We Can Do Hard Things

431. How to Let Go of “Not Enough” with Melissa Arnot Reid

Melissa Arnot Reid—the first American woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen—opens up about her journey from a difficult childhood to discovering true self-worth, revealing how even the highest peaks can’t quiet the voice of unworthiness within.

-Why Everest became Melissa’s classroom, not her accomplishment-How imagining her own funeral saved Melissa’s life

-How Melissa’s shift from “I’ve done enough” to “I am enough” changed everything.

-Why Glennon completely relates to Melissa’s story of scaling Everest

Melissa Arnot Reid is the first American woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen. It was her sixth summit of the highest ground on earth, cementing her place in mountaineering history. In doing so, she became a media star, in demand from many publications, television shows, and organizations looking for inspirational speakers. She continues to work as a mountain guide as well as running The Juniper Fund, the non-profit she co-founded.

Her new book, ENOUGH: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest, is available now.

430. The Trick to Finally Becoming an Adult

Glennon, Abby, and Amanda revisit the six family roles, uncover which ones they've each lived out, and share how they're working to heal and grow beyond them. 

-How shifting some of their family roles is shifting Glennon and Amanda’s personal dynamic;

-The schism rejecting a family role can create; 

-Why apologies you get from your family of origin might not be resonating; and 

-How Glennon stopped thinking she was born ‘broken’ and how you can, too.

1. The question Carson’s sister asked that made him radically reimagine his life.  

2. Why Carson is having the best sex of his life.

3. How Carson received sign-off from his Mormon Bishop for his first queer date.  

4. The accident that left Carson paralyzed from the chest down at 23.

5. How ableism hurts us all.  

About Carson: 

Carson Tueller is a coach, speaker and activist whose work provides people with the tools they need to live authentic, fulfilling, and powerful lives. He identifies as queer and disabled. Carson grew up as a Mormon in a military family moving around a lot before settling in Utah. His own journey into powerful living began in 2013 when, in the same year, he came out, and was then injured in an accident that paralyzed him from the chest down. Since then, Carson has brought his work to international nonprofits and presidential campaigns – and when he isn’t coaching or speaking, Carson can be found at the gym, reading non-fiction, or playing Pokemon with his niece and nephews.

TW: ⁠@carson_tueller⁠

IG: ⁠@carson_tueller⁠

#disabilitypride #disabilitypridemonth

We're excited to bring you a beautiful story from The Moth, as told by storyteller and activist, Tiq Milan. In this story, Tiq explores themes of love and transition, all while keeping a very important secret from his mom.

You can hear the extended version of this story and more heartwarming, funny, true stories on Tuesdays and Fridays on The Moth podcast. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country.

429. On Not Being Chosen, Re-Parenting Yourself & Getting Started | Live on Tour! 

In this special episode, we share moments from an unforgettable night in Portland on our first-ever live tour. We gathered with thousands of you to celebrate our Indie and New York Times Bestselling book, We Can Do Hard Things. We talk about the ache of not being chosen, the grief of lost teams and families, the power of self-parenting, the fear of starting something you may not finish, and the courage to lead hard conversations in your own circles.This tour has been about connection, community, and staying human—and we’re so grateful you’re part of it.

428. Family Roles: Which Part Did YOU Play? 

Amanda, Abby, and Glennon take a close look at the roles we’re assigned—or take on—within our families of origin. They unpack how these childhood roles stick with us, shape who we become, and continue to influence our relationships and choices long into adulthood.

-The six different types of family roles and how to identify yours; 

-The gifts and pitfalls of each role; and 

-The signs of an unhealthy family system.

Amanda shares the one proven way to get the truth from someone – plus:

• Why Glennon calls her lying style “The Puppeteer” – and why you’ll never know what Amanda’s really feeling. 
• Amanda defends our right to lie, and debunks myths about how we can tell if someone is lying. 
• What’s the difference between lying and controlling, manipulating, and filtering the truth?
• Glennon’s fear of judgment from the next generation, and 
• How to foster real connection in a world where lying is normal.   

For the first part of our conversation, check out ⁠242. We’re All Liars: What’s Your Lying Style?⁠.

427. Is Work Stress Sabotaging Your Relationships? | Dr. Alexandra Solomon

Renowned relationship expert, Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, returns to help us navigate one of the most common—and least talked about—sources of relationship tension: our careers. From ambition clashes and invisible labor to money resentment and the stress we carry home, Dr. Solomon helps us understand how our work lives can deeply affect our love lives.

-The most common work-related conflicts couples face—and how to navigate them-What happens when ambition in one partner sparks resentment in the other-How invisible labor and internalized gender roles impact equality and pride in the home-How to preserve intimacy when you're constantly together (or apart)-Why work stress doesn’t stay at work—and how to keep it from wrecking your relationship

Resources from Dr. Solomon for the Pod Squad related to our conversations:

dralexandrasolomon.com/hardthings.

Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is internationally recognized as one of today’s most trusted voices in the world of relationships, and her framework of Relational Self-Awareness has reached millions of people around the globe. A licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, couples therapist, speaker, author, and professor, Dr. Alexandra is passionate about translating cutting-edge research and clinical wisdom into practical tools people can use to bring awareness, curiosity, and authenticity to their relationships. She is the host of the Reimagining Love Podcast and author of Love Every Day, Taking Sexy Back: How to Own Your Sexuality and Create the Relationships You Want and Loving Bravely: 20 Lessons of Self-Discovery to Help You Get the Love You Want.

426. Why Protest Works—The 3.5% Rule with Erica Chenoweth

Harvard professor and leading expert on political resistance, Erica Chenoweth, joins us to answer a critical question: Is the United States still a democracy, or have we already slipped into authoritarianism? Professor Chenoweth lays out where we stand—and shares a powerful, evidence-based strategy for reclaiming our collective power while we still can.

-The warning signs of democratic decline—and how they’re unfolding in America right now

-How just 3.5% of the population can spark unstoppable, long-term change

-Why nonviolent resistance works—and why it’s our most underused superpower

-What it really means to defect—and how to reclaim power from authoritarian forces

Erica Chenoweth is professor at Harvard University who studies political violence and its alternatives. Erica directs the Nonviolent Action Lab, an innovation hub that provides empirical evidence in support of movement-led political transformation. Erica has authored nine books including, with Maria Stephen, Why Civil Resistance Works and Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know. Erica maintains the NAVCO Data Project, one of the world’s leading datasets on historical and contemporary mass mobilizations around the globe.

REAL Self-Care: Burnout Is Not Your Fault & the Way Out with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin shows us how to tell the difference between the Faux Self-Care we’ve been sold versus the Real Self-Care we desperately need.

Discover: 

• How to incorporate boundaries through the power of the pause and how to navigate the post-boundary ick with ease;
• A simple tool to know whether you are being driven by your goals or driven by your values (and how to find and start living by your values today); and
• Whether you might be in ‘martyr mode,’ and the key to getting out of it. 

About Pooja: ⁠Dr. Pooja Lakshmin⁠ is a board-certified psychiatrist, author, keynote speaker, and a contributor to The New York Times. Her debut book, ⁠REAL SELF-CARE: Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble-Baths Not Included⁠, is an NPR Best Book of 2023 and a national best-seller. Pooja serves as a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine, and maintains an active private practice where she treats women struggling with burnout, perfectionism, and disillusionment, as well as clinical conditions like depression, anxiety and ADHD. She frequently speaks, advises and consults for organizations on mental health and well-being. Pooja writes the weekly Substack newsletter, ⁠Real Self-Care⁠. 

IG: ⁠@poojalakshmin

425. How to Stay Soft AND Strong: Our Virtual Event

Live from the We Can Do Hard Things book tour, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda share an unfiltered, heart-opening conversation about what it means to be fully alive in a world that feels both terrifying and beautiful. They dive into the messy truths of this moment—and answer powerful questions from the PodSquad.

-The complicated, tender reality of step-parenting, forgiveness, and staying soft in a hard world-Why choosing to show up for others—again and again—might be our only path to true peace

Listen to this 8-minute rally cry before Independence Day. 250 years into the American experiment, it's time to remember: July 4th isn’t about loyalty—it’s about resistance. About dissent, demand, and dignity. About overthrowing tyranny and reclaiming the promise of liberty for all.

424. We’re Taking Patriotism Back with Heather Cox Richardson

Historian, writer, and truth-teller Heather Cox Richardson joins us to expose how patriotism has been hijacked by those undermining democracy, equality, and truth—and to show us how to reclaim it as a force for justice, unity, and hope.

-Debunking the myth of rugged individualism—and revealing why community has always been our greatest strength-How the far Right hijacked patriotism, demonized equality, and rebranded justice as socialism-The $50 trillion heist: How the top 1% looted the wealth of 90% of Americans—and got away with it

Find Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack at https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/.

Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College and an expert on American political and economic history. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning How the South Won the Civil War and her latest, the New York Times bestseller Democracy Awakening. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets. Her widely read newsletter, Letters from an American, synthesizes history and modern political issues.

Three soccer legends and Glennon go on an epic double date! Our beloved Pod Squader, Christen Press, is back with Tobin Heath to share their revolutionary reimagining of what life and love look like when you protect the sacred – and the resistance in doing things quietly and privately, especially within the queer community.

• How to be free and independent inside a relationship – and Tobin’s seven-year contract idea; 

• Christen and Tobin describe each other as soccer players and as people outside of sport – and how they handle conflict; and

• Why they say, “Don’t look at us, look at our work” – and their current mission to build a sports media house for women. 

For our episode with Christen, check out ⁠132. Christen Press: How to Get Your Bliss Back⁠

About Christen: 

Christen Press is a two-time World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an equal pay pioneer. She is one of the all-time top 10 goalscorers on the U.S. Women’s National Team and currently plays for Angel City FC. Christen led the USWNT's historic achievement of Equal Pay and served as the leader of the USWNT Players Association for 2 years. Christen is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of RE—INC, a values-led brand that exists to reimagine the way women are seen and experienced in sports. She sits on the Board of Grassroots Soccer, a non-profit organization that uses the power of soccer to provide mentors, information, and health services to at-risk youth in Africa.

TW: ⁠@ChristenPress⁠

IG: ⁠@christenpress⁠

About Tobin: 

Tobin Heath is a two-time World Cup Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, known as one of the most skillful and entertaining players in the game. Throughout her club career, Heath has played for PSG, the Portland Thorns, Manchester United, and Arsenal. Tobin has taken her vision, leadership, and creativity off the pitch and into her roles as Co-Founder and Co-CEO of RE—INC, and host of the critically-acclaimed show: The RE—CAP Show World Cup Edition.

TW: ⁠@TobinHeath⁠

IG: ⁠@tobinheath

Dr. Becky Kennedy is back to discuss something rarely talked about: “mom rage” – and the crucial connection between anger and our unmet needs. 

• What leads to these explosive moments – and why it's more common than we might think; 

• How understanding the story behind the rage moment can help us figure out what led to it and what we need. 

• The impact of society's shaming of anger in women; and

• Tips for managing our anger, recognizing our needs, and taking care of ourselves.

About Dr. Becky: 

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mom of three – who’s rethinking the way we raise our children – and named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine. Dr. Becky is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and founder of the Good Inside Membership platform, a hub with Dr. Becky’s complete parenting content collection all in one place. Dr. Becky hosts Good Inside with Dr Becky, a chart-topping podcast with over 20M downloads. In 2023, Dr. Becky delivered a TED Talk in which she shares “the single most important parenting strategy”.

TW: ⁠@goodinside⁠

IG: ⁠@drbeckyatgoodinside

423. Mean Girls & Mothers-in-Law: HOW TO DEAL 

Amanda, Glennon, and Abby talk parenting through kid conflict, why girls are taught to avoid confrontation, and how to raise kids who trust themselves. They dig into the real longing beneath criticism—especially with mothers-in-law—and why getting vulnerable is braver than getting loud. Plus, Abby shares how her acceptance of failure made her a clutch performer—and what that means for the rest of us.

422. Dawn Staley on Knowing (and Demanding) Your Worth 

Legendary coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley joins us to talk about what it means to lead—with heart, grit, and unapologetic honesty. She shares:

-The one lesson from her mother that shaped her entire coaching philosophy

-How she stood up to her university and negotiated equal pay

-What losing (and winning) has taught her about grace and dominance

-The surprising toll of achieving your lifelong dreams

-And how her North Philly roots continue to guide everything she does

We also dive into her new book, Uncommon Favor, and why socks, smashed dishes, and LA Fitness-level gym disparities all make an appearance in her story. This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had about integrity, visibility, and becoming the coach of your own life.

About Dawn:

Dawn Staley is the NCAA National Championship–winning head coach of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball team, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Her new memoir Uncommon Favor is available now.

How to end a relationship lovingly, how to love an addict, and how to keep surprising yourself in midlife (buy the tap dancing shoes). Plus, why Cheryl decided to cut down her drinking. 

For our past episodes with Cheryl, listen to ⁠Episode 118 Cheryl Strayed: Don’t Let Your Dreams Ruin Your Life⁠ and ⁠Episode 119 It’s Okay to Want What You Want: Cheryl Strayed as Dear Sugar⁠.

For the Amanda episode Cheryl mentioned, listen to ⁠Episode 177 How to Face Your Biggest Fears with Amanda Doyle⁠.

About Cheryl:

Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide and was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Her bestselling collection of Dear Sugar columns, Tiny Beautiful Things, was adapted for a Hulu television show that will be released in April. In 2016, the book was adapted as a play that continues to be staged in theaters around the world. Strayed is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Torch, and the bestselling collection Brave Enough. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

TW: ⁠@CherylStrayed⁠

IG: ⁠@cherylstrayed

1. What happens inside us when we receive criticism–and how our brains ensure we’re always in the right (even when we’re not).

2. The three-ingredient recipe for a positive, productive “care-frontation” exchange.

3. The single biggest relationship killer (it’s not conflict) – and how conflict can bring you closer.

4. Amanda navigates a “care-frontation” with her son’s friend’s family – and Abby reevaluates her past relationship with criticism.

421. How to Stop the War, the Bill & the Trump Regime with Sen. Elizabeth Warren

If you, like us, have been active in fighting our descent into facism, but are wondering what the Democratic party’s plan is to stop the Trump regime, join us as we ask Senator Elizabeth Warren today what the Democratic party is doing – and what we can do.  

Listen to this episode for Senator Warren’s answers to your questions on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” War with Iran, Gaza, and midterms — and clear calls to action: how to find your representatives, and scripts for the three things to tell them to do.  

For contact info for your Congress members, go to: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

About Senator Warren: 

Elizabeth Warren, the senior Senator from Massachusetts and top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is a fearless consumer advocate and one of the nation’s leading progressive voices. Before becoming the first woman ever elected to the Senate from Massachusetts in 2012, Elizabeth led the fight to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency established in the aftermath of the financial crisis to protect consumers from predatory financial practices. Elizabeth lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband Bruce and their golden retriever, Bailey.

420. What Glennon Saw at LA Protests & Immigration Court with Lillian Aponte Miranda

We’re in the midst of hard things: ICE raids are escalating, fascism is rising—and unaccompanied immigrant children, some as young as two, are being forced to face U.S. immigration court alone. In this urgent episode, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda speak with Lillian Aponte Miranda of The Florence Project to explain what’s happening and how we can show up to help.

-Why unaccompanied children are being left to navigate the legal system alone -A firsthand look at what unaccompanied immigrant children are facing in courtrooms across the country. -How to use your body, voice, and resources to protect the most vulnerable

To support, go to treatmedia.com and make a donation through the Protect the Children tab. Also, all purchases of We Can Do Hard Things merchandise via the Shop tab will be donated to this cause. 

About Lillian: Lillian Aponte Miranda is the Executive Director of the Florence Project, where she has served since 2014 in roles including Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Mentor, Children’s Program Manager, and Co-Executive Director. She became the sole Executive Director in 2023. Before joining the Florence Project, Lillian was an Associate Professor of Law at Florida International University, where for over a decade she taught courses on International Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, and Civil Procedure, among others. 

The Florence Project provides free legal services, social services, and advocacy to immigrants facing detention and potential deportation. Find out more here: https://firrp.org/

Michelle Zauner on how to begin healing our mother wounds, using her sensitivity to deepen her relationships and be a rockstar, why she’s obsessed with sheetcake and winnebagos, and why she is still “afraid of her mental health.” 

About Michelle: 

MICHELLE ZAUNER is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. She has won acclaim from major music outlets around the world for releases like Psychopomp and Soft Sounds from Another Planet. Her most recent album, Jubilee, earned two GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Her first book, Crying in H Mart, is a New York Times Best Seller. She’s currently adapting the memoir for the screen for MGM’s Orion Pictures.

TW: ⁠@jbrekkie⁠

IG: ⁠@jbrekkie

1. Why sharing your messy middle with someone is a gift and connection builder, not a burden.

2. The reasons why we don’t ask for the help we desperately need.

3. “Vague favs” and why are they a hard No for Amanda.

4. Abby, Glennon, and Amanda each share something they need help with right now.

5. The science behind Help as one of the most effective relationship-enhancing tools, and the best ways to finally ask for it.  

419. How to Stay Human with Suleika Jaouad

Artist and New York Times bestselling author, Suleika Jaouad, returns to discuss the importance of creative processes for staying human. 

-The surprising ways attachment theory shapes our creative expression and self-worth.

-Challenges artists face when promoting their work—and how Glennon and Suleika resist the public pressures.

-A simple yet powerful journaling practice to unlock self-connection and creative clarity.

Suleika Jaouad is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Between Two Kingdoms. She wrote the Emmy Award-winning New York Times column and video series “Life, Interrupted,” and she is also the subject, along with husband Jon Batiste, of the Oscar-nominated documentary American Symphony.  A visual artist, her large-scale watercolors are the focus of several upcoming exhibitions. She is also the creator of the Isolation Journals, a weekly newsletter and global community and her latest book, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life, is available now.

418. Why You Can’t Pay Attention—And How to Get It Back with Dr. Amishi Jha

Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, Dr. Amishi Jha joins us to discuss how we can cultivate and develop our attention in a way that allows us to maximize the meaning, fulfillment, and joy in our lives. 

-The three types of attentional systems –and how we use them in our daily lives;

-Why attention is a limited resource – and how to make the most of it;

-Why multitasking is a myth; and

-A mindfulness practice to fuel your attentional capacity in just 12-minutes.

Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD is Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance in education, corporate, elite sports, first-responder, and military contexts. In her national bestseller, Peak Mind she shares her discoveries on how attention can be trained for optimal performance and well-being. 

For the Peak Mind book, go to: https://amishi.com/books/peak-mind

For the Peak Mind Interactive app, go to: https://peakmind.media/

We all want tools to navigate (and minimize!) family drama. 

Today, Nedra Glover Tawwab teaches us how we can create drama free families: 

• How to speak up for yourself when it feels like going against the group; 
• Why confrontation is often the kindest thing; 
• When, exactly, we should bring up conflict & when to let it go;
• The most loving way a parent can respond to a child in pain. 

For more with Nedra Glover Tawwab, check out: ⁠Episode 124 How to Say No: Boundaries with Nedra Glover Tawwab⁠.

About Nedra: 

Nedra Glover Tawwab is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Drama Free and Set Boundaries, Find Peace. A licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for more than fifteen years. Tawwab has appeared as an expert on Red Table Talk, The Breakfast Club, Good Morning America, and CBS Morning Show to name a few. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice. Tawwab runs a popular Instagram account where she shares practices, tools, and reflections for mental health and relationships. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family.

TW: ⁠@NedraTawwab⁠

IG: ⁠@nedratawwab

1. Why it’s important to prioritize our own needs, wants, and feelings–and how that creates freedom and peace for those we love.

2. What Glennon says was the hardest thing about telling her kids that Craig and she were getting a divorce–and how truth telling frees us all.

3. Martha’s helpful strategy for how to choose freedom over fear when we’re faced with a tough decision.

About Martha:

Dr. Martha Beck is a New York Times bestselling author, life coach, and speaker. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality. Her newest book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller.

Book: ⁠The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self⁠

Instagram: ⁠@themarthabeck⁠

Twitter: ⁠@marthabeck

424. Living with Bipolar Disorder: Cameron Esposito

Stand-up comedian, actor, writer and friend, Cameron Esposito joins us for a conversation about being diagnosed and living with bipolar disorder.

-Cameron takes us inside a manic episode and shares what it really felt like-The beauty and heartbreak of loving someone with a mental illness-What it means to be a witness to your own pain and your life-How comedy changes on and off medication for Cameron 

Cameron Esposito is a standup comic, actor & writer. A nationally and internationally touring headliner, Cameron has released three specials, including the culture-shifting Rape Jokes, and three albums, the award-winning Same Sex Symbol amongst them. As an actor, Cameron has been seen on Netflix, Max, Prime Video, Hulu & many more, as well as in big budget movies & Sundance indies.  Cameron is the author of the bestselling book, Save Yourself, about growing up very religious and very gay and hosted the long-running podcast, Queery.Cameron will be on tour with their next hour of standup in select cities this year before it debuts at Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theater in the fall. Cameron Esposito released their newest standup special, Four Pills—about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 40 – on comedy streaming service Dropout to broad acclaim; it was featured in Variety, the LA Times and People.

416. How Their Friendship Became a Revolution | Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig of The L Word

Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig, stars of The L Word, discuss their new book, “So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All,” an intimate, hilarious memoir of art, friendship and queerness. 

• How Kate and Leisha met; their first impressions of each other and going in for the same role

• The impact and legacy of The L Word and Glennon’s recent introduction to the show

• Rainbow capitalism, the pressure to publicly “come out,” and the joys of found family

LEISHA HAILEY is an actor, director, executive producer, musician, and podcaster. Hailey is best known for her beloved breakout character Alice Pieszecki in the revolutionary Showtime series The L Word and the reboot, The L Word: Generation Q. Before making her mark on-screen, Hailey cofounded the band The Murmurs in the 1990s, recording three albums for MCA/Universal Records and touring worldwide, including with Lilith Fair. More than a decade later, in 2007, Hailey cofounded the indie pop band Uh Huh Her, which toured internationally and sold albums worldwide. 

KATE MOENNIG is a critically acclaimed actor and executive producer whose work spans film, television, and theater. She is most known for her iconic role as Shane McCutcheon in the Showtime series The L Word and the reboot, The L Word: Generation Q. Moennig has also starred in Showtime’s hit series Ray Donovan and in Freeform’s breakout series Grown-ish. Moennig’s film credits include the neo-noir legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer, Lane 1974, and Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential. Most recently she can be seen in Liz Feldman's series No Good Deed on Netflix. She currently cohosts the podcast PANTS with Kate and Leisha.

The Best Advice We’ve Ever Received

Today, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda remember – and share! – the best advice they’ve ever received:

• How to honor your needs and become the ultimate expert of you;  
• Why we all need a friend who believes in our greatness; 
• How to encourage your kids to live open-hearted; 
• And why Glennon’s truest thing is that she doesn’t know anything.  

Plus, we hear from two pod treasures – Sara Bareilles and Glennon’s 7th grade government teacher, Mrs. Yalen – on their best advice.

Ross Gay teaches us how to notice delight and joy in our everyday lives. We discuss: concrete ways to rediscover and capture joy every day; how to rebuild your “delight muscle”; how to dissolve the myth of disconnection between us; and how to “unknow” our people so we can delight in them.

About Ross: 

Ross Gay is an American poet, essayist, and professor committed to healing the world through observing and articulating joy, delight and gratitude. He won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award for his 2014 book, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, which was also a finalist for the National Book Award for Poetry. A devoted community gardener, Ross is a founding board member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a non-profit, free-fruit-for-all food justice and joy project. A college football player, he is a founding editor of the online sports magazine Some Call it Ballin'.

415. Are You Addicted to Drama? How to Know & How to Fix it with Dr. Scott Lyons

Dr. Scott Lyons, a licensed holistic psychologist and author, discusses the concept of drama addiction. He explains the physiological and psychological mechanisms behind this addiction, how to know if you have one, and how we can begin to break free from these cycles. 

-The top question to ask to yourself to understand your trauma

-Why you may feel unsafe when relaxed

-How drama addiction shows up in our own bodies

-Why boredom is actually a good sign on the path to healing

-Beginner steps to start divesting from drama

Dr. Scott Lyons is a licensed holistic psychologist, educator and author of the best selling book Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others Scott is also the host of The Gently Used Human Podcast, a delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used. As a renowned body-based trauma expert and Mind-Body Medicine specialist, Scott also helps people to break free from cycles of pain, limited beliefs, and trauma.

414. Candace Parker: WHAT’S THE COST OF GREATNESS?

Basketball legend, Candace Parker, joins Abby and Amanda to discuss her illustrious career, her new book, The Can Do Mindset, and explore themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the cost of greatness. 

-The surprising reason Candace doesn’t like fame, and what she wants instead 

-Candace’s distinction between a boss and a leader that rocked Abby’s world 

-How to call someone you love to a higher version of themselves 

-Candace’s definition of “enough” and how she works to reach it 

Candace Parker has already solidified herself as one of the most influential athletes of this generation. After being selected as the No 1. overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, following a champion career at Tennessee, Parker went on to become the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season, win three WNBA championship titles, and take home two Olympic gold medals. Off the court, and since retired, she serves as a public speaker, activist, entrepreneur, studio broadcaster for NBA on TNT, and a wife and mother of three.

1. The one question to ask yourself when deciding whether it’s time to quit something.

2. Why Glennon actually believes that quitting each day is necessary for her survival.

3. The big quits that led Abby to Glennon.  

4. Amanda’s unexpected great relief—and hope for your relief—in learning about how we’re all just as happy as we’re ever going to be. (And how, as expected, Glennon disagrees.) 

5. Rethinking the ending of a marriage as a positive quit and how to talk to friends going through it.

1. The question Carson’s sister asked that made him radically reimagine his life.  

2. Why Carson is having the best sex of his life.

3. How Carson received sign-off from his Mormon Bishop for his first queer date.  

4. The accident that left Carson paralyzed from the chest down at 23.

5. How ableism hurts us all.  

About Carson: 

Carson Tueller is a coach, speaker and activist whose work provides people with the tools they need to live authentic, fulfilling, and powerful lives. He identifies as queer and disabled. Carson grew up as a Mormon in a military family moving around a lot before settling in Utah. His own journey into powerful living began in 2013 when, in the same year, he came out, and was then injured in an accident that paralyzed him from the chest down. Since then, Carson has brought his work to international nonprofits and presidential campaigns – and when he isn’t coaching or speaking, Carson can be found at the gym, reading non-fiction, or playing Pokemon with his niece and nephews.

TW: ⁠@carson_tueller⁠

IG: ⁠@carson_tueller⁠

#disabilitypride #disabilitypridemonth

413. 7 Questions To Reclaim Yourself with Dr. Thema Bryant 

Psychologist, author, professor, and minister, Dr. Thema Bryant, joins us to explore how to rebuild a relationship with yourself and why healing that relationship is the foundation for real connection with others.

-The essential shift to stop believing your wounded self is your whole self

-Why you are worthy of grieving—and why recognizing that changes everything

-How to end the hunger for safety—and what to trust instead

-How to stop constantly running and finally learn to stand still

-The question Abby asked that made Amanda nauseous.

Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, professor, sacred artist, minister and author of the new book Matters of the Heart, who teaches how to create healthy relationships, heal trauma, and overcome stress and oppression.  She is a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Dr. Tayma is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. She was the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is the host of The Homecoming Podcast.

412. Trusting Yourself Again with Dr. Hillary McBride 

Psychologist and researcher, Dr. Hillary McBride, joins us to discuss healing spiritual wounds and learning to trust yourself again.

-Why every family is a religion—and every adult is healing from it-How we lose touch with our own needs and desires—and the steps to reconnect and trust ourselves again.-Why having a rescuer fantasy takes us away from critical thinking and our own autonomy-The two main reasons why you might fall into a high-control group

Dr. Hillary McBride is a Registered Psychologist, researcher, podcaster, author, and speaker, - She has lived experience and clinical expertise in the areas of trauma, embodiment, eating disorders, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health. Her research has focused on women's relationships with their bodies across the lifespan, and her books include: Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image; Embodiment and Eating Disorders; The Wisdom of Your Body; and Practices for Embodied Living. Her latest book Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing is available now.

Recently, Glennon and Abby had the pleasure of being guests on a new podcast from our dear friend Michelle Obama, called IMO. You know on WCDHT, we have insightful conversations that give fresh perspectives, uplift you and leave you feeling more fulfilled.

And on IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. In this episode, Abby and Glennon join to help an IMO listener figure out priorities when deciding where to move her young family. Glennon discusses why she moved her family seven times, and, as the “bonus parent,” Abby shares what she thinks is most important to their kids’ happiness (hint: It’s not unlimited cake-pops, though she’s tried). Plus, Michelle and Craig share their own stories of uprooting families for careers—including a very strange move to a big house in Washington, DC. 

You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigGD

Trauma therapist (and survivor of marriage to a narcissist) Caroline Strawson joins us to discuss: how to know if someone’s really a narcissist; how to know if you’re more likely to get into a relationship with a narcissist (and avoid it); strategies for parallel parenting with a narcissist; how the brain and body respond to narcissists; and how to rebuild after ending a relationship with a narcissist. 

CW: Abusive relationships, self harm

For more related episodes, check out: ⁠Episode 170 The Most Radical Way to Heal: Internal Family Systems with Dr. Becky Kennedy⁠, ⁠Episode 169 Why We Love the Way We Love: Attachment Styles with Dr. Becky Kennedy⁠, and ⁠Episode 142 Codependence: How to Stop Controlling Others with Melody Beattie⁠

About Caroline: 

Caroline Strawson is a Trauma Therapist and Coach specializing in helping others heal from the trauma and shame of narcissistic abuse. She hosts the Narcissistic Abuse & Trauma Recovery Podcast and is the #1 best selling author of Divorce Became My Superpower. Having been married to a covert narcissist herself, Caroline was in debt, lost her family home, and was at rock bottom with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Caroline integrates Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting and breath work with positive psychology, to help others move from post traumatic stress to post traumatic growth.

TW: ⁠@cstrawson11⁠

IG: ⁠@carolinestrawson

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.

411. Inside Trump’s Personal Profits: His Abuse of Power for Private Deals & Who is Paying the Price | Jessica Yellin & Amanda

Award-winning journalist Jessica Yellin joins Amanda to expose how Trump’s personal profit, political power grabs, and selective immigration policies are reshaping American democracy—and what we can do about it.

From the scandal behind Trump’s “free” plane to the foreign “investments” flooding his businesses, Jessica and Amanda connect the dots between foreign entanglements, mass deportations, and economic cruelty disguised as policy.

-How Trump is using public office for private gain—and what it signals about self-enrichment at the highest levels;-The alarming surge in ICE raids and what your local law enforcement may have to do with it;-The Afrikaner refugee scam—and what it reveals about race, privilege, and the weaponization of asylum;

-How cuts to Medicaid are funding tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy;-And the concrete actions you can take—locally and federally—to disrupt the dangerous normalization of these policies.

Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand -- dedicated to helping you manage your  “information overload.” She is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent. You can follow her on Instagram at Jessica Yellin.

And also, to get real time, clear and brilliant reporting, go to substack.com and search for her page newsnotnoise and subscribe there.

410.  Are You a Cynic, Optimist, or Skeptic? Dr. Jamil Zaki Shares Which Way is Happiest 

Dr. Jamil Zaki–a Stanford psychologist and director of their Social Neuroscience Lab–discusses how worldviews like optimism, cynicism, and skepticism shape our lives, health, and relationships. 

-The three lies we tell ourselves about cynicism

-Why we need to stop putting faith in people who don’t put faith in people

-The quiz you need to know if you’re a cynic

-Why hope could very well save your life

Dr. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. He trained at Columbia and Harvard, studying empathy and kindness in the human brain. He is interested in how we can learn to connect better. Dr. Zaki is the author of The War For Kindness and, most recently, Hope for Cynics.

Glennon’s son, Chase, joins Glennon for a special conversation with his hero, author Ocean Vuong, to discuss:

1. Chase shares with Ocean the impact his work has had in his life–and Glennon thanks Ocean for helping mother her son.

2. What Ocean learned from his mother about how to navigate being an Asian boy in America–and Glennon’s recognition that she did not prepare Chase for the same realities.

3. Ocean’s new book, Time is a Mother, and why watching his own mother die gave Ocean a deep empathy and connection to every person.

4. His relationship to maleness–and why Ocean is interested in “staying and complicating” masculinity.

About Ocean:

Ocean Vuong, author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a recipient of the 2019 MacArthur "Genius Grant" and the winner of the Whiting Award and the T. S. Eliot Prize. In Time Is a Mother, Ocean's newest poetry collection available now, he reckons with his mother’s death, embodying the paradox of sitting within grief while being determined to survive beyond it. His writings have been featured in The Atlantic, Harper's Magazine, The Nation, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he currently lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

IG: ⁠ocean_vuong

1. Content warning: Discussion of suicide.

2. Jenny puts words to her experience of ADD – "being a kitten on cocaine" – and her anxiety – seeing "rainbow fire.” 

3. How Jenny felt guilty for years about a way her mental illness impacted her mothering – only to later learn it was her child’s favorite memory.

4. The moment she decided to be honest about her struggles – and how sharing our awkwardness can save the world and cure our loneliness.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

About Jenny:

Jenny Lawson is an award-winning humorist known for her great candor in sharing her struggle with mental illness. She's written four NYT bestsellers, including Let's Pretend This Never Happened (a mostly true memoir), Furiously Happy (A funny book about terrible things), You Are Here (An owner's manual for dangerous minds) and Broken (in the best possible way), which recently won the Goodreads Choice award for Best Humor of 2021. One of those books is a coloring book but she insists it still counts. She lives in Texas with her husband and child and would like to be your friend unless you're a real asshole.

TW: ⁠@TheBloggess⁠

IG: ⁠@thebloggess

409. The Woman Who Spoke Truth To Trump: Bishop Budde

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, during President Trump's inauguration service, delivered a powerful sermon on unity and directly appealed to the President for mercy on behalf of vulnerable communities. Today, she joins us to discuss her courageous stand and explore how we can embody both strength and compassion in our own lives.​

-How to carry your despair and cynicism instead of handing it to others

-Exposing the lies of partisanship and how to fight for dignity for all​

-The “sin of empathy”? The chilling rise of this idea in Christian Nationalist circles

-Why not knowing what to do in this political moment is part of the preparation​

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde serves as spiritual leader for the Episcopal congregations and schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties that comprise the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools. She is an advocate and organizer in support of justice, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation. She is the author of three books; the most recent, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, was published in 2023.

408. What Abby Learned On Tour with Tish

Last year, Tish went on her very first international music tour. Today Abby, Glennon, and Amanda reflect on what it was like to watch Tish step toward her dream and how they, especially Abby, supported her through her journey. 

-How this tour changed and solidified Abby and Tish’s relationship forever 

-What this tour taught Glennon and Abby about the power of community 

-How it felt to Abby and Glennon to watch Tish on stage every night alone with her guitar

1. Sam’s life-changing strategies for (reluctantly) interacting with humans.

2. How we use humor to hide the lava of rage churning beneath our surface.

3. Sam’s friendship theory and why she doesn’t need a deep soul connection with every “lowercase f friend.”

4. Sam’s embrace of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)–and why she genuinely believes no one else is having a better time (except maybe Abby).

5. The behind-the-scenes story of the “Fat Babe Pool Party” Shrill show–and why that episode was one of the most important things she’s ever written.

About Samantha:

Samantha Irby writes the "Bitches Gotta Eat" blog, and is the author of WOW, NO THANK YOU; WE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE; and MEATY. She has been a writer and/or co-producer for TV shows including And Just Like That, Work in Progress, Shrill, and Tuca & Bertie.

IG: ⁠@bitchesgottaeat

1. Glennon explains her “soundaries”—and why a lack of audiorial yield in public places is her biggest peeve.

2. Abby’s struggle, as a bonus parent, adjusting to a kid-filled life with zero personal space and personal property boundaries.

3. Why Amanda is allergic to the word “fine”—and why she’s stopped saying “I didn’t have time.

407. 100 Days of Trump: What to Know, What to Do & What’s Coming Next  | Jessica Yellin

Amanda and Webby Award Winning Journalist, Jessica Yellin, dive deep into the first 100 days of Trump's second term in office, discussing the implications of his administration's actions and policies.

-The importance of the first 100 days in a presidency—and what Trump’s actions during that time reveal.

-How proposed Medicaid cuts are tied to tax breaks for the wealthy.-The dire consequences of RFK Jr. and DOGE on our healthcare system-Why denying due process to anyone endangers due process for everyone.-What actions you can take now to drive change—and why waiting on Congress isn't an option.

Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand -- dedicated to helping you manage your  “information overload.” She is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent. You can follow her on Instagram at Jessica Yellin.

And also, to get real time, clear and brilliant reporting, go to substack.com and search for her page newsnotnoise and subscribe there.

406. Let Kids Play: Fixing Youth Sports with Linda Flanagan

Why have youth sports become a pressure cooker of competition, money, and burnout instead of fun, growth, and play? Journalist and author Linda Flanagan joins us to break down:

-The three biggest reasons kids' sports have changed for the worse—and what we can do about it.-How parents can rethink their role on the sidelines, engage with coaches, and set healthy boundaries.-Why specializing in one sport too early can actually hurt long-term athletic success.-The hidden consequences of linking kids' self-worth to their performance.

About Linda: 

LINDA FLANAGAN is a freelance journalist, a former cross-country and track coach, and the author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports—and Why It Matters. A graduate of Lehigh University, Flanagan holds master’s degrees from Oxford University and the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and was an analyst for the National Security Program at Harvard University. She is a founding board member of the New York City chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance, a contributor to Project Play at the Aspen Institute, and a regular writer for NPR’s education site MindShift. Her columns on sports have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Runner’s World, and she is currently co-producing a documentary series on mental health in collegiate women athletes. A mother of three and a lifelong athlete, Flanagan lives in Summit with her fabulous husband, Bob, and a small menagerie of pets. She is still floating over Malcolm Gladwell’s recent claim that Take Back the Game was one of his favorite books last year.