- Host: Anderson Cooper (CNN)
- Genre: Society & Culture / Mental Health
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Bottom Line: A deeply moving, vulnerable exploration of universal loss that proves sharing our grief is the ultimate antidote to isolation.
Podcast Origins
A Universal Look at Human Vulnerability
Where to Start: The Colbert Episodes
How to Listen: Take It in Small Doses
Final Verdict: A Compass for the Upside Down
The Birth of a Podcast Born from Loss
Professional journalist and cultural icon Anderson Cooper found himself in the depths of loneliness following the complicated grief of losing his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, in 2019. Seeking connection with another human who truly understood the weight of loss, Cooper shared a raw, heart-to-heart conversation with Stephen Colbert.
Colbert’s own complex history with tragedy served as an inspiration to Cooper, who realized he wanted to find acceptance—and perhaps even gratitude—for the losses in his own life. While sorting through his late mother’s belongings, he chose to hit record. And just like that, the All There Is podcast was born.
A Universal Look at Human Vulnerability
Even if you aren’t entirely familiar with Cooper as a broadcast journalist, or you disagree with the network behind him, this podcast transcends politics. It is a series of genuinely raw conversations about grief and how humans choose to navigate it.
While the lineup of guests Cooper interviews are all highly recognizable public figures, their fame only serves to enhance the show’s quiet refrain: grief is a universal experience that spares no one.
The podcast beautifully appeals to a variety of listeners. Some might initially tune in just to learn more about the inner workings of their favorite celebrity, but they will walk away with something much deeper. After all, grief is not an entertaining topic—it’s painful, mood-altering stuff.
For instance, the episode featuring Mariska Hargitay (the longtime star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) is stunning in the way it highlights how tragedy shapes us. While her insights belie many years of therapy, her story remains incredibly grounded and real. I have seemingly nothing in common with a Hollywood actress, and yet, listening to her story, I recognized her humanity. We were instantly connected.
Where to Start: The Colbert Episodes
If you are diving in for the first time, the best place to start is with the opening episodes featuring Cooper’s first guest, Stephen Colbert. In these installments, it becomes immediately clear that Cooper is comfortable being entirely vulnerable. He listens deeply to his guests, almost as if his own personal healing is fundamentally connected to theirs.
During these episodes, Cooper and Colbert develop a profound philosophy on why these heavy conversations are worth our time:
- Grief is inherently isolating: It cuts us off from the rhythm of the normal world.
- Shared grief becomes a treasure, not a burden: By speaking our pain out loud, we transform it from a weight that crushes us into a bond that connects us.
Cooper and Colbert model the exact tonic that modern humans are constantly seeking: the pure intimacy of knowing and caring about the loss of another person. These early episodes are deeply orienting, incredibly quotable, and the perfect entry point to the series.
How to Listen: Take It in Small Doses
My primary recommendation? Pace yourself. Grief is a heavy, unpredictable landscape, and trying to binge-listen to every single episode back-to-back can quickly become overwhelming. Because loss is so deeply personal, you may find that certain episodes act as powerful triggers, while others might not resonate with your specific experience at all.
There is an immense, collective beauty in the tapestry of stories Cooper has gathered, but you might only have the emotional capacity for one specific thread or color right now. Don’t be afraid to sample an episode, hit pause, and fully digest it before moving on to the next story. While grief can turn any of us into armchair philosophers, remember that not every guest will communicate their pain in a way that touches yours—and that is completely okay.
Final Verdict: A Compass for the Upside Down
Ultimately, All There Is serves as a compassionate compass for those moments when grief leaves you feeling completely turned upside down. View this podcast not as a daunting chore, but as a cautious, tiny step toward the very conversations that can change how you carry your loss into the world.
If you are unsure where to dive in, start with a familiar face or a story you already know. It might just inspire you to connect more deeply with the people in your real life. After all, if Cooper’s project proves anything, it’s that we are surrounded by people who understand exactly what it means to break, and what it takes to heal.
