The David Magee Show

What if kindness wasn’t occasional—but a way of living? Kristina Joy Carlson, creator of Outrageous Kindness, joins me to talk about how everyday actions shape connection, relationships, and the lives around us. Find out more about Kristina Joy Carlson: https://outrageouskindness.com/ David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years out of college, they’ve built a New York–based talent firm—now expanding nationally—connecting top students and recent graduates with real opportunities. Hartwell Furr and Brenley Rinaudo are the co-founders of Hartwell, a New York–based talent firm focused on connecting top college students and recent graduates with meaningful opportunities. Find out more about The Hartwell Collective - https://www.thehartwellcollective.com/ David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Novelist Claire Gibson has spent years doing the part of writing no one sees—the showing up, the refining, the staying with it long before anyone pays attention. Now, with her novel Burst Into Song on the horizon, things are starting to move. This conversation lives in the long middle—the doubt, the quiet, the moments when it feels too hard. And why that’s often where the real work is happening. Gibson stayed with it long enough for the work to catch up. If you’re in the thick of it—still working, still waiting—this one’s for you. Find out more about Claire https://www.clairegibson.com/ David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Losing our son William changed everything. In the middle of that grief, I experienced something I still can’t fully explain—something that reshaped how I understand loss, connection, and what it means to say goodbye. Do the people we love completely leave us? Can they still reach us in ways we don’t expect? In this episode, I share that moment—and what it’s opened up for me about grief, presence, and the possibility that love doesn’t end where life does. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s one simple practice that can change your life, and it doesn’t take discipline, talent, or effort the way most habits do. It’s something we often overlook, but the science and the lived experience both point to the same truth: gratitude has the power to transform how we think, feel, and connect. In this episode, I share why gratitude is so powerful, how it builds resilience and emotional strength, and the real-life moments that proved it to me. From a teacher who changed my life to the people who showed up for my family in recovery, this is about learning how to look inward, speak it out, and change not just your life, but someone else’s too. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few words are more powerful than “I’m sorry,” yet those two words can be some of the hardest to say. Admitting we’ve done something wrong challenges the story we tell ourselves about who we are. In this episode, I talk about why apologies are so difficult, what psychology and neuroscience say about it, and why learning to say a sincere “I’m sorry” can repair relationships, restore trust, and even double the likelihood of forgiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many struggles stay hidden because of shame. Whether it’s an eating disorder, substance misuse, or just feeling like you’re the only one dealing with something hard, silence has a way of making things darker. In this episode, Kent, Mary Ivon Montgomery, and I join Tammy and Kevin as guests on their podcast Across the Table. They invited us to talk about faith, recovery, body image, and the courage it takes to tell the truth about what’s really going on. We’re sharing that conversation here because if you’re struggling, or walking alongside someone who is, bringing things into the light is often where healing begins. Across The Table Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/kh/podcast/across-the-table/id1843708720 David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few things more uncomfortable than taking a real, honest look at ourselves. For me, a fearless moral inventory meant facing lies, the shame, and damage. But after the pain comes remarkable healing — and joy. In this episode, Kent and I talk about why step four is so hard but why it’s the turning point. Real change doesn’t start when we blame someone else. It starts when we ask, “What’s my responsibility?” David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a long time, I thought the 12 steps were just for people battling addiction. What I’ve learned is that some of the most practical, life-changing lessons I’ve ever found are embedded in that process, and at the center of it all is something simple: love and service. In this episode, Kent and I talk about how helping others has a way of healing the one doing the helping. If you’ve ever felt restless, stuck, or like something’s missing, this conversation is really about finding purpose and having the courage to step into it. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Watch on YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people think recovery is just about quitting something. Just stop drinking. Just stop using. Just get it under control. But what I’ve seen in our family and in so many others is that recovery isn’t just about stopping. It’s about building a different kind of life. What once felt like a curse can slowly become something you’re grateful for. In this episode, Kent and I talk about what we call “romancing the drink,” that mental habit that starts long before the behavior ever does, and the shift toward thinking it all the way through. It applies to addiction, but it also applies to money, relationships, attention, and all the things we chase thinking they’ll finally fix something inside us. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Watch on YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a long time, I thought willpower was enough. I believed I could muscle my way through change, keep faith on a shelf, and pull it down later if I needed it. What I learned — slowly and painfully — is that stopping a behavior and finding recovery are not the same thing. Kent and I talk about ego, vulnerability, the spiritual path that so many people in recovery eventually walk, and why growth begins when we admit we can’t do this alone. It’s an honest conversation for anyone asking hard questions about healing, faith, and what truly sustains us. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Watch on YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recently lived through a storm that shut down our town, cut the power for days, and reminded us how fragile our routines really are. When the lights go out and the temperature drops, and your house is hit by a tree, perspective gets tested — and so does patience, fear, and old wounds you thought were long settled. In this episode, my wife Kent and I talk about what it’s like to navigate an unexpected storm — not just the weather kind, but the emotional ones that rise up alongside it. We reflect on marriage, past trauma, community, and the quiet ways resilience shows up when plans fall apart. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠⁠  Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Watch on YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January puts an enormous amount of pressure on us — to be better, healthier, more disciplined, more productive. If you’re feeling behind, distracted, or overwhelmed right now, you’re not alone. Most of us are trying to improve ourselves at the exact moment we feel least equipped to do it. In this episode, I share what I learned 15 years ago when my life had fallen apart: I didn’t need a new me — I needed a less distracted me. We talk about why resolutions often fail, why willpower is overrated, and how real growth usually comes through subtraction, not reinvention. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We tell ourselves the holidays are supposed to be joyful — full of warmth, family, and meaning. And they are. But they also have a way of bringing grief, loneliness, and unmet expectations to the surface, especially when you’ve experienced loss of loved ones. In this episode, Kent and I talk honestly about why Christmas can feel heavy for some, how expectations shape our suffering, and why letting go of the “perfect picture” can open the door to meaningful holidays. If this Christmas feels hard for you, you’re not alone. Heres how to make it better. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation ⁠https://mageefoundation.org/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sitting down with my friend Dr. David Weill, I was struck by the courage it takes to return to your past and ask a hard, lifelong question: Who am I really? In this episode, we talk about his new memoir, Tell Me I Belong, and the journey that shaped it—growing up in the Deep South as the son of a father with Jewish heritage and a Southern Baptist mother, in a home where faith was rarely discussed. That silence left him searching for identity, meaning, and a sense of belonging that wouldn’t come easily. This is a conversation about family, faith, and the quiet ways we inherit confusion, and how we begin to untangle it. If you’ve ever wrestled with where you fit, or who you were meant to become, this episode will stay with you. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Magee Foundation https://mageefoundation.org/ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kent and I share the story behind our shared journey that led us to launching The Magee Foundation, work we are doing together. The Magee Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community well-being through storytelling, education, recovery support, and collaboration. It’s the next step in the work that began and continues with our family’s own story. Find out more at mageefoundation.org David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays are supposed to be a time to exhale — to reconnect, rest, and breathe again. But for many young people, from middle school through college and well into their twenties, this season can quietly become the most dangerous stretch of the year. Structure fades. Old pressures reappear. Sleep goes sideways. Substance misuse and emotional distress often surge. I see it every day in my work with students and families — and I’ve lived it inside my own home. In this episode, I break down what’s actually happening beneath the surface and how parents can show up with steadiness and purpose. We’ll talk about the mental-health traps this season creates, why substance misuse spikes, and how to build healthier connections that genuinely protect young people. My hope is simple: to help you make this holiday stretch safer, calmer, and more connected for the young people you love. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve always loved Thanksgiving for its simplicity—no gifts, no pressure, just a table and gratitude. But the one year I sat alone at mine, I learned more about grace than any other holiday I’ve lived through. This is the story of how a box at my door reminded me I wasn’t as alone as I thought… and it helped lead my family and me back to each other. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I was younger, I thought 60 meant slowing down, maybe coasting into the sunset. But I’ve learned the opposite — this season of life is sharper, clearer, and freer to try and make a difference in the world. Today, my wife Kent interviews me and ask what turning 60 means and about second chances, regret, aging with peace, and the strange beauty of realizing you have nothing left to prove. It’s not a story about growing old — it’s about finally growing into yourself. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a time when my daughter Mary Halley and I couldn’t talk. Not really. Now we sit across from each other, laughing, asking questions, and sharing the hard-won peace that came from years of healing and growing. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to rebuild trust, the lessons that come with being parents and grandparents, and why keeping the conversation going is the victory in family. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you mark change? There’s a maple tree in my community that’s been keeping time for me all my life. Every fall, it’s the first to turn. Always early. Always beautiful. Always right on schedule. I’ve come to mark my years by its color, by the rhythm of its change. This story is about what that tree, and its brilliance, has taught me. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the eve of Halloween 2025, I talk about the things that scare me now—not the witches and monsters of childhood, but the real fears that come with being human. The fear of disconnection. Of judgment. Of forgetting how to truly see one another. But maybe fear isn’t only something to run from. Maybe it’s a reminder of what still matters. In this episode, I explore how we can choose curiosity over cynicism, grace over judgment, and how taking off the masks we wear every day might just help us find our way back to each other. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Families aren’t simple — even the strongest ones. In this episode, I sit down with my daughter-in-law, Lo Magee, to talk about staying connected when addiction, recovery, and grief have reshaped everything — from how we communicate to how we trust again. It’s honest and a little raw — because showing up, learning, and growing together is what makes a family. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I talk about what it really means to create something honest — not the shiny, perfect kind the world seems to want, but the kind that shows what’s real. Writing my memoir A Little Crazy taught me more about myself than any success ever could — even if the book had only been for me. Sometimes, as creators, that’s what’s needed. It reminded me that not all stories are meant to be polished. They’re meant to be true. Sometimes the idea, the execution, and the results are a little crazy — and that’s exactly how it should be. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I sit down with Alysia Lajune, who helps lead the William Magee Center at Ole Miss — the same center that carries my son’s name. Alysia's story is powerful, real, and full of hope. She opens up about her own journey through addiction and recovery, and how it led her to the work she’s doing now to help students find healing and purpose. We talk about what recovery really looks like — the honesty, the setbacks, the grace. Alysia shares how one person’s pain can become another person’s lifeline, and how small steps toward openness and understanding can literally save lives. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As parents, we all like to think we know our children completely. We keep up with their grades, go to their games, check their posts, and tell ourselves they’re doing okay. But sometimes, we really don’t know what’s going on. I learned that the day my daughter finally said the words I didn’t even realize I needed to hear: I need help. That moment changed how I listen. It reminded me that struggle doesn’t always look like struggle, and sometimes “I’m fine” means the opposite. In this episode, I talk about what it means to slow down, ask better questions, and make space for our kids to be honest. Because that’s when real healing and connection start. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about failure—the kind that makes us wince, the kind that shapes who we become. We all know what it feels like to fall short, but what if failure isn’t the end of something, but the beginning of something better? I’ve learned that the moments we fear most often hold the greatest opportunity. When we face them instead of running from them, failure can open doors we never knew existed. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One night after my son William died, I sat on his couch. I was alone. I was cold. I was afraid. I whispered two words, “Save me,” and something shifted. What I saw, what I felt in that quiet moment, showed me where my life was headed if I didn’t change—and where it could go if I did. That night taught me that prayer isn’t some practiced speech from a pulpit. Sometimes it’s just a whisper in the dark, a desperate pleading that’s enough to open a new path. If you’ve ever been lost in grief or fear and longed for peace, this episode is a reminder that you can find it—that even in the silence, you’re not alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I talk about what it means to take charge of your own story. Too often, we move through life feeling like characters in someone else’s script—reacting instead of writing. But when we stop and decide to name our current chapter, to rewrite what came before and imagine what comes next, we begin to heal and take back control of the narrative. I share how I’m living in my “Second Chances” chapter right now, and how even my son William’s story has been rewritten through the lives he continues to touch. You can’t erase the hard parts, but you can learn from them, revise them, and move forward. Wherever you are, pick up the pen and start writing your next steps forward to where you want to go. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I share the story of the last photograph our family of five ever took together. What felt like a moment of survival and reunion—a rare weekend of laughter, hope, and grace—would later become a reminder of how fragile and fleeting life really is. Looking back, that picture wasn’t about victory over storms, but about grace in the middle of them. It’s a reminder that every dinner, every laugh, every moment with the people we love is a gift we can’t take for granted. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I sit down with my daughter, Mary Halley, a mom of four children six-and-under, to talk about the daily hard parts and simple gifts of family life. From bedtime battles and school drop-offs to sweating through chores and learning to let go of perfection, she shares what it’s really like to juggle and celebrate motherhood in the thick of it. We also look back on the harder seasons—hospital nights, anxiety, and old wounds that still resurface—and how counseling, perspective, and faith helped Mary Halley grow into a calmer, more present mom. This is a conversation about chaos, healing, and the small moments of joy that make it all worth it. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I was a child, Sundays meant dragging my feet to church, fumbling with my shirt buttons, and mostly daydreaming about what was for lunch. I didn’t understand faith, and honestly, I thought the whole thing seemed a little crazy. Still, the hymns, the pews, even the orange juice and saltines—somehow they stayed with me. Years later, when I struggled with loss and addiction, those same sounds I once ignored came back as a lifeline. In this episode, I share how faith has a way of finding us, even when we try to push it away—and how what we don’t understand as children sometimes ends up being the very thing that saves us. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all fall for it—the idea that if we can just reach the next milestone, land the job, buy the house, raise the kids, then we’ll finally feel happy. But the truth is, “arrival” never comes. In this episode, Kent and I talk about how it’s easy for couples to get caught up in that myth, what it did to our family, and what we’ve learned now about finding joy in the present instead of chasing the next thing to fix it. We also get honest about the pressures men feel in their twenties and thirties, the exhaustion of achievement culture, and the disorder that can knock us off our feet. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck. Joy comes from something deeper—and sometimes, from realizing you may already have what you were chasing all along. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grace rarely comes gift-wrapped. Sometimes it comes as a jolt — a voice, a vision, a man at the bar whose scarred face forces you to see your own future. Today, I take you back to the night that set my recovery in motion. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and his pastor, Rev. Chris McAlilly, open up about the pressure men feel to “carry it all,” and how ego and stigma can keep us from faith. David shares his own story of doubt, family, and the impact fathers have when they choose honesty and vulnerability. Together, they explore grief, trauma, and the power of community. From answering the hard questions our children ask to finding recovery in the church, this episode reminds us we’re not alone—and that gratitude and forgiveness are often the first steps toward healing. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to keep talking with someone dear you’ve lost — to feel their story still shaping yours? For me, it means listening to and writing with William, my son. His absence changed everything, but his presence still guides my words -- and shapes my life. In this essay, I share how loss, memory, and love intertwine — and how conversation, even with those who are gone, can become a form of healing. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes the help we need most comes from the most unexpected places—a stranger, a friend, even a pet. For our family, it was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lady. After we lost William, there were few reasons to get out of bed in the morning. One of them was Lady, who insisted on her daily walks. Step by step, those early mornings became small but steady moments of healing as she pulled us along. In this episode, my wife, Kent, joins me to share the story of how one dog helped keep us moving forward. It’s a story for anyone who has ever loved a dog, or who knows the weight of grief and the surprising places healing can be found. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A grandfather and grandson connect through vulnerability—reminding us of the joy and strength found in generational bonds. And how to achieve those bonds. David Magee's Newsletter https://davidmagee.substack.com/ Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/ Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when everything you’ve worked for unravels on the very day your world collapses? In this episode, David’s wife, Kent Magee, shares the heartbreaking story of losing her son, William, just as she was discovering one of her true callings: teaching yoga. Her story is raw, unflinching, and deeply relatable for anyone walking through grief. Kent explains how, in the middle of unimaginable loss, her yoga community lifted her up. She didn’t walk away—she kept teaching, creating a safe space for others to heal even as she tried to heal herself. This conversation is about finding strength in community, using yoga as a path through grief, and discovering hope when life feels shattered. It shows how we can keep moving—even from our worst day. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for another season of the podcast, but this time there's a new twist. It's the David Magee Show. I'm David Magee. I'm a bestselling author, a speaker, but I'm also a husband, a father, and a grandfather. 13 years ago, I had lost it all. We had lost it all. But through faith and better connections with one another we found that we can have the joy that we all want and deserve. That's what this podcast is about. Living your best life. You belong here. We'll do this together. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Or watch podcasts. It's The David Magee Show. Come on along for the journey. David Magee's Newsletter ⁠https://davidmagee.substack.com/⁠ Follow on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidmageeshow/⁠ Watch on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@davidmageeshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the season finale of A Little Crazy with David Magee, David and Phoebe talk about how much they have changed since the first episode. David explains some upcoming changes to the show, and the irony in the saying “Never say never.” He also shares insights into his writing career, and gives a few hints about new projects coming up. Phoebe talks about what’s next for her, including a big move away from Oxford, and David gives her some parting advice for her next adventure. This finale is both a goodbye to Phoebe’s time on the show and a look ahead to what’s coming for both of them. PLUS: - What’s happening on Season 2 - What future projects is David working on - Sharing some impacts the podcast has made - Phoebe’s growth throughout the season - AND SO MUCH MORE! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoebe is joined by McCall Dempsey. McCall saved David’s daughter Mary Halley from her battle with an eating disorder, as she’s saved many young men and women throughout the country. She’s a strong-voiced national expert, and she’s on the board of the William Magee Center at Ole Miss named after David’s late son and a dear friend in this journey to help those in need. They discuss the impact of eating disorders, mental health, and recovery. From understanding the importance of supporting a friend or loved one, to personal stories of resilience, they discuss how to foster hope and healing in challenging times. PLUS: A closer look at diet culture How to help a friend/loved one Practical advice for navigating tough times How to ask for and find help AND SO MUCH MORE! If you or someone you know is experiencing an eating disorder, please reach out to the National Alliance for Eating Disorders (@alliancefored) by calling their free, therapist staffed helpline at 866.662.1235, visiting allianceforeatingdisorders.com, or texting "ALLIANCE" to 741-741. Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, David and Phoebe discuss how parents can best talk to teens and college students about sensitive topics such as anxiety, depression, drinking, and drugs. From asking open-ended questions to creating a comfortable space for conversation, this episode emphasizes the importance of listening over lecturing. Learn how to let go of control and give your child the space they need to share what's really going on in their lives. PLUS: A simple formula to follow The power of humility Modeling healthy communication How to build trust and open up lines of communication The importance of silence AND SO MUCH MORE! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoebe opens up about her journey to disconnect from social media and smartphone addiction. From the epiphany she had in January to the first few days of withdrawal, Phoebe shares her experience and the mental clarity she gained. The discussion dives into the impact of phones on attention spans, self-identity, and how constant connection has affected the way we live. They explore staggering statistics on phone usage, the growing anxiety that comes with being disconnected, and why we need to take smartphone addiction just as seriously as any other. PLUS: The truth about smartphone addiction today The struggle of phone withdrawal How silencing your phone might make things worse The decline of hobbies in the digital age Why smartphone addiction deserves more attention A memorable moment from David’s first book AND SO MUCH MORE! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From my years of work with students, parents and in schools and communities throughout the country, this is a deep look into what students face today and what can be done about it. From the overwhelming impact of social media to the alarming rise in substance misuse, we’re taking a hard look at how things have changed for the younger generation and what we can do to help. We'll explore why youth mental health is at an all-time low, how sleep deprivation plays a major role in anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms, and how loneliness is affecting college students in ways we haven't seen before. Plus, we talk about the dangers of marijuana, the growing potency, and how the rise of pill culture is putting teens at risk. This episode is packed with insights for parents, students, and anyone who wants to understand the mental health challenges facing young people today. PLUS: - The shocking statistics behind teen sleep deprivation - Why discomfort is leading to an increase in substance misuse - The dangerous rise in marijuana potency and its effects - The hidden dangers of pills and fentanyl in teens’ lives - The importance of counseling and early intervention - How to support teens with mental health struggles AND SO MUCH MORE!! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode of A Little Crazy, David Magee is joined by ESPN reporter and friend Lauren Sisler. Lauren opens up about losing both of her parents to overdose only hours apart from each other when she was just 18. She shares the deep shame, anger, and grief she faced, and how faith, patience, and vulnerability played a key role in her healing journey. They both discuss the challenges of sharing their stories, the stigma surrounding addiction and loss, and the importance of allowing ourselves to sit with our pain before trying to make sense of it all. Don’t miss this raw conversation on resilience, healing, and finding purpose after tragedy. PLUS: Shame and stigma Faith and grief The impact of loss on family dynamics The role of patience in healing Advocacy and moving forward AND SO MUCH MORE!! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David and Phoebe discuss the impact of money on mental health. David shares his personal journey from being broke 14 years ago to achieving financial stability, and they explore how financial stress can affect our well-being. They talk about taking responsibility, ditching shame, and shifting the way we view money to protect our mental health. PLUS: David's journey from broke to stable How addiction and money troubles are connected Transforming your financial life Taking risks and placing big bets The link between money and mental health What really matters AND SO MUCH MORE!! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of A Little Crazy Podcast with me, David Magee! Today Phoebe and I are discussing the wonders of ADHD, and why I love it. We’re diving into how ADHD has helped us become who we are today, the stigma around it, and how to embrace and love ADHD characteristics. Tell everyone you know with ADHD to listen because I promise you they can relate. PLUS: Our personal experiences with judgment from others due to ADHD The power of “no” The dangers and over prescription of ADHD medications Stigma in the school system surrounding ADHD The importance of not stifling kids with ADHD Our difficulties with school AND SO MUCH MORE! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, David gets real about his nightmare journey with Adderall and Vyvanse, sharing how what started as a way to boost productivity quickly spiraled into addiction. He dives deep into conversation about the hidden dangers of prescription stimulants, the illusion of control, and the price you pay when you go looking for a quick fix. This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered what happens when those “miracle” meds cross the line from helpful to harmful. PLUS: The unexpected consequences of prescription meds The slippery slope from productivity to addiction Why the "quick fix" never works How easy it is to accidentally abuse prescription meds AND SO MUCH MORE!! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of us have lost someone close, or we will. This months marks the birthday of my late son, William, who we lost far too soon. In this video, I reflect on how I live with loss and even grow from it, sharing how grief, while painful, has shaped me and helped me find strength and resilience. Losing William was my greatest tragedy, but it also became my greatest gift—and if you're living with loss, I hope my story offers comfort and hope. PLUS: How loss looks different for everyone How to keep moving forward Finding joy and beauty in the difficult moments Stories of tragic loss and the growth that came after Fires in California AND SO MUCH MORE!! Follow A Little Crazy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlecrazypodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alittlecrazypodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564371107764 Newsletter - https://www.alittlecrazy.com/ Follow David Magee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor X - https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer Website - https://www.daviddmagee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices