Stay ConnectedCome do life with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle.
With more than half a billion plays, We Can Do Hard Things is a hilarious, raw, comforting “support system for braving the everyday.” The Pod Squad goes hard ($56 Million raised in global aid) and stays soft: meet here on Tuesdays to laugh, talk, and cry our way through the pain and magic of being human.
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Copyright: © Glennon Doyle. All Rights Reserved.
409. The Woman Who Spoke Truth To Trump: Bishop Budde
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, during President Trump's inauguration service, delivered a powerful sermon on unity and directly appealed to the President for mercy on behalf of vulnerable communities. Today, she joins us to discuss her courageous stand and explore how we can embody both strength and compassion in our own lives.
-How to carry your despair and cynicism instead of handing it to others
-Exposing the lies of partisanship and how to fight for dignity for all
-The “sin of empathy”? The chilling rise of this idea in Christian Nationalist circles
-Why not knowing what to do in this political moment is part of the preparation
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde serves as spiritual leader for the Episcopal congregations and schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties that comprise the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools. She is an advocate and organizer in support of justice, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation. She is the author of three books; the most recent, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, was published in 2023.
408. What Abby Learned On Tour with Tish
Last year, Tish went on her very first international music tour. Today Abby, Glennon, and Amanda reflect on what it was like to watch Tish step toward her dream and how they, especially Abby, supported her through her journey.
-How this tour changed and solidified Abby and Tish’s relationship forever
-What this tour taught Glennon and Abby about the power of community
-How it felt to Abby and Glennon to watch Tish on stage every night alone with her guitar
1. Sam’s life-changing strategies for (reluctantly) interacting with humans.
2. How we use humor to hide the lava of rage churning beneath our surface.
3. Sam’s friendship theory and why she doesn’t need a deep soul connection with every “lowercase f friend.”
4. Sam’s embrace of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)–and why she genuinely believes no one else is having a better time (except maybe Abby).
5. The behind-the-scenes story of the “Fat Babe Pool Party” Shrill show–and why that episode was one of the most important things she’s ever written.
About Samantha:
Samantha Irby writes the "Bitches Gotta Eat" blog, and is the author of WOW, NO THANK YOU; WE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE; and MEATY. She has been a writer and/or co-producer for TV shows including And Just Like That, Work in Progress, Shrill, and Tuca & Bertie.
1. Glennon explains her “soundaries”—and why a lack of audiorial yield in public places is her biggest peeve.
2. Abby’s struggle, as a bonus parent, adjusting to a kid-filled life with zero personal space and personal property boundaries.
3. Why Amanda is allergic to the word “fine”—and why she’s stopped saying “I didn’t have time.
407. 100 Days of Trump: What to Know, What to Do & What’s Coming Next | Jessica Yellin
Amanda and Webby Award Winning Journalist, Jessica Yellin, dive deep into the first 100 days of Trump's second term in office, discussing the implications of his administration's actions and policies.
-The importance of the first 100 days in a presidency—and what Trump’s actions during that time reveal.
-How proposed Medicaid cuts are tied to tax breaks for the wealthy.-The dire consequences of RFK Jr. and DOGE on our healthcare system-Why denying due process to anyone endangers due process for everyone.-What actions you can take now to drive change—and why waiting on Congress isn't an option.
Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand -- dedicated to helping you manage your “information overload.” She is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent. You can follow her on Instagram at Jessica Yellin.
And also, to get real time, clear and brilliant reporting, go to substack.com and search for her page newsnotnoise and subscribe there.
406. Let Kids Play: Fixing Youth Sports with Linda Flanagan
Why have youth sports become a pressure cooker of competition, money, and burnout instead of fun, growth, and play? Journalist and author Linda Flanagan joins us to break down:
-The three biggest reasons kids' sports have changed for the worse—and what we can do about it.-How parents can rethink their role on the sidelines, engage with coaches, and set healthy boundaries.-Why specializing in one sport too early can actually hurt long-term athletic success.-The hidden consequences of linking kids' self-worth to their performance.
About Linda:
LINDA FLANAGAN is a freelance journalist, a former cross-country and track coach, and the author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports—and Why It Matters. A graduate of Lehigh University, Flanagan holds master’s degrees from Oxford University and the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and was an analyst for the National Security Program at Harvard University. She is a founding board member of the New York City chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance, a contributor to Project Play at the Aspen Institute, and a regular writer for NPR’s education site MindShift. Her columns on sports have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Runner’s World, and she is currently co-producing a documentary series on mental health in collegiate women athletes. A mother of three and a lifelong athlete, Flanagan lives in Summit with her fabulous husband, Bob, and a small menagerie of pets. She is still floating over Malcolm Gladwell’s recent claim that Take Back the Game was one of his favorite books last year.
Jia Tolentino joins us to discuss how to finally accept all sides of you:
Plus, we talk acid trips, the sorority rush that Jia and Amanda shared, why Glennon’s friends track Jia’s words – and whether Glennon’s mug shot will inspire Jia’s next show.
About Jia:
Jia Tolentino is a staff writer at The New Yorker, a screenwriter, and the author of the New York Times bestseller Trick Mirror. In 2020, she received a Whiting Award as well as the Jeannette Haien Ballard Prize, and has most recently won a National Magazine Award for three pieces about the repeal of Roe v. Wade. Trick Mirror was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize and the PEN Award and was named one of the best books of the year by the New York Public Library, the New York Times Book Review, the Washington Post, NPR, the Chicago Tribune, GQ, and the Paris Review. Jia lives in Brooklyn.
TW: @jiatolentino
IG: @jiatortellini
In this bonus episode, Glennon shares her “Sort Your Mail” rules for dealing with the inevitable criticisms you will receive from daring to say anything, do anything, or be anything. Learn to sort your mail so you can keep showing up!
405. Finally Democracy Fighting Back! | Jessica Yellin on Hope from SCOTUS & Harvard
This week, Amanda is back with friend of the show, Webby Award Winning Journalist, Jessica Yellin, to break down what’s happening in America and why this week there are a few stories to feel good about.
-The alarming deportation case making headlines and how the courts are pushing back
-Why Harvard’s refusal to comply could set a powerful precedent for free speech
-The surprising way Wall Street is turning on Trump and what it signals
-What’s really going on with Hegseth and why his unraveling matters
Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand -- dedicated to helping you manage your “information overload.” She is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent. You can follow her on Instagram at Jessica Yellin. And also, to get real time, clear and brilliant reporting, go to substack.com and search for her page newsnotnoise and subscribe there.
404. It’s Not Too Late! How We Save the Planet with Dr. Ayana Johnson
Glennon, Abby and Amanda speak with Dr. Ayana Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help improve our climate future.
For more, check out Dr. Ayana Johnson’s podcast What If We Get It Right? on Apple or Spotify.
About Dr. Johnson:
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She co-founded and leads Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities, and is the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College. Ayana authored the book What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, co-edited the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-created and co-hosted the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet, and co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. She earned a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She serves on the board of directors for Patagonia and GreenWave and on the advisory board of Environmental Voter Project. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions.
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