Daniel Radcliffe, Mariska Hargitay and the Happiest List on Earth
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In this deeply moving episode of The Daily, host Michael Barbaro explores the global phenomenon of the play *Every Brilliant Thing*, currently starring Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway. The show, a deeply personal and interactive performance about coping with depression through the creation of a list of 'brilliant things' in life, has become a worldwide antidote to despair. Radcliffe shares how the role—requiring him to engage with audiences before the show even begins—has been a liberating experience, allowing him to shed the persona of a famous actor and connect authentically with strangers. The episode delves into the show’s origins by creator Duncan Macmillan, who recounts how a simple monologue evolved into a participatory masterpiece after being inspired by comedian Johnny Donohoe’s crowd work. Through interviews with performers from Nairobi to the USS George H.W. Bush, from Seoul to Dhaka, the episode reveals how the play has sparked profound emotional breakthroughs, including people sharing suicidal thoughts and finding hope, and even inspiring new careers in mental health counseling. As Radcliffe prepares to hand the role over to Mariska Hargitay—her Broadway debut—the episode closes with Hargitay reflecting on her own journey of healing through her documentary *My Mom Jane*, and how the play’s message of connection, joy, and resilience resonates with her life. The episode is a testament to the transformative power of art, community, and the simple act of noticing beauty in everyday life.
Creating a personal list of 'brilliant things' in life can be a powerful tool for coping with depression and finding meaning.
Audience participation in *Every Brilliant Thing* is not just theatrical—it’s therapeutic, fostering real human connection and shared vulnerability.
The show’s global success stems from its ability to find universal emotional truths in deeply personal stories.
Authentic human connection, especially in moments of pain, is one of the most healing forces in the world.
Art can be both a mirror and a catalyst—reflecting personal trauma while inspiring real change and new beginnings.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Moving Guide and the Weight of the World
The episode opens with a promotional segment from Wirecutter offering practical moving tips, before transitioning to a reflective tone about the heaviness of current global events—war, inflation, AI—setting the stage for a rare moment of joy.
The Birth of a Global Phenomenon
“I was genuinely awash in both of those feelings, I had just left a theater in midtown Manhattan where I had seen something unlike anything I'd ever seen before.”
Daniel Radcliffe’s Journey into the Play
“I don't get to walk into a huge crowded room of people with my hat off and no glasses and not trying to, you know, not trying to hide, which is normally my MO when I go through the rest of my life.”
The Power of Kindness and Connection
“When I'm sad, I still work on my list. And I just like started crying. It was so beautiful.”
The Global Reach of a Single List
“She told me the show changed her mind. The very next month, she organized a performance in her own drawing room for her friends and family.”
“There's just these little moments now that are so sacred. I have a new lens right now, so I'm going into something that is so joyful, even though the premise of the play, there's so much pain there.”
“I was genuinely awash in both of those feelings, I had just left a theater in midtown Manhattan where I had seen something unlike anything I'd ever seen before.”
“You don't have to be funny. You don't have to be clever. If you are those things, that's a great bonus. The only thing you have to be to make the show work is kind.”
Host
Guests
Every Brilliant Thing
media
Daniel Radcliffe
person
Michael Barbaro
person
Mariska Hargitay
person
Duncan Macmillan
person
The New York Times
organization
My Mom Jane
media
USS George H.W. Bush
organization
Johnny Donohoe
person
Nairobi
place
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