Kelly sits down with Lisa Gevelber, Global Vice President and Managing Director at Google, to explore how creativity and making can happen anywhere - even inside giant corporations. Lisa shares how she went from putting herself through college to creating Google Career Certificates, a program that's now graduated nearly 1.5 million people into good-paying jobs without requiring a four-year degree. They dig into the importance of listening for human need when creating something new, the art of receiving feedback, and how AI might be the great equalizer that lets everyone become a maker. Lisa's story reminds us that some of the most meaningful making happens when you spot a problem that affects millions of people and refuse to accept that that's "just how things are."

To learn more about Google's programs mentioned in today's episode:

Google Career Certificates - grow.google/certificates 

Google Prompting Essentials - grow.google/prompting-essentials

Generative AI for Educators - grow.google/ai-for-educators

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This Father's Day, we're re-airing the beautiful eulogy which was the inspiration for Thanks For Being Here and was the very first episode we aired. It was written by Kelly's editor at Random House, Andy Ward, to honor his father.

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This week's Go To features a piece from listener Megan Matthews, who shares her thoughts on how we can better support each other during tough times. Instead of the well-meaning but vague "let me know if you need anything," Megan encourages us to get specific with our offers of help - whether that's taking someone their favorite drink, dropping off paper goods or folding a load of laundry. Drawing from her 23 years as a nurse, Megan reminds us that small acts of love don't have to be grand gestures or cost much - they just need to be thoughtful and real. It's a reminder that we're all just trying to help one another navigate life's surprises, one small kindness at a time.

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Kelly and her daughter Claire chat with Boone Hogg and Logan Jugler, the duo behind Stick Nation - that surprisingly wholesome corner of the internet where millions of people celebrate finding and reviewing the perfect stick. What started as a silly bit on a Utah hike has become a global phenomenon that's genuinely good for your mental health. As a part of our Makers series, Boone and Logan talk about why people are drawn to something so simple and uncomplicated, how they've built such a positive community online and their dreams of taking it into the real world with festivals and conservation efforts. It's all about slowing down, noticing nature's small wonders, and finding joy in the most ordinary things.

Stick Nation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialstickreviews/?hl=en

Check out Logan and Boone's upcoming book Sticks

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/778235/sticks-by-logan-jugler-and-boone-hogg/

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Kelly shares a beautiful eulogy from listener Jody Antypas which she wrote for her Greek immigrant father George—a man who came to America with one suitcase, built a life from scratch, and somehow managed to love paying taxes more than anyone you've ever met. From his wartime childhood to becoming "Pappou" the pancake-making, Monopoly-playing, sand castle-building grandfather, George's story will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. It's a reminder of why immigrants have always been such a gift to this country, and why the small moments with the people we love matter most.

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I’ve been asked to give many graduation speeches. This one was a favorite, making a case for one very simple move that changes everything. (Previously aired)

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 We're dropping in a bonus episode today -  Kelly had the best time talking to a friend you might know, he is Dwight Schrute from The Office among many, many other things.  His real name is Rainn Wilson and his real interest is in spirituality and matters of the soul. That's why he started a podcast called Soul Boom . We loved this episode of Soul Boom where Rainn interviews Kelly and thought we would share it. So, here is a conversation between two friends, Rainn and Kelly, about curiosity versus fear and judgment  and also about the ways that each of us is creative.

Check out Soul Boom on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulBoom

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Meet George Sweetland, a first-grade teacher from Connecticut who turned his love of drawing monsters and late-night sketching sessions into a dream career as a children's book illustrator. In this episode of our Makers series, George shares how an Instagram post changed everything, why he keeps bins of "failed" sketches, and what happened when he tried to make pickle juice risotto for his family. We dive into the magic of getting lost in creative work, how to handle feedback without losing your voice, and why encouraging kids to build their own imaginative worlds is more important than ever. George brought Kelly and her daughter Claire's new book Marianne the Maker to life with his beautiful illustrations and his story is a reminder that the future truly belongs to those brave enough to create.

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All three of the Tiehel sisters eulogized their incredible mom PT but this one, written by daughter Amy really sums up the way PT lived her life: always on the lookout for the person having a tough go of it, the loner, the one who needed a helping hand. This is a story about taking the time to really notice people and to help make the world a better place, one small, kind gesture at a time. (Previously aired)

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What if that scrap of paper you're about to throw away holds the seed of something extraordinary? This week, Kelly reflects on the power of saving the small things that might seem insignificant at first glance - from childhood journals and camp letters that sparked a writing career, to a simple bedtime story that evolved into something much bigger. You'll hear the adorable recording of Kelly's daughter Georgia ( just 2 years old at the time) telling the original "Maryanne the Faker" story about a little girl who pretends to be sick to get out of soccer practice. That simple bedtime tale would eventually become Kelly and her daughter Claire's new children's book, Marianne the Maker.

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When was the last time your desire to be "better than" someone else got in the way of a meaningful connection - or derailed an important conversation? Kelly welcomes theologian Miroslav Volf to explore how our competitive nature often undermines genuine dialogue. Drawing from his book The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse, Volf shares wisdom on shifting from interactions that destroy to ones that build. Together they examine the hollow pursuit of superiority that affects our relationships, social media, education, and politics while offering a transformative alternative rooted in the simple affirmation: "It is good that you are." This discussion invites us all to consider what might happen if we could break free from the superiority trap and embrace a more collaborative way of being with others.

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