Kelly Corrigan never set out to become a writer. At 36, she was a nonprofit fundraiser, a mom to two young children, and facing stage three breast cancer when she self-published a book for her dying father. That book, The Middle Place, became a New York Times bestseller and launched a writing career that includes four bestsellers and two popular shows on PBS and in podcasting. On this episode of She Pivots, Kelly shares how life’s most difficult moments reshaped her understanding of what was worth writing about, from a transformative year in Australia to navigating cancer treatment while raising her daughters and caring for her dad. She also talks about the power of telling deeply personal stories and how our response to life’s challenges can help us hold on to wonder, even in the hardest seasons.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

00:27 Kelly Corrigan Introduction

02:07 Childhood Memories and Family Dynamics

07:46 The Turning Point in Sydney

10:29 The Power of Caretakers

11:47 The Birth of a Writer

15:16 Kelly's Expectations for Her Life

18:43 Cancer Diagnosis and Writing The Middle Place

23:46 Navigating Motherhood and Treatment

31:26 What's Next After The Middle Place

33:24 The Second Book Deal

34:30 The IVF Dilemma: A Book's Evolution

39:39 The Viral Essay

42:25 Low Point to Launch

45:17 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again?

47:10 Reflections on Kelly's Story

48:30 Podcast Production Credits

Listen to Kelly Corrigan Wonders wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up with what Kelly is up to at kellycorrigan.com

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She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

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