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, and she offers a benediction to the eight creators who shared their stories this season. Special Guest: Glennon Doyle Melton is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoirs Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior:The Power of Embracing Your Messy,...

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 paralyzed by a deep fear of rejection. Liz calls up her friend, the writer and life coach Martha Beck, for more guidance on Hope’s case. Special Guest: Martha Beck is a speaker, writer, and life coach. Her bestselling books include Expecting Adam,...

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 second. She can’t find the flow and fears she has lost the the joy in writing. Liz calls up her friend, the prolific writer and novelist Neil Gaiman, for more guidance on Britta’s case. Special Guest: Neil Gaiman writes fiction, comic books, graphic novels,...

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 courage to pull this off. For expert guidance, Liz calls up one of the most courageous dancers she knows: Amy Purdy — a Paralympian snowboarder and semifinalist on Dancing With the Stars.  Special Guest: Amy Purdy is a snowboarder, Paralympian, dancer,...

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 childhood growing up in an Irish Catholic family that ran and owned a bar. Liz calls up the writer Gary Shteyngart for additional expertise on the pain and relief that comes with telling family stories. Special Guest: Gary Shteyngart is the award-winning...

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 into great despair and wondered if she could still call herself a poet when these MFA programs deemed her talents insufficient. For extra guidance Liz brings in her friend, the poet and storyteller Mark Nepo, who has soulful advice for Cecilia. And later...

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 wasn't a regular space to perform. So he formed a troupe and found a venue, building a vibrant improv community called the Charm City Comedy Project. But, somewhere along the way, he neglected his own dreams of creating a one-man show. Special...

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 this material into a photo-essay exhibit or book, but she's afraid to take the next steps to make it happen. To help guide Anne, Liz calls up her friend Brandon Stanton, the photographer and creator of the photo series "Humans of New York.” Several weeks...

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 stop saving the world and make fun art? Elizabeth Gilbert offers Jo advice along with her friend, the performer and playwright Sarah Jones. And we check in with Jo several weeks later to hear how the advice landed and inspired change.   Special Guest:...

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, Gary Shteyngart, Amy Purdy, Michael Ian Black, Brandon Stanton, Martha Beck, and Glennon Doyle Melton.

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 Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

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.elizabethgilbert.com.

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 Gilbert, please visit: www.elizabethgilbert.com.

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.elizabethgilbert.com.

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.

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.

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.elizabethgilbert.com.

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.

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.elizabethgilbert.com.

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.

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.elizabethgilbert.com.

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: www.elizabethgilbert.com.