““You have to be open, you can’t just shut those doors; that’s not how you’re going to serve humanity in the best way

Researcher and author Brené Brown considers humanitarian and singer Dolly Parton a hero and a source of inspiration. The kindred spirits compare notes on vulnerability, leadership and love

Brené Brown says of music icon Dolly Parton: ‘From her songs, “Coat Of Many Colors” to working “9 To 5”, no dream is too big and no mountain too high for the country girl who turned the world into her stage, and me into… I don’t know! She changed my life, she really did.’ Brown’s admiration of her idol shows no sign of abating. ‘I woke up this morning and had a coffee in a cup that reads “A cup of ambition” [a “9 To 5” lyric] and I’m looking across the room at a 5ft 4in framed photo [of Dolly, naturally].’ We love and respect both these incredible women at ‘Psychologies’, so we were thrilled when they agreed to us sharing this interview, which appears on Brown’s Spotify Original ‘Unlocking Us’ podcast.