About Changing the Channel

Welcome to the Substack bestseller, Changing the Channel—a newsletter from New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers about unlearning societal conditioning, living authentically, and how to actually change your life.

If you are stuck in some aspect of your life and feel like there must be a better way to live, then you have come to the right place.

Imagine you possess a remote control — like the one you use for your television — where you can choose to switch from the toxic, numbing, or self-defeating channel you are currently tuned into to another that is more aligned with who you are, what you value and the life you want to create. That’s what this publication is about: empowering people to change the channel on whatever is not working.

This is what I have done in almost every part of my life and I will share my journey with you here along with the knowledge I’ve amassed during in this process about psychology, sociology, faith + spirituality and other juicy topics.

This newsletter—Changing the Channel with Kirsten Powers—is at its core about change. You can change the channel on a relationship, a mindset, health, a career, a political party, and even a country. (I will be sending you missives from Italy soon.)

It is about the shifts we choose to make, those that are thrust upon us, and the changes we need to make as individuals and as a society.

Hi, I’m Kirsten! I left the (media) circus.

I'm a New York Times bestselling author who spent the better part of the last two decades covering politics as an on-air analyst, most recently as a CNN senior political analyst. I also worked as a columnist at USA Today for a decade and before that at the Daily Beast, covering politics, faith and culture. If you use Notes here at Subtack, you can follow me here.

My most recent book is Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered and Learn to Coexist With People Who Drive You Nuts. Jon Meacham called it "a great gift at an urgent hour," and Kate Bowler praised Saving Grace as a "courageous call to truth and love existing side by side."

Before beginning a career in journalism, I worked in government, the private sector, for nonprofits, and in New York City and state politics. I've been published all over the place.

I was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and live in Washington, D.C., with my husband, Robert Draper, and our precious fur-baby Lucy. I dream daily of my relocation to Italy, which I will be chronicling here.

How Does This Work?

By signing up as a subscriber, you will never miss a post—essays and interviews will be sent directly to your inbox each week.

By upgrading to a paid subscription, which keeps things running around here, you will also receive a monthly roundup of interesting articles, books and podcasts you may have missed along with updates on my life, ability to participate in the all the popular Threads, commenting on all posts and access to the archive.

Welcome!