Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Love and Old Age, How To Be Caring

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With tenderness and optimism, Atul Gawande (author of Being Mortal, a must read) and Ai-jen Poo (who supports caregivers across the country) give us a...

Mental Health Check on the Madness of Multitasking

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thoughts on doing things for no reason whatsoever, including an excerpt from Kate Bowler’s little book of devotionals called Good Enough, and my emb...

The 2022 Regroup: The Power of Fun

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Puzzles. Pickle Ball. Backgammon, hearts, Rummikub. Collaging, watercolors, knitting. What might have seemed nice-to-have is actually a must-have if ...

Mental Health Check on the Link Between Belief and Progress

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Right around this time, especially this year, there can be a pervasive feeling that change actually never happens. that things go in circles, that pro...

The 2022 Regroup: That Damn Internet

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A big word for me as I get my head around 2022 is notice. What am I letting happen to myself? What might I be able to adjust or reject? Noticing se...

Mental Health Check on What Remains

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In exploring a project about eulogies, I noticed something that made me question all the guilt I’m hearing about from parents who listened to my con...

The 2022 Regroup: Going For It

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With not much more than a bag of chips and a tuba, Richard White found his way from intermittent homelessness and into the symphony This is a story t...

Mental Health Check on Diverting Attention from Them to Us

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After re-listening to my conversation with Julie Lythcott-Haims about overparenting and reading hundreds of comments online, it seemed to me like ther...

The 2022 Regroup: Parenting

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a lot to learn about how to help (or let) a kid become an adult from someone who worked with Stanford students for 10 years, not to mention ...

Mental Health Check on the "Most Important" Thing (Replay of previous episode)

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ages ago, M Scott Peck (of The Road Less Traveled) studied success (personal and professional) and was surprised to discover that all the people in h...

Listeners' Top Pick 2021: The Miracles Imagination Makes Possible

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly listens in tears as long time death row inmate Anthony Ray Hinton tells her the best story she's ever heard. With thanks to listeners for votin...

Mental Health Check on Telling Someone

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A lovely story about a neighborhood in Baltimore has been circulating this week. Like so many people, I was moved. For today’s very quick GOTO, I ...

Top Picks 2021: On Virtue and Vice

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly talks with a favorite writer: the kind, wise, funny and wicked smart George Saunders. They go deep on ignoring the persistent whispering of our ...

Mental Health Check on Acceptance

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For anyone who finds themselves going to war with reality…this one is for you. A deep dive into where we get our expectations of consistency and re...

Top Picks 2021: Bouncing Back

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jen Hatmaker was famously married with children until she discovered she wasn’t. Chosen by producer Tammy Stedman as her favorite conversation of Y...

Thoughts on Deep Friendship

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For Liz Laats, who died 6 years ago today. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/pri...

Mental Health Check: For the Caregivers

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Talking to Judy Woodruff about the things she learned from her son, Jeffrey, talking to Ai-jen Poo about all the nannies she supports, took me right b...

Top Picks 2021: Why Connection Wins Every Time

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a year of conversations, it’s time to reflect on our favorites. We go behind the scenes with the team to surface the episodes that have moved...

Mental Health Check on Forgiving and Being Forgiven

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s a cool thing: some listeners asked me to share my essay on forgiveness in a stand alone piece so they could send it to friends and family who...

On Gifting and Regifting with Anna Quindlen

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For anyone with gift anxiety, for anyone who feels like you can’t win for losing, this is the conversation for you. Full of reminders and insights ...

On the magic of the nudge

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Annie from MA who commented on my FB post, this GOTO is for you. I did a deep dive into the magic of nudges (not rules, not threats, just little ...

On Showing Up with Anna Quindlen

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Quindlen and Kelly share readings, stories and insights on the art of holidaying, regular-people style. Special drop in by Kelly’s brother, Bo...

Mental Health Check on Leaving Room for Mystery

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a really interesting conversation with a few friends who have lost parents, I’ve been wondering about what it really feels like to be the one ...

On Turkey and Forgiveness with Anna Quindlen

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Quindlen and Kelly work through pre-game jitters about the holidays on the horizon and how they might turn out okay after all. Kelly shares a new...

Mental Health Check on Expectations

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The future is dangerous place to live. I’m thinking this week about the insane power of expectations and wondering what would happen if we could be...

On The Meaning of Life

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly reflects on the meaning of life. Seriously, that's what this episode is. We pulled takeaways and excerpts from some of the best conversations we...

Mental Health Check: On Moving

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At 54 years old, after 29 years in California, we pulled up roots and moved. Here are some thoughts about embracing uncertainty and discovery in thes...

On the Many Paths to the Truth

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever been struck by the beauty of the phrase "Namaste" ("the light in me sees the light in you"), you'll want to tune into this episode. Kel...

Mental Health Check: On Celebrating What Really Matters

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s my case for celebrating the litany of accomplishments that a completed college application represents. A special episode to mark November 1,...

Mental Health Check: Tales of Neuroplasticity

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I am damn near hopeless with routers and a printer on the skids can take me around the bend. But, inspired by my mother and my husband and a friend, ...

Asma Uddin on Religious Freedom for All

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

People think of religious freedom as America's greatest invention, but lately it seems like many religons are playing a zero sum game and calling into...

Mental Health Check: on the Opposite of Stagnation

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I often find the act of making something, like a painting, or fixing something, like a rip in my jeans, or cleaning something, like the junk drawer in...

An Evangelical and a Muslim Walk Into a Conference...

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Evangelical Pastor Bob Roberts and Muslim Imam Mohamad Magid are both devout followers of their own faiths, who have found room to let one another in....

Mental Health Check: True Originals

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I always take special note of people who seem to live lives unlike any they themselves have seen. But when you ask these True Originals how they made...

Johann Hari on Essential Connections

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Johann Hari is an atheist with a passion for the power of our human connections and also the author of one of Kelly's favorite books called Lost Conne...

Mental Health Check: Learning to Say Oh Well

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I really believe that acceptance is the Mt Everest of human emotions—the hardest place to get to, the hardest place to stay, but the views are unfor...

Michael Lezak on Service as a North Star

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Lezak is a rabbi who spends most of his time in service, shoulder to shoulder with some of America’s poorest citizens in the Tenderloin dist...

Mental Health Check on Awe and Victor Frankl

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know the feeling you get when you look at a cool building or clouds from the plane window? When you watch a young person excel in anything — fr...

Anthony Ray Hinton on Imagination, God and Solitary Confinement

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In an episode like no other, Kelly talks with Anthony Ray Hinton, an American activist and author who was wrongly convicted of murder in Alabama in 19...

Mental Health Check: Smile Therapy

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It was a bad day in a bad week. And then, there he was, The Husband, trying a trick we used to do with the girls. Smile therapy. Is it real? Did i...

Anne Lamott on Perfectly Imperfect

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrated for her raw, hilarious accounts of stumbling toward her best self, Anne Lamott is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 boo...

Mental Health Check: Takeaways from a Pivotal Moment

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I moderated a panel of public media professionals recently and scribbled pages of notes as they talked through the pivotal moments in their careers. ...

Rainn Wilson on Dwight Gets Serious

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Known to the world as Dwight Schrute from the Office, the real Rainn Wilson is a deep thinker, writer, producer and a faithful follower of the Baha'i ...

Mental Health Check: Love Means Taking An Interest

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s some food for thought about how important it is to follow your kids wherever their interests take them. To learn more about listene...

Michael Murray on the Social Science of Faith

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly kicks off a new series on BELIEF, delving into topics like the meaning of life, finding purpose, why faith, service and gratitude matter, and mo...

Mental Health Check on the "Most Important" Thing

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ages ago, M Scott Peck (of The Road Less Traveled) studied success (personal and professional) and was surprised to discover that all the people in h...

Lisa Damour and Will Leitch on Parents and Parenting

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we conclude our "Mind the Gap" series, Kelly talks with parenting expert Dr. Lisa Damour and writer Will Leitch take a look at the ways in which di...

Mental Health Check on Go To Parenting Mantras

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After I dropped Claire off at college, I snuck in some time with my freshman year college roommate, Tracy Tuttle. On a long walk, we tried to reduce ...

Manoush Zomorodi on WellBeing and Self Care

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly continues the "Mind the Gap" series with writer and podcaster, Manoush Zomorodi as they look at well-being and self care through the lens of dif...

Mental Health Check on Conquering Envy

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Okay so I went to a thing and I came home with a little case of the envies and then I found a bit of a book that helped me feel and think better about...

Nir Eyal and Meg Garlinghouse on the Meaning of Work and Becoming Indistractible

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As a part of our "Mind the Gap" series, Kelly and LinkedIn's Meg Garlinghouse discuss the meaning of work and what defines a job, a career or a callin...

Mental Health Check on Informed Optimism

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s unearned optimism based on forced positivity that’s so common right now in our feeds—and then there’s informed optimism. This one is ...

Tressie McMillan Cottom on New Money

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly launches the new "Mind the Gap" series and explores how different generations handle money with writer, educator and McArthur "Genius" Grant rec...

Mental Health Check

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly interviewed David Byrne in NYC a week ago for PBS and while she was prepping, she came across his very cool project: Reasons To Be Cheerful. Th...

Cecily Strong on Big Love and Big Loss

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly gets serious with SNL star Cecily Strong about her new book This Will All Be Over Soon, about the loss of her beloved cousin, Owen. Cecily also ...

Mental Health Check

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A quick but substantial thought about how to feel better, based on a short bit of brilliance from Joahnn Hari’s book Lost Connections.  Enjoy and s...

Julio Vincent Gambuto on Finding Love in the Time of Covid

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly wraps up her series "Love Stories for a Weary World," with Medium writer Julio Vincent Gambuto, who fell in love during the pandemic. Julio talk...

Michael Thompson on What Attracts

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly and Medium writer Michael Thompson trade stories of meeting their spouses for the first time in our summer series "Love Stories for a Weary Worl...

Susan Orlean on Empty Nesting and Family Love

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our series "Love Stories for a Weary World," Kelly and renowned writer Susan Orlean talk about transitions in family life -- including the ...

Sarah Stankorb on Losing Her Voice and Finding Her Love

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode in our series "Love Stories for a Weary World," Sarah Stankorb shares the story of losing (and finding) her voice -- and meeting...

What You Don't know Won't Hurt You? with Dani Shapiro (previously published as Episode 3)

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TAKE 2 TUESDAY: Replay of Episode #3 // Dani Shapiro is the author of 9 books and the host of the popular podcast Family Secrets. She is curious about...

Everything Happens for a Reason? with Kate Bowler (previously published as Episode 1)

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TAKE 2 TUESDAY: Re-play of Episode #1 // Kelly and Kate Bowler dive into that phrase so often offered up to explain bad stuff: "everything happens f...

Imbolo Mbue on Loving and Changing America

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imbolo Mbue's journey took her from Cameroon to New Jersey, and ultimately to Oprah's house. The bestselling author of Behold the Dreamers and How Bea...

For every graduate from kindergarten to PhDs -- but especially the kids between high school and college -- this one is for you.

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly shares a graduation speech, a conversation about takeaways from high school with her daughter and a special reading with Oscar winning actress H...

Carvell Wallace on Understanding and Acceptance

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do understanding and approval factor into kindness? Are we only nice to the people we "get"? How can we change the way we think about who is deser...

Austin Channing Brown on Black Girl Pride and Frustration

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Austin Channing Brown is an author, activist and thought leader. She's tired of explaining what it's like to be black, but her insight and passion is ...

Amanda Ripley on Personal and Global Conflict

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

67 million of us are estranged from a family member. 85% of us are in regular conflict at work. The country is split on every issue from masks to educ...

Karen Moon on The Summer of Healing

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Karen Moon is a therapist who cut her teeth counseling bankers after tragedies like the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11. For 15 years she's been helpin...

Jen Hatmaker on Bouncing Back and Finding Meaning

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly and Jen Hatmaker test drive the questions from Kelly's new children's book Hello World! to see what new things they can learn about each other. ...

Tontra Love On the Benefit of the Doubt

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of teachers everywhere, Kelly shares a conversation with her friend, Oakland Unified Teacher of the year, Tontra Love. While Ms. Love normall...

Tamar Gendler On the Five Ancient Secrets to Modern Happiness

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly tracks down Yale Philosophy professor and the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Tamar Gendler, to discuss the great ancient philosophers’ take on our h...

Brit Bennett on Curiosity and Categorizing

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Kelly continues her series with authors on human nature with Brit Bennett, the brilliant mind behind the bestselling book, The Vanishing Ha...

Jia Tolentino on Finding Truth in a Manipulative World

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly talks with New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino about identity, culture and the irresistable manipulation of the internet. Jia is a 32-year old...

Margaret Atwood on Trading Regret for Happiness

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alongside renowned Canadian poet, novelist and activist Margaret Atwood, Kelly continues a series on Human Nature. They discuss why life together is s...

George Saunders on Virtue and Vice

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly kicks off a series on Human Nature with celebrated author George Saunders. They go deep on virtue, vice, our tricky egos, and finding empathy fo...

Still Working: Things We'll Forever Be Working On

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly concludes her series with Anna Quindlen and Anna Sale by diving into the joy of the "work" we're paid for (and how it can give us permission to ...

Forgiveness and Families: Kelly, Anna and Anna go Deep on Mistakes They Made and What They Learned

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grudges, overbearing "wisdom" and selfish behavior are all hallmarks of even the most functional families. Kelly asks Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quind...

Grief: Musings on managing loss in family life, with Anna Quindlen and Anna Sale

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eventually grief, which is searing, becomes loss, which is more like an ache that comes and goes. Kelly asks Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen and a...

Changed: Managing Tricky Family Dynamics with Anna Quindlen and Anna Sale

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly continues her deep dive on family life with the help of Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, and Anna Sale, the host of Death, Sex...

Misunderstandings: Anna Quindlen, Anna Sale and Kelly share readings and thoughts on family life.

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month, Kelly finds herself between two Annas -- Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, and Anna Sale, the host of WNYC's popular Dea...

How Change Happens: Takeaways from 22 Conversations

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly couldn't help but notice that many of our conversations about how change happens offered up some of the exact same beats, despite the wide varie...

The Single Most Effective Way to Change Everything

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With nearly unlimited financial and intellectual resources at her disposal, Melinda Gates is committed to addressing the problems holding women back a...

What's the point of college?

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly talks with a range of guests in this episode about the changing face of higher education, the value of a cross-disciplinary liberal arts approac...

Accepting Our Bodies As They Are

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Very few of us gaze contentedly into the mirror and are happy with our bodies. In this episode, Kelly dives into the dangers of our obsession with bod...

Bringing Peace to the American City

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From San Quentin inmate to neighborhood safety advocate, Kelly’s guest Sam Vaughn embodies the ideal of “be the change you want to see.” Working...

A Mother and Son Story of the Ultimate Transition

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly talks to Alex, an insightful and forthcoming 15 year old who is transitioning from a girl to a boy, as well as his mother about how you know you...

Making Change That Changes America

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Both Congresswoman Barbara Lee and human rights attorney Jessica Jackson went through college as single mothers, relying on some form of public assist...

Motherhood by Any Means

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you are a woman who is dead sure she wants to be a mother and the universe is not cooperating, how can you bend reality to your dreams? Lori Gott...

Ten Strangely Encouraging Takeaways from 2020

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What to make of 2020? How to process the election and the pandemic, drastic changes in the the economy and the environment? Yeesh. Kelly combed throug...

Are We Losing Our Religion?

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly's mom spends part of every day in a Catholic Church, as did her father his entire life. Kelly is wondering how a spiritual orientation changes a...

How to Make People Care About Big Things

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Climate Scientist and TED Talker Katharine Hayhoe is equally interested in the obvious ecological collapse as she is in how to talk so people will lis...

Love, Loss and Remembering

12 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Love, Loss and Remembering - A special episode in memory of Liz Laats. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: ht...

Losing the Ones We Love with BJ Miller

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of losing her father and her friend, Kelly wonders what the end of life can teach us with BJ Miller, a triple amputee, bestselling author ...

Changing Everything Little By Little with Rich Roll

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Starting in college and not stopping until long after law school, Rich Roll regularly, deliberately, got black out drunk. He is now a widely respected...

Kelly Goes to Therapy

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the series with Wanda Holland Greene about forgiveness, agency, self awareness and finding common ground, Kelly takes a list of linger...

Three Stories of Extraordinary Forgiveness with Wanda Holland Greene

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Forgiveness may be the most advanced intellectual and emotional move we make as humans. It is a complete override of our innate nature to categorize f...

Seeing Ourselves More Clearly with Wanda Holland Greene

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Self awareness involves understanding how our behavior affects others. It is fundamental for any functioning society and relationship. Wanda Holland G...

Recognizing Our Agency with Wanda Holland Greene

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thanks to an election where many states came down to razor thin margins, we may have a renewed sense of our agency as voters. But what about agency ov...

Finding Common Ground with Wanda Holland Greene

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned educator Wanda Holland Greene joins Kelly to dig into finding common ground with absolutely anyone, even people we think we hate. They discus...

Trust your Gut? with Annie Jean Baptiste

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Annie Jean Baptiste in the Head of Product Inclusion at Google where she spends her time thinking about the products we use very day and how who's at ...