“If I didn’t have hope defined as an action—defined as every day doing something to try to close the gap between what is and what could and should be—I don’t know what else I’d do.”

In this profound episode, legendary educator and activist Dr. Parker Palmer (author of Let Your Life Speak) joins Dr. Jennifer Reid to explore what it means to live an authentic life aligned with your deepest calling—especially during times of political and social upheaval.

At 86, Palmer shares hard-won wisdom about recognizing your true vocation, not by emulating heroes or following society’s script, but by paying attention to your own inner voice. He explains why burnout often comes from “trying to give what we don’t have to give” and offers the powerful question he poses to young people struggling with direction: “Is there anything you feel you can’t not do?”

The conversation takes on urgency as Palmer addresses our current political moment, explaining why he’s been calling out fascism since 2016 and how face-to-face encounters across America’s struggling small towns have deepened his understanding of why people vote against their own interests. Most powerfully, Palmer speaks to maintaining hope as an action—something we practice daily by “closing the gap between what is and what could and should be.”

About Our Guest

Dr. Parker Palmer is a writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He is the founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal and the award-winning author of ten books. He is also the creator of the Substack, Living the Questions. He has a PhD in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and 14 honorary doctorates, among many other accolades.

Find Dr. Reid on Instagram: @jenreidmd, LinkedIn, and YouTube

You can also preorder Dr. Reid’s book, Guilt Free! (If you are in the UK, you can order here and here.)

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Also check out Dr. Reid’s regular contributions to Psychology Today: Think Like a Shrink.

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“I Can’t Not Do This”: Finding Your True Calling in Uncertain Times