In this episode, Anne Swayze shares an emotional tribute to her 16-year-old golden retriever, Mac, who touched many lives over the years. She recounts Mac's adventures across multiple homes and campuses, his unique quirks, and the profound impact he had on her family. Anne's heartfelt narrative captures the bond shared with Mac, illustrating the deep emotions involved in saying goodbye to a beloved pet.

(And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Kelly shared the stage with acclaimed author (and personal hero) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at this year's Aspen Ideas Festival to talk cancel culture, the importance of free speech, tribalism in America, the impact of sensitivity readers in publishing, and the consequences of self-censorship. They also share personal reflections on grief, having both lost their parents in recent years.

(Speaking of families and loss, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life to share with your families and friends.)

Kelly shares an episode of a podcast she loves called A Braver Way which is hosted by friends of Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Mónica Guzmán and April Lawson.

Is it the facts that get in the way in our politics, or our stories? Baratunde Thurston is a renowned comedian, activist, and PBS host who knows a lot about how the stories we tell about ourselves can either unlock our civic power... or make us forget we even have it. We’ll zoom in on two unforgettable times Baratunde crossed big divides and what those clashes can teach us, and we’ll hear his four pillars of “how to citizen” — as a verb, not a noun — to help us wield that power daily. Then Monica and April close us out with a clash of their own, unleashing their own stories about citizenship to see where their different politics lead them to think differently about the concept and the many issues that surround it.

Credits:

• Host: Mónica Guzmán
• Senior Producer & Editor: David Albright
• Producer: Jessica Jones
• Contributor: April Lawson
• Artist in Residence: Gangstagrass.
• Cover Art & Graphics: Katelin Annes
• Show notes: Ben Caron and Don Goldberg
• Featured Song: “That’s the Way We Climb” by Jud Caswell
• A production of Braver Angels.
• Financial Supporters: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Reclaim Curiosity
• Sponsors: USAFacts

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, author of Just Mercy, thinks with Kelly about repair in the face of deep societal ruptures. Can memorials transform thinking? Can laying bare injustice and its personal and collective effects foster a collective understanding -- followed by a durable commitment to equity? From Berlin to South Africa to Montgomery, Alabama, people are confronting past harms and leaving with a Never Again spirit that just might save us. Join us for the special episode in our Rupture and Repair series, sponsored by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Previous podcast episode with Bryan Stevenson here.

You can watch Kelly's previous video interview with Bryan Stevenson on her PBS show Tell Me More here.

(And here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on bravery, which refernces Bryan Stevenson and his grandmother -- please share.)

Listener Katie Niemeyer shares a poignant story from her time as a 16-year-old patient in a burn unit, battling a severe reaction to a depression medication. Katie recounts how a fellow patient named Kerry, a fireman recovering from his own traumatic burns, brought light and support to her darkest days. Despite his own suffering, Kerry showed up for Katie consistently, forming a lifelong bond that transcended age, color, and gender.

Please note: this episode references suicide.

(In case you missed it, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Today, I'm sharing my notes from listening to Indra Nooyi, who had a transformative tenure as CEO of PepsiCo, and is now a woman who speaks freely and blunty about what the country needs most. Live from the stage at Aspen Ideas Festival, Nooyi set the audience on fire with her blunt assessments and candid insights on how business can serve society and not the other way around.

(Speaking of interpersonal bravery, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Nicholas Kristof is one of America's most experienced, prolific, awarded and grounded journalists. I read him often when I want a point of view that comes with 35 years in the field and his signature big picture optimism. This is a conversation to remind us all how exactly change happens.

Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival for putting me on stage with Nick and for generally being such a great partner this year and last as we try to stay up to date on the best thinking.

*Please note that this conversation references substance abuse, sexual abuse, and suicide.

(Here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Kristina Phipps wrote this exquisite, poetic eulogy to honor her mom Ann Emanuels. Ann's love for beauty and her affinity for the natural world shone through in her garden, where she loved to spend time. She saw a world to be seized and not squandered and would pack more into a day than seemed humanly possible. Perhaps more than anything though, Ann viewed the world as a place that should be savored - like a plump peach warm off the tree - and she made sure to impart that valuable lesson to her three daughters.

(For anyone who may have missed it, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)