How Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose Help Us Heal with Suzan Song

How Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose Help Us Heal with Suzan Song

July 29, 2026 · 49 min · Episode 350

About this episode

Dr. Suzan Song discusses her framework for healing through narrative, ritual, and purpose.

What if resilience isn't about grit at all? Dr. Suzan Song—psychiatrist, anthropologist, and author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal—has spent decades studying survivors of war, trafficking, displacement, and personal loss to understand why some people flourish despite unimaginable adversity. In this episode, she shares her framework for healing through narrative, ritual, and purpose—the "Three Friends of Winter." Guy and Suzan explore the stories we tell ourselves, the rituals that ground us, and why healing happens through belonging, not isolation. This conversation will change the way you think about suffering, resilience, and what it means to truly heal. -- Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable. With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy’s questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture…

People in this episode

Host: Guy Kawasaki

Guest: Suzan Song

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Why We Suffer and How We Heal

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