Other People's Problems

When the book ends, the conversation begins. On Bookends, Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read.

Bookends does not shy away from difficult conversations … and neither does Anna Sale, the host of the popular Slate podcast Death, Sex and Money. The show is all about diving into topics that get deep fast, and Anna expands on that promise in her book, Let’s Talk About Hard Things. In this special bonus episode, Anna joins Mattea to chat all about the book, podcasting and how her own outlook on tough topics has changed over the years. 

We’re sharing something special with you this week: an episode of Pulling the Thread with Elise Loehnen. On her podcast, the New York Times–bestselling author sits down with today’s leading thinkers to try to answer life’s big questions: Why do we do what we do? How can we know and love each other better? What does it look like to live a meaningful life?

In this episode, Loehnen chats with the iconic therapist Esther Perel about what's underneath the conflicts in our relationships—what we're actually fighting about—and how we can turn those conflicts into connection.

Rachael has worked for years to heal from her own trauma and is now wanting to learn how to let love and affection in. Rachael practices allowing Hillary to care for her. It sounds simple, but as Rachael says, for her and for many of us, it can feel deeply “cringey.” Hillary sings a lullaby and Rachael relaxes into the feeling of being loved. 

Hillary sings a lullaby she wrote for her own daughter full of affirmations, she dedicates it to all OPP listeners as well.