EVERYTHING HAPPENS.
Hard Truths. Soft Hearts.
Hi, I’m Kate. Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self help, shall we?
I am a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. (And letting you have whatever weird or boring hobbies you can’t explain to strangers. Do I love roadside attractions and exotic potato chip flavors? Yes. More than I should say.)
I believe that the world would be a gentler place if we took apart the well-meaning clichés we use when life is hard. (What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Maybe what doesn’t kill you might try again tomorrow. 🙂 )
I am determined to create a gentler world for everyone who wants to admit that they are not always “living their best life.” After years of being told I was incurable, I was declared cancer-free. But there’s no going back. I am forever changed by what I discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.
Are you living your best life now? Not always? Well, this is a podcast for you.
Kate Bowler is a historian and 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.
featured episodes
JOIN US in durham!
Everything Happens Live
On Sunday, October 15th at 6PM, I will be talking with the Reverend Sam Wells about why we feel skeptical about our faith’s place in the world and what better stories it can offer us, especially now.
The Rev. Wells is the former dean of Duke Chapel and the vicar of the historic London church, St. Martin-in-the-Fields. And I am so excited to be talking with him at Duke. I hope you will join me!
Everyone loves free stuff. (Especially if it helps?!)
These free resources are designed with you in mind. Encouragement. Meditations. Conversation starters. Pick what fits whatever day you’re having.
Free devotional
Bless this Advent
Join us as we celebrate the great inversion—God coming to Earth in the form of a human baby—together. Seeing the world as it really is. Practicing hope for the coming King. Celebrating generosity and love any chance we get using this 4-week devotional (available to print or access online).
Guide
Illness Happens
This curated care package is meant to offer love, support, and encouragement if you’re facing difficult medical news. Or maybe someone you love has been recently diagnosed and you want to be a support.
Guide
Parenting Happens
We may not find every joy in the limitations we are stuck inside. But our gorgeous fragility is nothing to be ashamed of. We hope these resources will be of some comfort to you.
Free Download
Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard. Printable
Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard. For Everyone. Download this beautiful graphic to print and frame or use as a screensaver.
Give up on good, better, best.
Ground yourself in what’s still true.
Kate’s Latest Book
100 Blessings for imperfect days
Warm and witty blessings found within the struggles of our shared humanity, from the New York Times bestselling authors of Good Enough Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie offer creative, faith-based blessings that center gratitude and hope while acknowledging our real, messy lives.
Formatted like a prayer book, The Lives We Actually Have is an oasis and a landing spot for weary souls, with blessings that focus on the full range of human moments: garbage days, lovely days, grief-stricken days, and even (especially) completely ordinary days.
Let’s have a reminder that we don’t need to wait for perfect lives when we can bless the lives we actually have.
Events
Want to start living your Okayest Life Now? Look no further.
Kate loves to challenge the clichés we use to think about success and failure. Instead, she celebrates the necessity for courage, honesty, and the embarrassing amount that we rely on each other. (Sorry, individualism.) Join Kate at an event near you.
EVERYTHING
HAPPENS
