In this special two-part 100th episode, you’ll hear something a little different—the everyday, deeply human stories of the people closest to me.

From navigating the loss of a husband to the tender uncertainty of leaving home for college. From launching a business to discovering a passion for a sport you never imagined trying at 50. From the journey of growing from boy to man, to finding resilience after heartbreak, to the quiet but powerful work of building strong friendships.

These are not famous voices or household names—and that is exactly the point.

Because cracking open doesn’t belong to the extraordinary few.
It belongs to all of us.

My hope is that somewhere in these conversations, you hear yourself. You hear your own story. And maybe, just maybe, you feel a little less alone in yours.

But to understand why this episode means so much to me, you have to know a little about the journey that brought us here.

One Hundred Episodes

One hundred episodes.
I still have to pinch myself writing those words.

When I started this podcast, I had one question I couldn’t stop thinking about:

What is your cracking open moment—and how did it change you forever?

I had no idea that question would lead me to 99 of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever had the privilege of sitting with.

From Jodie Patterson and David Nichtern, who said yes when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing… to Fr. Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, Mary Pipher, Shaka Senghor, Elizabeth Lesser, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Dan Siegel, Terry Real, Dr. Lisa Miller, Tami Simon, Dr. Ellen Langer, Cory Richards, Suneel Gupta, and so many more whose wisdom has changed me forever.

Guests who overcame heroin addiction, grief, incarceration, and unimaginable loss. Guests who returned a second time because one conversation wasn’t enough. Guests who became dear friends.

Every one of those 99 guests trusted me with their cracking open stories—with their vulnerability, wisdom, and kindness—and they will forever be woven into the fabric of this podcast.

And for that, I am deeply grateful.

Because here’s the truth:
I’m not Joe Rogan.
I’m not Mel Robbins.
I’m not a celebrity who decided to start a podcast.

So every single time someone said yes to me—trusted me with their time and their story—I jumped up in pure joy.

Coming Home

For episode 100, I wanted to do something that felt true to why I started this podcast in the first place.

So I turned to the people who know me best—and asked them the same question I’ve asked every guest:

What was your cracking open moment?

You’ll hear from my husband of 22 years, Adam Carroll, my son Tommy Carroll, my daughter Cora Carroll, and my brother Leo Rowen.

You’ll also hear from the friends who have held me together for decades.

Charlotte Hardwick, René Mitchell, Lisa Bermudez, Noelle Teuber, and Bowen Teuber.

My Team

And none of this would exist without my team.

Natalie, Kevin, and Chloe: this is yours too.

Ninety-nine episodes of strangers who became teachers, teachers who became friends, and stories that cracked me wide open in ways I never expected.

And now episode 100—coming home to the people who have been cracking me open my entire life without even knowing it.

It feels exactly right.

If this episode moves you, please share it with someone you love.
And if you haven’t yet, subscribe so you never miss a Cracking Open moment.

We’re just getting started.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

As we approach our 100th episode, I’ve been revisiting a few conversations that have stayed with me long after the microphones were turned off.

Bill Valentine’s episode was re-released because of the way he shared heart-centered, real-life wisdom while facing the end of his life. And today, I’m re-releasing my conversation with Serena Dugan for a different—but equally powerful—reason.

Over the years, people have stopped me on the streets of my hometown of Bend to tell me that Serena’s words gave them the courage to finally write the book that had been living inside them… or to leave a corporate job and start a small design company to help people feel more alive in their homes.

These two episodes remind us that our "cracking open" moments come in many forms. Sometimes they arrive through confronting mortality, and sometimes they arrive through choosing to trust our creativity and make brave, life-altering changes.

Serena is a beacon of authenticity and creative courage. She is an artist and textile designer based in Sausalito, California. With a background in both psychology and fine art, Serena has spent over 20 years shaping her voice as a painter, product designer, and the Chief Creative Officer of Serena & Lily, the home and lifestyle brand she founded in 2004.

In 2020, she launched Serena Dugan Studio, her namesake collection of fabrics and wallpapers. Her art-driven textiles draw inspiration from around the world—from the breezy jet-set spirit of Capri in the ’50s, to South American basket-weaving traditions, to the colorful mid-century architecture of Mexico City. Most recently, Serena collaborated with Erik Lindstrom on a line of rugs inspired by her artwork.

In our conversation, we explore what it really means to trust your creative instincts, make decisions from your inner knowing, release ego, and find your way forward through grief and loss. This episode is both grounded and expansive—a reminder that creativity lives within all of us when we remain open to change and willing to listen to ourselves.

Serena also speaks honestly about the value of making mistakes, starting over, and remembering that our achievements do not define who we are. As she so beautifully shares:

This conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that our creative work, our businesses, and our accomplishments are simply vehicles. The true masterpiece is how we love and connect with others along the way.

If you’ve been waiting for permission to start that project, make that change, or trust the creative voice that’s been quietly calling you forward—let this episode be your catalyst.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

🌱 Please consider supporting the Cracking Open podcast on Patreon.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Serena Dugan:

Website | Instagram

Molly Carroll:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Now accepting new therapy clients!
Learn more or schedule a session here.

In times of uncertainty, we need reminders of what truly matters. Today’s episode is a profound lesson in hope, love, and perspective—one that gently calls us back to presence, connection, and grace.

This is a re-release of my conversation with Bill Valentine, who passed away peacefully at home on October 21, 2022. I felt deeply called to bring this episode forward again. It’s exactly what we need right now.

This conversation isn’t about fear or loss—it’s about living without regret, being fully present because life is fleeting, and holding hope for the future.

Many people say the most precious gift we can give is our time. Bill understood this in a way few ever do. When we recorded this episode, he was living with stage four terminal pancreatic cancer, and he chose to spend some of his remaining time with us.

Bill was the only guest I’ve ever interviewed without doing extensive research beforehand. I wanted to meet him heart to heart. As it turns out, that choice mirrored one of his greatest realizations: who we truly are has nothing to do with what we’ve accomplished.

Bill was a husband and a father of four boys. His focus had narrowed to what mattered most—love, relationships, and presence.

In this conversation, Bill shares what his days looked like, what cancer was teaching him, and the lessons he wanted his sons to carry forward. He speaks openly about participating in his own living funeral—receiving love, hearing how he mattered, and discovering that he was, and always had been, enough.

He also shares how psilocybin treatment helped him come to terms with his diagnosis and arrive at a simple, powerful truth: the meaning of life is to give and receive love. This is the legacy he left behind.

Bill was one of the greatest teachers to ever join Cracking Open. His wisdom, humility, and open heart continue to ripple outward.

Rest in peace, Bill.
Thank you for everything you taught us.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

Love,
Molly

🌱 Please consider supporting the Cracking Open podcast on Patreon.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Molly Carroll:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Now accepting new therapy clients!
If you’re feeling stuck, navigating change, or craving more purpose and peace, I’d love to support you. Learn more or schedule a session here.