Are you seeking deeper connection at home—and real-life wisdom for the hard parts? I’m David Magee, bestselling author and speaker. Each week I host raw, hopeful conversations with family, friends, and remarkable guests about the things we all face: parenting and marriage, addiction and recovery, mental health, grief, and growth. You’re not the only messy family on the block. Together we’ll explore life’s big questions and small joys—and share practical steps that help you feel less alone and move toward progress. Years ago, I lost everything. Rebuilding taught me how to find meaning again—and I’m passio...
Latest episodes
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43 min
The Power of Outrageous Kindness with Kristina Joy Carlson
What if kindness wasn’t occasional—but a way of living? Kristina Joy Carlson, creator of Outrageous Kindness, joins me to talk about how everyday actions shape connection, relation…
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43 min
From a Dorm Room to NYC: Building a Talent Business with Hartwell Furr & Brenley Rinaudo
Two years out of college, they’ve built a New York–based talent firm—now expanding nationally—connecting top students and recent graduates with real opportunities. Hartwell Furr an…
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1 h 02
The Long Middle of Writing with Claire Gibson
Novelist Claire Gibson has spent years doing the part of writing no one sees—the showing up, the refining, the staying with it long before anyone pays attention. Now, with her nove…
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14 min
Can They Speak With Us?
Losing our son William changed everything. In the middle of that grief, I experienced something I still can’t fully explain—something that reshaped how I understand loss, connectio…
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16 min
Sharing Gratitude is the Greatest Gift
There’s one simple practice that can change your life, and it doesn’t take discipline, talent, or effort the way most habits do. It’s something we often overlook, but the science a…
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11 min
Learning to Say 'I'm Sorry'
Few words are more powerful than “I’m sorry,” yet those two words can be some of the hardest to say. Admitting we’ve done something wrong challenges the story we tell ourselves abo…
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57 min
Healing from Eating Disorders: Faith, Shame, and Recovery
So many struggles stay hidden because of shame. Whether it’s an eating disorder, substance misuse, or just feeling like you’re the only one dealing with something hard, silence has…
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31 min
The Scariest Step of Recovery: Facing the Truth | Ep 52
There are few things more uncomfortable than taking a real, honest look at ourselves. For me, a fearless moral inventory meant facing lies, the shame, and damage. But after the pai…
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28 min
How to Find a Purpose | Ep 51
For a long time, I thought the 12 steps were just for people battling addiction. What I’ve learned is that some of the most practical, life-changing lessons I’ve ever found are emb…
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18 min
How to Stop Romanticizing the Drink | Ep 50
A lot of people think recovery is just about quitting something. Just stop drinking. Just stop using. Just get it under control. But what I’ve seen in our family and in so many oth…
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38 min
Finding God in Recovery | Ep 49
For a long time, I thought willpower was enough. I believed I could muscle my way through change, keep faith on a shelf, and pull it down later if I needed it. What I learned — slo…
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32 min
Weathering the Unexpected Storm | Ep 48
We recently lived through a storm that shut down our town, cut the power for days, and reminded us how fragile our routines really are. When the lights go out and the temperature d…
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15 min
You Don’t Need a New You, You Need Less Distraction in the New Year | Ep 47
January puts an enormous amount of pressure on us — to be better, healthier, more disciplined, more productive. If you’re feeling behind, distracted, or overwhelmed right now, you’…
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32 min
Managing Loss and Grief: When the Holidays Don't Feel the Same
We tell ourselves the holidays are supposed to be joyful — full of warmth, family, and meaning. And they are. But they also have a way of bringing grief, loneliness, and unmet expe…
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37 min
Tell Me I Belong with Dr. David Weill | Ep 45
Sitting down with my friend Dr. David Weill, I was struck by the courage it takes to return to your past and ask a hard, lifelong question: Who am I really? In this episode, we tal…
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35 min
How We Arrived At This Together: Launching The Magee Foundation for Community Well-Being
Kent and I share the story behind our shared journey that led us to launching The Magee Foundation, work we are doing together. The Magee Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to str…
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21 min
Supporting Students Over the Holidays: Tips for Parents Around Mental Health, Drinking and Drugs and Growing R…
The holidays are supposed to be a time to exhale — to reconnect, rest, and breathe again. But for many young people, from middle school through college and well into their twenties…
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11 min
The Thanksgiving I Spent Alone and Got Back to My Family
I’ve always loved Thanksgiving for its simplicity—no gifts, no pressure, just a table and gratitude. But the one year I sat alone at mine, I learned more about grace than any other…
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58 min
Turning 60 is the New 40: Just Getting Started | Ep 41
When I was younger, I thought 60 meant slowing down, maybe coasting into the sunset. But I’ve learned the opposite — this season of life is sharper, clearer, and freer to try and m…
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41 min
Father, Daughter and Conversation with Mary Halley Carlson | Ep 40
There was a time when my daughter Mary Halley and I couldn’t talk. Not really. Now we sit across from each other, laughing, asking questions, and sharing the hard-won peace that ca…