Care Is the Glue Holding Us Together (with Elissa Strauss)

Back in our #1 most-listened episode, we explored one of life's biggest questions: Should I have kids?  with Keltie Maguire. That conversation on choosing to become a parent—or remain childfree—sparked something deeper. Beneath it was a bigger, more collective question:

How do we value care in our lives and in our world—no matter what path we choose?

This week’s episode with Elissa Strauss, author of When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, is a continuation of that converstaion. But instead of focusing on the decision to have children, we zoom out to look at care itself—as a force that shapes every relationship, every system, and every corner of society.

We often think of care as private—something we do in the home or within our families. But what if care is actually public infrastructure? What if it’s the spiritual, cultural, and political glue that holds us together?

“Care isn’t a picnic with a gingham blanket. It’s gritty, complex, and essential—and it deserves respect and support.” — Elissa Strauss

In a world fraying at the seams, we need to radically rethink care. Not just as emotional labor or a domestic duty, but as the foundation of a functional society.

Elissa and I talk about how our culture often devalues care because it doesn’t generate profit. It’s quiet, unmeasurable, often invisible. But it is absolutely essential. And when we treat care as optional or sentimental, the consequences ripple through every part of life—from overwhelmed parents to unsupported elders to frayed communities.

“We can’t care alone. Care is big, messy, and deeply human—and we need community and structure to support it.” — Elissa Strauss

This isn’t just about parenting. It’s not just about choosing kids or not. It’s about recognizing care as a universal human need. Whether you’re caring for a partner, a friend, a neighbor, or yourself—this is work that deserves support, visibility, and value.

We’re conditioned to believe we should go it alone. That independence is the goal. But the truth is, we are all shaped by the care we receive and the care we offer. And when we start to honor that truth—when we build policies, communities, and relationships around it—we begin to imagine a more connected, livable future.

This episode is a call to action: to reframe care as the spiritual path, the political necessity, and the cultural glue that binds us. 

🎧 Listen to the full episode
🧡 Support care advocacy: Caring Across Generations