Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Beth Mason, a heartfelt contributor and sister, shares an emotional love letter to her sister Susan, the primary caregiver for their aging parents. She candidly describes the daily challenges Susan faces, juggling caregiving with work and family. Beth compares their roles to a never-ending game show, highlighting the extraordinary sacrifices made by caregivers. Her admiration shines through as she expresses deep gratitude for Susan's unwavering strength and grace during tough times. It's a touching tribute to those who do the essential work of caring for others.

Imagine New Year's resolutions that focus on curiosity, humility, and creativity instead of the usual goals. Kelly dives into what genuine curiosity looks like and how humility helps us recognize our limits. She warns against the dangers of rushing to conclusions, stressing the value of asking questions. Creativity is redefined as practical problem-solving using what you have on hand. Daily making fosters both personal growth and community well-being, laying the foundation for a richer life.

In this engaging conversation, historian and writer Kate Bowler, known for her insightful takes on grief and joy, joins to reflect on the bright side of 2025. They discuss her honorary doctorate and how she honored her parents' sacrifices. Kate shares her year-long research on joy for her upcoming book, explaining its deeper significance compared to mere happiness. They also touch on the growth of green energy, societal lessons from Scandinavia, and the importance of recognizing moments of grace. Their light-hearted banter reveals the small pleasures that bring joy.

Karen Mulvaney shares heartwarming stories about her father, a man who filled life with joy and laughter, from doing cartwheels in wedding celebrations to waking his kids early for ski trips. His unwavering presence in the family during tough times and his belief in showing up for others highlighted the strength of his character. Even in illness, he radiated love and warmth at his wife's funeral. Karen honors him with a vision of joyful cartwheels, celebrating a life abundant with connection and heartfelt presence.

Exploring the power of dreams, the discussion highlights Kelly's journey from shattered ambitions to renewed passion through life's challenges. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging desires and overcoming biases that hinder growth. Kelly encourages listeners to take small daily actions and to embrace failure as part of the process. With a focus on selective sharing of dreams and finding supportive voices, this engaging talk serves as a motivational push for anyone feeling stuck or disheartened.

Kelly and Kate Bowler return for their annual, end-of-the-year "Crappy Happy" tradition—this week, the crappy. They wade into the losses that don't announce themselves all at once: the thinning of what used to feel full, the realization that some struggles are life sentences, and the slow unraveling of institutions that once felt solid. Kate reflects on what it costs to do slow, unglamorous work in a world that no longer values it and Kelly considers what happens when systems built to protect everyone start serving only one. They talk about acceptance as a form of hope, the surprising need to be bone tired, and how to tell the difference between people fighting for their side and people protecting what shelters us all. It's an honest, grounding conversation—with the happy coming next week. During this episode, you may hear a promo for our good friend Rainn Wilson's new Soul Boom Workbook. Here's the ⁠link ⁠to check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Boom-Workbook-Spiritual-Modern/dp/1538775549?crid=2K600IOLTO480&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.njEwE1KauBdfmMJ9mwdWHaPVxWVREypAoDL5oh74UYG1_taS62Qxnjfb_mM8dfLle7kRCmGRTML3WhY_HP-G6_-58thtk6MoeWAEJ4WZpdXM3CniE6oubPy7kKMjlKUQsPsOKwKb-9pBdW1SsW7GDEFW3LC2l1L2R13mizfBg1_SKMVhIkFjMtpgCMcX4eb7x8OB0oxhwO-Dzcha8wJtE8e7mhnKBOWEoHPd2tu-FPA.BBz5fyyr7OswSgL5w4jfEH_ya5m9yfOyV0OcWTg8B1A&dib_tag=se&keywords=soul+boom+workbook&qid=1762393535&sprefix=soul+boom+work,aps,174&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=soulboom-20&linkId=194c58045ef60f5d27c02ac9dde97db3&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colleen Gilroy tells the story of her mother, Mary Pat—a woman who stayed up deep into the night knitting Christmas stockings, thinking about each recipient as her needles clicked in the stillness while everyone else slept. Mary Pat was a night shift NICU nurse who cared for thousands of fragile babies and their frightened parents, a leprechaun of a woman who never let the truth interfere with a good tale, someone who poured 30 hours of attention into every stocking she made—holding each person in her heart as she worked. Colleen shares what unfolded at the funeral when the family lined the church pews with their stockings, then processed out to the sound of thousands of tiny bells ringing at once, each one marking a life Mary Pat had touched. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it take to truly see someone before they're gone? Kelly shares an essay she wrote for an evening celebrating awe, reflecting on attention as a practice—learning to notice in wild places with a guide who insists you look closer, then bringing that same discipline to a quiet room where it matters most. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How much can we blame DNA for our depression and anxiety? Is something about our mental health pre-written into our genetic code? How much trauma carries over from one generation to the next? How should we think about epi-genetics? These were 4 of the 20 questions I brought to Dr. Francis Collins, the guy who let the team that mapped the human genome. There’s two things I want to say about this episode: I learned so much just studying for the interview and every minute I spent with Francis Collins was a total joy. He is a very special person — direct, deeply informed (maybe moreso on this topic than anyone else on Earth) and delightful. I am so excited to put his guy in your ear — a happy, loving man filled with purpose and eager to share what he knows (and doesn’t) for the greater good. And he laughs easily and a lot. So, I was getting hits of my dad the whole time. A heavenly experience that comes through in every minute of the conversation. Enjoy. (Previously aired) Thanks to PBS stations across the country for supporting Tell Me More. You can watch an edited video version of this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wendy Childress shares the story of losing her beautiful daughter Chloe in the devastating Camp Mystic floods in Texas, and writes a deeply moving tribute to her parents, Joanie and Da. She takes us through that terrible night and the days that followed—the phone calls, the waiting, the moment she had to tell her parents the worst news imaginable. Wendy reflects on having to stop protecting them from pain and become their daughter again, asking them to be strong when everything fell apart. She explores what it means when love comes full circle—to be a child, then a parent, then a child again—and how her parents showed up in ways she never imagined possible, refusing to give up even in the face of crushing grief. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices