NEW RESOURCE: Podcast Discussion Guides

Kate Bowler

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
  Judy Woodruff
  How Will We Live Our Beautiful, Terrible Days?
  Listen Now How Will We Live Our Beautiful, Terrible Days?
  Samantha Bee
  This is Going to Be(e) a Great Story
  Listen Now This is Going to Be(e) a Great Story
  Pamela Morris-Perez
  Suicide Prevention and Hope
  Listen Now Suicide Prevention and Hope
  Chantal Kreviazuk
  Finding the Melody
  Listen Now Finding the Melody
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
  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
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD

chronic pain and belonging.

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.

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I’m also interested in church/ministry resources sent monthly.

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Follow along on socials

@katecbowler

I had the privilege of talking with THE @JudyWoodruffPBS at the beautiful @SixthandI Synagogue, and she is just as curious, kind, and warm as you might imagine. We talked about what it means to live through the best of days, the worst of days, and all the in-betweens.

I think it’s the perfect conversation to wrap up this season of Everything Happens (but don’t fret, we have some fun conversations coming this summer before our next season with some more incredible guests).

Listen to my full conversation with Judy through the link in my bio.

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I had the privilege of talking with THE @JudyWoodruffPBS at the beautiful @SixthandI Synagogue, and she is just as curious, kind, and warm as you might imagine. We talked about what it means to live through the best of days, the worst of days, and all the in-betweens.I think it’s the perfect conversation to wrap up this season of Everything Happens (but don’t fret, we have some fun conversations coming this summer before our next season with some more incredible guests).Listen to my full conversation with Judy through the link in my bio.

Writer friends are some of the best kinds. But especially these two.

Because they notice things like turtles named Frank who desperately want to be let into front doors (@marylauraphilpott). And birds. All of the birds. (My favorite fact about @margaret.renkl is that she keeps an animal trap in the back of her car in case she comes across a family of opossums on the side of the road that need to be taken somewhere safely. And gloves. Enormous gloves for if they bite her? Unsure.)

The best kinds of noticers. The best kind of people.

Who makes you a better noticer?

Listen to my conversations with these two lovies. I’ll put the links in my bio.

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Writer friends are some of the best kinds. But especially these two.Because they notice things like turtles named Frank who desperately want to be let into front doors (@marylauraphilpott). And birds. All of the birds. (My favorite fact about @margaret.renkl is that she keeps an animal trap in the back of her car in case she comes across a family of opossums on the side of the road that need to be taken somewhere safely. And gloves. Enormous gloves for if they bite her? Unsure.)The best kinds of noticers. The best kind of people.Who makes you a better noticer?Listen to my conversations with these two lovies. I’ll put the links in my bio.

for keeping your heart soft when everything is broken

Blessed are you who see it all now.
The terrible,
beautiful truth that our world,
our lives seem irreparably broken.

And you can’t unsee it.
The hungry kid.
The exhausted mom.
The woman who wonders
if any of this is worth it.
The loneliness and despair.

Blessed are you
who glimpse reality
and don’t turn away.
This kind of seeing
comes at a steep cost,
and it is a cost you
may not have paid intentionally,
but here you are.
Seeing things clearly.

Blessed are you who have worked hard
to keep your heart soft.
You who live with courage,
fixing what is in your reach,
praying about what is not,
and loving, still.

May you experience deeper capacity
and glimpses of hope,
as you continue to see the world as it is.

Terrible. Beautiful. Fragile.

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for keeping your heart soft when everything is brokenBlessed are you who see it all now.
The terrible,
beautiful truth that our world,
our lives seem irreparably broken.And you can’t unsee it.
The hungry kid.
The exhausted mom.
The woman who wonders
if any of this is worth it.
The loneliness and despair.Blessed are you
who glimpse reality
and don’t turn away.
This kind of seeing
comes at a steep cost,
and it is a cost you
may not have paid intentionally,
but here you are.
Seeing things clearly.Blessed are you who have worked hard
to keep your heart soft.
You who live with courage,
fixing what is in your reach,
praying about what is not,
and loving, still.May you experience deeper capacity
and glimpses of hope,
as you continue to see the world as it is.Terrible. Beautiful. Fragile.

Your turn. Let’s rewrite some clichés and platitudes to make them a wee bit more honest. (Best rewrites get stickers! I’ll pick a winner!)

How would you rewrite “It is what it is”?
Or “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”?

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Your turn. Let’s rewrite some clichés and platitudes to make them a wee bit more honest. (Best rewrites get stickers! I’ll pick a winner!)How would you rewrite “It is what it is”?
Or “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”?

In my conversation with @realsambee, she told me her grandmother dressed her for prom. And she essentially looked like a very young Golden Girl. Tasteful slacks. Classy hairdo. I only wish there was a photo…

So in an effort to get Samantha Bee to share hers. Here’s mine. (Baby Kate at high school prom in her homemade dress and flowers from the florist next to Zellers.) I want to see yours! Tag me in all your delicious, itchy, not-breathable chiffon/poly blends, my friends.

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In my conversation with @realsambee, she told me her grandmother dressed her for prom. And she essentially looked like a very young Golden Girl. Tasteful slacks. Classy hairdo. I only wish there was a photo…So in an effort to get Samantha Bee to share hers. Here’s mine. (Baby Kate at high school prom in her homemade dress and flowers from the florist next to Zellers.) I want to see yours! Tag me in all your delicious, itchy, not-breathable chiffon/poly blends, my friends.

Are you an Indianapolitan? Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is an event for you.

Join @nickkristof @grovesroad and me for Everything Happens LIVE! on Thursday, July 11th at 7pm at the @artcrafttheatre

Tickets are available through the link in my bio. I hope to see you there!

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Are you an Indianapolitan? Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is an event for you.Join @nickkristof @grovesroad and me for Everything Happens LIVE! on Thursday, July 11th at 7pm at the @artcrafttheatreTickets are available through the link in my bio. I hope to see you there!

THE SAMANTHA BEE IS ON THE PODCAST THIS WEEK!!

The Queen of No Guff herself @realsambee and I talk about what Golden Girls outfit she wore to prom, what our friends can teach us about love and intimacy, and the hand of God moment that changed the trajectory of her life.

Listen to (or watch!) my full conversation with the hilarious Samantha Bee via the link in my bio.

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THE SAMANTHA BEE IS ON THE PODCAST THIS WEEK!!The Queen of No Guff herself @realsambee and I talk about what Golden Girls outfit she wore to prom, what our friends can teach us about love and intimacy, and the hand of God moment that changed the trajectory of her life.Listen to (or watch!) my full conversation with the hilarious Samantha Bee via the link in my bio.

To know Katherine Wolf (@hopeheals) is to love her.

She has a new book out that you might love. It’s called Treasures in the Dark and it is about the hard-won wisdom we can only find in those moments of pain or suffering or despair. Glittering gems we mine for—not to erase the pain or even it out in some cosmic way—but the holy reality that life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone. Usually at the same time.

Link in my bio to her new book of reflections and to listen to my convo with Katherine & Jay on the Everything Happens Podcast. This was one of my favorites.

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To know Katherine Wolf (@hopeheals) is to love her.She has a new book out that you might love. It’s called Treasures in the Dark and it is about the hard-won wisdom we can only find in those moments of pain or suffering or despair. Glittering gems we mine for—not to erase the pain or even it out in some cosmic way—but the holy reality that life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone. Usually at the same time.Link in my bio to her new book of reflections and to listen to my convo with Katherine & Jay on the Everything Happens Podcast. This was one of my favorites.

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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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
  Judy Woodruff
  How Will We Live Our Beautiful, Terrible Days?
  Listen Now How Will We Live Our Beautiful, Terrible Days?
  Samantha Bee
  This is Going to Be(e) a Great Story
  Listen Now This is Going to Be(e) a Great Story
  Pamela Morris-Perez
  Suicide Prevention and Hope
  Listen Now Suicide Prevention and Hope
  Chantal Kreviazuk
  Finding the Melody
  Listen Now Finding the Melody
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
  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
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Everything Happens for a Reason

Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!

No Cure for Being Human

Resources

Types

Topics

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.

Follow along on socials

Everything Happens.

Browse by topic

Make your inbox a little more human.

Meet Kate

Get to Know Me

How to Connect

Everything Happens.

Books

Everything Happens for a Reason

Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!

No Cure for Being Human

Resources

Types

Topics

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.