Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Nobody calls it therapy. That's why it works. Kelly's husband Edward rides bikes several times a week, and keeps coming home saying the conversations are deeper and richer than Kelly might expect. This week, a piece of writing started circulating among cyclists everywhere that explains exactly why - and we thought it was worth sharing. Written by Anthony Walsh (host of The Roadman Cycling Podcast), it's about what happens when a group of men show up in a parking lot at eight in the morning and head out together, shoulder to shoulder, for a three hour bike ride. This one is for every group that shows up, week after week, without quite knowing why it matters — until it does.

Sharon McMahon is a former public school teacher who now teaches civics to over a million people on the internet. Kelly caught up with her at the Aspen Ideas Festival, and this clip is about something that feels urgent right now: the difference between just knowing more and actually doing something — and why cynicism, left unchecked, might be the most dangerous force in a democracy.
Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival where this episode was recorded - especiallyTricia Johnson, Kara Stein, Sophia Greiper, Katie Trenchard and Gabe Chenoweth.

Somewhere in the National Archives, there are 13 billion documents that belong to every American — and for most of our history, you had to get yourself to Washington, DC if you wanted to see them. In the third episode of our Unsung series, Kelly talks with historian and writer Sarah Vowell about Pamela Wright — a woman who grew up on a ranch in Conrad, Montana, became the Chief Innovation Officer of the National Archives, and spent her career making sure those records were available to everyone, not only those who could make the trek to DC. This conversation is a reminder that democracy is not just an idea — it's a practice, carried out every day by diligent, caring people, most of whom we'll never know.
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Check out Sarah Vowell's essay in Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service.

This week we're sharing listener Andra Cardow's reflection on twenty years of marriage. She shows us how love grows through everyday moments—dog walks, car rides, and cozy nights at home. It's a delightful reminder that our most treasured relationships aren't built on big, dramatic moments, but in all those small, seemingly ordinary times we spend together. Andra beautifully describes finding joy in the simple things and how those little shared experiences can add up to something pretty special over time. (Previously aired)

In this episode, Kelly shares a piece of writing she's kept in her drawer for years about the power of choosing "good enough." She reflects on her mom's wisdom about saying "no" to the endless invitations and expectations that pile up in our daily lives and how learning to be selective creates space for what truly matters (Previously aired)