We Can Do Hard Things

Who invented gender? Who decided the rules, wrote the script, and convinced us it was all just…nature?

Amanda traces the wild history of how gender became a system we call “natural,” “biological,” and “just the way it is.” Then ALOK joins to help us see the game we’ve been playing without even knowing it—and imagine what becomes possible when we stop mistaking the rules for reality.

Together, they discuss the history we’ve forgotten, the freedom we’ve been denied, and the beauty, weirdness, and possibility waiting for us outside the boxes.

- Why pink was once for boys—and what that reveals about the “natural” rules of gender

- How property, inheritance, religion, science, and power helped construct the gender binary

- Why attacks on trans people are a threat to everyone’s freedom

- The difference between fitting into the world and freely inventing your life

- Why ALOK says we don’t need more great thinkers—we need great lovers

For more ALOK on We Can Do Hard Things:

74. ALOK: What makes us beautiful? What makes us free?

75. ALOK: How do we interrupt trauma? How do we heal?

293. The One Question to Finally Let Go of Control with ALOK

About ALOK:

ALOK is an internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor whose work has captivated audiences in over 40 countries. You can catch them live on their EAT PRAY LEAVE world comedy tour.

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So many of us are carrying the weight of uncertainty—about our families, our futures, our work, and our communities. Underneath all of that is something we don't talk about nearly enough: money.

Financial educator Tori Dunlap helps us untangle the stories we've inherited about money and replace shame with something far more powerful: agency. Because the goal isn't wealth for wealth's sake—it's freedom. The freedom to leave what harms us, support what matters, and take care of ourselves and the people we love.

- Why women are taught to feel shame about money—and how to unlearn it

- The hidden money stories that may be shaping your life

- Why financial freedom is really about choices, safety, and agency

- Simple first steps to build a healthier relationship with money

About Tori:

Tori Dunlap is the Author of the instant New York Times bestselling book “Financial Feminist”; host of the #1 Business Podcast, Financial Feminist; and co-creator of Treasury, an investing education platform that has over $82M invested. After saving $100,000 at age 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded Her First $100K to fight financial inequality by giving women actionable resources to better their money. She has helped over five million women negotiate salary, pay off debt, build savings, and invest.

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If you've ever climbed into bed exhausted only to lie awake for hours, you're not alone.

After experiencing chronic insomnia, Glennon found the two sleep experts who helped her sleep again. In this conversation, Sleep Works founders Leah Corkum and Marlee Boyle explain why insomnia isn't a personal failure—it's a treatable sleep disorder—and share the practical strategies that could change your life.

- Why "luging" is different from simply being tired

- The surprising reason trying harder to sleep often makes insomnia worse

- The four strategies that helped Glennon improve her sleep cycles.

- Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is considered essential treatment

For more on Sleep Works, go to https://www.sleep-works.com/, and follow @sleep_works.

Marlee Boyle:

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT); Certified in Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH); BSc Biology Marlee is a registered respiratory therapist, certified in clinical sleep health. Her interests include treating sleep disordered breathing, CBT for insomnia, and sleep coaching for neurodiverse clients.

Leah Corkum:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); Certified Child & Infant Sleep Consultant, BA Psychology.

Leah is a Licensed Practical Nurse certified in CBT for insomnia and a Child and Infant Sleep Consultant through the Family Sleep Institute. She has spearheaded initiatives like shift worker education, long-term care facility sleep strategies for staff and residents, and teaching drug-free sleep techniques to hospital staff for better patient outcomes.

Together, Marlee and Leah co-founded their company, Sleep Works in 2022 after recognizing the growing rates of sleep problems and lack of sleep services available to the public in Canada. Sleep Works provides sleep education, counseling, coaching, courses, and keynotes virtually so anyone can access support for their sleep health from the comfort of their homes.

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Sometimes the hardest thing isn't working harder—it's remembering how to be alive.

After Abby and Glennon stage a Relaxation Intervention for Amanda (which immediately goes off the rails), the conversation becomes something much deeper: why so many of us struggle to rest, why we've negotiated away our playful selves in the name of responsibility, and how over-functioning can keep us from fully living.

- Why so many of us don't know how to relax—and what that's really about

- How over-functioning and perfectionism disconnect us from ourselves

- The surprising moments that bring us back to joy, play, and connection

- Why life isn't waiting on the other side of your to-do list

- A simple "proof of life" practice to help you feel more human

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Sometimes the truth doesn't break a family apart—it finally sets everyone free. Kerry Washington shares the deeply personal story of discovering a long-held family secret, reclaiming her self-trust, and realizing she had spent years living someone else's story. We talk about what family secrets cost us, the difference between protection and deception, and why telling the truth can become the deepest act of love.

About Kerry:

Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning, SAG, and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director, producer, and activist. Washington received widespread recognition for her role as Olivia Pope in the hit drama Scandal. In 2016, Washington launched her production company Simpson Street, whose projects include Confirmation, “American Son”, Emmy award-winning, “Live in Front of a Studio Audience”, The Fight, and Little Fires Everywhere. Washington is a lifelong activist and founder of Influence Change (IC21), an initiative that partners with nonprofits to increase voter turnout. For her efforts, Washington has been honored as one of TIME Magazine’s 2022 Women of The Year.

Washington released her first memoir, Thicker Than Water, which is available now.

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