Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

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Anne Lamott on Love, Shame, and Being Human

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Feb 10, 2026

Guest

Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott, beloved bestselling author known for candid memoirs and books on faith and writing. She talks about aging and late-life love with humor. She explores shame and the armor we wear, small practices like sobriety and “ploppage,” and the power of showing up physically for others. The conversation celebrates radical hope, small acts of tenderness, and receiving joy.

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ANECDOTE

Late-Life Love Found Over Coffee

Anne Lamott describes meeting her husband late in life after awkward dating and online sites.
Their relationship grew from a coffee date into a lasting partnership that began when she was 65.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Childhood Performance And Hidden Shame

Anne Lamott recounts growing up craving her father's approval in a household of drinking and affairs.
She learned to perform, hide feelings, and became responsible for others' happiness until recovery and sobriety shifted that work inward.

insights

INSIGHT

Five Rules That Teach Shame

Lamott outlines cultural

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Feeling Old, Feeling Young

05:40 • 1min

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Late-Life Dating and Marriage

06:50 • 4min

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Lessons from Her Father

11:13 • 4min

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Shame and the Armor We Wear

15:28 • 4min

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Enduring the Beams of Love

19:56 • 1min

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Ploppage, Sobriety, and Small Practices

21:22 • 4min

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Moments of Grace Around Suffering

25:16 • 2min

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Being God with Skin On

Answering Kids About Death and Hope

32:13 • 4min

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We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For

Casting Love and Receiving Joy

44:36 • 2min

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Airport Kindness and Shared World

46:16 • 5min

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Closing Reflections on Love and Judgment

51:17 • 55sec

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A Blessing for Enough

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Good Writing

Anne Lamott

In 'Good Writing,' Anne Lamott shares her insights on how to craft compelling and authentic prose, drawing from her own experiences as a successful author. The book provides practical advice on overcoming common writing challenges, finding your unique voice, and developing a consistent writing practice. Lamott emphasizes the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and attention to detail in creating engaging narratives. Through humorous anecdotes and insightful observations, she encourages writers to embrace the messiness of the writing process and trust their own creative instincts. It is a guide on how to transform bad writing into something good.

#3612

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Operating instructions

a journal of my son's first year

Anne Lamott

Published in 1993, 'Operating Instructions' is a journal that Anne Lamott kept during the first year of her son Sam's life. The book is a candid and often humorous reflection on the challenges and joys of single motherhood. It details Lamott's unplanned pregnancy, the birth of her child, and the numerous responsibilities of parenthood. The book also explores her relationships with her child, friends, and herself, all while maintaining her unique sense of humor and honesty.

#349

• Mentioned in 79 episodes

Bird by Bird

Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Anne Lamott

Susan Bennett

Bird by Bird is a comprehensive guide to writing that covers various aspects of the craft, from the initial stages of starting a project to the technical details of plot, character, and dialogue. Lamott emphasizes the importance of persistence, faith, and hard work in writing. She advocates for writing imperfect first drafts and warns against the pitfalls of perfectionism and self-criticism. The book also delves into the emotional and spiritual aspects of writing, encouraging writers to confront their deepest fears and desires. Lamott's approach is down-to-earth, humorous, and generously filled with personal experiences and practical advice.

#9219

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Traveling Mercies

Some Thoughts on Faith

Anne Lamott

In 'Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith', Anne Lamott recounts her personal and often humorous journey towards faith. The book combines elements of spiritual study and memoir, as Lamott reflects on her troubled past, including her struggles with addiction, single motherhood, and the loss of loved ones. She describes her gradual conversion to faith through her experiences with a small, interracial community church and the support of her friends. The memoir is marked by Lamott's characteristic wit and frankness, as she explores the complexities of faith, grief, and human connection.

#6172

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

Joyful Anyway

Kate Bowler

What do we do when the world feels unbearably heavy—and no one is coming to save us?

To kick off Season 16 of Everything Happens, Kate Bowler sits down live with beloved author and truth-teller Anne Lamott for a luminous, funny, and deeply honest conversation about shame, joy, faith, aging, love, and what it means to keep showing up anyway.

Recorded in front of a packed house at the historic Carolina Theatre in Durham, Kate and Anne talk about the shame that follows us from childhood, the relief of putting down our armor, and the small, ordinary acts of love that still matter. This is a conversation for anyone who feels tender, overwhelmed, skeptical of easy answers—and still hungry for hope.

Show notes:

Anne Lamott on Substack
Pre-order Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler
Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway
Watch the live conversation on YouTube
Kate Bowler on Substack: katebowler.substack.com
Anne Lamott
- Bird by Bird
- Operating Instructions
- Traveling Mercies
- Good Writing (with Neil Allen)
Maggie Smith, "Good Bones"
Naomi Shihab Nye, “Gate A-4”
William Blake, “We are here to learn to endure the beams of love”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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