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ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. 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.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an 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.
  See All Episodes
  Nikki Grimes
  Complicated Childhoods, Forgiveness, and Extraordinary Grace
  Listen Now Complicated Childhoods, Forgiveness, and Extraordinary Grace
  Tim Shriver
  Through the Lens of Love
  Listen Now Through the Lens of Love
  Sarah Wildman
  Small Talk Survivors
  Listen Now Small Talk Survivors
  Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
  Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  Listen Now Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD
MERCH

Read More Be Where You Are

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Every week I usually forget most of the basics:
a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.

If you want some smart, kind, and funny encouragement to get you through your week, sign up for my newsletter. I’d love to be your reminder.

Follow along on socials

@katecbowler

This week on @everythinghappens, poet and truth-teller @poetrynikki joins me for a conversation about the kind of forgiveness that isn’t earned or deserved—but necessary. Not to forget what happened. Not to excuse it.

But to stop carrying it.

It’s raw. It’s gentle. It’s what healing can sound like.

Comment "BEST" and I`ll send you a link to watch the full conversation.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18104962171730635

This week on @everythinghappens, poet and truth-teller @poetrynikki joins me for a conversation about the kind of forgiveness that isn’t earned or deserved—but necessary. Not to forget what happened. Not to excuse it.But to stop carrying it.It’s raw. It’s gentle. It’s what healing can sound like.Comment "BEST" and I'll send you a link to watch the full conversation.

As we head into a week of gatherings—some delightful, some... deeply character-building—may we remember what @timothyshriver so deeply believes, dignity is still on the table. Even when Uncle What’s-His-Name brings that opinion. Again.

Let’s try to be people of grace. Or at least people who don’t throw the mashed potatoes.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17964884841003535

As we head into a week of gatherings—some delightful, some... deeply character-building—may we remember what @timothyshriver so deeply believes, dignity is still on the table. Even when Uncle What’s-His-Name brings that opinion. Again.Let’s try to be people of grace. Or at least people who don’t throw the mashed potatoes.

God, show us that love does not look away in a world where Everything Happens.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17891755458372980

God, show us that love does not look away in a world where Everything Happens.

People say “everything happens for a reason.”
And I say, “sure, sometimes the reason is that life can be a hot dumpster fire.”

No hidden meaning in there—trust me, I checked.
(Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) for further investigation 🔥🗑️)

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18087005053792525

People say “everything happens for a reason.”
And I say, “sure, sometimes the reason is that life can be a hot dumpster fire.”No hidden meaning in there—trust me, I checked.
(Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) for further investigation 🔥🗑️)

People say “everything happens for a reason.”
And I say, “sure, sometimes the reason is that life can be a hot dumpster fire.”

No hidden meaning in there—trust me, I checked.
(Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) for further investigation 🔥🗑️)

1943 58

Open post by katecbowler with ID 18053153837680093

People say “everything happens for a reason.”
And I say, “sure, sometimes the reason is that life can be a hot dumpster fire.”No hidden meaning in there—trust me, I checked.
(Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) for further investigation 🔥🗑️)

YOU`VE BEEN ASKING AND I AM SO HAPPY TO TELL YOU!!!

We are doing Advent over on Substack this year!

Make sure you`re subscribed to my Substack (katebowler.substack.com). I`ll be sending out a weekly roundup each Sunday with links to the upcoming week’s Advent reflections.

Share this with anyone you know who might want to join in. Advent begins on November 30th.

Comment "STACK" and I`ll send you a link to subscribe. ✨

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18042536873493414

YOU'VE BEEN ASKING AND I AM SO HAPPY TO TELL YOU!!!We are doing Advent over on Substack this year!Make sure you're subscribed to my Substack (katebowler.substack.com). I'll be sending out a weekly roundup each Sunday with links to the upcoming week’s Advent reflections.Share this with anyone you know who might want to join in. Advent begins on November 30th.Comment "STACK" and I'll send you a link to subscribe. ✨

✨New merch just dropped! ✨
(And no, we didn’t include a candle that smells like “Complicated Feelings”… but maybe next year??)

This week on Substack, we`re in full holiday mode. We’ve gathered our favorite ways to give—gifts that validate and comfort, causes that heal, and a playlist that won’t make you want to hide in the bathroom at the Christmas party.

Comment "GIFT" and I`ll send you a link! 🎁

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17866979850491933

✨New merch just dropped! ✨
(And no, we didn’t include a candle that smells like “Complicated Feelings”… but maybe next year??)This week on Substack, we're in full holiday mode. We’ve gathered our favorite ways to give—gifts that validate and comfort, causes that heal, and a playlist that won’t make you want to hide in the bathroom at the Christmas party.Comment "GIFT" and I'll send you a link! 🎁

@timothyshriver has been showing up for people on the margins long before it was cool—American disability rights activist, film producer, former educator, and longtime Chair of @specialolympics. Oh, and he started a movement called UNITE. No big deal.

In this week’s chat, we talk about how service isn’t just something we do—it’s how we get vulnerable enough to find what’s real.

You’ll laugh. Admire his amazing hair. You’ll want to volunteer.

Comment "SERVE" and I`ll send you a link to watch the full episode!

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 17933983125121375

@timothyshriver has been showing up for people on the margins long before it was cool—American disability rights activist, film producer, former educator, and longtime Chair of @specialolympics. Oh, and he started a movement called UNITE. No big deal.In this week’s chat, we talk about how service isn’t just something we do—it’s how we get vulnerable enough to find what’s real.You’ll laugh. Admire his amazing hair. You’ll want to volunteer.Comment "SERVE" and I'll send you a link to watch the full episode!

If you are reading this you have great eyesight. But also, thanks for being a person with me. The world is strange and hard for soft-hearted humans, but I think you’re a delight.

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Make your inbox a little more human.

ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. 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.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an 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.
  See All Episodes
  Nikki Grimes
  Complicated Childhoods, Forgiveness, and Extraordinary Grace
  Listen Now Complicated Childhoods, Forgiveness, and Extraordinary Grace
  Tim Shriver
  Through the Lens of Love
  Listen Now Through the Lens of Love
  Sarah Wildman
  Small Talk Survivors
  Listen Now Small Talk Survivors
  Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
  Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
  Listen Now Relentless Tenderness: A Conversation on Healing
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD
MERCH