Finally Some Wisdom to Move Forward! Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom

Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom – MacArthur Genius award winner and brilliant chronicler of our times – unmasks the American stories that got us to this place—and explains, with amazing precision and clarity, how we can imagine our way out.  We discuss:  - How the MAGA story broke through and became the winning story; - How money hijacked democracy;  - The little-known history of the Black Panther party of the American South;  - Why Responsibility is Freedom; - How to frame and reclaim the American story through radical humanity: art, truth, creativity, and community.  Join us for this riveting, smart, funny conversation about power, hope, and writing a freer future.  About Tressie:  Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom is a professor and principal investigator with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NY Times columnist, and 2020 MacArthur Fellow. Her work has earned national and international recognition for the urgency and depth of its incisive critical analysis of technology, higher education, culture, media, class, race, and gender. Recent accolades include being named the 2023 winner of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize by Brandeis University for her “critical perspective and analysis to some of the greatest social challenges we face today,” the recipient of the 2025 Thomas Wolfe Prize, and a 2025-26 National Humanities Center Fellow. Her most recent book, THICK: And Other Essays was listed as one the 30 best nonfiction books of the last 30 years by the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Two books are forthcoming with Random House Books. Follow Tressie:  @tressiemcphd on Instagram  @tressiemcphd.bsky.social on Bluesky  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthingsTikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

In this delightful, hilarious, and deeply honest conversation, our friends (and neighbors!) Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney tell us: - What really happened the night the Jimmy Kimmel Live show was suspended,  - How they told their kids,  - How they loved each other through the crisis;  - How we can stay brave, be steady, love each other, and love our country—even during the worst of times; and - Of course, Jimmy’s favorite recent pranks. This conversation is a gift. You won’t want to miss it.  About Jimmy and Molly:   About Molly:  Molly McNearney is an Emmy winning writer, producer, and actor. She began her career as an assistant for JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE in 2004 and has since worked her way up to become Head Writer and Executive Producer which she has served for the last decade. McNearney has been a writer for THE OSCAR AWARDS four times and THE EMMY AWARDS three times. She can also be seen acting in DUMPLIN’ & MURDER MYSTERY for Netflix. McNearney, her husband Jimmy, and their two children live in Los Angeles. About Jimmy Jimmy Kimmel is the host and executive producer of the Emmy® Award-winning “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” With over 22 years on the air, the show produces some of the most popular comedy bits, and features a star-studded guest lineup including actors, musicians, athletes, comedians, authors, politicians and newsmakers. In 2019, Jimmy wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled “The Serious Goose.” All of Jimmy’s profits were donated to children’s hospitals across the United States. Kimmel lives in Los Angeles with his wife Molly McNearney and their children, Oprah and Steadman.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

Glennon, Abby, and Amanda are getting cozy and diving deep into what it means to actually feel your feelings. They discuss:  - How they’re getting through the awkward, messy “middle school of middle age”;  - Why feelings are 90-second-waves—and why thinking about them keeps you stuck in anxiety;  - How to stop using other people to regulate your nervous system; and - The radical truth that your body already knows what to do—you just have to let it.  We don’t need to think, process, or solve our way out of our feelings. We just need to feel them.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

We’re coming together today to support Gaza’s wounded children with no surviving parents — Donate whatever you can now: https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/pcrf-laocie-orphan-sponsorship-2025    There is no such thing as other people’s children.  We must care for the children of Gaza like they’re our own—because they are. Our friend Akram Ibrahim is a Palestinian American volunteer with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). He and his family have worked tirelessly for decades to raise awareness of the plight and beauty of the Palestinian people.   Akram shares what ceasefire means to him as someone who has spent his life fighting for Palestine and Palestinian lives.    TO SUPPORT THE WOUNDED ORPHANED CHILDREN OF GAZA TODAY, DONATE NOW:  https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/pcrf-laocie-orphan-sponsorship-2025    Donations will go directly to PCRF, with Glennon and Abby matching the first $100,000.  Together, we can channel our heartbreak into action, and care for our children.  Akram’s list of Palestinian artists and businesses to follow and support:  - @houseofpalestine: resource sharing Palestinian culture, heritage, and traditions to visitors in San Diego. If you would like to find a Palestinian restaurant/business/creator/etc in your area, you can reach out to them directly.  - @hintoftatreez: studio for Palestinian embroidery apparel, called Tatreez, plus how-to kits and workshops - @jenanmatari: Palestinian author who just released her children's book, "Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden" - @elfunoun_troupe: one of the most famous Palestinian dance troupes in Palestine. Follow their page @friendsofelfunoun to support them and learn Dabke (folk dance) around the US when they come for their 2026 tour.  - @paliroots and @paliapparel: studios designing and selling Palestine-inspired clothing - @knafehqueens: shop for award-winning Knafeh (Palestinian dessert) - @sababafalafelshop: authentic falafel shop based out of Anaheim, with a clothing brand that donates 50% of proceeds to humanitarian relief in Gaza: @westbankhoodie - @jerusalemroastery: destination for nuts, spices, snacks, desserts straight from Palestine - @sawasocal: SoCal-based organization for Palestine cultural events & workshops Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

Dearly Beloved Pod Squad: We are gathered here today to rage about menopause.  Glennon details how perimenopause is wrecking havoc on her body, mind, and relationships—and how maddening it is that our medical professionals give us no real information about what’s going on. We discuss night sweats, beehive brain, fire-ant itching, and Ms. Frizzle hair.  Plus, Glennon is joined by Melani Sanders (@justbeingmelani)—the founder of the We Do Not Care Club (WDNC)—and maybe the only hope we have left.  About Melani: Melani Sanders is a digital creator and the fearless founder of the We Do Not Care Movement™. Her viral WDNC reels and posts capture the humor, heart, and chaos of perimenopause and menopause, midlife in general, motherhood, and real life. Melani lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with her husband, three sons, and dog.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

Brandi Carlile joins Glennon for her rawest and most vulnerable conversation yet, sharing the story behind her deeply personal new album Returning to Myself—the songs that broke her open, the love that holds her steady, and what it means to truly come home. In this family meeting, Brandi bares her heart and reminds us we’re only here for the blink of an eye—so we must stay relentlessly joyful, soft, and human—and we must, together, find the beauty in the wildfire sun.  About Brandi:  Brandi Carlile is an eleven-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and activist. Over two decades and landmark albums like By the Way, I Forgive You and In These Silent Days, she has co-founded the Highwomen, launched the all-female Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival, founded the Looking Out Foundation, and helped bring Joni Mitchell back to the stage for a historic, Grammy-winning live album.  Brandi Carlile’s new album, Returning to Myself, will be out October 24th.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

This life-saving conversation is for anyone who has—or loves someone who has—breasts. It’s what to look for, what to ask, what screenings you *actually need* (not just what is offered), and every decision point you have (even if it’s not offered to you) if you are facing surgery.   This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda empower us with the most vital tool we have: information. Amanda reflects on how self-advocacy led her to her own breast cancer diagnosis—and we hear from the pod squad about how Amanda’s transparency helped save their lives. Then, we’re joined by Amanda’s renowned doctor, Dr. Lucy M. De La Cruz, who reminds us that every patient has agency—and shares how to choose the treatment path that’s right for you. And special shout out and thanks to Pod Squader Lori Mihalich-Levin (@mindfulreturn) for being such a special part of this story! If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, please save this episode or send it to the people you love. We love you.  For more on Amanda’s Breast Cancer journey:  - Amanda's Diagnosis and What's Next (Part 1) - Amanda’s Diagnosis and What’s Next (Part 2) - Amanda Returns Post Surgery: Here’s What She Wants You to Know  - What Amanda’s Learned About Life, Love & Community (Post Surgery Pt 2)  - Early Detection, Mammograms & Breast Cancer Care with Dr. Rachel Brem  - Expert Advice on Genetic Testing, Cancer Prevention & Care Disparities with Dr. Rachel Brem  About Dr. De La Cruz:  Dr. Lucy M. De La Cruz is an internationally recognized breast surgical oncologist and the youngest Latina Chief of Breast Surgery in an academic institution in the United States. She serves as Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, a nationally ranked center of excellence in breast cancer care. Dr. De La Cruz specializes in nipple-sparing mastectomies with structural preservation and resensation, with a focus on highly specialized single-stage implant reconstruction. Patients describe her not only as a world-class surgeon, but as a fierce advocate and mentor—especially for women navigating the complexities of diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody join us for a heartfelt, soulful, and delightfully chaotic conversation about:  - How to make a marriage last;  - The importance of quiet; and - how we can hold tight to our own humanity while demanding a more humanitarian world.  This conversation is an urgent reminder of how we can all use our voices to make the world more beautiful. Join us now.  About Mandy: Mandy Patinkin is a Tony Award–winning actor, singer, and storyteller whose career spans four decades across stage, film, and television. He’s known for unforgettable roles in Evita, Sunday in the Park with George, The Princess Bride, Homeland, and Criminal Minds. He has toured the world with his solo concerts and collaborations with icons like Patti LuPone and Nathan Gunn. Since 2020, Mandy and his wife, fellow performing artist Kathryn Grody, have offered a delightfully unvarnished glimpse into 45 years of marriage online—sparking live shows with their son Gideon and a new Lemonada Media podcast, Don’t Listen to Us.  About Kathryn:  Kathryn Grody is an Obie Award–winning actor and writer whose work spans theater, film, and television. She won Obies for Top Girls and The Marriage of Bette and Boo, earned a Drama Desk nomination for her one-woman play A Mom’s Life. She has long been active in advocacy with groups including the International Rescue Committee and Downtown Women for Change. This fall, she premieres her new one-woman show, A Radical, Rollicking Rumination on the Optimism of Staying Alive, exploring the transition into elderhood at 78 years young.  On their new podcast, “Don’t Listen to Us,” Mandy and Kathryn are giving you unqualified advice on everything including love, life, dolphins, work, art, bewilderments, relationships, pasta, aging, embarrassments, triumphs, ponderings on how to get through this crazy world. No question too small, no dilemma too big, no story too strange, no musing too trivial! All are welcome.  00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:41 Welcome Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody 00:05:37 Mandy playfully promotes Kathryn’s new show 00:09:31 The surprising reaction from young people 00:10:48 Mandy Patinkin’s dog, Becky 00:13:26 Mandy on how he feels about getting old 00:15:40 What Kathryn does after Mandy goes to bed 00:16:46 Mandy and Kathryn debate a recurring “issue” in their marriage 00:20:06 The first time Kathryn saw Mandy 00:27:10 Mandy and Kathryn share their repetitive marital issues 00:31:39 A hysteria about losing time 00:34:03 How a pause in the conversation can leave space for others to join 00:38:45 Glennon shares her appreciation for Abby’s gift of conversation 00:45:30 The gift of having a more talkative partner 00:50:35 Kathryn on how we need to be more generous in sharing resources 00:52:48 Holding on and trying to make the impermanent parts of life stand still 00:55:54 Why a wishing well is meaningful to Mandy Patinkin 01;02:50 How Mandy’s and Kathryn’s Judaism forms them today 01:08:36 Mandy Patinkin’s powerful thoughts on the Middle East 01:12:40 Why women should run the world 01:15:28 Mandy Patinkin’s plea to younger / older listeners 01:19:31 Mandy does not want to meet Glennon, Abby, and Amanda Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthingsTikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

We all have something inside us that knows exactly what we want.  Katie Gavin joins us to talk about:  How to identify that kernel of desire inside—and then have the courage to follow it;  Why love addiction can feel like being stuck on a “treadmill in the cosmos”; and the moment Katie called Glennon a Femme/Dom—and how it changed Glennon’s life forever.  Katie Gavin’s album: What A Relief About Katie:  Katie Gavin is a musician and member of the pop band MUNA, and released her debut solo album What A Relief this past October 2024—an album about a deep desire for connection and the obstacles standing in the way of achieving that. Gavin’s explorations of desire and intimacy feel time-worn and necessary – songs that might teach a generation if not how to live, exactly, then at least how to look within oneself for guidance about how to move forward. Katie is currently in the studio with MUNA working on their forthcoming album. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

Glennon shares the new way she’s making peace with her body—not through individual “wellness,” but through community care and collective action. Together, we explore why it’s more important than ever that we show up—even if we’re scared or heartbroken—because the world needs our broken hearts. And we unearth a small miracle: by listening to our bodies, we can participate in life without abandoning ourselves.  Join us now.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow