We Can Do Hard Things

313. How to Turn a Mistake into Magic with Suleika Jaouad

Glennon speaks one-on-one with the brilliant Suleika Jaouad about Suleika's journey through the messy middle – living well in a body that does not feel well, and creating a life of beautiful defiance.

Discover: 

Suleika Jaouad is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling memoir, Between Two Kingdoms. She wrote the Emmy Award-winning New York Times column “Life, Interrupted,” and her reporting and essays have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Vogue, and NPR, among others. A highly sought-after speaker, her TED Talk – “What Almost Dying Taught Me About Living” – has nearly five million views. She is also the creator of The Isolation Journals, a community creativity project founded during the pandemic to help others convert isolation into artistic solitude.

IG: @suleikajaouad

312. Potholes & Productive Conflict in Relationships with Abby & Glennon

Abby and Glennon answer ALL of your relationship questions. We get into juicy topics like how to fight better, the balance of individuation and connection in relationships, and how to take ownership of your own feelings vs. judging your partner’s behaviors. 

Discover: 

-What introverts and extroverts have to learn from each other and how they can be in a relationship effectively;

-Abby and Glennon’s unbelievable golf cart fight and tips on how to have more productive conflicts; 

-How to let go of the need to control someone else; and

-What Abby means when she says, “woof.”

311. Post Diagnosis: Glennon & Abby Reflect and Decide What Needs to Change 

Glennon and Abby reflect on the dynamics of love, control, and support in relationships in the wake of Amanda’s diagnosis. 

Discover: 

-The simple sentence that Tish said to Glennon that shattered her reality;

-Glennon’s creative way of reading books & what it has to do with controlling others; and

-Why Glennon didn’t speak for a week after finding out sister’s diagnosis & what it felt like inside.

310. Amanda’s Diagnosis & What’s Next (Pt. 2) 

In Part 2, Amanda shares more from the messy middle of her breast cancer diagnosis. She talks candidly about her hopes, fears, and what she has realized really matters. 

To listen to the first part of our conversation with Amanda, click here: Amanda’s Diagnosis and What’s Next (Pt. 1)

309. Amanda’s Diagnosis and What’s Next (Pt. 1) 

Amanda shares the news about her health and what’s next for her healing. Amanda, Glennon, and Abby go into the tactical, philosophical and emotional aspects of this diagnosis and all share how they’re feeling about it and working through it at this moment.

308. Brittney Griner On Coming Home & Recovering From Trauma 

Glennon and Abby talk with athlete, humanitarian, activist–and one of the bravest people they’ve met–Brittney Griner. Brittney discusses her harrowing experience in the Russian prison system, as well as her basketball career, recovering from trauma, and her excitement over becoming a parent. 

Discover: 

-Why she went to Russia in the first place – and the gender pay gap in women’s sports; 

-Her first thought as she stepped foot on American soil after her time in a Russian penal colony;

-How she feels about America now that she’s back; and 

-How she reconciled her relationship with her dad after having a tough time coming out 

About Brittney: 

BRITTNEY GRINER is a pioneer, humanitarian, and activist and was named as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023. Griner is an NCAA champion, a WNBA champion, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Winner of the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award, and a nine-time WNBA All-Star, Griner is one of the most decorated and influential athletes of this generation.

IG: @brittneyyevettegriner

307. Healing From Complex PTSD with Stephanie Foo

Abby, Amanda and Glennon are joined by author and radio producer, Stephanie Foo. They discuss Stephanie’s memoir, What My Bones Know, and her journey healing from Complex PTSD. 

Discover: 

-The difference between Trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD; 

-What “THE DREAD” is and how to know if you have it; 

-Why if the trauma is relational, the healing has to be relational, too, and what that means, in-action; and 

-Whether you can ever truly give what you never got as a parent. 

CW: Discussion of physical and verbal abuse and neglect.

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Foo is a writer and the author of the New York Times bestseller, WHAT MY BONES KNOW: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. She is also a radio producer, most recently for This American Life. Her work has aired on Snap Judgment, Reply All, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab. A noted speaker and instructor, she has taught at Columbia University and has spoken at venues from Sundance Film Festival to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She lives in New York City.

IG: @foofoofoo

306. The Truth of OCD: Therapist Alegra Kastens on Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Therapist Alegra Kastens shares the truth about her lived experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that is vital for all of us to understand. Detailing her own struggle, and work as an OCD specialist, Alegra helps demystify the relentless cycle of ego-dystonic, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsions that define this often-misunderstood and under-diagnosed disorder – sharing why so many people have OCD and do not know it, and ways to support people with OCD without enabling and reinforcing the compulsions.

CW: Discussion of intrusive sexual and violent thoughts as well as suicidal ideation.

About Alegra:

Alegra Kastens is a licensed therapist, OCD specialist, writer, and the founder of the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders in New York City. Fueled by lived experience with a lesser-known manifestation of OCD, education and advocacy about OCD are at the forefront of her career.

IG: @AlegraKastens

TikTok: @AlegraKastens

305. How to Self-Regulate, Heal Your Relationships & Accept That You’ll Never Be Finished 

As we continue the discussion on Busyness, Amanda, Glennon & Abby share more of their thoughts about the cult of Busyness – how buying into it shows up in you and your relationships, and how it leads to dysregulation and dissatisfaction in all areas of life. We go through the signs that might indicate you’re too busy and burnt out, how to know the difference between building a life and living a life, and why dysregulation can be a breadcrumb toward healing.

Discover: 

-Why the addiction of busyness will never be pointed out or helped by most people; 

-Why Abby says the idea of retirement is the greatest heist in human history; and

-The emotional breakdown Amanda had, which led to starting her healing journey.

Also check out:

304. Break Up with Busyness & Let Go of Your To-Do List

281. How Amanda Finally Calmed Her Brain & Her Letter from Love with Liz Gilbert 

261. How to Stretch Time with Jenny Odell

139. No More Grind: How to Finally Rest with Tricia Hersey

93. BURNOUT: Do You Feel Half Alive? with Emily and Amelia Nagoski

304. Break Up with Busyness & Let Go of Your To-Do List

Amanda delves into her relationship with Busyness and how she’s working through it. We’ll touch on topics such as the pervasive culture of busyness, productivity as a measure of self-worth, and the struggle to define personal boundaries and prioritize genuine happiness (after some hilarious banter between Glennon and Abby about how to deal with “disgusting” things in a relationship).

Discover: 

-Why Busyness is such a pervasive and oppressive cult for so many of us;

-How to decouple your self-esteem and identity from your productivity;

-The actionable tactic Amanda is using in her break up with Busyness; and

-How your pets prove that the religion of busyness is a lie. 

Check out these episodes, too:

281. How Amanda Finally Calmed Her Brain & Her Letter from Love with Liz Gilbert 

261. How to Stretch Time with Jenny Odell

139. No More Grind: How to Finally Rest with Tricia Hersey

93. BURNOUT: Do You Feel Half Alive? with Emily and Amelia Nagoski