Everything Happens with Kate Bowler Small Talk Survivors with Sarah Wildman
10 snips
Nov 11, 2025 In this captivating conversation, writer and New York Times editor Sarah Wildman shares her poignant experiences as a caregiver after her daughter Orli's illness and untimely death. They discuss how joy can exist alongside grief and the importance of candid medical conversations. Wildman highlights the significance of rituals in processing loss and finding meaning. Through heartfelt anecdotes, they explore the fierce tenderness of caregiving and the painful beauty of cherishing fleeting moments, reminding us that love persists even in the absence of resolution.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Caregiving Breaks The Myth Of Constant Triumph
- Sarah Wildman says caregiving forces you to sit with pain while culture urges triumph and smiling.
- That tension makes caregivers exposed, never fully able to believe in the falsity of perfection again.
Orly's Radiant Courage And Play
- Sarah Wildman describes Orly's curiosity, humor, and how she taught a transplant surgeon a viral dance while recovering from surgery.
- Orly used TikTok and baldness publicly, helping other sick kids see joy and courage in vulnerability.
Jetty Moment Of Simple Joy
- Sarah recounts finding Orly alone on a jetty reading after she biked off during a respite trip.
- Orly told her the day was 'so good for my mental health' and fully inhabited that present moment.
