Tracee Ellis Ross: Holding On to Joy In Hard Times

Tracee Ellis Ross: Holding On to Joy In Hard Times

Author: Treat Media and Glennon Doyle March 17, 2026 Duration: 1:06:45
In this deeply moving — and one of our all-time favorite — conversations, we take a beautiful, funny, honest dive inside the “wonderful, dangerous” mind of Tracee Ellis Ross. As the world asks us to stay engaged without burning out, Tracee offers a powerful model for how to show up fully without losing yourself. This conversation is about love — not just romantic love, but the kind that changes everything: choosing yourself, holding fast to joy, building deep connection, and being in charge of your own life. Tracee reflects on approaching 50 and what it means to step into a new decade rooted in freedom, depth, and aliveness — not hustle. She shares the unforgettable story of her 50th birthday, standing in her mother’s dress, surrounded by her cauldron people, and singing, “I’m 50 and I’m free.” A true lighthouse moment for all of us learning how to stay whole while we show up. -Tracee’s go-to tools for quieting self-doubt and staying tethered to her truest self-How she made peace with not being everyone’s cup of tea-The story behind becoming “Fifty and Free” in her mother’s dress-Why she rejected the lie that women exist to be chosen-How to find your cauldron people — the ones who hold your fire About Tracee: Tracee Ellis Ross is an award-winning actress and producer best known for her roles in ABC’s award-winning comedy series BLACK-ISH and GIRLFRIENDS. For her role as “Rainbow Johnson” in BLACK-ISH, as a comedic leading actress, Ross won the Golden Globe Award in 2017 as well as nine NAACP Image Awards. She was nominated for five Emmys and two Critics Choice Awards.  Ross is the CEO and Founder of Pattern, a haircare brand for the curly, coily and tight textured masses.  Ross executive produced and narrates Hulu’s THE HAIR TALES, a docuseries about Black women, beauty and identity through the distinctive lens of Black hair.  Ross will be producing a ten-episode podcast “I Am America,” which aims to break through the noise during this divided time in our country in an effort to create space and to heal.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wecandohardthingsshow⁠

Life is rarely simple, and the conversations on We Can Do Hard Things reflect that beautiful, messy reality. Hosted by Glennon Doyle, her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle, this podcast creates a space where the difficult, tender, and triumphant parts of being human are examined without flinching. The dynamic between the three hosts-their laughter, debates, and shared vulnerability-turns each episode into a genuine conversation you’re invited to overhear. They tackle topics spanning relationships, societal expectations, personal growth, and the quiet struggles often faced alone, all with a blend of raw honesty and unexpected humor. This isn’t about abstract advice; it’s about real people navigating real life, which is why the community around this podcast, known as the Pod Squad, has become such a powerful force for connection and tangible change. The title is a mantra put into practice, a reminder that strength isn’t about avoiding hardship but about moving through it together. Tuning in feels like joining a candid kitchen-table talk where pretense is left at the door. You’ll find a unique mix of comfort and challenge in every episode, a combination that has resonated deeply, leading to an incredible collective impact far beyond the audio itself. For anyone looking for a thoughtful, unvarnished, and compassionate take on modern life, this podcast offers a refreshing perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

We Can Do Hard Things
Podcast Episodes
Welcome to 2026 (and Hello, YouTube Friends) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49
We’re starting 2026 with a quick hello and a warm welcome to our YouTube listeners. This brief episode explains a small but intentional shift in how we’re sharing the show. We’re re-routing back to audio-only to stay ali…
Your Nervous System Needs This [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:34
Glennon sits down with artist and healer Eset Rose for a grounding, soul-stirring conversation – live from the Kripalu Center in Massachusetts – about what it really means to stop abandoning ourselves. They discuss burni…
Astrology for (Former) Skeptics: Sonya Renee Taylor Takes Us Further [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
Please be sure to listen to Part 1 of our conversation with Sonya Renee Taylor: ⁠Astrology for Skeptics: Sonya Renee Taylor Reads Our Charts ⁠ In the second part of our soul-shifting conversation, Sonya Renee Taylor retu…
Astrology for Skeptics: Sonya Renee Taylor Reads Our Charts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:20
The radiant and revolutionary Sonya Renee Taylor joins us to dive deep into astrology, in a conversation that will leave you feeling empowered, braver, and wiser. Sonya illuminates: - How astrology can return us to the w…
Maybe We CAN Be Loved w/o Being Known: Ashley C. Ford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:19
Ashley C. Ford returns to the pod today for a deeply personal, raw, and revelatory conversation about how we can love the world, our people, and ourselves through this trying moment. We explore: - Why we’re no longer cer…
Rosie O’Donnell: Why She Really Left & Her New Ireland Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:39
The legendary, hilarious, and ferociously tender Rosie O’Donnell is here for an unfiltered conversation about how to survive the world while feeling it all. We discuss: - Why she left the U.S.—and how her new life in Ire…
Jon Batiste + Suleika Jaouad: WHAT IS ENOUGH? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:13
How do we ever know what is enough – or feel like enough – in a world that pushes us to incessantly perform, perfect, collect, and earn? The extraordinary duo Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste are here for one of the riches…
Women’s Voices So Dangerous They Buried Them: Meggan Watterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:27
Did you know that gospels of women leaders were in the Bible — and then in the Fourth Century, they were literally torn out of all Bibles and destroyed??? Except a few of them were buried and discovered a thousand years…
Amanda’s Breakthrough: Finally Letting Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:28
Pod Squad: It’s just us this episode. Glennon, Abby, and Amanda are snuggling up on the metaphorical couch to answer your questions and spiral together about: – Is writing about yourself self-indulgent? – Is camping a va…