Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Christine Wenzel shares her essay "Things That My Mother Supposes", telling the story of how she and her mother moved from tense exchanges to finding real understanding before her mom's passing in 2020. Through funny and touching memories – from her mom's dodging goodnight kisses to planning her own funeral – Christine captures how complicated parent-child relationships can transform over time. If...

In this 3rd installment of our 4-part series on helping aging parents, Kelly's old friends Steve and Jill Marshall share their expertise on tackling the paperwork no one wants to think about but everyone needs to understand. The founders of Silver Path Consulting break down essential legal and financial documents, share surprising insights about estate planning, and discuss the delicate conversati...

In 2006, the multi platinum selling band The Fray was everywhere - their songs, Over My Head (Cable Car) and How to Save a Life dominated radio waves and television soundtracks. Behind the scenes, lead singer Isaac Slade and manager Gregg Latterman had built more than just a business partnership - they had forged a deep friendship born of mutual respect and shared artistic dreams. But by 2009, tha...

Kelly and therapist friend Dr. Aliza Pressman explore how we can best support those affected by the LA fires. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, they share wisdom about the power of simple connection – how a thoughtful check-in or just being present can make a real difference, and remind us that there's no "right" way to respond to crisis. The episode wraps up with Kelly reading Ellen Bas...

Wondering how to have "the talk" with your aging parents (or any elderly family member who may need help)? In this episode, Kelly sits down with her good friends Steve and Jill Marshall of Silver Path Consulting for Part 2 of their open discussion about caring for aging parents. They explore how to build effective sibling teams where each person contributes based on their strengths, share tips for...

Ever wondered what keeps two people together when the days are intense and the answers aren't clear? Kelly talks with Bob and Amy Allnutt about raising their son Jack, who is severely autistic. These two figured out something pretty special about making a marriage work - it's not about seeing eye to eye, but about creating room for different ways of handling things. When they finally found a way f...

This is the story of an oncologist named Amy who diagnosed herself with leukemia in her own lab and a stem cell donor named Brandon who stepped up to save her life. The chances of finding a perfect donor match are extremely small. The chances that the perfect donor would end up living only an hour away are astronomically small - and yet, these two very special people beat the odds in many ways. An...

In this first of four episodes, Kelly sits down with longtime friends Steve and Jill Marshall, founders of Silver Path Consulting, to discuss the complex challenges of aging parents. Through personal stories and expert insights, they explore why families avoid crucial planning conversations, the "dying longer" phenomenon, and how to navigate decisions about healthcare, housing, and family dynamics...

Start your 2025 with this timely conversation between Kelly and Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), who challenges everything we've been taught about productivity and time management. Together, they explore why traditional approaches aren't working for women's lives, and offer a revolutionary new framework for finding contentment in the chaos. Kelly and Kendra discuss Kendra's new book The Plan and l...

High school counselor Leah Grant gives us a candid look at how phones and social media have changed student life over her 23 years in education. She reveals what she sees in the hallways every day - kids glued to their screens instead of looking at each other - and shares her creative ways of helping students build real connections and find their spark again. To learn more about listener data and...

In this quick teaser episode, Kelly gives us a taste of her upcoming conversation with "The Lazy Genius", Kendra Adachi, author of The Plan. Kendra (and Kelly) explore how we can better manage our time by focusing on what matters most in different seasons of our lives. It's a preview that will make you want to catch their full discussion next week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...

“He may die but he’s alive now and we are going to enjoy this moment together.” This is theology professor Lee C. Camp sharing the turning point of his life as a father of a child who was unwell and is now, thankfully, in recovery. A tender and unguarded conversation, laced with a few existential bombs, to inspire better, less angry days for all of us. Check out Lee’s podcast and live show both ca...

Stephanie Doublestein wrote this letter to honor her parents Chuck and Sue on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary. Stephanie says she observed a marriage and a love not made up of flashy moments, loud declarations of romance, big jewelry surprises or grand gestures but the humble yet impressive accumulation of quiet acts of service, regular little rituals, small moments of thoughtful generosity...

Kelly opens up about a challenging year of loss and shares three quotes from her trusted 1993 copy of The Wit and Wisdom of Women - which helped her through clearing out her childhood home. From treasured mementos to dusty basement finds, this short episode is all about the unexpected ways we process grief and the power of shared experiences. If you've ever had to pack up a loved one's home, this...

The Happy/Crappy files part 2: Kelly and author/professor/podcast host and friend Kate Bowler look back at their most joyful moments from 2024. Through personal stories they explore how happiness showed up in both the big moments and in small daily experiences. The conversation moves easily between laugh-out-loud stories and deeper insights about friendship, family, and finding meaning. It's a rem...

It’s often the little things in life that help us to get through the day: a cup of tea in the morning, gardening, puttering around the house and moving shoes, books and empty glasses back where they belong. We all have things which help us to stay grounded in the midst of a world that feels more crazy and frightening by the day. Stefanie Wass submitted her essay, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, to sh...

Multi-talented writer and producer BJ Novak (The Office) joins Kelly - in this Medium interview from a few years back - to explore the surprisingly deep relationship between comedy and "darkness". From bombing on stage to nailing the perfect joke, BJ opens up about the art of making people laugh, even (or especially) when things get heavy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practice...

Podcaster, professor and wisdom-dropper Kate Bowler joins Kelly for a dive into the Crappy Files of 2024. With honesty, humor, and surprising insights, they unpack everything that challenged them this year - from the deeply personal to the wildly universal. Come back next week for the Happy Files, when we flip the script and celebrate what went right. Share them both with someone who could use a r...

Beth Mason wrote this love letter to her sister Susan who, as the "in town" sibling, became their parents' default caregivers. Beth encourages us all to pass this along to anyone who's in the trenches doing the hard, essential work of caring for others. We see you - and we're so grateful. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Le...

Meet Dahlia, the awesome New Yorker who's made it her personal mission to cheer for marathon runners who don't have anyone rooting for them on race day. She shows up with signs, tissues, and endless enthusiasm to support complete strangers as they tackle those grueling 26.2 miles. It's a tradition she started in honor of her late father, and honestly, it's exactly the kind of feel-good story we al...

Kelly talks with bestselling author Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic series) about life after her 2022 brain cancer diagnosis. Sophie shares what it was like to edit a novel she couldn't remember writing, explains her nightly gratitude practice with her husband Henry, and describes how she's learned to focus on what truly matters. The conversation weaves through her writing process, her relationship wi...

Natalie Silverstein shares her essay "On Memory and New Beginnings," reflecting on her mother's passing three years ago and her journey toward healing. Through her 16 year-old daughter's wisdom and the Jewish concept of teshuvah, Natalie learns to focus on cherished memories rather than the difficult final days – a story that will resonate with anyone who has lost a parent. To learn more about lis...

Kelly's daughter Claire takes the mic to share her experience with Camp Kesem, an amazing organization that runs free summer camps for kids whose parents have faced cancer. As both a cancer survivor's daughter and the current director of UVA's Kesem chapter, Claire opens up about her personal story and shows how this incredible community creates pure magic for children going through tough times. T...

Supreme Court lawyer Neal Katyal shares his secrets for maintaining incredible energy while handling landmark cases, teaching, and appearing as a legal analyst. From getting by on six hours of sleep to finding joy in live music and doing improv comedy, Neal reveals how authentic connections and meaningful work keep him going. This series is sponsored by Coop Sleep Goods who make the Original Pillo...

Kelly shares a grandson's eulogy that captures the essence of an extraordinary relationship with his grandmother. Through William Wallace's memories, we see how his "Grams" created magic through simple but meaningful traditions – from crafting elaborate birthday desserts to transforming spaces just for him – demonstrating how the deepest family bonds are built through consistent presence and thoug...