Podcast Summary: "The Presley Family Legacy with Riley Keough" We Can Do Hard Things - Hosted by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle

Introduction

In the December 19, 2024 episode of We Can Do Hard Things, host Abby Wambach welcomes Riley Keough, an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit Award-nominated actress. Riley is not only known for her roles in Daisy Jones and the Six, Zola, and War Pony, but she is also the granddaughter of the legendary Elvis Presley and the author of the poignant memoir From Here to the Great Unknown. The episode delves deep into Riley's exploration of her family's complex legacy, the intertwining of love and trauma, and the journey of healing through loss.

Setting the Stage: Who is Riley Keough?

Riley introduces herself as the eldest daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough, and the sole trustee of Graceland. Her memoir, co-written with her mother’s voice memos, offers an intimate look into the Presley family dynamics beyond the glitz and fame associated with Elvis Presley.

Notable Quote:

Abby Wambach [06:19]: "We are sharing with you a conversation that we had with Riley Keough. If you don't know who Riley Keough is, she is an actor, a deeply feeling, thinking, spiritual person who is so lovely to listen to and learn from."

Family Legacy: Beyond Elvis Presley

Riley emphasizes that while her lineage includes the iconic Elvis Presley, her family's story is rooted in universal experiences of love, loss, and survival. She explains how her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, struggled with personal grief and addiction, stemming from generational trauma and the pressures of being Elvis’s only child.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [09:15]: "My mother was a wonderfully unique and fierce and incredibly strong woman and mother who had a really unique life... There is a lot of generational trauma on both sides of my family."

Trauma and Grief: Navigating Unfinished Stories

The conversation delves into the profound impact of losing her father at a young age and how this loss shaped her mother's ability to process grief. Riley discusses the duality of her mother's public persona and private struggles, highlighting the collective grief shared by the Presley family with the world.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [10:10]: "The grief of losing my father really dictated a lot of my mother's life and the way she wasn't really able to process it... there is a lot of generational trauma."

Addiction and Recovery: A Family Battle

Riley opens up about her mother's battle with addiction, detailing the progression from prescribed painkillers to more severe substance abuse. She recounts the challenges they faced, including her mother's stint in rehab and the eventual stabilization of her sobriety, only to be tested by the tragic loss of Riley's brother, Ben.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [40:33]: "She was taking these pills at night to sleep, and it spiraled out of control... she ended up in heart failure in Cedars Sinai in LA."

Loss of Ben: Coping with Tragedy

The heart of the episode centers on the devastating loss of Riley's brother, Ben, to suicide. She describes Ben as a beautiful soul—kind, sensitive, and deeply connected to his family. This loss not only deepened the family's grief but also influenced her mother's final days, leading to her own passing shortly after.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [34:32]: "Ben was incredibly kind and sensitive... one of the most important things to say about suicide is that someone you wouldn't imagine taking their life can still succumb to it."

Reflections and Insights: Healing Through Honesty

Riley shares her journey of surrendering to grief and finding hope beyond loss. She reflects on her mother's unwavering honesty and how it shaped her own approach to parenting and personal growth. The episode underscores the importance of authentic communication and the healing power of sharing one's story.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [50:55]: "I choose to feel more hopeful... something I've really not liked in my grief experience is this sort of feeling around death that it's like a failure."

Conclusion: Carrying the Legacy Forward

As the conversation wraps up, Riley emphasizes the significance of love and the continuity of family legacy. She honors her mother's strength and vulnerability, advocating for a future where personal stories of pain and beauty coexist to foster resilience and connection.

Notable Quote:

Riley Keough [53:53]: "To me, a successful life is the ability to give and receive love... my mother was exceptional at one of those things."

Final Thoughts

This episode of We Can Do Hard Things offers a raw and heartfelt exploration of the Presley family's legacy through Riley Keough's lens. It highlights the universal struggles of grief, addiction, and the quest for healing, all while celebrating the enduring bonds of family and the power of honest storytelling.

Notable Section Skipped:

• Advertisements: The transcript included several commercial segments promoting NetSuite, Masterclass, Quint, Alma, Bombas, Ring, and Airbnb. These were omitted from the summary to maintain focus on the episode's core content.