Season 4
Singer, poet, author Patti Smith has experienced the deaths of her husband, guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith, her brother Todd, and her lifelong friend and artistic soulmate, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Time doesn't heal those "sacred wounds," she tells Anderson, but in time, you can learn to navigate it more.
In 1975 Kelsey Grammer's 18-year-old sister, Karen, was murdered. For fifty years his loving memories of her were colored by questions about her death. In this moving conversation, Kelsey tells Anderson how he finally found answers and, in doing so, the beloved sister he lost so long ago. This conversation contains some graphic descriptions of violence.
Ben Stiller spent the last few years going through boxes of photos, letters, and recordings that his parents, the famous comedy duo known as "Stiller and Meara," left behind. He shares with Anderson the parallels he discovered between his parents and himself and how it has made him re-think his past and his own parenting.
Musician Nick Cave has experienced the death of two of his sons. He tells Anderson how, over time, these losses have changed his relationship with the world; expanding his heart and widening his "capacity for love."
Comedian Tig Notaro recently witnessed the death of her friend, poet Andrea Gibson, after a years-long battle with cancer. Being by Andrea's bedside was a profound experience for Tig and she talks about its impact on her in this moving and at times funny conversation.
Country superstar Kenny Chesney reflects on the loss of friends and a beloved dog. He and Anderson also share their connection to a family who experienced a profound loss. Plus, Anderson talks about the death of David Gergen and speaks to a podcast listener facing a life-threatening illness.
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has been called "America's biographer," but in this moving conversation, he reveals how his own history has been shaped by early loss - the death of his mother Lyla when Ken was eleven years old.
Luke Bryan is one of country music's biggest stars. He's also faced great loss. In this personal and revealing conversation with Anderson, Luke shares how faith, family, and music have helped him "do what you do to get through."
Season 3
In this special episode, Anderson reports from Rome following the death of Pope Francis, and speaks to religion professor Elaine Pagels who lost both her 6-year-old son Mark and her husband Heinz.
In the season three finale, Anderson plays some of the more than 6000 voicemails he has received from podcast listeners about what they have learned in their grief that might help others.
Pulitzer Prize winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin knows what it's like to face the past. She talks with Anderson about how Abraham Lincoln and other historic figures dealt with grief, and how she has.
David and his sister Amy Sedaris have lived through the deaths of their mother, father and sister, and most recently, Amy's pet rabbit. They join Anderson for a heartfelt, and at times irreverently funny, conversation about loss and grief.
Tyler Perry lost his beloved mother, Willie Maxine Perry, at 64 years old. Tyler shares with Anderson how he's avoided his grief by pouring himself into work, and how he is now facing the pain of his mother's absence.
Before they co-founded one of the most successful rock bands in history, Alex and Eddie Van Halen were two kid brothers with a love of music. In an emotional interview, Alex talks about Eddie's life and death.
When Naomi Judd died by suicide in 2022, her daughter Ashley found her. In this moving conversation Ashley Judd talks about the grief she now feels and how her mother's spirit is still very much alive in her life.
Author Andrew Sullivan came to America as a young gay man and was named editor of The New Republic magazine, just as his friends began dying around him. Anderson talks with Andrew about surviving the AIDS epidemic.
America knew actor Christopher Reeve as Superman, but to Will Reeve, he was "Dad." Will was 12 years old when his father died in 2004, and in 2006 his mom Dana also died. Will sits down with Anderson to share his "long journey into grief."
How do you live with loss that is beyond comprehension? When Irene Weiss was 13 years old she and her family were deported to Auschwitz. Now 93, Irene talks with Anderson about how she survived and how she has lived with grief ever since.
In this very personal conversation, Anderson reveals some of what he's learned about the strategies he developed as a child to shield himself from grief and why those strategies are now working against him.
Whoopi Goldberg sits down with Anderson for a candid and moving conversation about the life and deaths of her mother Emma Johnson and her brother Clyde.
Andrew Garfield's mother Lynne died from pancreatic cancer in 2019. In this deeply moving and emotional episode, Andrew talks with Anderson about how grief is now the only way for him to feel close to his mom again.