Molly Simms

Durham

Content Manager, Writer and Editor at Freelance

Editorial Director at Katie Couric Media

excuse my charisma (editorial director @katiecouric, prev: Oprah Magazine, @EW, @bust_magazine, @kirkusreviews)

Featured in: Favicon

katiecouric.com Favicon

msn.com

nytimes.com Favicon

huffpost.com Favicon

lemonde.fr Favicon

ew.com

realsimple.com Favicon

food52.com Favicon

shondaland.com Favicon

bust.com + 3 more

Articles

My Mother’s Life Lessons Haven’t Left Me, And They May Help You, Too

1 week ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

I lost my Mom — my best friend at the time — 25 years ago. She never met my wife or kids, so they never got to know her. They never got to witness the almost-mythic soulmate relationship my parents had, hear her laugh (which was more like a giggle), or see how excited she would get for the newly married couples she helped to buy their first home — and the delight she felt for them in all that lay ahead. Lynne Pitofsky was the most positive and joyful person I’ve ever known.
These Mindfulness Books and Meditation Books Will Bring Peace

1 week ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

Deeper mindfulness, balance, and joy all begin with cultivating the right frame of mind. We’ve all experienced those moments — a massage, a walk in nature, a church or temple service — where you’re attempting to achieve peace but our minds are too distracted to fully participate.
Teachers Are Vital — But Many Are Leaving the Profession

1 week ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

My dad used to whisper and remind me not to stare when we’d visit my maternal great-grandma. Even in my youngest years, I understood that Nan had a stub for a thumb because a machine had severed off a section when she took a job during World War II in one of our hometown factories. The way I heard it discussed back then, women worked only if they “had” to. Nan’s daughter, my Nana, had raised my mom and her four siblings while working full-time at one of the local dry cleaners.
Teachers Are Vital - But Many Are Leaving the Profession

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Molly Simms

My dad used to whisper and remind me not to stare when we’d visit my maternal great-grandma. Even in my youngest years, I understood that Nan had a stub for a thumb because a machine had severed off a section when she took a job during World War II in one of our hometown factories. The way I heard it discussed back then, women worked only if they “had” to. Nan’s daughter, my Nana, had raised my mom and her four siblings while working full-time at one of the local dry cleaners.
The Best Quotes to Live By, for Motivation and Inspiration

2 weeks ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

Over and over, I’ve found that the right aphorism, invoked at the right time, can help me manage the complexities of life. For instance, when I was trying to decide whether my family should get a dog, the pros and cons lists seemed to be equally balanced, and I couldn’t make up my mind. Finally I remembered, “Choose the bigger life” — and the decision became easy. We got a dog. Because of my respect for aphorisms, I’m always searching for more.
How Grandparents Are Shaping the Next Generation of Readers

2 weeks ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

I felt a pang one day when my 13-year-old daughter joked that she had a “stay-at-home grandma.” The implication — and the truth — was that my mom is a constant presence in her life and in our home. She’s there nearly 24/7, much more likely than my husband or me to fix dinner or drive our daughter to soccer practice. My mom does many of the things I sometimes think I “should” be doing.
Serious Fun, Serious Impact: What Camp—and Campers—Taught Me About Life

2 weeks ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

Each April, during National Volunteer Month, I think of my parents. They embraced the meaning of the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” My mom, Joanne Woodward, and dad, Paul Newman, were pretty busy people (as are all parents), but they always made room to help others. Their actions even resonated with me as a self-involved teenager; I was always struck by their commitment to community.
Revisiting the Ruins: What the Oklahoma City Bombing Teaches Us, 30 Years On

3 weeks ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

Last year, we joined forces with Katie Couric to make An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, a documentary film that premiered on HBO in April 2024 (and is now streaming on Max). It was created to shed light on one of the most devastating tragedies in recent history: when, on April 19, 1995, ex-Army soldier Timothy McVeigh took the lives of 168 people (19 of them children) by bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Today is the 30th anniversary of this deeply disturbing tragedy.
From Someone Who Would Know: The Best Protein Snacks and Meals

1 month ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

A few years ago, my boyfriend started weightlifting — a lot. I was suspicious at first: Was he gearing up to have an affair? Preparing for a role in a Marvel film? Aiming to bench-press me when I least expected it? But as I watched him lift heavier weights, get stronger, develop impressive shoulders, and generally feel better physically and mentally, I was intrigued about giving it a shot myself. Through my 20s and 30s, I exercised off and on, sometimes with real gusto.
If You’re Not Worried About the Future of the U.S., You’re Not Paying Attention

1 month ago | katiecouric.com | Molly Simms

The single most repeated question I’ve been asked of late as a cultural historian has easily been: “Have you ever been as worried about the future of the United States?” And yes, our present situation certainly calls to mind another grim moment in our country’s recent history. As Watergate began unfolding after Nixon was reelected to a second term as President, each day brought yet another revelation.