Author Molly Barker is a four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete, the founder of Girls on the Run and a globally recognized role model for positive change. She was the recipient of the Daily Point of Light Award, given by President Obama and former President Bush, and worked with a bipartisan reform group in Washington seeking ways to bridge the political divide in Congress.

In this episode, Molly reads four of her wisdom stories from her new book and also talks about the wisdom she’s gathered in her life’s work.

Molly’s frustration at what she saw happening in Washington led her to put on a pair of red boots given to her by her daughter and embark on a cross-country adventure where she talked with hundreds of Americans about our nation’s toughest topics . . . politics, religion, race, sexuality, gender, parenting, and economics. Out of this came her Red Boot Way, a very intentional and “teachable” way of communicating, and her latest book, The Wisdom Stories, a collection that focuses on real life and real people, many of whom she met on her journey.

The readings – in order:

Gladys

In this wisdom story, people see the stark contrasts between two cities divided by a border and come to understand why a mother on one side might want to help her children find their way to the other.

“In 2014, after a year and a half working on Capitol Hill, I set off on an across-country trip. With no specific itinerary, I drove from town to town listening to Americans share from their own perspectives what was causing the highly polarized state of our nation.

“I was three weeks into the trip when I started talking with Gladys, the hostess at a restaurant in El Paso, Texas.

“Gladys pointed across the interstate: ‘That’s Juarez, Mexico, one of the most dangerous cities in all of Mexico. Violence there is so frequent it’s become commonplace, especially for women. You would be taking your life into your hands if you simply walked across the road and across the border. You will see the border police pacing along the Rio Grande. It’s very surreal.’”

[The rest of the wisdom story is on the show]

Dear Trump Supporter in the Baggage Claim Area

This is a wisdom story that unfolds to reveal what a stereotype masks, causing the author to lament: “Damn the media. Damn these stories. Damn it all.”

“I knew you were a Trump supporter because you had a shirt on that said Trump 2016.

“You were an overweight white man—in your fifties, I’m guessin’. You wore a baseball cap backward on your head, a pair of shiny athletic shorts, socks, and a pair of work boots.

“I saw you earlier on the plane as I passed you. I wrote the story of you in my head on the way to my seat—the story I read every day in the news—white, Southern, probably racist, uneducated, angry, and lower income. I’m not proud of myself for that.”

[The rest of the wisdom story is on the show]

Being Pretty

In this wisdom story, the author as a young girl watches her mother stop traffic to get help for their disabled vehicle and her only ammunition is her feminine flare.

“I remember when I realized my mom was pretty.

“She was 50 years old, one year sober and I was eleven. The year was 1971 and the two of us were driving to New York City.”

[The rest of the wisdom story is on the show]

Being White

In this wisdom story, the author takes a “knife to the gut” when her work is challenged, but rather than retreat and become defensive, she seeks to understand and makes a new friend in the process.

“After I shared my story and the many beautiful encounters I had experienced with literally hundreds of people from all facets of American Life, I asked folks in the audience, “Does anyone have any first impressions, thoughts, takeaways from what I’ve just shared.”

“As I recall, someone said, “Inspirational.” I think someone else might have said, “Courageous.” And then…HE raised his hand. I nodded to him. “Yes?”

“‘White Privilege,’ he said.”

[The rest of the wisdom story is on the show]