11 episodes

A show about what becomes possible when we look at hardships differently. Lucy Kalanithi—physician, storyteller and widow of Paul Kalanithi, who wrote When Breath Becomes Air—shares personal reflections, poetry, and deep conversations. Join us to explore transformations around loneliness, the myth of the ideal nuclear family, climate crisis, and more.

Gravity Wonder Media Network

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 146 Ratings

A show about what becomes possible when we look at hardships differently. Lucy Kalanithi—physician, storyteller and widow of Paul Kalanithi, who wrote When Breath Becomes Air—shares personal reflections, poetry, and deep conversations. Join us to explore transformations around loneliness, the myth of the ideal nuclear family, climate crisis, and more.

    BONUS: The Accidental Activist (Dr. Lucy Kalanithi)

    BONUS: The Accidental Activist (Dr. Lucy Kalanithi)

    From Wonder Media Network comes The Accidental Activist, a new podcast hosted by acclaimed journalist and former CNN Anchor Isha Sesay. Join Isha as she sits down with an array of celebrities, entertainers, and creators to find out the motivating circumstances behind their passions, all while revealing the human condition that unites us all: a desire to make a difference in the world.

    Tune into today's episode with Dr. Lucy Kalanithi. Turning pain into purpose can often be the cornerstone of activism. Dr. Lucy Kalanithi exemplifies that in her work as a physician. In this episode, Lucy walks us through her unconventional journey into activism. She explains what it means to find joy in the midst of suffering, the importance of discovering your purpose, and why she’s fighting to make the healthcare system more human and more humane.

    • 55 min
    Introducing: As She Rises

    Introducing: As She Rises

    With a problem as big as the climate crisis, it can be hard to truly visualize its impact. We're excited to share the first episode of As She Rises, a new Wonder Media Network podcast that brings together poetry and stories of action to contextualize the elusive magnitude of climate change.

    • 28 min
    On Climate Crisis with Mary Annaïse Heglar

    On Climate Crisis with Mary Annaïse Heglar

    What is climate grief, and how do we respond to it? What happens when we think about the climate crisis in a cultural and historical context, beyond just its scientific aspects? And what if your power in this fight lies not in what you can do as an individual, but in your ability to be part of a collective?

    In this episode, host Lucy Kalanithi is joined by Mary Annaïse Heglar, climate justice writer and co-host of the podcast Hot Take.

    • 34 min
    On Justice with Marlee Liss

    On Justice with Marlee Liss

    What else can justice mean, other than retribution? How can the pursuit of justice better honor the needs of the person and community who were harmed? And what new possibilities for healing and repair might emerge through a reimagined process?

    In this episode, host Lucy Kalanithi is joined by Marlee Liss — speaker, author, sensuality coach and restorative justice advocate.

    (CW: sexual assault, suicidal ideation, justice system)

    • 31 min
    On Mortality and Meaning with Paul Kalanithi

    On Mortality and Meaning with Paul Kalanithi

    Meaning. We know it when we see it or feel it, but what exactly is meaning? Why do we put so much importance on it? And how do we create it?

    In this episode, host Lucy Kalanithi revisits audio recordings of her late husband, neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi — who wrote the #1 New York Times-bestselling memoir When Breath Becomes Air — to reflect on meaning and its underpinnings.

    • 30 min
    On Cancer and Metaphor with Shekinah Elmore & Elena Semino

    On Cancer and Metaphor with Shekinah Elmore & Elena Semino

    When we talk about illness, why does metaphor matter? What does it mean to think about cancer as a battle? What are the possibilities for other metaphors? And can the language we choose reframe the experience of illness itself?

    In this episode, host Lucy Kalanithi is joined by oncologist Shekinah Elmore and linguist Elena Semino.

    • 44 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
146 Ratings

146 Ratings

BilzPB ,

Uplifting

I love this podcast so much! I keep it in my library so I can start it again when I need a boost! The compassion, the actionable information keeps me from feeling hopeless

db from Maryland ,

Thank you, Lucy!

What a gorgeous addition to the abundance of thoughtful, enlightening, impactful, long-form interview podcasts with women hosts (Kate, Kelly, Maya, Anna, Nora…) each of whom bring her own unique perspectives and styles. Lucy, you bring great depth and sensitivity to each interview, you never “get in the way” of your guest, and always leave me much to think about. “On Mortality and Meaning” was brilliant and indelible. It is beautiful that you pay homage to Paul by including poetry at the end of each episode. Thank you for this podcast.

KidOnTheTown ,

Joy & Truth

Beautiful podcast with fascinating conversations. Love the poetry at the end. If you are wary because the topics sound depressing, don’t be, the wisdom of Lucy and her guests will leave you uplifted.

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