Elizabeth Gilbert on Purpose, Choosing Celibacy, and Befriending Yourself

Video Description

This week on Reclaiming, Monica is joined by Liz Gilbert, bestselling author of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and ‘City of Girls’, for a deeply personal conversation about solitude, self-compassion, and the courage to live outside expectation. Liz opens up about the liberation she’s found in celibacy, the radical practice of befriending herself, and the cost of female over-giving. She and Monica talk about loneliness, freedom, recovery, and what it means to say: this isn’t working for me. It’s a candid and soulful episode about grief, transformation, and the power of reclaiming your own life. And make sure to check out her new book ‘All the Way to the River’ out now! Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Liz Gilbert 00:35 A Deep Dive Into Grief and Self-Compassion 01:28 The Impact of 'Eat, Pray, Love' on Gen X Women 02:27 Navigating Life's Expectations and Self-Acceptance 04:59 The Journey of Self-Friendship and Loneliness 09:35 Embracing Celibacy and Self-Partnership 16:26 The Complexities of Female Desire and Societal Expectations 23:29 A Forensic Exploration of Love and Addiction 34:48 The Evolution of Creativity 35:09 The Urge to Create and Adorn 35:45 Spiritual Evolution and Survival 36:41 Memes and Modern Communication 37:06 Service and Transformation 39:15 Manifestation and Trust 40:44 Surrender and Control 43:20 Intimacy and Vulnerability 55:32 Compassion and Self-Love 01:03:12 Reclaiming Physical Strength Watch more episodes of Reclaiming: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJUnI6nPG8Em8EZyWhZ_C_2ZFS3T2hnO Connect with Monica: https://www.instagram.com/monica_lewinsky https://x.com/monicalewinsky https://www.facebook.com/MonicaLewinsky/ Connect with Wondery: Connect with Wondery https://instagram.com/wonderymedia https://tiktok.com/@wonderymedia https://facebook.com/wonderymedia https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky. #monicalewinsky #podcast