Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a researcher, author, and storyteller who turns studies of courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy into books, talks, and conversations about being human.
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Brené’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Random House
Random House
Netflix
Random House
Avery
TEDOverview
- From
- San Antonio, Texas
- Work
- Researcher, author, speaker, and podcast host
- Research
- Courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy
- Breakout
- The power of vulnerability, TEDxHouston, 2010
- Academic home
- University of Houston; University of Texas at Austin
Mini bio
How it started.
Brené earned her social work degree at UT Austin in 1995, her master’s at the University of Houston in 1996, and her Ph.D. in 2002. She became a UH professor that year. When she could not find an agent or publisher for her first book, she borrowed money to self-publish Women and Shame in 2004. Penguin republished it as I Thought It Was Just Me in 2007.
The talk that traveled.
Her 2010 TEDxHouston talk, The power of vulnerability, brought her research to a much wider audience. The Gifts of Imperfection appeared the same year, followed by Daring Greatly in 2012. Her books and talks connect research to the everyday work of showing up, facing shame, and building connection.
From the page to conversation.
Her work has also taken the form of the Netflix special The Call to Courage and the podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. In 2026, she co-hosted The Curiosity Shop with Adam Grant; its final episode arrived on October 8.
Where the work lives now.
Brené holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the University of Houston and is a Professor of Practice in Management at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business. Her 2025 book Strong Ground continues her work on courageous leadership.
Creditschronological, newest first
Books
- 2025Strong GroundAuthor
- 2021Atlas of the HeartAuthor
- 2018Dare to LeadAuthor
- 2012Daring GreatlyAuthor
- 2010The Gifts of ImperfectionAuthor
Podcasts
- 2026The Curiosity ShopCo-host with Adam Grant
- 2020Dare to LeadHost
- 2020Unlocking UsHost
Talks and screen
- 2019Brené Brown: The Call to CourageSpeaker
- 2010The power of vulnerabilityTEDxHouston speaker
Awards
Quotes
Courage over comfort.Brené Brown, About Brené
Her personal motto on her official biography page.
Trivia
- Before her academic career, she worked nights taking AT&T customer-service calls in Spanish.
- She describes herself as the oldest of four siblings.
- She calls herself a researcher, storyteller, and Texan.
Find Brené
Find her books, research, and conversations on her official channels.
Are you Brené Brown?
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