We all believe people deserve dignity. Until someone says something outrageous at Thanksgiving dinner. Or posts something truly unhinged on Facebook. Or votes differently than we do. So how do we hold on to our convictions without letting contempt take over? Kate talks with her friend Tim Shriver, longtime chairman of Special Olympics, about what his extraordinary family taught him about belonging, why outrage can feel so satisfying, and what it might look like to treat people with dignity—even when we really, really disagree. Because maybe the goal isn’t to agree on everything. Maybe it’s to remember that we belong to one another.
As Holy Week arrives, Kate talks with theologian, poet, and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams about joy that doesn’t erase sorrow. Together they explore longing, grief, music, gratitude, hope, and the strange, defiant way joy can sit right beside pain without denying what’s true.
When someone you love is in pain—but can’t say the words out loud—what can you do? Kate speaks with beloved Canadian novelist Miriam Toews about growing up in a Mennonite community where suffering was often silent and mental illness misunderstood. They talk about the long shadow of religious shame, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and what it means to stay present with people we can’t fix. This conversation is tender, fierce, and unflinchingly honest.
This episode includes discussion of suicide. If you’re struggling, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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