This week, on the season finale of Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert takes a deep dive into the some of the season’s themes with writer and activist Glennon Doyle Melton. They talk about Melton’s trajectory from blogger to best-selling author, a

Magic Lessons Ep. 208: “Leap Into the Fire” featuring Martha Beck

Sep 16th, 2016 1h 19m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert advises Hope, a spoken-word poet in Ohio. A self-described introvert, Hope wants to take her poetry to the next level, but she's scared to submit her work to journals and enter poetry slams. She's p

Magic Lessons Ep. 207: “Living the Dream and Facing the Nightmare” featuring Neil Gaiman

Sep 9th, 2016 1h 17m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert advises Britta, a former lawyer-turned- writer in Amsterdam struggling to make progress on her second book. After success with her first novel, Britta made several failed attempts to start her secon

Magic Lessons Ep. 206: "Dancing From the Heart" featuring Amy Purdy

Sep 2nd, 2016 1h 17m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert advises Penelope, a dance teacher in New Jersey, who wants to create a dance performance to mark her 60th birthday. Even though she’s been dancing her whole life, she’s having trouble finding the co

Magic Lessons Ep. 205: “Call Your Real Life By Its True Name” featuring Gary Shteyngart

Aug 26th, 2016 1h 18m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert advises Colleen, an advertising executive in New York City, who dreams of being a storyteller but fears it's a frivolous pursuit. Colleen hopes to create a one-woman show, mining stories from her ch

Magic Lessons Ep. 204: “Who Gets To Decide Whether You're A Legitimate Artist?" featuring Mark Nepo

Aug 19th, 2016 1h 15m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert talks with Cecilia, a young poet in Florida. Cecilia fell in love with poetry in college and applied to a dozen MFA programs. She got rejected from every one. Devastated by the rejection she fell in

Magic Lessons Ep 203: "Know the Taste of Failure" featuring Michael Ian Black

Aug 12th, 2016 1h 14m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert enlists the comedian Michael Ian Black to help coach Keith, an improv comedy performer in Baltimore. A few years ago Keith fell hard for improv. He took every improv class in Baltimore and but there

Magic Lessons Ep. 202: "Make the Brutal Into the Beautiful" Featuring Brandon Stanton

Aug 5th, 2016 1h 11m

This week on Magic Lessons, Elizabeth Gilbert advises Anne, a photographer in Pennsylvania. For the last few years Anne has been documenting her brother's life. He's a veteran with PTSD and a recovering drug addict. She imagines turning all thi

Magic Lessons Ep. 201: "You Have a Screaming, Not a Calling." Featuring Sarah Jones

Jul 29th, 2016 1h 14m

Jo has spent years working on her phD on the Holocaust and fighting for feminist causes, but that work is not where her true passions lie. She wants to fulfill a childhood dream and write comedy and comic novels. Jo wonders: am I allowed to sto

Magic Lessons season 2 begins Friday, July 29!

Jul 26th, 2016 1m 17s

Bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert returns for the second season of her hit podcast MAGIC LESSONS, ready to help another batch of aspiring artists overcome their fears and create more joyfully. This year’s guest experts include Neil Gaiman, G

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 12: Brene Brown on "Big Strong Magic"

Jul 25th, 2016 35m 22s

The author of BIG MAGIC talks to Brene Brown, the author of RISING STRONG, about how essential creativity is for healthy, wholehearted living. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gil

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 11: "The Big Check-In"

Jul 25th, 2016 1h

The author of BIG MAGIC finds out how five podcast participants are honoring their "contracts with inspiration." This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizab

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 10: "John Hodgman on "The Question of What Come Next"

Jul 25th, 2016 21m 49s

The author of BIG MAGIC speaks with the writer, comedian, and prolific podcaster about the boredom of mastery and the thrill of self-reinvention. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 9: "Dear Creativity and Fear"

Jul 25th, 2016 17m 47s

The author of BIG MAGIC helps a photographer find the courage to follow her creative impulses into a new realm. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabe

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 8: "The Pure Pleasure of Making Stuff"

Jul 25th, 2016 14m 32s

The author of BIG MAGIC and the multi-talented Rayya Elias on the sheer joy of creation. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 7: "Sexy, Dirty, Nasty, Wicked"

Jul 25th, 2016 21m 8s

The author of BIG MAGIC helps an art teacher run off and have an affair with her art. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 6: Ann Patchett's Counter-advice "Dive into That Well"

Jul 25th, 2016 14m 4s

The author of BIG MAGIC and the author of THIS IS THE STORY OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE on stories that demand to be told. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.eliz

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 5: "Access Your Joy"

Jul 25th, 2016 21m 51s

The author of BIG MAGIC helps a grieving songwriter get back to making music. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 4: Rob Bell on how "The Action Is Right Here"

Jul 25th, 2016 17m 8s

The author of BIG MAGIC speaks with Pastor Rob Bell about protecting the soul in a soulless environment. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with ELizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbe

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 3: "The Thing That You Are Seeking Is Also Seeking You"

Jul 25th, 2016 20m 40s

The author of BIG MAGIC helps a call center worker find a way to keep the creative spirit alive. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 2: Cheryl Strayed to Moms- "Pursue Your Passions Like a Mofo"

Jul 25th, 2016 16m 3s

The author of BIG MAGIC and the author of WILD redefine the relationship between how we work and how we mother. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on ELizabeth Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabe

Magic Lessons Se. 1, Ep. 1: "Do What Ignites Your Soul"

Jul 25th, 2016 20m

The author of BIG MAGIC helps a blogger grapple with creative passion, motherhood, guilt, and the code of family loyalty. This is an installment of Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. For more information on Elizabeth Gilbert, please visit: w