Sounds True: Insights at the Edge [ENCORE EPISODE] Anne Lamott: Radical Self-Care Changes Everything
Oct 30, 2025
In a heartfelt conversation, Anne Lamott, best-selling author known for her humorous insights on faith and self-care, shares her thoughts on radical self-care as essential for well-being. She emphasizes that accepting oneself is crucial before being able to support others. Anne explores the feminist roots of self-care, discusses overcoming childhood struggles with self-acceptance, and highlights the power of humor and honesty in healing body image issues. With actionable advice, she encourages a nurturing approach to self-kindness.
55:15
Self-Care As Primary Nourishment
- Radical self-care means treating yourself as your own parent and filling your own cup first.
- Doing this prevents depletion so you can offer care from abundance rather than emptiness.
Reclaiming Trust In Your Story
- Childhood denial of family dysfunction warps our trust in our own perceptions and narratives.
- Recovering self-trust is essential for compassion and healing.
Ms. Magazine Awakening
- Anne Lamott describes the moment Ms. Magazine arrived when she was 16 and how it flipped a switch for her.
- That discovery made her feel seen and convinced her women could tell truthful stories publicly.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Why Radical Self-Care Matters
03:47 • 3min
How Childhood Shapes Self-Acceptance
06:58 • 4min
When Feminism Enabled Self-Care
11:26 • 9min
Truth-Telling as Inner Bravery
20:02 • 8min
Responding to Fear with Tenderness
27:53 • 6min
Body Acceptance Through Action
33:33 • 4min
Using Humor and Honesty to Heal
37:30 • 9min
Praying and Practicing Self-Kindness
46:50 • 6min
Offering Welcome to Others and Yourself
52:40 • 3min
Outro
55:47 • 1min
#37973
Small victories
Julia Turshen
#70186
Hallelujah Anyway
Rediscovering Mercy
Anne Lamott
In 'Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy,' Anne Lamott delves into the theme of mercy, emphasizing its importance in transforming our lives.
She defines mercy as 'radical kindness,' which involves forgiving debts, absolving the unforgivable, and letting go of judgment and pain.
The book encourages readers to face the chaos of their lives, recognize their personal mess, and foster greater understanding and compassion.
Through personal anecdotes, humor, and forthrightness, Lamott invites readers to practice mercy, starting with kindness towards themselves, which can lead to warmer and more generous hearts.
The book is a hopeful and caring exploration of hands-on spirituality, highlighting the necessity of mercy in difficult times and its impact on personal healing and relationships.
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Beezus and Ramona
Beverly Cleary
The book follows the daily life of Beezus Quimby, a 9-year-old girl, and her 4-year-old sister Ramona.
Each chapter presents a different story highlighting Ramona's antics and how they affect Beezus.
From Ramona's obsession with a book about a steam shovel to her ruining Beezus's birthday cake, the stories illustrate the universal frustrations and eventual understanding of sibling relationships.
Beezus learns that it is okay to feel frustrated with her sister and that sibling relationships are not always perfect, but they are filled with love and growth.
#768
• Mentioned in 33 episodes
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott
Written by Louisa May Alcott, 'Little Women' is a semi-autobiographical novel that details the lives of the March sisters in 1860s Massachusetts.
The story is loosely based on Alcott's own childhood and that of her three sisters.
It explores themes of domesticity, work, and true love, and is known for its portrayal of the sisters' distinct personalities and their struggles with societal expectations.
The novel follows their experiences with poverty, illness, and personal growth, and it has been praised for its realistic and empathetic depiction of family life and the challenges faced by women during that era.
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Little Men
Louisa May Alcott
In 'Little Men', Louisa May Alcott continues the story of Jo March from 'Little Women'.
The novel is set at Plumfield, a school and home for orphaned boys established by Jo and her husband, Professor Fritz Bhaer.
The story highlights the unconventional educational methods inspired by Transcendentalist ideals, focusing on moral and natural education alongside traditional book learning.
The narrative follows the adventures and challenges faced by the children, including Nat Blake, a street musician, and Dan Keane, a rebellious boy, as they grow and learn in a supportive and familial environment.
The book explores themes of friendship, redemption, and the importance of love and compassion, making it a heartwarming continuation of the 'Little Women' series.
#17649
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Stitches
A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair
Anne Lamott
In 'Stitches', Anne Lamott delves into the questions of how to find meaning and peace when life is out of balance.
This book, a follow-up to her bestselling 'Help, Thanks, Wow', focuses on how to start again after personal and public devastation, recapture wholeness after loss, and locate true identities in a frazzled age.
Lamott uses the metaphor of stitching to describe the process of healing and finding strength, warmth, humor, and humanity in the face of adversity.
#2249
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
Published in 1925, 'Mrs.
Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf explores the lives of its characters over a single day in post-World War I London.
The novel centers around Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, as she prepares to host a party.
Her day is punctuated by a visit from Peter Walsh, an old suitor, and her reflections on her past choices.
The narrative also follows Septimus Warren Smith, a veteran struggling with shell shock and mental illness, whose story parallels and contrasts with Clarissa's.
The novel delves into themes of time, identity, social class, and the psychological impacts of war.
Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style provides a deep insight into the characters' inner lives, highlighting the complexities of human experience and the societal norms of the time.
#5521
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Operating instructions
a journal of my son's first year
Anne Lamott
Published in 1993, 'Operating Instructions' is a journal that Anne Lamott kept during the first year of her son Sam's life.
The book is a candid and often humorous reflection on the challenges and joys of single motherhood.
It details Lamott's unplanned pregnancy, the birth of her child, and the numerous responsibilities of parenthood.
The book also explores her relationships with her child, friends, and herself, all while maintaining her unique sense of humor and honesty.
#2440
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle
In 'A Wrinkle in Time,' Madeleine L'Engle tells the story of 13-year-old Meg Murry, who is struggling to fit in at school and is deeply concerned about her father's mysterious disappearance.
Along with her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin O'Keefe, Meg is guided by the enigmatic Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which on a journey through space and time to find her father.
Using a process called tessering, they travel to various planets, including Uriel and Camazotz, to confront the evil force known as The Black Thing.
The novel explores themes of good vs.
evil, conformity, and the power of love and family bonds.
#3249
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Help, Thanks, Wow
Anne Lamott
#23917
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren
Pippi Longstocking is a children's novel that follows the adventures of Pippi, a nine-year-old girl with wild red pigtails and long mismatched stockings.
Her mother died when she was a baby, and her father, a sea captain, is lost at sea.
Pippi lives in Villa Villekulla with her monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and her horse.
She befriends the neighboring children, Tommy and Annika Settergren, and together they have various adventures.
Pippi is known for her physical strength, unconventional behavior, and her ability to defy societal norms.
The book explores themes of family, gender, society, and education through Pippi's unique and liberated lifestyle.
#333
• Mentioned in 60 episodes
Bird by Bird
Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
Susan Bennett
Bird by Bird is a comprehensive guide to writing that covers various aspects of the craft, from the initial stages of starting a project to the technical details of plot, character, and dialogue.
Lamott emphasizes the importance of persistence, faith, and hard work in writing.
She advocates for writing imperfect first drafts and warns against the pitfalls of perfectionism and self-criticism.
The book also delves into the emotional and spiritual aspects of writing, encouraging writers to confront their deepest fears and desires.
Lamott's approach is down-to-earth, humorous, and generously filled with personal experiences and practical advice.
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• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Highly Sensitive Child
Elaine Aron
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION IN SUPPORT OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY**
Anne Lamott is the celebrated author of many books of fiction, essays, and memoirs. Her works include Bird by Bird, Hallelujah Anyway, and Crooked Little Heart. In this special edition of Insights at the Edge originally recorded for The Self-Acceptance Summit, Tami Simon speaks with Anne about acts of “radical self-care” and how they are essential for anyone’s well-being. Anne talks about self-acceptance as an inherently feminist concept, especially around issues of body image and self-esteem. Finally, Anne and Tami discuss how it is necessary to fully accept oneself before being able to show up for others, and why modern society often argues the opposite.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.