(BEST OF) Tracee Ellis Ross: Holding On to Joy In Hard Times

(BEST OF) Tracee Ellis Ross: Holding On to Joy In Hard Times

From We Can Do Hard Things by Treat Media and Glennon Doyle

March 17, 2026 · 1h 7m

About this episode

Tracee Ellis Ross discusses finding joy and authenticity in life as she approaches 50.

In this deeply moving — and one of our all-time favorite — conversations, we take a beautiful, funny, honest dive inside the “wonderful, dangerous” mind of Tracee Ellis Ross. As the world asks us to stay engaged without burning out, Tracee offers a powerful model for how to show up fully without losing yourself. This conversation is about love — not just romantic love, but the kind that changes everything: choosing yourself, holding fast to joy, building deep connection, and being in charge of your own life. Tracee reflects on approaching 50 and what it means to step into a new decade rooted in freedom, depth, and aliveness — not hustle. She shares the unforgettable story of her 50th birthday, standing in her mother’s dress, surrounded by her cauldron people, and singing, “I’m 50 and I’m free.” A true lighthouse moment for all of us learning how to stay whole while we show up. -Tracee’s go-to tools for quieting self-doubt and staying tethered to her truest self-How she made peace with not being everyone’s cup of tea-The story behind becoming “Fifty and Free” in her mother’s dress-Why she rejected the lie that women exist to be chosen-How to find your cauldron people — the ones…

People in this episode

Host: Glennon Doyle

Guest: Tracee Ellis Ross

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABC

Books & works: BLACK-ISH, GIRLFRIENDS

More episodes of We Can Do Hard Things

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast page.