We Can Do Hard Things

1. Why we’ve been sold a lie–and the truth that we actually get happier the older we get! 2. The two most important–and shocking–predictors of aging well. 3. Busting the most prevalent misconceptions and about getting older. 4. How believing the myths about aging literally harms our health and makes us more vulnerable to the fears we hold about aging. 5. Glennon paints a mental picture of her older self–and encourages the Pod Squad to do the same. About Ashton: The author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, Ashton Applewhite is a leading spokesperson for the emerging movement to raise awareness of ageism and to dismantle it. A co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse, she has been recognized by the New York Times, the New Yorker, National Public Radio, and the American Society on Aging as an expert on ageism. Ashton has written for Harper’s, the Guardian, and the New York Times, blogs at This Chair Rocks, and is the voice of Yo, Is This Ageist? She speaks widely at venues that have ranged from colleges and symposia to the TED mainstage and the United Nations. In 2022 she appeared on HelpAgeUSA’s inaugural 60 Over 60 List and on Fe:maleOneZero’s first international edition of 40 over 40 – The World’s Most Inspiring Women. Twitter: @thischairrocks Instagram: @thischairrocks

1. How Glennon is using her 46th birthday as an intermission–to slow down and decide what to bring with her into Act 2. 2. The counterculture power of knowing what is enough, and letting ourselves go. 3. The way to transition from Role Living to Soul Living–and why Glennon has Joni Mitchell on repeat. 4. The real meaning of “crisis”–and the idea that living well now means reimagining everything we learned in the first half of life. 5. Amanda’ s good news that if you don’t feel like Glennon does at this moment in life, it is very, very normal.

1. Why the construct of beauty is oppressive, but the essence of beauty is freedom. 2. What living with integrity looks like. 3. Why Dr. Blay doesn’t need any more allies—and what she really wants from an accomplice. 4. How “Karens” have been around for centuries—and the direct line from “Miss Anne to Karen.” 5. Dr. Blay’s greatest hope for her granddaughters—even if she doesn’t like it.

1. Amanda shares the biggest regret of her life: the one that still wakes her up in the middle of the night. 2. The five biggest regrets of the dying—and how to make the necessary changes to avoid them. 3. Why we should reframe regret as proof of a life well-lived.

In this hilarious and heartwarming in-person double date with Abby and Glennon—and their dear friends and brilliant artists Brandi and Catherine Carlile—we learn: 1. Why Brandi was completely dismayed the first time she met Catherine; 2. Who made the first move—and why it made Catherine sweat; 3. All about the Carlile family compound—where they are raising their girls surrounded by family, band members, and exes; 4. How they communicate and deal with jealousy; and 5. Why Brandi believes this conversation—two queer couples sitting on a couch publicly discussing marriage, family, and domesticity—is revolutionary. About Brandi: Brandi Carlile is a six-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer, #1 New York Times Bestselling author and activist, who is known as one of music's most respected voices. Her new album, In These Silent Days, recently debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, Top Rock Albums chart and Tastemaker Albums chart and continues to receive overwhelming acclaim. The New York Times praises, “Larger than life and achingly human…she empathizes, apologizes and lays out accusations. She’s righteous and she’s self-doubting. She proffers fond lullabies and she unleashes full-throated screams," while NPR Music declares, “absolutely breathtaking, across the whole album Brandi Carlile pulls out all the stops. It’s just extraordinary…she’s just claiming rock god status." Carlile recently received five nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance for the album's lead single, "Right On Time." Following a breakthrough debut on "Saturday Night Live," Carlile and her band will embark on a series of landmark concerts next year including stops at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre, Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre and New York’s Madison Square Garden among many others. In addition to her 6 GRAMMY Awards, Carlile has been recognized with Billboard’s Women In Music “Trailblazer Award,” CMT’s Next Women of Country “Impact Award" and received multiple recognitions from the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards including Artist of the Year for the past two years. TW: @brandicarlile IG: @brandicarlile About Catherine: Catherine Carlile has devoted her life to the intersection of music and activism with over 20 years of experience. Since 2012, she has served as the Executive Director of the Looking Out Foundation, which has raised over $3 million for a variety of grassroots causes including close work with Children In Conflict/War Child. She also serves as creative director for Phantom 309 Productions. Prior to her current work, Catherine worked with Sir Paul McCartney in coordinating his charitable interests and endeavors. Originally from London, Catherine now lives outside of Seattle, WA with her wife, Brandi Carlile, and their two daughters, Evangeline and Elijah.

1. The two disagreements between Brandi and Glennon that started, and cemented, their friendship. 2. Brandi’s lifelong quest to continuously “calibrate” herself so that her outsides are in tune with her insides. 3. The trait Brandi loves most about Catherine—and the sticky note on Glennon’s desk with the same message. About Brandi: Brandi Carlile is a six-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer, #1 New York Times Bestselling author and activist, who is known as one of music's most respected voices. Her new album, In These Silent Days, recently debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, Top Rock Albums chart and Tastemaker Albums chart and continues to receive overwhelming acclaim. The New York Times praises, “Larger than life and achingly human…she empathizes, apologizes and lays out accusations. She’s righteous and she’s self-doubting. She proffers fond lullabies and she unleashes full-throated screams," while NPR Music declares, “absolutely breathtaking, across the whole album Brandi Carlile pulls out all the stops. It’s just extraordinary…she’s just claiming rock god status." Carlile recently received five nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance for the album's lead single, "Right On Time." Following a breakthrough debut on "Saturday Night Live," Carlile and her band will embark on a series of landmark concerts including stops at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre, Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre and New York’s Madison Square Garden among many others. In addition to her 6 GRAMMY Awards, Carlile has been recognized with Billboard’s Women In Music “Trailblazer Award,” CMT’s Next Women of Country “Impact Award" and received multiple recognitions from the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards including Artist of the Year for the past two years. TW: @brandicarlile IG: @brandicarlile

1. How do we make a new thing with our life? 2. What is your fingerprint on the world? 3. Who does history try to erase and why? 4. What does pain do to our bodies? 5 .What is our capacity for transformation? About ALOK: ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and public speaker. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). They are the creator of #DeGenderFashion: a movement to degender fashion and beauty industries and have been honored as one of HuffPo’s Culture Shifters, NBC’s Pride 50, and Business Insider’s Doers. Instagram: @alokvmenon

“The days that I feel most beautiful are the days that I am most afraid.” “What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world?” “Why have we been taught to fear the very things that can set us free?” About ALOK: ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and public speaker. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). They are the creator of #DeGenderFashion: a movement to degender fashion and beauty industries and have been honored as one of HuffPo’s Culture Shifters, NBC’s Pride 50, and Business Insider’s Doers. Instagram: @alokvmenon

1. Amanda shares the story of Séamus, the newest addition to her family–and how he has ruined her “religion” of the spreadsheet. 2. Why Glennon says that Honey and Hattie are the only “people” who truly understand her–and what each of them teach her about love. 3. The ways we hilariously project emotions onto our pets–and how Abby has fallen for Tish’s pet hamster, Biscuit.

For their first (of hopefully many) podcast double dates, Abby and Glennon sit down with the icons, activists, and Olympians Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird. In this honest and hilarious conversation, we find out: 1. The delightfully awkward moment Megan and Sue first met; 2. What’s hard for each of them right now; 3. The boundaries they’re working on together; 4. How they communicate and deal with jealousy; and 5. How they help each other show up in the world as champions for change. About Sue: Regarded as the world’s premier point guard, Sue Bird is the WNBA’s All-Time Leader in Assists and known for being selfless, driven, encouraging, funny and smart. Bird is a seasoned veteran and a born leader who has dominated at every level. She is one of only seven women to win an Olympic Gold Medal (she’s won five), a World Championship Gold Medal (she’s won four) an NCAA Championship (she’s won two), and a WNBA Championship (she’s won four – the last just weeks before her 40th birthday). Sue is also a five-time Euroleague Champion, a twelve- time WNBA All-Star, was voted by the fans as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time. Off the court, Sue spends time as a basketball analyst for ESPN and as an outspoken and visible activist advocating for Black Lives, equality, health and wellness and expanding opportunities for girls and all marginalized people. TW: @S10Bird IG: @suebird10 About Megan: Two-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Megan Rapinoe is a fan favorite and one of the team’s most technical and craftiest players. A vocal leader on and off the pitch, Megan helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Championship scoring some of the biggest goals of the tournament. Megan took home the tournament’s two top honors – the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. Megan is an advocate for equality for all and has been able to intersect her passion for humanity and authenticity. TW: @mPinoe IG: @mrapinoe

Today, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda continue their conversation about Glennon’s eating disorder relapse and the Next Right Thing for their family. CW // eating disorders

Today, Glennon shares about her recent eating disorder relapse. If talk about eating disorders and mental illness helps: Listen today. If it triggers: Skip today. CW // eating disorders

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.”

1. Glennon reenacts her first emotional and hilarious email exchange with Sarah Paulson about the Untamed TV show. 2. Sarah contemplates how she will prepare for the role of Glennon–and why she’s “never been more excited about anything truly ever. ” 3. Glennon, Sarah and Abby discuss who will play Abby–and how they will recreate the “There She Is” moment. About Sarah: Sarah Paulson’s acting work includes lead roles in FX’s anthology series "American Horror Story,” and playing Marcia Clark in "The People v. O. J. Simpson,” for which she won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Television Critics Association Award. Her film credits include the Academy Award-winning "12 Years a Slave,” as well as “Carol,” "Ocean’s 8,” and many others. She can be seen in the FX miniseries "Mrs. America,” Lionsgate’s "Run,” in the title role in the Netflix series "Ratched,” which she executive produces, and most recently in the third installment of American Crime Story: Impeachment as Linda Tripp. IG:@misssarahcatherinepaulson TW: @MsSarahPaulson

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

1. How do we tap back into living by our inner compass after living by consensus and following outer voices for so long? 2. What Martha said to Glennon and Abby when they told her they were in love but scared to move forward—and how that advice changed their lives. 3. How to make a plan to cultivate joy when it feels like you are army-crawling through life. 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

1. How chronic social isolation throughout the pandemic has impacted our friendships–and why that’s affecting our mental health and cravings for connection. 2. Glennon, Amanda, and Abby each make a Next Right Thing plan for prioritizing friendship in their lives. 3. How we grieve a friendship ending when there’s no cultural template or ritual to acknowledge that deep loss.

1. Why the connection of friendship is emerging as the single best thing for your wellness—and three things that define a healthy friendship. 2. How friendship has changed for Abby since retiring from soccer—and why Glennon fears commitment in friendships more than other relationships. 3. How to recognize ambivalent relationships—and why they can be just as bad for us as toxic ones. CW // eating disorders

1. The simple exercises Laurie conducts with her students at Yale to help them reset their brains and restructure their days in order to access happiness. 2. Why being “time famished” is one of the most common obstacles to happiness, the signals our bodies give us that we are starved of unstructured time, and what we can do to build more of it. 3. How understanding that our brains are wired as “comparison machines” incompatible with happiness can lead to improved wellbeing. About Laurie: Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.3 million people to date. Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, launched in 2019 has over 48 million downloads. Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial Twitter: @lauriesantos

1. One easy thing we can do to increase our happiness by 1% when we’re feeling tired and overwhelmed. 2. Our misconception that happiness is about our circumstances–the next promotion, the new relationship–and the reality that often people with fantastic circumstances are miserable. 3. Why our emotions flow directly from our thoughts–and how we can improve our wellbeing by changing our mind’s interpretation of events. About Laurie: Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.3 million people to date. Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, launched in 2019 has over 48 million downloads. Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial Twitter: @lauriesantos

1. How do we build a squad of friends–people we can trust our truth and imperfection with, and who take responsibility for one another’s care? 2. How to know when it’s time to let a friendship go–and how we release one another without the hard feelings. 3. Why when we have a problem trusting others, it sometimes has to do with a lack of trust in ourselves. 4. Why Luvvie says her friends have rewired her brain, and answers the question: Can Black and white women really be friends? About Luvvie: Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and sought-after speaker who thrives at the intersection of humor, media, and justice. Her critically acclaimed books Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual and I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual were instant bestsellers and established her as a literary force with a powerful pen. Professional Troublemaker was just released in paperback. She’s an internationally recognized speaker who takes on dozens of stages every year around the globe and has spoken at some of the world's most innovative companies and conferences, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter. She is also co-creator of the #SharetheMicNow global movement and hosts her podcast, Professional Troublemaker. Instagram: @luvvie Twitter: @Luvvie

1. A hilarious, profound take on judging people, and why Luvvie’s telling the world–and has often told Glennon–to: “Fix your face.” 2. How to prepare for hard conversations with those we love–including the lists Luvvie brings to those talks that help keep her calm and vulnerable. 3. The importance of sitting with the fear behind the questions: “Who am I when I am not giving something to somebody?” and “What is my worth when I have nothing to offer?” 4. How we can affirm our teen Troublemakers to keep being different–that their power is in remaining as odd and amazing as they already are–and the complications that led to in Glennon and Abby’s home. About Luvvie: Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and sought-after speaker who thrives at the intersection of humor, media, and justice. Her critically acclaimed books Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual and I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual were instant bestsellers and established her as a literary force with a powerful pen. Professional Troublemaker was just released in paperback. She’s an internationally recognized speaker who takes on dozens of stages every year around the globe and has spoken at some of the world's most innovative companies and conferences, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter. She is also co-creator of the #SharetheMicNow global movement and hosts her podcast, Professional Troublemaker. Instagram: @luvvie Twitter: @Luvvie

1. What if we stop trying to figure out whether our feelings and intuition are “right” or “wrong”– and instead, just acknowledge them as real–and move toward them? 2. How Glennon is experiencing a little shift in peace, joy, and non-reactivity through her newfound relationship with meditation. 3. Why a lot of our suffering exists in the space between the Knowing and the Doing–and how life is at its best and most exciting when we shorten that gap.

1. Why do we spend our lives trying to become what our culture ascribes as “good” only to burn ourselves out, wake up, and realize: I thought it would all be more beautiful than this? 2. Why Glennon says that stillness has been her greatest teacher–and how she was able to find it in her most rock bottom moments. 3. How listening for and committing to the next right thing then leads us to the next thing–and why we should rush towards whatever looks and feels like freedom.

1. What we should STOP saying to people who are struggling—and what to say, or do, instead. 2. How Kate received the support she needed because people were willing to embarrass themselves in their attempts to show up—and why we shouldn’t be scared of doing it wrong. 3. Kate offers some words to a Pod Squader feeling anticipatory grief—and how to accept that we can’t always make it okay for the people we love. About Kate: Kate Bowler, PhD is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and a professor at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel and The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities. After being unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35, she penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and her latest, No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). Kate hosts the Everything Happens podcast where, in warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people like Malcolm Gladwell and Anne Lamott about what they’ve learned in difficult times. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her family and continues to teach do-gooders at Duke Divinity School. Book: No Cure for Being Human: (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) Instagram: @katecbowler Twitter: @KatecBowler

1. Kate describes the overwhelming feeling of love—not anger—that she felt when she was sure she was near death. 2. Why it’s time we throw out expressions like “Everything is possible” and “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” and rewrite our cultural cliches. 3. Why Kate delights in celebrating the holidays—and how to survive the holiday season when there’s grief and loss and fear in all of us. 4. Kate and Glennon bond over their love for swear words—and how using them is a reflection of what’s going on inside of them. About Kate: Kate Bowler, PhD is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and a professor at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel and The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities. After being unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35, she penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and her latest, No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). Kate hosts the Everything Happens podcast where, in warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people like Malcolm Gladwell and Anne Lamott about what they’ve learned in difficult times. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her family and continues to teach do-gooders at Duke Divinity School. Book: No Cure for Being Human: (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) Instagram: @katecbowler Twitter: @KatecBowler

1. What if we deleted the picture in our head of how it’s “supposed to be,” and looked at “what is” right now, as enough? 2. What makes a good apology–and why we shouldn't pretend that it is possible to reorder what we did to people. 3. Glennon describes “the ache”–and how it’s really love, coming and going, and making life more beautiful.

1. Glennon, Abby, and Amanda share how opening up and being vulnerable on the podcast has changed their lives. 2. What your preparation style says about your personality—and how some people bring their “magic” while others bring index cards. 3. Abby recalls “the biggest bomb of her life”—and why she was nervous to join Glennon and Amanda on We Can Do Hard Things.

1. Why Ashley says we have to talk about what hurts if we’re ever going to heal. 2. Glennon asks Ashley about the power of apologizing—and why Ashley says we must begin apologizing to the people we love. 3. How many of us are really good at loving other people, but often struggle to let ourselves be loved. 4. Why Ashley says that nothing has ever given her more peace and power than knowing that she doesn’t really need others to believe in her—because she believes so deeply in herself. About Ashley: Ashley C. Ford’s New York Times best-selling memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, was published by Flatiron Books in June 2021. Ford is the former host of The Chronicles of Now podcast, co-host of The HBO companion podcast Lovecraft Country Radio. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, poet and fiction writer Kelly Stacy, and their chocolate lab Astro Renegade Ford-Stacy. Ford has written or guest-edited for ELLE Magazine, Slate, Teen Vogue, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Domino, Cup of Jo, and various other web and print publications. Book: Somebody’s Daughter Instagram: @smashfizzle Twitter: @iSmashFizzle

1. How to find a way to live in peace: to actually love complicated parents without compromising our love for ourselves. 2. How we can’t change our past—and why Ashley says that forgiveness is accepting the fact that the past is never going to be different. 3. The importance of being able to hold two truths at the same time: that, for some of us, our parents did the best they could—and it wasn’t close to good enough. 4. Why Ashley says she struggles, even in adulthood, to accept love and care from people who are not obligated to love and care for her. 5. Why anger often reveals our passion points—and for Ashley, why that leads her to show up for children. About Ashley: Ashley C. Ford’s New York Times best-selling memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, was published by Flatiron Books in June 2021. Ford is the former host of The Chronicles of Now podcast, co-host of The HBO companion podcast Lovecraft Country Radio. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, poet and fiction writer Kelly Stacy, and their chocolate lab Astro Renegade Ford-Stacy. Ford has written or guest-edited for ELLE Magazine, Slate, Teen Vogue, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Domino, Cup of Jo, and various other web and print publications. Book: Somebody’s Daughter Instagram: @smashfizzle Twitter: @iSmashFizzle

1. Why embracing that it’s not possible to do everything brings freedom. 2. One change that Amanda made to get back into her body and reclaim her fire. 3. How to navigate our anxieties about the impending “return to normal” and how to hold onto the rhythm many of us have found comforting during the pandemic. 4. How Glennon’s been rethinking her popular Untamed quote “The braver I am, the luckier I get.” 5. How inviting more life into your life gives your people permission to live more fully.

1. What Tish said when asked, “Who has taught you the most about love?”— why it was the best day of Abby’s life, and led her to redefine what it means to be a mother. 2. Glennon declares herself a great adventurer, without movement: an inner travel guide—and how the new journal will help steer us toward our next right thing. 3. How the pandemic brought Amanda’s anxieties, traumas, and relational cracks, previously on a slow burn, to center stage—and what she’s learning from “Be Still and Know.” 4. Why Glennon says whatever we’re envious of is what we need to go for—and how that led to the creation of this podcast.

1. Brené and Glennon role play through a scenario on how to put boundaries in practice with family members this holiday season. 2. Why Brené insists that starting “a love affair with the thing you’re most afraid of” will change your life. 3. Glennon asks Brené the question she’s been dying to ask about how a woman’s work is defined and received in the world compared to her male counterparts. 4. How understanding that grief and loss are an inevitable part of change helps us navigate toward the decisions that serve us. 5. Brené answers questions from the Pod Squad and our rapid fire session on: tough emotions, tattoos, and her favorite place on Earth. About Brené: Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. Brené is also a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. She has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, and is the host of the weekly Spotify Original podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages and titles include: Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. Most recently Brené collaborated with Tarana Burke to co-edit You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix. The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019. Brené lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie. Book: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience Instagram: @brenebrown Twitter: @BreneBrown

1. Why Brené’s new book ATLAS OF THE HEART is a game changer for communicating hard emotions more easily. 2. Brené breaks down the difference between stressed and overwhelmed—and gives us tools to navigate both. 3. How our survival strategies from our families of origin can become both our superpowers and our stumbling blocks in our relationships and wellness. 4. How we can make sure our kids experience deep, steady belonging—even if they don’t feel like they “belong” out in the world. 5. The one question that Brené now asks herself whenever she’s considering a decision—and how it’s changed everything. About Brené: Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. Brené is also a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. She has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, and is the host of the weekly Spotify Original podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages and titles include: Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. Most recently Brené collaborated with Tarana Burke to co-edit You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix. The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019. Brené lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie. Book: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience Instagram: @brenebrown Twitter: @BreneBrown

1. Glennon gives you a beautiful Thanksgiving pep talk that has Amanda and Abby nodding along and rolling with laughter. 2. Why Amanda suggests that we can be free to be our full selves at the Thanksgiving table, if we also each bring our own damn casserole. 3. Why the best predictor of how a family member is going to act is how a family member has always acted. 4. We’re taking holiday-themed questions from our beloved Pod Squad about in-laws, when to break tradition, and how to navigate different family of origin patterns.

1. How our second holiday hack—“Be unsurprised”—eliminates walking on eggshells around family, and leaving holiday gatherings feeling badly about ourselves or our people. 2. Amanda shares the first time she broke her family’s biggest holiday tradition—and how it’s now one of her most precious memories. 3. Abby remembers watching her mom stress out by preparing and perfecting every holiday detail—and the change she made to minimize her own holiday stress. 4. How carrying around a cup of hot tea serves as Glennon’s super shield.

1. How a marathon is an analogy for life: the danger of comparison, the ride of emotions and self-doubt, that love is fuel, and that the world needs both runners and cheerers. 2. The question Abby kept asking herself throughout the race—and why she’s still wearing her marathon medal while doing the dishes and running errands. 3. Why race day was so profound to Glennon— even though she is strongly committed to NOT running—and how she experienced her first sports injury while cheering. 4. A special visit by the kids’ middle school cross-country coach, Coach Loux, who became Abby’s marathon coach—and what she said at the 24-mile mark that shifted everything for Abby. 5. A conversation with marathon champion Shalane Flanagan about the bond and joy of running—and how she played a magical part of Abby’s marathon day. About Shalane Flanagan: Dedicated to giving back to the sport she loves, Shalane Flanagan is now an elite coach to the Bowerman Track Club, global spokesperson, and a mom, after retiring as one of America’s most decorated distance runners. Flanagan’s accolades include four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, 2017 TCS New York City Marathon champion, World Cross Country Bronze medalist, and multiple American record holder. She is the third fastest American marathoner in history, with a time of 2:21.14. Shalane is the fastest American woman to run the Boston Marathon, 2:22.02. Along with her coauthor, Elyse Kopecky, she is the 3-time New York Times bestselling author of Run Fast. Eat Slow. and Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. and Rise & Run, which became an instant bestseller. Shalane attributes her long career and incredible success to her nutrient-dense diet. Shalane has left the track behind, but you’ll still find her logging high mileage on trail run adventures with friends! Recipes from all three of her cookbooks fuel these strenuous miles.

1. Gabrielle shares—as rawly and honestly as we’ve ever heard—about the “emotional chaos” of her years experiencing miscarriage, infertility, and surrogacy. 2. Gabrielle and Abby discuss the label and perception of “stepmom”—Gabrielle shares what she avoids at all costs in that role, and the most vital part of the role for her: consistency. 3. How Gabrielle coached her NBA husband Dwyane before Zaya shared with him that she is gay, and how his reaction encouraged Zaya to tell the people on her “never-ever” list. 4. Gabrielle’s insistence that home is a sanctuary where all are embraced with love, understanding, and joy—and how, if you can’t get behind all of her family members, you’re not welcome. About Gabrielle: Gabrielle Union is an actress, executive producer, activist, best-selling author, and Time100 cover honoree. Union will next be seen in Disney’s remake of CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN developed by Kenya Barris for Disney+. She was last seen in “L.A.’s Finest,” the highly anticipated TV spinoff of the BAD BOYS movie franchise. She reprised her starring role as Syd Burnett opposite Jessica Alba in the series and served as an executive producer through her production shingle “I’ll Have Another.” Union formed “I’ll Have Another” in 2018 with the goal of telling stories that center marginalized communities with their specific point of views in an authentic manner. In May of 2021, Gabrielle released – in partnership with her husband Dwyane Wade – her second children’s book, “Shady Baby,” which became a New York Times best seller the first week of release. Her first book, We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated and True, was released in 2017 and instantly became a New York Times best seller. The highly anticipated follow up “You Got Anything Stronger?” was released in September of this year and was a New York Times best seller as well. Union has always had an eye for forward-thinking businesses centered around inclusion, accessibility, and affordability. In August of 2020, she relaunched her haircare brand “Flawless by Gabrielle Union” for women with textured hair. Prior to relaunching Flawless, Union co-founded Bitsy's with the goal of making healthy, allergen- friendly, school-safe snacks that are accessible and affordable for all families regardless of their socioeconomic or geographical status. Union serves as a leader and advocate for inclusion in the entertainment industry. She is also a champion of breast health and combating sexual violence. Instagram: @gabunion Twitter: @itsgabrielleu

1. Why Esther often recommends letter writing if you don’t know quite how to start—or have—hard conversations. 2. What to say—and when to say it—to show up for a friend who is in a bad relationship. 3. The importance of rituals in transitioning through breakups—what we should do when it’s time to say goodbye; and what we can do if we’ve never gotten the closure we need. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 30 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcasts Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? Her latest project is Where Should We Begin - A Game of Stories with Esther Perel. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.

1. How, if you have been struggling in your romantic, parental, family, or work relationships through the lingering uncertainty of the last two years, you are not alone. 2. The revolutionary understanding that, in relationships, “behind every criticism is a longing; behind every anger is a hurt.” 3. What to do when your relationship is a bond of co-parenting / life management instead of a partnership of ongoing discovery. 4. The link between trauma recovery and the process of enlivening “dead” relationships. 5. Esther’s everyday conflict resolution practices. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 30 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcasts Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? Her latest project is Where Should We Begin - A Game of Stories with Esther Perel. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.

1. How Glennon and Abby transitioned from the “falling in love” phase to “landing in love” at different times—and how Glennon felt “bamboozled” by it. 2. How the self-inflicted guilt of pursuing joy ruins everything. 3. Why a precious gift from Abby made Glennon feel like she’d finally landed in the right galaxy. 4. How the things about our partners that drive us nuts are the same things that attracted us to them.

1. Why “falling in love” feels like you’re losing your mind—and Amanda’s experience when Glennon fell hard for Abby. 2. Why Abby thinks the idea of “the one” is the most romantic way to live, and why Amanda thinks “the one” is unromantic and uninteresting. 3. Glennon’s belief that loves are like plants: some loves are perennials that continue to bloom, others are annuals, full for a season and then back to earth to nourish soil—but that no love is ever, ever wasted. 4. Why so many of us either think we can be fixed by love, or that we can fix others with our love.

1. Glennon makes a “pod-pology”—and why we should stop saying, “I can’t imagine.” 2. Amanda makes the case for no longer praising people as “superheroes”—and why we should stop giving them lip service and bring them a sandwich instead. 3. How we abandon things we love because the environments surrounding them are unbearable—and how to recreate the environment and reclaim what we love. 4. Amanda’s reaction to her new role opening up on the podcast—and how she feels like the very intimate stories she shares are “not personal at all.”

HOW TO SAY NO with Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez In this very special conversation, three GOATs and Glennon discuss: 1. What we can learn from Simone’s revolutionary decision at the Tokyo Olympics to choose her physical and mental health over the world’s expectations of her. 2. The tiny decisions that helped Laurie practice trusting herself again after surviving a toxic coach. 3. Why Simone, Laurie, and Abby believe their talent is both a blessing and a curse. 4. The places and times Simone and Laurie create where they have nothing to prove—to remind themselves they are human beings, not performance machines. 5. How Simone and Laurie are a big part of one of Abby and Glennon’s favorite family stories. About Simone: Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts of all-time, is the first woman to capture five All-Around World Championship titles. She is the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history—male or female—with 25 medals overall (19 gold), and is a seven-time Olympic medalist (4 gold). A three-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, she earned the rare distinction of having four skills named in her honor—called The Biles. Simone’s autobiography Courage to Soar is a New York Times bestseller. Simone advocates for change and supports initiatives that provide education and assistance for children and young adults associated with adoption and childcare. Instagram: @simonebiles Twitter: @Simone_Biles About Laurie: Laurie Hernandez is a second generation American, as her grandparents are from Puerto Rico, making her the first U.S. born Latina to make the U.S. team since 1984. Laurie is an Olympic medalist, winning both Gold and Silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her book I Got This: To Gold and Beyond and her children’s book She’s Got This are both New York Times bestsellers. Laurie is a fierce advocate for the importance of mental health, and travels the country speaking to the next generation about following their dreams. Instagram: @lauriehernandez Twitter: @LaurieHernandez About The GOLD OVER AMERICA TOUR (GOAT): Simone and Laurie—and an all-star team of gymnasts—are on the road this Fall for the 35-city Gold Over America Tour, showcasing their fierce talent and athletic brilliance in ways we’ve never seen before… their way! The show emerges from their personal values of empowerment, friendship, positive body image, mental health awareness, and self-confidence. Together, they are a united force proudly representing the sport of women’s gymnastics and inspiring audiences across the nation. More information: https://www.goldoveramericatour.com/goat

1. How Amanda’s breaking point—when her life felt like all “shoulds” and no “wants”—led to simple, concrete changes. 2. Why the labels put upon us early—the sporty one, the smart one, the artsy one—can shut us off from exploring other parts of ourselves. 3. How Glennon feels like Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting—and why she wants Amanda to “go see about a girl.” 4. What the chemistry of fire has to teach us about how we can resurrect our Fun selves.

1. How writing is a lifeline for Glennon because it’s the one place her real self can tell the truth. 2. Why Abby feels that her time on the soccer field was art. 3. The unorthodox way Glennon’s writing evolved from hourly 5AM sessions to survive sobriety with three young kids to three New York Times Best Sellers. 4. Why it’s horseshit that books by women authors are indiscriminately labeled “self-help.”

We’re continuing our conversation with activist, founder of the me too movement, and our personal friend and hero,Tarana Burke. We talk about: 1. What Tarana would say to her twelve-year-old self that might have changed the trajectory of her life. 2. Tarana’s life-shifting realization that her relationship struggles with her mother were not due to her mother’s lack of desire to love her well, but her lack of capacity—and how Tarana built more capacity for her own child. 3. The one thing Tarana said to her child that changed everything—and why Amanda now says the same thing to her children. CW: We reference sexual abuse and trauma. About Tarana: For more than 25 years, activist and advocate Tarana J. Burke has worked at the intersection of sexual violence and racial justice. Fueled by commitments to interrupt sexual violence and other systemic inequalities disproportionately impacting marginalized people, particularly Black women and girls, Tarana has created and led various campaigns focused on increasing access to resources and support for impacted communities, including the ‘me too.’ movement, which to date has galvanized millions of survivors and allies around the world. Book: Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement Instagram: @taranajaneen Twitter: @TaranaBurke

Please join us in the first part of our joyful, energizing, and hopeful conversation with activist, advocate, and our personal hero,Tarana Burke. We talk about: 1. How the spoken and unspoken rules for girls led Tarana to constantly perform the role of “good girl” so that “her secret” would never be revealed. 2. The impossible double bind so many survivors live through: that the protection of our community is what saves us, but the need to protect our community is what silences us. 3. Why Maya Angelou’s work changed everything for Tarana—and how, in her early twenties, she began documenting everything joyful in her life. 4. How dancing with Rob was the one place Tarana could safely explore her sexuality with no demands on her body—and how meaningful that was for her. CW: We reference sexual abuse and trauma. About Tarana: For more than 25 years, activist and advocate Tarana J. Burke has worked at the intersection of sexual violence and racial justice. Fueled by commitments to interrupt sexual violence and other systemic inequalities disproportionately impacting marginalized people, particularly Black women and girls, Tarana has created and led various campaigns focused on increasing access to resources and support for impacted communities, including the ‘me too.’ movement, which to date has galvanized millions of survivors and allies around the world. Book: Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement Instagram: @taranajaneen Twitter: @TaranaBurke

1. Why Glennon believes the bravest thing she’s ever done was marching into her counselor’s office in high school—and what made her finally say, “I’m not leaving until I get some help.” 2. How we can identify the difference between our Knowing versus our anxiety and conditioning. 3. Why Glennon describes herself as Dory from Nemo, and how she returned to meditation when her mind became unmanageable.

1. The story that led to Abby’s iconic haircut—how that decision terrified her, changed how she played the game, and changed how she lives her life. 2. How Abby and Glennon view “brave” differently—and why Amanda believes their perspectives may be more similar than they think. 3. Why for Amanda the bravest decisions feel like “lonely certainty” that can never be explained or defended to others.