Meghan O'Gieblyn
Writer and essayistWikipedia
11
MENTIONS
5
EPISODES
4
PODCASTS
Search complete. 11 mentions across 5 episodes found for "Meghan O'Gieblyn".
Oct 19, 2026
David WolpeGUEST
Mm-hmm.
Russ RobertsHOST
A conversation I had with, um, Meghan O'Gieblyn, and in that conversation I mentioned, as I often have on the program, that there are four ways to grow up and become a little more self-aware that you're not the center of the universe.
David WolpeGUEST
Mm-hmm.
Russ RobertsHOST
Religion, therapy, meditation, reading literature, great books.
Caroline Modarressy-TehraniADVERTISER
Listen to On Solid Ground wherever you get your podcasts.
David BrooksHOST
I think the essayist Meghan O'Gieblyn was accurately capturing parts of America when in her book, God, Human, Animal & Machine, she wrote, "It is meaningless to speak of the soul in the 21st century.
David BrooksHOST
It has become a dead metaphor, one of those words that survive in language long after a culture has lost faith in the concept." Yet here's the funny thing.
David BrooksHOST
According to the Pew Research Center, 85% of Americans say that they have a soul.
PJ VogtHOST
That place is a lonely place that I think everybody will visit at least once.
PJ VogtHOST
And this week, I wanted our entire episode to be an interview with a writer who I think has really captured what it's like when you're in that place after the second voice in your head has just taken over.
PJ VogtHOST
The writer is named Megan O'Giblin.
PJ VogtHOST
Her stunning new memoir is called Will and Attention.
PJ VogtHOST
Megan has a singular mind.
PJ VogtHOST
Can you say your name and what you do?
Meghan O'GieblynGUEST
Yep.
Meghan O'GieblynGUEST
I am Megan O'Giblin, and I'm a writer and essayist.
Russ RobertsHOST
Our email address is mail@econtalk.org. We'd love to hear from you.
Russ RobertsHOST
[upbeat music] Today is September fourteenth, twenty twenty-six, and my guest is author Meghan O'Gieblyn.
Russ RobertsHOST
Her latest book, the subject of today's conversation, is Will and Attention, A Memoir.
Russ RobertsHOST
Meghan, welcome to EconTalk.
Sarah BatkeHOST
Today, we have a very special episode to preview next week's Wisconsin Book Festival.
Sarah BatkeHOST
Uh, I'll be joined by festival director Jane Rotonda, who will talk a little bit about some of the event highlights, and then I'll be speaking with author Meghan O'Gieblyn about her book, Will and Attention, which she'll be discussing at her Wisconsin Book Festival event on October 16th.
Sarah BatkeHOST
Jane, welcome to the show, and thank you so much for being here to talk about the 2026 festival, which also happens to be its 25th anniversary.
Sarah BatkeHOST
[lips smack] Uh, before we get into this year's events, maybe you can give listeners a little overview of the history of the festival and kind of what it aims to do.
17 MINS LATER
Meghan O'GieblynGUEST
Mm-hmm.
Sarah BatkeHOST
So don't miss it.
Sarah BatkeHOST
Now we're gonna shift gears a bit and talk with one of the authors appearing at the festival this year, Meghan O'Gieblyn.
Sarah BatkeHOST
After leaving Evangelical Christianity in her early 20s, kicking an addiction, and building a life as a writer, Meghan O'Gieblyn was admired by her friends for having a strong will.