Kerry Washington:

Family Secret That

Changed Her Life

Task 1. Discuss these questions

before watching the first
segment.

1. Do you think resilience and

strength are innate or can they
be learned?
2. How do you deal with
adversity in your life?
3. Do you think it's important to
embrace both generational
trauma and courage?

Task 2. Watch the first extract from the podcast and answer the questions. (2:32
- 5:53)

1. What is the conversation about between Jay and Kerry?

2. How does Kerry view generational courage and strength?
3. What does Kerry mean when she says "the trauma causes strength"?
4. Why does Kerry say that her experience in this interview is different from her
usual interviews?
5. What does Kerry mean when she says there's a lot of complexity and it's not
binary?
6. Does Kerry believe that life is simple?
7. What do you think is the main message that Kerry wants to convey through
this conversation?

Task 3. Listen to the next extract and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
(31:17 - 34:29)

1. What does Jay say about the battle for truth?

A. Everyone experiences it in the same way.
B. It only affects some people.
C. It is a personal struggle.
D. It is a community issue.

2. According to Jay, what is one way people create a sense of safety and
control?
A. By being busy.
B. By avoiding work.
C. By taking risks.
D. By seeking help.

3. What event led Kerry to become less busy?

A. The end of her successful TV show.
B. Her marriage and children.
C. New information from her parents.
D. A change in her career.

4. Why did Kerry think she would have more free time after her TV show
ended?
A. She would no longer be the lead actor.
B. She would have fewer family responsibilities.
C. She would be less busy overall.
D. She had a fantasy about it.

5. What did Kerry realize about herself a year after her TV show ended?
A. She was not the problem.
B. She needed more downtime.
C. She was still overwhelmed.
D. She missed being on the show.

6. What is Kerry's approach to being busy now?

A. Saying yes to everything.
B. Avoiding cortisol spikes.
C. Focusing on passion and purpose.
D. Accomplishing as much as possible.
7. What is the main theme of the conversation between Jay and Kerry?
A. Coping with stress and anxiety.
B. The importance of free time.
C. The challenges of success.
D. The battle for truth.

Task 4. Watch the next part and mark the sentences true or false. (49:08 - 53:17)

1. Kerry talks about her relationship with her mother in the book.
2. Kerry's concerns and complaints in therapy were exclusively about her
mother.
3. Kerry felt that she was never who her mother needed her to be.
4. Kerry's parents were best friends with her.
5. Kerry's mother was diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic.
6. Kerry's parents went to therapy with her and her husband.
7. Kerry's mother was diagnosed with cancer for the first time during the
pandemic.
8. Kerry's relationship with her parents improved after they went to therapy.
9. Kerry's parents kept a secret from her to protect her.
10. Kerry's parents kept a secret from her to protect themselves.

Task 5. Listen to the next part and answer the questions. (1:36:27 - 1:39:39)

1. What is Kerry trying to unlearn?

2. Why does Kerry feel the need to sacrifice her own needs and desires for
others?
3. Does Kerry regret sacrificing her own sense of joy and goodness for others?
4. What lesson has Jay tried to learn, and how has it helped him?
5. How does taking care of oneself help in serving others?
6. Is taking care of oneself considered selfish according to Jay's perspective?
7. Can giving to others be a way of giving to oneself as well?

Copyright © Maryam Kiazymova.

The right of Maryam Kiazymova to be identi ed as the

author of this exercise sheet has been asserted by
her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
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