At 35, Kate Bowler had the life she'd always wanted: she was a Duke University professor, married to her high school sweetheart, with a one-year-old son. Then she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Today, Kate is a five time New York Times bestselling author, host of the Everything Happens podcast and one of the most inspiring and unique voices on the subject of suffering, the myth of the prosperity gospel and the reality of the human condition.

POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY:

I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on. This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details.

FIVE LESSONS FROM KATE:

Don't trust your 2 am self. Your 2 a.m. self is despairing and terrified.
People want to help. Give them small, specific ways to show they love you.
Put an expiry date on bitterness.
Saying yes opens up untold opportunities – often it’s worth it.
Happiness is cheap. Meaning isn't. A happy person isn't necessarily living a meaningful life – they're often just extremely lucky.

CHAPTERS:

04:42 – Defining resilience

10:49 – Growing up with depressed person

14:46 – The prosperity gospel

16:48 – When it all came apart

20:33 – The diagnosis

22:07 – Performing gratitude

35:23 – Rules for surviving cancer

43:33 – The reality of being cured

45:12 – Joyful Anyway

48:19 – The happiness industry

51:23 – On stoicism

KATE BOWLER: Everything DOES NOT happen for a reason