Rosanne Cash: Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Storytelling Psychology with Robyn Fivush)

Recorded live at Emory IDEAS Fest in Covington, GA on October 18, 2025, this episode brings together Rosanne Cash—four-time Grammy winner, songwriter, and Americana icon—and psychologist Dr. Robyn Fivush for a conversation about how the stories we tell across generations shape who we become. Rosanne shares the story of “The List”—the 100 essential country songs her father, Johnny Cash, gave her when she turned 18—and how a vivid dream involving Linda Ronstadt sparked her decision to leave Nashville and reinvent herself in midlife. Dr. Fivush unpacks these moments through the lens of psychology, explaining how researchers classify such turning points, or “crises,” and how Erik Erikson’s theories of identity and midlife development help make sense of them. Together, they explore the overlap between Joseph Campbell’s power of myth and Rosanne’s work as a storyteller, and Dr. Fivush discusses her landmark dinnertime study, which found that children who grow up hearing family stories at the table tend to become more resilient and grounded adults. The episode ends on a high note as Matt and Rosanne lead the audience in a joyful sing-along—reminding us that sometimes the best way to pass down a story is through song.