Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Ron Shaich, the son of a man who died with a few regrets, started two super successful restaurant chains: Panera and Cava. Today I share a story from his book, Know What Matters, which describes a clarifying moment between father and son that transformed Ron’s intentions.

Arianna Huffington loves her mom, reading, America, adventure and getting to the bottom of things. She has spent a lifetime asking Why and Why Not? Our conversation zeroes in what any one of us can do to thrive, such that we might have more capacity to contribute. We loved being together, comparing notes, figuring out what leads to what. Please share with everyone you know who needs a reminder that we have agency. This episode was made possible by AmeriHealth Caritas and can be viewed anytime you like at PBS.org/kelly.

As families gather in homes across the country for Thanksgiving, we thought it would be nice to share this heartfelt eulogy Katie Dahm wrote for her childhood home: 8107 Warren Avenue. (Replay of Ep 62 which originally aired on 4/9/23.)

Every Friday, we share something good and true about the world, something to get your head right as you finish another week and head into some downtime. Inspiration comes from all manner of places, this week a New York Times article about a guy who quietly made life a little easier for the people in his town. The New York Times article Kelly references was written by Emily Schmall and was published January 25, 2023.

I have had migraines so bad that I ended up in the ER, so my interest in this episode was personal. Turns out so much of the country is in chronic pain that it is a major national issue affecting economic considerations like productivity and health care costs and existential considerations like depression and hopelessness. Rachel Zoffness is a pain psychologist who is reframing our understanding of what pain is and therefore how better to treat it. Given the numbers of people who live in pain, I think this might be one of the most important conversations we have shared. This conversation was had on the set of my PBS show Tell Me More. Special thanks to the wonderful people at Amerihealth Caritas. Rachel Zoffness’ excellent book can be purchased here.

Kelly shares an excerpt from her friend Alix Strauss’ book, The Joy of Funerals: A Novel in Stories, which has just been reissued in celebration of its 20th anniversary. “The Joy of Funerals is a sneak peek at the inner world of those left behind. From the very first page, readers are drawn into the strange, often humorous world where nine women grapple with sex, power, love, and death. When read as a collection, they are anchored together by the novella, "The Joy of Funerals," which follows the life of Nina, a lonely, single thirty-something woman who attends the funerals of the deceased characters in the previous stories. Thinking her ‘funeraling’ habit is under control, Nina slips seamlessly in and out of these proceedings, and these people's lives, until, of course, she's found out.” ​

Here’s my case for celebrating the litany of accomplishments that a completed college application represents. A special episode to mark the day that millions of high school kids hit send on their reach school. Please share with parents, students, college counselors and heads of school. May we all work to reset the goal line. Replay of Episode 15 (originally aired on 11/1/21)

He’s good. He’s really good. In particular, Pete Buttigieg is good at making connections between pragmatic stuff like infrastructure and the most important parts of our lives — caring for people we love and making full use of ourselves. This is a conversation for anyone thinking about the next election and what it means to “make the trains run on time.” You can watch this conversation — and about 50 more you might really love — anytime you like at PBS.org/kelly. This episode was made possible by the lovely and hard working people at AmeriHealth Caritas.

A stunningly beautiful eulogy comprised of notes written over many years by Paul Paroff to his friend Chris Stokes’ mother Charlotte. Charlotte was like a second mother to Paul - until she became more like his own mother and a grandmother to his son. The simplicity of the notes that are included is a reminder to us all to keep in touch, to reach out more often, to share our love and gratitude with the very special people in our lives. (Replay of Ep 44 which originally aired on 12/11/22.)

It often takes the perspective of another to help us see things in a new way. This GOTO includes two heart-felt and thoughtful pieces of feedback we received at Kelly Corrigan Wonders - and Kelly’s response.

It’s not that common for someone to retain her optimism even as she studies all the ways that health outcomes vary by race. Linda Villarosa, a solutions-based journalist and medical school professor, is such a woman. In this conversation, she pulls from a childhood of doing everything right and still feeling like a fly in the buttermilk as well as her early days in journalism where she was constantly coaching her Essence readers to just behave better. Now, she’s seeing a broader picture that includes both lots of kale and walking AND systemic changes to the way we deliver care. Linda’s 5-star book, UNDER THE SKIN, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. This episode was made possible by PBS and AmeriHealth Caritas, which provides affordable health plans to millions.

Kelly shares a lovely letter written by George Saunders (author of books such as Lincoln in the Bardo and A Swim in a Pond in the Rain) for his, and Kelly’s, editor Andy Ward.

Thoughts on the once-ness of life. With thanks to a woman I talked to at a party in Portland a long time ago and never forgot. To be shared with everyone you know who is missing someone. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

Everyone is thinking about war and service. Here’s a conversation with someone who has known many battlefields and paid dearly for his commitment to defend and protect. Retired Colonel Greg Gadson was a kid who dreamed of playing football and who ended up with Super Bowl rings after all. You can watch this episode at any time on PBS. Special thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas. Retired Colonel Gadson’s book is Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Toward Peace and Purpose. Feedback is always welcome: hello@kellycorrigan.com

Kelly’s friend Alec Guettel wrote this fabulous love letter to his wife Christy when they were forced to be apart by his work project in London. It details the trials and tribulations he might have faced had they been kept apart 300 years ago - and what he might have done.

I had this crazy thing happen one morning trying to get to LAX that I keep reflecting on. Meant to be shared with anyone you think of as one of those people, the ones who go with the grain of life as it happens. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

I loved being with Ginni Rometty. She is full of insight and clearly oriented toward world-positive work. I was also taken with her midwestern charm and candor. Emerging from a tricky childhood, she found herself running IBM in a time when very few women were commanding boardrooms (a statement that is maddeningly still applicable today). Now, she is entirely devoted to making good careers available to many more people, and her plan is working. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to build more purpose into life and perhaps one to forward along to the young professionals in your life as inspiration. Thanks to AmeriHealth Caritas and PBS for supporting this work. You can watch this conversation anytime at PBS.org/kelly. Ginni Rometty’s book: Good Power: Leading Positive Change in our Lives, Work, and World Feedback always welcome: hello@kellycorrigan.com

Rabbi Noa Kushner wrote this poignant essay after having welcomed a visiting group of Israeli students, thousands of miles from home, into her home in the United States. It was written on October 9, 2023, not long after Hamas violently attacked Israel.

A quick hit on recognizing our greatest single act of agency. Meant to be shared, especially with the younger generations. Please be in touch. Write us anytime about anything — hello@kellycorrigan.com — we read every single one.

When my daughter was in high school, she read a Pulitzer prize winning book called Evicted and was blown away by how easy it is to become homeless in her country. Years later, I was at one of those thinking weekend festival things (Chautauqua) and listened to the Evicted author speak. Matthew Desmond gave the best talk I had ever heard in my life, and I have heard a lot. As soon as I had the chance, as his new book Poverty by America hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, I talked with him at my apartment in NYC about how America could be the place we all so want it to be. He is a rare mix of gentle and determined. Please listen, please share, for the good of all of us. Feedback always welcome. Write us anytime. hello@kellycorrigan.com