(BEST OF) The Secret to Surviving Criticism

If you dare to create something, say something, do something, or be something, criticism is coming.  In this episode, Glennon shares her "Sort Your Mail" strategy for handling criticism without letting it quiet you. Learn how to separate the feedback that can help you grow from the noise that was never meant for you in the first place—and how to keep showing up, using your voice, and staying in the arena of your own life. -Why criticism feels so threatening—and why that's not a personal failure -How to tell the difference between helpful feedback and junk mail -The unique ways women are criticized for speaking up Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

In a world that wants us to move faster, produce more, and live entirely in our heads, Kaitlin Curtice offers a different path: remembering who we are. Drawing on Indigenous wisdom, Kaitlin shares practical ways to reconnect with our bodies, our younger selves, each other, and the Earth. We discuss how trauma disconnects us from ourselves, why presence is a radical act of resistance, and how healing begins when we remember that we are not machines—we are human beings. - How trauma and disconnection pull us out of our bodies—and how to find our way back- Why asking "What does ‘Little You’ need right now?" can be a powerful healing practice- Simple ways to reconnect with nature, presence, and yourself—including talking to your houseplants- The lasting impact of purity culture, colonization, and assimilation on our sense of self- Everyday acts of resistance that help us reclaim what we've lost About Kaitlin: Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity. She is a wise and vital voice on decolonizing our bodies, faith, and families, and the freedom and peace of embodiment - finding wholeness in ourselves, our stories, and our lineage. Her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, examines the journey of resisting the status quo by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

In a moment when everything feels urgent, this conversation with boundary expert Nedra Glover Tawwab is your reminder: you can care deeply about the world without abandoning yourself. Because burnout isn’t always a personal failure. Sometimes it’s just a boundary that hasn’t been spoken yet. Nedra helps us rethink boundaries—not as walls, but as instructions for how to love and be loved without disappearing. We talk about resentment, overfunctioning, people pleasing, and why all humans are gloriously, beautifully needy. If you’re exhausted, stretched thin, or carrying too much: this one is for you. - The five signs you might have a boundary problem - Why we all need to stop pretending we’re “not needy”  - How to stop arguing like a lawyer and start communicating like a kindergartener: “That hurt. I don’t like that. I need this.” - How to know when to end an argument, exit a friendship, and respond to passive aggressiveness 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. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

The stress, fear, and uncertainty of the world right now are seeping into our closest relationships. When collective pain goes unprocessed, it often shows up as distance, resentment, or disconnection with the people we love most — at a time when we need closeness more than ever. In this conversation, Esther Perel helps us understand how stress and trauma drain our relationships of aliveness and desire, why resentment grows when life becomes all duty and efficiency, and how to stay connected and loving in hard times. - Why your relationship isn’t broken — it’s exhausted- How resentment grows when efficiency replaces intimacy- Why desire disappears under responsibility - Why your partner can’t be your whole village- What “behind every criticism is a longing” really means About Esther: 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?  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Today we’re talking about the thing underneath everything: our feelings—and how hard we work to avoid them. Why is it easier to get mad than admit we’re scared? Why can a feeling that lasts 90 seconds keep us stuck for hours (or years)? And why does it so often feel like everyone else is doing life better than we are? We get into anger as a mask, anxiety spirals, the “loser” feeling no one wants to admit, and the relationship dynamics—hello, chooser vs. follower—that shape how we show up with the people we love. This one is about stopping the spin… and coming back to yourself. - Why anger is often covering something deeper - The “90-second feeling” and how to let it pass - How overthinking keeps you stuck in anxiety - Why comparison makes you feel like you’re failing - Relationship patterns that quietly take over Also listen to: The 90 Second Rule: Feel Your Feelings. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

This conversation will stay with you. When Glennon and her son Chase sit down with his hero, Ocean Vuong, something shifts: mothering reveals itself as more than a role—it’s a force that finds our kids through books, voices, and people who see them when we can’t. A raw, beautiful conversation about raising boys, surviving what shapes us, and the quiet truth every parent carries: we don’t do this alone. - How art and connection can “mother” us - What boys are taught about survival—and how that’s changing - The moment a child feels truly seen - How grief opens us to deeper human connection - Gratitude for the ones who help raise our kids 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.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Why is he building a massive secret bunker?!?! In today’s jaw-dropping deep dive, Amanda follows the money—and the secrets—behind a $400 million White House ballroom, and what is hiding beneath it. What starts as a flashy construction project unravels into a story about power, secrecy, and the dangerous things that happen when no one is watching. With democracy advocate Jon Golinger, Amanda goes past the headlines to ask the real question: What is this really about—and who is paying for it? - Why the “ballroom” might not be about a ballroom at all - The shocking discovery of a massive underground bunker—and why it matters - How anonymous corporate ballroom “donors” may be shaping government decisions - What happens when oversight disappears—and who pays the price - The bigger question: What are we being told and what’s being hidden This one isn’t just about politics. It’s about truth, power, and what we’re willing to question. Also: In this episode, Jon talks about a hotline run by House Democrats for National Parks Employees who may wish to share information about the White House Ballroom Project that concerns them. Here it is: https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/contact/tipline About Jon:  Jon Golinger serves as the Democracy Advocate for Public Citizen, one of the country’s leading government accountability watchdog organizations. Jon and Public Citizen sued to expose the secret agreement funding the President's ballroom project through anonymous private funders. Jon has devoted his career to exposing how corporate dollars shape public policy, pushing for campaign finance reform, and holding elected officials and institutions accountable. Prior to joining Public Citizen, Jon was an Assistant District Attorney and Investigator in the Special Prosecutions Unit of the White Collar Crime Division in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office where he led criminal investigations into public corruption.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Today, we’re sharing our conversation with poet Ross Gay, who reminds us that joy isn’t denial—it’s connection. Not a way out of the world, but a way back into it. Together, we explore how to keep noticing what’s still beautiful, how to rebuild our “delight muscle,” and why witnessing someone else’s joy might be exactly what brings us back to ourselves. - Why joy is evidence of connection—not escapism - How to rebuild your “delight muscle” (even when it feels gone) - The surprising power of witnessing someone else’s joy - Why “unknowing” the people you love can deepen connection - Small, daily practices to feel less alone and more alive 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'.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

We woke up to a Webby — and instead of just celebrating, we started asking: What does it mean to actually use your voice right now? Today, we’re talking about what building Treat Media has really meant — why we chose to go independent, what we’ve gained (and risked), and why having no middleman changes everything about what we can say and how we can say it. And make sure you’ve listened to Tuesday’s episode: Who is Enabling Trump? Amanda & (Our Next Pres?) Rep. Ro Khanna Name the Culprits and the Plan. We dig into Amanda’s conversation with Rep. Ro Khanna — what we agreed with, what left us unsettled, and the bigger truth underneath it all: Why aren’t the people in power doing the jobs they swore to do? This episode is about freedom, accountability, and what happens when you stop playing along. - Why going independent, and creating Treat Media, changed everything for us - What winning a Webby means — and what it doesn’t - Why “good people” isn’t the same as good leadership Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Amanda is joined by Congressman Ro Khanna for a no-spin, call-it-like-it-is conversation about the dumpster fire of Trump and Congress.   We already know who Trump is. The more urgent question is—why is Congress too cowardly to do its job to stop him? Amanda and Rep. Khanna dig into: – How both parties are failing us;  – The big, dark money that is shaping their cowardice;  – Which Democratic leaders need to go;  – The midterm election interference we know is coming (and the plan to combat it);  – What gives Rep. Khanna hope about a new generation of leadership; and – Some exciting speculation about the 2028 Presidential campaign.  This conversation is about moving past outrage and into action. What we demand. What we expect. And what must change. About Ro Khanna: A leader of action, courage and candor, Rep. Ro Khanna represents California’s 17th District and represents what is possible when an elected has a backbone and cares more about their duty than their next election. If you’ve been following my series here, and you listened to my show on the Billionaire class as the real American welfare queens, you will want to know about Rep. Khanna’s Make Billionaire’s Pay Their Fair Share Act with Senator Sanders. If you listened to my series walking through decades of depraved federal corruption protecting Epstein, you will know that it was Rep. Khanna’s dogged, intrepid resolve when everyone told him it was impossible, to pass his Epstein Transparency Act, together with Rep. Massie, which forced the administration to release files. If you listened to my episode on Jared Kushner and the real reasons we’re in an inane and inept war with Iran, you will want to know that Rep. Khanna sponsored a Bipartisan War Powers Resolution with Rep. Massie in an attempt to restrict unauthorized military action. He has taken on big oil for their lies about climate change and was crucial in bringing a coalition together to secure a $369 Billion climate investment. He is an advocate for oversight, anticorruption, transparency, and freeing elections from the scourge of big money influence. He puts his money where his mouth is: He cofounded the NO PAC Caucus and is one of only SEVEN out of 435 members of Congress who rejects all money from special interest PACs. And he brings the fight not only to actively complicit Republicans, but to Democrats who scream on social media but sit on their hands instead of doing what needs to be done. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠