There are seasons when everything feels a bit undone. A marriage ends. A child grows up. A job shifts. And suddenly, we’re no longer who we were…and not yet who we’ll become.

Melinda French Gates has lived through some of life’s biggest transitions. In this conversation, she reflects on what it means to stay open when life is changing—quietly or all at once. To hold your own hand when everything feels uncertain. To lean on the people who tell you the truth. And to remember that good enough is more than just survival—it can be a way forward.

If you’re in the middle of something—grief, reinvention, or a season that feels like wandering—this conversation is a soft place to land.

In this conversation, Kate and Melinda discuss:

• Why transitions—chosen or not—ask us to be braver than we feel
• How to listen to the inner voice that won’t go quiet
• The beauty of being a “good enough” parent, partner, or person
• Why our friendships might be the most sacred thing we have
• What it means to be held—by community, by love, by something even bigger

If you liked this episode, you’ll also love: 

• Nicholas Kristof, "Hope is a Muscle"
• Sharon McMahon, "Drops Make an Ocean"
• Gregory Boyle, "The Case for Hope"

Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts.

Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.