Mighty Forces

Amanda Hirsch
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Mighty Forces is the podcast for people who give a damn — about other people, about the state of our world, and about prying this one wild and precious life from the jaws of fascism, white supremacy, and automated customer service menus. We'll go deep, and we'll get stupid, because the best conversations do both. In each episode, host and story coach Amanda Hirsch chats with smart, funny artists and activists, healers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, plus folks doing super cool work that defies easy job titles. You’ll leave each episode feeling lighter, less burdened, and with enough optimism in the tank to last at least seven to ten seconds.

  1. 12/30/2025

    How We Keep Giving a Damn: The Finale Round Up

    In the final episode of Season One, we return to the question at the heart of every Mighty Forces conversation: How are you continuing to give a damn in this world? Across the season, guests answered this in ways that were tender, funny, raw, defiant, hopeful, and deeply human. But there is a through line — we give a damn by remembering we belong to each other. Every conversation eventually circled its way back to connection. Over and over, guests revealed: The relief of being seen.The courage of telling the truth.The power of community to catch us, shape us, and call us forward.The longing to be a part of something bigger than our own striving.This finale gathers their voices into one collective super-cut of reminders about how we stay connected, purposeful, and alive in overwhelming times. What emerges is a tapestry of small yeses, honest truths, and the many ways we keep showing up for ourselves and one another. This is the love letter ending the season didn’t know it needed. Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    26 min

  2. 12/23/2025

    Fighting for Beauty: Finding Light in Dark Times with Philippa Hughes

    In this heartfelt reunion, Amanda reconnects with Philippa Hughes after more than 15 years apart. Fresh off a plane from Paris where she spent three months writing a book, Philippa joins Amanda for a wide-ranging conversation that goes from the trivial to the profound (just as the best conversations do). They explore what it means to age without giving up on life, the tension between caring deeply about the world versus caring only about ourselves, and why choosing to unpack your suitcase at midnight might actually be an act of self-love. The conversation takes vulnerable turns as they grapple with judgment, public vulnerability, and the pressure to always say the wisest thing. Philippa closes with a powerful manifesto: in a world that feels like an emotional assault, surrounding ourselves with beauty—and fighting for everyone's right to experience it—might just be our salvation. Topics: How we perceive ourselves and others as we age, and the importance of fighting against giving up on life rather than fighting age itselfMaking choices that serve your current needs or set up your future self for success (unpacking, exercise, and other daily decisions)Using social media as "exercising power" by sharing breadcrumbs of your work and thinking to build visibility over timePhilippa's honest observation about how most people only care about themselves, and how this shows up in one-sided conversationsWrestling with how to be authentic and show human frailty without being inflammatory or getting taken out of contextWhat it means to give a damn when the world feels like an emotional assaultFinding and fighting for beauty in everyday moments, especially during dark timesRecognizing that not everyone has equal access to experience beauty in their daily lives Episode Resources: Steve Job’s 2005 Stanford Commencement SpeechWe Can Do Hard Things (Song) by Tish MeltonThe Epic of America by James Truslow AdamsArundhati Roy: ‘The pandemic is a portal’Fighting for Beauty (Philippa’s art exhibit) Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    55 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    The Magic of the Longest Table: Belonging, Agency & Everyday Connection with Venu and Maryam

    In today’s conversation on Mighty Forces, Amanda is joined by two extraordinary community builders: Maryam Banikarim, founder of The Longest Table, and Venu Gupta, who helped bring the concept to life in Chicago. Together, they explore what it takes to create belonging in a time when loneliness is on the rise—and why small, everyday actions still hold enormous power. Maryam shares the simple spark that launched The Longest Table during the pandemic which grew into an annual hyperlocal celebration where thousands gather to share a meal, meet their neighbors, and feel a renewed sense of agency. Venu reflects on what moved her from inspiration to action, the fears she had about hosting her own event in Chicago, and the moment of unexpected magic that happened during the first event. Their stories show how connection—real, human connection—still surprises us, delights us, and expands our sense of what’s possible. This episode is a reminder that community doesn’t require grand gestures—just a willingness to look up, reach out, and create space for one another. Topics: Why some people act on inspiring ideas while others don’tHow belonging is built through invitation rather than responsibilityWhy grace, curiosity, and trust matter more than perfectionThe quiet power of small, compassionate gesturesThe magic that happens when we stop treating each other like strangers Episode Resources: The Longest Table Community on InstagramTribe by Sebastian Junger  Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    45 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    When Creativity Meets Parenthood with My Friends Tim and Stephanie

    This week, Amanda brings together two wonderfully creative humans who also happen to be parents: writer and teacher Tim Manley, and artist and educator Stephanie Krauss. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay connected to your creative self while raising kids, navigating technology, and trying to be a decent human in this messy world… this conversation will feel like a deep, relieving exhale. The three talk about parenting, boundaries, doodling during Zoom calls, creative identity, technology’s grip on us, and the wildly surprising ways children end up becoming our own tour guides in life. And yes — Stephanie doodles through the entire episode (with Amanda’s full blessing), and she shares how doodling actually helps her listen better. We love a neurodivergent-friendly recording space. Whether you’re raising kids, raising creative work, or just raising yourself through another day — there’s a lot of heart, humor, and honesty here. Topics: The creative worlds behind Tim and Stephanie — including rocket-ship bedrooms and walls full of doodlesHow each of them approached becoming a parent (and how different their stories are)The fear many creatives have about losing themselves after having kidsThe surprising ways children change (and expand) our creativityWhy doodling is a powerful focus tool — not a distractionThe complexities of screen time, technology, and media literacyWhy adults struggle with technology just as much as kidsThe importance of “doing whatever works” when the world feels heavyHow to put your own oxygen mask on firstTiny, doable micro-practices to replenish yourselfLetting yourself be weird, honest, and creatively alive in everyday spaces — even beige cubicles Episode Resources: Who Does She Think She Is? Documentary  Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    1h 3m

  5. 11/25/2025

    My Origin Story (and a bit from my book, Improvising Adulthood)

    In this special Thanksgiving-week solo episode, Amanda invites listeners into a more intimate corner of her story. She reads from her book Improvising Adulthood: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me and shares the origin story that shaped who she is, how she thinks, and why Mighty Forces exists at all. Through scenes from her college years—loneliness, questioning, creative sparks, depression, and ultimately a reclamation of agency—Amanda reflects on what it means to veer off script, listen to your inner “yes,” and carve a life that feels true. She also closes with reflective prompts to help listeners connect to their own internal signals of belonging, misalignment, and possibility. It’s warm, vulnerable, funny, and full of the signature mix of depth and silliness that draws the Mighty Forces community together. Topics: Amanda’s unexpectedly rough transition from high school to collegeFeeling like an outsider at Penn and the loneliness of not finding her peopleThe long-distance relationship that made sense to her (but maybe not to everyone else)How switching to an English major unlocked joy, creativity, and self-trustThe plays she wrote that helped her find her voice (and fun!) againThe independent study that planted lifelong themes: intentionality, agency, and serviceBeing honored for doing things her own way and what that taught herWhy following your inner “yes” is messy, meaningful, and freeing Resources Mentioned: Buy my book, Improvising AdulthoodZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    23 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    Pebbles, Pugs & Purpose: Finding Joy in Service with Kimberly Wilson and Michelle Hynes

    In this episode of Mighty Forces, Amanda reunites with longtime friends Kimberly Wilson and Michelle Hynes, two women whose lives embody creativity, compassion, and service. The three first met decades ago at Kimberly’s beloved Tranquil Space Yoga studio in Washington, D.C.—a place that sparked deep friendships, activism, and the founding of the Tranquil Space Foundation. Throughout the episode, they explore what it means to give a damn in a world that can feel overwhelming: how acts of service evolve over a lifetime, how creative expression and giving intersect, and why taking care of our nervous systems matters as much as caring for others. From Kimberly’s childhood obsession with turtles (and her $2-a-week donations to “the turtle lady”) to Michelle’s work with 99 Girlfriends—a women’s collective giving organization that’s donated over $3.6 million—the episode is a love letter to purposeful living, community, and the small acts that ripple outward. Topics: The story of Tranquil Space Yoga and the deep friendships it sparkedMichelle’s midlife move from D.C. to Portland and creating a more spacious lifeKimberly’s creative connection to Paris and how place shapes identityEarly awakenings to service—from saving turtles to serving communitiesFounding and growing Tranquil Space Foundation and Pigs & Pugs ProjectHow 99 Girlfriends amplifies impact through collective givingBalancing activism with nervous system careThe link between creativity, compassion, and serviceWhy obsession and joy can guide meaningful contribution Episode Resources: The Phillips CollectionTeaism Ila Fox Loetscher (The Turtle Lady)Ninety-Nine GirlfriendsThe Pigs & Pugs ProjectBorneo Orangutan SurvivalThe Jane Goodall Institute  The Center for Great ApesThe Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    57 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    Lean Into the We: On Connection, Creativity, and Collective Intelligence with Lisa Gates and Jay Moon Fields

    In this episode of Mighty Forces, Amanda Hirsch brings together two longtime friends, collaborators, and creative powerhouses: Lisa Gates and Jay Moon Fields. What begins with laughter over coffee mugs and shared birthdays unfolds into a layered conversation about what it means to belong—to ourselves, to one another, and to something larger. Amanda, Lisa, and Jay explore the tension between separateness and togetherness, and how both are necessary parts of being human. Through stories of art, ritual, and memory, they reflect on how we hold space for each other even when we drift apart, and how the work of coming home to ourselves is deeply connected to community. From Lisa’s insights on negotiation and story to Jay’s reflections on embodiment and presence, this conversation invites listeners to notice the threads that connect us, to soften into shared experience, and to lean into the collective “we” that holds us all. Topics: How Lisa and Jay first met (and why their memories don’t quite match)The lessons of Into the Woods and Greater MysteriesThe dance between separateness and togethernessWhat it means to be “behind your own eyes”How art and ritual bring us back to communityThe evolution of creative and professional rolesWhy belonging shapes the work we doThe wisdom of separating “the problem” from “the person”Remembering the collective intelligence that connects us all Episode Resources: Episode 1: Giving a Damn Quietly, Loudly, and Together with My Friends Neda and MollieTagliaferro Ceramics (Lisa loves their mugs!) Into the Woodshey, wait Podcast with Jay Moon Fields The Overstory by Richard PowersThe Hidden Life of Trees by Peter WohllebenThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    1h 5m

  8. 11/04/2025

    Curiosity & the Courage to Begin with Suzanne and Johanna

    In this warm and honest episode of Mighty Forces, Amanda brings together two women she’s long admired — Suzanne Ehlers, CEO of USA for UNHCR, and Johanna, a leadership coach and consultant — for a reflection on curiosity, competence, ownership, and what it means to give a damn in complex times. The three explore how curiosity fuels good leadership, how competence breeds confidence, and why giving people (and ourselves) the space to try, fail, and draft again is essential in both work and life. They talk about parenting as a mirror for leadership, redefining competence with compassion, and making peace with boredom, discomfort, and imperfection. This is an episode about spaciousness, integrity, and the courage to put the first draft out there on the page, in the world, and in our lives. Topics: How curiosity shapes leadership and creativityThe connection between competence and confidenceRedefining what it means to be “competent” in a post–hustle cultureTeaching ownership and responsibility through parenting and communityWhy boredom matters — and what it reveals about energy and self-awarenessEmbracing the “draft” as an act of courage and integrityBalancing agency with surrender and the art of sitting in discomfort“Making the red”: the power of slowing down and disrupting old patternsFinding joy and meaning even in pain and uncertainty Episode Resources: The Proust Questionnaire Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie Resources: Mighty Forces Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Instagram Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Mighty Forces is the podcast for people who give a damn — about other people, about the state of our world, and about prying this one wild and precious life from the jaws of fascism, white supremacy, and automated customer service menus. We'll go deep, and we'll get stupid, because the best conversations do both. In each episode, host and story coach Amanda Hirsch chats with smart, funny artists and activists, healers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, plus folks doing super cool work that defies easy job titles. You’ll leave each episode feeling lighter, less burdened, and with enough optimism in the tank to last at least seven to ten seconds.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Hirsch
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Mighty Forces
  • Show Website
    Mighty Forces