We Can Do Hard Things - podcast cover

We Can Do Hard Things

Glennon Doyle and Audacywecandohardthingspodcast.com
Life is freaking hard. We are all doing hard things every single day – things like loving and losing; caring for children and parents; forging and ending friendships; battling addiction, illness, and loneliness; struggling in our jobs, our marriages, and our divorces; setting boundaries; and fighting for equality, purpose, freedom, joy, and peace. On We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon Doyle, author of UNTAMED; her wife Abby Wambach; and her sister Amanda Doyle do the only thing they’ve found that has ever made life easier: Drop the fake and talk honestly about the hard things including sex, gender, parenting, blended families, bodies, anxiety, addiction, justice, boundaries, fun, quitting, overwhelm . . . all of it. We laugh and cry and help each other carry the hard so we can all live a little bit lighter and braver, free-er, less alone.

Episodes

254. Dolly Parton: How to Make Decisions (Even If They Break Your Heart)

In this special episode, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda sit down with icon Dolly Parton for a heartfelt conversation about how to start something new at 77, how she mothers the world, and how she broke her own heart when Elvis asked to record her hit song. Plus, the advice Dolly would give to Glennon and Abby’s daughter, Tish, as she enters the music business. About Dolly: Dolly Parton is the most honored and revered female country singer-songwriter of all time and was recently inducted into the Rock...

Oct 31, 202341 minSeason 2Ep. 254

253. Is it Real Love or Spider Love? With Martha Beck

Brilliant life coach, Martha Beck, works her magic for our Pod Squad. In this treasure trove of profound insight and practical guidance, Martha teaches us how to find purpose in midlife, how to use our longing as a map, and how to know for sure if what we have is real love. If you’d like to go back and listen to the episodes mentioned in today’s conversation, check out episodes: 252. Martha Beck Helps Amanda Let Go 238. How to De-Stress: Relaxation Intervention for Amanda (and You)! 121. Martha ...

Oct 26, 202345 minSeason 2Ep. 253

252. Martha Beck Helps Amanda Let Go

In this incredibly raw episode, Martha Beck coaches Amanda through a transformative, therapeutic session to help heal her overfunctioning, resentment, and burnout. Martha uncovers the different parts of Amanda that have existed inside her since childhood – and invites them to speak and then finally rest into peace, joy, and enoughness. If you’d like to go back and listen to episodes referenced in today’s conversation, check out: 238. How to De-Stress: Relaxation Intervention for Amanda (and You)...

Oct 24, 20231 hr 8 minSeason 2Ep. 252

251. How to Break Cycles with Allison Russell

Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Allison Russell, shares her incredible life story and teaches us how she healed from abuse through music, sisterhood, and returning to her body. This hour is a soul-stirring reminder of the life-saving, cycle-breaking power of truth telling, art, and love. About Allison: Allison Russell has spent her career in multiple bands, including Po’ Girl, Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago. After a career spent as a gifted multi-instrumentalist, backing nume...

Oct 19, 202358 minSeason 2Ep. 251

250. Why Do We Have Sex? Asexuality with Angela Chen

Today, Angela Chen teaches us how understanding asexuality helps us understand ourselves and the true meaning of sex. Angela describes: The misconception that blocks us from fully understanding our own sexuality; Why your sexuality is a relationship between YOU and YOU; How there are MANY reasons people have sex. (Glennon says sexual attraction only accounts for 5% of her sexual experiences.); and The shame underlying compulsory sexuality – and how to stop apologizing for not wanting sex. And a ...

Oct 17, 20231 hr 4 minSeason 2Ep. 250

249. The Best Advice We’ve Got on Loneliness & Jealousy

Who do we go to for advice? And do we really even WANT advice — or just a good listener? Glennon, Abby, and Amanda tell us who they each go to when they don’t know what to do next — and offer their best advice to Pod Squaders dealing with loneliness and the unexpected jealousy of their partner's affection for a pet. 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/adchoic...

Oct 12, 202351 minSeason 2Ep. 249

248. The One Way to Get the Truth from Someone

Amanda shares the one proven way to get the truth from someone – plus: Why Glennon calls her lying style “The Puppeteer” – and why you’ll never know what Amanda’s really feeling. Amanda defends our right to lie, and debunks myths about how we can tell if someone is lying. What’s the difference between lying and controlling, manipulating, and filtering the truth? Glennon’s fear of judgment from the next generation, and How to foster real connection in a world where lying is normal. For the first ...

Oct 10, 202356 minSeason 2Ep. 248

247. Kerry Washington on the Family Secret that Shaped Her

Kerry Washington shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her parents finally told her the truth about a long-held and shocking family secret: How uncovering the truth – as painful as it was – led Kerry to reclaim her self trust; How the revelation made her the lead character of her own life for the first time; Walking the line between protection and deception; Breaking the cycle of gaslighting within families; and How defying her father freed both of them. About Kerry: Kerry Washi...

Oct 05, 20231 hr 9 minSeason 2Ep. 247

246. The Answer to Caregiving Burnout with Ai-jen Poo

Calling all Caregivers! Today is a tribute to the everyday efforts of all caregivers who are holding up the sky for everyone else. Ai-jen Poo is here shining a light on why caregivers are exhausted, unsupported, and overwhelmed – all while doing the work that makes everything else possible. We talk about how to give the people we love the care they deserve without neglecting our own needs, and what can be done to right the systemic failures that leave caregivers fending for themselves. Plus, we ...

Oct 03, 20231 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 246

245. An Unforgettable Double Date with Andrea Gibson & Megan Falley

Andrea Gibson returns with their partner, Megan Falley, for a gorgeous, hilarious double date with Glennon and Abby: An Andrea health update and what each has learned since Andrea’s cancer diagnosis; How their chemistry ignited with Andrea’s questionable move on a sweaty dance floor – and the text moment Andrea knew Megan was the one; How each of their relationships with their bodies has been transformed by Andrea’s illness; Navigating a relationship where one partner worries constantly and the ...

Sep 28, 20231 hr 15 minSeason 2Ep. 245

244. Stop Carrying Other People’s Pain with Chloé Cooper Jones

Where do you go to escape the pain of reality? Today, author Chloé Cooper Jones shares: The survival strategy many of us use to retreat from our lives and how to become more present; How she grapples with the world dehumanizing her disabled body; Why desire and disgust are so connected – and what they teach us; and The thing Chloé wants most – to be seen as inherently whole – and how to get it. About Chloé: Chloé Cooper Jones is a professor, journalist, and the author of the memoir Easy Beauty, ...

Sep 26, 202358 minSeason 2Ep. 244

Introducing Say More with Dr? Sheila

In the world of feelings, there are winners and losers, and somebody has to be the judge. World-renowned, self-proclaimed couples therapist Dr? Sheila invites you to sit in on her private sessions with clients. (For legal reasons, Dr? must be said in the form of a question.) Each week, a new couple…and a new puzzle to crack. You’ll get to hear, and benefit from, many of her famous techniques as she counsels patients on overcoming disagreements, dealing with an overstepping mother-in-law, navigat...

Sep 22, 20235 min

243. Oprah Shares “The Letter from Glennon that Freed Me”

The moment Oprah finally knew who she really was; The hidden gift of criticism, and the image to remember when you’re envious; Why “Slugging It Out” is a losing game; How to let go of outcomes – and make peace with what you have to offer; and Oprah reads the letter Glennon wrote to her after her mother died – which she says changed her life. Read Oprah’s newest book BUILD THE LIFE YOU WANT. TW: @Oprah IG: @Oprah To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audac...

Sep 21, 20231 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 243

242. We’re All Liars: What’s Your Lying Style?

Liar, liar – all of our pants are on fire. In this juicy conversation about lying: Why the question isn’t “DO you lie?” – but “HOW and WHY do you lie?” What constitutes a lie to you: defining what makes something a lie; Figuring out our own particular lie languages – and why Abby’s a Bullshitter; and Deciding if there is anyone you can be completely honest with – and how to create the algorithm of honesty. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.c...

Sep 19, 202351 minSeason 2Ep. 242

241. Being Left Out: Navigating that Lifelong Ache

Amanda, Glennon and Abby explore how to survive the lifelong, universal pain of being left out: What Abby felt when she heard “We don’t want you here” – and its long-lasting impact; Why it is so painful, and how to process feelings of rejection and isolation; How dissociation helped Glennon cope with rejection in the cafeteria; What parents should and *should not* do when helping kids navigate exclusion; and The real difference between “fitting in” and “belonging.” Also check out Episode 179: Ho...

Sep 14, 20231 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 241

How People are Using Psychedelics to Help Their Relationships with Dr. Hillary McBride

Dr. Hillary McBride is back to continue our thrilling conversation about PSYCHEDELICS — and how folks are using them to enhance their relationships and lives. She helps us understand: The importance of seeing our partners – and letting ourselves be seen – without any defenses; How combining therapy with psychedelics is helping people stay close to their feelings; Why the first step toward healing is feeling safe in your body; and An important question for us all: Why is being here so hard? For P...

Sep 13, 202319 min

240. Are Psychedelics an Answer? with Dr. Hillary McBride

Why is everyone talking about psychedelics?!?! Today, Dr. Hillary McBride joins us to answer all of our questions about therapeutic psychedelics, and: Her personal, step-by-step journey with therapeutic psychedelics; The science behind how psychedelics help break old patterns and create new ones; How she uncovered the root of her eating disorder; and How psychedelics can reveal your innate goodness. For our Embodiment conversation with Dr. McBride, check out: Ep 206: How to Follow the Wisdom of ...

Sep 12, 20231 hr 5 minSeason 2Ep. 240

239. Why Are We Never Satisfied? with adrienne maree brown

Are you capable of being satisfied? Today, adrienne maree brown helps us uncover: How to find beauty and connection in the everyday; How to stop wasting your time on things that don’t feel good; Why the greatest risk of life is also where its preciousness comes from; How, through the discipline of pleasure, we can ALL be satisfied. About adrienne: adrienne maree brown is a pleasure activist, writer, and radical imaginist who grows healing ideas in public through writing, music, and podcasts. adr...

Sep 07, 20231 hr 11 minSeason 2Ep. 239

238. How to De-Stress: Relaxation Intervention for Amanda (and You)!

Abby and Glennon attempt a Relaxation Intervention, which Amanda sabotages – resulting in a riveting discussion of why we can’t (don’t) de-stress, and how relaxation can help us ALL feel a little more human: Why so many of us have lost our playful, silly, absurd selves – and how we might recover them; The “Relaxation Homework” Abby assigned to Amanda; How over-functioners can channel their superpower into being fully alive; Why it’s not our job to ensure things won’t fall apart, but to accept th...

Sep 05, 20231 hr 14 minSeason 2Ep. 238

237. Why We Love the Way We Love: Attachment Styles with Dr. Becky Kennedy

Glennon and Amanda share why they love this wildly popular conversation with Dr. Becky Kennedy and how it radically changed their approaches to parenting their kids (and reparenting themselves). Dr. Becky Kennedy guides us through Attachment Styles, how our past comes alive in our present – and how to free ourselves and raise freer kids. 1. Why attachment styles are at the heart of our most intense conflicts (in ourselves and with others). 2. How to rewire our original mental coding (75% of whic...

Aug 17, 20231 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 237

236. Abby Wambach: Will I Ever Be Truly Loved?

Today, we celebrate the one-and-only Abby – and her rare gift of vulnerability and storytelling. Our favorite person on the planet – Abby Wambach – is going deep, answering the questions that we all have, but that only Glennon and Amanda can ask. Abby shares, in an intensely new and courageous way, about her lifelong pursuit of love – including her complicated relationships with her mom, soccer, her first marriage, queerness, and her “shadow self” – and why she has questioned her own lovability ...

Aug 15, 202359 minSeason 1Ep. 236

235. Tracee Ellis Ross: How to Make Peace in Your Own Head

Abby shares one of her all-time most impactful conversations – delving inside the “wonderful, dangerous” mind of Tracee Ellis Ross covers: 1. Tracee’s go-to strategies to stop questioning herself, to pick herself up when she feels unlovable, and to tether herself to her truest self. 2. How she made peace with the fact that she’s “not everyone’s cup of tea” – and stopped trying to change the things about her that others don’t like (but she does). 3. Inside Tracee’s 50th birthday party – the honor...

Aug 10, 20231 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 235

234. Glennon’s Diagnosis & What’s Next

Glennon reflects on the episode that has been the biggest marker of change in her life in the last five years. Glennon shares from the messy middle about her new diagnosis and what’s next for her recovery. If talk about eating disorders and mental illness helps: Listen today. If it triggers: Skip today. CW // eating disorders If you have an eating disorder, you may find the National Alliance for Eating Disorders a helpful resource: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/. For other recovery ...

Aug 08, 20231 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 234

233. What’s Next for We Can Do Hard Things

Join Glennon, Abby, and Amanda in celebrating, and closing out, the first season of the pod – and help them write the next chapter: What it felt like for Glennon to listen – for the first time – to her anorexia diagnosis episode; How their parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary party showed Glennon how to stop performing and just BE; The crucial distinction Amanda is exploring between tension and conflict; Abby’s recent decision to explore her relationship with anger; and How to join in shaping the f...

Aug 03, 20231 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 233

232. What’s Your FAMILY DRAMA Style? with Nedra Glover Tawwab

We all want tools to navigate (and minimize!) family drama. Today, Nedra Glover Tawwab teaches us how we can create drama free families: How to speak up for yourself when it feels like going against the group; Why confrontation is often the kindest thing; When, exactly, we should bring up conflict & when to let it go; The most loving way a parent can respond to a child in pain. For more with Nedra Glover Tawwab, check out: Episode 124 How to Say No: Boundaries with Nedra Glover Tawwab. About Ned...

Aug 01, 20231 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 232

231. Life-Changing Wisdom You Need to Hear

Today, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda dive into the Pod Squad’s words of wisdom: How to identify bad advice; How to stop “walking on eggshells”; When to not tell your kids you’re proud of them (and what to say instead); The advice about masturbating that Glennon can live by. 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

Jul 27, 202358 minSeason 1Ep. 231

230. The Best Advice We’ve Ever Received

The Best Advice We’ve Ever Received Today, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda remember – and share! – the best advice they’ve ever received: How to honor your needs and become the ultimate expert of you; Why we all need a friend who believes in our greatness; How to encourage your kids to live open-hearted; And why Glennon’s truest thing is that she doesn’t know anything. Plus, we hear from two pod treasures – Sara Bareilles and Glennon’s 7th grade government teacher, Mrs. Yalen – on their best advice. T...

Jul 25, 202356 minSeason 1Ep. 230

229. THE WORLD CUP WITH ABBY: Inside Her Most Stunning Moments & 2023 Predictions

Time to HUDDLE UP, Pod Squad! Our most beloved The Soccer expert – Abby Wambach – prepares us for the World Cup, bringing us inside her personal rollercoaster journey through four World Cups: The real scoop behind her impossible, iconic goal against Brazil in 2011; The moments she will never forget from the brutal loss against Germany; How she *really* reacted when learning she would not be starting for the 2015 US Team; How we can ALL learn to lead from the bench; and What to expect in this yea...

Jul 20, 20231 hrSeason 1Ep. 229

228. Do You Have Any of These Beige Flags?

Today, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda delight in “Beige Flags” – the hilarious internet sensation that invites us all to share our people’s weirdest and most baffling traits. You’ll learn why Glennon changes her clothes 5 times a day, Abby sounds like she’s from yonder yore, and Amanda has a drawer full of washed out Ziploc bags. Plus, we read YOUR Beige Flags and debate: Is that actually a red flag or a green flag? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacy...

Jul 18, 202354 minSeason 1Ep. 228

Introducing Classy with Jonathan Menjivar

Introducing Classy with Jonathan Menjivar, a new podcast from Pineapple Street Studios. Classy is a collection of surprising stories, juicy and uncomfortable interviews, and engaging segments that explore the ways that class infiltrates our day-to-day lives. In the host seat is Jonathan Menjivar – a working-class Latino kid who joined the media elite and became someone who likes oysters, wears cashmere socks, and is very conflicted about all of it. To learn more about listener data and our priva...

Jul 17, 20234 min