Thanks For Being Here - Shannon Watts' Letter to her Younger Self

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

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

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

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

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

This Father's Day, we're re-airing the beautiful eulogy which was the inspiration for Thanks For Being Here and was the very first episode we aired. It was written by Kelly's editor at Random House, Andy Ward, to honor his father. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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

I’ve been asked to give many graduation speeches. This one was a favorite, making a case for one very simple move that changes everything. (Previously aired) Always happy to hear from you. Write us here: [email protected]. Sign up for the Wednesday Takeaway email here. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices