Brene Brown is an American motivational speaker, research professor, author, and podcast host who was born on November 18, 1965. She’s widely recognized for her work and research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership. She moved into the spotlight after delivering a highly-watched TEDx talk in 2010 where she summarized a decade of her research in a light-hearted and personal way. She continues to enlighten audiences with lectures, publications, collaborations, and, more recently, a podcast. She’s a six-time “New York Times” bestselling author and has also appeared in a movie! Let’s highlight her career and life on her birthday.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Casandra Brene Brown
Birth date:
November 18, 1965
Age:
58 years, 5 months
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Height:
5' 1"
Relationship Status:
Married
Net Worth:
$3.0 million
Background
American research professor Brene Brown’s full name is Casandra Brene Brown. She was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 18, 1965, eventually moving to New Orleans. The eldest of four children to Charles Arthur Brown and Casandra Deanne Rogers, she was baptized in the Episcopal Church but raised a Catholic. Brown has two children with Steve Alley, to whom she has been married since 1994. She eventually returned to the Episcopal community with her husband and children.Brown has three degrees: a Bachelor’s in Social Work, a Master’s in Social Work — both from the University of Texas — and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Work from the University of Houston. She continued her career in research as a professor at the latter’s Graduate College of Social Work. As a student and as a professor, Brown’s studies covered topics of courage, shame, vulnerability, empathy, and leadership to better understand the concept of human connection. She further highlighted her research in several extremely informative TED talks such as “The Power of Vulnerability” (2010), “The Price of Vulnerability” (2010), and “Listening to Shame” (2012) which put a spotlight on her work. She’s presently the C.E.O. of a professional training and certification program called “The Daring Way” which covers the same field of study. In 2016, the Huffington Foundation pledged $2 million towards a research chair in her name at the Graduate College of Social Work where she continues to oversee the training of students in grounded theory methodology and her lifelong areas of study. She is also a visiting professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.Brown regularly speaks at private events and for businesses. She has written several papers and books including six number-one “New York Times” bestsellers. She was featured on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2013 to discuss her book “Daring Greatly.” Brown has also collaborated on publications with fellow authors and activists such as Tim Ferriss and Tarana Burke, the starter of the MeToo movement. In 2020, Brown started hosting two podcasts titled “Unlocking Us” and “Dare to Lead”. She’s been the recipient of various teaching awards and was named one of the city’s most influential women by the “Houston Woman Magazine” in 2009.
Career timeline
She completes a Doctor of Philosophy in social work from the University of Houston.
She’s named one of the city’s most influential women by the “Houston Woman Magazine”.
She delivers two TEDx talks, “The Power of Vulnerability” and “The Price of Vulnerability.”
She is invited to the “Oprah Winfrey Show” to discuss her best-selling book “Daring Greatly.”
Brown hosts two podcasts titled “Unlocking Us” and “Dare to Lead.”
She publishes a book titled “Atlas of the Heart,” which was written to help readers with the language of communication.
A five-part docuseries titled “Brene Brown: Atlas of the Heart” releases on H.B.O. Max.
Brene Brown FAQs
Where is Brene Brown now?
Brene Brown currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two children.
Did Brene Brown have a breakdown?
Yes. In 2007, Brene Brown had to undergo intensive therapy while researching and writing about living a wholehearted life. She has since called this experience “a spiritual awakening.”
What does Brene Brown say about vulnerability?
Brene Brown describes vulnerability at length in her book “Daring Greatly.” She likens it to uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure — to the feeling of instability when one steps out of their comfort zone.
5 Surprising Facts
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She is a prolific public speaker
Brown has spoken at events for global establishments such as Google, Disney, and Alain de Botton’s School of Life.
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One of the most viewed TED talks
Her TEDx talk “The Power of Vulnerability” (2010) is one of the five most-viewed TED talks.
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She has recorded a lecture for Netflix
She recorded a lecture that was released on Netflix in 2019 under the title “Brene Brown: The Call to Courage.”
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She was inspired by Theodore Roosevelt
The title of Brown’s bestselling book, “Daring Greatly”, comes from a 1910 Theodore Roosevelt speech titled “Citizenship in a Republic.”
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She has starred in a movie
Brown was invited to appear as herself in the American comedy “Wine Country” (2019).
Why We Love Brene Brown
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She collaborated with Tarana Burke
With Tarana Burke, the starter of the MeToo movement, Brown created an anthology of essays titled ”You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame, Resilience, and the Black Experience” which highlights the experiences, interpersonal relationships, and the trauma of white supremacy as faced by Black individuals. Burke was also a guest on her podcast.
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She enlightened the world
Brown opened the world’s eyes to complex underlying issues such as the importance of choosing courage over comfort and opening oneself up to joy to enable better human connections. “U.S.A. Today” called her style of delivering “a mix of a motivational speech and stand-up comedy special.”
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She overcame unhealthy addiction
Brown has admitted to being addicted to a combination of smoking, alcohol, unhealthy eating, and the need for control during her time at university. She quit cold turkey a day after her master’s graduation and often discusses how this positively impacted her life.
Brene Brown’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | November 18 | Friday |
| 2023 | November 18 | Saturday |
| 2024 | November 18 | Monday |
| 2025 | November 18 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | November 18 | Wednesday |
