We Can Do Hard Things Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title: Manifestation: Is it Real or BS?
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Hosts: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
Platform: Audacy

1. Introduction to Manifestation

In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle delve deep into the concept of manifestation, exploring its validity, implications, and impact on both personal and collective levels. The conversation navigates through personal anecdotes, scientific perspectives, and societal critiques, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of manifestation's multifaceted nature.

2. Defining Manifestation and Its Origins

The discussion begins with defining manifestation, distinguishing it from the broader Law of Attraction philosophy.

Glennon Doyle explains:

"Manifestation is defining an intention. So you have your intention. You define your intention in such a way that it gets embedded in your subconscious and in a way that makes it more likely that that thing will happen."
[12:56]

Amanda Doyle adds:

"If you think good thoughts, good things happen. If you think bad thoughts, bad things happen. If you speak things into the universe, you can make your requests known and it will come back to you."
[11:15]

Abby Wambach recounts her early fascination with the concept, particularly influenced by the book The Secret:

"I went down and I bought the videos. I bought all of that... it gave me access to the spiritual world that I knew."
[10:10]

3. Personal Experiences and Beliefs in Manifestation

The hosts share their personal journeys with manifestation, highlighting both their beliefs and skepticism.

Abby Wambach shares her conflicted stance:

"I 100% believe that manifestation works when it works. And I also 100% believe that there is a reality that it's full of shit. It's the same, same."
[25:39]

Glennon Doyle acknowledges her own paradox:

"I have the same paradox and I have a bias towards believing science is credible... I'm betting on the neuroscience professor."
[27:07]

Amanda Doyle expresses discomfort with the individualistic aspect:

"Manifestation feels a little bit like that. If you are disenchanted with religion, manifestation kind of says you don't need any of it. It's just you and your thoughts."
[14:56]

4. Intersection with Science and Neuroscience

The conversation transitions to the scientific understanding of manifestation, referencing neuroscience insights.

Glennon Doyle elaborates on the brain's role:

"When something gets embedded in your subconscious, it activates different networks of the brain... you are living your life in such a way to make that thing more likely to happen because you're paying attention to it."
[36:52]

She further explains the neurological basis:

"Defining an intention... it's a way to train your brain to move these things into the subconscious."
[38:37]

5. Individualism vs. Collective Manifestation

A significant portion of the discussion critiques the individualistic nature of mainstream manifestation practices and explores the potential for collective efforts.

Amanda Doyle questions the focus on individualism:

"Manifestation is the mysticism of capitalism... it's always aimed towards an individual perfectionist."
[16:10]

Glennon Doyle draws parallels with historical uses:

"In Trump's inauguration speech, he used and called back this 19th century phrase of manifest Destiny... asking us to manifest together this idea of domination."
[55:57]

They contemplate the possibility of manifesting collective liberation:

"Can we manifest together an idea of liberation?"
[55:58]

6. Criticisms and Mental Health Implications

The hosts address the potential dangers of manifestation, especially concerning mental health.

Amanda Doyle highlights the risks for those with OCD:

"It's a great news for someone who has mental health issues... because their whole survival depends on knowing that there's a big difference between their thoughts and the acting on the thoughts and making it a reality."
[13:35]

Glennon Doyle concurs:

"This whole flood of manifestation everywhere... is dangerous to people who have intrusive thoughts."
[13:01]

7. Prosperity Gospel and Societal Impacts

The episode critically examines how manifestation intertwines with the prosperity gospel and broader societal issues.

Amanda Doyle connects manifestation to capitalism:

"Manifestation is the mysticism of capitalism."
[16:10]

Glennon Doyle explains the co-opting of manifestation ideas:

"The idea of the individuals are both responsible for their outcomes that are positive and the individuals are responsible for their outcomes that are negative, thereby completely bypassing and ignoring every systemic oppressive force that exists."
[16:34]

They discuss how prosperity gospel distorts manifestation:

"Prosperity gospel enters any realm at all, it's when..."
[43:20]

8. Collective Liberation and Positive Manifestation

Exploring a more altruistic approach, the hosts envision manifestation used for collective good rather than individual gain.

Amanda Doyle advocates for collective dreaming:

"Can we manifest together a new way of building that means that everybody, regardless of how much money they have... or can survive another fire?"
[52:31]

Glennon Doyle emphasizes the potential for positive collective intentions:

"Can we dream up a new way of building that means collective liberation?"
[54:38]

9. The Power of Storytelling and Evolution

The conversation shifts to the role of storytelling in human evolution and its connection to manifestation.

Abby Wambach references Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens:

"We are a storytelling driven species... the stories that then get embedded into us."
[48:46]

Amanda Doyle connects this to personal narratives:

"Be careful the stories you tell yourself, especially about yourself, because that is the track that is running and that is what you are looking to be confirmed in the world."
[52:31]

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the balance between personal intentions and societal structures, advocating for a mindful and collective approach to manifestation.

Glennon Doyle contemplates the scientific and spiritual aspects:

"Is manifestation working because manifestation works? Or does it work because it requires you to put your body in a state of relaxation and focus?"
[45:06]

Amanda Doyle urges collective action:

"Can we resist the capitalistic project of individual protection and collectively dream?"
[52:31]

Abby Wambach concludes with optimism for shared liberation:

"This episode is brought to you by Ring Cameras and Doorbells... Welcome 2. We can do hard things."
[56:05]

Notable Quotes

• Amanda Doyle on Individualism:

  "Manifestation feels a little bit like that... it's just us. It's just me writing." [14:19]

• Glennon Doyle on Neuroscience:

  "Manifestation is defining an intention... it's a way to train your brain to move these things into the subconscious." [36:52]

• Abby Wambach on Personal Conflict:

  "I 100% believe that manifestation works when it works. And I also 100% believe that there is a reality that it's full of shit." [25:39]

Conclusion

This episode effectively balances skepticism and belief, inviting listeners to critically evaluate the concept of manifestation. By intertwining personal narratives with scientific insights and societal critiques, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda encourage a nuanced understanding of how our thoughts shape our realities and the importance of collective intentionality in fostering a more equitable world.

Note: This summary intentionally excludes advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the meaningful discussions and insights shared by the hosts.