About

Our culture has over-used (and mis-applied) the word “love” so much that it has lost a lot of its power and meaning. “Tenderness”, though, with the breadth of its nuanced connotations—from fiercely protective parental love, the intimacy of a lover’s touch, the presence of a friend in a time of crisis, an altruistic moment between strangers—offers us a fresh lens through which to approach caring for ourselves, each other, and the planet.

When we talk about tenderness, we’re not talking about watering down the truth or disregarding justice. We’re not talking about being “nice”, turning a blind eye to suffering because we’re afraid to talk about hard things—quite the opposite. Armed with tenderness, we’re able to face the challenges of life and the most important issues of our time with strength and compassion, hope and realism.

In The Anatomy of Tenderness podcast, mother and daughter writers Léonie and Sophie Caldecott examine the idea of tenderness in conversation with each other and with a host of friends and guests. Together we’ll unpack what it means, how we can cultivate it in ourselves, and how it could change the world.