Kelly Corrigan Wonders

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 Flyntand 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 Lenoirand 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 Gottmanare 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 Martinwrote 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 Dumitriufrom 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.usto fight corruption and fix America. In the decade they’ve been up and running, their work has focused on matching pubic support for a given law and the passage of said law. Here’s Jennifer Lawrenceexplaining 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

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 atHeartland Forward and to Matthewfor his work on the Greenlights Grant Initiative.

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 Gottmanare 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. Campsharing 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 andlive 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 PBSand 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.

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.)