As the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the former UN Ambassador to the United States, Samantha Power dealt with some of the world’s greatest issues of development and anti-corruption. Kelly Corrigan and Samantha discuss the importance of international development, strategies of anti-corruption, and what we have learned from the COVID-19 crisis.
As the co-host of Good Morning America, Robin Roberts is an uplifting force in journalism. However, in 2012, Robin had to temporarily step down from her hosting post at Good Morning America to treat a life-threatening blood disease. Ten years after her life-saving bone marrow transplant, Robin sits down with Kelly to share how she found strength through gratitude and community.
Kate Bowler is a writer and professor at Duke University’s Divinity School where she has dedicated her academic efforts to understanding the evolution of the Prosperity Gospel in megachurches. At age 35, her own faith was challenged with a stage four colon cancer diagnosis. She shares with Kelly how it led her to investigate the problematic nature of positivity and ways to grapple with death.
Lilly Singh is a comedian and actress who found success chronicling her life on YouTube. Lilly joins Kelly to discuss how her personal journey is indicative of a new generation of individuals finding themselves online and what it means to make something that matters.
Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row for a crime he did not commit. When acclaimed civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson was assigned his case, they spent 16 years fighting before winning a unanimous reversal of his case in the United States Supreme Court. Anthony shares the important lessons of compassion and friendship he learned in the midst of great injustice.
In the first episode of "Tell Me More Season 4," Kelly Corrigan speaks to New York Times best-selling author and University of Pennsylvania professor of psychology Angela Duckworth about self-perception, grit, and passion. They discuss the importance of optimism and dedication as it relates to success and debunk the notion of determinism.
Kelly Corrigan speaks with poet and educator Mahogany L. Browne to learn more about the power of poetry and the importance of listening to younger generations. Mahogany speaks to the various ways in which her work aims to address both personal and broader societal issues of race, sexism and systemic oppression.
Kelly Corrigan sits down with Omar Tate to discuss what the culinary world can teach us about culture and history. A TIME100 chef and co-founder of Honeysuckle Provisions, a West-Philadelphia-based organization seeking to reframe messaging around food and community. Omar also speaks to the power of intention which has carried him from a dishwasher to resident chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns.
Kelly Corrigan sits down with journalist, author and producer Katie Couric to talk about her legacy as a reporter and the democratization of news and media literacy in a post-truth era. She also talks about her media company and her book, “Going There.” Katie recalls memorable stories from her career and explains how she became a cancer activist after her husband’s death.
Kelly Corrigan sits down with lawyer, professor and former Solicitor General of the US Neal Katyal for a conversation about government structure and what to expect from those who are in positions of power. Neal speaks about higher justice as a way to serve society’s needs, shares his thoughts on the Supreme Court and recalls times when he thought the US was about to have a constitutional crisis.
Kelly Corrigan shares a conversation with Dave Eggers, author of critically acclaimed titles including A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and The Circle.
Kelly Corrigan speaks to Nick Hornby, screenwriter and author of acclaimed titles including "About a Boy" and "High Fidelity." Nick speaks to the relation of personal background and artistry as he analyzes similarities between his idols, Prince and Charles Dickens. He also tells us about his writing process and his so-called “ordinary” work days.
Kelly Corrigan speaks to neuroscientist, professor and author Lisa Feldman Barrett. She offers ways to reframe anxiety as determination and describes ways in which we can take care of each other’s nervous systems. Lisa also explains the creation of emotions, the debate between naturalists and environmentalists, and why she believes most traits can be developed.
Selma Blair discusses her personal journey overcoming alcoholism, abuse and multiple sclerosis. Selma shares stories from her childhood and explains that the labels imposed on her as a kid shaped who she became as an adult. They also talk about the dangerous issue in the medical community of women’s symptoms being ignored and how that contributed to Selma’s late diagnosis of MS.
Kelly Corrigan speaks to the former president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards about her path towards living a life devoted to social rights. Cecile was raised by parents who modeled how to stand up for what you believe in. As a result, Cecile committed her life’s work to supporting others in the fight for equality.
Best-selling author Michael Lewis looks back at the characters of his most successful stories. He shares what draws him to people, how he writes them into stories and how openness and vulnerability are key elements to finding a strong character. Michael highlights the importance of embracing life’s uncertainty and talks about coping with the loss of his daughter Dixie Lewis.
Asian American actress Constance Wu discusses her experience with representation in Hollywood, and how the pressure of representing her community has been both a privilege and an incredible burden on her emotional well-being throughout her career. Constance and Kelly also talk about celebrity culture and misogyny as Constance shares a personal story of harassment in the workplace.
World-renowned pianist Lang Lang performed his first recital at only four years old. After years of practice and performance, Lang Lang believes that everyone has the capacity to create. His work as a musician and an entertainer has taken him around the world to play with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, Coldplay, Metallica, and at the Beijing Olympics.
Kelly Corrigan speaks with Maya Shankar about identity foreclosure, the trouble of cognitive forecasting, and new beginnings. Now a cognitive scientist and podcaster, Maya grew up immersed in the world of music as a violinist, starting her career by studying at Juilliard at just nine-years-old.
Kelly Corrigan speaks with Del Seymour, the founder of Code Tenderloin, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide underserved individuals with long-term employment and rehabilitative services. His work has transformed the lives of individuals suffering from addiction and homelessness in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, one of the toughest neighborhoods in America.
Kelly Corrigan sits down with musician, author, and philanthropist Jewel to talk about life before fame, maintaining her identity in the music industry, and the importance of healing mental health. Having run away as a teen in Alaska and later experiencing homelessness in California, the artist’s work is inextricably tied to the struggles of her personal life.
Kelly Corrigan welcomes American comedian Neal Brennan for a conversation about what it means to do comedy, the role it plays on one’s well-being, and more. Neal has been involved with the artform since he was a teenager working the door at comedy clubs, later on co-creating one of the most popular comedy sketch shows, "Chappelle’s Show."
Kelly introduces the season with an overview of the findings from her last 43 episodes and an explanation of this season’s theme: making it in America. Speaking with people like sociologist Matthew Desmond and journalist Linda Villarosa, the forthcoming conversations focus on the steps necessary to create a country where people not only belong but feel they can claim the U.S. as their home.
Inventor and student scientist Gitanjali Rao was TIME’s 2020 Kid of the Year and in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017 after inventing a lead detecting device at the age of 13. In her conversation with Kelly Corrigan, Gitanjali speaks about some of her other innovations, multi-generational solutions, and reflects on her outlook for the future.
In the first episode of this season, Matthew Desmond shares his insights on what it takes to make it in America. He provides an overview of how the government has dealt with poverty throughout the years and highlights what could be done better within the social security and healthcare systems. Matthew also touches on the housing market, minimum wage and artificial intelligence.
Former Chairman and CEO of IBM Ginni Rometty talks to Kelly Corrigan about education and incremental change in service of building a more equitable and inclusive society. She also shares her thoughts on leadership, corporate responsibility, and recalls personal stories that have informed her life and work.
After 26 years of service, Army Col. (Ret.) Gregory D. Gadson shares how a life of discipline and strength helped him overcome transformative adversity. He speaks of his love for his family and how his support system was essential to his healing process. Greg also talks about mindfulness, personal growth, what success looks like, and how to achieve it.
Journalist and writer Linda Villarosa speaks about medical bias and addresses the issues with conflating race and class. She talks about life expectancy statistics and medical education and highlights the need for critical thinking. Linda also emphasizes the importance of proximity and community in order to navigate disparities in the healthcare system.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks about the connection between transportation and a person’s ability to flourish in America. Propelled by the values of equity, safety, and innovation, Buttigieg shares what it means to build a world-leading transportation system that meets the needs of all Americans, especially in the face of growing climate and economic shifts.
Pain psychologist and author Rachel Zoffness talks about chronic pain and how it affects individuals and society. She addresses the annual 635 billion dollars cost of pain, whether that’s through lost work, productivity, disability or healthcare expenses. She also discusses how pain is not only directly correlated to physicality but influenced by emotions, behaviors, social factors and more.
CEO of Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington, gives her take on making it in America: behavioral changes through microsteps. She believes that for humans, downtime is a feature—not a bug. She urges us not to buy into the collective delusion that in order to succeed, we have to be “on” 24/7. Instead, invest in our physical and mental wellbeing as a pathway to healthier and happier lives.
Columnist and cultural commentator David Brooks explains how many of society’s biggest problems stem from people not feeling seen and known. He notes that over a third of Americans are chronically lonely. Drawing from his many years of observing American culture, Brooks drives home the importance of deep listening to repair the social fabric.