
societyOct 5, 20231:09:18pending
247. Kerry Washington on the Family Secret that Shaped Her
Get every episode summarized
Each time We Can Do Hard Things publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
Kerry Washington shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her parents finally told her the truth about a long-held and shocking family secret:
How uncovering the truth – as painful as it was – led Kerry to reclaim her self trust;
How the revelation made her the lead character of her own life for the first time;
Walking the line between protection and deception;
Breaking the cycle of gaslighting within families; and
How defying her father freed both of them.
About Kerry:
Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning, SAG, and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director, producer, and activist. Washington received widespread recognition for her role as Olivia Pope in the hit drama Scandal. In 2016, Washington launched her production company Simpson Street, whose projects include Confirmation, “American Son”, Emmy award-winning, “Live in Front of a Studio Audience”, The Fight, and Little Fires Everywhere. Washington is a lifelong activist and founder of Influence Change (IC21), an initiative that partners with nonprofits to increase voter turnout. For her efforts, Washington has been honored as one of TIME Magazine’s 2022 Women of The Year.
Washington released her first memoir, Thicker Than Water, which is on sale now!
TW: @kerrywashington
IG: @kerrywashington
Get every episode summarized
Each time We Can Do Hard Things publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from We Can Do Hard Things

One NYC Subway Killing: An American Rorschach Test with Anand Giridharadas
We Can Do Hard Things
Sep 29, 20261:19:21pending

(BEST OF) CHER: Life Advice We’ll Never Forget
We Can Do Hard Things
Sep 24, 202648:23completed

Stacey Abrams on Midterms: What's Going to Happen?
We Can Do Hard Things
Sep 22, 20261:07:09completed

(BEST OF) The Panini Generation: Caretaking Without Losing Yourself with Ai-jen...
We Can Do Hard Things
Sep 17, 202659:40queued