The Year for Irrational Hope: Bruce Feiler on Navigating a “Lifequake”

About this episode

Leah Smart interviews Bruce Feiler about navigating life transitions and the concept of irrational hope.

In the first episode of our January series, The Year for Irrational Hope, Leah Smart sits down with bestselling author Bruce Feiler about lifequakes – the major transitions that upend our lives, whether we choose them or not. From career changes and relationships to loss, parenthood, and global uncertainty, Bruce explains why expecting a linear life creates so much stress, and why most of us are actually in transition far more often than we realize. They explore the three equally nonlinear phases of change: the long goodbye, the messy middle, and the new beginning, and why hope isn’t blind optimism, but a learnable skill. Bruce also shares how rituals, the focus of his upcoming book, can help us reconnect and heal collectively during uncertain times. This conversation offers a clear reframe for anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone. Follow Bruce Feiler on LinkedIn and find his book “Life is in the Transitions” here. For more from Leah Smart while Everyday Better goes on hiatus, follow her on Substack, LinkedIn and Instagram.

People in this episode

Host: Leah Smart

Guest: Bruce Feiler

Topics covered

• life transitions
• hope
• mental health
• rituals
• career changes
• parenthood

Keywords

• lifequake
• nonlinear change
• stress
• collective healing
• optimism

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Life is in the Transitions

More episodes of Everyday Better with Leah Smart

• Welcome to Everyday Better! · March 2, 2026 · 3 min
• The Best of Everyday Better: Your Starter Kit for Creating Positive Change · February 3, 2026 · 59 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Dan Harris on Training the Mind Through Meditation · January 27, 2026 · 45 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Gabby Bernstein on Accessing Unshakable Faith · January 20, 2026 · 39 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Debbie Millman on the 10-Year Plan · January 13, 2026 · 36 min
• Wintering: How to Weather Difficult Times · December 30, 2025 · 45 min