The Bobby Bones Show: FEELING THINGS – Flower Walks, Future Letters To Self & Who Dies Happiest (Surprise!)

Episode Date: March 15, 2026
Hosts: Amy & Kat

Episode Overview

This lively, heartfelt episode of Feeling Things explores embracing feelings—whether they’re mundane, whimsical, or profound. Amy and Kat riff on everything from spring rituals and favorite newsletters to a surprising study about happiness and mortality among people who never marry or have kids. Personal stories, laughter, memorable quotes, and practical takeaways all make this episode both entertaining and meaningful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Feelings of the Day & TV Tangents

• Kat admits to feeling lethargic after a binge weekend of TV while her husband was away, leading to nostalgia-driven shows and failed attempts at trying new series.
  • "I went back to watch the Real Housewives... scraping the bottom of the barrel." (03:29)
• Amy checks in on Kat’s viewing habits—“Are you watching Paradise? Love Story? Love is Blind?”—and they share opinions on the overwhelming physicality of certain shows.
  • “Some of these shows are highly physical, sexual. I can take it or leave it. But like, sometimes it’s just like... okay.” (04:36)

2. Newsletter Love & Whimsy Practices

• Amy shares gratitude for the Weekly Whimsy newsletter by Anna Voss, a country artist, highlighting its uplifting nature and alliterative charm.
  • “More whimsy, less worry. That’s the talk that I gave on the cruise.” (06:58)
• Listener feedback underscores the real impact of their podcast newsletter, especially around themes of waiting to worry and navigating hard parental seasons.

How to Sign Up

• Newsletter can be accessed via the podcast’s Instagram bio, by email, or Facebook page. Persistent issues with Shopify’s email deliverability are discussed humorously.

3. Three “Whimsies for the Week” (Anna Voss’s Suggestions)

[09:13] Amy:

• Go for a flower walk: Notice how many kinds of flowers are in plain sight—or pick another object to spot on a walk. Amy connects with a therapeutic activity: intentionally searching for heart-shaped leaves.

  • “My therapist once gave me an activity to go...intentionally look for leaves that are shaped like hearts.” (09:26)

• Watch the sunset: Take note of what’s different as the days grow longer; consider how this affects your evening routine.

• Write an email to yourself: Schedule it to arrive a year in the future. Include thoughts, hopes, and even your favorite song or show, depending on your mood.

  • Kat shares her experience of writing herself a letter during therapy training: “It was really special because I was in a...dark place too. When I wrote that letter. It was cool to see like a year later.” (13:37)

4. Music Ruts & Radio Chat

• Amy gushes about Ella Langley’s songs “Be Her” and “Choosing Texas,” and how sons can shape emotional experience.
  • “I just want to be her so bad. It hurts so bad...” (14:45)
• Kat reveals a temporary burnout with music, driving in silence, and Amy encourages her to try the radio, highlighting how generational listening habits are evolving.

5. Deep Dives: Quotes & Spring Metaphors

• Two quotes from Anna Voss’s newsletter spark discussion:
  • “In March, the earth remembers its own name.” (23:33) —After analysis, this Mary Oliver line is seen as a metaphor for seasonal renewal.
  • “Spring will come, and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.” (24:17)
• Kat shares a favorite Mary Oliver quote about finding gifts in dark times:
  • “Someone once handed me a box full of darkness. I found out this too, is a gift.”
• Amy introduces Dan Harris’s “Yes, thank you” mantra—accepting all circumstances as gifts or teachers, even when reluctant.
  • “He just says, yes, yes, thank you...what is this sparing me from? Or what is this teaching me?” (25:41)

6. Surprising Study: Who Dies Happiest?

[29:56] Kat:

• Kat brings in a Psychology Today article on the “good deaths” of never-married people, challenging assumptions about marriage, kids, and end-of-life satisfaction.
  • “People who have never married generally fared as well as, if not better than married people.” (31:43)
• Study findings (Boston University, 12 years, Medicare recipients 65+ at death):
  • Never-married people had less sadness or anxiety at the end of life (62% vs. 41–44% for others).
  • Having children made little difference to quality of life in the last month.
  • Never-married persons also reported less pain at life’s end.

Discussion:

• The hosts reflect on family caregiving, expectations, and the importance of intentionally building community and friendships regardless of relationship status.
  • “Because people who are single don’t have the one, they end up having the ones—multiple.” (37:06)
  • “Keeping those relationships intact is very important.” (39:24)

7. Personal Family Care Experiences

• Amy shares stories about caring for her aging parents and the mix of feelings, especially when dealing with the legacy of complicated childhood relationships and eventual forgiveness.
  • “It’s almost like you kind of want to just like...throw everything down and...walk out and be like, yeah, where were you? But now we’re here.” (48:46)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “In March, the earth remembers its own name.” (23:33, from Mary Oliver — dissected and tied to the theme of renewal)
• “Spring will come, and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.” (24:17)
• Kat: “Someone once handed me a box full of darkness. I found out this too, is a gift.” (25:15, Mary Oliver)
• Amy: “Yes, thank you, can transform your life. Even if it’s at first through gritted teeth.” (27:09)
• On “Who Takes Care of You?” Kat: “We can’t assume someone’s going to take care of us just because we have kids. Turns out, people without kids fare just as well, if not better.” (40:13)
• Listener Lindsay: “Please never change that. Never edit [Shannon’s background laugh] out, because it is amazing. It makes me smile.” (51:46)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:29 Kat’s “Feelings of the Day” and TV binge confession
• 06:58 Amy’s gratitude for Anna Voss’s Weekly Whimsy & newsletter shout-outs
• 09:13 Anna’s whimsies: flower walk, sunset, email to yourself (with experiences)
• 13:37 Kat’s therapeutic letter-from-the-past story
• 23:33 Spring quotes discussion and deeper meaning explored
• 25:41 “Yes, thank you” philosophy from Dan Harris
• 29:56 “Who Dies Happiest?”—study and surprising findings
• 37:06 Community and “the ones” vs. “the one”
• 39:24 The importance of maintaining friendships as we age
• 47:31–49:53 Amy’s personal family caregiving experiences and reflections
• 51:46 Listener voicemail about loving the laughter and behind-the-scenes vibes

Takeaways & Calls to Action

• Try the weekly whimsies: Go for a walk and observe something specific, intentionally watch a sunset, and write a letter to your future self.
• Practice “yes, thank you” as a way to reframe challenges or discomfort as opportunities for growth or gratitude—even if it’s tough.
• Reconsider societal assumptions around marriage, children, and what “the good death” or a happy old age means.
• Intentionally nurture relationships beyond your romantic or family ties; community is vital at every age.
• Share your feedback or stories: The hosts invite emails and voicemails to keep the podcast interactive.

Episode Tone & Style

Warm, conversational, and honest—Amy and Kat blend sincerity and wit, balancing talk of light routines and reality TV with weighty life themes, laughter, and personal vulnerability. Listeners can expect both comfort and inspiration to “feel things” more deeply in their own lives.