Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Episode: Matthew McConaughey on Faith, Family, and Finding Belief in an Uncertain World
Guest: Matthew McConaughey
Release Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

In this soul-searching episode, Hoda Kotb welcomes Oscar-winning actor and author Matthew McConaughey to discuss his new book, Poems and Prayers. The conversation dives into themes of faith, cynicism, hope, personal responsibility, and the struggle to find belief in a noisy, uncertain world. Through poetry and personal reflections, McConaughey shares how he maintains his sense of self, his evolving relationship with faith, and the importance of transformation in times of societal doubt. They also find time to discuss his family, teaching, advocacy, and his new film Lost Bus—which features both his real-life son and mother.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Need for Belief and the Danger of Cynicism

[03:30 - 04:36]

• Matthew McConaughey on losing faith: He discusses a sense of widespread doubt and cynicism permeating society and how this inspired Poems and Prayers.
• Quote:

  "I found myself looking around going... I'm not seeing things to believe in. I'm not even seeing reasons to believe." (Matthew McConaughey, 03:30)

• On cynicism:

  "We get educated, we get knowledgeable, we get skeptical. Good. But let's stop there, because the cynicism, I think, is an early death." (Matthew McConaughey, 04:19)

2. Faith—In Good Times and Bad

[04:36 - 06:29]

• On faith as a constant: Hoda asks if McConaughey has always leaned on faith; he admits it began in hard times, but as he matured, he learned to rely on it during times of success for humility.
• On humility:

  "Humility is admitting we have more to learn." (Matthew McConaughey, 05:27)

• His spiritual journey: McConaughey shares about agnostic years and returning to a more nuanced view, blending faith with self-reliance and responsibility.
• Quote:

  "It's about faith, but it's also about responsibility and having your hands on the wheel." (Matthew McConaughey, 05:55)

3. Overwhelm, Significance, and the Information Age

[06:29 - 08:14]

• Hoda reflects on the noise in the world; McConaughey responds with a poem about missing God’s signs due to distractions and overstimulation.
• Quote:

  "If you give everything significance, if you make every little thing significant, there's really no significance at all." (Matthew McConaughey, 07:32)

• On information overload:

  "I'm getting more knowledge, but I feel more confused." (Matthew McConaughey, 08:11)

4. Practicing Gratitude & Refilling the Tank

[08:14 - 10:26]

• McConaughey grounds himself in small gratitude and reminds himself that nothing is guaranteed.
• Quote:

  "The sun rose this morning. You woke up. Don't you dare think that was guaranteed." (Matthew McConaughey, 08:55)

• He emphasizes looking forward to something as the core of happiness and satisfaction.

5. Building a Life, Not Just Playing a Role

[10:26 - 13:38]

• Hoda observes McConaughey’s ongoing personal evolution; he describes moving from portraying characters to actively building his real life.
• Quote:

  “Instead of playing a character that someone else wrote in their script... Create the character. What are you doing in life?” (Matthew McConaughey, 11:10)

• When considering public leadership or politics, he's challenged himself to see if his values "scale" to society.

6. Ethics, Society, and the Fight for Belief

[13:38 - 14:40]

• McConaughey sees the future reform as "punk rock rage," not passive or administrative.
• Quote:

  "It's going to take a bit of a rebellion... there's dignity and ownership and power individually in choice." (Matthew McConaughey, 13:41)

• Advocates for persistence rather than quitting on things we value.

7. Stepping Into Conflict and the Rhythms of Life

[14:40 - 15:33]

• Emphasizes the importance of leaning into hardship—not running from it. Life’s crises are inevitable, but overcoming them brings growth.
• Quote:

  "Those times, the crisis is the hard things, when we lean into a resistance to overcome it because we need something more on the other side... that's part of the rhyme of our life." (Matthew McConaughey, 14:50)

8. Showing Up: Advocacy and Uvalde

[17:52 - 20:07]

• Hoda acknowledges McConaughey’s tendency to "show up" in moments that matter (including his return to his hometown of Uvalde after the school shooting).
• He describes going to Uvalde to listen, not preach, and his horror at the idea of society accepting mass shootings as normal.
• Quote:

  "Every time these shootings happen, there's a voices that come out to say we cannot say this is just how it's supposed to be. That's the biggest fear..." (Matthew McConaughey, 18:45)

• The importance of never quitting the pursuit of progress.

9. Gun Control and Political Hope

[20:19 - 22:02]

• McConaughey admits his practical hope for political change on guns is low, but sees hope on a personal, cultural level.
• He touches on the nuanced views within his own family and peer group and the complexity of American gun culture.
• Quote:

  "So I don't have a lot of practical hope that it will be a political. That's why I'm not talking politics in this thing. I think it's personal." (Matthew McConaughey, 21:49)

10. The Difference Between a Good Man and a Nice Guy

[22:02 - 22:47]

• Hoda reads a poem distinguishing a “good man” from a “nice guy”—a theme critical to McConaughey’s self-image.
• He shares how, although he loves acting, his self-worth is no longer tied to the craft.

11. On Acting, Teaching, and Family

[22:47 - 23:39]

• “Acting now... felt like vacation. I don’t need it like I used to for my own identity.” (Matthew McConaughey, 23:28)
• Teaching and writing have become new passions and challenges.

12. Lost Bus — A Family Affair

[24:01 - 29:53]

• McConaughey narrates his return to film with Lost Bus, based on true events from the Paradise, California fires, bringing in strong themes of duty and heroism.

• Working on set with his son Levi (who auditioned persistently for the role) and his own mother, he reflects on creative legacy and family.

  Notable Exchange:

  “He had already prepared himself for a scene... I said, it’s pretty good.” (Matthew McConaughey, 28:20) “We got three generations of Khand's. I'm gonna scene with them.” (Matthew McConaughey, 29:53)

13. The Essence of Prayer and Spiritual Practice

[30:01 - 30:44]

• Hoda highlights (by reading aloud) the central message about prayer in the book.
• Quote:

  “Prayer gives our soul a chance to catch up with our pathologically busy minds, providing us with the contentment of self awareness...” (Hoda Kotb, 30:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On cynicism:

  "The cynicism, I think, is an early death." (Matthew McConaughey, 04:29)

• On humility:

  "Humility is admitting we have more to learn." (Matthew McConaughey, 05:27)

• On hope and action:

  "America's all about, no, no, no, we're not settling for that. We will keep churning and keep trying to get to that time that is yet and probably never arrive. But you don't quit singing your song." (Matthew McConaughey, 18:56)

• On stepping into life:

  "Create the character. What are you doing in life?" (Matthew McConaughey, 11:10)

• On prayer:

  “Prayer is paying attention... Prayer gives our soul a chance to catch up with our pathologically busy minds.” (Hoda Kotb, 30:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• On the world’s need for belief & cynicism: 03:30 – 04:36
• His journey with faith & humility: 04:36 – 06:29
• Processing overwhelm & information: 06:29 – 08:14
• Practicing gratitude: 08:50 – 10:26
• Public roles vs. self-authorship: 11:06 – 13:38
• Societal ethics and 'punk rock rage': 13:38 – 14:40
• Showing up/Uvalde shooting: 17:52 – 20:07
• Gun reform & hope: 20:19 – 22:02
• Good man vs. nice guy: 22:02 – 22:47
• On family & acting: 24:01 – 29:53

Tone and Language

The episode is marked by a thoughtful, introspective, and sincere tone. McConaughey is candid, poetic, and philosophical, often turning questions into meditations on self-improvement, societal change, and spirituality. Hoda blends warmth, admiration, and curiosity, letting McConaughey’s words resonate.

Conclusion

This episode is both a peek into Matthew McConaughey’s personal philosophy and a guide for listeners seeking depth, faith, and resilience in harried times. His reflections challenge us to stay hopeful, refuse cynicism, embrace personal responsibility, and deliberately “make space” for meaning—whether in daily gratitude, spiritual practice, or standing up for what matters.

Final thought: Pick up Poems and Prayers—as Hoda observes, you’ll probably dog-ear many pages, finding wisdom for today’s world.