Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky Elizabeth Gilbert
Sep 9, 2025
Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of 'Eat, Pray, Love' and 'City of Girls,' shares her insights on solitude, self-compassion, and courage. She discusses the liberating aspects of celibacy and the significance of befriending oneself. The conversation touches on the challenges women face in reclaiming their stories against societal norms while embracing personal growth through loneliness. Gilbert also reflects on navigating grief, the empowerment of individual agency, and the transformative power of adversity in shaping one's identity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Be A Friend To Yourself
- Elizabeth Gilbert reframes presence as living with yourself, not merely being by yourself.
- She cultivates self-friendliness to replace an often-hostile inner voice with compassionate companionship.
Choosing Self-Partnership
- Elizabeth describes six years of celibacy and calls herself 'the best roommate.'
- She celebrates freedom from needing to attune constantly to a partner's moods and choices.
Celibacy Has Different Histories
- Gilbert contrasts historical celibacy motives: men seek power, women seek freedom.
- She emphasizes women's celibacy was often a route to education and autonomy.
