Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

Why am I talking about animals on a show about being a better person? Animals can really bring out our better instincts and give us an opportunity to get out of our own heads, thinking about our own problems. Plus, they're cute. And I think late winter is prime time for a little cute infusion when our spirits could go for some lifting. Enjoying these episodes? Leave me a tip! All proceeds are used...

You may not think that you’re making negative assumptions about other people–after all, most of us know that to assume makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me. But, trust me, your brain is filling in a lot of blanks about the people you encounter every day, and probably in a fairly ungenerous and judgmental way. Today's quick-hit helps with that--and also helps increase your capacity for love. Not bad,...

Saying thank you is about more than being polite--it's about training yourself to look for the good, even in situations that are otherwise neutral or even negative. It helps you re-wire your brain, which is trained to look for and remember the bad. Enjoying these episodes? Leave me a tip! All proceeds used to offset production costs and create more episodes. :) Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Say you’re checking out at the grocery store, or picking up books from the library, or getting dinner delivered, or actually eating out in a restaurant. It’s pretty automatic to say, “how are you?” to the person who is helping you. And then they say ‘Fine, how are you?” And these kinds of pleasantries are more important than they might seem. But they don’t really require a stretch. And sometimes w...

When you’re in a hurry it’s easy to wish everyone would just get out of your way already. You know, it’s a real “me first” state of mind. “Please step to the side so that I may get to my very important destination!”  Today's quick hit can help you pull yourself out of that subconscious way of thinking, and potentially even make someone else's day (which feels just as good to you as it does to them...

This week I’m sharing really quick, concrete things you can do to act on the desire to be a better person. I love to talk about deeper, bigger stuff, and figuring out how to make long-lasting changes. But sometimes, you just need a quick hit. That’s what the episodes this week are all about. Today’s quick hit is to look people in the eye. This may seem like no big deal, or like it doesn’t have any...

Laziness gets completely frowned upon in our productivity focused society. But you could have a very good reason to be feeling–or being perceived–as lazy. AND that feeling of not wanting to do anything–which, I fully admit, I have been feeling so frequently lately–is likely telling you something really important. Let's see what laziness has to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

Your network isn’t some wall of trophies that you can proudly point to. It’s your support system--the net beneath your trapeze AND the slingshot that can help launch you higher or in a different direction than you could go on your own. And most likely, the last two years of working remotely and hunkering down hasn't exactly been great for strengthening this web. Let's fix that. Learn more about yo...

Today I'm talking with Damon Brown, author of the brand new book Career Remix: Get the Gig You Want with the Skills You've Got about the things you should consider before you up and quit your job. Even if you’re NOT currently secretly–or not so secretly–fantasizing about heading off for greener pastures, thinking about these things will help you improve your relationship to the work you do and und...

Something so very many of us has experienced during this pandemic is challenges to mental health. And in general, we've gotten a lot more open about sharing our mental health struggles with others. How does this impact our work lives? How can we make space for mental health while still taking care of business? Let's talk about it. I also answer a question from listener Nina. If you have questions...

This week on the podcast is all about re-imagining work. After all, like the rest of our lives, much of our work lives have been upended since the pandemic started. Whether that’s the physical location of where you’re doing your work, or how stressful your work has been, what’s clear is that work is not the same as it was in 2019. So let’s take this opportunity to figure out where we want it to go...

Wanting to help someone who’s in need of support is honorable. But what it ISN’T, is about you. You are not the solution for their problems, nor is it your full responsibility to solve anyone’s problems. I think this is another reason why we sometimes resist reaching out to someone in need of help–we fear that we won’t actually be able to help, or that we might get overwhelmed by the amount of hel...

One of the beneficial roles we can play as someone’s friend or loved one is to notice them. Not judge them, or rate their appearance, but just take in their presence.  In this episode, I’ll share some common signs that someone might be having a hard time with life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are so many people who run anxious, and you likely have many of them in your life. Maybe they are a family member or a dear friend. A lot of the things that we say to people when they’re in the throes of anxiety may be well-intentioned, but ultimately not that helpful. Today, I'm talking with Dr. Susan Bernstein who'll help us take a look at those common, unhelpful things, and figure out wha...

Here are three questions you can keep in your back pocket that will make it super easy to check in with someone. This way, you won’t be at a loss for words–which is a big reason why we may be tempted to stay away when someone we know or love is going through something hard. I know you don’t want to say the wrong thing--so say these things instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

This week on the podcast I’m talking about how to be there for the folks in your life who are going through it–whatever it may be. The blues, anxiety, stress, illness, family stuff are all normal parts of life and we all get by with a little help from our friends (or family members, or neighbors). But just because it takes a village, it doesn’t mean that we automatically know how to be a helpful v...

You don’t have to drag your butt to a museum in order to interact with artwork. You can do it from home in ways that maybe you never thought of or that you might think don’t count, but they DO! They absolutely do. And, bonus, they’re pandemic-friendly! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s big idea is actually 7 ideas–I’m sharing 7 easy ways to read more. Including some cool ways to use audio books, and permission to do something that some people think makes them a bad person, or at least a bad reader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m talking to Becky Karush. Becky is the founder of Read to Me Literary Arts, where she hosts group writing salons–which I attend and am devoted to–and coaches writers individually. She is also the host of the wonderful Read to Me podcast. Becky is going to get you SO EXCITED to read–and she gives some great ideas on how to make time for reading, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Today I'm sharing the 5 books that I read in 2021 that I really feel helped me a better person because they helped me see something in a new way, or expanded my empathy toward others, or what have you. I loved these books! And am excited to share them with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During this pandemic January, when the nights have been long and the news has been bleak, I’ve been extra aware that what so many of us turn to when times are hard is art. Whether that’s shows or movies, books, music, actual art work or another form of creative expression, art is what helps us get through.  This week on the podcast I’m talking about how to consume art as a means to being a better...

Nothing says 'ahhh' like cracking a cold one or pouring a glass of wine. Or does it?? I’ve got three ways to help yourself switch into chill mode without having a drink--I'm thinking one of these will be a helpful alternative for you.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the main reasons we turn to alcohol is to help us let our hair down--to laugh a little more easily, to be a little more uninhibited, to be more fun. BUT, having a drink is not the only way to loosen up and have fun! Let’s talk about other ways to take an oil can to the creaky spots in your psyche without relying on a glass of something to provide it for you. Learn more about your ad choices...

In this re-broadcast, I interview Michelle Smith, a TEDx speaker, author, podcaster, mental health and addictions counselor and founder of Recovery is the New Black, about how to tell if your drinking has become unhelpful, or maybe even harmful. Come hear why Michelle says that the opposite of addiction is connection, and why she's having more fun as a sober person than she's ever had before. (Thi...

In this re-airing of an interview I did with Sarah Kate of Some Good Clean Fun, we explore why alcohol is so heavily marketed to women, why drinking less is a rebellious choice in our society, and why alcohol is a feminist issue. Don't worry, we don't get strident. :) It's just that, you think AA and you think schlubby dudes in a basement. Just like with medical care, women have their own unique e...