
Hosted by Kelly Corrigan · EN

There are people working inside the federal government right now solving problems so enormous and so unglamorous that most of us will never know their names — or what we owe them. In the first episode of our new series Unsung — inspired by Michael Lewis's book, Who Is Government? — Kelly talks with Max Stier, CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, about who these people are, what drives them, and what we stand to lose if we stop paying attention. To connect with Kelly and get a list of her weekly takeaways, join Kelly's free Substack. Check out Michael Lewis' book, Who Is Government? HERE To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kelly shares a Marine Corps wife's essay (titled "Cincinnatus") honoring her husband's quiet retirement after 20 years of service. Instead of ceremonies, his legacy lives in small, meaningful actions like giving away his expensive uniform to help a young officer and driving a beat-up Corolla with a trunk full of first aid supplies - so he can help anyone, on a moment's notice. It's a moving reminder that true service isn't captured in plaques or uniforms but in "small private acts of dedication" and the humble wisdom to know that our real legacy is "to give it all away. (Previously aired) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An apology is not a transaction. Kelly learned this the hard way — and if you've ever said sorry and then immediately started asking if you're forgiven yet, this one is for you. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sadly, this is the last conversation with Claire Danes and Kate Bowler about what makes life worth all the trouble, worry and suffering. In this freewheeling ride, we dig into just how inevitable personal ethical failure is and therefore, what does repair require. Like, how good are you at apologizing? Have you really accepted the people you love — as they are — or are you still trying to change them? How do you keep yourself and your choices aligned with your values? Enjoy the honesty. Share widely. We all need to stay in touch with these fundamental questions about how we live. (Previously aired) Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people meet old age and loss with bitterness. Dick Bolz met it with gratitude so genuine it left everyone around him a little changed. Lutheran pastor & author Nadia Bolz-Weber's eulogy for her father is short, funny, and moving — the kind of thing you'll want to listen to twice. Kelly and Nadia will be doing another Substack Live together (this one will focus on grief) on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 7pm ET. You can find Kelly's Substack HERE. https://kellycorriganwonders.substack.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ten years ago, when Kelly's dad Greenie was nearing the end of his life, she stumbled onto a question that quietly reorganized the way she has moved through almost every interaction since. It's just a single question — which when asked early enough — and honestly enough — can change everything about how you show up for the people you love. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claire Danes, Kate Bowler and I try to figure out how the hell to live lives of real meaning and discovery, how to depersonalize the slings and arrows of any season, how to remember our agency and mobility. Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund. (Previously aired) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Sunday at 5:00 PM, the door was unlocked, the table somehow always had room for one more, and the sauce was already on the stove. Pat Minitti fed everyone who found their way to him — family, strangers from the Fry's checkout line, future in-laws — and in doing so, taught his grandson Cody about unconditional love. This is the eulogy Cody wrote and delivered at his grandfather's funeral. This episode will remind you of the incredible power of showing up for the people you love — even those you've just met. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A young friend of Kelly's, Sophie G, shared this speech that she had saved from her high school graduation week. It was given by Dr. Chris Cunningham, then at Lawrenceville, now at Whitfield, who gathered 10 takeaways for the students that are actually quite useful to every one of us. (Previously aired) For a review of Kelly's weekly takeaways join her free Substack. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do the values we inherited clash or complement the cultures we come of age in? How can we stay the right size in the world and in our own minds? What do you worship and nurture - art, the church, politics, food? Claire Danes and Kate Bowler join Kelly to talk about all the things that came up as they read Life Worth Living, our first Kelly Corrigan Wonders bookclub pick. (Previously aired) Based on Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most from authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Special thanks to the Warren Smoot Carter III and Meagan Carter Charitable Fund. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices