455 - Elizabeth Gilbert: Women Only Learn THIS Too Late — The Secret to Money, Success & Purpose

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Sep 9, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of *Eat, Pray, Love*, dives deep into the complexities of grief and healing. She candidly discusses the difference between healing and fixing, spotlighting how personal traumas can lead to profound self-discovery. Gilbert explores the dangerous allure of seeking external validation and the importance of self-awareness in relationships. Her insights on living authentically and embracing vulnerability highlight the transformative power of personal struggles.

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ANECDOTE

Leaving Everything To Care For Rhea

Elizabeth Gilbert recounts leaving her marriage to care for her best friend Rhea after a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Their relationship moved from deep friendship to an intense 18-month romance that included relapse, recovery, and Rhea's eventual death.

ANECDOTE

Rhea's Vivid Post-Death Presence

Elizabeth describes vivid post-death visitations from Rhea who stayed present and communicative for months.
An LA intuitive offered mediation, but Rhea jokingly told Elizabeth to 'tell this she can jump directly up my dead ass.'

INSIGHT

Freedom Explains Repeated Painful Choices

Gilbert frames the universe as granting freedom, meaning we repeatedly get to make choices—even bad ones—to learn.
She interprets repeated painful patterns as the cosmos allowing experimentation until we evolve.

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What happens when love becomes addiction and life completely breaks you open? In this raw conversation, Elizabeth Gilbert shares her journey through grief, codependency, and recovery - revealing how our most devastating experiences can become our greatest teachers. You'll learn the difference between healing and fixing, why familiar pain often feels safer than growth, and what it truly takes to rebuild yourself from the ground up.

@elizabeth_gilbert_writer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic, with over 25 million books old worldwide. Her work spans memoir, fiction, and nonfiction - including City of Girls, Committed, and her new book All the Way to the River - and has been translated into more than 30 languages. A three-time National Magazine Award finalist, Elizabeth's honest, soulful storytelling has made her one of the most beloved voices of our time. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram and subscribe to her Substack, "Love Letters."

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

05:12 Codepency, relapse, and what real healing looks like 10:02 Visitaiton and Connection Beyond Death 15:06 The Unexpected Turns of Life 24:46 Soul Contracts and the Cosmic Boardroom 29:45 The Quest for Lava: Love, Approval, and Validation 33:53 Recovery and the Journey to Wholeness 38:31 The Marriage Benefit Imbalance 41:50 How to Remove Yourself From the Overgiving Trap 45:30 The Importance of Self-Reserve 51:24 Living with Urgency and Authenticity 56:07 Lessons from Darkness Retreats

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