Overview of We Can Do Hard Things — Cynthia Erivo — Wicked, Wild & Wise
This episode of We Can Do Hard Things (Treat Media; hosts Glennon Doyle & Abby) features Cynthia Erivo in a wide-ranging, intimate conversation timed with two major releases: Wicked Part 2 (film) and her memoir Simply More. Over roughly an hour Cynthia talks about craft, vulnerability, boundaries, healing from family wounds, practical self-care rituals, her approach to acting, and what it feels like to carry a cultural phenomenon like Elphaba. The interview mixes warm, candid storytelling with practical insights listeners can apply in their own lives.
Guest snapshot
- Cynthia Erivo — Grammy, Emmy and Tony-winning actress, singer, and producer.
- Current projects discussed: Wicked (film series; Part 2 release), memoir Simply More (released the day of the episode).
- Tone: warm, reflective, generous, occasionally humorous and forthright.
Topics discussed
- Cynthia’s new book Simply More: intention (a gift/offering), vulnerability, and life lessons.
- Wicked franchise: audience reactions, themes (friendship, power, betrayal, intersection of race & gender), and how she manages the scale of influence.
- Personal rituals and boundaries: dressing for bed, curated loungewear, and why small rituals matter.
- Dogs as emotional anchors: how her dogs help regulate anxiety and loneliness.
- Family history and father wound: a formative subway/train station moment and its long-term impact on trust and asking for help.
- Therapy and relearning trust: how therapy and practical supports (assistants, people on set) helped her accept help.
- Identity and visibility: refusal to be invisible, wanting to be genuinely seen rather than “used” behind the scenes.
- Acting philosophy: "acting = telling the truth"; skepticism of method acting, especially for roles depicting trauma; embodiment without self-harm.
- Playing Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar): process, fear, and why the role resonated; public reaction and the responsibility of representation.
- “Too muchness”: owning visibility, style, and presence as self-expression and boundary-setting.
- Practical cultural critique in Wicked: how different viewers read Elphaba/Glinda relationship through lenses of power, race, and choice.
Notable quotes and insights
- “To act is actually to tell the truth.” — Cynthia on her approach to craft.
- “I don't believe in method acting because I think it's dangerous.” — on why she avoids immersive, traumatic method processes.
- “If I start the day the way I want to start the day, then everything else sort of follows after that.” — about ritual and how small decisions ground her.
- “I never wanted to feel invisible again.” — reflecting on early moments when she was unseen and the choices that followed.
- “From the darker parts, there is always going to be light.” — on growth through hardship.
- On asking “why”: pressing for purpose prevents drifting into choices that don’t serve you.
Main takeaways
- Small rituals matter: Cynthia’s deliberate, dignified rituals (matching pajamas, loungewear, finishing the day on her terms) are a tool for self-respect and recalibration.
- Vulnerability is a strength: The memoir’s openness came from discovering and naming lessons; vulnerability becomes an offering to others.
- Asking for help is learnable: Early abandonment shaped Cynthia’s default to do everything alone; with work and support she relearned asking and receiving help.
- Ask “why” before you commit: Cynthia urges people to clarify purpose in meetings and life choices — it prevents becoming trapped in meaningless commitments.
- Be visibly, consistently yourself: She intentionally shows up without props to ensure people meet the real person, not a façade.
- Acting ethically: She rejects methods that require reliving trauma; instead she mines her knowledge and empathy to inhabit roles safely.
- Representation matters: Cynthia’s choices (e.g., playing Jesus) are about telling human stories honestly and broadening who is seen as capable of certain roles.
Practical recommendations / action items (what listeners can do)
- Create a simple “start” and “end” ritual for your day to signal boundaries and self-care (e.g., special loungewear, a brief pause, a plant/walk).
- When offered a task or asked to join a project, ask “Why?” and “What will this do for us?” — insist on clarity before committing.
- Re-evaluate your relationship with help: practice asking for one small favor this week and notice the result.
- Practice showing up as yourself in one situation where you’d normally perform or shrink (no props, honest language).
- If you’re doing emotionally difficult work, set ethical boundaries for how much you’ll relive trauma in the name of craft.
Sponsor / episode notes
- Sponsor: Gain — promotion of the limited-edition Gain x Wicked for Good laundry collection with three scents designed to evoke Oz (detergent Flings in Fantabulous Floral; in-wash scent boosters in Wonderfulest Woods; Beautifical Blossom beads; mentions Emerald Charm and Yellow Brick Wonder). The hosts connect scent and mood with everyday rituals (laundry as small joy).
- Hosts: Glennon Doyle & Abby (We Can Do Hard Things). Episode includes lighthearted segments (speed-round favorite scents) framing the conversation.
Who will get the most from this episode
- Fans of Cynthia Erivo and Wicked who want behind-the-scenes perspective.
- People working through family wounds or learning to accept help.
- Creatives and performers interested in craft, boundaries, and ethical approaches to emotionally intense roles.
- Listeners looking for practical self-care rituals and permission to be unapologetically themselves.
Final note
Cynthia frames her memoir and public work as offerings — honest, vulnerable, and intended to be given to others as tools for connection. The episode is part personal storytelling and part practical coaching: it models how to protect your inner life while engaging in very public work, and how to reclaim visibility without apology.