Podcasts about Kate Bowler

Kate Bowler (author - new book Joyful, Anyway out now! podcaster - Everything Happens on Lemonada!) makes it weird! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Bowler is officially over being grateful. Not because gratitude doesn't matter. But because it's been pushed as the latest iteration in a long series of self-help projects that are more obligation than opportunity. “It's become a new form of toxic positivity or a despairing hopefulness,” says Bowler on this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas, “that if you list enough things, you can stack up everything you are grateful for and then determine to be happy.”That's a sharp contrast to joy, which Bowler says is available even in the midst of the messy muck of every day. “Joy is going to make you say thank you. It is so good to be,” she says to Kerri Miller. “But it's not something you can achieve by climbing this grueling ladder called gratitude to the top rung.”Bowler's candid, funny and refreshing treatise on joy is captured in her new book, “Joyful, Anyway” — and on this week's Big Books conversation. Guest: Kate Bowler is the author of many books including, “Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved,” host of the podcast “Everything Happens” and a professor at Duke University's Divinity School. Her new book is “Joyful, Anyway.” Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Christina  Hello, everyone, I'm Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today's extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what's up first? Warren I subscribe to Kate Bowler's Substack and read this week that she had spoken at Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City. When she wrote that this United Methodist congregation had 25,000 members, I was a bit incredulous. Christina United Methodist churches do not usually grow that large, especially these days. Warren So, I did some fact-checking, and she is right, though most online sources also say that weekly attendance at the church is closer to 6,000. Still, that is big. The church is centrist in theology and has so far managed to stay in the United Methodist Church without suffering a meltdown in attendance, though its growth has flattened in recent years. I am going to keep my eye on the church. It will be an interesting bellwether for the future of the UMC. Christina Moving on, there's a leadership transition coming up at a significant Christian organization. Warren After nearly six years of service, Kevin Van Horne has stepped down as Executive Director of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students/ USA. His last day was Friday, May 15, 2026. According to a statement from the organization, “Kevin led IFES/USA through a season of significant change, helping to serve our global fellowship and partners well. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and for the ways God has worked through him.” Dave Shepherd (Director of Finance) has been appointed to serve as Interim Executive Director. IFES was a MinistryWatch Shining Light Award winner in 2023 and has maintained excellent ratings from us since then. Christina Warren, I know you are always interested in demographics and statistics. But something special caught your attention this week. Warren That's right, and before I say what that was, let me as some rhetorical questions. What is the most significant problem facing America and the world? Nuclear winter? Global warming? Artificial intelligence? I would submit for your consideration the coming depopulation of the earth. For at least 30 years, most reputable demographers have been saying that the world population growth is slowing and will likely top out soon. By the year 2100 the world will be in the midst of a significant population decline. Christina And one thing that caught your attention is just how much this population decline will impact all areas of life on earth. Warren That's right. This decline will have enormous implications for every aspect of life. Cities built for millions of people will disappear, leaving a rotting infrastructure. Economic growth will be impossible. We are already seeing towns in the Midwest and West disappear. That trend will accelerate. Christina I've got to admit, Warren, that that sounds a bit melodramatic. Warren I think it's fair to be skeptical, but population demographics is one area of social science that has pretty sound prediction models. Birth rates have fallen to record lows, and they don't change that much from year to year. So it's actually pretty easy to predict what the population will be in the future. And the numbers don't look good. But if these predictions seem a bit melodramatic to you, I suggest reading a new article from The Atlantic, The Great Depopulation. A world with a shrinking and aging population will offer great opportunities for ministry, but for almost every country on the planet, it will be a culturally wrenching reality. Christina On May 17, an event called ReDedicate 250 brought speakers to the National Mall in Washington. The speakers included Eric Metaxas, Mark Driscoll, Sean Feucht, and Greg Locke – all men we've written about here at MinistsryWatch. Warren That's right. They are a part of what some are now calling the Dissident Christian Right. Christina What does that mean? Warren They are not quite Christian Nationalist, but not mainstream evangelical, either. Most assessments have judged the event as kind of a bust. A few thousand people attended, but DCR pundits had predicted many more. For example, The Christian Post reported that Robert Jeffress predicted the gathering “could be the nation's largest religious gathering in more than 50 years.” It is not clear what the attendance figures for this event forbode for the DCR movement, but the weak attendance was a surprise to me and to many who have been following the movement. Christina And there was a notable passing last week. Warren My friend Bob Woodson died last week at the age of 89. If you do not know about Bob's life and the legacy he leaves behind, I recommend reading John Stonestreet's excellent tribute. It was an honor for me to be a part of the Colson Center team that presented Bob with a Wilberforce Award in 2018. He was sui generis. One of one. I will miss him personally, and our country will miss his leadership. I helped arrange a trip for him to The King's College in 2010 to do a live interview with Marvin Olasky. That interview is worth a listen, and you can find it here. Christina Warren, you've mentioned before, that you are a fan of Carey Nieuwhof's leadership podcast. This week he dropped one of his most personal episodes ever. Warren He recounts how, about 20 years ago, he experienced a period of profound burnout. It is part of a two-part series on how to avoid burning out. I strongly recommend it. You can find the first episode here. Christina Warren, we need to wrap things up here. Any final thoughts before we go? Warren I'll be in Knoxville this week attending an event hosted by my former colleagues and good friends at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. If you'd like to have lunch with me on Friday, let me hear from you. I'll be doing similar lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs in June. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. I'm Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On this episode of That Don't Sound Right, co-hosts Peter and Cecil welcome fellow podcasters Jen and Brandy from Heavy Pour of Jen and Brandy for a thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about the connection between joy and pain. The discussion explores how Jen and Brandy's podcast began, why people are drawn to sharing honest stories, and how healing sometimes shows up in unexpected places—from bars and backpacking trips to silent discos, roadside dancing, and even sneaking aboard yachts. Along the way, the group wrestles with big questions: What exactly is joy? How is it different from happiness? Can pain actually deepen our ability to experience joy? The conversation touches on the work of authors and thinkers like Kate Bowler and Jerry Sittser, including recommendations for Joyful Anyway and reflections on grief, healing, absurdity, and living honestly in a complicated world. As always, That Don't Sound Right stays true to its mission of talking the way we did before the internet—without constant Googling or fact-checking, just real conversation and the collective wisdom of the people around the table. The episode also includes hilarious yacht stories, multiverse theories, sketchy-but-legal adventures, backpacking tales, dancing therapy, and the always-entertaining TDSR speed round. Because sometimes joy shows up in the middle of the absurd… and somehow, that just might sound right. #tdsrpodcast #ThatDontSoundRight #HeavyPourOfGinAndBrandy #JoyAndPain #KateBowler #JerrySittser #HealingJourney #PodcastConversation #MentalHealth #AuthenticLiving #Storytelling #Backpacking #Absurdity #JoyfulAnyway #FunnyPodcast Connect with us:

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3014: Dr. Jack Stoltzfus explores the shared emotional struggles between parents and young adults during the difficult transition into independence, emphasizing that suffering, love, and the desire for a fulfilling future are deeply mutual experiences. Drawing inspiration from Kate Bowler's reflections on vulnerability and hardship, he offers a compassionate perspective that encourages empathy, patience, and deeper connection instead of blame or frustration. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://parentslettinggo.com/suffering-and-other-qualities-parents-share-with-young-adults/ Quotes to ponder: “We need to know that as parents, we hurt because they hurt, but we will be there for them, no matter what.” “Parents are anxious, frustrated, fearful, and helpless to know how to move their son or daughter toward adulthood.” “A third commonality between parents and young adults is that both want the young adult to be happy, successful, and fulfilled.” Episode references: Of Boys and Men: https://www.brookings.edu/books/of-boys-and-men/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor, author, and podcast host Kate Bowler joins Sam to talk about her new book Joyful Anyway, and what the difference between joy and happiness really is. They talk about why happiness is circumstantial but joy is big and bright and hits your reward system. They talk about the Prosperity Gospel, Christian amusement parks, and what on earth the Pope must be feeling right now. They talk about taking wisdom from Taylor Swift, an aversion to gardening, and the need to sometimes take a walk around the block for a quick cry. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description:Some episodes we plan. This one you created. This week, Jen and Amy are stepping back and letting the people they do this whole thing for take center stage. It's Listener Voicemail Day — and honestly? It might be our favorite kind of episode. Because nothing reminds us why this community exists quite like hearing your actual voices. So we're bringing your calls to you — from all kinds of moments and all kinds of women. Jessica calls in to reflect on our Awake Collective episode and where she is at in her own healing process, and feeling the loneliness that can settle in when you're deep in the work. Jen and Amy reflect on so much of the wisdom of our incredible Awake Collective panel – Kate Bowler, Nedra Tawwab, Emily Nagoski, and Kobe Cambell, whose words echo here: healing isn't supposed to feel good — it's supposed to feel like disruption. Sara brings it home with a call about raising young girls. Between them, Jen and Amy are parenting nine young adults, so they have thoughts. Amanda found Awake on vacation and came home having discovered something she didn't know she was missing — an invisible community of women who just get it. Deborah calls in from Canada with a story that will stop you in your tracks. A devastating and beautiful parallel between her journey losing her husband to terminal brain cancer and Jen's own story — and the breathtaking grace of how, by God's grace, we do recover. Tania reflects on the Wilderness and Wonder series and a recent trip to the mountains that cracked something open in her — the awe, the connection, the reminder that this podcast is its own kind of sacred space. And Diavianne closes things out talking budgets and spreadsheets, which sounds ordinary until you realize it's actually about power — the freedom and confidence that come from truly owning your financial life. Jen and Amy respond to each one with the honesty and tenderness that only comes from doing this long enough to know: you are never as alone as you think you are. This is the connective tissue. This is why we show up every week. Have something you need to say out loud? Head to JenHatmaker.com/Podcast, find the Send Voicemail button, and leave us your story. We're listening. Thought-provoking Quotes: “There's something comforting about not feeling alone in something. I borrow courage from other people who say ‘me too'.” – Jen Hatmaker “Some things only work for us for a season. It's okay to change things up. There's not one right way to do things.” – Amy Hardin Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Wake-Up Call: What Changes in Midlife—and Why You're Not Imagining It - https://jenhatmaker.com/podcasts/series-64/the-wake-up-call-what-changes-in-midlife-and-why-youre-not-imagining-it/ Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker - https://amzn.to/4whxU6N The Emotional (and Sometimes Chaotic) Life of Teenagers with Dr. Lisa Damour - https://jenhatmaker.com/podcasts/series-52-for-the-love-of-calming-the-chaos/the-emotional-and-sometimes-chaotic-life-of-teenagers-with-dr-lisa-damour/ Good Bones by Maggie Smith - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker - https://amzn.to/4neIlUp Jen's Finance MeCourse - https://shop.jenhatmaker.com/products/me-course-finance Connect with Jen!Jen's Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmakerJen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmakerJen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've been striving, spinning, and quietly wondering if you're doing this whole life thing right, this episode is for you. This best-of collection brings together six of the most faith-fueled, soul-shifting conversations in the history of The Alli Worthington Show. Not because you need more information. Because you need to be reminded of what's already true. These are the conversations I go back to. The ones that get into you.   What You'll Learn in This Episode: How to stop looking for a giant answer and start following the arrows God is already putting in your path (Emily P. Freeman) What it actually means to find and show up for a mentor (Bianca Juarez Olthoff) Why suffering doesn't disqualify you from God's nearness and how grace meets you in your worst moments (Kate Bowler) A simple one-minute practice that literally resets your brain and drops your cortisol (John Eldredge) How to give more grace than feels fair and why that's what saves your friendships (Laura Tremaine) What God's holiness actually means for your daily life and why everything else will fail you until you understand it (Jackie Hill Perry) Timestamps: 0:00 - God never intended your soul to carry the heartache of the world 1:02 - Emily P. Freeman on finding your next right thing 5:39 - Bianca Juarez Olthoff on how to find and keep a mentor 11:26 - Practical mentorship tips and making it work in real life 12:48 - Kate Bowler on God's strength in the middle of suffering 18:15 - John Eldredge on the one-minute pause practice 20:44 - John Eldredge on benevolent detachment 24:27 - Laura Tremaine on investing in friendships and extending grace 29:44 - Jackie Hill Perry on God's holiness and why it matters 32:14 - Jackie Hill Perry on how understanding God's holiness helps you trust Him   Links to great things we discussed:  Function Health Take the Secret Superpower Quiz Join the Uplift Community Follow Alli on Instagram Don't forget to watch Alli Worthington on YouTube!  I hope you loved this episode!

Kate Bowler wants us to stop trying to be happy. She's a Duke University professor, bestselling author and host of one of America's most loved podcasts on grief, faith, and meaning. After being diagnosed with stage four cancer at just 35 years old, Kate began questioning the cultural obsession with positivity, success and the idea that everything happens for a reason. Her new book Joyful Anyway explores a different possibility - that joy isn't something we achieve once life is perfect but something that can exist alongside grief, uncertainty and disappointment. She speaks with Mihingarangi about how we can all find joy.

If your diagnosis has left your mind racing and replaying worst-case scenarios, waking you up at night, or pulling you into endless “what if” thoughts, this episode will help you understand why your brain is reacting this way and how to begin calming the fear.In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore why anxiety, panic, and rumination often intensify after a life-changing diagnosis. You'll hear the story of Kate Bowler, who faced overwhelming fear and uncertainty after her stage IV cancer diagnosis and gradually learned how to live with more steadiness, even without having all the answers. From there, we break down the biology of fear, including how the brain's threat-detection system, stress hormones, inflammation, and uncertainty itself can keep your mind stuck in overdrive.In this episode, you'll understand: • Why your brain fixates on worst-case scenarios after a diagnosis • How anxiety, panic, and rumination are driven by real biological processes • Why uncertainty feels so difficult for the mind to tolerate • How stress hormones and inflammation can intensify emotional distress • Simple, practical ways to interrupt fear spirals and calm your nervous systemListen now to understand what's happening inside your mind and learn how to create moments of calm, even in the middle of uncertainty.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.

Joy may sound soft, but it has a measurable impact on resilience, engagement, trust, and team performance. In this REVERB episode, Andy Stanley and Suzy Gray unpack Andy’s conversation with Kate Bowler about why joy matters more than most leaders realize. They discuss the difference between joy and happiness, how recognizing progress creates gratitude, why storytelling strengthens team culture, and how simple acts of recognition can transform engagement. If you want to build a healthier culture and become the kind of leader people want to follow, start by creating more space for joy on your team. Special thanks to our sponsor BELAY for offering a free download of their resource The Guide to Outsourced Accounting. Just text the word ANDY to 55123 to claim your free guide now. Recognized as one of Forbes' 6 Leadership Podcasts To Listen To In 2024 and one of the Best Leadership Podcasts To Stay in the Know for CEOs, according to Industry Leader Magazine. If this podcast has made you a better leader, you can help it by leaving a quick Spotify or Apple Podcasts review. You can visit Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and then go to the “Reviews” section. Thank you for sharing! ____________ Where to find Andy: Instagram: @andy_stanley Facebook: Andy Stanley Official X: @andystanley YouTube: @AndyStanleyOfficial See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joy isn’t optional for leaders, it’s what keeps you connected to the story that makes your work matter. In this episode, Andy sits down with Kate Bowler to explore why joy isn’t a distraction from leadership—it’s what sustains it. Joy doesn’t come from solving every problem or achieving every goal. Instead, it reconnects leaders to the deeper story behind their work—the reason it matters in the first place. Download the application guide: https://bit.ly/422p1Ad Here's what they cover in this episode: The difference between happiness and joy and why it matters (04:30) Why joy shows up in hard moments—not just easy ones (06:40) Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s losing the story (10:45) How busyness crowds out joy (and what to do about it) (11:30) Can you actually practice joy? (14:30) Why leaders need joy to stay connected to purpose (17:10) Three ways to become more open to joy: do, love, hope (20:45) The danger of worshiping productivity (22:00) Toxic positivity vs. honest joy (25:00) Special thanks to our sponsor BELAY for offering a free download of their resource The Guide to Outsourced Accounting. Just text the word ANDY to 55123 to claim your free guide now. Recognized as one of Forbes' 6 Leadership Podcasts To Listen To In 2024 and one of the Best Leadership Podcasts To Stay in the Know for CEOs, according to Industry Leaders Magazine. If this podcast has made you a better leader, you can help it by leaving a quick Spotify or Apple Podcasts review. You can visit Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and then go to the “Reviews” section. Thank you for sharing! ____________ Where to find Andy: Instagram: @andy_stanley Facebook: Andy Stanley Official X: @andystanley YouTube: @AndyStanleyOfficial See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to faith when certainty collapses? Kate Bowler sits down with theologian and former underground priest Tomáš Halík to explore belief forged under surveillance, the spiritual value of doubt, and why going deeper—not louder—might be the only faithful response to a fractured world. Together, they consider silence, suffering, and what it means to remain open to God when clarity is nowhere to be found. SHOW NOTES Watch the live conversation on YouTube Touch the Wounds — Tomáš Halík The Afternoon of Christianity — Tomáš Halík

In this episode, meet the host of the Everything Happens podcast Kate Bowler, co-authors Annie Leonard and Andre Carothers, and speaker and advocate Libby Ward. Tune in to hear Kate Bowler on accessing joy without having to be “fixed,” hear Annie Leonard and Andre Carothers on the civic concerns that prompted them to write their book on the power of protest, and hear Libby Ward on helping moms feel less alone and more whole in motherhood. Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/764086/joyful-anyway-by-kate-bowler/audio Protest by Annie Leonard and Andre Carothers: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/835338/protest-by-annie-leonard-and-andre-carothers/audio Honest Motherhood by Libby Ward: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/749972/honest-motherhood-by-libby-ward/audio

Kate Bowler is one of the most thought-provoking voices on pain and suffering you'll ever encounter. Living her dream life – married to her high school sweetheart, a baby boy, and her dream job – she was diagnosed with stage four cancer just as everything fell into place.In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Kate to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. We'd love to know yours, let us know in the reviews...Kate is a four-time New York Times bestseller, professor at Duke University, host of the Everything Happens podcast, and author of an exceptional Substack. Her latest book, Joyful Anyway, hit the shelves this month.POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY:I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on.This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details.CHAPTERS:00:49 A Person – Be a Roger: the quiet librarian who showed her what service really looks like 01:47 A Habit – Praying with her son every night02:27 A Comfort – Roadside America, a 40-foot ceramic turtle, and how she befriended Tom Holland 03:49 A Piece of Advice – "It comes undone though, so don't skip to the end"BUY KATE'S NEW BOOK:Joyful Anyway – www.amazon.co.uk/Joyful-Anyway-Finding-Delight-Impossible/dp/1037202562FOLLOW KATE BOWLER:Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowlerTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowlerSubstack – https://katebowler.substack.com/Podcast – Everything HappensFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod

Kate Bowler is joined by Nadia Bolz-Weber and Sarah Bessey for an honest, funny, and deeply tender conversation about what it means to be people of faith right now. When the world feels overwhelming—personally and globally—they explore small acts of love, embodied community, and “cozy faith” as resistance to despair. From knitting circles and prayer shawls to church, doubt, and the stubborn choice to keep loving the world, this episode is about finding hope in ordinary, human ways. SHOW NOTES Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Nadia Bolz-Weber Sarah Bessey Evolving Faith Conference & Community Sacred Harp singing Braving the Truth by Rachel Held Evans (edited by Sarah Bessey) Books by Nadia Bolz-Weber — Pastrix, Accidental Saints, Shameless Books by Sarah Bessey — Field Notes for the Wilderness, A Rhythm of Prayer, Jesus Feminist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Bowler is joined by Nadia Bolz-Weber and Sarah Bessey for an honest, funny, and deeply tender conversation about what it means to be people of faith right now. When the world feels overwhelming—personally and globally—they explore small acts of love, embodied community, and “cozy faith” as resistance to despair. From knitting circles and prayer shawls to church, doubt, and the stubborn choice to keep loving the world, this episode is about finding hope in ordinary, human ways. SHOW NOTES Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Nadia Bolz-Weber Sarah Bessey  Evolving Faith Conference & Community Sacred Harp singing Braving the Truth by Rachel Held Evans (edited by Sarah Bessey) Books by Nadia Bolz-Weber — Pastrix, Accidental Saints, Shameless Books by Sarah Bessey — Field Notes for the Wilderness, A Rhythm of Prayer, Jesus Feminist 

At 35, Kate Bowler had the life she'd always wanted: she was a Duke University professor, married to her high school sweetheart, with a one-year-old son. Then she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.Today, Kate is a five time New York Times bestselling author, host of the Everything Happens podcast and one of the most inspiring and unique voices on the subject of suffering, the myth of the prosperity gospel and the reality of the human condition.POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY: I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details.FIVE LESSONS FROM KATE:Don't trust your 2 am self. Your 2 a.m. self is despairing and terrified.People want to help. Give them small, specific ways to show they love you.Put an expiry date on bitterness.Saying yes opens up untold opportunities – often it's worth it.Happiness is cheap. Meaning isn't. A happy person isn't necessarily living a meaningful life – they're often just extremely lucky.CHAPTERS: 04:42 – Defining resilience10:49 – Growing up with depressed person14:46 – The prosperity gospel16:48 – When it all came apart20:33 – The diagnosis22:07 – Performing gratitude35:23 – Rules for surviving cancer43:33 – The reality of being cured45:12 – Joyful Anyway48:19 – The happiness industry51:23 – On stoicism55:35 – Fear, sharks and risk58:18 – Tasked with loveBUY KATE'S NEW BOOK:Joyful Anyway – www.amazon.co.uk/Joyful-Anyway-Finding-Delight-Impossible/dp/1037202562FOLLOW KATE BOWLER: Instagram – www.instagram.com/katecbowler/YouTube – www.youtube.com/@katecbowlerTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@katecbowlerSubstack – https://katebowler.substack.com/Podcast – Everything HappensFOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispod

What if humor isn’t just a personality trait—but a survival strategy? Kate Bowler sits down with writer Jenny Lawson and entertaining YouTuber Rhett McLaughlin to talk about the strange, often dark roots of comedy. From childhood anxiety and taxidermy-filled homes to lifelong creative friendships and faith that evolves, they explore how silliness, honesty, and absurdity help us live with what hurts. This is a conversation about being “too much,” laughing at what’s not funny, and finding connection in the weirdest parts of being human. SHOW NOTES Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Let’s Pretend This Never Happened — Jenny Lawson Furiously Happy — Jenny Lawson Broken (in the Best Possible Way) — Jenny Lawson How to Be Okay (When You’re Not Okay) — Jenny Lawson Rhett & Link / Mythical Entertainment Good Mythical Morning James and the Shame (Rhett McLaughlin’s music project) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Social, Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton officially reveal their romance on Instagram. And, is it important for you to know how many people your partner has slept with? Then, would you be ok with your partner paying for adult content online? Plus, a Connecticut man holds the world record for the largest collection of dead celebrities’ hair. And, is “women-helping-women” culture genuinely supportive or does it mask competition? Then, Lizzo reveals that she was in her 30s when she had sex for the first time! Plus, would you be disappointed to learn that a ghostwriter had written your favourite memoir? And, best-selling author and professor Kate Bowler shares how she learned to find joy despite a devastating cancer diagnosis. Featuring musician and drag icon Priyanka, and designer and TV host Debbie Travis.

Description:If you've ever whispered, Is this it?—if you've been doing “all the right things” and still feel that unfinished ache humming under your skin—go ahead and hit download. Jen is joined by her beloved friend (and actual genius) Kate Bowler to talk about her new book, Joyful Anyway—a bracing, funny, tender rebellion against the optimization industrial complex. This is not a “choose joy” pep talk where somebody sprints past you tossing a Live Laugh Love pillow at your face. Kate is here for the after: after the before-and-after story didn't pan out, after grief and guilt and longing set up permanent residence, after you realized happiness is fragile and reality keeps kicking in. Together, Jen, Amy, and Kate name what so many of us can't quite articulate: the ache—that “achy, stabby want” at the center of our lived experience. They talk about why we need permission just to be human, why “performing resilience” is exhausting, and how telling the truth can loosen the grip of the story that's been swallowing the rest of our life. Kate also shares an unforgettable story about a snake bite, an ER, and a moment of unexpected mercy that cracked something open—proof that joy doesn't always come through the front door. Sometimes it slips in sideways, like grace. Like a sudden, full-bodied yes—even when nothing is resolved. You'll also hear about: The difference between happiness (fragile and expensive) and joy (sneaky, un-schedulable, and—somehow—free) How joy finds us through embodied moments—beauty, absurdity, paying attention The Burn Book / Resentment List and why making a “this scarred me, this counted” list might be the most faithful thing you do all week (including Kate's deeply personal grievance about her tragically unaesthetic family gravesite) Roadside Joy Detours: Kate's practice of putting herself “in the way of joy” with absurd road trips to local oddities And Kate's reminder: you are a song—don't die with it still inside you Bottom line: if you're quietly undone, if your body feels weary, if the headlines have you spiraling—Kate is here with permission, language, and a weird little flashlight. The ache stays. But joy still shows up. Sometimes as grace. Sometimes as absurdity. Sometimes as a roadside attraction you drove two hours to see for no reason—except you're alive, and that's reason enough. Thought-provoking Quotes: “I think there's a great mystery at the heart of the human experience and I wanted to explore joy as one of those unbelievable places.” – Kate Bowler “The purpose of that ache inside you is to get you to re-examine how it feels in your body, bring your honesty to it, and then ask, where can I go from here? Where can this take me that's lovelier than here?” – Kate Bowler “I find that absurdity is one of the side doors to joy.” – Kate Bowler “Joy is asking us to step up to the edge of a mystery where we get momentary fulfillment and then we get life. And God is asking us to say that this is holy.” – Kate Bowler Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler - https://amzn.to/3ZWqNBT Kate Bowler book tour - https://katebowler.com/books/joyfulanyway/#tour Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi- https://amzn.to/4bdpN2q Guest's Links: Website - https://katebowler.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ Twitter - https://x.com/katecbowler Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/katecbowler Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8m7lNdR7YVieU0muCg5cg TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katecbowler Substack - https://katebowler.substack.com/ Podcast - https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ Connect with Jen!Jen's Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmakerJen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmakerJen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the day her new book Joyful Anyway releases, Kate pauses before the interviews and travel to reflect on a harder question: what does it mean to talk about joy in a world that feels fractured, exhausting, and uncertain? In this short, personal episode, she pushes back on the pressure to optimize our way into happiness and instead explores a stranger, sturdier kind of joy—one that shows up alongside grief, ordinary stress, and lives that don’t quite match the ones we imagined. With a reading from the book and a few honest reflections, this is an invitation to consider what might be better than happiness—and how joy might still find us anyway. SHOW NOTES Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler — Available everywhere books are sold. Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Easter edition of the Russell Moore Show, Russell draws from past episodes to explore how the resurrection of Jesus reframes everything: from scientific belief and intellectual doubt to embodied life, unexpected joy, and suffering. Featuring clips from episodes with Francis Collins, Michael Wear, David Taylor, Christian Wiman, Kate Bowler, and Tim Keller, this episode draws out our Christian hope: if Christ is raised, then reality itself is different.  Across stories of cancer diagnoses, intellectual conversions, poetic insight, and quiet moments of joy, the episode insists on a central truth: the resurrection is not metaphor. And if it happened, then even in grief, uncertainty, and death—everything is going to be okay. Keep up with Russell: Sign up for the weekly newsletter where Russell shares thoughtful takes on big questions, offers a Christian perspective on life, and recommends books and music he's enjoying. Submit a question for the show at questions@russellmoore.com  Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are some conversations that feel like a warm hug. They make you laugh, feel safe, and a little like you want to cry. Today's show is all of the above. This week on Laugh Lines, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and Duke University professor, Kate Bowler. (And I'm just going to say it... I would like to formally submit my application to be her best friend.) Kate's new book, Joyful Anyway, asks a question that stopped me in my tracks: What if joy isn't something we earn… but something that finds us? Even in the middle of the messy, complicated parts of life?Penn and I talk to Kate about “the ache”, the difference between happiness and joy, and why sometimes the most inappropriate and grief-stricken moments are the ones where laughter sneaks in anyway. Happiness can feel like something we're supposed to chase, optimize, and maybe even buy. But joy? Joy is a surprise. It's that fleeting, soul-expanding moment where, somehow, everything feels okay, even when it's not. Kate also shares how her stage IV cancer diagnosis changed the way she sees everything. How it stripped life down to what actually matters, and how, somehow, even in hospital rooms and heartbreak, joy still found a way in.If you've been feeling "the ache" lately and need some joy in your life, this insightful and funny conversation will meet you right where you are. (Oh, and Penn wants you to know he still doesn't like Duke basketball... you'll have to listen to the show for more.) We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Learn more about Kate and her book!Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. Kim and Penn Holderness are award-winning online content creators known for their original music, song parodies, comedy sketches, and weekly podcasts. Their videos have resulted in over three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To start the show, Jann Arden, Caitlin Green, and Sarah Burke share exciting news about their upcoming live podcast taping in Toronto on May 5th as part of the Departure Festival + Conference — a multi-day celebration of music, film, and media, the first week of May in Toronto.

There’s a particular kind of pressure that creeps in when we start measuring our lives—where we thought we’d be by now, who we imagined we’d become, how things were supposed to feel. The instinct is to fix it. Optimize it. Get moving. But what if the invitation is something else? Kate Bowler sits down with writer and speaker Suleika Jaouad (Between Two Kingdoms, The Book of Alchemy) for a conversation about living inside unresolved questions—especially the ones that ache. Together, they talk about ambition and exhaustion, chronic illness and uncertainty, and the quiet shifts that happen when nothing seems to change. They explore the tension between momentum and meaning, the limits of self-improvement, and what it looks like to keep going without pretending everything is fixable. SHOW NOTES Suleika Jaouad’s Isolation Journals (Substack) Between Two Kingdoms — Suleika Jaouad The Book of Alchemy — Suleika Jaouad Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Join Kate Bowler on Substack for the season of Lent: katebowler.substack.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Bowler invites two of her sharpest friends—Ross Douthat and Molly Worthen—to help her make sense of the current American religious landscape: why the long “decline” story may be shifting, why religious curiosity is popping up in unexpected places, and why the loudest forms of Christianity often feel more online, more political, and more embarrassing. Together they sort through what people mean by “Christian nationalism,” how much of it is symbolism versus policy, what weak institutions and internet incentives are doing to faith, and what still gives them hope for the church. SHOW NOTES Ross Douthat Bad Religion Believe The Deep Places Molly Worthen Apostles of Reason Spellbound Pre-order Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Join Kate Bowler on Substack for the season of Lent: katebowler.substack.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to live well when danger, loss, and grief are never far away? Kate Bowler talks with theologian, pastor, and writer Patrik Hagman, whose life has been shaped by profound loss—including the death of his father, his young son, and later his wife. Raised in Finland and now living in Sweden, Patrik brings a distinctly Nordic perspective on happiness—not as constant joy or self-optimization, but as contentment, trust, and gratitude that survives close proximity to fragility. This is a conversation about living with fewer explanations and more honesty. About faith that refuses easy answers. About the strange clarity that comes when life gets very small and very bright at the same time. And about learning to be less surprised by tragedy—and more surprised by goodness. If you’re trying to hold grief and gratitude at once, this episode is for you. SHOW NOTES Babettes Kulturhus (Linköping, Sweden) – community space for conversation, fika, and culture Stanley Hauerwas – theologian often referenced in the conversation Patrik Hagman – theologian, pastor, writer, and translator of Stanley Hauerwas’s work Pre-order Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Join Kate Bowler on Substack for the season of Lent: katebowler.substack.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description: Description: What happens when the life you've been managing no longer fits? Jen Hatmaker sits down with Nedra Glover Tawwab, Emily Nagoski, Kobe Campbell, and Kate Bowler for an honest conversation about what it really means to wake up in midlife. Together, they explore where awakening often shows up first—our relationships, bodies, mental health, and faith. This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about noticing what's shifting, understanding why it feels disruptive, and realizing you're not alone. From boundaries and burnout to anxiety, trauma, body shame, and faith after certainty, this episode offers language and clarity for women navigating midlife change with courage. If you've ever thought, Something's changing—and I don't know what to do with it, this conversation is for you. Thought-provoking Quotes: “You're not broken. You're paying attention.” — Jen Hatmaker “Midlife clarity isn't cruelty. It's information.” — Nedra Glover Tawwab “Healing doesn't mean you stop feeling. It means your responses finally make sense.” — Kobe Campbell “Anxiety can bring clarity—but it's not meant to be the fuel forever.” — Kobe Campbell “You don't complete stress by thinking it through. You complete it by letting it move through your body.” — Emily Nagoski “Certainty falling away doesn't mean faith is gone. It means it's growing up.” — Kate Bowler Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab – https://amzn.to/4rhSzofThe Balancing Act: Creating Healthy Dependency and Connection Without Losing Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab – https://amzn.to/46cF4hgCome As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski – https://www.amazon.com/Come-You-Are-Surprising-Transform/dp/1982165316/ Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski – https://amzn.to/3MgTXIK Why Am I Like This?: How to Break Cycles, Heal from Trauma, and Restore Your Faith by Kobe Campbell – https://amzn.to/4qIMqR9 Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler – https://amzn.to/3MdyfW3 Everything Happens podcast with Kate Bowler – https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ Nedra's Links: Website - https://www.nedratawwab.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nedratawwab/-  Substack - https://nedratawwab.substack.com/ Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-need-to-hear-this-with-nedra-tawwab/id1686288228 Emily's Links: Website - https://www.emilynagoski.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/enagoski/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/emilynagoskiphd/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@emilynagoski Substack - https://substack.com/@emilynagoski Podcast - https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/come-as-you-are Kobe's Links: Website - https://kobecampbell.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kobecampbell_/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheKobeCampbell/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheKobeCampbell Substack - https://substack.com/@kobecampbell Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healing-circle-podcast-with-kobe-campbell/id1448504061 Kate's Links: Website - https://katebowler.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ Twitter - https://x.com/katecbowler Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/katecbowler Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8m7lNdR7YVieU0muCg5cg TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katecbowler Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/katecbowler/ Substack - https://katebowler.substack.com/ Podcast - https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ Connect with Jen!Jen's Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmakerJen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmakerJen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send The Parable Podcast a TextThroughout this episode, I share about how our family welcomed a foreign exchange student into our home, the joys and challenges of parenting, and the need to make active choices in life. One of the ways emphasizes the significance of listening to others and embracing change as part of personal growth, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own lives and the stories they carry.After 229 episodes I am choosing to press pause on continuing The Parable Podcast. I have beel so blessed to take the time to reflect on the joy of connecting with guests and listeners. This decision to step back is giving me some bandwith, rest and ensuring that this podcast content remains genuine and authentic. I encourage you as a listener to evaluate your own life, consider what brings you joy, and make choices that align with your heart.So I thank you so much for listening, for being a part of the Parable Podcast. It has been such a blessing to my life. I've grown in so many ways and I am grateful. And I will say goodbye for now, stay in touch. I don't know what will come in the future, but I do want you to know and remember that your parable story matters. And that is how God consistently works in your life to grow you, to shape you, to become more like Him. Thank you so much. I love you!TakeawaysWelcoming a foreign exchange student can enrich your life.Parenting involves making family decisions together.We often get caught up in the busyness of life.Making plans helps us prioritize what matters.Busyness can cut off our connection to God and others.Choosing not to replace activities but to create space is essential.Community and listening to others strengthen our relationships.Embracing change is a part of personal growth.Reflection QuestionsWhat are the hard parts? Is it time to press pause? Is it time to end something? Or maybe it's time to start. What would that be for you?And encouragement to look at whatever you're doing, if you're trying to find space, make sure you are not replacing it. ;)Connect with DanielleInstagramThe Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica RichieKeywords: The Parable Podcast, family stories, foreign exchange student, parenting, busyness, community, change, active choices, listening, personal growthSupport the showWays to Support The Parable Podcast #1 Subscribe or Follow the podcast to ensure you catch every episode of The Parable Podcast on your preferred podcast platform (such as iTunes, Spotify). #2 Recommend this podcast to a friend, providing a great chance to begin your own Parable Conversation. #3 Looking for a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? Contact Danielle to learn more.

What do we do when the world feels unbearably heavy—and no one is coming to save us? To kick off Season 16 of Everything Happens, Kate Bowler sits down live with beloved author and truth-teller Anne Lamott for a luminous, funny, and deeply honest conversation about shame, joy, faith, aging, love, and what it means to keep showing up anyway. Recorded in front of a packed house at the historic Carolina Theatre in Durham, Kate and Anne talk about the shame that follows us from childhood, the relief of putting down our armor, and the small, ordinary acts of love that still matter. This is a conversation for anyone who feels tender, overwhelmed, skeptical of easy answers—and still hungry for hope. Show notes: Anne Lamott on Substack Pre-order Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway Watch the live conversation on YouTube Kate Bowler on Substack: katebowler.substack.com Anne Lamott Bird by Bird Operating Instructions Traveling Mercies Good Writing (with Neil Allen) Maggie Smith, "Good Bones" Naomi Shihab Nye, “Gate A-4” William Blake, “We are here to learn to endure the beams of love” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm always so excited when this episode comes around. Either through voice memo, email, or Instagram, you guys share the challenges of your everyday lives, and we try and Lazy Genius them together, finding compassionate solutions that match the season of life. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. In the month of February, 10% of our revenue from Playbook sales will go to World Central Kitchen! The Instagram post where we collected today's Office Hours questions. Episode #235: When You Disagree on What Matters Episode #325: Dealing with Differences on How Something Is Done Episode #337: How to Lazy Genius Division of Labor Episode #298: How to Keep Up with Household Habits Episode Three of The Lazy Genius Kitchen video series (making regular dinners on a regular basis) Watch the whole series here Episode #333: 7 Ways to Always Know What to Wear Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler (out April 7) House Rules by Myquillyn Smith (aka The Nester) Episode #332: How to Enjoy Your Evening Hours The Next Right Thing podcast by Emily P. Freeman Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textThe devotion for today, Thursday, January 15, 2026 was written by Dr. Pat Saxon and is narrated by Angela Whorton. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Kate Bowler, “A Resolution for People Who Are Already Doing Their Best:”Every January, we perform this ritual together. We shake off the indulgence of the holidays and brace ourselves for improvement. We tell ourselves that this will be the year we get it together…that any mess was temporary…that with the right plan, the right habits, the right mindset, we can finally become the person we were always supposed to be.This is not a small thing. In the United States and Canada…, New Year's resolutions have become a kind of secular sacrament—an annual recommitment to the belief that limits are a problem to be solved.But what if they aren't? Support the show

Kelly and Kate Bowler return for the second half of their annual "Crappy/Happy" tradition—this time, the happy. They share the moments from 2025 that restored something, surprised them, or reminded them of what's important. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kelly and Kate Bowler return for their annual, end-of-the-year "Crappy Happy" tradition—this week, the crappy. They wade into the losses that don't announce themselves all at once: the thinning of what used to feel full, the realization that some struggles are life sentences, and the slow unraveling of institutions that once felt solid. Kate reflects on what it costs to do slow, unglamorous work in a world that no longer values it and Kelly considers what happens when systems built to protect everyone start serving only one. They talk about acceptance as a form of hope, the surprising need to be bone tired, and how to tell the difference between people fighting for their side and people protecting what shelters us all. It's an honest, grounding conversation—with the happy coming next week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The TODAY Show’s Jenna Bush Hager sits down for a wide-ranging conversation with Kate Bowler. Together, they share about the importance of family and intergenerational relationships (Jenna shares such tender stories about her grandparents), how they hope to let their kids make mistakes and be met with grace, and how they both (try to) find beauty in ordinary, regular days and regular problems. In this conversation, Kate and Jenna discuss: How to model openness and empathy across difference (even when people really, really disagree) Why they want to raise their kids to be curious and independent How the love of others makes us brave—brave enough to make mistakes (and why that’s okay) Kate visited Jenna in New York City for this conversation. And Jenna is just as lovely and generous of spirit as you’d imagine. CW: fertility issues; Alzheimer’s Subscribe to Kate’s Substack for blessings, essays, and reflections that hold what’s hard and beautiful. Join us for Advent over there, too! This episode originally aired September 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have a bonus episode for you from Happier with Gretchen Rubin, featuring our very own Francis Lam. Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen's cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully.On this episode of More Happier:It's easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning.

It’s easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning. Resources & links related to this episode: Francis Lam Priya Parker Kate Bowler The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin Stone Soup by Marcia Brown (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re sharing a conversation from the More Happier podcast between Kate, Gretchen Rubin, Priya Parker, and Francis Lam. It’s easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, John explores the surprising timing of gratitude. When does gratitude matter the most? When something good happens? When life goes right? Scripture gives a very different answer.Drawing from Paul's words in Philippians 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5—and powerful reflections from Karl Barth, Kate Bowler, and the Psalms—John shows why the key moment for gratitude is right now, no matter your circumstances. Not because everything is good, but because God is God in this moment.You'll hear stories of protest, lament, trust, and hope… and you'll be invited into a brief practice of giving thanks for the small, often overlooked blessings of ordinary life. This one will encourage you and steady your soul. Welcome to Become New.

What happens when you live on a planet where grief rewrites the language of everyday life? Kate Bowler speaks with writer and New York Times editor Sarah Wildman about her daughter Orli’s incandescent life and staggering courage while living with terminal cancer. Together they explore the limits of positivity culture, the fierce tenderness of caregiving, the sacred discomfort of truth-telling, and the love that carries us when nothing adds up. This is a conversation for anyone who has lived inside the ache—and chosen joy anyway. Show Notes: Sarah Wildman’s award-winning writing at The New York Times Leonard Cohen’s “Who By Fire” Jewish practices of grief (shiva) and care (bikur cholim) Blessing for Life After Loss Support Guides: Parenting a Medically-Complicated Child, When Your Child is in Pain, When You’ve Been Diagnosed Orli, in all her joy: @orli_halpern on TikTok For those of us who live on a different planet now: Small Talk Survivor Tee | Mug Kate’s Substack – blessings, reflections, and our tender corner of the internet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DateOctober 19, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the haunting fear that darkness will devour us. Through Jacob's midnight wrestling match with God, we discover that darkness isn't something to run from—it's a doorway to transformation. Wrestling with God in our darkest moments isn't a sign of faithlessness, but an invitation to experience divine presence and emerge changed, even if limping. Based on Genesis 32:22-31, with references to Barbara Brown Taylor's wisdom on sacred darkness and Kate Bowler's reflections on blessing through struggle.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Joy won't cure you, but it will carry you. After surviving a stage-four cancer diagnosis, Kate Bowler knew she was supposed to be grateful. Alive. Blessed. But she still ached—for more connection, more surprise, less resentment on an ordinary day. So she went looking for joy. Not the toxic positivity kind. Not a 5-step plan. But the type that sneaks in unexpectedly, seemingly out of nowhere. A lemur sunbathing. A belly laugh at a funeral. A dive into the Atlantic with a shark wrangler. In Joyful, Anyway, Bowler takes us on a hilarious and tender journey through big questions and small delights. With wry wit and deep honesty, she explores how joy can surprise us even in the middle of pain, boredom, and longing. This is not a book about fixing your life. It is about how we can all find more—feel more—by making room for small extraordinary moments. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, who is achy for meaning, who feels undone by loss, who feels that joy is just out of reach, who wants, simply, to have more fun, Joyful Anyway is a delicious, insightful tour through the questions that sit in the deepest part of our souls. It proves that for every time we ask: Is this it? Joy will answer: there is more. Joyful, Anyway releases on April 7, 2026, but you can pre-order now from all of your favorite retailers. Bookshop Amazon Apple Books Barnes & Noble Indigo Check out that gorgeous cover!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are seen and you are known in all the good ways ... and, you are part of us.  These are the “take away” words of Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith in this second part of their conversation with host, Blake Smith. If you find yourself – in the past, now, or in the future – in what you consider a time of crisis or doubt with regards to your faith journey, you are likely to find this conversation uplifting and encouraging ... not to change, but to recognize that there is a safe space for you in Community of Christ. Even if you self-identify as agnostic or atheist, grab a cup of coffee and settle in to see how and where you fit in this sacred community.  View the slides Tony references, here.Books recommended by Tony and Charmaine for those “on the journey.” John Haught, What is God?  Kate Bowler, Everything Happens for a Reason, and Other Lies I've Loved. Paul Tillich, The Dynamics of Faith Philip Ryken, I Have My Doubts Listen to more episodes in the Percolating on Faith series. Download TranscriptThanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

What happens when love isn’t enough to hold up a broken system? Ai-jen Poo—award-winning organizer and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance—joins Kate Bowler to talk about caregiving in America. Who provides it. Who’s left out. And why we need a system that treats care as the sacred, shared labor that it is. Together they explore: Why more than 100 million Americans are caregiving right now What it costs to support a loved one—and why the math doesn’t add up The long shadow of slavery in how we treat domestic workers today Why dignity and agency are essential in every stage of life What it would look like to build a policy solution that works for everyone If you’re carrying the care of someone else—or fearing the moment when you will—this conversation is for you. Show Notes Caring Across Generations – A movement co-led by Ai-jen Poo to transform the way we care in America. National Domestic Workers Alliance – Advocating for the dignity and rights of the people who care for our homes and loved ones. The Age of Dignity by Ai-jen Poo – A powerful read on what the “elder boom” means for all of us. Find your elected officials – Contact Congress to protect Medicaid and support caregiving policies. State-by-state Medicaid info – Learn what Medicaid is called in your state and how it supports care. Congressional Budget Office – For context on recent Medicaid budget cuts and projections for coverage loss. Aspen Ideas Festival Share your caregiving story on Substack – Join the conversation with others who are navigating care. A Blessing for Care-Givers and Care-Receivers – A gentle word for those in the trenches of giving or needing care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the life you were supposed to have… disappears? Jen Hatmaker joins Kate Bowler for a conversation about faith, divorce, and the slow art of healing. After the collapse of her marriage and being pushed out of the evangelical world, Jen had to figure out how to live again—how to co-parent, pay bills, go to therapy, and mother herself after decades of being the “pastor’s wife.” They talk about: What it means to lose a marriage, a career, and a community—at once The weight of being a “good” evangelical woman Codependency, caretaking, and letting your kids have their pain The deep joy of discovering you can rebuild from scratch This is for the people who are learning how to live when the story changes. A conversation about grief, grace, and not doing it alone. Show Notes: Awake by Jen Hatmaker – her latest book on rebuilding a life after loss Support Guides — for divorce, caregiving, and rebuilding from the Everything Happens Project Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! by Kate Bowler – meditations for the ups, downs, and in-betweens The Preacher’s Wife by Kate Bowler For the Love podcast with Jen Hatmaker Jen Hatmaker's book club – a delightfully honest reading community Come hang out in our favorite little corner of the internet, Kate's Substack. Check out the last time Jen joined Kate on the Everything Happens podcast! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Special Episode, Liz and Sarah revisit some of their most “Hollywood” Hollywood moments, from getting yelled at by famous actors to spotting A-list stars in line at the pharmacy. They’ve driven around town to look at billboards of their shows, had breakfast at The Polo Lounge with a con man, and been fired (twice.) Get in touch on Twitter: @sarahmfain & @elizabethcraft Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Side Hustle School, and Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description: In the span of a single year, Abby Wambach lost her beloved brother, her wife Glennon Doyle  was diagnosed with anorexia, and her sister-in-law Amanda Doyle was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the first time, the trio who host the wildly popular We Can Do Hard Things podcast, all found themselves simultaneously lost, looking for answers. So they turned toward the only thing that's ever helped them find their way: deep, honest conversations with other brave, kind, wise people. What resulted from those conversations was a myriad of guideposts, words of wisdom from some of the most brilliant wayfinders in the zeitgeist today. In this episode, Jen and Amy talk with Abby and Amanda about some of the most meaningful bits of guidance that they have received from inspirational voices like Elizabeth Gilbert, Jane Fonda, Michelle Obama, Ocean Vuong, Esther Perel,  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and others that they have gathered into a new book called, We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life's 20 Questions. Some of the conversations they delve into include: Why are we like this? How do we figure out what we really want? How do we let go, or forgive, or get unstuck? Why do we wake up every day having forgotten everything we know? Why self-loyalty is so damn hard for women? Thought-provoking Quotes: “I'm just trying to remain a human in this political environment, in this place of deep fear where so much is at risk. And I think the way we do that is continuing to see each other as human and continuing to let our hearts break over what should break our hearts.” – Amanda Doyle “Having played on many different teams, I'm well suited to work well with others. I just have to be here and be myself. That is the way that I add value. I am not gonna add value in the way that Glennon and Amanda do. I know that. But that doesn't give me any lack of confidence because I know I bring something to the team.” – Abby Wambach “After 400 or so conversations, it was so wild that, whether we were talking to a person who's been a therapist for 40 years, or a person who's a poet, or a person who's an activist, there were just a handful of questions that all of these people are struggling with. The smartest people in the world are trying to figure out the same things that we are.” – Amanda Doyle Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach - https://amzn.to/4ckZOFi WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach - https://amzn.to/4cpazqg We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life's 20 Questions by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle - https://amzn.to/3EfeZ6r Glennon Doyle - https://momastery.com/ Amanda Doyle Stops Keeping Score And Stays In The Moment - https://jenhatmaker.com/podcasts/series-60/amanda-doyle-stops-keeping-score-and-stays-in-the-moment/ Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/ Kate Bowler - https://katebowler.com/about/ Suzanne Stabile - https://suzannestabile.com/ Guest's Links: Website - https://abbywambach.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/abbywambach/ Twitter - https://x.com/abbywambach Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/abbywambach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCej3anJvC-rSMd63asN8cXg Podcast - https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/ Guest's Links: Twitter - https://x.com/amandafdoyle Podcast - https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/ Connect with Jen!Jen's Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmakerJen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmakerJen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s an ache at the center of being human. The kind that doesn’t go away with a fresh to-do list or a good night’s sleep. It’s the longing for more. The grief of what wasn’t. The quiet ache of ordinary life—school pickups, grocery runs, scan results, and the slow accumulation of things we didn’t choose. In this tender and deeply wise conversation, Kate Bowler speaks with Father Ron Rolheiser—beloved Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and bestselling author—about the ache that lives in all of us... and why it might be the most holy part of who we are. This episode is for anyone who feels a little restless, a little disappointed, or just plain tired—and is looking for a spirituality big enough to hold the beautiful, unfinished life they’re living. In this conversation, Kate and Ron discuss: Why we all have an ache inside of us (and why that’s okay) The convalescence you may need from church communities that have hurt you How living in six-month intervals can teach us what really matters If you liked this episode, you’ll also love: Nadia Bolz-Weber, “The Insight of Outsiders” Richard Rohr, “Learning to Hold On, Learning to Let Go” Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prior to her son's birth in 2020, Caitlin Bekker didn't have experience with congenital heart disease. Five years later, being a “heart mom” has become a core part of her identity. On this week's episode, Caitlin shares how watching her little boy go through multiple open heart surgeries has refined her and have taught her to trust in the Lord, live in gratitude in the present, and she hopes they will ultimately help her become the person and disciple of Jesus Christ she would like to be. 1:45- Receiving and Processing a Diagnosis 7:27- Health Literacy 10:26- Finding a Community 12:09- Living in the Present 14:27- Why? 19:14- Mom Guilt 22:40- Bringing Matthew Home 25:05- Comforting Those Who Stand In Need of Comfort 34:08- Hard Is Hard 38:08- Perspective 40:49- Update 43:00- Living in the Present Pt. 2 45:27- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? “Life's going to pass by no matter what so you might as well let the hard situations help you to become more of what you want to be.” Episodes References:  President Jeffrey R. Holland said, “With apologies to Elder Neal A. Maxwell for daring to modify and enlarge something he once said, I too suggest that “one's life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.” It simply will not work “to glide naively through life,” saying as we sip another glass of lemonade, “Lord, give me all thy choicest virtues, but be certain not to give me grief, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor opposition. Please do not let anyone dislike me or betray me, and above all, do not ever let me feel forsaken by Thee or those I love. In fact, Lord, be careful to keep me from all the experiences that made Thee divine. And then, when the rough sledding by everyone else is over, please let me come and dwell with Thee, where I can boast about how similar our strengths and our characters are as I float along on my cloud of comfortable Christianity.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/57holland?lang=eng Morgan's Interview with Kate Bowler- https://www.deseret.com/2018/5/18/20645268/q-a-duke-divinity-school-s-kate-bowler-explains-how-cancer-has-helped-her-appreciate-life-god-s-love/