Some people talk and all we want to do is listen. Author and journalist Anand Giridharadas is one of those people. His most recent book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, explores the rigging of the American system and how even the most altruistic billionaires are doing more harm than good while ostensibly "giving back" to society.

The two also dive deep into America's dark history while acknowledging its light, what Marianne refers to as the "both and" that's embedded in our country from its founding. Looking to the future, they talk about how the country can move forward and how we can form a more just society for all.

For more information please visit TheMarianneWilliamsonPodcast.com and Anand's website, Anand.Ly.

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Author Sue Monk Kidd is one of Marianne’s favorite contemporary novelists. In this episode, Marianne and Sue discuss Sue’s books “The Invention of Wings” and her latest, “The Book of Longings.” “The Invention of Wings” is based on the historical figures Sarah and Angelina Grimke, sisters born into a slave owning family in Charleston, South Carolina, and then converted to the anti-slavery cause. They ultimately became leading abolitionists and feminists. “The Book of Longings” is Sue’s fictional account of what would have happened had Jesus been married – who the woman was, and who he was when he was with her. A fascinating conversation with one of the greats of American literature.

Referred to as the "Amazon Chernobyl," it's the largest environmental disaster that you've probably never heard of… Billions of gallons of toxic waste dumped into the Amazon by American oil company Texaco (now Chevron), leaving indigenous Ecuadorians living in a sea of pollution.

Attorney & environmental activist Steven Donziger took on the behemoth, winning a multi-BILLION dollar settlement for the indigenous Ecuadorians.

Then the unthinkable happened. Refusing to accept responsibility, Chevron has chosen to go on a years-long attack against Donziger rather than cleaning up the environmental mess it created. Seeking to destroy him personally and professionally, as well as intimidate any other human rights or environmental activists who would come to his defense, Chevron has used legal maneuvering to go so far as to strip Donziger of his passport, freeze his assets, and have him placed under house arrest where he's been for more than a year.

Marianne sits down with Steven for a wide-ranging conversation about the disaster in Ecuador, his ordeal and how a corporation can easily twist the judicial system to serve its own needs at the expense of the people. His trial is coming up within days and in a very real sense it pertains to us all.

Associate Director of Amazon watch, Paul Paz Y Miño, also joins the show to explain the background of the disaster and Steven's case.

Visit MakeChevronCleanup.com to learn more about the case, and please consider contributing to Mr. Donziger's legal fund at DonzigerDefense.com.

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Author and leader in the higher consciousness movement Caroline Myss applies her wisdom to America's predicament today. In her first episode, Marianne sits down with her longtime friend for a conversation about America's psychological dynamics, spirituality, politics, and the oversecularization of our society.

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Welcome to the Marianne Williamson Podcast.

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