Skip to content

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
  Atul Gawande
  What Makes Life Worth Living?
  Listen Now What Makes Life Worth Living?
  Kate Bowler
  How to Change (But Not Overnight)
  Listen Now How to Change (But Not Overnight)
  Kate Bowler
  The Summer of Too Much
  Listen Now The Summer of Too Much
  Suleika Jaouad
  Survival Is a Creative Act
  Listen Now Survival Is a Creative Act
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
  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

Wanting a second living child, because one baby was lost to an ectopic pregnancy and PCOS is a leading cause of infertility.

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

🎉 NEW MERCH JUST DROPPED 🎉

Nothing says “I’ve been emotionally leveled by life and still showed up” like a sweatshirt with feelings on it.

We made some painfully honest, weirdly hopeful, and accidentally stylish gear for you and your fellow overthinkers, caregivers, and chaos navigators.

Perfect for:
🌀 Spiraling in comfort
🥣 Cry-eating cereal at 10pm
🛋️ Canceling plans and staying horizontal

Comment "MERCH" and I`ll send a link to shop :)

I hope you love it.

308 874

Open post by katecbowler with ID 18003823865641528

🎉 NEW MERCH JUST DROPPED 🎉Nothing says “I’ve been emotionally leveled by life and still showed up” like a sweatshirt with feelings on it.We made some painfully honest, weirdly hopeful, and accidentally stylish gear for you and your fellow overthinkers, caregivers, and chaos navigators.Perfect for:
🌀 Spiraling in comfort
🥣 Cry-eating cereal at 10pm
🛋️ Canceling plans and staying horizontalComment "MERCH" and I'll send a link to shop :)I hope you love it.

And may you feel, deep in your bones, that your soft, mortal, limited self is worthy of great, great love in a world in which Everything Happens.

2382 36

Open post by katecbowler with ID 17939536860056961

And may you feel, deep in your bones, that your soft, mortal, limited self is worthy of great, great love in a world in which Everything Happens.

It’s easy to forget, in an age of endless data and blinking alerts, that what makes life beautiful isn’t efficiency—it’s love, agency, connection, meaning.

Here are 15 ways to stay human in the face of technology, drawn from the wisdom of those who know what it means to care at the edges of life. (looking at you @atul.gawande) 👀

5035 96

Open post by katecbowler with ID 17960873660828756

It’s easy to forget, in an age of endless data and blinking alerts, that what makes life beautiful isn’t efficiency—it’s love, agency, connection, meaning.Here are 15 ways to stay human in the face of technology, drawn from the wisdom of those who know what it means to care at the edges of life. (looking at you @atul.gawande) 👀

Happy September, loves.

1176 13

Open post by katecbowler with ID 18109937599532337

Happy September, loves.

Circle the date. Set the alarms. Light a candle (or...don’t).

Something beautiful/terrible/secret is coming Sept 8.

ANY GUESSES????

1786 48

Open post by katecbowler with ID 17858024574490526

Circle the date. Set the alarms. Light a candle (or...don’t).Something beautiful/terrible/secret is coming Sept 8.ANY GUESSES????

What makes life meaningful—especially at the end?

This week on Everything Happens (we’re SO BACK), Dr. @atul.gawande reflects on why that question is at the heart of caregiving. In medicine and in families, knowing what matters most can shape every decision, every conversation, every act of care.

Whether you’re a clinician, a caregiver, or someone navigating these questions for yourself, this is a conversation about humanity and living well all the way to the end.

Comment “BACK” and I’ll send you a link to watch the whole episode. 📺👀🎙️

p.s. To make it even easier to find pod content, be sure to follow @everythinghappens on Instagram!
p.p.s A huge thank you to @aspenideas for collaborating to make this conversation possible.

1041 237

Open post by katecbowler with ID 18079850572748100

What makes life meaningful—especially at the end?This week on Everything Happens (we’re SO BACK), Dr. @atul.gawande reflects on why that question is at the heart of caregiving. In medicine and in families, knowing what matters most can shape every decision, every conversation, every act of care.Whether you’re a clinician, a caregiver, or someone navigating these questions for yourself, this is a conversation about humanity and living well all the way to the end.Comment “BACK” and I’ll send you a link to watch the whole episode. 📺👀🎙️p.s. To make it even easier to find pod content, be sure to follow @everythinghappens on Instagram!
p.p.s A huge thank you to @aspenideas for collaborating to make this conversation possible.

If you are feeling *it all*, you aren`t alone. You are probably just paying attention.

Here`s a little reworking of the Beatitudes for a world where Everything Happens.

2435 29

Open post by katecbowler with ID 17979829673883239

If you are feeling *it all*, you aren't alone. You are probably just paying attention.Here's a little reworking of the Beatitudes for a world where Everything Happens.

On this #GriefAwarenessDay, just a gentle nudge: grief doesn’t follow a tidy timeline. It’s unpredictable. Untamed. It crashes in and lingers long after the world moves on.

Whatever shape your sorrow takes today—that’s okay. There’s no wrong way to grieve. I swear.

3829 77

Open post by katecbowler with ID 18093904882731996

On this #GriefAwarenessDay, just a gentle nudge: grief doesn’t follow a tidy timeline. It’s unpredictable. Untamed. It crashes in and lingers long after the world moves on.Whatever shape your sorrow takes today—that’s okay. There’s no wrong way to grieve. I swear.

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.

© 2025
Development by Penner Web Design

About
Resources
Contact
Podcasts
Books
MERCH
Mural
Upcoming Events
Newsletter
Blessings

Everything Happens.

Browse by topic

Complicated Families

grief

resilient faith

what not to say

moving forward

Illness

nuanced hope

caring at home

inspiring lives

caring at work

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
  Atul Gawande
  What Makes Life Worth Living?
  Listen Now What Makes Life Worth Living?
  Kate Bowler
  How to Change (But Not Overnight)
  Listen Now How to Change (But Not Overnight)
  Kate Bowler
  The Summer of Too Much
  Listen Now The Summer of Too Much
  Suleika Jaouad
  Survival Is a Creative Act
  Listen Now Survival Is a Creative Act
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
  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