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.