It's Going To Be OK

451. What is Happening and Where Are We? with Catherine Newman

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nora talks with author Catherine Newman about the small things that make life feel okay—from quitting drinking and finding new rituals to parenting,...

450. A Goose-Forward Home with Sharon McMahon

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on It's Going To Be OK: Every other week, we're here to put some more okay in your day, but this is a group project and you can share your...

449. Baja Blast Your Body (feat. Ralph)

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on It's Going To Be OK: a 13-year-old boy tries to convince his mother that he should be allowed to have a Baja Blast at 7pm on a school nig...

448. A Daily Dose of Wonder with Kelly Corrigan

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You know what makes things feel more okay? Kelly Corrigan, the host of Kelly Corrigan Wonders and the author of so many wonderful books (my favorite i...

447. Middle School Divorcee | It's Going to be OK with Elise Loehnen

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We would never tell you that everything is going to be OK, but we will tell you that something will be. Today, Nora and guest Elise Loehnen share the ...

446. The Return of Ralph: It’s Going to be OK

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Things are not good in the world right now, and you don’t need us to tell you that. But despair is also not good. Having no hope is not good. And No...

445. IGTBO: Widow Weddings, Sleepovers, and My Dead Uncle’s Sweater

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve looked at the world. You know, like we do, that not everything is going to be OK. But to start 2026, we’re goi...

444. Baby Wants a Gas Mask

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kids ask for the darndest things, and this year, Nora’s youngest asked for… a gas mask. An old-timey gas mask. So, she asked for the weirdest thin...

443. THANKS-giving

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The holiday season is hard for most people. Maybe you’re feeling a fresh loss, maybe you’re dealing with an annoying relative, maybe you’re just...

442. The Kindness of Strangers

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We said Ciao for Now, and now we're back... THINGS ARE DEFINITELY NOT OK RIGHT NOW! We know it. You know it. Your dog knows it (who told her??). But ...

441. Ciao for Now

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we start 2025, we have a big announcement to make: It’s Going To Be Okay, the daily podcast is going away. Going forward, Nora will be publish...

440. iPad Kid

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel found a simple pleasure to distract her from some of the heavy things in her life: iPad games. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense...

439. You Get to Not Get What You Want

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jolie Stele has made a lot of plans for how her life should go. Very few of them panned out exactly how she expected, but she’s still happy with whe...

438. The Messy Middle

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a divorce, Jolie Steele learned a valuable lesson: most of life is living in the “messy middle”. Jolie Steele is a coach and a writer. Ch...

437. Three Steps for the Grieving

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Blake called us to share some of the tools she learned for grieving after she lost her mom. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the wo...

436. Solvitur Ambulando

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What problems could be solved by going for a walk today? _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you, you know that not *ev...

435. Buy Nothing

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irene emailed us to share all of the okay things she’s experienced since joining her neighborhood’s ‘buy nothing’ Facebook group. _ If you h...

434. It's Christmas Day

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you find yourself struggling on the holiday, this pep talk is for you. If this is the best day of the year and you don’t listen to this episode u...

433. Christmas Movie Magic

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora loves a lot of things, but chief among them is holidays movies — the tackier the better. But not everyone can just sit back and enjoy the absur...

432. A Petty Little Christmas

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora has always admired Weird Al, so for this year’s Happyish Holidays show, she wrote a Christmas parody song. Today, we share it with you. You can...

431. The Kind Morticians

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Years ago, Jessica was on a train and met a couple who owned a funeral parlor. Today she tells us about the kindness they extended her. _ If you hav...

430. The Turkeys

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One listener tells us about The South Minneapolis Turkeys that roam her neighborhood. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world ar...

429. Prom Night

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are celebrating the nice things strangers have done for you, and today Brooke talks about an act of kindness she’s been thinking about since high...

428. An Ulta Angel

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Laura called to tell us about the nicest thing a stranger did for her, which happened in an Ulta parking lot. _ If you have anxiety, depression or a...

427. Getting Unstuck

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We asked some of you to send us okay memories of a time when a stranger helped you out. Today we hear a story about some neighborly help. _ If you h...

426. Happy Slow

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jess sent us a voicemail about a phrase her daughter has been saying that has become a kind of mantra. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sens...

425. On Top of the Covers

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We recently asked you all to send us embarrassing stories to make the rest of us laugh (and to remember even the things that once mortified us eventua...

424. You're Cool, You're Strong, You Knew It All Along

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora’s son Ralph is back with a new mantra. Listen to Ralph’s first mantra episode, YGYSYDG. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of t...

423. When There's Too Much To Do

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kendra Adachi guides us through how to get through moments when we feel overwhelmed by everything we have to do (a perfect topic for the holiday seaso...

422. When You Can't Say No

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kendra Adachi has a pep talk for those of us who have trouble saying ‘no’ when asked to to do something. Kendra Adachi is an expert in “compas...

421. All Will Be Revealed

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you felt a little agitated the last few weeks? Us too. Nora shares a mantra she’s been saying to herself to stay grounded in stressful times. ...

420. Stick Shift

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A listener shares that driving a manual transmission car always makes him feel okay. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world aro...

419. Apple Cake

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel shares her journey through a tough depression the last few years, and how it ended up at a hopeful place (that includes cake!) _ If you have an...

418. Seasonal Depression

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A college student struggling with seasonal depression shares what helps her get out of bed on the dark mornings in winter. _ If you have anxiety, de...

417. Mama Essie

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora reads a remembrance about someone’s former foster mom. Read more about Mama Essie. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the wo...

416. Dolphins

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When Catherine got divorced after 30 years, she challenged herself to do three things that terrified her: fly on an airplane, swim in the open ocean, ...

415. Obsessed With Owls

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back on the birds y’all! Today’s okay thing is an ode to owls (it’s possible an owl itself submitted it). Here’s the New York Times...

414. Walks With Dad

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Susie shares the memory of an okay thing she found during her dad’s cancer treatment. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world ...

413. Dance Everyday

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna from New York shares that her okay thing is the music to this show. So today Nora shares a little back story about that song. _ If you have anx...

412. Spot the Difference

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A few years ago, Nora was in a dark place (mentally, not a dark room), and today she shares the progress she’s made since then. _ If you have anxi...

411. Hospice Wedding

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora reads a story from her neighborhood newspaper about a special wedding. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you, ...

410. You Can't Have It All

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Poet Raquel Franco shares a poem from her new collection of poems, I’ll Cry If I Want To which comes out January 21 and is available for pre-order. ...

409. We Gotta Make the Best of It

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A listener shares the story of how one of her favorite mantras came to be. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you, y...

408. Bear Cam

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leslie Cohn shares one of her greatest pleasures- the bear cam at Katmai National Park in Alaska. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of th...

407. That's Us

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When Jen was pregnant with her second child she found out her son had Down’s Syndrome. The unknown can be scary, and Jen found comfort one day seein...

406. I Don't Like Babies

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Parenting is a lifelong process, so if you find yourself not loving a certain, that's ok! Today, Jo Piazza gives you the parenting pep talk you might ...

405. The Climb

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For her honeymoon, Jo Piazza and her husband climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Not only was it a physical feat, it was the first test of their new marriage. Jo...

404. Dead Dad Pickles

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The week Jo Piazza’s dad died, she found herself sobbing at the butcher counter. On that day, she found comfort from the butcher and a jar of pickle...

403. Nonas

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Three months after she gave birth to her first child, Jo Piazza and her husband took a trip to Italy. Today she shares one of her favorite stories fro...

402. Recurring Dream

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have one of those recurring dreams that brings up feelings of anxiety or pressure? Jo Piazza sure does, and today she shares how she reframed h...

401. I Know Nothing

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A recent meeting between Nora’s seven-year-old and her uncle reminded her that all of us are still learning every day. _ If you have anxiety, depr...

400. Song for a Friend

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer shares a song that reminds her of how special friendships are in our life. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world arou...

399. Check In With Yourself

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sue, who works in the front office of a school, shares a sweet moment amidst the chaos of back to school. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any s...

398. The Fawn by Molly Peacock

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Poet (and widow) Molly Peacock reads a poem called The Fawn from her new book of poems about widowhood, The Widow’s Crayon Box. _ If you have anxiet...

397. Everyone Looks Dumb Bowling

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora loves how dorky we all look when bowling because it makes the game more fun. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around...

396. Meddling

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What advice would you tell yourself? That’s a trick question because you’re younger self doesn’t *care* what some old hag from the future wants ...

395. Light at the End of the Tunnel

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When the worst happens, ‘it’s going to be okay’ can be a mantra to help you endure the tough times. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any s...

394. Morning Glories

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After Christina lost her Grandma, she let some “weeds” grow in her garden. Turns out they were her grandma’s favorite flower: morning glories. ...

393. Life Is the Gift

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Isabel called to tell us about being on the other side of a hard chapter of life. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around...

392. I Love Candy Corn

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora has a controversial opinion: candy corn is her favorite Halloween candy. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you...

391. The Power of Small Actions

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the upcoming election. Instead, just find one small thing you can do in your own community. Sami Sage and Emily Amick are...

390. Imposter Syndrome

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nobody should stop themselves from getting involved or trying to make a difference just because they’ve never done it before. Emily Amick gives us a...

389. The Hopelessness Spiral

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re feeling bogged down by bad news, it’s easy to think there’s nothing you can do about it. Sami Sage shares how she pulls hersel...

388. Civic Engagement

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Amick shares her solution to the loneliness epidemic: getting involved in your local community. Sami Sage and Emily Amick are authors o...

387. The Internet Is Not Real Life

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sami Sage reminds us that even if it feels like EVERYONE on the Internet is at each other’s throats…that’s not really what most people feel. ...

386. Multiverse

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a widow, Nora has taken a concept from the Marvel cinematic universe and applied it to her grief. - If you have anxiety, depression or any sense ...

385. Bubbles

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Maddie called to share the thing that always makes her smile when she sees them: bubbles. – If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the w...

384. Condolences

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A few days before Catherine’s mom died, she was on a cross country flight and received unexpected love and care from the crew. _ If you have anxiety...

383. Monarch Butterflies

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A few years ago Suzanne stumbled upon a new hobby, raising and releasing Monarch butterflies. It’s a very beautiful experience, and it’s also taug...

382. What Remains

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

October is pregnancy loss awareness month and if you’ve lost a pregnancy we understand your sorrow. And we are here to hold space for what was, what...

381. OMG You Look Great

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nora recently started a YouTube channel, which means after years of podcasting she is exposing her face MORE to the Internet. Sure that can be scary, ...

380. Free T-shirt

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the course of one year, Andrea went through a slew of bad things: job loss, parental health issues, divorce, you name it, she experienced it. So wh...

379. The Other Side of the Street

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A pediatric ICU nurse shares what makes her feel okay after a long day caring for sick kids. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the w...

378. A Day at the Beach

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly called us to share that while grieving her dad, she spent a joyful day at the beach. Playing in the water brought back some wonderful memories o...

377. Let's GERD, Girls

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This summer, Nora didn’t have a heart attack. But after a doctor looked into her chest pains, she learned she has GERD. This is her GERD story. ...

376. I Love Women

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the course of her day, Nora often has a bunch of small, meaningful interactions with women out in the world. At the store, getting a spray ...

375. Covid Candy

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Maren got COVID this summer, which sucks. But in the midst of her sickness, something really sweet happened. _ If you have anxiety, depression or an...

374. New Pillow

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we celebrate the HIGH of a really good deal. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you, you know that not *everyt...

373. Baby Corn Teeth

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bex wrote in to tell us about the thing that has made her feel happy even in the darkest of times: the weird little smile her cat gives her. _ If yo...

372. Childless Cat Ladies

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we celebrate all the women without kids. The women who aren’t bogged down by carpool schedules and incessant questions, and are able to show u...

371. An Emptyish Nest

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sending a kid off to college or to their first apartment can be emotional for parents. Nora reads an email from a mom who recently watched her child l...

370. Good Things Happen To Me

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leanne reminds us that even when cancer, death, stress, WHATEVER IS PLAGUING YOU, sometimes good things happen. And those things are worth celebrating...

369. There's No Rules

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Julia Winston (the host of the Feelings and Co show Refamulating) joins us today to share some wisdom from one of her favorite guests from Refamulatin...

368. I Miss You

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lana shares a letter she wrote to an estranged friend remembering the good parts of their relationship. _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sen...

367. If You Give a Kid a Camera

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of Nora’s favorite parts of parenting is seeing the photos her kids like to take from their perspective. _ If you have anxiety, depression or an...