

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
Everything Happens Studios
Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens. Find her online at @katecbowler.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 16, 2024 • 1h
Pamela Morris-Perez: Suicide Prevention and Hope
Here on the Everything Happens Podcast we don’t shy away from difficult subjects, and today’s episode tackles a topic we’ve been wanting to discuss for awhile—suicide among teens and young adults. My guest today, Dr. Pamela Morris-Perez is someone who approaches this subject with the heart of a grieving mom and the mind of a professor and practitioner who wants to make change possible and wants to teach us how we can help. This is such an important conversation on how communities can help prevent adolescent suicide. In this conversation, Kate and Pamela discuss: Poignant reflections on being a suicide loss survivor from a parent who is grieving the loss of her child—a topic so rarely discussed Why we say “died by suicide” How we can prevent teen suicide—including what signs to look for, what to ask, and next steps to take when you’re concerned In a very important way, this episode won’t create nearly as much anxiety as you think. Talking about suicide is one of the most important ways of making it less likely. So let’s find better language together, shall we? If you need to talk to someone, call or text 988. If you are worried about someone, you too can call or text 988 to get resources. Remember: you matter. Please listen with care. Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 9, 2024 • 40min
Chantal Kreviazuk: Finding the Melody
Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk discusses setting boundaries in families, the challenges and rewards of marriage, and coping with mental health struggles. She shares wisdom on dealing with hurting family members and finding positivity in difficult situations.

Apr 2, 2024 • 53min
Rainn Wilson: Brave, Beautiful, and Good Things
Actor Rainn Wilson, known for Dwight Schrute on The Office, discusses how self-care can lean towards toxic individualism, the mental health crisis, and the need for spiritual tools for vision and purpose. He emphasizes making oneself useful as an antidote to despair, challenging the idea that self-care is just bubble baths and trends.

Mar 26, 2024 • 46min
Nicky Gumbel: Questions of Meaning
Nicky Gumbel shares his reluctant journey to Christianity, embracing unexpected paths in life. They discuss staying open to unforeseen opportunities, the church's role as a hospital, and the potential for new ventures in later life. Age isn't a limit, and embracing change leads to growth and blessings.

14 snips
Mar 19, 2024 • 45min
Emma Gannon: The Butterfly Era
Kate Bowler and Emma Gannon discuss the balance between ambition and self-care, the impact of burnout, and the dangers of endless bucket lists. They explore redefining success, embracing transformative moments, and celebrating imperfections while navigating societal pressures and personal fulfillment.

Mar 12, 2024 • 40min
Maggie Jackson: The Wisdom of Uncertainty
Writer Maggie Jackson and host Kate explore the wisdom found in uncertainty. They discuss how uncertainty can lead to creativity, resilience, and understanding. They also touch on avoiding ambiguity, practicing imagination, and how focusing on outcomes can limit our perspective.

Mar 5, 2024 • 52min
Alan Alda: Stay Curious
Alan Alda, famous actor and podcast host, discusses staying curious as we age, navigating disagreements with empathy, destigmatizing Parkinson's Disease, and practicing empathy and compassion in conversations. Insightful discussion on aging gracefully and the importance of curiosity and empathy in relationships.

Feb 27, 2024 • 44min
Richard Grant: Finding a Pocket of Happiness
Richard E. Grant, Academy Award-nominated actor and author known for his poignant memoir on grief, shares his insights on navigating loss. He discusses the unexpected moments of joy that can surface amidst sorrow, highlighting the importance of connection and support during tough times. Richard's reflective journey explores the gritty realities of caregiving, emphasizing how allowing ourselves to feel happiness can coexist with grief, ultimately making the burden a bit lighter.

Feb 20, 2024 • 35min
Savannah Guthrie: Mostly What God Does
How do you have faith that can hold all of reality—the beautiful, the terrible, and everything in-between? The TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie thinks carefully about this question, especially given that her job is reporting the news every morning. In this conversation, Kate and Savannah discuss: Savannah’s trick for handling difficult news every day How to adjust the dial on fear and hope when there is so much to be afraid of Making sense of the wisdom we can learn in the midst of difficult times—without saying ‘everything happens for a reason’ (because we would never do that to you) How we hope to be transformed by God’s love Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 13, 2024 • 47min
Sarah Polley: Run Toward the Danger
Do you ever look back at your childhood and go… certainly that didn’t happen like that? Where were the adults? Academy Award-winning director and childhood actress Sarah Polley describes what it was like to not be believed when she was afraid or when she wanted to stop or when she was in pain or when she was in danger. And how, as adults, we can all better protect those around us and learn to look back on our younger selves with compassion. How hard it can be to believe our own memories or pain When kids aren’t protected by the adults in their life and how they make sense of that as adults Managing invisible illnesses How we can better support those going through chronic illness with compassion Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.