I believe that it is possible to experience hope, joy, and meaning, even when things are difficult. And I believe that the best way to do this is to connect—with one another, and with something bigger than ourselves.
My mission, as an author, psychologist, and educator, is to make this easier. To help each of us find our own strength and the courage to lift one another up. To amplify what is good in humanity, and to support the communities that bring out the best in us.
I believe that science and stories are two of the best ways to inspire self-understanding, empathy for others, and connection with a broader sense of common humanity. Through all my work, I aim to share my own awe about the human condition, whether that’s being amazed by how the brain functions or being elevated by our capacity to transform suffering into meaning.
I am a teacher at heart, and all of my books are based on classes I have taught at Stanford University. THE WILLPOWER INSTINCT was based on my popular psychology course “The Science of Willpower,” and THE UPSIDE OF STRESS began as “Living Well with Stress.” Even my 2013 TED talk “How to Make Stress Your Friend,” which makes the case that social connection is both a natural instinct and a source of resilience in times of stress, started out as a lecture for Stanford’s Introduction to Psychology course.
My latest book THE JOY OF MOVEMENT explores how physical exercise can be a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The book is at once a love letter to movement and to human nature, including our remarkable abilities to persist, cooperate, and experience transcendence. It, too, is rooted in my experiences as a teacher—I started leading group exercise classes as a graduate student in psychology, and it continues to be one of the greatest sources of happiness in my life.
I am passionate about giving back and helping others do so. Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, I helped create the Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training, a course now taught around the world that helps individuals develop greater empathy, compassion, and social connection.
I also take joy in supporting two causes that are especially close to my heart: education and animal rescue. Both of my parents were public school teachers, and my husband and I were married at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Learn more about some of my favorite non-profit organizations and how you can get involved.
As part of my mission to share psychological science with the public, I have enjoyed a wide range of roles, including serving as the psychology consultant for The New York Times Education Initiative, hosting interviews with scientists and authors for Public Radio’s City Arts & Lectures, and appearing on television shows such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Anderson Cooper Show, and CNN’s Vital Signs.
want to know more?
Members of the media, interviewers, and event hosts can find official introductions for Kelly, photos, and other useful resources here.
In January 2020, Oprah Magazine named Kelly McGonigal the first ever O! Visionary, people whose groundbreaking way of seeing the world mean a better future for us all. O! celebrated her “unabashed belief in human potential” and her ability to “transform scientific data into wisdom.” Read her answers to 20 Questions for 2020 Visionaries, including what makes her brave, what her worst habit is, and what the greatest gift is that we can give one another.
How I Work (Lifehacker's Interview Series): "We stole a few minutes of Kelly's very busy schedule (she did this interview via email on a plane!) to find out her best time-saving tricks, favorite playlists, and most inspiring advice."