Waking from the American Dream

Waking from the American Dream episodes:

• 03.22.2021

  152: Kelly Risks Forward

  This month, Kelly is in conversation with Victoria Labalme, author of Risk Forward, a unique and bold take on what one needs to figure out your next steps on a project, plan or life path. It offers courage, inspiration and...

  
• 11.24.2020

  151: Kelly Lands on the Other Side

  Kelly talks about making it through the anxiety, uncertainty and unexpected gifts of the pandemic. And she explores what it's been like to dance with the legacy of her father, and how she has reached a new level of acceptance.

  
• 08.29.2020

  150: Kelly Let's Go

  Kelly talks about how to face what the Buddhists call impermanence and letting go. Music is "Headphones" by the Incredible Casuals

  
• 07.31.2020

  149: Kelly is Sheltering in Place

  After a 17 month hiatus, Kelly returns with a monologue episode about the pandemic, what sheltering in place is revealing to humanity and what it means to let the 10,000 things name the self. Music is “Work From Home” by Pizza...

  
• 04.27.2019

  148 Kelly Gets Deep, Creatively Speaking

  Kelly is joined by two of the three authors of "Deep Creativity: Seven Ways to Spark Your Creative Spirit," Deborah Anne Quibell and Jennifer Leigh Selig. The conversation explores their unique approach to sparking, feeding and hosting creativity in everyone's...

  
• 04.02.2019

  147 Kelly Acts Up

  Kelly is joined by screenwriter, actor and now author, David Dean Bottrell where they discuss the ins and outs, the loves and hates, the ups and downs of choosing a career in the entertainment industry. David's just published book...

  
• 03.22.2019

  146 Kelly Feels the Paine with Harvey J. Kaye

  Kelly chats with Harvey J. Kaye, American History professor at University of Wisconsin, Green Bay and the Ben & Joyce Rosenberg Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies, about ideas such as justice, liberty and equality and how the current...

  
• 02.13.2019

  145 Octagon Table Discussion - Heroes

  The Octagon Table members Dylan Brody, Rick Overton, Erin Brown and Chris Bonno with Kelly gather to unpack what it means to be a hero. They talk about their own heroes, what traits heroes must have and why we even...

  
• 02.13.2019

  144 Kelly Pauses, Breathes, and Smiles

  Gary Gach, author of "Pause, Breathe, Smile," (and many other titles), mindfulness teacher, poet, joins Kelly to discuss being on the path to enlightenment, why watching your breath changes your life, and other fine hints and moments about being seekers. Instead...

  
• 12.28.2018

  143 - Kelly Gets Musical

  Kelly sits down with Mark Russell, the political, musical satirist for an exploration of his career and take on politics these days.

  
• 12.13.2018

  142 - Octagon Table Discussion: Courage

  In this episode Dylan Brody, Erin Brown, Rick Overton, Chris Bonno & Fiona Goodwin join Kelly to unpack the idea, concept and reality or courage.

  
• 12.06.2018

  141 Kelly Makes Art, Not War

  Kelly steps into a new relationship with her creativity and discusses the lines between art, entertainment and the freedom to express ones self.

  
• 11.21.2018

  140: Kelly Finds It's Possible

  Kelly ponders about what makes us deem thing possible or impossible and what it means to take chances.

  
• 10.29.2018

  139: Kelly Finds Home

  Kelly reads an essay about how she is emerging into a new/old way of relating to the world around her.

  
• 10.06.2018

  138: Kelly is Torn

  Kelly feels torn in half watching the Kavanaugh/Dr. Ford testimony.

  
• 09.27.2018

  137: Octagon Table Discussion - Truth

  Dylan Brody, Amy Englehardt, Chris Bonno and Kelly untangle the many ideas and perspectives about the concept of Truth.

  
• 09.07.2018

  136: Kelly Lives in the Dream

  Kelly delves into how to live life from a place that honors the imagination. She explores how we can be rational beings and still live life from a magical place. Music by Admiral Halsey

  
• 08.23.2018

  135: Kelly Sits with Hope

  Kelly sits with Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters, and they dive into mother loss, what it takes to heal from grief, and the broader subject of how women untangle themselves from their family dynamics, aka daughterhood, to step out...

  
• 07.18.2018

  134: Kelly Unlearns Helplessness

  Kelly speaks with Ellen Braaten, PhD about how we are all collectively combating learned helplessness with the divisive political climate here in US, and how to combat it.

  
• 07.07.2018

  133: Kelly Faces Humiliation

  Kelly talks about how humility is a most human experience, and how getting to act in front of the camera after 34 years heals her.

  
• 06.28.2018

  132: Kelly Responds Instead of Reacts

  Kelly is back. No really, she is. She gets her feet wet again and is excited to be back weekly. She talks about the difference in life when we are in Response mode vs. React mode.

  
• 01.12.2018

  131: Kelly Feels Powerless

  Kelly figures out the basis of her political despair and then also shares the importance of stillness and watching how we react to the world to increase our peace of mind. Music by Adil Omar.

  
• 11.06.2017

  130: Octagon Table Discussion - Liberty

  Kelly is joined by the rollicking Octagon Table regulars Chris Bonno, Dylan Brody, Erin Brown, and Rick Overton. They discuss the topic of Liberty from every imaginable angle and have a great time doing it. M

  
• 10.24.2017

  129: Kelly Gets Bored with This Dystopia

  Kelly barely makes it back from the woods, enjoys Depeche Mode, she thinks, and contemplates, once again, the nature of existence. Music by Peggy Lee.

  
• 10.07.2017

  128: Kelly Finds Her Church

  Kelly talks about Tom Petty and how to find the holiness in your work. And then gives everyone a chance to turn over the Great Ball of Merit. Music by Tom Petty

  
• 09.29.2017

  WFAD 127 Kelly Gets Some Hope & Change

  Kelly sits down with Hope Hall, the Presidential Videographer for the White House during the Obama years, to discuss self-care in this new presidency and what we as individual and a country are learning about life.

  
• 09.22.2017

  126: Kelly Unplugs

  Kelly returns to full time podcasting after a long hiatus. She talks about the fatigue of the current political atmosphere and the importance of self-care if you want to stay engaged.

  
• 12.09.2016

  125: Kelly Gets a Grip

  Kelly ponders post-election life and gives advice on how to live in Trumplandia. Music by Dan Bern.

  
• 08.26.2016

  124: Kelly Says No

  Kelly shares about her trip to Jamestown NY for the LucyFest, meeting Trevor Noah and finding herself in a Victorian Disneyland called The Chautauqua Institute. She then dives into the power of saying "yes" and the power of saying "no"...

  
• 07.31.2016

  123: Kelly Feels the Silverman

  Kelly briefly touches on the conventions, Sarah Silverman and a few important Garry’s in her life. She then plays part two of her interview with Steve McIntosh, the Integral Philosopher and founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution where...

  
• 07.21.2016

  122: Kelly Holds the Tension

  Kelly shares what it’s been like to be off of social media for a month, and then reaching back to the roots of what Waking from the American Dream really means for her, Kelly invites Integral philosopher and co-founder of...

  
• 06.18.2016

  121: Kelly Walks Away

  On today’s show, Kelly shares her thoughts on mass shootings, talks about her decision to take a summer sabbatical from social media, and shares about her friendship with the late Garry Shandling. Music by Bo Burnham and George Harrison.

  
• 06.10.2016

  120: Kelly Comes Home

  After traveling near and far, Kelly is home for most of the summer. She is joined on the show by Ben Morrison, comic & actor, who has come to Kelly for clarity & support during a major life change.

  
• 03.22.2016

  119: Octagon Table Discussion: Democracy

  Kelly is joined by Erin Brown, Rick Overton, Richard Green and Chris Bonno to discuss the idea of democracy and how it’s working these days during this election season. Music by Alan Stone, the Jacob Jeffries Band, and Lisa Brigantino.

  
• 02.24.2016

  118: Kelly Finds Joy

  Paul Holdengraber, curator and director of the NY Public Library’s highly respected and acclaimed interview series Live from the NYPL, and Kelly talk deeply about the art of conversation. Kelly also discusses with viewers the importance in finding one’s...

  
• 02.04.2016

  117: Kelly Tidies Up

  Kelly talks about in-groups, the magic of tidying, the empty fullness of being done with her book stuff, and reads a Mary Oliver poem. Music by The Eagles.

  
• 02.04.2016

  117: Kelly Tidies Up

  Kelly talks about in-groups, the magic of tidying, the empty fullness of being done with her book stuff, and reads a Mary Oliver poem. Music by The Eagles.

  
• 01.14.2016

  116: The Return of the Kelly

  Kelly talks about reinvention, David Bowie's death, her book release and living your life as either a subject or an object.

  
• 06.17.2015

  115: Octagon Table Discussion: Meaning of Life

  Kelly is joined by the usual suspects - Rick Overton, Dylan Brody, and Erin Brown - to wind their way around to find the meaning of life. Dylan talks about a peyote trip at age 11, Erin admits to...

  
• 05.02.2015

  114: Kelly Says What She Wants

  Kelly chats with Josh Wheeler, Executive Director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Freedom of Expression, about First Amendment issues like Citizen United, and the Center’s annual Jefferson Muzzle Awards. Music by Eric Bern, Chandler Travis...

  
• 04.27.2015

  113: Kelly Is And Isn't Into -ism

  Kelly begins by talking about her wacky morning. She then brings on Katie Goodman and they discuss her video Sorry Babe, You're a Feminist! and why younger women are resisting the term. Kelly then talks about resisting the...

  
• 04.17.2015

  112: Kelly Returns

  Kelly talks about Spring, Fleetwood Mac and the drought. She then chats with Rain Pryor about her first comedy album, "Black & White." Kelly then ends the show sharing about her experience doing a five week run of her solo...

  
• 11.30.2014

  111: Kelly Says Yes

  Cash Peters, author of 12 books and former TV host of "Stranded with Cash Peters," joins Kelly in a revealing conversation about the difference between skepticism and circumspection; what happens when you are willing to believe in life; and...

  
• 11.18.2014

  110: Kelly Talks Dirty with Je

  Jennifer Edwards, author and actress (and daughter of Blake Edwards) talks with Kelly about her new novel, When Angels Cry, a funny, erotic story of a woman finding herself in the thick of middle-aged challenges. They also discuss acting,...

  
• 11.10.2014

  109: Kelly and Katie Kid Around

  Katie Goodman, comedian/singer/songwriter, and Kelly talk about vulnerability and its place in comedy and performing, teaching kids bad words, how some young women misunderstand the word “feminism”, and nothing about the mid-term elections.

  
• 10.05.2014

  108: Sisters of Comedy

  Rain Pryor and Laurie Buckley join Kelly to discuss Feminism, the Feminine, being daughters of pioneers in comedy, and how their generation and gender does it slightly different than their fathers.

  
• 09.08.2014

  107: Octagon Table Discussion: Depression

  Join Kelly as she and Rick Overton, Dylan Brody, and Chris Bonno find the funny and not so funny in depression, ennui, suicide, America’s obsession with growth and progress and laughter. Music by The Paul & the John

  
• 08.18.2014

  106: Kelly Finds a More Beautiful Question

  Kelly and Warren Berger's (the author of A More Beautiful Question) discussion about the power of questions will inspire and blow your mind wide open. As we as individuals and a species face an era of increasing uncertainty, the...

  
• 08.18.2014

  105: Kelly Gets Carlie & Doni-ed

  The funny and charming musical comedy duo Carlie & Doni explore their journey through their first years in show biz, and what it's like to balance friendship and creativity as a duo. Kelly wrote an essay too!

  
• 08.18.2014

  104: Octagon Table Discussion: Enlightenment

  John Fugelsang, Erin Brown, Chris Bonno & Chad Einbinder help Kelly to unpack the idea and path to enlightenment.