Go To on Hugging and Holding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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