What Could Go Right?
The Surprising Ritual Renaissance | with Bruce Feiler
Published: 27 May 2026 at 07:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
What happens when the traditional ways we gather and mourn start to disappear?
Bestselling author Bruce Feiler joins host Zachary Karabell to discuss his latest book, A Time to Gather, and explore the modern celebration recession. Instead of yielding to isolation, Feiler reveals a surprising grassroots renaissance of human connection happening right now.
Feiler shares deeply personal stories, from navigating his father's funeral to establishing a meaningful family ritual following the recent loss of his sister-in-law. Karabell and Feiler also discuss the dual nature of social media, highlighting how it acts as an amplification tool that helps democratize new traditions, like hospital honor walks for organ donors and even Taylor Swift-themed divorce parties.
While acknowledging the very real threats of loneliness and the isolating effects of our digital lives, Feiler explains why he remains optimistic about our collective future.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
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