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ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. After years of being told I was incurable, I was declared cancer-free. But there’s no going back. I am forever changed by what I discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.
  See All Episodes
  Mary Claire Haver
  Aging is a Privilege
  Listen Now Aging is a Privilege
  Libby Ward
  How to Break Generational Cycles in Motherhood
  Listen Now How to Break Generational Cycles in Motherhood
  Tomáš Halík
  Doubt, Depth, and the Future of Belief
  Listen Now Doubt, Depth, and the Future of Belief
  Nadia Bolz-Weber | Sarah Bessey
  How to Love the World Anyway
  Listen Now How to Love the World Anyway
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD
MERCH
SUBSTACK

how to manage fear and live alongside of it

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Every week I usually forget most of the basics:
a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.

If you want some smart, kind, and funny encouragement to get you through your week, sign up for my newsletter. I’d love to be your reminder.

Follow along on socials

@katecbowler

Apparently, as women, we have a whole phase of life hurtling toward us that is both completely predictable and somehow NO ONE THOUGHT TO EXPLAIN VERY WELL.

Yes, menopause. Hello.

So today on @everythinghappens (thanks, @aspenideas!), we’re having THE TALK with @drmaryclaire, author of “The New Menopause.” She dispels the myths, gives us actual information about what is happening to our bodies, and—bless her—lets me ask all the questions I have been saving for exactly this moment.

Because if this is coming for us, I would at least like a briefing.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, then come back and tell me: what is the menopause question you wish someone had answered years ago?

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Apparently, as women, we have a whole phase of life hurtling toward us that is both completely predictable and somehow NO ONE THOUGHT TO EXPLAIN VERY WELL.Yes, menopause. Hello.So today on @everythinghappens (thanks, @aspenideas!), we’re having THE TALK with @drmaryclaire, author of “The New Menopause.” She dispels the myths, gives us actual information about what is happening to our bodies, and—bless her—lets me ask all the questions I have been saving for exactly this moment.Because if this is coming for us, I would at least like a briefing.Listen wherever you get your podcasts, then come back and tell me: what is the menopause question you wish someone had answered years ago?

Maybe our kids won’t remember the expensive vacations. Or whether we always knew exactly what to say. I’m fairly certain they won’t care that everyone’s clothes matched or that someone left the house with hair that could generously be described as “brushed.”

What they might remember is how it felt when we showed up.

Again and again. Imperfectly. Sometimes tired. Sometimes getting it wrong and coming back to try again.

Maybe being a good mom has less to do with getting all the details right and more to do with giving our kids the deep sense that, when they needed us, we were there.

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Maybe our kids won’t remember the expensive vacations. Or whether we always knew exactly what to say. I’m fairly certain they won’t care that everyone’s clothes matched or that someone left the house with hair that could generously be described as “brushed.”What they might remember is how it felt when we showed up.Again and again. Imperfectly. Sometimes tired. Sometimes getting it wrong and coming back to try again.Maybe being a good mom has less to do with getting all the details right and more to do with giving our kids the deep sense that, when they needed us, we were there.

May you stop treating every past version of yourself like a problem you were supposed to solve in a world where Everything Happens.

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May you stop treating every past version of yourself like a problem you were supposed to solve in a world where Everything Happens.

There are so many ways to feel like you’re doing life wrong. And then you become a mom and, somehow, the list gets longer.

Be more present. Be more patient. Make the memories. Pack the healthy snacks. Have a meaningful career. Don’t miss anything important. And please enjoy every minute because, as everyone keeps reminding you, it goes so fast.

This week on @everythinghappens, Libby Ward (@libbyward) and I talk about what happens when we start loosening our grip on all those expectations—and get a little more honest about the people we actually are.

Have you listened yet??

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There are so many ways to feel like you’re doing life wrong. And then you become a mom and, somehow, the list gets longer.Be more present. Be more patient. Make the memories. Pack the healthy snacks. Have a meaningful career. Don’t miss anything important. And please enjoy every minute because, as everyone keeps reminding you, it goes so fast.This week on @everythinghappens, Libby Ward (@libbyward) and I talk about what happens when we start loosening our grip on all those expectations—and get a little more honest about the people we actually are.Have you listened yet??

You cannot be everything to everybody. This is inconvenient news, especially if you are a mother (or trusted adult).

Today over on Substack, I’m thinking more about my recent conversation with @libbyward: how we become the parents we didn’t have, and the difference between being a good parent and merely looking like one.

I also went down a small rabbit hole involving a 1950s pediatrician who believed one of the best things we can give our children is…disappointment.

Small, survivable disappointments, to be clear. The kind that teach our kids they can want something, not get it, and still be okay. Which may also be useful information for those of us exhausting ourselves trying to make sure everyone is happy all the time.

Comment “HUMAN” and I’ll send you the essay.

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Open post by katecbowler with ID 18116775274945925

You cannot be everything to everybody. This is inconvenient news, especially if you are a mother (or trusted adult).Today over on Substack, I’m thinking more about my recent conversation with @libbyward: how we become the parents we didn’t have, and the difference between being a good parent and merely looking like one.I also went down a small rabbit hole involving a 1950s pediatrician who believed one of the best things we can give our children is…disappointment.Small, survivable disappointments, to be clear. The kind that teach our kids they can want something, not get it, and still be okay. Which may also be useful information for those of us exhausting ourselves trying to make sure everyone is happy all the time.Comment “HUMAN” and I’ll send you the essay.

TODAY IS THE DAY! @everythinghappens is back, and we’re kicking off our newest season with one of my favorite truth-tellers, @libbyward, author of the book "Honest Motherhood."

Libby and I talk about motherhood in all its beautiful, exhausting, occasionally unhinged glory. The love. The guilt. The impossible expectations. The strange realization that you can adore these tiny people with your whole heart and still occasionally want everyone to please stop touching you.

Libby is hilarious, Canadian (important), and refreshingly honest about what it takes to be a mom—in this economy?! And I loved every minute of this conversation.

Comment "MOM” and I’ll send you the full episode. And maybe send this to the mom in your life who could use a little less pressure to pretend she has it all together. 💛

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TODAY IS THE DAY! @everythinghappens is back, and we’re kicking off our newest season with one of my favorite truth-tellers, @libbyward, author of the book "Honest Motherhood."Libby and I talk about motherhood in all its beautiful, exhausting, occasionally unhinged glory. The love. The guilt. The impossible expectations. The strange realization that you can adore these tiny people with your whole heart and still occasionally want everyone to please stop touching you.Libby is hilarious, Canadian (important), and refreshingly honest about what it takes to be a mom—in this economy?! And I loved every minute of this conversation.Comment "MOM” and I’ll send you the full episode. And maybe send this to the mom in your life who could use a little less pressure to pretend she has it all together. 💛

Bless what lingers past its season, and may joy surprise you in September`s new routines - in the fireflies, earlier evenings, familiar routes - in a world where Everything Happens.

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Bless what lingers past its season, and may joy surprise you in September's new routines - in the fireflies, earlier evenings, familiar routes - in a world where Everything Happens.

Why I didn`t text back. 🐦🛶💒🌓

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Why I didn't text back. 🐦🛶💒🌓

If you are reading this you have great eyesight. But also, thanks for being a person with me. The world is strange and hard for soft-hearted humans, but I think you’re a delight.

© 2026 Kate Bowler
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ABOUT
- Meet Kate
  Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a Duke professor, podcaster, and author with a single mission: giving you permission to feel human. After years of being told I was incurable, I was declared cancer-free. But there’s no going back. I am forever changed by what I discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.
  ABOUT KATE
  Get to Know Me
  HUMAN
  AUTHOR
  PODCAST HOST
  SPEAKER
  How to Connect
  NEWSLETTER
  BOOKING
  EVENTS
  CONTACT
  PRESS
PODCAST
- Everything Happens.
  Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.
  See All Episodes
  Mary Claire Haver
  Aging is a Privilege
  Listen Now Aging is a Privilege
  Libby Ward
  How to Break Generational Cycles in Motherhood
  Listen Now How to Break Generational Cycles in Motherhood
  Tomáš Halík
  Doubt, Depth, and the Future of Belief
  Listen Now Doubt, Depth, and the Future of Belief
  Nadia Bolz-Weber | Sarah Bessey
  How to Love the World Anyway
  Listen Now How to Love the World Anyway
BOOKS
- Books
  Let’s untangle our culture’s obsession with toxic positivity and self-help, shall we? Kate studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of seven books including three instant New York Times bestsellers.
  All Books
  Joyful, Anyway
  
  Everything Happens for a Reason
  (And Other Lies I’ve Loved)
  
  Have a Beautiful Terrible Day!
  Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens
  
  No Cure for Being Human
  (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
RESOURCES
- Resources
  Our goal with Everything Happens is to create rich language and vibrant community that sustains us when life comes apart. Below, you’ll find categories that may be good starting points for you. Inside are a mix of podcasts, blessings, support guides, and bonus resources that we hope will be useful.
  ALL RESOURCES
  Types
  BLESSINGS
  DEVOTIONALS
  SUPPORT GUIDES
  COURSES
  FREE DOWNLOADS
  Discussion Guides
  FOR MINISTRY
  Topics
  ILLNESS
  GRIEF
  WHAT NOT TO SAY
  RESILIENT FAITH
  INSPIRING LIVES
  NUANCED HOPE
  CARING AT HOME
  CARING AT WORK
  COMPLICATED FAMILIES
  MOVING FORWARD
MERCH
SUBSTACK