Playing with Fire | Shannon Watts | Substack

"Fired Up" is now available!

Grab a copy at your favorite bookstore

Jun 17, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Dr. Maria Sophocles on sexual health in midlife and beyond

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Feb 9 • Shannon Watts and Maria Sophocles

29:16

Women in midlife are having the best sex of their lives

Here are five ways women in midlife and beyond can enhance their sexual health

Feb 6 • Shannon Watts

Live with Shannon Watts

A recording from Shannon Watts's live video

Feb 4 • Shannon Watts and Daniel Biss

24:53

What I learned about white women and activism as a gun safety advocate

People being targeted by ICE don’t need allies – they need traitors

Jan 27 • Shannon Watts

Most Popular

We've waited long enough: It's time to put public pressure on Democrats to act

Jan 29, 2025 • Shannon Watts

What to do NOW: 10 actionable ways to make a difference during the Trump years

Jan 22, 2025 • Shannon Watts

White women have 100 days to help save the world

Jul 22, 2024 • Shannon Watts

Decades of undiagnosed ADHD in Gen X girls created a “lost generation” of women

Apr 30, 2024 • Shannon Watts

My essays

Women in midlife are having the best sex of their lives

Here are five ways women in midlife and beyond can enhance their sexual health

Feb 6 • Shannon Watts

What I learned about white women and activism as a gun safety advocate

People being targeted by ICE don’t need allies – they need traitors

Jan 27 • Shannon Watts

The weight of the gaze: How beauty standards shape women across generations

It's time to dismantle the system telling women their value lies in their appearance

Jan 13 • Shannon Watts

Five tips to starting a meditation practice that will stick

How to find pockets of peace, no matter what is happening in your life

Dec 11, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Firestarters podcast

55:16

30: Meggan Watterson on what women's erasure from religion teaches us about our power

Listen now on your favorite podcast player

Jul 28, 2025 • Shannon Watts

28:17

[REPLAY] Dr. Pooja Lakshmin tells us how to avoid burnout

Listen now on your favorite podcast player

Jul 14, 2025 • Shannon Watts

36:18

28: Dr. Sunita Sah on how to practice defiance

Listen now on your favorite podcast player

Jun 30, 2025 • Shannon Watts

19:43

27: The story behind my new book, "Fired Up"

Listen now on your favorite podcast player

Jun 16, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Fireside Chats

Fighting the stigma around addiction with Lisa Kasteler-Calio and Doug Chapin

A Q&A with the leaders of the Matthew Perry Foundation

Dec 29, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Getting your needs met as a mom with Leslie Forde

A Q&A with the author of "Repair with Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom's Hierarchy of Needs"

Dec 26, 2025 • Shannon Watts

What to do when the rules stop working for you with Lauren Weiner

A Q&A with the bestselling author of "Unruly: Deconstruct the Rules, Defy the Norms, and Define Your Success"

Dec 22, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Leveling the playing field in women's sports with Heidi Smith

A Q&A with the author of "Play On: From Adversity to Advantage Through 140 Years of Women’s Soccer"

Dec 16, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Substack Live

29:16

Dr. Maria Sophocles on sexual health in midlife and beyond

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Feb 9 • Shannon Watts and Maria Sophocles

26:20

Jennifer Wallace on why "mattering" is the key to a meaningful life

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Jan 26 • Shannon Watts and Jennifer Wallace

31:31

Mikala Jamison on navigating wellness culture

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Jan 20 • Shannon Watts and Mikala Jamison

Learn about lovingkindness with Sharon Salzberg

Watch the replay of our live conversation

Dec 8, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Things that are fire

Things that are 🔥🔥🔥

What I'm watching, listening to, reading, seeing, and buying

Oct 31, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Things that are 🔥🔥🔥

What I'm watching, listening to, reading, seeing, and buying

Oct 17, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Things that are 🔥🔥🔥

What I'm watching, listening to, reading, seeing, and buying

Oct 3, 2025 • Shannon Watts

End of year roundup of things that are 🔥

As 2024 comes to a close, here are some things I think you'll love as much as I did

Dec 24, 2024 • Shannon Watts

Thursday thread

💬 Thursday Thread: What do you want your legacy to be?

It's not too late and you're not too old to shape your legacy

Jul 31, 2025 • Shannon Watts

💬 Thursday Thread: Who or what is bringing you hope right now?

Even in this far from perfect world, people are still trying

Jul 24, 2025 • Shannon Watts

💬 Thursday Thread: What's the best book you've read recently?

We're celebrating a milestone for "Fired Up!"

Jul 17, 2025 • Shannon Watts

💬 Thursday Thread: What makes someone a leader?

And what are your unique abilities?

Jul 9, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Recent posts

26:20

Jennifer Wallace on why "mattering" is the key to a meaningful life

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Jan 26 • Shannon Watts and Jennifer Wallace

31:31

Mikala Jamison on navigating wellness culture

Watch the replay of our Substack Live conversation

Jan 20 • Shannon Watts and Mikala Jamison

The weight of the gaze: How beauty standards shape women across generations

It's time to dismantle the system telling women their value lies in their appearance

Jan 13 • Shannon Watts

This is the year you find your fire

Announcing my new coaching program

Jan 7 • Shannon Watts

Top 5 posts on Playing with Fire in 2025

These were your favorite posts to read this year

Dec 30, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Fighting the stigma around addiction with Lisa Kasteler-Calio and Doug Chapin

A Q&A with the leaders of the Matthew Perry Foundation

Dec 29, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Getting your needs met as a mom with Leslie Forde

A Q&A with the author of "Repair with Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom's Hierarchy of Needs"

Dec 26, 2025 • Shannon Watts

What to do when the rules stop working for you with Lauren Weiner

A Q&A with the bestselling author of "Unruly: Deconstruct the Rules, Defy the Norms, and Define Your Success"

Dec 22, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Leveling the playing field in women's sports with Heidi Smith

A Q&A with the author of "Play On: From Adversity to Advantage Through 140 Years of Women’s Soccer"

Dec 16, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Five tips to starting a meditation practice that will stick

How to find pockets of peace, no matter what is happening in your life

Dec 11, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Learn about lovingkindness with Sharon Salzberg

Watch the replay of our live conversation

Dec 8, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Bring lovingkindness into your daily life with Sharon Salzberg

A Q&A with the world renowned meditation teacher

Dec 4, 2025 • Shannon Watts

Recommendations

Samantha Bee

Amanda Haas

Oldster Magazine

Sari Botton

The Open Heart Project with Susan Piver

Susan Piver

Changing The Channel with Kirsten Powers

Kirsten Powers

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts