Podcast Summary: "Have We Ruined Fun? (And the Future of the Pod!)"

We Can Do Hard Things
Hosts: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
Date: January 6, 2026

Overview

This episode opens 2026 with an unflinching look at vulnerability, family pain, and the future direction of the podcast. The hosts share a personal, raw story about their daughter’s sports injury as a springboard to examine how adult expectations and the current sports culture may have warped the idea of fun. They transition to a candid reflection on what they've accomplished as a podcast, the values guiding their evolution, new show formats for the year ahead, and the importance of maintaining authenticity, boundaries, and relational focus as they move forward.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pain of Parenting in Competitive Youth Sports

• Story of Amma’s Injury: Glennon and Abby recount their daughter Amma’s injury during a high school soccer game, exposing the emotional rollercoaster of witnessing a child in pain and confronting the violence in youth sports.

  • Glennon’s raw emotional response:

    • “Every time someone tells me it's gonna be okay, it's a dirty lie.” — Glennon Doyle [04:55]
    • “It feels like it’s been my job to protect this kid forever, and now suddenly, during these two hours, I'm supposed to convince my body that it’s okay?” — Glennon [06:36]

  • Abby’s experienced athlete perspective:

    • Abby explains the tension between normal physical play and unnecessary aggression and regrets the lack of consequences for harmful play.

• Systemic Commentary:
  Amanda draws parallels between sports culture and wider societal issues about accountability, consequences, and “rules of context.”

  • “If a kid tackles and breaks a bone of a kid unprovoked on the street, there's going to be charges. If it's in a game, we are all supposed to say, 'Well, we signed up for this.'” — Amanda Doyle [08:11]
  • She calls for more systemic accountability for coaches who encourage aggressive “win-at-all-costs” attitudes.

• Loss of Fun:
  The trio laments how adult ambitions and competitiveness have overshadowed the core purpose of sports—fun, growth, and camaraderie.

  • “This is an elective thing in our lives. ...We all came here to do it. And raise your hand if any of you are having fun.” — Amanda [13:33]

2. Values, Integrity, and The Future of the Podcast

• Commitment to Authenticity:
  Glennon, Abby, and Amanda reflect on their approach of curating every episode themselves, refusing to outsource or chase celebrity for clicks.

  • “The fact that we have really created and curated every bit, every minute ourselves of this project makes me really proud.” — Glennon Doyle [17:47]
  • “We are not going to default to the voices that are the easiest to grab... we are going to find the best voices, not just the most visible.” — Glennon [18:27]
  • “I think we've—in 500 episodes, we've had five straight white guys on our podcast.” — Glennon [19:08]

• Standing Up for Principles:
  Details are shared about their decision to go independent, especially in light of taking political stands on issues like Palestine, prioritizing values over financial stability or mainstream comfort.

  • “We have experienced career changing effects from that which we knew would happen beforehand. And we decided we are the people that should be doing that.” — Glennon [19:09]

• Healing, Community, and Real Impact:

  • Amanda emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the show—how personal searches for meaning often mirror listener needs and create a community of shared healing.

    • “What I hear from listeners in terms of what our podcast does for them is the same thing that it does for me... It makes me feel less alone.” — Amanda [22:01]
    • “When we can struggle together is when we can start to fix some of these things.” — Amanda [22:55]

  • Abby reflects on how the podcast has helped her heal from her identity as a professional athlete and reintegrate her multiple selves.

    • “This show has allowed me... to heal parts of myself that I didn’t know I needed to heal.” — Abby [23:29]
    • “Now this re-entering into the women’s sports world... I feel a little bit taller and I feel a little bit more healed.” — Abby [25:18 & 26:04]

3. Program Changes & New Show Segments for 2026

• Shift to One Episode Per Week:

  • The hosts announce they are scaling back to one, more intentional show per week, seeking to match their output with a sustainable, meaningful rhythm for themselves and their listeners.

    • “The last goddamn thing we need to do is make people feel like a failure in more parts of their lives... we would like to lighten your load and give you one hour a week.” — Amanda [36:15]

• New Segment—“You Won’t Believe This Bullshit”:

  • Amanda previews a new recurring episode format that investigates the histories and hidden stories underpinning “everyday” social assumptions and norms—demystifying “accepted truths” and how they actually serve or harm us.

    • “I want to talk about things that we just kind of accept as true and natural and just part of life, but that have always had a story behind them. ...Once you start tugging on a few seemingly inconsequential pieces, it feels like this isn't made of anything sturdy.” — Amanda [38:03]

  • Example topics: the creation of billionaires, priest celibacy, the "carbon footprint," the geopolitical label "Middle East," and more.

    • “I want to talk about terms that we use all the time, like the Middle East... But we're still calling the Middle East the Middle East, like banana Republic?” — Amanda [40:31]

4. Celebrating Achievements & the Pod Squad Community

• Major Milestones:

  • Over half a billion listens, every major podcast award, $56 million raised in global aid, a sold-out national tour, and never missing a week since launching in May 2021.

  • “We’ve reached more than half a billion plays... We’ve won every major podcast award. ...We’ve brought our activism into the show, helping bring the total to $56 million raised and distributed in global aid.” — Abby [54:14]

• Honoring the Audience:

  • Glennon acknowledges that choosing to engage with difficult, meaningful content is an act of responsibility and bravery for listeners.

    • “It is easier to listen to easier things. ...Most of the shows that are celebrated... [stay] away from what is difficult... And the people who every single day listen to this are opting in to that sort of.” — Glennon [55:20]

  • Amanda underlines how working through healing together is “the real self-care.”

    • “That is the only and the highest thing I think you can do on this planet is to be committed to heal yourself.” — Amanda [57:15]

5. Personal and Professional Individuation

• Individuation of Hosts & Evolving Roles:

  • The hosts discuss the importance of allowing each member to evolve individually as well as collectively—highlighting the new Monday Amanda-led show, Abby re-entering the sports world, and Glennon focusing more on writing.

    • "What I want so much in my life is the kind of love that makes you feel held and free. ...It feels like this version we're trying in 2026 is like, yes, we are going to come together, but we are also going to be free to each be who we are in our separate arenas as well." — Glennon [57:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting and Sports:

  • “I feel like people should not break my child’s bones and that... should be a mountain I can die on.” — Glennon [15:38]

  • “Half the time I want to just stand up in the middle and be like, we’re doing this on purpose for the purposes of fun. ...And raise your hand if any of you are having fun.” — Amanda [13:02–13:39]

• On Integrity and Independence:

  • “We have experienced career changing effects from that which we knew would happen beforehand. And we decided we are the people that should be doing that. ...We regret nothing. We're proud of all of it. We left a network, we went completely independent...” — Glennon [19:09]

• On Podcasting as Healing and Collectivity:

  • “What I hear from listeners in terms of what our podcast does for them is the same thing that it does for me... It makes me feel less alone.” — Amanda [22:01]

  • “This show has allowed me and given me the space and the conversation to help heal myself in order to kind of come full circle.” — Abby [23:29]

• On Evolving Roles & Boundaries:

  • “I want to wake up every day and think art, think relationships...” — Glennon [51:25]

  • “So I want to find ways to focus. I want to wake up every day and think art, think relationships.” — Glennon [51:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening and Amma’s Injury Story: 00:00–15:14
• On Parenting Through Sports and Social Context: 06:06–15:14
• Reflections on Podcast Values and Independence: 15:57–20:18
• Podcast as Healing & Collective Experience: 20:18–23:29
• Abby on Healing and Returning to Sports: 23:29–29:49
• Announcement of 2026 Programming Changes: 35:14–38:03
• Preview of "You Won’t Believe This Bullshit" Segment: 38:03–41:57
• Major Podcast Achievements: 54:00–55:09
• Audience Appreciation and Closing Reflections: 55:10–58:40
• Final Words on Individuation & Community: 57:31–58:40

Tone and Language

The episode is candid, raw, and at times humorous, balancing empathy and critique—a hallmark of We Can Do Hard Things. Each host’s unique voice shines through: Glennon’s intensity and vulnerability, Amanda’s sharp analytic wit, and Abby’s warmth and athlete wisdom. The language is personal and authentic, frequently veering into passionate and explicit honesty, especially when discussing hard truths about family, society, and personal growth.

This episode lays bare the challenges of maintaining integrity—both as individuals and as a podcast—in a world that often demands more, more, more. The trio’s commitment to healing, truth-telling, and connection—with themselves, each other, and their community—drives both the pain and beauty at the core of their work. As they step into 2026, the message is clear: they want to deepen, not dilute, the real conversations that matter.