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May 2025
1h 1m

Kerry Washington Opens Up: Mental Health...

Lewis Howes
About this episode

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Acclaimed actress Kerry Washington drops her Hollywood facade to reveal the startling truth about growing up with a family secret that shook her identity to its core. She opens up about the mental health battle that comes with discovering in her forties that she was conceived through a sperm donor—a revelation her parents had kept hidden her entire life. Through therapy, spiritual practice, and brutal honesty, Kerry transformed this family mystery into her greatest source of strength, allowing her to step fully into her power both on-screen in her new action film "Shadow Force" and in her personal life. This vulnerable conversation exposes how Kerry's mental health journey from feeling "not enough" to embracing her authentic self offers a blueprint for anyone seeking to break free from their own limiting beliefs.

Official Trailer for Shadow Force

Kerry’s book Thicker than Water: A Memoir

In this episode you will learn:

  • How Kerry transformed her family's shocking DNA revelation from potential destruction to profound healing
  • Why therapy became Kerry's mental health sanctuary where she learned to separate excellence from feelings of inadequacy
  • The unexpected way Kerry's eating disorder recovery opened her spirituality
  • How Kerry approaches marriage as a "third entity" requiring conscious investment from both partners
  • The critical difference between pursuing greatness from a place of deficiency versus from joy and purpose

For more information go to https://www.lewishowes.com/1768

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More SOG episodes we think you’ll love:

Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson – greatness.lnk.to/1767SC

Eric Thomas – greatness.lnk.to/1696SC

Sarah Jakes Roberts  – greatness.lnk.to/1606SC

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