want to share something that's been a true refuge for me – reading. Today I'm highlighting two books that have been a balm for my soul: Daniel Mason's "Northwoods," a beautiful story spanning centuries on a plot of Massachusetts land, and Kazuo Ishiguro's "Clara and the Sun," a fascinating exploration of artificial friends and human connection. For my complete reading list, drop me a note at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Sisters Amy and Meg's story reveals how even the closest family bonds can fracture – and heal. Growing up with a widowed mother in the 1960s, their relationship became strained by years of unbalanced dynamics and taken-for-granted love. When Meg finally stepped away, it led to painful years of separation that affected both sisters and their families. Through persistence, humility and grace, they found their way back to each other, rebuilding their relationship one Sunday hike at a time. Their path from estrangement to reconciliation demonstrates how healing begins with showing up, asking questions, and making the other person a priority – proving that sometimes the hardest conversations lead to the most meaningful transformations.(Note: for anyone unfamiliar with the "Go Birds!' comment at the end of the pod - Kelly, Amy and Meg all share having grown up in the Philadelphia area and at the time of this recording, the Philadelphia Eagles are on their way to the 2025 Super Bowl. "Go Birds!" is a shortened form of "Go Eagles!" but has become a widely used way to share Philly pride and is now a stand-in for, "Hi", "Bye", "Thanks", "Have a nice day" or just about anything else.)This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

Today'sThanks For Being Here features a beautiful eulogy written by Audrey Bowler for her grandfather Herbert Reichlin, a World War II veteran who lived to be 99. From young soldier to beloved family man, "Grandpop Herb", always believed in miracles and the power of love.

Steve and Jill Marshall from Silver Path Consulting are back to tackle two of the biggest challenges families face when helping aging parents: getting finances in order and planning final arrangements. They dive into why having a solid financial plan isn't just about numbers – it's about peace of mind and protection. From practical tips on finances to protecting against exploitation, they share wisdom that might just save your family some headaches. Then, they break down how to handle those tough-but-necessary conversations about final arrangements, boiling it down to three key decisions everyone needs to make. Whether you're just starting to think about these issues or already in the thick of it, this episode offers a road map for handling delicate topics with grace and clarity.

In this third episode of our Hard Conversations series, Simon Greer, a Jewish organizer whose uncles fought for Israel in 1967, and Saad Soliman, a social justice consultant whose uncles died fighting for Egypt in that same war, met at a professional gathering between corrections officers and formerly incarcerated individuals. They made a pivotal choice: create connection rather than perpetuate division. Their remarkable friendship, which deepened even during recent Middle East conflicts, demonstrates how curiosity and openness can bridge seemingly insurmountable divides, leading them to travel together to Israel in 2024 - and proving there's no expiration date on healing.This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. For more information, visit templetonreligiontrust.org.

Christine Wenzel shares her essay "Things That My Mother Supposes", telling the story of how she and her mother moved from tense exchanges to finding real understanding before her mom's passing in 2020. Through funny and touching memories – from her mom's dodging goodnight kisses to planning her own funeral – Christine captures how complicated parent-child relationships can transform over time.If you have a complicated relationship or family story you'd like to share, email us at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

In this 3rd installment of our 4-part series on helping aging parents, Kelly's old friends Steve and Jill Marshall share their expertise on tackling the paperwork no one wants to think about but everyone needs to understand. The founders of Silver Path Consulting break down essential legal and financial documents, share surprising insights about estate planning, and discuss the delicate conversations around housing decisions for aging parents.

In 2006, the multi platinum selling band The Fray was everywhere - their songs, Over My Head (Cable Car) and How to Save a Life dominated radio waves and television soundtracks. Behind the scenes, lead singer Isaac Slade and manager Gregg Latterman had built more than just a business partnership - they had forged a deep friendship born of mutual respect and shared artistic dreams. But by 2009, that relationship was in ruins. Today's conversation, the 2nd episode in our Hard Conversations series, reveals how they found their way back. It's a master class in conflict resolution and reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing we can possibly do is pick up the phone.This episode has been made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.

Kelly and therapist friend Dr. Aliza Pressman explore how we can best support those affected by the LA fires. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, they share wisdom about the power of simple connection – how a thoughtful check-in or just being present can make a real difference, and remind us that there's no "right" way to respond to crisis. The episode wraps up with Kelly reading Ellen Bass' moving poem "The Thing Is," offering comfort and hope. For those seeking ways to help or needing support, messages are welcome at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Wondering how to have "the talk" with your aging parents (or any elderly family member who may need help)? In this episode, Kelly sits down with her good friends Steve and Jill Marshall of Silver Path Consulting for Part 2 of their open discussion about caring for aging parents. They explore how to build effective sibling teams where each person contributes based on their strengths, share tips for starting difficult conversations with genuine empathy, and offer advice for moving forward when parents resist change.

Ever wondered what keeps two people together when the days are intense and the answers aren't clear? Kelly talks with Bob and Amy Allnutt about raising their son Jack, who is severely autistic. These two figured out something pretty special about making a marriage work - it's not about seeing eye to eye, but about creating room for different ways of handling things. When they finally found a way for Jack to communicate by typing, he told them something they'll never forget: "I'm trying and I'm really smart." Bob and Amy get real about the hard stuff - the violent episodes, the exhaustion, and what happens when you stop trying to be right and start trying to understand. It's a conversation that'll make you think differently about what it means to have someone's back.This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org.For more information on Bob, Amy and Jack Allnutt, check out Andrew Solomon's excellent book Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity or the fantastic documentary Far From the Tree (based on the book).

This is the story of an oncologist named Amy who diagnosed herself with leukemia in her own lab and a stem cell donor named Brandon who stepped up to save her life. The chances of finding a perfect donor match are extremely small. The chances that the perfect donor would end up living only an hour away are astronomically small - and yet, these two very special people beat the odds in many ways. Anyone can sign up to save a life. To join the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, donors simply swab the inside of their cheeks and complete a registration questionnaire. Request your swab kit today at http://giftoflife.org/Swab (Previously aired )Please note: we've changed our show email address since this episode originally aired. If you would like to reach out to us, please email us at: hello@kellycorrigan.com.

In this first of four episodes, Kelly sits down with longtime friends Steve and Jill Marshall, founders of Silver Path Consulting, to discuss the complex challenges of aging parents. Through personal stories and expert insights, they explore why families avoid crucial planning conversations, the "dying longer" phenomenon, and how to navigate decisions about healthcare, housing, and family dynamics before crisis hits.

Start your 2025 with this timely conversation between Kelly and Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), who challenges everything we've been taught about productivity and time management. Together, they explore why traditional approaches aren't working for women's lives, and offer a revolutionary new framework for finding contentment in the chaos. Kelly and Kendra discuss Kendra's new book The Plan and look at how to stop treating exhaustion as a status symbol and start embracing a more integrated approach to daily life. It's an honest conversation about redefining what a successful life really looks like, perfect for anyone seeking a more compassionate way to navigate their time and energy in the new year.

High school counselor Leah Grant gives us a candid look at how phones and social media have changed student life over her 23 years in education. She reveals what she sees in the hallways every day - kids glued to their screens instead of looking at each other - and shares her creative ways of helping students build real connections and find their spark again.

In this quick teaser episode, Kelly gives us a taste of her upcoming conversation with "The Lazy Genius", Kendra Adachi, author of The Plan. Kendra (and Kelly) explore how we can better manage our time by focusing on what matters most in different seasons of our lives. It's a preview that will make you want to catch their full discussion next week.

“He may die but he’s alive now and we are going to enjoy this moment together.” This is theology professor Lee C. Camp sharing the turning point of his life as a father of a child who was unwell and is now, thankfully, in recovery. A tender and unguarded conversation, laced with a few existential bombs, to inspire better, less angry days for all of us. Check out Lee’s podcast and live show both called, No Small Endeavor. (Previously aired)

Stephanie Doublestein wrote this letter to honor her parents Chuck and Sue on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary. Stephanie says she observed a marriage and a love not made up of flashy moments, loud declarations of romance, big jewelry surprises or grand gestures but the humble yet impressive accumulation of quiet acts of service, regular little rituals, small moments of thoughtful generosity…and choosing love over and over. (Previously aired)

Kelly opens up about a challenging year of loss and shares three quotes from her trusted 1993 copy of The Wit and Wisdom of Women - which helped her through clearing out her childhood home. From treasured mementos to dusty basement finds, this short episode is all about the unexpected ways we process grief and the power of shared experiences. If you've ever had to pack up a loved one's home, this one's for you.

The Happy/Crappy files part 2: Kelly and author/professor/podcast host and friend Kate Bowler look back at their most joyful moments from 2024. Through personal stories they explore how happiness showed up in both the big moments and in small daily experiences. The conversation moves easily between laugh-out-loud stories and deeper insights about friendship, family, and finding meaning. It's a reminder to notice and celebrate the good stuff, even in complicated times.

It’s often the little things in life that help us to get through the day: a cup of tea in the morning, gardening, puttering around the house and moving shoes, books and empty glasses back where they belong. We all have things which help us to stay grounded in the midst of a world that feels more crazy and frightening by the day. Stefanie Wass submitted her essay, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, to share a soothing ritual which she has found gives her great comfort. (Previously aired)

Multi-talented writer and producer BJ Novak (The Office) joins Kelly - in this Medium interview from a few years back - to explore the surprisingly deep relationship between comedy and "darkness". From bombing on stage to nailing the perfect joke, BJ opens up about the art of making people laugh, even (or especially) when things get heavy.

Podcaster, professor and wisdom-dropper Kate Bowler joins Kelly for a dive into the Crappy Files of 2024. With honesty, humor, and surprising insights, they unpack everything that challenged them this year - from the deeply personal to the wildly universal.Come back next week for the Happy Files, when we flip the script and celebrate what went right. Share them both with someone who could use a really good talk right now.

Beth Mason wrote this love letter to her sister Susan who, as the "in town" sibling, became their parents' default caregivers. Beth encourages us all to pass this along to anyone who's in the trenches doing the hard, essential work of caring for others. We see you - and we're so grateful.

Meet Dahlia, the awesome New Yorker who's made it her personal mission to cheer for marathon runners who don't have anyone rooting for them on race day. She shows up with signs, tissues, and endless enthusiasm to support complete strangers as they tackle those grueling 26.2 miles. It's a tradition she started in honor of her late father, and honestly, it's exactly the kind of feel-good story we all need right now.Check out this article by Hannah Frishberg of Gothamist to learn more about Dahlia and see photos.

Kelly talks with bestselling author Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic series) about life after her 2022 brain cancer diagnosis. Sophie shares what it was like to edit a novel she couldn't remember writing, explains her nightly gratitude practice with her husband Henry, and describes how she's learned to focus on what truly matters. The conversation weaves through her writing process, her relationship with sleep, and her decision to turn her medical journey into fiction rather than memoir, all while bringing her characteristic wit to a candid discussion about healing.This series is sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods who make the Original Pillow and Comphy SpaSheets that Kelly (and her whole family) love.Go to www.coopsleepgoods.com/wonders for 20% off

Natalie Silverstein shares her essay "On Memory and New Beginnings," reflecting on her mother's passing three years ago and her journey toward healing. Through her 16 year-old daughter's wisdom and the Jewish concept of teshuvah, Natalie learns to focus on cherished memories rather than the difficult final days – a story that will resonate with anyone who has lost a parent.

Kelly's daughter Claire takes the mic to share her experience with Camp Kesem, an amazing organization that runs free summer camps for kids whose parents have faced cancer. As both a cancer survivor's daughter and the current director of UVA's Kesem chapter, Claire opens up about her personal story and shows how this incredible community creates pure magic for children going through tough times.

Supreme Court lawyer Neal Katyal shares his secrets for maintaining incredible energy while handling landmark cases, teaching, and appearing as a legal analyst. From getting by on six hours of sleep to finding joy in live music and doing improv comedy, Neal reveals how authentic connections and meaningful work keep him going.This series is sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods who make the Original Pillow and Comphy SpaSheets that Kelly (and her whole family) love.Go to www.coopsleepgoods.com/wonders for 20% off

Kelly shares a grandson's eulogy that captures the essence of an extraordinary relationship with his grandmother. Through William Wallace's memories, we see how his "Grams" created magic through simple but meaningful traditions – from crafting elaborate birthday desserts to transforming spaces just for him – demonstrating how the deepest family bonds are built through consistent presence and thoughtful attention to what makes someone feel special.

Join Kelly in an engaging conversation with renowned author Margaret Atwood, known for works like "The Handmaid's Tale" and her impressive bibliography of 60 books. In this wide-ranging Medium interview from a few years back, Atwood shares her insights on societal changes over the past century, the evolution of publishing, women's roles and marriage, environmental concerns, and cultural fragmentation. A lightning round of personal questions shows Atwood's playful side. This is a conversation that, for obvious reasons, feels very timely.

Join Kelly and meditation expert Dan Harris for a candid conversation about the art of rest in a world that never stops. After experiencing a panic attack on live TV, Dan discovered life-changing practices for managing anxiety and finding peace - from late-night walking meditation to treating himself like a friend. He shares why cold rooms are magic for sleep, why rest isn't the enemy of productivity, and how his wife became his "human Xanax." Whether you're a meditation skeptic or just someone who could use better sleep, this episode offers practical wisdom for finding calm in our chaotic world.This series is sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods who make the Original Pillow and Comphy SpaSheets that Kelly (and her whole family) love.Go to www.coopsleepgoods.com/wonders for 20% off

Today we're sharing the eulogy that Kelly wrote for her dear friend Liz Laats, delivered nine years ago but still echoing today. Through stories of Thanksgiving gatherings, dance parties, and intimate conversations, Kelly shows us how friendship lives on, even after loss.

It’s here: the time of year when we mix it up with family. Good to keep a little forgiveness handy. This episode was made to share. (Previously aired)Tell us your tale of forgiveness. hello@kellycorrigan.com

The Office co-stars and best friends, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, are doing the ultimate Office-lovers podcast for you. Each week Jenna and Angela will dive deeper into The Office giving you access to even more behind the scene details, interviews and lots of stories that only two best friends who were there, can tell you.

Kelly introduces a series on energy management titled 'The Art of Recuperation,' starting with guest Christy Turlington Burns. They explore physical, cognitive, and emotional energy, the importance of sustainable resilience, and share personal experiences on avoiding burnout.This series is sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods who make the Original Pillow and Comphy SpaSheets that Kelly (and her whole family) love.Go to www.coopsleepgoods.com/wonders for 20% off

This week's submission is from one of Kelly's all-time favorite women, Jerry Kinkead, a close friend of Kelly's mom. Jerry is looking back on a small but unforgettable moment at her granddaughter's wedding. If this doesn't lift your spirits, nothing will.Share your feedback anytime. hello@kellycorrigan.com

Reflections on what we saw and felt on the route of the NYC Marathon. A feel good Go To for hard times.As ever, we love to hear from you -- hello@kellycorrigan.com.

From San Quentin inmate to neighborhood safety advocate, Kelly’s guest Sam Vaughn embodies the ideal of “be the change you want to see.” Working with DeVone Boggan, Kelly’s other guest and the charismatic leader of Advance Peace, this duo shares how they nurture violent criminals into a better future, one small step at a time, with the care and attention of a devoted parent. (Previously aired)Follow the conversation on Instagram @kellycorrigan.

Amy VerMerris, who refers to herself as an "elementary school book lady", wrote this essay emphasizing the power of books in children's lives. Amy reflects on reading to her children, the joy of discovering new stories at the library, and the meaningful connections forged through shared reading.

A quick hit on recognizing our greatest single act of agency. Meant to be shared, especially with the younger generations. (Previously aired)Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Talking Heads. American Utopia. Singular creative David Byrne talks with Kelly about how he stays just cheerful enough to keep making art in a world of chaos. Then, Kelly sits with Judy Woodruff on the set of PBS NewsHour to talk about holding on to the positive on even the very hardest days and how she processes the news as both an American, a special needs mom and a media professional. (Previously aired)To watch the full Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan series, go to PBS.org/kelly.

This week's Thanks for Being Here features a heartfelt message from listener Lissa Soep. Kelly shares an excerpt from Lissa's memoir, Other People's Words: Friendship, Loss and the Conversations That Never End. The book delves into the profound experiences of friendship, loss, and enduring conversations, centered around the deaths of two close friends.

Kelly had a dream. Over a decade, the dream started to seem stupidly out of reach so she went about her business raising money for non profits. But in a surprise twist involving two crushing diagnoses, a new version of the dream started to look possible and she leapt at it. Here are 6 takeaways to inspire and motivate, including embracing desires, recognizing personal biases, finding motivation, sharing dreams selectively, taking small steps, and embracing failure. And the case for engaging in five beats. This episode is a great share. Consider it a loving kick in the backside for anyone who can’t seem to find their way forward.Want our weekly takeaways? Sign up here.

This one’s a doozie. Dr. Aliza Pressman goes deep with Kelly on invisible acts of 'interpersonal bravery,' focusing on courage in family life. A balance of personal stories and professional insights, the conversation touches on emotional endurance, attunement, and the complexities of generational differences. Reflecting on Kelly's experiences, including her mother's final days and her upbringing, the duo explores the rich spectrum of human emotions and the powerful lessons found in moments of vulnerability and love.Link to our Thanks For Being Here episode sharing the eulogy Kelly wrote for her mom.

Geraldine Williams wrote this loving eulogy for her dear friend Hillary. She highlights Hillary's vibrant spirit, genuine interest in others and dedication to social justice. She also paints a vivid picture of a remarkable woman who lived life fully and deeply impacted those around her. Tune in for a poignant homage to a life well-lived and cherished.Want our weekly takeaways? Sign up here.

We are storytelling beings, driven by a need for closure—or what our lit professors called denouement. Today’s Go To talks about the cost of this story-making habit of ours and a few specific ways we might mitigate the downside.Want our weekly takeaways? Sign up here.

This is an episode that will set your heart right. We know that the #1 driver of human happiness across time and culture is meaningful connection to others. So, how to get more of that? David Brooks has some ideas, pulled from his newest book How to Know a Person. Please share widely as the more people around us who are oriented toward connection, the better for all.Thanks to PBS and AmeriHealth Caritas for the support. (Previously aired)

A great note from a woman who needed a lot of help from her husband after surgery. The long recuperation offered this long married couple a new way of relating that both found to be really quite lovely. Please share with anyone you have ever tucked in. (Previously aired)

This week's Go To features an interview with Kelly on'The One You Feed,' hosted by Eric Zimmer. The conversation delves into the parable of the two wolves, exploring its meaning in life and the choices that shape us. Kelly shares insights from her experiences, drawing from philosophy, psychology, and personal stories.Book referenced in this episode: Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Michael Lezak is a rabbi who spends most of his time in service, shoulder to shoulder with some of America’s poorest citizens in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, living his faith day to day. He also leads pilgrimages from SF to Montgomery, Alabama to see Bryan Stevenson’s incredible memorial there and still manages to take a 25 hour break from technology every week. He and Kelly talk about how his devotion to his practice of Judaism enriches his life on the deepest level. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, our production partner on the Belief series. Please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts! We read and appreciate every review. Join Kelly on Instagram @kellycorrigan. (Originally aired on 10/5/2021)

This week's episode features Jenny Rosenstrach's heartfelt eulogy for her father, Ivan, highlighting his unwavering dependability and his profound love for family. Jenny reflects on cherished memories from her childhood, illustrating her father's unique love language of 'being there,' and the impact his dependable nature had on her life.

Are you good with money? Or are you avoiding taking a close look at what you have and what you need? Kelly shares excerpts from the book Feel Good Finance: Untangle Your Relationship with Money for Better Mental, Emotional and Financial Well-Being by Aja Evans and discusses her own relationship with money.

In our final episode of the Shook By A Book series, Kelly talks with actor, writer and celebrated creative mind, Anna Deavere Smith about two texts that have stayed with her over the years: Letter From A Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dibs in Search of Self: The Renowned, Deeply Moving Story of an Emotionally Lost Child Who Found His Way Back by Virginia M. Axline.…. Anna breaks down why these two very different texts have been so affecting for her and how they inform her work.Special thanks to The Teagle Foundation for their generous support of this series. Check out Anna performing Letter From a Birmingham Jail at the historic Stanford Memorial Church in 2015.You can also watch Kelly's Tell Me More interview with Anna at pbs.org/kelly.

A short but powerful story by Susie DeCarlo about her mother but also about herself. Often, the way our parents see us is the way we come to see ourselves and Susie’s mom saw her in the very best way: strong, unbreakable, thriving. (Previously aired)

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kelly shares her reaction to the pink ribbon while she was in chemo and how it changed the following year.

What book shook you to your core? That’s the question we’re asking some of our favorite American thinkers. This week we’re talking to Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., a Princeton professor, columnist for TIME and frequent TV commentator. Eddie was transformed by WEB Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk and its core ideas of Noble Consciousness and The Veil. He details how the book impacted him at various stages of his life in this surprisingly personal and moving interview.Special thanks to The Teagle Foundation for their generous support of this series.

Lily Janas, now a student at Bowdoin College, wrote this stirring college admissions essay called “We Rise”. She sets the scene at 2am and goes on to describe one of the most impactful experiences of her young life. The story unfolds slowly, and Lily gives clues along the way but never fully reveals what she’s a part of - until the very end. (Previously aired)

In honor of the late Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Kelly shares some borrowed wisdom from her final book: The Joy of Connections: 100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life.

Our 5-part "Shook By A Book" series continues today with US Congresswoman Katie Porter. (You might have seen her on TV; she's famous for pulling out whiteboards in hearings to make things simple and visual for the public.) She grew up a 4H kid in Iowa who ended up at boarding school in Massachusetts. In her first month on campus, she was assigned F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby which has helped frame her thinking ever since. Katie's take on class, insecurity and fairness is well worth a listen.Special thanks to The Teagle Foundation for their generous support of this series.

This week's Thanks for Being Here features a letter from singer/songwriter Lisa Redfern to her unborn child, reflecting on her 12-year journey of trying to become a mother, her eventual acceptance of a different path, and finding love. Lisa shares her 2013 letter in full, detailing her dreams, heartbreaks, and how she found healing through becoming a stepmom to two boys.Links to the two songs referenced by Lisa:Waiting for You c. lisa redfern ASCAPhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vyLyUtzeoELive Through the Questions c. lisa redfern ASCAPhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy-hs9HWkuoLisa's website to learn more about her and check out her music:  www.lisaredfern.com

In this special Go To, Kelly and Christy Turlington Burns sit down with Melinda French Gates to talk about the woman who raised her, Elaine, who taught her to set her own agenda and find a moment every day to really connect with the people who matter most.Our About Your Mother series raises funds to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right.With special thanks to Tracy and David at Laughing Man Studios in Tribeca who support this series with pro bono studio time and superb coffee.Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.Check out Kelly's Tell Me More episode featuring Melinda French Gates.Past episodes from the About Your Mother series:Jennifer GarnerAmy SchumerBonoCindy Crawford Spike LeeEdward Burns

In the second episode of our "Shook by a Book" series, Kelly connects with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author Charles Duhigg about a century-old book assigned to him in college which influenced his thinking and life choices.  Charles is the author of Supercommunicators, and The Power of Habit.  (He and Kelly actually share the same editor at Random House.)  This book Charlie picked, William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience, gets at the psychological need for religion, the power of choice and how context influences our behavior.  It also serves as a springboard for Kelly and Charlie to go deep on their careers, families and life decisions.Special thanks to The Teagle Foundation for their generous support of this series. This episode was recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Sherri Coale wrote a deeply-felt “you got this” letter to her son Colton in the days before his wedding. She was certain that if she tried to say all of the important things she wanted him to know, “nonsensical drivel wrapped in tears, would land in his lap”. So, she sat down and wrote him this loving, sage advice-filled letter. This is a great GOTO to share with any young couple you may know…and maybe even your partner. (Previously aired)

Funny with a touch of Irish melancholy.  That's how actor, director, producer Edward Burns described Molly, his mother, to me and my co-host, Christy Turlington Burns (who has been married to Eddie for 20+ years).  In celebration of his new novel, A Kid From Marlboro Road, Eddie joined us in studio to talk about childhood, parenthood and grief.  Our About Your Mother series has raised funds to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right.With special thanks to Tracy and David at Laughing Man Studios in Tribeca who support this series with pro bono studio time and superb coffee.Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.Check out our earlier episodes from the About Your Mother series:Jennifer GarnerAmy SchumerBonoCindy Crawford Spike Lee

Welcome to Shook By A Book, a 5 part series where we talk to big time American thinkers about transformative reading experiences.  We're kicking off the set with a conversation with the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy.  Early in his med school days, a friend tipped him off to a book she found life-changing: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Vivek dove in head first.  Join us to find out how The Alchemist helped him move on after a devastating family experience and find his footing in a career he has loved.Also mentioned in this episode is the book: Conversations with God.  Special thanks to the Teagle Foundation for their generous support of our Shook By A Book series.

Listener Duncan Keegan submitted this astonishingly beautiful eulogy which he wrote and delivered for his five year-old son Ruairí.  We were so deeply moved when we first read it that we reached out to Duncan to see if he would consider reading it himself for today’s episode. He kindly agreed and said, “I hope it helps some grieving parents out there, especially the fathers. I think some fathers find it hard to find the voice.”  We hope this stunning tribute helps anyone who is mourning the loss of a dear loved one to feel less alone.

How do people come to change their minds? Hint: it’s not because of some novel argument or just the right amount of pressure. Thanks to conversations with Monica Guzman and Michael Lewis, I came to see something more clearly. This is one to share with anyone you wish you could talk to more openly and comfortably about contentious issues. (Previously aired)

Judd Apatow is curious, unassuming and forthcoming in this conversation with Kelly about his mom, his daughters, the business that needs improving and the work he loves. Filmed for Kelly’s PBS show Tell Me More in Los Angeles in celebration of Judd’s new film, The Bubble. After talking to Judd, Kelly sat down with Columbia’s George Bonanno to talk about a key part of Judd’s history and how it relates to George’s work on resilience. (Previously aired)

Tim and Julie Vasquez submitted two lovely essays that Tim wrote when it was time to send their sons off to college. We loved both and today we’re airing the first one called, “The Drive to Oregon”. It’s a beautiful reminder to us all that although the destination is important, it’s the journey that really matters. (Previously aired)

Confessions and thoughts on all the ways our biases mess up how we think and how that locks us into boring, no-growth positions from the stage of The Nantucket Project, a great weekend-long think session with some of the nicest people I have ever met. (You should meet me there next year, Sept 26-29, 2024.) (Previously aired)

We learned today that one of our favorite guests, Dr. Helen Fisher, passed away recently.   I first heard her name from my daughter Claire.  She and her friends had discovered this 79 year old researcher on sex and relationships and were hooked on her plain spoken insights.  I tuned in.  She was a spectacular communicator with vetted and validated information on a super important topic.  In other words, my ideal guest.  Here's where we started: the number one driver of happiness across time and culture is meaningful connection to others. So how do you get it and how do you keep it? Dr. Helen Fisher has been studying love for 5 decades. 5. That’s a lot of information. Share this conversation with the people you love. Tons of takeaways that you can integrate immediately. (Previously aired)Take Helen’s personality quiz and figure out who you are…and who you aren’t.Funding for this episode was provided by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center as part of its "Expanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.

Though we dream of big overhauls, national change often comes after many states and cities sprinkled across the country come to the same conclusion about what’s best. I loved talking to Josh Graham Lynn, who co-founded the bi-partisan organization Represent.us to fight corruption and fix America. In the decade they’ve been up and running, their work has focused on matching public support for a given law and the passage of said law. Here’s Jennifer Lawrence explaining why government doesn’t represent us and what to do about it (e.g. ranked choice voting…). (Previously aired)To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Listener Jocelyn Cohen expresses her gratitude and commemorates National Doctors Day by sharing an essay in honor of Dr. Leon Root, who treated her cerebral palsy from the age of four.  Jocelyn recounts the impactful and compassionate care Dr. Root provided, celebrating his kindness, empathy, and the deep bond they shared over decades. This touching tribute underscores the significant role dedicated medical professionals play in the lives of their patients.  Jocelyn's essay "Teammate" was originally shared on the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation's blog KEEPING IT REAL.

If I don't let myself cry, I risk a migraine, which is to risk several days of living.  So when the wave comes, I let it.  After my most recent release, I stumbled onto some analysis of the benefits of crying and why we might do well by each other to normalize crying as a natural and effective human behavior.  Sharing here for the good of the order.  Speaking of which, we'd love to hear about the best cry of your life -- if you feel like sharing, write us at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Sometimes, even when things go precisely as you hoped they would, change hurts. Kelly was a guest on a podcast called A Slight Change of Plans, hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar, who was curious to know how empty nesting was going. The conversation was so rich that it felt worth sharing here. This one is for every parent you know. Pass it on. (Previously aired).You can find Kelly's PBS Tell Me More interview with Maya Shankar HERE.

Listener Suleena Kansal Kalra shares her poignant reflections on becoming an empty nester through her beautifully written essay, "The Launch". Suleena, a doctor from Kelly's hometown, expresses her emotions as she prepares for her son Kethan's transition to college. She describes the profound and visceral experience of letting go, coupled with wistful memories and timeless parental advice. This episode will resonate deeply with anyone watching their child leave home and embark on his or her own path.  Please share with anyone you know who is adjusting to a newly empty nest.

Here are 4 pretty perfect poems to slow you down and give a dose of serenity to underwrite your day, whatever may come.  PS: Send us your favorite poems and lyrics so we can share on a future pod -- we read and appreciate every email that comes to hello@kellycorrigan.com.  Also, today is Kelly's birthday so if you're reading this, could you take 10 seconds to rate this podcast in your listening app?  She has produced over 500 episodes since she started in the fall of 2020 and nothing would make her happier than to see a big bump in ratings and read your reviews.  Thanks!

Sharing an episode of “What It’s Like to Be…” from author Dan Heath. On the podcast, Dan explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. He finds out: What does a couples therapist think when a friend asks for relationship advice? How does a stand-up comedian come up with new material? What are the clues that suggest fraud to a forensic accountant? If you’ve ever met someone whose work you were curious about, and you had 100 nosy questions but were too polite to ask… this is the show for you. In this preview, Dan talks to an ocean lifeguard about performing CPR on a dolphin, learning to read the ocean, and leading daring (and sometimes foolish) rescues. You can find more episodes of What It’s Like to Be here.

Meet Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Healthy Snacks and son of a Holocaust survivor. He is irresistible, a force for good that is asking us to reflect on what our role in the conversation can be.  His point of view is grounded in his father's experiences during the Holocaust, most especially in a single moment of unexpected kindness that saved his father's life. Daniel wonders with Kelly about the sickening power of dehumanization in social division and the important, if exhausting, work of bridging divides. This 5-part series on Rupture and Repair has been funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.  We work with them regularly and have been inspired by their commitment to share the principles and practices of bridge building.  If this series has been valuable to you, please take 15 seconds to rate and review this podcast so that more listeners can join us in the communal effort of making things a little tiny bit nicer in America.

This episode features a eulogy delivered by Lauren Smith Medina, the goddaughter of her beloved Uncle Den. Lauren reminisces about her Uncle Den's humor, his culinary skills and cherished summer weekends spent together at their family's beach house.

One of the things you lose when you lose someone essential is the comfort of their presence — and their presence may have been your secret weapon in the world.  Today’s Go To is a story about Kelly’s mom watching her play backgammon on a porch in Avalon one summer long ago.

When veteran BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan discovered her family was involved in slavery in Grenada, she did what journalists do: investigate.  As the details of the story emerged, Laura and her family worked to make a plan.  Kelly and Laura discuss the importance of acknowledgment, the role of historical truth in healing, and the Trevelyan's path toward family-led reparations. Link to Laura's X post with images of the Trevelyan family's letter of apology.Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival for hosting this recording and to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their support of this episode.

An anonymous listener shares a letter about her complicated relationship with a still-living, yet emotionally distant parent. The listener reflects on the emotional journey and growth experienced over the decades, considering how her mother’s shortcomings have shaped her own approach to parenting.

With extra thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival, here are Kelly's notes from a happiness panel featuring Adam Gopnik, Tamar Gendler, David Brooks, and Sarah Lewis. Link to Kelly's previous interview with David Brooks HERE.

Kelly talks with Chasten Buttigieg, teacher, advocate, and husband of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The conversation goes deep into Chasten's coming out story, no easy task in his conservative, Catholic, rural Michigan family.  His greatest fears were losing family connections and never finding the kind of acceptance we all need. The episode highlights the principles and practices of rupture and repair, emphasizing the importance of unconditional love, communication, and ongoing growth. Special Thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their support of this series. Please note there is a reference to suicide in this episode. Check out Chasten's book called I Have Something to Tell You: A Memoir.You can find Kelly's previous interview with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg HERE. And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.If you have not taken a minute to rate or review our podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could take a few seconds right now to post your rating.

In this episode, Anne Swayze shares an emotional tribute to her 16-year-old golden retriever, Mac, who touched many lives over the years. She recounts Mac's adventures across multiple homes and campuses, his unique quirks, and the profound impact he had on her family. Anne's heartfelt narrative captures the bond shared with Mac, illustrating the deep emotions involved in saying goodbye to a beloved pet. (And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Kelly shared the stage with acclaimed author (and personal hero) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at this year's Aspen Ideas Festival to talk cancel culture, the importance of free speech, tribalism in America, the impact of sensitivity readers in publishing, and the consequences of self-censorship. They also share personal reflections on grief, having both lost their parents in recent years. (Speaking of families and loss, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life to share with your families and friends.)

Kelly shares an episode of a podcast she loves called A Braver Way which is hosted by friends of Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Mónica Guzmán and April Lawson.  Is it the facts that get in the way in our politics, or our stories? Baratunde Thurston is a renowned comedian, activist, and PBS host who knows a lot about how the stories we tell about ourselves can either unlock our civic power... or make us forget we even have it. We’ll zoom in on two unforgettable times Baratunde crossed big divides and what those clashes can teach us, and we’ll hear his four pillars of “how to citizen” — as a verb, not a noun — to help us wield that power daily. Then Monica and April close us out with a clash of their own, unleashing their own stories about citizenship to see where their different politics lead them to think differently about the concept and the many issues that surround it.Credits:  Host: Mónica Guzmán Senior Producer & Editor: David Albright Producer: Jessica Jones Contributor: April Lawson Artist in Residence: Gangstagrass. Cover Art & Graphics: Katelin Annes Show notes: Ben Caron and Don Goldberg Featured Song: “That’s the Way We Climb” by Jud Caswell  A production of Braver Angels.  Financial Supporters: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Reclaim Curiosity  Sponsors: USAFacts

Can memorials transform thinking?  Have you ever felt something change inside you looking at a sculpture or walking through an especially powerful exhibit?  Can representing injustice lead to collective understanding?   Maybe.  From the 9/11 site to the hills of Montgomery, Alabama, people are finding ways to confront past horrors and visitors are leaving with a Never Again spirit that just might save us.  Join us for this special episode in our Rupture and Repair series with one of our country's most thoughtful and impactful leaders, civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson (author of Just Mercy).    Previous podcast with Bryan Stevenson here.  (You might also like Kelly's TED talk on bravery, which references Bryan Stevenson and his grandmother.)Thanks to The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for sponsoring our 9-part Rupture and Repair series.

Listener Katie Niemeyer shares a poignant story from her time as a 16-year-old patient in a burn unit, battling a severe reaction to a depression medication. Katie recounts how a fellow patient named Kerry, a fireman recovering from his own traumatic burns, brought light and support to her darkest days. Despite his own suffering, Kerry showed up for Katie consistently, forming a lifelong bond that transcended age, color, and gender. Please note: this episode references suicide.(In case you missed it, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Today, I'm sharing my notes from listening to Indra Nooyi, who had a transformative tenure as CEO of PepsiCo, and is now a woman who speaks freely and blunty about what the country needs most. Live from the stage at Aspen Ideas Festival, Nooyi set the audience on fire with her blunt assessments and candid insights on how business can serve society and not the other way around. (Speaking of interpersonal bravery, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Nicholas Kristof is one of America's most experienced, prolific, awarded and grounded journalists.  I read him often when I want a point of view that comes with 35 years in the field and his signature big picture optimism.  This is a conversation to remind us all how exactly change happens.   Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival for putting me on stage with Nick and for generally being such a great partner this year and last as we try to stay up to date on the best thinking.*Please note that this conversation references substance abuse, sexual abuse, and suicide. (Here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Kristina Phipps wrote this exquisite, poetic eulogy to honor her mom Ann Emanuels.  Ann's love for beauty and her affinity for the natural world shone through in her garden, where she loved to spend time.  She saw a world to be seized and not squandered and would pack more into a day than seemed humanly possible. Perhaps more than anything though, Ann viewed the world as a place that should be savored - like a plump peach warm off the tree - and she made sure to impart that valuable lesson to her three daughters.  (For anyone who may have missed it, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Getting the call, drafting a talk, practicing in the mock studio, dinner at Chris Anderson's with all the other speakers...it's a wild ride.  Here's the backstory of TED 2024.(And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Living in an optimization culture is making parenting much more complicated than it need be. Or so says Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of The Five Principles of Parenting and the host of Raising Good Humans, who spends a lot of time with the latest research and a lot of time with parents in clinic. Today’s conversation is about exactly what does and does not protect us from the worst health outcomes and is to be shared with anyone who is looking for a parenting north star. (Previously aired)Our takeaways were juicy on this one… if you’d like to receive the weekly list in your inbox subscribe to our Weekly Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

Today’s submission is introduced in the episode as a eulogy but it’s actually an essay that writer, speaker and advocate Tracy Hargen wrote about her beloved dad Joe, shortly after he died in 2012. Tracy describes her dad as her “cheerleader, biggest fan, bear hugger, tear wiper and supporter of crazy ideas”. He had a big personality that filled every room he walked into and had a memorable, radio-worthy voice that Tracy got to capture and have forever when they did a StoryCorps interview together for NPR. As Tracy says, “May every child have the gift of loving parents who cherish them beyond words and believe in them beyond reason.” (Previously aired)

You and I both have short lists of people we just cannot bring ourselves to understand. But even in those most strained circumstances, we do have a set of things in common. Here’s my reminder to self of that always true fact. Meant to be shared, especially with people you’d love to reconnect with.  (Previously aired)Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Rainn Wilson (who you might know as Dwight Schrute) is making a serious call for a spiritual revolution based on joy, acts of service and being honest about our mixed natures. This is a conversation to share with anyone who is thinking seriously about how to elevate matters of the soul over the clang and bang of the modern world. Or maybe just someone who needs a laugh. (Previously aired)Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival where this podcast was recorded.

In honor of 20 years together, Leslie Browning wrote this sweet tribute to her husband Ben. In her early years, Leslie got her idea of “romantic love” from what she saw in chick movies but after sharing two decades together and the juggling required with kids, jobs, financial pressures, competing demands, middle age, menopause and loss, she learned that although solid, steady, “real love” might not make that great of a movie - it sure makes for one hell of a life.(Previously aired)

I learn a lot from listeners.  This GOTO is a lesson in humility for me.  And maybe for you too.  It's about a mistake I suspect a lot of us have made...

Dan Harris is a smart, hungry skeptic looking for ideas you can count on in the worst of times, like say when you have a panic attack while you’re anchoring the news for ABC. He’s been thinking out loud with some very wise people for many years now through books and a podcast called 10% Happier that I find invaluable. Some topics we break open are uncertainty, humility and practices to keep us connected. Thanks to our many friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival for making this conversation possible.(Previously aired)

Jody Weverka wrote this sweet eulogy for her Auntie Marge - a woman who made everything from crafts to meals to gardens to family life better for everyone.

A young friend of mine, Sophie G, shared this speech that she had saved from her high school graduation week.  It was given by Dr. Chris Cunningham, then at Lawrenceville, now at Whitfield, who gathered 10 takeaways for the students that are actually quite useful to every one of us.  To receive our weekly takeaways or share feedback, shoot us a note at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Krista Tippett, informed by decades of inquiry through her super-project, On Being, sits with Kelly to consider what’s in flux, what needs will never abate and what we might rediscover in new forms. In this moment when everything is broken open, when institutions are received with less reverence and more skepticism, where should we point our minds and hearts? What practices serve us best? This is a conversation to share with every thinking friend in your life and use as fodder for your own search for a spiritual home. (Previously aired)Thanks to our many friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival for making this interview possible.

We all have things we do to help us manage grief.  Today's episode is a look at one of the ways that Kelly handled the loss of her beloved dad, Greenie.  In the year following his death, she wrote and sent emails out into the ether - to connect with him in a small but very meaningful way.  We want to wish a Happy Father's Day to everyone from us all at Kelly Corrigan Wonders.

A special episode dedicated to Kelly’s dear friend Liz Laats who passed away 8 years ago - and the friends we have all lost. Liz’s birthday would have been on June 19th. (Previously aired)

This is one of my favorite groupings of guests ever. Sometimes the chemistry is just so right. For the last episode of the 10-part series on Well Being, I knew we had to talk about the psychology of making change. For that, we needed the leadership of Angela Duckworth, who wrote Grit and is always thinking and rethinking how we understand ourselves. She’s been a guest before and her lab is devoted to surfacing actionable advice for parents and teachers based on science. Joining us are two friends of the show: Fulbright scholar and entrepreneur Dreme Flynt and a kid from Prattville, AL who is about graduate from Harvard and move to Arkansas to work as an economist at Walmart Will McQuiston. Dreme and Will bring real world challenges to the conversation about habit formation. You can watch any episode of this series any time at PBS.org/kelly. You can receive our weekly takeaways here. And please be in touch. Emails help us shape our show. We read everything that comes in to hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Hi all - this is Tammy writing.  This past Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, I had the honor of attending the funeral service for Kelly's mom, the indomitable Mary Corrigan - lovingly known as "Jammy" to her six grandkids.  I also had the privilege of witnessing a very tight, special family gather around their remarkable matriarch at the end of her life.  We all have that one friend whose mom was maybe a little bit intimidating when we were younger but who we respected the hell out of and wanted desperately to like us - that was Mrs. Corrigan for me.  I was thrilled that as I got older, she actually did seem to like me.  I remember one time when I stopped by in recent years, she invited me to sit in her beautiful living room at 168 Wooded Lane and proceeded to ask me questions about my life, and talked with me for over an hour.  Another time when I visited, she sat me at her kitchen table and showed me how, when watching football on TV, I could look at the little arrows on the scoreboard to determine which team currently had the ball - I felt like I had hit the lottery.  When Mary Corrigan shined her light on you, it was unforgettable.One thing (among many) that the Corrigan family does very well is honor and celebrate family.  GT, Booker and Kelly each delivered a moving, intimate, often humorous eulogy for their one-of-a-kind mom, in front of the hundreds of people who filled St. Thomas of Villanova church to honor her this past Tuesday. Today, we're sharing Kelly's.

It was a bad day in a bad week. And then, there he was, The Husband, trying a trick we used to do with the girls. Smile therapy. Is it real? Did it work? Thoughts on forcing a mood shift by moving your facial muscles… (Previously aired)

How does spirituality factor into well being? Do people of faith have better mental health? Here’s a warm and expansive conversation with several surprises. Dr. Alexis Abernathy, daughter of a preacher and devoted scientist, studies patience, comfort and strain in the context of cancer, disordered eating and depression. Enriching the conversation at every turn are friends of the show, W. Kamau Bell (comedian and producer) and Dr. BJ Miller (palliative care doc and author). Thanks to PBS for supporting this series. You can watch any episode any time on PBS.org/kelly. We love hearing from listeners. Please share your thoughts in an email to hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Lean Macfarlane wrote this exquisite eulogy to honor her husband Brian. It's a beautifully intimate portrait of the man Brian was and how he lived his life but also a look at the close and loving marriage that Leah and Brian shared.  An attorney, Brian had a sharp legal mind and used words precisely.  He often used the legal term "ad idem" to describe their relationship and marriage - Leah uses it here in the most poignant and lovely way.

I’ve been asked to give many graduation speeches. This one was a favorite, making a case for one very simple move that changes everything. Always happy to hear from you. Write us here: hello@kellycorrigan.com. Sign up for the Wednesday Takeaway email here.

Is nutrition a legitimate medical intervention for some mental health disorders? Absolutely, says cardiologist Dr. Bret Scher, whose research focuses on metabolism as a driving force in unwellness. Joining us for the conversation about genetic predispositions, childhood eating habits and the role of medication is pediatrician and allergist Dr. Michael Lenoir and educator and artist Cava Menzies.Thanks to PBS for supporting this series. You can watch any episode any time at PBS.org/kelly.And please be in touch with feedback, questions or suggestions. We read every email sent to hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Pete Bidstrup wrote this heartfelt tribute to his dad Lawrence “Larry” Otto Bidstrup. Larry was a husband, father, grandfather, Marine, teacher, coach, mentor, athlete, fisherman and friend. He had a way of laughing at himself, almost never missed a day of work and was always there when he said he would be. He was most definitely the kind of man anyone would want their kid to have as a teacher or coach and after many years spent as a very successful wrestling coach, Larry had no issue at all when his own son Pete decided to play another sport. Larry “fought the good fight” and his currency was of the heart. (Previously aired)

From Kelly’s graduation speech at The University of Richmond, 67 legit reasons for optimism even now. (Previously aired)

We need big fat fluffy hippocampi and there’s a really clear way to make this happen: move your body. We can flood our own brains with the neurochemicals that help us thrive. That’s one of the thrilling messages from Dr. Wendy Suzuki of NYU in this roundtable with friends of the show Manoush Zomorodi (host of TED Radio Hour) and Mahogany L. Browne (poet, educator and activist). Here’s a session that debunks the most common misunderstandings about what movement counts based on the research from Wendy’s lab.Thanks to PBS for supporting this series. You can watch any episode any time at PBS.org/kelly.Write us anytime with feedback, questions or suggestions at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Kelly shares an excerpt from Jessica Fein's new book Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes. In Jessica's words, the memoir is "The story of building, loving and losing a family.  How I learned to live in the present and create a world of joy and beauty in the midst of loss and tragedy."  The excerpt shared here is, "A Girl's Best Friend" and is the story of Jessica's daughter Dalia's very special dog, Blackie-O, a loving canine companion who essentially trained himself to be Dalia's service dog.

Things we know about touch and why it is so important, from my own recent experiences and through this conversation with Gretchen Rubin. (Previously aired)

Quick afternoon nap? Gummies before bed? Hitting snooze? Here’s a thorough look at how to get our sleep right with one of the world’s most informed sleep experts: Dr. Matthew Walker. Why? Sleep is our super power. Put less positively, poor sleep maps terribly closely to poor mental health. Joining me for the conversation are previous guests and friends of the show cognitive scientist and podcaster Maya Shankar, and comedian/producer W Kamau Bell. You can receive our weekly takeaways here. You can watch this conversation anytime at www.pbs.org/kelly or stream on the PBS app. Many thanks to COOP for making the best pillows and sheets to help us get a really solid night’s sleep and for sponsoring this episode. Get 20% off with the code KELLY20.

Today is the last of our special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Christy and I recently spent an unforgettable Saturday afternoon talking to the singular force of nature that is Spike Lee about his mother, Jackie, who died when Spike was a sophomore at Morehouse College. Spike has 134 directing credits over four+ decades, in each case imploring us to Wake Up. Here’s a chance to understand something about the development of this legendary voice. Please share. This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right. Love it? Don’t like it? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Today is #4 in a special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Today we talk to the iconic Cindy Crawford, an old friend of Christy’s (you may have seen them together in the Apple TV docu-series The Super Models). Cindy is a Midwestern girl, a high school valedictorian who started at Northwestern on an academic scholarship to study chemical engineering before her career took her around the world. She is also the daughter of Jenny, a young bride who had four children and lost one to childhood leukemia. This is a candid and loving conversation about the realities of family life. Please share. This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. We know that maternal health is a human right; let’s help make it ubiquitous. Love it? Don’t like it? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Today is #3 in a special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Bono lost his mother Iris when he was 14 years old. She had an aneurysm at her father’s funeral and as he says, he’s been singing to her ever since. This is a very special conversation, possibly my favorite interview of all time, made more lovely and intimate by the friendship between Bono and Christy going back many years now. This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support safe and respectful pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Maternal health is a human right and as Bono says, raising kids takes a village and a mother is a village. Got feedback? Have an idea? We love to hear form listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Today is #2 in a special 5-part series about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Amy Schumer is as sharp a writer as she is a performer. I love her always-on-point work in Life & Beth, Trainwreck and all 44 episodes of Inside Amy Schumer. She’s honest in way I wish more people were and you’ll hear that in this candid conversation about her mother, Sandra. This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support maternal health in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Love it? Hate it? Have an idea? We love to hear form listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

Today begins a 5-part series of conversations about moms in honor of Every Mother Counts. Jen G, as we call her in my house, is as special and wonderful as you think she is. She is such a ready learner that she carries around a pen and notebook everywhere she goes. She cares about all the right things and not one bit of the nonsense. She is still, in many essential ways, one of the “Garner girls” from West Virginia. Today’s conversation, co-hosted by Christy Turlington Burns, celebrates Jen’s mom, Pat (and a little bit, Jen’s dad, Billy Jack Garner, who died only 10 days before we recorded). I have loved knowing Jen since we met at The Nantucket Project many years ago and am grateful she could be with us for this series. This series hopes to raise $100,000 to support maternal health in 9 countries through Every Mother Counts, founded in 2010 and led every day since by Christy Turlington Burns. Please join us with a donation here. Love it? Don’t like it? Have an idea? We love to hear from listeners. Write us anytime — hello@kellycorrigan.com - or sign up for our weekly list of takeaways here.

You cannot talk about well-being without talking about our connections. As my guest, the divine Esther Perel, makes gin clear, the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. Esther, a Belgian psychotherapist and bestselling author of State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity, has spent as much time investigating and evaluating relationships as anyone on earth. Joining us for this essential discussion about how to interact better in this modern world we’ve made are two former guests and friends of the show, journalist Katie Couric and artist Timothy Goodman. You can receive our weekly takeaways here. You can watch my conversation with Esther, Katie and Tim at www.pbs.org/kelly or stream on the PBS app.

At this time of year, we are knee-deep in sports: college lacrosse, the NBA play-offs and all the golf majors. Where there are sports, there are adjectives describing the athletes and where there are sports championships, those adjectives are garish and piled-high. Kelly wonders if maybe it’s time to use those dazzling descriptors to honor not the elite athletes out there but the army of regular, everyday, hard-working moms. (Previously aired)

I am damn near hopeless with routers and a printer on the skids can take me around the bend. But, inspired by my mother and my husband and a friend, I remembered that hopeless is almost always an overstatement. (Previously aired)

Doctors Julie Schwartz Gottman and John Gottman are probably the world’s reigning experts on relationships. They are well into their 5th decade of research that reveals why we treat each other as we do and how a few small but essential adjustments to our everyday patterns could change our relationships for the better. Everything we talked about is applicable across the board - from couples to parents and children and all the people we work with. We predict this will be our most shared episode of 2024. Enjoy. (Previously aired) Check out the Gottman's’ new book: Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Cathy Coleman wrote this eulogy for her mother Shirley. For Mother’s Day the year Cathy was 57, she made a list of 57 things about her mom that she was grateful for and references those things in this beautiful tribute.

After much back and forth with you all on Facebook, I came up with my most important go-to items — the things that get me through the day — and, more importantly, the ideas that ground me on the epic journey of motherhood. (Previously aired)

Dr. Leanne Williams is determined to spare people the suffering she’s endured. Her partner of many years died by suicide after fighting a depression that resisted all treatment. She has devoted her life as a scientist at Stanford to applying the principles and tactics of precision medicine to depression, which she has categorized into sub-types (much as was done with cancer decades ago). Joining me in this conversation are Dr BJ Miller, a friend and previous guest who works as a palliative care doc and lost his sister to suicide, as well as Emmy-winning comedian W. Kamau Bell, also a friend and previous guest, who brings his usual good will and insight to the conversation. This episode contains a detailed discussion of suicide. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Thanks to PBS for supporting this series. You can watch any of these episodes any time at PBS.org/kelly. Feedback welcome at hello@kellycorrigan.com.

Nancy Brown, a military spouse of 19 years, wrote this loving tribute for her two best deployment buddies. It honors the way the three friends formed one great big family while living through several deployments in Eastern North Carolina. Three women, no husbands and nine children all dressed in each other's hand-me-downs. On paper, they were more different than alike but maybe that's a more accurate description of a family after all. (Previously aired)

I’ve done it again. I accidentally saw the world through my own lens and forgot all the other ways life unfolds for the people who listen to this show. Thanks to a listener named Micah Boyett who sent a lovely piece of unmistakable feedback — coated in genuine kindness — I learned the lesson again. We really respect our listeners and find your emails invaluable as we steer this ship we’ve built. Write any time. hello@kellycorrigan.com. We read every one. Micah’s book is: Blessed Are the Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole

How much can we blame DNA for our depression and anxiety? Is something about our mental health pre-written into our genetic code? How much trauma carries over from one generation to the next? How should we think about epi-genetics? These were 4 of the 20 questions I brought to Dr. Francis Collins, the guy who let the team that mapped the human genome. There’s two things I want to say about this episode: I learned so much just studying for the interview and every minute I spent with Francis Collins was a total joy. He is a very special person — direct, deeply informed (maybe moreso on this topic than anyone else on Earth) and delightful. I am so excited to put his guy in your ear — a happy, loving man filled with purpose and eager to share what he knows (and doesn’t) for the greater good. And he laughs easily and a lot. So, I was getting hits of my dad the whole time. A heavenly experience that comes through in every minute of the conversation. Enjoy. Thanks to PBS stations across the country for supporting Tell Me More. You can watch an edited video version of this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly.

Writer Courtney Martin wrote this loving, humorous tribute to her mother for her 75th birthday. Along with detailing some of her mom’s quirks that used to drive her crazy (but which at age 43 she now appreciates), Courtney also lovingly describes her many incredible qualities. (Previously aired)

When my girls were young, I must have told them a hundred times: you get what you give. I believe it like I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. Chris Anderson, the genius do-gooder behind TED, believes it too. And with good reason. He’s seen generous giving pay off in big ways — giving his brand to TEDx conferences around the world, giving away TED speeches to anyone who wanted them online, giving attention, support and contributions to the most focused, devoted, strategic efforts on the planet. This is an episode for anyone looking for inspiration. Chris’ new book is Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading

Here’s why I had to sit with Dr. Dima Amso, who teaches and runs a lab that studies developmental cognition at Columbia: in a sea of hyperbole, she offers the voice of sanity and moderation, clarifying basic ideas like “good enough parenting.” For anyone who wonders how well-being is affected by our earliest childhood environments and relationships, this is the conversation for you. Please share widely with everyone who is feeling trapped by their personal history, as imperfect parents or as grown children of imperfect parents. Thanks to PBS stations across the country for supporting Tell Me More. You can watch an edited video version of this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly.

Michelle Hurst celebrates her husband and their marriage on the occasion of their 20th Anniversary. From 23 year-old newlyweds finding their way in the world to 43 year-old’s who have shared a puppy, kids, a mortgage and decades of meaningful memories - they have navigated it all together. (Previously aired)

There is a lot to know about what makes love last. People like John Gottman and Helen Fisher have been studying sex, love and connection for decades. Here’s a few excellent ideas to hold on to as you live out the day to day of your core relationships. Very good episode to share with your partner. Will start a valuable conversation! (Previously aired.) Kelly mentions that our episode with Dr. Helen Fisher will air next week, which is not actually the case as this is a replay BUT you can listen to that episode with the incredible Dr. Fisher HERE.

Is it nature? Is it nurture? Is it daily choices or the contexts we live in? What are the drivers of well being? This conversation kicks off a 10-part series of Being Well where we talk to the best researchers and scientists in the country about how to feel good about our lives and in our lives — what’s true and trustworthy and evident in the data … and what’s a bunch of Tik Tok nonsense. Today, we’re with two friends of the show, neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett (How Emotions Are Made) and surgeon and public health lead at USAID, Dr. Atul Gawande (Being Mortal) as well as Dr. Dani Dumitriu from Columbia. Settle in for a conversation that’s as informative as it is delightful. And please share with anyone you know who wants to feel better. Thanks to PBS for supporting this work. You can watch an edited version of this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly.

Kelly recently found an old letter (hidden away in a closet in Bozeman) that she had written to her mom, way back in 1991. It’s good to look back sometimes at old letters and half-finished journal entries and be reminded of who we were - and who we wanted to become.

Observations on what cancer made visible to me.

Kelly talks with New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino about identity, culture and the irresistable manipulation of the internet. Jia is a 32-year old intellectual phenom who just came out with her first book of essays called Trick Mirror. She's part feminist, part radical thinker and part cultural critic, and she has a lot to say about what it means to be human in today's world. (Previously aired)

Keith Romano wrote and delivered this eulogy for his father Patrick Romano, a lover of sports who believed that teamwork was always more important than talent. Keith honors his father’s uncompromising values and beliefs, his sense of humor and the example he set for his family…illustrated by the “no look pass” something Patrick always felt was the perfect intersection of teamwork, skill and grace. (Previously aired)

Intuition. Wisdom. Time. These are just some of the assets the Badass Grandmas bring to their bipartisan work. This one is for anyone who needs a kick in the pants and a reason to believe tomorrow will be better than today.

There’s so many people who claim to be experts about family life. Dr. Lisa Damour is the real deal. This is one of the most useful conversations I have ever had on the podcast. Listen. Share. Listen again. It’s loaded with gems. (Previously aired) Check out Lisa’s book: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers - Raising Connected, Capable and Compassionate Adolescents.

Heather Clay submitted her magical, beautifully written essay “Elephants”, after a two-week trip to Africa. Part travelogue, part reflective journal entry, Heather details the sights, sounds and emotions from the trip of a lifetime. As much a trip to experience the beauty and majesty of Africa, it was also a chance for ten female friends to interrupt their normal, everyday, work/family lives and do something just for themselves - and for each other. Heather Clay’s novel that Kelly references and loves is: Losing Charlotte.

Here’s a word that everyone is saying these days: mindfulness. I don’t totally know what it means, officially, but I have jerry-rigged a little process to help me mind the moment, to see the day for the small miracle that it is and enter it with intention — and it’s working for me. So, see what you think. And let me know if you have ideas or tweaks on Instagram. (Previously aired)

Though we dream of big overhauls, national change often comes after many states and cities sprinkled across the country come to the same conclusion about what’s best. I loved talking to Josh Graham Lynn, who co-founded the bi-partisan organization Represent.us to fight corruption and fix America. In the decade they’ve been up and running, their work has focused on matching public support for a given law and the passage of said law. Here’s Jennifer Lawrence explaining why government doesn’t represent us and what to do about it (e.g. ranked choice voting…).To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

A letter from Kelly to honor the many special nurses who have provided care to her and the people she loves.

Here’s something I know for sure, as Oprah would say…the more specifically you can communicate, the more deeply you can connect. Today’s Go To is my case for reading more, taken from a TEDx Sonoma talk I gave 10 years ago. I stand by every word.

Every so often, Kelly Corrigan Wonders will make space in our feed for someone else’s podcast. In this case, Kelly is sharing an episode of To The Best of Our Knowledge. It’s a beautifully produced and fascinating episode about time - specifically about how the Earth keeps time and how we as humans relate to it. Enjoy. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Renowned educator Wanda Holland Greene joins Kelly to dig into finding common ground with absolutely anyone, even people we think we hate. They discuss the transformative power of discovering the many things we all share. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Three decades after graduating, Martha Zeeman wrote this letter of gratitude to Marsie, her randomly-selected college suite-mate at the University of North Carolina. After a bit of a rough start to her freshman year, Martha finally found her way thanks to the kindness and support of Marsie. This is the story of an enduring friendship and the magical surprise that was born of it 33 years later.

This is a counter intuitive idea that might not land for everyone but deserved to be shared for group consideration. I am very curious what you think so please write us at hello@kellycorrigan.com with your reactions. The concept here is at odds with recent conventional wisdom. I found it surprising but potentially powerful. For more, listen to episodes with Dr. George Bonanno and Dr. Samantha Boardman on Kelly Corrigan Wonders.

Forgiveness may be the most advanced intellectual and emotional move we make as humans. It is a complete override of our innate nature to categorize friend and foe. Along with thought leader Wanda Holland Greene, Kelly brings to life three unforgettable stories of forgiveness from around the world. Follow the conversation on Instagram @kellycorrigan. Previously aired. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Quite often, it’s hard to know how to properly show up for a friend who’s going through a tough time - that is, until you’ve been through the experience yourself and can relate more fully. This is Kelly’s letter to friends who have lost a parent and also to those of us who feel we could have shown up for someone in a better way.

Breaking down the principles, practices and tactics of conflict resolution to be shared with anyone who is struggling to reach new levels understanding with friends, family and neighbors. A very simple set of moves that just might break the tension. Reference: Bridging Differences Playbook created by the Greater Good Science Center.

For the closing episode of our Rupture + Repair series, we are offering a most unusual conversation between two women who are on opposite sides of the Reproductive Rights debate: April Lawson, a pro-life conservative, and me, a pro-choice liberal. We share this in the hopes that it can serve as a model for hard but productive conversations around tender topics. As always, we welcome your responses. hello@kellycorrigan.com Please note: This episode includes references to incest and sexual assault. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here. Check out the episodes from our Rupture + Repair series: Going Deep with Mónica Guzmán on Making Family Work Going Deep with Drs. Julie and John Gottman on Fighting Right Going Deep with Manu Meel on Making College Work Going Deep with Simon Greer on Making Faith Work

Tamar Gendler, a former guest on Kelly Corrigan Wonders, wrote this exquisite eulogy for her father Everett. Everett was a brilliant man who was always ahead of his time and yet, in many ways, he was also behind. He enjoyed his meals at a leisurely pace, eschewed modern technology in favor of old-fashioned items and ways of doing things and published his first book at age 86. Everett was not only “ahead” and “behind”, he was also fully present - his life was filled with radical astonishment at the beauty of the world around him and those who inhabited it alongside him.

As you’ll hear in this short letter from me to you, I am a little nervous about next week’s episode. It’s a conversation between a pro-life conservative named April Lawson and a pro-choice liberal (named Kelly Corrigan). I wanted to take a minute before the episode hits the feed to explain why I did this and to ask you for a wide berth, both for me and for my guest, as we dare to let down our guards and have a heart to heart about reproductive rights. It’s our attempt to model respectful conversations where the differences are vast. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here. Check out the episodes from our Rupture + Repair series: Going Deep with Mónica Guzmán on Making Family Work Going Deep with Drs. Julie and John Gottman on Fighting Right Going Deep with Manu Meel on Making College Work Going Deep with Simon Greer on Making Faith Work Going Deep with April Lawson on Reproductive Rights

Every so often, Kelly Corrigan Wonders will make space in our feed for someone else’s podcast. In this case, Kelly is sharing an episode of the podcast Love Letters. Today’s episode is called “Find Your People” and is the story of Ray and Maria who met at a summer camp, and how they affected one another’s lives. Enjoy. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Is it really possible to talk lovingly and openly, face to face, with someone who thinks you’re going to hell? It better be because when true believers of various faiths come together, big hard things are going to be said. My guest is knee deep in this kind of work. Simon Greer tells us the story of spending 3 weeks in conversation with Oberlin students and evangelicals from Spring Arbor University. His experiences hold many answers for how we, as Americans, might be able to actually know and understand one another. An excellent conversation to share with your most faithful friends. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here. Link to the short film featuring Simon’s conversation with Evangelical Christian Elizabeth Stewart: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/resources/differences-student-story/ Check out the other episodes from our Rupture + Repair series: Going Deep with Mónica Guzmán on Making Family Work Going Deep with Drs. Julie and John Gottman on Fighting Right Going Deep with Manu Meel on Making College Work Going Deep with April Lawson on Reproductive Rights

Carter paints a vivid picture of her popular Baltimore mom Sally who always gave back and had plenty of love to spare. Whether it was founding an organization to help others, sitting on a board, creating the best Christmas ever or simply spreading love and joy to her family and beyond, Sally was a force for good. (Previously aired) Please note: because this is a “previously aired” episode, next Tuesday’s Kelly Corrigan Wonders will not feature Kate Bowler as referenced at the end of the episode. It will be Kelly’s interview with Simon Greer as a part of our Rupture + Repair series.

I spent about an hour with Matthew McConaughey in Bentonville AR at The Heartland Summit. We talked about acting, of course, but he really sat up straight when I started asking him about gun safety. He and his wife, Camila, are deeply invested in the issue and I am happy to share that progress is being made. So enjoy this conversation and share with folks who care about school safety or just have a big crush on Matthew. Special thanks to my friends at Heartland Forward and to Matthew for his work on the Greenlights Grant Initiative.

Manu Meel is helping college kids talk to each other — inside and outside of classes, individually and in groups, in person and online — about all kinds of important issues where there is a lot of disagreement. He is also as positive and bright as any guest we’ve ever had. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. Every Wednesday we send out our top takeaways of the week to listeners. If you’d like to receive that email, sign up here. Check out the other episodes from our Rupture + Repair series: Going Deep with Mónica Guzmán on Making Family Work Going Deep with Drs. Julie and John Gottman on Fighting Right Going Deep with Simon Greer on Making Faith Work Going Deep with April Lawson on Reproductive Rights

Today’s Thanks For Being Here is a eulogy written by Kelly’s dear friend Tracy Tuttle McGowan for her mother Michele White. Michele was someone who lived life in the ready position, a scout always on the lookout for any way she could make the day overflow with wonder. A lover of travel, she particularly appreciated all things French and embodied “joie de vivre”. Michele walked through life wowed by beauty and made it her business on every occasion, and in all surroundings, to make things more lovely.

Life is more often in between than high and low. We are also usually somewhere between our very best self and our very worst. We know this but it helps to reflect on that fairly frequently. Here’s a few blessings from Kate Bowler’s new book, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day. Previous conversations with Kate: Everything Happens for a Reason with Kate Bowler Cycling Through All the Emotions with Kate Bowler and Arthur C. Brooks Looking Back with Kate Bowler at the Truly Crappy Looking Back with Kate Bowler at All Things Happy Claire Danes and Kate Bowler Book Clubbing with Kelly Part 1 Claire Danes and Kate Bowler Book Clubbing with Kelly Part 2 Claire Danes and Kate Bowler Book Clubbing with Kelly Part 3 Go To on Grief Sign up for weekly takeaways here.

Doctors Julie Schwartz Gottman and John Gottman are probably the world’s reigning experts on relationships. They are well into their 5th decade of research that reveals why we treat each other as we do and how a few small but essential adjustments to our everyday patterns could change our relationships for the better. Everything we talked about is applicable across the board - from couples to parents and children and all the people we work with. We predict this will be our most shared episode of 2024. Enjoy. Check out the Gottman's’ new book: Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here. Check out the other episodes from our Rupture + Repair series: Going Deep with Mónica Guzmán on Making Family Work

Kirsten’s dad Tom was beloved by his kids and grandkids (one of whom couldn’t pronounce the letter “T”, resulting in the nickname Papa Fom). Tom was a man who loved the simple pleasures in life: playing and winning various games, flying balsa wood planes with his family, joking around, drawing and painting, eating candy, playing “house” and “school” with his grandkids or letting them climb all the way up his body to stand on his shoulders. He really loved the little things and everyday moments were his favorites. (Previously aired)

What happens in the first 180 seconds of a fight determine its outcome at least 90% of the time. For real. This is a basic truth that every one of us needs to understand and an episode to share with our partners! Many thanks to Drs. Julie and John Gottman for four decades of work and their new book, Fight Right. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Receive our weekly takeaways every Wednesday. Sign up here.

Moni Guzman came to the US from Mexico with her family many decades ago. In the past two presidential elections, her parents voted for Trump while she voted for Clinton and Biden. This created the kind of tension that must be managed very carefully. Fortunately, and relatedly, Moni has professional experience with difficult conversations in her capacity as a senior fellow at Braver Angels. We lean heavily on the ideas in Moni’s book, I Never Thought of It That Way, in this episode and throughout our 5-part series on getting along: Rupture + Repair. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their generous support of this series. Every Wednesday we send out our top takeaways of the week to listeners. If you’d like to receive that email, sign up here. Other episodes in the Rupture + Repair series include: Going Deep with Drs. Julie and John Gottman on Fighting Right Going Deep with Manu Meel on Making College Work Going Deep with Simon Greer on Making Faith Work Going Deep with April Lawson on Reproductive Rights

Meghan Jarvis’ beautiful story of what happened as she holed herself up in a friend’s home to write her mother’s eulogy. This is for anyone who has written a eulogy and knows what an emotionally fraught yet transformative time it can be. (Previously aired) Note that we have changed our email address from the one mentioned in this past episode. If you would like to reach out to us, please use: hello@kellycorrigan.com

Does someone you love vote for someone you really do not love? This is a short piece about getting along from a book I found super valuable: I Never Thought Of It That Way by Monica Guzman. She and her parents found themselves in opposite camps and needed a set of practices to make sure their rupture did not ever become beyond repair. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Every so often, Kelly Corrigan Wonders will make space in our feed for someone else’s podcast. In this case, Kelly is sharing a conversation between two former guests — Dan Harris and Bryan Stevenson — because we can never think about the hard work of justice enough. Enjoy. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your email, sign up here.

Reflecting on the persistence and challenge of change as a way of life and a few deep dives into very specific changes with writer, activist and community leader Jen Hatmaker. If you enjoyed listening to my conversation this week with Jen Hatmaker and you haven’t already listened to the episode we did together in May of 2021, please check it out - it’s been one of the most listened to pods we’ve ever done and I think you’ll really enjoy it. It’s Episode #35 of Kelly Corrigan Wonders. You may also enjoy the series we did in 2021 called How Change Happens. It’s a special 10 part series l of frank conversations about suffering, compassion, willpower and tough love. (Replay of Ep 78 which originally aired on March 8, 2022) To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

Today’s Thanks For Being Here features an excerpt from the book Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal but You're Not Sure You Want To. Since 2018, Kelly Cervantes has candidly chronicled her evolution through grief, parenting her medically complex daughter, Adelaide, who passed away from epilepsy just days before her 4th birthday. Weeks later, the Cervantes family was uprooted when Kelly’s husband Miguel was cast as Hamilton on Broadway, moving them from their closest community and support system in Chicago to what would soon be the isolated and lonely epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Normal Broken was born out of those writings—her blog, Inchstones.

It can be really hard to interpret the signals our bodies send us. Does stress mean we should run? Does discomfort mean something is going wrong? Today’s mini pod unpacks one of the top social science findings from the Greater Good Science Center. (Previously aired) To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

The word is EVERYWHERE. Happiness. I don’t even always believe that it’s a worthy goal honestly, but that might be a matter of semantics. How you define happiness defines how you approach it. This is a careful conversation with Gretchen Rubin that’s based on what research and experience tell us makes a life that feels pretty satisfying most of the time. Gretchen wrote The Happiness Project 15 years back and has been playing with the tenets and practices ever since on her podcast Happier. Our takeaways were long on this one…if you’d like to receive the weekly list in your inbox subscribe to our Weekly Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

Alisha Goldblatt submitted her short, beautifully written poem, “Parenting 101”, which likens parenting to a class - one which is particularly tough but oh so worthwhile. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

What’s the point of slowing down, noticing, directing your attention to small wonders? Kelly celebrates the work of Dacher Keltner on AWE. (Replay of Ep 77 which originally aired on January 6, 2023) To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

Living in an optimization culture is making parenting much more complicated than it need be. Or so says Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of The Five Principles of Parenting and the host of Raising Good Humans, who spends a lot of time with the latest research and a lot of time with parents in clinic. Today’s conversation is about exactly what does and does not protect us from the worst health outcomes and is to be shared with anyone who is looking for a parenting north star.Our takeaways were juicy on this one… if you’d like to receive the weekly list in your inbox subscribe to our Weekly Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

In honor of our 100th Thanks for Being Here episode, I wrote a love letter to Tammy, whose name you hear at the end of every podcast. She is my trusted, beloved, essential thought partner on almost all matters, professional and personal. Here’s why… (Suggested share: to someone in your life that makes your whole world work better.) To receive the weekly Top Takeaways in your inbox subscribe to our Takeaways email at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

A lovely story about a neighborhood in Baltimore has been circulating this week. Like so many people, I was moved. For today’s very quick “Go To”, I wanted to underline one unusual choice that made all this beauty possible: the minute Kim Morton decided to say something real. (Replay of Ep 23 which originally aired on December 24, 2021.)

“He may die but he’s alive now and we are going to enjoy this moment together.” This is theology professor Lee C. Camp sharing the turning point of his life as a father of a child who was unwell and is now, thankfully, in recovery. A tender and unguarded conversation, laced with a few existential bombs, to inspire better, less angry days for all of us. Check out Lee’s podcast and live show both called, No Small Endeavor. To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

This essay has never before been shared outside of Julia Ogden’s family but fortunately for us, she has decided to share it with the Thanks For Being Here audience. It’s a look at her daughter’s OCD diagnosis and how managing a mental illness has challenged and changed their entire family - including in some unexpected and very positive ways. (Replay of Ep 79 which originally aired on 7/30/23.) To receive a short set of our weekly takeaways in your inbox, subscribe at www.kellycorrigan.com/takeaways.

It’s here: the time of year when we mix it up with family. Good to keep a little forgiveness handy. This episode was made to share. (Replay of Ep 70 which originally aired on November 18, 2022.)

Mary Louise Kelly (host of NPR’s All Things Considered) has been doing some reflecting. What choices did she make and how do they look now, as her nest is nearly empty? Is it okay to travel through war zones when a kid is home with the flu? What is gained and what is lost, for the individuals in question and for society? This is a conversation to take in slowly, to share with every mother you know, and to discuss. Thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival. This conversation was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike. Our takeaways were really good on this one…if you’d like to receive the weekly list, just shoot a note to hello@kellycorrigan.com or pop by the website and sign up there.

Natalie Silverstein honors the relationship she shared with her mother, who passed away in October of 2021 at the age of 90. Quite often, it is the simplest things that we remember the most when a loved one is gone. In this case, Natalie reflects on the almost daily, brief phone calls she and her mother shared and details a walk through a grocery store which stirs up memories of her mother in every aisle and around every corner.

Confessions and thoughts on all the ways our biases mess up how we think and how that locks us into boring, no-growth positions from the stage of The Nantucket Project, a great weekend-long think session with some of the nicest people I have ever met. (You should meet me there next year, Sept 26-29, 2024.)

Well, if you need something to help you believe in people’s ability to affect outcomes, if you need a reason for hope that America could be a less unequal place, if you want a good news story about hard work and its proper rewards, this is it. That’s really all I want to say. I loved this story, this guest and this conversation. Okay, so some more things I could tell you: Pete Stavros has a huge private equity job that puts him in close contact with companies and workers in all kinds of interesting places. He is also the son of a construction worker who was never paid according to his value. Put those two things together, along with a world class mind, and you have an idea that could totally change income inequality in America. Okay, that’s all I’m telling you. Enjoy. Special thanks to PBS and AmeriHealth Caritas.

Anyone who has lost a parent knows that in addition to deep sadness, quite often the loss can bring up many other complicated emotions. It can, however, also provide unexpected gifts. Anne Murphy submitted this moving essay detailing the time just prior to her father’s death. In his final moments of lucidity, as he reflected on his life, Anne’s dad gave her the gifts of his wisdom, an apology and peace.

With a special nod to every high school senior hearing back from colleges right about now, here are a few thoughts I share every chance I get about how to respond to news of all types. (Replay of Ep 86 which originally aired on March 10, 2023.)

This is an episode that will set your heart right. We know that the #1 driver of human happiness across time and culture is meaningful connection to others. So, how to get more of that? David Brooks has some ideas, pulled from his newest book How to Know a Person. Please share widely as the more people around us who are oriented toward connection, the better for all.Thanks to PBS and AmeriHealth Caritas for the support.

The thing about being the neighbor across the street is that you are always looking out at the home you face. That was a gift for one young family who watched and learned how to live life to the fullest from their beloved neighbors Joan and Doug Smith. This beautiful letter honors the Smiths who moved away after many years in their family home.

Ron Shaich, the son of a man who died with a few regrets, started two super successful restaurant chains: Panera and Cava. Today I share a story from his book, Know What Matters, which describes a clarifying moment between father and son that transformed Ron’s intentions.

Arianna Huffington loves her mom, reading, America, adventure and getting to the bottom of things. She has spent a lifetime asking Why and Why Not? Our conversation zeroes in what any one of us can do to thrive, such that we might have more capacity to contribute. We loved being together, comparing notes, figuring out what leads to what. Please share with everyone you know who needs a reminder that we have agency. This episode was made possible by AmeriHealth Caritas and can be viewed anytime you like at PBS.org/kelly.

As families gather in homes across the country for Thanksgiving, we thought it would be nice to share this heartfelt eulogy Katie Dahm wrote for her childhood home: 8107 Warren Avenue. (Replay of Ep 62 which originally aired on 4/9/23.)

Every Friday, we share something good and true about the world, something to get your head right as you finish another week and head into some downtime. Inspiration comes from all manner of places, this week a New York Times article about a guy who quietly made life a little easier for the people in his town. The New York Times article Kelly references was written by Emily Schmall and was published January 25, 2023.

I have had migraines so bad that I ended up in the ER, so my interest in this episode was personal. Turns out so much of the country is in chronic pain that it is a major national issue affecting economic considerations like productivity and health care costs and existential considerations like depression and hopelessness. Rachel Zoffness is a pain psychologist who is reframing our understanding of what pain is and therefore how better to treat it. Given the numbers of people who live in pain, I think this might be one of the most important conversations we have shared. This conversation was had on the set of my PBS show Tell Me More. Special thanks to the wonderful people at Amerihealth Caritas. Rachel Zoffness’ excellent book can be purchased here.

Kelly shares an excerpt from her friend Alix Strauss’ book, The Joy of Funerals: A Novel in Stories, which has just been reissued in celebration of its 20th anniversary. “The Joy of Funerals is a sneak peek at the inner world of those left behind. From the very first page, readers are drawn into the strange, often humorous world where nine women grapple with sex, power, love, and death. When read as a collection, they are anchored together by the novella, "The Joy of Funerals," which follows the life of Nina, a lonely, single thirty-something woman who attends the funerals of the deceased characters in the previous stories. Thinking her ‘funeraling’ habit is under control, Nina slips seamlessly in and out of these proceedings, and these people's lives, until, of course, she's found out.” ​

Here’s my case for celebrating the litany of accomplishments that a completed college application represents. A special episode to mark the day that millions of high school kids hit send on their reach school. Please share with parents, students, college counselors and heads of school. May we all work to reset the goal line. Replay of Episode 15 (originally aired on 11/1/21)

He’s good. He’s really good. In particular, Pete Buttigieg is good at making connections between pragmatic stuff like infrastructure and the most important parts of our lives — caring for people we love and making full use of ourselves. This is a conversation for anyone thinking about the next election and what it means to “make the trains run on time.” You can watch this conversation — and about 50 more you might really love — anytime you like at PBS.org/kelly. This episode was made possible by the lovely and hard working people at AmeriHealth Caritas.

A stunningly beautiful eulogy comprised of notes written over many years by Paul Paroff to his friend Chris Stokes’ mother Charlotte. Charlotte was like a second mother to Paul - until she became more like his own mother and a grandmother to his son. The simplicity of the notes that are included is a reminder to us all to keep in touch, to reach out more often, to share our love and gratitude with the very special people in our lives. (Replay of Ep 44 which originally aired on 12/11/22.)

It often takes the perspective of another to help us see things in a new way. This GOTO includes two heart-felt and thoughtful pieces of feedback we received at Kelly Corrigan Wonders - and Kelly’s response.

It’s not that common for someone to retain her optimism even as she studies all the ways that health outcomes vary by race. Linda Villarosa, a solutions-based journalist and medical school professor, is such a woman. In this conversation, she pulls from a childhood of doing everything right and still feeling like a fly in the buttermilk as well as her early days in journalism where she was constantly coaching her Essence readers to just behave better. Now, she’s seeing a broader picture that includes both lots of kale and walking AND systemic changes to the way we deliver care. Linda’s 5-star book, UNDER THE SKIN, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. This episode was made possible by PBS and AmeriHealth Caritas, which provides affordable health plans to millions.

Kelly shares a lovely letter written by George Saunders (author of books such as Lincoln in the Bardo and A Swim in a Pond in the Rain) for his, and Kelly’s, editor Andy Ward.

Thoughts on the once-ness of life. With thanks to a woman I talked to at a party in Portland a long time ago and never forgot. To be shared with everyone you know who is missing someone. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Everyone is thinking about war and service. Here’s a conversation with someone who has known many battlefields and paid dearly for his commitment to defend and protect. Retired Colonel Greg Gadson was a kid who dreamed of playing football and who ended up with Super Bowl rings after all. You can watch this episode at any time on PBS. Special thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas. Retired Colonel Gadson’s book is Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Toward Peace and Purpose. Feedback is always welcome: hello@kellycorrigan.com

Kelly’s friend Alec Guettel wrote this fabulous love letter to his wife Christy when they were forced to be apart by his work project in London. It details the trials and tribulations he might have faced had they been kept apart 300 years ago - and what he might have done.

I had this crazy thing happen one morning trying to get to LAX that I keep reflecting on. Meant to be shared with anyone you think of as one of those people, the ones who go with the grain of life as it happens. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

I loved being with Ginni Rometty. She is full of insight and clearly oriented toward world-positive work. I was also taken with her midwestern charm and candor. Emerging from a tricky childhood, she found herself running IBM in a time when very few women were commanding boardrooms (a statement that is maddeningly still applicable today). Now, she is entirely devoted to making good careers available to many more people, and her plan is working. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to build more purpose into life and perhaps one to forward along to the young professionals in your life as inspiration. Thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas and PBS for supporting this work. You can watch this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly. Ginni Rometty’s book: Good Power: Leading Positive Change in our Lives, Work, and World Feedback always welcome: hello@kellycorrigan.com

Rabbi Noa Kushner wrote this poignant essay after having welcomed a visiting group of Israeli students, thousands of miles from home, into her home in the United States. It was written on October 9, 2023, not long after Hamas violently attacked Israel.

A quick hit on recognizing our greatest single act of agency. Meant to be shared, especially with the younger generations. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

When my daughter was in high school, she read a Pulitzer prize winning book called Evicted and was blown away by how easy it is to become homeless in her country. Years later, I was at one of those thinking weekend festival things (Chautauqua) and listened to the Evicted author speak. Matthew Desmond gave the best talk I had ever heard in my life, and I have heard a lot. As soon as I had the chance, as his new book Poverty by America hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, I talked with him at my apartment in NYC about how America could be the place we all so want it to be. He is a rare mix of gentle and determined. Please listen, please share, for the good of all of us. Feedback always welcome. Write us anytime. hello@kellycorrigan.com

A great note from a woman who needed a lot of help from her husband after surgery. The long recuperation offered this long married couple a new way of relating that both found to be really quite lovely. Please share with anyone you have ever tucked in.

You and I both have short lists of people we just cannot bring ourselves to understand. But even in those most strained circumstances, we do have a set of things in common. Here’s my reminder to self of that always true fact. Meant to be shared, especially with people you’d love to reconnect with. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

I’ve known a few 17 year-olds in my day, I bet you have too. I hadn’t yet met someone so young and already so effective. Gitanjali Rao, Time’s “Kid of the Year”, has a patent already and several more innovative projects in the works. This is a conversation for anyone who is looking for hope about a future that can feel daunting. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Mary Claire Sorensen created this moving poem to honor her son Joe who was a Philadelphia sports fan, a volleyball player and coach, a fisherman, a hunter, a gardener, a landowner, a friend, and a brother. Joe believed in loyalty and showed his love in many different ways.

The story of how a TV show began…for anyone who is trying to do something hard. (Replay of Ep 37 which originally aired on 4/1/22) Please note: This episode references Tell Me More episodes which aired in the spring of 2022. A new season of Tell Me More began airing on PBS on 10/2/23 and you can watch any time at pbs.org/kelly. The first podcast episode featuring extended interviews from the latest PBS series drops on 10/10/23.

Kelly finds herself between two Annas -- Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, and Anna Sale, the host of WNYC's popular Death, Sex & Money podcast. Together, they read excerpts from their books and riff on how terribly easy it is to misunderstand each other in family life. From thinking you’re not "a divorce kinda person" to overestimating our influence as parents, love is rife with misunderstandings. Here’s a conversation that will help you find your way out of what tangle you might be in at the moment. If this episode was useful to you, you’ll probably really like Kelly's conversation with Wanda Holland Greene on Finding Agency. And please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!  We read and appreciate every review. You can follow the conversation with Kelly on Instagram @kellycorrigan. (Replay of Ep 24 - originally aired 3/2/21)

Karen McKinney shared her beautiful essay “An Unmodern Love” with us and we’re so grateful that she did. It’s a look at the kind of love she wishes for: historic, enduring and relentless. It’s also a loving remembrance of the 68 years-long marriage between her parents, Holocaust survivors Stanley and Dora. Karen is currently working on a memoir and has set up an Instagram page to share the photographs and artwork created by her father Stanley.

It can be really hard to interpret the signals our bodies send us. Does stress mean we should run? Does discomfort mean something is going wrong? Today’s mini pod unpacks one of the top social science findings of 2022. (Replay of Ep 80 - originally aired 1/27/23)

Starting in college and not stopping until long after law school, Rich Roll regularly, deliberately, got black out drunk. He is now a widely respected wellness advocate and athlete. He and Kelly talk about the long road of tiny adjustments that have led to his transformation into an ultra marathoner, bestselling author and podcaster whose conversations are valued by millions. Follow the conversation on Instagram @kellycorrigan. (Replay of Ep 10 which originally aired on 11/30/20)

Sherri Coale wrote a deeply-felt “you got this” letter to her son Colton in the days before his wedding. She was certain that if she tried to say all of the important things she wanted him to know, “nonsensical drivel wrapped in tears, would land in his lap”. So, she sat down and wrote him this loving, sage advice-filled letter. This is a great GOTO to share with any young couple you may know…and maybe even your partner.

A bit of insight on word choice and climate conversations, culled from a piece by John Marshall at Potential Energy Coalition.

Mary Louise Kelly (host of NPR’s All Things Considered) has been doing some reflecting. What choices did she make and how do they look now, as her nest is nearly empty? Is it okay to travel through war zones when a kid is home with the flu? What is gained and what is lost, for the individuals in question and for society? This is a conversation to take in slowly, to share with every mother you know, and to discuss. Thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival. This conversation was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Shana Moore’s eulogy is a love letter to her very special mom Marcia Livesay McLean, AKA “Marshy”. Getting to grow up with a mom who is there for you “with bells on, no matter what” is a privilege that Shana fully acknowledges. Her heartfelt eulogy paints Marshy as the ultimate voice of the underdog, a “joy maker” who loved beautiful things and a caring mom who made every thing she touched more vibrant.

Talk about a Go To thought…here is a clip from an on stage conversation with Rainn Wilson about living and dying by comparison. Thank you to the team at the Aspen Ideas Festival. This episode was recorded prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike

Rainn Wilson (who you might know as Dwight Schrute) is making a serious call for a spiritual revolution based on joy, acts of service and being honest about our mixed natures. This is a conversation to share with anyone who is thinking seriously about how to elevate matters of the soul over the clang and bang of the modern world. Or maybe just someone who needs a laugh. This conversation was recorded at Aspen Ideas Festival before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

When her daughter Zoe was departing for college, Shelley Russell wrote her this gorgeous, poetic (and funny) letter. It honors all that the two shared as mother and daughter living under the same roof and offers loving acceptance for all that is yet to come.

My friend Jennie just lost her friend Katie, which of course makes me think about my friend Liz, who died almost 8 years ago now. To make a bit of sense of things, I turned to a book of blessings by my friend Kate Bowler and her friend Jessica Richie. I offer a selection here as a salve for Jennie, for myself, for any of you who are looking for a place to rest in your grieving. Please share with the people you love.

Dan Harris is a smart, hungry skeptic looking for ideas you can count on in the worst of times, like say when you have a panic attack while you’re anchoring the news for ABC. He’s been thinking out loud with some very wise people for many years now through books and a podcast called 10% Happier that I find invaluable. Some topics we break open are uncertainty, humility and practices to keep us connected.Thanks to our many friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival for making this conversation possible.This was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Today’s episode features an anonymous essay submitted by a teacher who works in New York City. This is for all of us who care so deeply but may not have the broader context for what’s really happening day-to-day in the life of a teacher.

How do people come to change their minds? Hint: it’s not because of some novel argument or just the right amount of pressure. Thanks to conversations with Monica Guzman and Michael Lewis, I came to see something more clearly. This is one to share with anyone you wish you could talk to more openly and comfortably about contentious issues.

Krista Tippett, informed by decades of inquiry through her super-project, On Being, sits with Kelly to consider what’s in flux, what needs will never abate and what we might rediscover in new forms. In this moment when everything is broken open, when institutions are received with less reverence and more skepticism, where should we point our minds and hearts? What practices serve us best? This is a conversation to share with every thinking friend in your life and use as fodder for your own search for a spiritual home. Thanks to our many friends at the Aspen Ideas Festival for making this interview possible. This conversation was captured before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Jennifer Wallace, who was recently a guest on Kelly Corrigan Wonders, shared this lovely eulogy she wrote for her dear friend Katie Spikes. Jennifer and Katie met as 20-something journalists, just starting out their careers together, while working at CBS. They remained very close for 30 years and this eulogy is a loving tribute to the talented, humble, sunny, generous and grounded woman that Katie was. Jennifer says Katie was “a magnet that attracted so many different kinds of people” and “if you were her friend, you were a friend for life”.

Things we know about touch and why it is so important, from my own recent experiences and through this conversation with Gretchen Rubin.

In large and small ways, mattering is essential. Self esteem depends on our ability to contribute to the lives around us. You may know Jennifer B. Wallace from her stints on morning television or her journalism in the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She and Kelly discuss her first book: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It. Please note: In this episode, Kelly and Jennifer discuss the high cost of having a child see a private neuropsychologist for an evaluation. However, every parent/guardian is legally entitled to refer their child to Special Education.  Schools typically have a procedure in place.  For example: the parent(s) might need to meet with the principal and psychologist to discuss building level interventions. If the parent decides to go through with the referral, the school has 45 school days to complete an evaluation and determine eligibility - if the child has a disability that adversely impacts their learning the child is classified and an IEP is created.  Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) guarantees access to all.

Nancy Brown, a military spouse of 19 years, wrote this loving tribute for her two best deployment buddies. It honors the way the three friends formed one great big family while living through several deployments in Eastern North Carolina. Three women, no husbands and nine children all dressed in each other's hand-me-downs. On paper, they were more different than alike but maybe that's a more accurate description of a family after all.

Food for thought on America Ferrera’s speech at the climax of Barbie, informed by the great Jia Tolentino (a former guest who I found totally fascinating and original) and her book Trick Mirror. Let us never forget that we are a product of our culture. Please share, especially with the younger generation working to figure out who they are.

First up, a conversation with Katie Couric, who has been in the media business for 40 some years now in a variety of roles, who has a really honed perspective on where we are, how we got here, and where we might try to get to next. After Katie, a discussion with Neal Katyal, a Georgetown law professor who has argued in front of the Supreme Court. Between Neil and Katie, we hope we come to a set of understandings about this moment in American public life and what we might hope for and work towards next. (Replay of Ep 118 which originally aired on 12/13/22).

It’s often the little things in life that help us to get through the day: a cup of tea in the morning, gardening, puttering around the house and moving shoes, books and empty glasses back where they belong. We all have things which help us to stay grounded in the midst of a world that feels more crazy and frightening by the day. Stefanie Wass submitted her essay, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, to share a soothing ritual which she has found gives her great comfort.

Play this one on repeat. Share widely. Michelle Icard tells me that kids have rights (okay) and these are they. From Michelle’s book 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child A Success, available August 22, 2023.

Based on her invaluable playbook for anxious parents everywhere, Michelle Icard thinks with Kelly about mistakes and making sure that rebellions don’t become the headline of our kids’ childhoods, but rather a jumping off point. This is a conversation to save us all from the overreactions and regrets that stymie growth. Michelle’s book is 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child A Success, available August 22, 2023. Warning: this episode includes a brief discussion of suicide.

Lauren Pauls wrote this tribute to honor her beloved grandmother Gigi. It’s a meditation on her grandma’s hands - hands that worked in the garden, splashed in the neighborhood pool with her grandkids, sewed matching jumpers for the youngest family members and played piano with gusto. Lauren’s grandma’s hands were never idle - they were those of a female warrior.

Another installment of Kelly’s “Existential Game Show - This is Your Life, What Are You Doing With It?” , recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival, featuring advocate Alexandra Reeve Givens. Alexandra tells Kelly about the influence her late father, actor turned activist, Christopher Reeve had on her and also opens up about doing an accountability check each day, who she answers to and transforming envy in order to harness it for good. Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival, Tricia Johnson and Kara Stein.

When one of her therapy patients said to Dr. Samantha Boardman, “All we ever do is talk about stuff that's going wrong in my life - and we don't talk about much else", it inspired a change in the way she approached her practice and eventually inspired her to write Everyday Vitality: Turning Stress into Strength. Based on 15 years of experience as a psychiatrist, Samantha gives Kelly some practical, achievable strategies that are life-enhancing and resilience-building. No more rehashing the past and what went wrong in an effort to find a sense of well-being - the better strategy is to cultivate vitality and transform each new day into a more fulfilling one.

This essay has never before been shared outside of Julia Ogden’s family but fortunately for us, she has decided to share it with the Thanks For Being Here audience. It’s a look at her daughter’s OCD diagnosis and how managing a mental illness has challenged and changed their entire family - including in some unexpected and very positive ways.

Kelly continues her “Existential Game Show” recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival and puts Braver Angels’ Monica Guzman in the hot seat. Monica digs deep to answer Kelly’s questions and touches on how her infant son’s brain surgery transformed her and her family into the people they needed to be in that difficult moment, the motivating force of envy and being responsible ultimately to herself. Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival, Tricia Johnson and Kara Stein.

We all agree there is work to be done, smart solution-oriented moves to be made for the benefit of all. But who will do it? Who will walk away from richer paths and devote their life to growing businesses that operate for the greater good? Jacqueline Novogratz will. This is one of the quickest and most passionate people I’ve met in a long time. She has 20+ years of experience working with entrepreneurs across the world. This conversation is her take on the how and why of making big bold moves.

Every town needs someone like Peter Samson - the person who gives his or her all so that kids in the community can have a fun and safe outlet, a place to play sports, meet friends and learn some of life’s biggest lessons. Today’s episode features a eulogy written by Jack Brennan for his friend Peter Samson. Peter was as loyal and committed as they come and started a lacrosse league for boys 30 years ago in the community where Kelly grew up. He was beloved by those who knew him and his legacy lives on through countless kids and families who were the beneficiaries of his devotion and generosity of spirit.

Kelly moderated a live panel event at the Aspen Ideas Festival with fantastic guests including Miroslav Volf, Monica Guzman, James Ijames, Alexandra Reeve-Givens and Rainn Wilson. Using questions from the book Life Worth Living, Kelly created a game-show format and put each of her guests in the hot-seat - resulting in some very honest, thought-provoking and funny responses. Today’s episode features deep truths from the creator of Broadway’s brilliant smash hit Fat Ham, playwright James Ijames. Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival, Tricia Johnson and Kara Stein. This event was recorded in June 2023, prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Timothy Goodman has made a great life for himself doing large format art projects like, say, making a basketball court for Kevin Durant, or small format masterpieces like a shoe for Nike, or the most personal work, a graphic memoir called I Always Think It’s Forever. He smiles when he talks and is unusually candid and I loved being with him so much I followed him home to meet his girlfriend and see his studio and basically try to cement our new friendship. This is for the people who have creative hearts and the people who love those creatives.

Moira O’Connor submitted this 2-part eulogy written and originally read by her nephews Jonathan and Jamie to honor her dad/their grandfather, George Hebbel. George was the father of 5, grandfather of 13, and great grandfather of 14. He was a man who was larger than life: a fighter pilot, a water skier who skied with a pipe casually clenched in his teeth, an ocean kayaker able to hoist his kayak on top of his Jeep well into his 80’s. However it was the smaller, quieter moments in George’s life that truly made him a legend: the many times he reached out to help someone in need, the situations in which he simply showed up, his ability to let others love him. He was a man who was always there for his family and friends, right up to the very end. (Replay of Ep 19 which originally aired on 6/10/22.)

Thanks to a brilliant TED talk by Baratunde Thurston, I’m thinking about how people tell the story of what’s happened. I also reached out to my neuroscientist friend Lisa Feldman Barrett to ask her about how the brain processes language. It all sounds very heady and it is, a little, but it’s also something worth thinking about since we live in language. (Replay of Ep 52 which originally aired on July 15, 2022)

With the demand for excellent mental health care at its all-time peak, it’s a good thing people like Tracy Defina dared to go back to school — for many years — to get a PhD in counseling. This is the story of how she pulled off this enormous achievement in the middle of life already teeming with to-dos. My conversation with Tracy is the first of a 4-part series called How’d You Do That? With women who made radical changes to their lives well after most of their peers had settled into a given way of life. (Replay)

High school junior Clare Murphy wrote this touching, personal and evocative essay for a school assignment. It conveys incredible warmth and deep affection for a very special lake house and also the large, loving family that inhabits it each summer. (Replay of Ep 25 which originally aired on 7/31/22).

With our hearts in Ukraine, here’s a story to love about a group of caring people in San Francisco in a time of uncertainty who showed the world how to lean in. (Replay of Ep 38 which originally aired on 4/8/22).

Let’s say this: the number one driver of happiness across time and culture is meaningful connection to others. So how do you get it and how do you keep it? Dr. Helen Fisher has been studying love for 5 decades. 5. That’s a lot of information. Share this conversation with the people you love. Tons of takeaways that you can integrate immediately. (Replay of Ep 124 which originally aired in January 2023) Take Helen’s personality quiz and figure out who you are…and who you aren’t. Funding for this episode was provided by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center as part of its "Expanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation

A touching eulogy for Walter Barry, written by his son Stewart (“Bear Bear"). This is a beautiful tale of family bonds, of three sons who loved to play sports (even inside the family home to a refrain of “Boys take it outside!”) and of a father who led with his heart and intuition. Walter Barry stuck to his guns even when his values and standards weren’t popular, brought joy with his humor, modeled hard work and humility and kept loving his sons, despite their “defects”.

Sometimes, the only way to figure out what truly makes a life worthwhile is to get out there and “do it”. Yale student Cooper Newsom wrote an essay,“The Great Human Road Race; Or, the Lost Virtue of Corniness” as his final paper in Yale’s Life Worth Living class and it’s a comedic look at how corny but ultimately fun, running a road race can be. Dancing to blaring music first thing in the morning, running in 45 degree weather with people from all walks of life, a celebratory beer at 8:45am - it’s the small things in life that help to create a big, beautiful life worth living.

In this final episode of our Life Worth Living series, Kelly reflects on some of her favorite book club moments with Claire Danes and Kate Bowler and offers takeaways and a list of practices to help us stay on track. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Visit lifeworthliving.com/kelly to access a study guide to help you work through the book. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Today’s Thanks For Being Here was submitted by Heather Hoskeer. It’s a poignant, beautifully-written essay called, “My Mom and Three Writers I Love” and it honors Heather’s mother, who she lost to Alzheimer’s disease.

Today’s For the Good of the Order is a speech that Kelly gave at Camp Kesem, a very special place that welcomes loss, friendship, sorrow and new beginnings equally. A place that shows us that we can be damaged and heavy-hearted, but still buoyant and insightful and very useful to one another.

Sadly, this is the last conversation with Claire Danes and Kate Bowler about what makes life worth all the trouble, worry and suffering. In this freewheeling ride, we dig into just how inevitable personal ethical failure is and therefore, what does repair require. Like, how good are you at apologizing? Have you really accepted the people you love — as they are — or are you still trying to change them? How do you keep yourself and your choices aligned with your values? Enjoy the honesty. Share widely. We all need to stay in touch with these fundamental questions about how we live. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Visit lifeworthliving.com/kelly to access a study guide to help you work through the book. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Amy Zuckerman shares a remembrance of her late father Harry “Wes” Westlund. Wes was a special man whose dream of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot was taken away just days before he was to receive his wings, due to a heart murmur. Amy says that although her dad lived his entire life under the threat of a heart defect, he had no issues at all with his capital “H” heart. He was a loving, caring and kind man who made all around him feel comfortable and welcome. Happy Father’s Day to the Westlund family as you honor and remember Wes and to all of our Thanks For Being Here listeners.

In this tender essay, Kelly traces her understanding of death from the day her goldfish died to the moment her father died. For everyone who will be missing someone on Father’s Day, this is for you. Please share.

Claire Danes, Kate Bowler and I try to figure out how the hell to live lives of real meaning and discovery, how to depersonalize the slings and arrows of any season, how to remember our agency and mobility. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Visit lifeworthliving.com/kelly to access a study guide to help you work through the book. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Writer Courtney Martin wrote this loving, humorous tribute to her mother for her 75th birthday. Along with detailing some of her mom’s quirks that used to drive her crazy (but which at age 43 she now appreciates), Courtney also lovingly describes her many incredible qualities.

I find the Axios Finish Line newsletter hugely useful. I read it every day without fail. With 2023 graduates in mind, and all the conversations we had on college campuses across the country this spring, let me share and riff on this Finish Line piece that talked about the core skills this class of kids will need going forward. Axios: Sign up for newsletter here Book I mentioned: The Alignment Problem

How do the values we inherited clash or complement the cultures we come of age in? How can we stay the right size in the world and in our own minds? What do you worship and nurture - art, the church, politics, food? Claire Danes and Kate Bowler join Kelly to talk about all the things that came up as they read Life Worth Living, our first Kelly Corrigan Wonders bookclub pick. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Visit lifeworthliving.com/kelly to access a study guide to help you work through the book. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

This is the story of an oncologist named Amy who diagnosed herself with leukemia in her own lab and a stem cell donor named Brandon who stepped up to save her life. The chances of finding a perfect donor match are extremely small. The chances that the perfect donor would end up living only an hour away are astronomically small - and yet, these two very special people beat the odds in many ways. Anyone can sign up to save a life. To join the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, donors simply swab the inside of their cheeks and complete a registration questionnaire. Request your swab kit today at http://giftoflife.org/Swab

In a recent high school graduation speech, Kelly shared her take on the things only we know about ourselves and how keeping our internal dialog honest sets the table for a good and happy life. Please share with all the 2023 graduates in your life.

Welcome to the Kelly Corrigan Wonders “Life Worth Living” Book Club. This is the opening episode, where Kelly and the authors dig into the key questions driving this series: what’s worth doing, who are we responsible to, how should life feel, how should we deal with failures, and what can keep our values and our behavior aligned? Share this with the readers and thinkers in your life. The more people having this conversation, the better for all of us. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Visit lifeworthliving.com/kelly to access a study guide to help you work through the book. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund.

Keith Romano wrote and delivered this eulogy for his father Patrick Romano, a lover of sports who believed that teamwork was always more important than talent. Keith honors his father’s uncompromising values and beliefs, his sense of humor and the example he set for his family…illustrated by the “no look pass” something Patrick always felt was the perfect intersection of teamwork, skill and grace.

Very specific ideas for participating in great conversation wherever you go. This one is meant to help us all live as learners and connectors, not teachers, performers, takers. Because charity counts for more than cleverness. Everything you need to know to join the book club is here.

How do understanding and approval factor into kindness? Are we only nice to the people we "get"? How can we change the way we think about who is deserving of love, respect and kindness? (hint: it's everyone). Carvell Wallace has thoughts on all of this and more. He's a writer, a thinker and a creative who has written powerful profiles of artists, actors, activists and is also the curious mind behind the podcast Finding Fred, about Mr. Rogers. If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to check out Episode #4: Trust your Gut? with Annie Jean Baptiste. Please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts! We read and appreciate every review. You can follow the conversation with Kelly on Instagram @kellycorrigan.

Alex Mallonee wrote this meaningful essay: “Things I Learned From My Mother Through the Art We Made Together”. It’s a look at Alex’s beautiful relationship with his incredible mom Joyce, her 25-year cancer journey and the art project they created together called “Deconstruction”. Joyce’s creativity, desire to collaborate, love and sense of humor fueled the project but more importantly, showed Alex how to live well. You can experience the “Deconstruction” Virtual Art Show here: https://deconstructionart.live/ If you would like to support the project, you can do so here: https://deconstructionartshow.wedid.it/

Could a single comment from a teacher or a classmate in our youth redefine how we see ourselves and the world forever? Master storyteller Michael Lewis, in a funny excerpt from his conversation with Kelly for PBS’ Tell Me More, makes the case that indeed it could. (Bonus content not included in the previously aired Michael Lewis podcast interview.) Thank you to PBS. This interview can be viewed in its entirety anytime at: pbs.org/kelly

People say “Stay in your lane” but I don’t buy it. I like people who care about a lot of things, not just winning another NBA championship (I see you Steve Kerr, eyeing #9) or making another world class docu-series (I see you W Kamau Bell, with your devastating Cosby series). I like people who dare to say unpopular things into microphones because they have a platform and they feel compelled to use it. This is an episode with two of my favorite people — Warriors coach Steve Kerr and comedian, producer and director W. Kamau Bell — talking about what they do beyond what they do, if you get my drift. (Replay of Ep 74, which originally aired on 2/8/22)

At this time of year, we are knee-deep in sports: college lacrosse, the NBA play-offs and all the golf majors. Where there are sports, there are adjectives describing the athletes and where there are sports championships, those adjectives are garish and piled-high. Kelly wonders if maybe it’s time to use those dazzling descriptors to honor not the elite athletes out there but the army of regular, everyday, hard-working moms.

With thanks to listeners who shared stories about their mothers for this special episode, everyone here at Kelly Corrigan Wonders wishes you a Happy Mother’s Day. Produced by Charlie Upchurch.

You might know bits and pieces of Jewel’s story. Homeless girl hitchhiking into the lower 48 from Alaska. Making music. Being robbed by her mother. What you might not know is how deeply and wisely she thinks about anxiety. This is one to share with every person you love who is sometimes gripped by panic. Please note that this episode references alcoholism, abuse and suicide. Special thanks to the Lafayette Library and Learning Center in Lafayette, CA.