We Can Do Hard Things

424. We’re Taking Patriotism Back with Heather Cox Richardson

Historian, writer, and truth-teller Heather Cox Richardson joins us to expose how patriotism has been hijacked by those undermining democracy, equality, and truth—and to show us how to reclaim it as a force for justice, unity, and hope.

-Debunking the myth of rugged individualism—and revealing why community has always been our greatest strength-How the far Right hijacked patriotism, demonized equality, and rebranded justice as socialism-The $50 trillion heist: How the top 1% looted the wealth of 90% of Americans—and got away with it

Find Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack at https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/.

Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College and an expert on American political and economic history. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning How the South Won the Civil War and her latest, the New York Times bestseller Democracy Awakening. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets. Her widely read newsletter, Letters from an American, synthesizes history and modern political issues.

Three soccer legends and Glennon go on an epic double date! Our beloved Pod Squader, Christen Press, is back with Tobin Heath to share their revolutionary reimagining of what life and love look like when you protect the sacred – and the resistance in doing things quietly and privately, especially within the queer community.

For our episode with Christen, check out ⁠132. Christen Press: How to Get Your Bliss Back⁠

About Christen: 

Christen Press is a two-time World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an equal pay pioneer. She is one of the all-time top 10 goalscorers on the U.S. Women’s National Team and currently plays for Angel City FC. Christen led the USWNT's historic achievement of Equal Pay and served as the leader of the USWNT Players Association for 2 years. Christen is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of RE—INC, a values-led brand that exists to reimagine the way women are seen and experienced in sports. She sits on the Board of Grassroots Soccer, a non-profit organization that uses the power of soccer to provide mentors, information, and health services to at-risk youth in Africa.

TW: ⁠@ChristenPress⁠

IG: ⁠@christenpress⁠

About Tobin: 

Tobin Heath is a two-time World Cup Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, known as one of the most skillful and entertaining players in the game. Throughout her club career, Heath has played for PSG, the Portland Thorns, Manchester United, and Arsenal. Tobin has taken her vision, leadership, and creativity off the pitch and into her roles as Co-Founder and Co-CEO of RE—INC, and host of the critically-acclaimed show: The RE—CAP Show World Cup Edition.

TW: ⁠@TobinHeath⁠

IG: ⁠@tobinheath

Dr. Becky Kennedy is back to discuss something rarely talked about: “mom rage” – and the crucial connection between anger and our unmet needs. 

About Dr. Becky: 

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mom of three – who’s rethinking the way we raise our children – and named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine. Dr. Becky is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and founder of the Good Inside Membership platform, a hub with Dr. Becky’s complete parenting content collection all in one place. Dr. Becky hosts Good Inside with Dr Becky, a chart-topping podcast with over 20M downloads. In 2023, Dr. Becky delivered a TED Talk in which she shares “the single most important parenting strategy”.

TW: ⁠@goodinside⁠

IG: ⁠@drbeckyatgoodinside

423. Mean Girls & Mothers-in-Law: HOW TO DEAL 

Amanda, Glennon, and Abby talk parenting through kid conflict, why girls are taught to avoid confrontation, and how to raise kids who trust themselves. They dig into the real longing beneath criticism—especially with mothers-in-law—and why getting vulnerable is braver than getting loud. Plus, Abby shares how her acceptance of failure made her a clutch performer—and what that means for the rest of us.

422. Dawn Staley on Knowing (and Demanding) Your Worth 

Legendary coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley joins us to talk about what it means to lead—with heart, grit, and unapologetic honesty. She shares:

-The one lesson from her mother that shaped her entire coaching philosophy

-How she stood up to her university and negotiated equal pay

-What losing (and winning) has taught her about grace and dominance

-The surprising toll of achieving your lifelong dreams

-And how her North Philly roots continue to guide everything she does

We also dive into her new book, Uncommon Favor, and why socks, smashed dishes, and LA Fitness-level gym disparities all make an appearance in her story. This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had about integrity, visibility, and becoming the coach of your own life.

About Dawn:

Dawn Staley is the NCAA National Championship–winning head coach of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball team, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Her new memoir Uncommon Favor is available now.

How to end a relationship lovingly, how to love an addict, and how to keep surprising yourself in midlife (buy the tap dancing shoes). Plus, why Cheryl decided to cut down her drinking. 

For our past episodes with Cheryl, listen to ⁠Episode 118 Cheryl Strayed: Don’t Let Your Dreams Ruin Your Life⁠ and ⁠Episode 119 It’s Okay to Want What You Want: Cheryl Strayed as Dear Sugar⁠.

For the Amanda episode Cheryl mentioned, listen to ⁠Episode 177 How to Face Your Biggest Fears with Amanda Doyle⁠.

About Cheryl:

Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide and was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Her bestselling collection of Dear Sugar columns, Tiny Beautiful Things, was adapted for a Hulu television show that will be released in April. In 2016, the book was adapted as a play that continues to be staged in theaters around the world. Strayed is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Torch, and the bestselling collection Brave Enough. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

TW: ⁠@CherylStrayed⁠

IG: ⁠@cherylstrayed

1. What happens inside us when we receive criticism–and how our brains ensure we’re always in the right (even when we’re not).

2. The three-ingredient recipe for a positive, productive “care-frontation” exchange.

3. The single biggest relationship killer (it’s not conflict) – and how conflict can bring you closer.

4. Amanda navigates a “care-frontation” with her son’s friend’s family – and Abby reevaluates her past relationship with criticism.

421. How to Stop the War, the Bill & the Trump Regime with Sen. Elizabeth Warren

If you, like us, have been active in fighting our descent into facism, but are wondering what the Democratic party’s plan is to stop the Trump regime, join us as we ask Senator Elizabeth Warren today what the Democratic party is doing – and what we can do.  

Listen to this episode for Senator Warren’s answers to your questions on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” War with Iran, Gaza, and midterms — and clear calls to action: how to find your representatives, and scripts for the three things to tell them to do.  

For contact info for your Congress members, go to: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

About Senator Warren: 

Elizabeth Warren, the senior Senator from Massachusetts and top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is a fearless consumer advocate and one of the nation’s leading progressive voices. Before becoming the first woman ever elected to the Senate from Massachusetts in 2012, Elizabeth led the fight to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency established in the aftermath of the financial crisis to protect consumers from predatory financial practices. Elizabeth lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband Bruce and their golden retriever, Bailey.

420. What Glennon Saw at LA Protests & Immigration Court with Lillian Aponte Miranda

We’re in the midst of hard things: ICE raids are escalating, fascism is rising—and unaccompanied immigrant children, some as young as two, are being forced to face U.S. immigration court alone. In this urgent episode, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda speak with Lillian Aponte Miranda of The Florence Project to explain what’s happening and how we can show up to help.

-Why unaccompanied children are being left to navigate the legal system alone -A firsthand look at what unaccompanied immigrant children are facing in courtrooms across the country. -How to use your body, voice, and resources to protect the most vulnerable

To support, go to treatmedia.com and make a donation through the Protect the Children tab. Also, all purchases of We Can Do Hard Things merchandise via the Shop tab will be donated to this cause. 

About Lillian: Lillian Aponte Miranda is the Executive Director of the Florence Project, where she has served since 2014 in roles including Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Mentor, Children’s Program Manager, and Co-Executive Director. She became the sole Executive Director in 2023. Before joining the Florence Project, Lillian was an Associate Professor of Law at Florida International University, where for over a decade she taught courses on International Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, and Civil Procedure, among others. 

The Florence Project provides free legal services, social services, and advocacy to immigrants facing detention and potential deportation. Find out more here: https://firrp.org/

Michelle Zauner on how to begin healing our mother wounds, using her sensitivity to deepen her relationships and be a rockstar, why she’s obsessed with sheetcake and winnebagos, and why she is still “afraid of her mental health.” 

About Michelle: 

MICHELLE ZAUNER is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. She has won acclaim from major music outlets around the world for releases like Psychopomp and Soft Sounds from Another Planet. Her most recent album, Jubilee, earned two GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Her first book, Crying in H Mart, is a New York Times Best Seller. She’s currently adapting the memoir for the screen for MGM’s Orion Pictures.

TW: ⁠@jbrekkie⁠

IG: ⁠@jbrekkie