Kelly Corrigan Wonders

When prosecutor Karen McKinney argued for a life sentence against a 19-year-old gang member named Joseph, she never imagined they would one day share laughs over tacos. Twenty years later, their unexpected friendship challenges everything Karen believed about human capacity for change. After witnessing Joseph's profound transformation at his parole hearing, she took the unprecedented step of reaching out to the man she had once condemned. Their story transcends the boundaries of the justice system, proving that authentic connection can flourish in the most unlikely places – and that it's never too late to see someone, or yourself, in a new light. WARNING: This episode continues detailed descriptions of violence. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Newly appointed Judge Kristine Burk's investiture ceremony became unexpectedly tender when her 19-year-old son Tyler took the podium. Moving beyond the usual formal speeches, Tyler crafted an acrostic poem for "JUDGE" that revealed the everyday magic of his mom - from her unshakeable belief in second chances, to her instinct for helping strangers in need, to the joyful warmth she radiates to everyone around her. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey friends, in a world that feels like it's constantly throwing storms, floods, and fires our way (both literal and metaphorical), I want to share something that's been a true refuge for me – reading. Today I'm highlighting two books that have been a balm for my soul: Daniel Mason's "Northwoods," a beautiful story spanning centuries on a plot of Massachusetts land, and Kazuo Ishiguro's "Clara and the Sun," a fascinating exploration of artificial friends and human connection. For my complete reading list, drop me a note at hello@kellycorrigan.com. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sisters Amy and Meg's story reveals how even the closest family bonds can fracture – and heal. Growing up with a widowed mother in the 1960s, their relationship became strained by years of unbalanced dynamics and taken-for-granted love. When Meg finally stepped away, it led to painful years of separation that affected both sisters and their families. Through persistence, humility and grace, they found their way back to each other, rebuilding their relationship one Sunday hike at a time. Their path from estrangement to reconciliation demonstrates how healing begins with showing up, asking questions, and making the other person a priority – proving that sometimes the hardest conversations lead to the most meaningful transformations. (Note: for anyone unfamiliar with the "Go Birds!' comment at the end of the pod - Kelly, Amy and Meg all share having grown up in the Philadelphia area and at the time of this recording, the Philadelphia Eagles are on their way to the 2025 Super Bowl. "Go Birds!" is a shortened form of "Go Eagles!" but has become a widely used way to share Philly pride and is now a stand-in for, "Hi", "Bye", "Thanks", "Have a nice day" or just about anything else.) This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today'sThanks For Being Here features a beautiful eulogy written by Audrey Bowler for her grandfather Herbert Reichlin, a World War II veteran who lived to be 99. From young soldier to beloved family man, "Grandpop Herb", always believed in miracles and the power of love. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve and Jill Marshall from Silver Path Consulting are back to tackle two of the biggest challenges families face when helping aging parents: getting finances in order and planning final arrangements. They dive into why having a solid financial plan isn't just about numbers – it's about peace of mind and protection. From practical tips on finances to protecting against exploitation, they share wisdom that might just save your family some headaches. Then, they break down how to handle those tough-but-necessary conversations about final arrangements, boiling it down to three key decisions everyone needs to make. Whether you're just starting to think about these issues or already in the thick of it, this episode offers a road map for handling delicate topics with grace and clarity. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this third episode of our Hard Conversations series, Simon Greer, a Jewish organizer whose uncles fought for Israel in 1967, and Saad Soliman, a social justice consultant whose uncles died fighting for Egypt in that same war, met at a professional gathering between corrections officers and formerly incarcerated individuals. They made a pivotal choice: create connection rather than perpetuate division. Their remarkable friendship, which deepened even during recent Middle East conflicts, demonstrates how curiosity and openness can bridge seemingly insurmountable divides, leading them to travel together to Israel in 2024 - and proving there's no expiration date on healing. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. For more information, visit templetonreligiontrust.org. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christine Wenzel shares her essay "Things That My Mother Supposes", telling the story of how she and her mother moved from tense exchanges to finding real understanding before her mom's passing in 2020. Through funny and touching memories – from her mom's dodging goodnight kisses to planning her own funeral – Christine captures how complicated parent-child relationships can transform over time. If you have a complicated relationship or family story you'd like to share, email us at hello@kellycorrigan.com. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this 3rd installment of our 4-part series on helping aging parents, Kelly's old friends Steve and Jill Marshall share their expertise on tackling the paperwork no one wants to think about but everyone needs to understand. The founders of Silver Path Consulting break down essential legal and financial documents, share surprising insights about estate planning, and discuss the delicate conversations around housing decisions for aging parents. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2006, the multi platinum selling band The Fray was everywhere - their songs, Over My Head (Cable Car) and How to Save a Life dominated radio waves and television soundtracks. Behind the scenes, lead singer Isaac Slade and manager Gregg Latterman had built more than just a business partnership - they had forged a deep friendship born of mutual respect and shared artistic dreams. But by 2009, that relationship was in ruins. Today's conversation, the 2nd episode in our Hard Conversations series, reveals how they found their way back. It's a master class in conflict resolution and reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing we can possibly do is pick up the phone. This episode has been made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kelly and therapist friend Dr. Aliza Pressman explore how we can best support those affected by the LA fires. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, they share wisdom about the power of simple connection – how a thoughtful check-in or just being present can make a real difference, and remind us that there's no "right" way to respond to crisis. The episode wraps up with Kelly reading Ellen Bass' moving poem "The Thing Is," offering comfort and hope. For those seeking ways to help or needing support, messages are welcome at hello@kellycorrigan.com. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wondering how to have "the talk" with your aging parents (or any elderly family member who may need help)? In this episode, Kelly sits down with her good friends Steve and Jill Marshall of Silverpath for Part 2 of their open discussion about caring for aging parents. They explore how to build effective sibling teams where each person contributes based on their strengths, share tips for starting difficult conversations with genuine empathy, and offer advice for moving forward when parents resist change. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wondered what keeps two people together when the days are intense and the answers aren't clear? Kelly talks with Bob and Amy Allnutt about raising their son Jack, who is severely autistic. These two figured out something pretty special about making a marriage work - it's not about seeing eye to eye, but about creating room for different ways of handling things. When they finally found a way for Jack to communicate by typing, he told them something they'll never forget: "I'm trying and I'm really smart." Bob and Amy get real about the hard stuff - the violent episodes, the exhaustion, and what happens when you stop trying to be right and start trying to understand. It's a conversation that'll make you think differently about what it means to have someone's back. This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. To learn more, go to templetonreligiontrust.org. For more information on Bob, Amy and Jack Allnutt, check out Andrew Solomon's excellent book Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity or the fantastic documentary Far From the Tree (based on the book). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the story of an oncologist named Amy who diagnosed herself with leukemia in her own lab and a stem cell donor named Brandon who stepped up to save her life. The chances of finding a perfect donor match are extremely small. The chances that the perfect donor would end up living only an hour away are astronomically small - and yet, these two very special people beat the odds in many ways. Anyone can sign up to save a life. To join the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, donors simply swab the inside of their cheeks and complete a registration questionnaire. Request your swab kit today at http://giftoflife.org/Swab (Previously aired ) Please note: we've changed our show email address since this episode originally aired. If you would like to reach out to us, please email us at: hello@kellycorrigan.com. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first of four episodes, Kelly sits down with longtime friends Steve and Jill Marshall, founders of Silver Path Consulting, to discuss the complex challenges of aging parents. Through personal stories and expert insights, they explore why families avoid crucial planning conversations, the "dying longer" phenomenon, and how to navigate decisions about healthcare, housing, and family dynamics before crisis hits. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Start your 2025 with this timely conversation between Kelly and Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), who challenges everything we've been taught about productivity and time management. Together, they explore why traditional approaches aren't working for women's lives, and offer a revolutionary new framework for finding contentment in the chaos. Kelly and Kendra discuss Kendra's new book The Plan and look at how to stop treating exhaustion as a status symbol and start embracing a more integrated approach to daily life. It's an honest conversation about redefining what a successful life really looks like, perfect for anyone seeking a more compassionate way to navigate their time and energy in the new year. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

High school counselor Leah Grant gives us a candid look at how phones and social media have changed student life over her 23 years in education. She reveal what she sees in the hallways every day - kids glued to their screens instead of looking at each other - and shares her creative ways of helping students build real connections and find their spark again. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this quick teaser episode, Kelly gives us a taste of her upcoming conversation with "The Lazy Genius", Kendra Adachi, author of The Plan. Kendra (and Kelly) explore how we can better manage our time by focusing on what matters most in different seasons of our lives. It's a preview that will make you want to catch their full discussion next week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“He may die but he’s alive now and we are going to enjoy this moment together.” This is theology professor Lee C. Camp sharing the turning point of his life as a father of a child who was unwell and is now, thankfully, in recovery. A tender and unguarded conversation, laced with a few existential bombs, to inspire better, less angry days for all of us. Check out Lee’s podcast and live show both called, No Small Endeavor. (Previously aired) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephanie Doublestein wrote this letter to honor her parents Chuck and Sue on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary. Stephanie says she observed a marriage and a love not made up of flashy moments, loud declarations of romance, big jewelry surprises or grand gestures but the humble yet impressive accumulation of quiet acts of service, regular little rituals, small moments of thoughtful generosity…and choosing love over and over. (Previously aired) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices