We Can Do Hard Things

What really happened at Girls Just Wanna Weekend? (Short answer: joy, gyrations, no restraint.) Glennon and Abby take you inside Brandi Carlile’s Mexico gathering—a wildly safe, queer weekend beaming with music, connection, and collective joy. They unpack their now-iconic onstage “Come to My Window” performance (there were lifts), how rehearsals accidentally became couples therapy, and why joy, sexuality, and community aren’t distractions from this moment—but acts of resistance. Plus: the magic of Titans of Americana, where Brandi shared the stage with her legendary idols and Tish—bridging generations and honoring the past while lifting up what’s next. Listen to last year’s debrief – 277. What Happened Last Weekend: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun & We DID! – here.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

Everything is chaotic and overwhelming. The news is relentless.  So we did the only thing that felt honest: we showed up, unprepared, and talked about how we’re actually feeling–and what helps us stay engaged, grounded, and human in this moment. In this conversation, we talk about why overwhelm is a strategy, how to stop spiraling in fear, and why real change doesn’t come from doomscrolling or waiting for a government hero–but from finding grounded leaders in our communities, organizing locally, and trusting ourselves to respond to what today is asking of us. If you’re exhausted, scared, angry, or unsure what to do next–this episode is for you. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

In this special, urgent, must-listen conversation, Brittany Packnett Cunningham helps us understand what’s happening in Minnesota right now—and why it’s not an isolated moment. She explains how years of organizing made Minnesota ready to resist state violence, why this moment is more dangerous than 2014 or 2020, and what it actually means to move from watching in horror to taking action. Brittany lays out what every one of us can do today—wherever we live—to protect our neighbors, build real organizing infrastructure, and prepare for what’s coming next. This is a wake-up call. And a roadmap. You can listen to our prior conversation with Brittany Packnett Cunningham – How to Create Unbreakable Bonds HERE.  About Brittany:  Brittany Packnett Cunningham is a leader at the intersection of culture, justice and policy.  Brittany is Founder of the social impact agency Love & Power Works, Host and Executive Producer of the news and justice podcast UNDISTRACTED. A St. Louis native, Brittany was instrumental in the coordination of the Ferguson Protest following the 2014 police murder of  18-year-old Michael Brown. After George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis in 2020, Brittany became one of the most visible national movement voices for policy, budget and electoral change.  As the world watched the executions of Renee Good and Alex Pretti  by ICE within – both within 2.2 miles of where George Flloyd was murdered – as well as the execution of Keith Porter Jr by ICE in California, Brittany is leading us in connecting this police state violence – including the killing of Geraldo Lunas Campos, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Luis Beltran Yanez–Cruz  and more than 50 other deaths in ICE detention – toward collective liberation.   You can find her @MsPackyetti on all social media. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

By the end of January, most of us have realized the truth: our resolutions didn’t fail—we just never needed them. Instead of trying to fix ourselves (again), this conversation invites us to do something braver: get curious about who we already are underneath all the shoulds. Artist and designer Justina Blakeney helps us tune into what she calls “the tingle”—that quiet spark of delight, curiosity, and aliveness that knows exactly where we’re meant to go. When we trust what delights us, we don’t just decorate our homes—we redecorate our lives. For the good of the realm. - How to stop fixing yourself and start trusting what feels alive and true- Why delight, creativity, and “the tingle” are clues—not indulgences - How following what’s good for you becomes good for your family, your work, and the world About Justina:  Justina Blakeney is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and New York Times Bestselling Author. She is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the home décor brand, Jungalow® and the author of several design books including Jungalow; Decorate Wild! and The New Bohemians book series. Justina lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jason, their kiddo, Ida, her kitties, Juju and Nova, and 52 houseplants. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

Amanda’s first You’re Not Gonna Believe This B.S. show is here: The myths and truth of BILLIONAIRES! We pull back the curtain on how billionaires were made, how much they have, how they skate on public benefits while hoarding the fruits of our labor, how they pretend to fight to keep us distracted fighting with each other (while we barely get by on their scraps), what we learned from them in the Epstein files—and how we get our cookies back.   Joined by author and political analyst Anand Giridharadas, we break down: - What the Epstein emails reveal about the unwritten rules billionaires play by;- What Anand learned about billionaires from the Mandani campaign; and - Why this moment offers hope for building a more just world where we get to have nice things.  About Anand:  Anand Giridharadas is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Persuaders, the international bestseller Winners Take All, The True American, and India Calling. A former foreign correspondent and columnist for The New York Times for more than a decade, he has also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Time. He is an on-air political analyst for MSNBC. He is the publisher of the newsletter The Ink. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

What happens when your mind makes a convincing case for staying safe—but your body is quietly asking you to move toward something warmer? In this beloved conversation, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda return to their very first talk with Martha Beck, whose work has helped them come home to themselves again and again. Martha offers a simple, radical way to stop living by consensus, quiet the spinning mind, and reconnect with the inner compass that knows what is true. This episode is an invitation to pause, feel what you feel, know what you know—and begin again. - How to tell the difference between fear-based thinking and the deep wisdom of your body- The question Martha asked Glennon when she was scared to choose love—and why it changed everything - How to gently cultivate joy when life feels exhausting, overwhelming, or impossibly hard More episodes with Martha Beck: 67. How to Get More Joy with Martha Beck 121. Martha Beck & Rowan Mangan: Polyamory & Throuple Life 252. Martha Beck Helps Amanda Let Go253. Is it Real Love or Spider Love? With Martha Beck 375. How to Stop Worrying with Martha Beck About Martha:  Dr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality. Her recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her new book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose, is available now. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

How do we ever know what is enough – or feel like enough – in a world that pushes us to incessantly perform, perfect, collect, and earn?  The extraordinary duo Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste are here for one of the richest conversations we’ve had about art, love, ambition, spirituality, and what it takes to remain ourselves.  Together, we explore:  - The “beast” we all carry: fear, perfectionism, control, or ambition—and how facing it is the only way out;  - How we can all begin to alchemize our pain into creativity; and  - How to hold onto the integrity of art, beauty, and love in a world that’s always searching for “more.”  This conversation will help you take a deep breath and finally feel like it’s all enough – including you.  .  And check out our prior conversations we had with Suleika, the brilliant author of The Book of Alchemy: How to Stay Human; and How to Turn a Mistake into Magic.  About Jon Batiste:  Jon Batiste is a seven-time Grammy and Academy Award–winning artist whose music moves between jazz, soul, classical, and pop.  His ninth studio album, Big Money, was released on August 22nd, and is supported by a national headlining tour with more than 30 stops. Audiences also know Jon from his Oscar-winning score for his chart-topping album Beethoven Blues and the acclaimed documentary American Symphony, which celebrates his artistry, resilience, and love with his wife Suleika at the height of his creative powers.  About Suleika Jaouad: Suleika Jaouad is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoirs The Book of Alchemy and Between Two Kingdoms. She writes The Isolation Journals, the #1 Literature newsletter on Substack, and wrote the New York Times “Life, Interrupted” column. A three-time cancer survivor and visual artist, she appears with her husband Jon Batiste in the Oscar-nominated documentary American Symphony.

Pod Squad: It’s just us this episode. Glennon, Abby, and Amanda are snuggling up on the metaphorical couch to answer your questions and spiral together about:  – Is writing about yourself self-indulgent? – Is camping a vacation or a trip? (and why lesbians can’t seem to figure that out); and – How Amanda is finally setting down the plates she’s been spinning for decades.  Snuggle up—you won’t want to miss this one.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

At last, the brilliant force of nature, Cynthia Erivo, joins us for a deeply personal, mind-blowing, and heart-swelling conversation about dignity and belonging. We discuss:  - How to survive betrayal and learn to fully trust again;  - How to build a circle of people who will always get on the broom with you;  - How Cynthia chooses and prepares for roles like Elphaba—and why she doesn’t believe in method acting; and - How to find light, joy, and creativity in our darkest moments.  Hold onto your witch hats, Pod Squad. This conversation is a ride—and an offering. Enjoy.  About Cynthia:  Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, singer and producer. She burst onto West End and Broadway stages in THE COLOR PURPLE and has since taken the world by storm. Erivo most recently starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Part 1 of the record-breaking film adaptation of the hit musical WICKED. WICKED: For Good is being released THIS WEEK on November 21st. And Erivo’s brand new book SIMPLY MORE is available today.   Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

We made a movie. You can watch it now.  Our first film – COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT– is now available for you to watch on Apple TV starting this Friday, November 14.  Winner of the Sundance Festival Favorite Award, and hailed by critics as “unforgettable,” “luminous” and “revelatory” – COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT – about our beloved friends Andrea Gibson and Meg Falley, and their love story with each other and with life, is exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. It will make the world gentler, braver, and more beautiful. Today, Meg Falley is sharing the brutal, beautiful story of Andrea’s “alleged death,” how Andrea continues to show up in lightning, music, and everyday miracles, and how this gorgeous film is helping her walk through her grief.   Listen to this soul-shifting conversation – and see why it sent Glennon and Meg directly to the tattoo shop for piercings. And witness Andrea and Meg’s life-changing love story for yourself: Watch COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT on Apple TV starting this Fri, 11/14. #ComeSeeMeInTheGoodLight About Meg:  Megan Falley is a nationally-ranked slam poet and the author of three full-length collections of poetry – most recently her book “Drive Here and Devastate Me”. Since transitioning to writing prose, excerpts from her memoir-in-progress have won several first- and second-place national prizes. She runs an online writing workshop called “Poems That Don’t Suck” which has been heralded as “a degree’s worth of education in 5 short weeks.” Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival—where it went on to win the Festival Favorite Award—Come See Me in the Good Light was quickly embraced by audiences and soon after picked up for distribution by Apple TV+ where it will be released globally on November 14, 2025. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthings TikTok — @wecandohardthingshow

Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom – MacArthur Genius award winner and brilliant chronicler of our times – unmasks the American stories that got us to this place—and explains, with amazing precision and clarity, how we can imagine our way out.  We discuss:  - How the MAGA story broke through and became the winning story; - How money hijacked democracy;  - The little-known history of the Black Panther party of the American South;  - Why Responsibility is Freedom; - How to frame and reclaim the American story through radical humanity: art, truth, creativity, and community.  Join us for this riveting, smart, funny conversation about power, hope, and writing a freer future.  About Tressie:  Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom is a professor and principal investigator with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NY Times columnist, and 2020 MacArthur Fellow. Her work has earned national and international recognition for the urgency and depth of its incisive critical analysis of technology, higher education, culture, media, class, race, and gender. Recent accolades include being named the 2023 winner of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize by Brandeis University for her “critical perspective and analysis to some of the greatest social challenges we face today,” the recipient of the 2025 Thomas Wolfe Prize, and a 2025-26 National Humanities Center Fellow. Her most recent book, THICK: And Other Essays was listed as one the 30 best nonfiction books of the last 30 years by the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Two books are forthcoming with Random House Books. Follow Tressie:  @tressiemcphd on Instagram  @tressiemcphd.bsky.social on Bluesky  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow   Instagram — @wecandohardthingsTikTok — @wecandohardthingshow