I Don't Know How You Do It: Recent Episodes
Jessica Fein
Meet the people who stretch the limits of what we think is possible and are faced every day with people saying to them, "I don't know how you do it." Each week we talk with someone whose life seems unimaginable from the outside. Some of our guests were thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Others chose them voluntarily. They'll share their stories of challenge and success and dive into what makes them able to do things that look undoable. You'll leave each candid conversation with new insights, ideas, and the inspiration to say, "I can do it too," whatever your "it" is.
In this extraordinary episode of "I Don't Know How You Do It," we dive into the story of Kristin Jarvis Adams, which is both utterly unique and also relatable in so many ways. Kristin shares the story of her son Andrew's battle with a rare genetic condition and how an unexpected ally - a chicken named Frightful - became the key to his survival and healing. This tale of resilience, unconventional communication, and unwavering hope will challenge your perspective on what's possible in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
You'll learn how to:
- Find joy in small moments, even during the darkest times
- Be vulnerable and honest about your struggles to open doors for support
- Allow your faith and spirituality to evolve during times of crisis
- Support others in ways that really matter
- Cultivate at least one reliable support person - your "3am peep"
- Actively seek hope, even in the most unexpected places
- Recognize that traditional communication isn't the only path to understanding
- Embrace the idea that 'normal' may need to be redefined in times of crisis
- Trust your instincts as a caregiver, even when they seem unconventional
Find more about Kristin:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Jessica Waite, author of the bestselling memoir "The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards." Jessica shares her raw and honest account of navigating the complex emotions following her husband's sudden death and the subsequent discovery of his hidden life.
Jessica's story is one of resilience, grace, and ultimately, hope. She offers valuable insights on dealing with betrayal, finding moments of peace in the midst of chaos, and the healing potential of embracing beauty even in our darkest times.
You'll Learn:
- Why anger can be a useful part of the grieving process, and how to recognize when it becomes corrosive.
- How to use being present in the moment as a healing technique.
- How to put yourself in the way of beauty.
- How to change your perceptions and beliefs, and why you might want to.
- Why there may be a time for some healthy revenge, and how you might find forgiveness, too.
- And so much more...
Find out more about Jessica Waite:
Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
In this milestone 75th episode, host Jessica Fein reflects on the journey of her podcast and announces a summer hiatus. As a special bonus for listeners, Jessica shares an excerpt from her memoir Breath Taking, reading a poignant piece about a memorable Fourth of July.
Is it possible to find a taste of normalcy in the midst of parenting on the precipice? Jessica wants to give it a try. But what starts as a simple outing to see fireworks turns into a night of unexpected challenges - from getting lost in the woods and temporarily misplacing her son, to an emergency surgery for her daughter.
Through this deeply personal anecdote, Jessica explores the complexities of parenting a child with serious medical needs while trying to maintain a semblance of typical family life. She touches on themes of guilt, fear, resilience, and the struggle to bridge the gap between her family's reality and the outside world.
This episode offers listeners an intimate glimpse into Jessica's experiences and writing, perfectly encapsulating the podcast's mission of diving into lives that seem unimaginable from the outside. It's a fitting bookend to the season, leaving audiences with much to reflect on until the show's return in September.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Does your life have a clear before and after? A single moment that changed everything irrevocably?
That's what happened for Heather Straughter.
In this deeply moving episode, Heather shares her journey of love, loss, and finding meaning after her son Jake's unexpected medical crisis and tragic passing. Heather's story begins when Jake was just eight months old and had his first seizure. From that moment, their lives were forever changed as they navigated the challenges of caring for a medically complex child.
Heather takes us through the 117 days they spent in the hospital, the search for a diagnosis, and the profound shift in her identity as a mother. She shares the joys and struggles of parenting a child with special needs, the incredible bond she shared with Jake, and the devastating loss her family experienced when he passed away at just four years old.
Through it all, Heather found strength, purpose, and a new perspective on life. She turned her pain into promise by founding Jake's Help From Heaven, a non-profit organization that has provided more than $1.7 million in grants to families with medically complex children.
Heather's story is a testament to the power of a mother's love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the possibility of finding light in even the darkest of times.
You'll learn:
- Why you should listen to the pit in your stomach
- How it's your right to question doctors and share what's best for your family
- The beauty of focusing on what someone can do, rather than what they can't
- Why the comments that make us mad and make us hate the person who said them can be exactly what we need to hear
- The value in sharing your journey, even -- and maybe especially -- in your darkest times
Learn more about Heather:
Jake's Help From Heaven
Jake's Help From Heaven IG
Heather on IG
Jake's Help From Heaven FB
Heather on FB
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
How many times in life do we completely reinvent ourselves? How different can our life look five years from now by making 2 percent changes?
In this inspiring episode, bestselling author Jean Meltzer shares her unique journey from Emmy-winning TV producer to rabbinical student to bestselling romance author.
After becoming disabled by myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), Jean had to reimagine her life and find new ways to create meaning and joy, even from her bed.
Jean discusses how she shifted from chasing external goals to living her values, and how focusing on small incremental improvements transformed her life over time. She opens up about the challenges of being a disabled author and the importance of disability representation in fiction.
Through her bestselling novels like The Matzo Ball and Mr. Perfect on Paper, Jean brings a much-needed perspective to the romance genre as both a Jewish and chronically ill writer.
Jean's story is a powerful reminder that we can face incredible hardship and still find ways to lead joyful, purposeful lives. Her insights on resilience, career pivots, and redefining success will resonate with anyone who has confronted unexpected roadblocks. Jean's message is ultimately one of hope - that no matter where you are today, embracing your authentic self and taking small steps forward can lead to a life beyond your wildest dreams.
You'll learn:
- How 2 percent increments of better can get you where you want to go.
- Why living your values is a better formula than setting dream goals
- How it's possible to create joy without even leaving your room for the long-term
- The power of the question "where are you?"
- And so much more...
Learn more about Jean:
Jean's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Substack: JeanMeltzer
TikTok: JeanMeltzer
Threads: JeanMeltzer
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
How can we use ritual to create a life of joy and meaning when our world is turned upside down? What's a no-bullshit zone, and how can we dress ourselves in psychological teflon?
Tune in to this conversation with Myra Sack, author of 57 Fridays, and find out.
When Myra's daughter Havi was diagnosed with a fatal neurodegenerative disease in 2019, Myra knew nothing would ever be the same. In this deeply moving conversation, Myra shares the sacred family rituals and "shabirthdays" that brought joy and holiness into their devastation.
With candor and wisdom, Myra opens up about creating a "no bullshit zone" to shield her family, building "psychological teflon" to navigate the outside world, and the profound lesson that grieving is a way to keep expressing love. Myra also shares why she founded E-Motion, a nonprofit ensuring community, movement and ritual as rights for the grieving.
Whether you're walking a path of loss or want to meaningfully support someone who is, Myra provides indispensable insights on:
- Inhabiting the "both/and" of grief and joy
- How our loved ones can tell us what they need without words
- The power of yearning over fear in grief
- Integrating loss through small, manageable ritual acts
- Why community is crucial, but so often lacking, for grievers
- How workplaces can become grief-literate to better help employees
- And so much more
Learn more about Myra:
57 Fridays
Instagram
E-Motion
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
With a book and top-rated podcast that are both titled "Grief is a Sneaky Bitch," you might get a sense of Lisa Keefauver's irreverent humor and area of expertise.
In this episode, we get all that and more.
Lisa has been faced with repeated profound loss and grief and is a powerful voice showing us how to confront grief head-on and move forward rather than "move on." In this conversation, Lisa opens up about her late husband's death, her own battle with cancer, and how she found light by becoming a "grief activist" who helps reimagine our narratives around loss.
With her trademark warmth and humor, Lisa demonstrates how we can hold both sorrow and wonder at the same time, not as a Pollyanna illusion but as a way to turn towards our darkest experiences. She shares profound insights on speaking up for our grief, finding community and ritual to make it suck less, and tools we can use to nourish our mind and spirit for the road ahead. Whether you're personally grieving or want to support someone who is, Lisa provides actionable advice on how we can all hold space for the bereaved and bear witness to the profound experience of loss.
You'll learn:
- The power of both/and
- How to spot a grief thief
- Why our grief beliefs are set early on and how we can Marie Kondo them to serve us better
- Why grief is so sneaky
- Why time is so confusing for grievers
- The best ways to show up meaningfully for the people you care about
- How to respond when someone says something hurtful
- And so much more...
Learn more about Lisa:
Order the book
Listen to the podcast
Subscribe to the newsletter
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
If something looks wrong, feels wrong, or smells wrong...it's probably wrong.
Meet Dawn Oates, a disability rights advocate, educator, and entrepreneur who has made it her mission to challenge disability discrimination and redefine what true inclusion looks like. Through her journey fighting for her daughter's rights, she's sparked ripples of change that are reshaping entire communities.
Listen in as Dawn shares her playbook for turning obstacles into opportunities and refusing to stay small when faced with exclusion. From insisting on accessible playgrounds to taking on elite private schools, her story underscores the impact one person can have by persistently advocating their truth.
You'll feel inspired by her unwavering optimism and creative approach to educating others about disability differences. Whether speaking up for your child or becoming an upstander for others, this episode will embolden you to create the inclusive world you wish to see.
You'll learn:
- How to challenge discrimination with courage and strategic persistence
- Why it's important to educate from a place of optimism to open minds and hearts
- What to do when things feel a little too easy
- How one person's actions can create ripples of change
- And so much more...
Learn more about Dawn:
The Play Brigade Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
When not one, but two of her children were diagnosed with devastating rare genetic disorders, Parvathy Krishnan's world was turned upside down. Her daughter battled multiple conditions for years before passing away just after her fourth birthday. And her teenage son is a five-time cancer survivor.
In this profoundly moving and insightful episode, Parvathy pulls back the curtain on what it means to be a parent in constant crisis mode - the relentless anxiety, the hospital stays across multiple cities, and having to parent two children with rare diseases simultaneously.
Yet Parvathy's story is ultimately one of incredible perseverance, radical hope, and unconditional love. With wisdom and candor, she discusses brutal concepts like "ambiguous living," and shares hard-won strategies for staying present and techniques like visualizing being "stuck in tar" to center yourself amid the unimaginable.
Parvathy's journey has also sparked a new purpose - founding an advocacy organization to build support systems for other families facing ultra-rare diseases and catalyzing patient-centered care revolutions like insisting full medical teams round inside patient rooms.
You'll learn:
- Why you should admit that things suck
- How to start fixing things, even if you're still in your PJs
- How to advocate for your care or the care of your child
- Why being stuck in tar can be a good thing
- The immense value that comes from sharing
- And so much more...
Learn more about Parvathy:
Instagram
Krishnan Family Foundation
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Can an extraordinary life of adventure and pushing boundaries lead someone to find fulfillment in the ordinary? In this riveting episode, we speak with Beth Rodden, a pioneering rock climber who has scaled some of the world's most challenging peaks. Beth takes us on her trailblazing journey, from shattering climbing records as one of the best female climbers of all time, to a terrifying kidnapping by armed militants in Kyrgyzstan that forced her to grapple with trauma, mental health struggles, and her very identity.
With raw honesty, Beth opens up about her disordered eating, the challenges of motherhood for a professional athlete, and pushing past society's expectations of what a woman can or should do. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and redefining what it means to embrace a "softer strength." From the dizzying heights of climbing success to the depths of personal darkness after a difficult divorce, Beth's path reveals profound truths about finding purpose, joy and wonder in the ordinary moments of life.
Key Takeaways:
- If your current strategies aren't working, look to your loved ones - their approach may inspire new solutions.
- The things you're passionate about don't have to be pursued in one narrow way. Find freedom in new perspectives.
- Listen closely to your body's signals before your mind catches up - it can prevent you from exceeding limits.
- Don't self-censor based on assumptions. Ask anyway - you may be surprised by people's supportive reactions.
- An extraordinary life can prepare you to deeply appreciate the beauty found in the ordinary.
Learn more about Beth:
Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when your child's life depends on you parenting perfectly? How do you reconcile what it's like to live on the precipice all the time, with wanting to be a present and joyful person for your children, your partner, and your friends?
On this episode, we sit down with Jessica Patay, author of the powerful new book "Becoming Brave Together." Jessica opens up about the constant vigilance required in caring for her son Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome and shares why and how she formed a community for other moms with intense caregiving needs.
Jessica's new book is an anthology amplifying 21 other caregiving mothers' stories as well. By elevating these diverse voices, she provides an invaluable perspective into the unseen battles and exceptional bravery of parents raising children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Whether this is your world or not, Jessica's wisdom and the community she's cultivated offers insights and understanding that can change the world we live in.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to find or form community
- What you deserve as your birthright
- Why self-care isn't a curse word
- How to stay connected with the people who matter to you
- And so much more...
Learn more about Jessica:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
The Book
Brave Together Podcas
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you ever wished you had a guidebook to be by your side as you navigate the complexities of life? One that was written by a best friend, told you what to expect, and gave practical advice to help you through?
That's exactly what Kelley Coleman has written in her book, "Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child."
In this episode, Kelly shares her personal journey of raising a son with multiple disabilities and offers invaluable advice not only for parents navigating similar paths, but for every human who wants to understand how to interact with empathy and show up in meaningful ways for others.
You'll learn:
- Why we should all be following people whose life experience is different from our own.
- Who to turn to when you want to learn something about another community.
- What's a better strategy than filling the air with words when you don't know what to say.
- How and why to encourage self-advocacy in children.
- Why it's important to acknowledge the hard.
- And so much more...
Learn more about Kelley:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Any great movement requires not only the ability to generate creative ideas but also the skill of mobilizing people around those ideas and bringing them to life. How do you do that?
Introducing Nell Merlino, a creative catalyst and trailblazer who has dedicated her life to advocating for women's empowerment and raising visibility and recognition of women and girls' contributions. With an impressive track record of mobilizing people and ideas, Nell brought Take Our Daughters to Work Day to life, reaching an astonishing 25 million people worldwide. As the founder of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, she also facilitated women's access to billion-dollar financing, grants, contracts, and markets. Nell's current project, Crown Quest, further amplifies women's achievements by creating beautiful visual tributes to their influence and impact.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The first step in taking an idea from theory to reality
- How inspiration can be found in unexpected places
- Why we have to recognize our own value
- What it means to be a lioness
- The power of being able to read a room
Learn more about Nell here.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when your family's ideology prevents you from helping the person you love most?
That's what happened to today's guest, Kathleen Blackburn.
Kathleen Blackburn was the oldest of five children, a 12-year-old from Lubbock, Texas, whose evangelical family eschewed public education for homeschooling and wove improbable scientific theories into literal interpretations of the bible. Then her father, a former air force pilot, was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at the age of thirty-eight, and, as Kathleen writes in this searing memoir, “it was like pouring gasoline on the Holy Spirit.”
Stirred by her mother, the family committed to an extreme diet and sought deliverance from equally extreme sources: a traveling tent preacher, a Malaysian holy man, a local faith-healer who led services called “Miracles on 34th Street.”
What they didn’t know at the time was that their lives were entangled with a larger, less visible environmental catastrophe. Fire-fighting foams containing carcinogenic compounds had contaminated the drinking water of every military site where her father worked.
Twenty-five years later, Kathleen's memoir, Loose of Earth, reckons with her past, her upbringing, the loss of her father, and the environmental story that shaped the landscape that for years she called home. Kathleen now lives in Chicago and teaches creative writing at the University of Chicago.
You'll Learn:
- The difference between shame and regret, and which one is useful
- How literature can be an antidote to violence and silence
- What we do when we're told there's nothing we can do to help someone we love
- And so much more...
Learn more about Kathleen:
Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
When we encounter death, we're forced to confront life's biggest questions. Why do we suffer? Where is God in our darkest moments? Can we find beauty and meaning in the midst of grief?
Our guest is writer and former pastor Jonathan Foster who joins us for a profound and incredibly moving conversation about his book "Indigo: The Color of Grief," which he wrote after the tragic loss of his daughter.
In this raw, poetic dialogue, Jonathan invites us into the "liminal space" between hope and despair that he's inhabited since his daughter's death. He shares how this experience shattered his traditional beliefs about an omnipotent, omniscient God and led him to be "disinvited" from his religious denomination.
Jonathan reframes beauty as an act of defiant resistance against tragedy. And ultimately, he reveals the surprising power in simply being present with those who are suffering - not trying to solve or fix, but sitting alongside them in their "hell."
Whether or not you've experienced profound loss, Jonathan's perspective contains valuable wisdom for anyone confronting life's toughest challenges. By the end, you'll have a new appreciation for the profound presence of absence and be inspired to live with deeper intention.
You'll learn:
- Why you don't have to choose between hope and despair
- Why your pain doesn't get smaller, and why you might not want it to
- Why beauty is an act of resistance
- What we call the person who sits with us in hell
- Why "no thing" is a very big something
- And so much more...
Learn more about Jonathan:
website
Indigo
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you ever felt a pang of regret for not saying yes to an opportunity that scared you? Or wondered what hidden potential lies within you that others see, but you can't quite yet?
This week's episode will light a fire under those very questions. Physician and writer doctor Mimi Zieman joins us with a truly extraordinary story - the time she said a resounding "yes" to an invitation that most of us would never have the audacity to accept.
At just 25 years old and one year into medical school, Mimi agreed to become the sole medical professional and only woman on a climbing team attempting a new, never-before-done route up the treacherous east face of Mount Everest. Oh, and they'd be doing it without supplemental oxygen.
In our riveting conversation, Mimi doesn't hold back on all the behind-the-scenes details you'd never imagine - from tap dancing in psychedelic tights on a boulder to leading a Passover Seder at 20,000 feet. You'll hear firsthand how she grappled with imposter syndrome while responsible for the lives of her teammates.
But ultimately, Mimi's journey becomes one of vulnerability, feminism, and an examination of what it truly means to feel vibrantly alive in the face of risk and uncertainty. Her hard-won wisdom and candidly beautiful writing will make you question how you too can start living more authentically and courageously.
Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or can't fathom leaving your living room couch, Mimi's inspirational story and perspective is one you won't want to miss. She'll have you pondering what you're willing to risk in order to discover your deepest self and make your own life itself a work of art.
You'll learn:
- Why you should trust the people who see potential in you that you don't yet see in yourself
- A simple tool to help combat imposter syndrome
- Why "coming of age" is an ongoing process
- Why you should get out of your safe zone
- How curiosity can be the most interesting life guide
- And so much more...
Learn more about Mimi:
website.
Instagram
Threads
Facebook
X
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
It's no secret that many of us feel lonelier and most isolated than we did in the past, so much so that there's a consensus that we're experiencing a "loneliness epidemic."
In this revealing episode, Jessica sits down with Jinhyun Shin, a mental wellness entrepreneur and founder of the "social being" app Penciv. Jinhyun shares his powerful personal experiences that sparked his drive to prevent suicide and how that led him to working to combat the modern "loneliness epidemic."
Jinhyun reframes grief as the ultimate form of loneliness and shares his insights for honoring legacy. His innovative perspective will shift how you stay connected to yourself and build authentic community. You'll walk away with practical tools like the "feelings wheel" to identify nuanced emotions, as well as Jinhyun's three-step process for sharing your "wounds" to overcome loneliness.
Don't miss this candid conversation where Jinhyun gets raw about the difficulties of discussing mental health in the workplace, and hear his advice for receiving others' vulnerability as a precious gift. Whether you're grieving, disconnected, or simply crave deeper human bonds, this episode will leave you inspired to start meaningful conversations that combat isolation.
You'll learn:
- The 3 steps to honoring your lost loved ones
- What you need to do before you can share your emotions with others
- Why we need to expand our emotional language beyond mad/sad/glad
- How to treat your emotions as important data
- How to share vulnerably and what to do when someone gets weird in response
- And so much more...
Learn more about Jinhyun:
Youtube
Blog
Medium Article: A House of Rooms
Medium Article: Life is Not About Happiness
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
If you've ever encountered mom guilt; or felt trapped in a maze of protocols, paperwork, and policies; or found it impossible to juggle a corporate job with the intense caregiving for your child, you'll want to meet Jaclyn Greenberg.
Jaclyn is a mother, writer, and advocate whose experiences have ignited a passion for accessibility and inclusion in our communities. Jaclyn shares the emotional rollercoaster she experienced when her second son was unexpectedly born with severe disabilities caused by a virus she contracted during pregnancy. Jaclyn takes us through the shocking diagnosis, the lack of guidance and resources after leaving the hospital, and the constant struggle to get her son the support and accommodations he needs. Despite her background in business and tax accounting, Jaclyn found navigating the systems for disabled children to be exhausting, time-consuming and confusing.
Jaclyn reveals how this life-altering experience ultimately led her to become a writer and advocate, determined to share her family's story in hopes of promoting greater understanding, inclusion, and accessibility in the community. She discusses the importance of self-care, finding balance, and not being too hard on yourself when life's plans go in an entirely different direction than what you'd expected.
You'll learn about:
- What could be done differently when sharing impossible news
- A strategy that could make a huge difference to parent who are facing daunting diagnoses
- Where the real answers and support can be found
- The importance of spending time doing things that make you feel like you
- The power of sharing your story to raise awareness, increase inclusion, and connect with others going through similar experiences
- And so much more...
Learn more about Jaclyn at her website.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
When a trauma therapist with over 20 years of experience is blindsided by her own debilitating grief after losing both parents, where does she turn? In this deeply moving conversation, Meghan Riordan Jarvis takes us on her journey from professional expert to admitted patient at the same treatment facility where she once sent her toughest cases.
With raw honesty, Meghan shares how grief affected her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From finding spirituality in a documentary about mushrooms to spontaneously road-tripping across America during COVID with her kids, Meghan's personal transformation insights will reframe how you think about loss, healing, and what's really needed to support grievers.
Meghan's hard-won wisdom disrupts our cultural awkwardness around grief as she calls on employers to stop avoiding this universal human experience.
Get ready to question everything you think you know about the "rules" of mourning as you hear:
- Why talking about the five stages of grief is like saying the world is flat
- Why you should ignore some of the most common advice grievers hear
- Who needs to step up to change things in Western culture
- The surprising places you might find new sources of spirituality
- What we can learn from children about processing difficult emotions
- And so much more...
Learn more about Meghan:
Instagram
Facebook
Website
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Zibby Owens is the ultimate authorpreneur, seamlessly juggling writing, publishing, podcasting, and running an independent bookstore and community. How does she do it al?
In this inspiring conversation, we dive into how Zibby built a universe of readers and writers—dubbed the "Zibbyverse"—while also raising four kids.
We talk about how Zibby published her first essay -- as a teenager, what it's like to produce a podcast every single day, the stories behind Zibby's debut novel Blank, and why it's time for authors to be treated like rockstars. We also cover Zibby's boundless energy, how she lifts up other authors, and her advice for writing authentically.
Hear Zibby's advice for marketing creative work and how she's building engaged communities around books.
You'll learn:
- Why it makes sense to do the next right thing even if you don’t have the whole path mapped out yet
- The kind of sharing that resonates with readers
- How to reframe failures
- The magic in saying, "Yes"
- The origins of the funniest character around: "deodorant guy!"
- And so much more...
Learn more about Zibby:
Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Life with a rare disease can be isolating and confusing. But as these 12 people can attest, there's so much more to the story -- the lessons are abundant, the paradoxes are persistent, and the community is full of passionate, inspiring, and resilient people.
In honor of Rare Disease Awareness Day on February 29th, tune in to hear some of the most powerful moments from past conversations with host Jessica Fein and members of the rare disease community.
Whether you're personally affected by a rare disease or want to understand the experience, this compilation episode delivers inspiration, insight and a reminder that while each disease may be rare, rare diseases as a whole affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
You'll learn:
- Why connecting with people who share something in common with you can be the most isolating thing of all
- How to statistically increase your chances of getting help
- Why living with rare disease brings so many paradoxes
- What the rare disease anthem and motto should be
- How hope can be a double-edged sword
- Whether resilience is innate or developed over time
- Specific ways to provide meaningful support to a friend who's hurting
- And so much more...
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when you don't accept your child's diagnosis? When you think you can "fix her," only to discover that you're the one who needs fixing?
Join us as Cathy Shields, author of The Shape of Normal, delves into the truths and lies parents tell themselves when faced with unexpected challenges. From denial to acceptance, Cathy recounts her emotional rollercoaster and the evolution of her relationship with her daughter, Jessica.
With honesty and vulnerability, Cathy explores the deep-seated ableism she had to confront, rooted in societal expectations and personal experiences. Through her story, she sheds light on the importance of awareness, acceptance, and finding strength in embracing reality.
You'll learn:
- Why finding others on a similar journey can change everything.
- How to move from denial to acceptance to celebration.
- The key to looking at what people can do rather than what they can't.
- How we can begin to change the deep-seated ableism in ourselves and society.
- Why sharing honestly is so important in changing perceptions.
- And so much more...
Learn more about Cathy:
Instagram
Website
Facebook
Linkedin
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What's it like to have families counting on you in their time of greatest need? How do you separate work life from home life when every workday is literally life and death? How can you bring more humanity into what it at its heart is totally scientific?
Meet Dr. Rachel Fleishman, a Neonatologist, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, and Director of Narrative Medicine.
Dr. Fleishman's shares what it's like to care for sick and premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), explaining how the practice of narrative medicine – analyzing patients' stories – helps her empathize with families and see their babies as more than just diagnoses. She shares insights into making space for open communication, overcoming self-blame, and cherishing the roles every member of the professional and family team provides.
We also dive into Dr. Fleishman's journey from studying literature to becoming a physician, how traumatic births have informed her care, and coping strategies for healthcare workers bearing witness to suffering.
You'll learn:
- How to see people as multifaceted individuals with stories, not just diagnoses or problems.
- Why you need to care for yourself when caring for others.
- How to move forward with hope and help instead of blaming yourself for situations outside of your control.
- How to leave work at work, even in the most intense work situations.
- And so much more...
Learn more about Dr. Rachel Fleishman:
Website
Instagram
X
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Megan Nolan is a rare dynamo, channeling her profound resilience and determination into advocacy that's creating real change. After her son's challenging medical journey to get a diagnosis, Megan sprang into action - launching a nonprofit to fund research in just 3 months. And if that wasn't enough, she also created an online magazine, rareparenting.com, to provide much-needed support and resources for the rare disease parenting community.
In this conversation, Megan shares her unwavering commitment to helping other families avoid the struggles she faced. We explore how she balances intensive caregiving with running two organizations, while also prioritizing self-care and maintaining a sense of hope. Megan offers guidance on how to be an supportive ally when your friend is parenting a child with complex medical needs.
You'll learn:
- How to listen to your intuition and push for answers.
- Why believing you can make a difference is one of the most powerful motivators for taking action.
- How to use your unique skills and experience to make an impact, like Megan did in the rare disease community.
- Why delegating can be the key to getting it done, whatever your "it" is.
- What kind of help to offer when you want to help a friend in need.
Learn more about Megan:
Rareparenting.com
Children's Rare Disorder Fund
Megan's Instagram
RareParenting Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you heard these myths about writing your book?
Myth #1: You have to be a perfect writer to start. Myth #2: You need a big block of time to make progress. Myth #3: You have to have a groundbreaking idea. #4: You need an external credential to call yourself a writer. Elizabeth Lyons joins us to bust these myths and so many others about what it takes to start...and finish your book.
Elizabeth is a seasoned writer and book editor with six published books under her belt. Through her popular online courses and the "Write the Damn Book Already" podcast, Elizabeth shares invaluable advice on navigating the complexities of writing, publishing, and launching a book. Her relatable and humorous approach resonates with aspiring writers, encouraging them to break free from self-doubt and embark on their writing journey with confidence.
Elizabeth highlights how writing can serve as a form of therapy, allowing us to process personal experiences, find humor in challenging situations, and facilitate growth. Regardless of whether your work will be published or remain personal, diving into the healing power of writing can provide huge benefits. Using writing as a tool for self-expression transforms it into a journey of personal exploration, revelation, and ultimately, healing.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why so many of us have imposter syndrome when it comes to creative endeavors
- The myth that any of us knows what we're doing
- How to give ourselves grace and compassion with our creative projects
- At what point in the process we need to trust ourselves most
- How to get started without getting out of your pajamas
- And so much more...
Learn more about Elizabeth:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Latest Book
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you ever dreamed of leaving everything behind and setting off to travel the world? When Dr. Marcy Cole's partner suggested they do just that, Marcy didn't hesitate. She packed up her Los Angeles home where she'd lived for nearly 20 years, and together they set off on a nomadic adventure.
What Marcy learned on the road was more than how delicious the pastries in France are. She had five main takeaways, each of which is a valuable lesson that can be applied back at home. Marcy also rediscovered a core piece of her identity during her journey. You don't need to travel the world to be inspired by Marcy's takeaways.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why leaving your bubble can teach you so much about yourself
- What happens when we go public with our dreams
- Why we need to stay in the ring
- How what happens can work for you not to you
- What to do when we set the intention for grace and ease and things take a different turn
- And so much more...
Dr. Marcy Cole is a holistic psychotherapist, life coach, and wellness educator She founded First Tuesday Global in 2000, with the aim of fostering a sense of community through social connectivity, personal and professional development, and social service.
Learn more about Marcy:
Marcy's Website
Facebook
First Tuesday Global
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Here we are in mid-January when our new year resolutions are beginning to be put to the test. For some of us that means we're drinking more water or going on long walks or trying to meditate daily. But there's another category of resolutions that we're going to explore over the next few weeks.
The first seems simple on the surface: "I want to have more fun." If only it were as easy as it sounds.
Today's guest, Dr. Mike Rucker is the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, which has been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Forbes.
A joy-seeking psychologist, Dr. Rucker challenges us to break free from the happiness trap, reclaim lost hours, and embrace the pursuit of joy and wonder in everyday life.
You'll learn:
- Why we get stuck in the happiness trap
- How to use the time audit and Play Model to figure out where we can add more joy and fulfillment
- How to incorporate fun into work
- Why anticipation is more than half the fun
- Why fun is important physically
- The difference between fun, joy, and whimsy
- How we can fit fun in even when our lives are immensely complicated
- And so much more...
Learn more about Dr. Mike Rucker:
Website
X
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
The Fun Habit book
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Host Jessica Fein turns the tables for episode 50. The ineffable Effie Parks of the award-winning "Once Upon a Gene" podcast returns to the show to interview Jessica about how she does it.
They talk about:
- The rewards of openly sharing personal experiences for growth and survival
- Integrating joy and grief
- The value in naming ambiguous grief
- How a long shot is still a shot and the worst thing that can happen when you take it
- What to do when there's no light at the end of the tunnel
- The power of podcasting
Join Jessica's launch team for Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Dreams. DM here at https://www.instagram.com/feinjessica/
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you ever felt something so strongly in your bones and yet everyone you turn to dismisses your concerns? Maybe they tell you you're over-reacting. Maybe they even tell you there's something wrong with you for not letting go of your instincts. What if your child's life were at stake?
Navigating misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting, Karen DeBonis discusses the arduous journey she embarked on to ascertain her son's actual medical condition.
Karen began to question herself and doubted her fortitude for motherhood, ultimately needing to overcome her instinct for people pleasing and unleash her inner "she bear" to make the medical community and even her own family take her seriously. Finally, desperation broke through her fear of conflict, and she demanded answers, only to be horrified by the truth.
Brain surgery and a promise of complete recovery for her son convinced Karen her battle was over. But she was wrong. The ensuing years launched her on a journey of perseverance and personal growth she never imagined, teaching Karen just how weak she is, and then exactly how strong.
In this episode you'll learn:
- How to learn to trust your own instincts despite persistent resistance
- Why the weak can be stronger than the strong
- What post-traumatic growth can look like
- And so much more...
Karen's debut memoir "Growth: A Mother, Her Son, and the Brain Tumor They Survived," was released by Apprentice House Press in May 2023. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times, HuffPost, Newsweek.com, Today.com, and numerous literary journals.
Learn more about Karen:
Website
Facebook
X
Instagram
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
There's growing up in bubble, as so many of us do, and then there's growing up in a truly insular world.
If you're feeling trapped by the expectations of your community and unable to express your true self, you're not alone. Maybe you've been trying to fit into the mold of your community, but deep down you know it's not where you belong, and the struggle is taking a toll on your emotional well-being.
That's what happened, in a huge way, to Beatrice Weber.
Beatrice is a former member of a Hasidic Jewish community, who found her voice and broke free from restrictive religious and cultural norms. After navigating the challenges of an arranged marriage at a young age, having 10 children, and facing the pressure of societal expectations, Beatrice embarked on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately choosing to leave her marriage and relocate with her young children.
Today, Beatrice is a published author, TEDx speaker, interfaith minister, and executive director of Yaffed, a nonprofit organization. Her story of resilience and empowerment serves as an inspiration to those seeking fulfillment and independence outside of traditional constraints.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The questions to ask as you listen to your inner voice
- How to take the first step toward fearless fulfillment
- How spirituality isn't just one thing, it's many things
- And much more...
Learn more about Beatrice:
Instagram
Linkedin
Website
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Since October 7, many of us have been glued to our screens, scouring every bit of news out of Israel. Today's guest, Trauma Therapist Lisa Fliegel, knew that if she stayed home in Boston, she'd be filled with anxiety. Instead, three hours after news of the Hamas massacre reached her, she booked a plane ticket to Israel.
Lisa spent a full month with the survivors of the October 7 attack who have relocated to a hotel in Eilat. There, Lisa spent time with children and adult survivors, counseled other therapists, and created a therapeutic milieu out of the hotel lobby.
Lisa is a trauma specialist with extensive experience in providing support to individuals coping with significant psychological trauma. With dual citizenship and having served in the Israel Defense Forces, Lisa's connection to Israel runs deep. She lived on Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava desert for 20 years and has a strong commitment to social justice and social change. Lisa is a special clinical consultant to the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute a grassroots non-profit that serves survivors of victims of homicide. She is an author and journalist. Her book-in-progress "Bulletproof Therapist: My clinical adventures in Israel/Palestine, Northern Ireland, and Inner-City Boston is waiting to hatch amid various missile attacks, gunfire and social upheaval.
In this episode, you'll:
- Find out why you don't need to be the best therapist (or the best mother, or the best anything else)
- Discover how to be a student when people teach us what they need
- Learn what to do when there's nothing to be done
- Understand why we need to recognize when other people make a meaningful impact
- Uncover the profound effects of shame on trauma survivors and learn what the difference is between tragedy and trauma
- Learn how being fully present can profoundly impact trauma support and activism efforts.
Learn more about Lisa:
Facebook
Bulletproof Therapist
Lisa's Blog
LinkedIn
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you heard these myths about films that break barriers and challenge perceptions? Myth #1: Only controversial films can challenge societal norms. Myth #2: Mainstream audiences are not interested in watching films that challenge the status quo. Myth #3: Creating diverse films is just a trend and not a lasting movement.
In this episode, our guest Allison Norlian will debunk these myths and reveal the truth behind creating impactful and diverse films that challenge mainstream narratives.
Allison Norlian is an experienced journalist, writer, and filmmaker. She's a three-time Emmy nominee and the co-founder of Birdmine, a production company that focuses on amplifying the voices and stories of marginalized communities, including people with disabilities.
Inspired by her older sister and with a passion for challenging mainstream narratives, Allison utilizes her filmmaking skills to create impactful documentaries and narrative films. Currently, she's in post-production for her documentary titled "Meandering Scars," which took her on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and is also finishing up a short film called "13."
Allison has received a Catalyst for Change award from the ARC of Virginia and an Emmy nomination for an investigation that exposed neglect and abuse at an assisted living facility. Through her films, Allison strives to change the world one story at a time, advocating for inclusivity and challenging the way society views disability.
In this episode you'll:
- Discover the power of inclusive storytelling in independent films and unlock new perspectives that challenge mainstream narratives
- Hear how one mother's commitment to her family changed the perceptions of an entire community
- Find out what it's like to advocate for inclusivity and diversity in filmmaking, creating impactful content that reflects the world we live in
- Learn why diversity in the stories we share is more important now than every before
- And so much more...
Learn more:
Allison on Instagram
Allison on Facebook
Thirteen
Birdmine on Instagram
Birdmine Website
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What is it about yoga that has everybody leaving their day jobs and heading to the mat? Why do so many people say yoga has changed their lives? And why do some of us break out in hives at the thought of spending 90 minutes in a sweltering room contorting our bodies with a bunch of strangers?
Meet Michelle Itzkowitz, an extraordinary individual with a passion for yoga and mindfulness. Michelle's lifelong journey of curiosity and self-discovery began more than 30 years ago after the loss of a close friend. Motivated by the desire to understand the complexities of life and inspire others, she immersed herself in the world of wellness. With over 2000 hours of formal yoga teacher training and culinary school under her belt, Michelle opened her own yoga studio in Cape Cod. She has since been teaching public and private yoga classes, cooking classes, and even training other yoga teachers. Currently pursuing a career in therapy, Michelle's dedication to helping people live healthier lives shines through in all facets of her work. Her personal experiences and commitment to cultivating joy and kindness shine through everything she offers. Get ready to be inspired as Michelle shares her wisdom and teaches us simple steps to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into our own lives.
Yoga and meditation have the power to transform lives, to bring relaxation, and to unlock doors we never knew existed. - Michelle Itzkowitz
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover a key to finding joy within yourself and transforming your outlook.
- Unlock the power of yoga and mindfulness to reduce stress, increase relaxation, and enhance overall well-being.
- Master the art of managing stress through the practice of breath work, allowing for greater calm and peace in your daily life.
- Cultivate kindness towards yourself and others, and experience the profound joy it brings.
- Harness the transformative power of positive mantras to uplift your mindset and attract joy into your life.
Learn more about Michelle here.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Are you dreading the holidays as you figure out how to navigate your grief and loss? Are you looking for ways to find a sense of peace and healing during this challenging time? Or maybe you want to help someone you love deal with their grief and hardship.
Our guest, Becca Bernstein of Option B, has advice and insights that can help.
Becca has dedicated their career to transforming the way we talk about and heal from loss and hardship. With personal experiences of losing their mother to Frontotemporal Dementia and ALS, Becca understands the challenges of grief and the importance of supporting others through difficult times. They are also the founder of Collective Care Consulting and Trainings, teaching people how to connect with one another in an age of loneliness and isolation. With their expertise and passion for helping others, Becca brings a wealth of knowledge to our conversation on navigating grief and loss during the holiday season.
In this episode, you'll:
- Discover strategies for navigating grief and finding comfort during the holiday season.
- Learn to recognize the emotional and physical symptoms of grief
- Gain insights on how to support and be there for someone who is grieving during the holiday season.
- Explore the power of intentionality and how it can make a difference in your experience of the holidays after a loss.
- Find guidance on how to embrace healing and create new traditions while honoring the memory of your loved one during the holiday season.
Learn more about Option B here.
Learn more about Becca Bernstein here.
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
It's one thing to find out you're pregnant when you aren't expecting it. It's another thing altogether to find out you're having quadruplets.
Ashley Ness is a true inspiration when it comes to handling the challenges of motherhood. During the pandemic, Ashley received the unexpected news that she was pregnant with quadruplets - a one in 10 million occurrence. With three children already at home, Ashley's life took a dramatic turn. Ashley's journey includes spending seven months in the NICU with one of her babies, Chesley May, who sadly passed away. Her strength and unwavering dedication to her children is truly remarkable. Join us as we delve into Ashley's story and learn valuable lessons about resilience, balancing work and family, and finding the confidence to handle more than we ever thought possible. You'll also hear directly from the unexpected hero who helps Ashley take care of her brood.
Making tough decisions for a medically complex child
Parents of medically complex children often face hard decisions, something Ashley experienced with her daughter Chesley May. These decisions can include seeking aggressive medical interventions or prioritizing the child's quality of life. Listening to what their child communicates physically and emotionally plays a crucial role, even when the message leads to heart-wrenchingly tough decisions.
Get ready to be inspired by Ashley's incredible journey on this episode of "I Don't Know How You Do It."
Follow Ashley on Instagram.
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Do you have a bucket list? Turns out there's huge power in recording your intentions. As it turns out, there can also be incredible gifts in fulfilling somebody else's.
More than a decade after her father died, Laura Carney was given a treasure that would change her life forever. It was a list, penned by her late father, filled with dreams and aspirations that were waiting to be realized. Little did Laura know, this bucket list would become her guiding light, igniting a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It's a story of inspiration, courage, and spirituality and the surprising impact that comes from living out your dreams...or even someone else's.
Laura Carney is an accomplished author known for her book, "My Father's List: How Living My Dad's Dreams Set Me Free." In this captivating memoir, Laura shares her experience of discovering her late father's bucket list and embarking on a mission to fulfill his dreams. The book has been recognized as one of the best books of 2023 by Real Simple magazine. Laura's story has received widespread attention, with appearances on CBS Sunday Morning, the Drew Barrymore Show, and NBC Nightly News, among others. Through her journey, Laura not only gained a deeper understanding of her father but also learned valuable lessons about surrender, spirituality, and personal growth. Her inspiring narrative serves as a testament to the power of embracing our own aspirations and finding fulfillment in life. Join us as we delve into Laura Carney's remarkable journey and discover the transformative power of a bucket list.
Living out these bucket list items was helping me to not be afraid anymore, and it was an incredible emotional transformation. -Laura Carney
We talk about how to:
- Discover the healing power of recording your intentions and values.
- Shift your mindset by harnessing the transformative potential of language.
- Learn about setting intentional goals and taking aligned actions to live a purposeful life.
- Embrace the unknown and let go of control to open doors to new opportunities.
- Experience a deep connection with loved ones through meaningful signs from the universe.
Learn more about Laura and her book here: http://www.bylauracarney.com
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when a doctor tells you you aren't capable of understanding your own daughter's medical diagnosis? When a doctor said that to Kelly Heger, Kelly decided to alter her personal and professional trajectory and become an RN.
Kelly is a mother of four , one of whom, Jillian, has AADC, an ultra-rare and severe brain disease. Jillian was the fourth person in the world diagnosed with this condition. Due to the complexity of Jillian's medical needs, Kelly made the decision to change her career and become a registered nurse to gain a deeper understanding and provide the best care for her daughter. Her journey led her to establish the AADC Family Network, an organization that offers support, education, and medical intervention for families affected by AADC.
In the face of unimaginable challenges, Kelly Heger's unwavering love for her daughter, Jillian, gave her the strength to defy the odds. Little did she know, her relentless pursuit of answers would lead her down an incredible path of self-discovery. Through endless hours of research and against all odds, Kelly's determination transformed her into a confident caregiver, an educator, and a beacon of hope.
In this episode you'll learn:
- How you can take even the most complicated matters into your own hands and change lives
- The power of your child's smile
- Why dogs can also be critical caregivers
- What happens when you tell a mother something is "too complicated for her to understand"
- And so much more...
Learn more here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Talk of resilience is everywhere these days, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. But what exactly is resilience? And is it something we're born with or something we can develop over time? What tools can we add to our toolkit to help fortify us for the challenges we all face in our lifetime?
"Peace doesn't mean the situation is fine, it meansI'm fine in the situation."Meet Dr. Nefertiti B. Poyner. With more than two decades of experience in the fields of early care and education, adult resilience, and strength-based leadership practices, Dr. Poyner is a renowned teacher, author, and speaker. As a national trainer and early childhood specialist for the Devereaux Center for Resilient Children, she shares with us what muscles we can strengthen to build our resilience. She has authored several books, including "Building Your Bounce: Simple Strategies for a Resilient You," which offers valuable insights and practical tools to support adult resilience.
In this episode you'll:
- Learn about protective factors and how they contribute to your resilience.
- Find out what to do when you feel like your rubber band is stretching so much it might break.
- Discover the keys to cultivating resilience .
- Learn how building strong relationships can be a powerful tool in fostering resilience, and find out what quality is way more important than quantity.
- Develop a strong sense of self to boost resilience and equip your children with the invaluable skill of self-awareness, empowering them to face adversity head-on.
- Find out why initiative matters.
- Gain insight into the role of awareness and control in resilience, and learn practical strategies to cultivate these skills .
- And so much more...
Learn more about Dr. Nefertiti Poyner:
Website
YouTube
Center for Resilient Children
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
"I don't have time." "I can't stay motivated." "I lose steam after a couple of days."
Does this sound familiar? You have a creative project in mind, but with work, family, and other responsibilities, it feels impossible to find the time to start and finish it.
Listen in and learn about the ten ways I moved my project from dream to reality, writing my book while working full time and caring my complex family needs.
In this episode, you'll be able to:
- Discover ways to start...and finish your creative project while balancing all your other responsibilities.
- Learn how to shift your mindset from aspiration to action, and unleash your creative potential through the power of declaring intentions.
- Find out how to reprioritize and reclaim valuable time, so you can finally make progress on your creative projects.
- Discover the importance of scheduling project time as a non-negotiable commitment, and unlock the confidence to prioritize your own creative pursuits.
- Learn the art of breaking down your projects into smaller tasks and setting achievable goals, and overcome overwhelm to stay focused and motivated.
Special bonus: visit* Jessicafeinstories.com to get your free copy of the "Crash Course in Creative Project Success" ebook, including a special bonus of 50 creative project ideas**
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
You might have heard the saying, "We can only be as happy as our least happy child." Ann Batchelder disagrees. How much is our suffering intertwined with our child's suffering? How can we help our children without layering our own fear and regret on them? And what does it mean that we're all on the addiction spectrum?
In her debut memoir, "Craving Spring: A Mother's Quest, a Daughter's Depression, and the Greek Myth That Brought Them Together," Ann shares her powerful journey as a mother navigating her daughter's struggles with depression and addiction. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, Ann weaves the myth into her narrative, finding solace and guidance in its lessons of transformation and resilience. Through therapy, the Twelve Steps, and Buddhist teachings, Ann discovered the strength to rebuild her relationship with her daughter and herself. Ann is a passionate advocate for recognizing women's wisdom and reducing the stigma surrounding depression and addiction. Her book offers a heartfelt and empowering perspective on motherhood, addiction, and mental health, inspiring others to find understanding and resilience in the face of difficult circumstances.
You'll learn:
- Why you shouldn't "get on the ride" with your child
- What it means that we are all on the spectrum of addiction
- How we can find teachers and guides in the most unexpected places
- Why 24 hours can make a lifetime of difference
- How to stop being a junkie for regret
- How to decide if you're going to be guided by your intention or your ego
Learn more:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
How do we go from shock, denial, and overwhelm to being a community leader and a guide for others traveling a similar path?
Meet Candice Hartford, a compassionate NICU nurse who navigated an unexpected personal journey into the world of autism. Not only does Candice work tirelessly to nurture fragile, premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she seamlessly transitioned into advocating for her twin autistic boys, Keaton and Grady.
The diagnosis of autism can unleash an avalanche of emotions for parents, from shock and denial to fear and uncertainty. Candice candidly shares her own rollercoaster ride of emotions, shedding light on the anxieties and apprehensions that accompany such a diagnosis.
Drawing strength from her own experiences of managing their unique challenges, and her younger, neurotypical daughter Isla, Candice made it a mission to bridge the gap for families in similar situations. She founded Raising Harts, an organization nurturing families with autistic and neurodiverse children, emphasizing mentorship, workshops and community growth.
In this episode you'll learn:
- How it's possible to sit in the fear and then go along for the ride
- Why finding others on a similar path can restore joy
- When you need to delegate and tap out
- What it means to shift your entire perspective
- And so much more...
Learn more about Candice and Raising Harts:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Susan Geoghegan brings a unique blend of personal grit and professional planning skills to the table. She's the kind of mother who loves fiercely and fights hard for her family. Her world was rocked when her children Lorelai and Benji were diagnosed with a rare form of Mitochondrial Disease. However, she quickly transformed an unexpected journey into a platform to support, educate, and inspire others. Susan turned her sorrow into determination and became a crusader for Mitochondrial Disease Awareness.
I had to actively make a decision early on that we were going to make as much good come from this as possible. - Susan Geoghegan
You can hear Susan weekly in her podcast for medical and special needs mamas, the When Autumn Comes Podcast. In 2022 she founded The Apricity Hope Project, a nonprofit organization that cares for caregivers of medically complex children.
While she has accomplished a lot in her life, Susan is most proud of the amazing adventures, endless love, buckets of hope and epic hair she has given to her perfectly imperfect, brave and beautiful children.
Learn more about Susan;
Apricity Hope Project
Instagram
When Autumn Comes Podcast
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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Grief and hope. Courage and vulnerability. Becoming findable and maintaining privacy. Rare disease is full of paradoxes, as guest Adam Johnson explains.
A man of remarkable fortitude and resilience, Adam faced a Mito diagnosis that led him to abandon a career he loved in education to become a dadvocate for mitochondrial disease. Adam’s resilience bloomed from his experiences with the disease; he knew staying silent was not an option if he could find connections and prevent others from enduring unnecessary periods of uncertainty, desperation, and loneliness. He ventured into unknown territory; creating a supportive community on social media, a platform through his website and blog, and even running a support group for fellow fathers in the Mito community.
This isn't the end of you. It's just moved and evolved to this point where I'm a little more comfortable in this skin that I have now. - Adam Johnson
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why it's worth putting yourself out there and becoming findable
- How a diagnosis is not the end of you
- Why there's no right or wrong way to proceed
- How you might be helping someone you don't even know
- How to make a difference even if you're still in Middle School
- And so much more...
Learn More:
Adam's Website
Twitter
Instagram
Linked In
Emma's fundraising site
Adam's Parents As Rare series on MitoAction’s Energy In Action podcast:
MitoAction
Dalia's Wish
Megan Devine
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What does it mean to be human? Why is comfort not necessarily something to strive for? How is love more than just a feeling or emotion?
These are just a few of the topics covered in this enlightening conversation with New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and founder of The Lucky Few, Heather Avis.
Get ready to have your heart touched and your perspective shifted as Heather Avis shares her extraordinary journey of love. In a life she never planned, Heather takes us through the unexpected twists and turns and the divine nudge that led her to becoming the mother of two children with Down Syndrome and a biracial daughter. Heather's life and work is a celebration of diversity. She believes in a fully inclusive world where our differences are not just accepted but are celebrated, embraced, and encouraged ... a world where everyone knows an actual living person with Down Syndrome and understands what it means to be part of "the lucky few."
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why a divine nudge can set us on a path that changes us forever
- How storytelling can shift societal narratives
- When we'll know that media truly embraces diversity
- Why love is an action
- How two opposing things can be true at the same time
- What it means to be part of "The Lucky Few"
- And so much more
Learn more about Heather:
Website
Instagram
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
From gut-wrenching loss to newfound purpose, hear how ski champion Jamie MoCrazy as defied expectations, harnessed her resilience, and embarked on a daring journey to sculpt a triumphant new identity after a traumatic brain injury shattered her skiing career.
As a professional athlete, Jamie MoCrazy has always been known for her astonishing tenacity and resilience. After surviving a near-fatal skiing accident in 2015, she was forced to recalibrate her ambitions. She utilized her competitive drive to fuel her recovery and find new peaks to climb. Jamie's mother, Grace, used her experience with early childhood development to inform the care Jamie received after her injury, creating new protocols for the treatment of patients suffering from TBIs.
Now Jamie shares her story on stages across the country, in a new documentary, and in her own podcast.
In this episode you'll learn:
- The power of striving for your own personal best
- How to set manageable goals to get you to your ultimate growth goal
- Why collaboration with medical professionals makes such a huge difference in medical recovery
- What it's like to be forced to create a new identity when your dreams are shattered
- And much more
Learn more about Jamie:
Instagram
Website
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when your personal and professional lives collide in the most powerful way?
That's what happened to Geri Landman. A mother of three and a practicing pediatrician, Geri has taken on the fight against ultra-rare genetic disorders head-on. Her world was changed when her youngest daughter Lucy, was diagnosed with PGAP3 CDG, a rare genetic disorder. Turning tragedy into a mission, Geri, and her husband, who's also a doctor, established Moonshots for Unicorns, a nonprofit to facilitate research and find cures for similar single gene disorders. Their expertise and personal journey blend seamlessly to spearhead a path for rare disease treatment.
"We are two physicians living in the Bay Area who trained at some of the top institutions in the country. If anyone can do something to change the life story of Lucy and other kids with single gene disorders, it's us."
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The remarkable implications of genetic testing and early detection in managing the impact of rare diseases.
- Why finding partners who will search with you is so important when you're on a diagnostic odyssey.
- Why finding treatments and cures for rare diseases is so complicated.
- What to do when you have too many tabs open in your brain.
- What it means to take the hot shot challenge
- And so much more
Find out more about Geri:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you followed the conventional path -- school, marriage, kids, job (maybe not in that order) and found that you life doesn't really align with your dreams? Have you been told that following the conventional path is the only way to find fulfillment, only to be left feeling unsatisfied? Maybe you look at other people and wonder how they're able to throw expectations to the wind and set off on grand adventures.
My special guest is Tanya Hackney
Tanya went from living a life built around societal expectations to taking the path less traveled. Tanya, with her husband and five young children, decided to break free from the constraints of suburbia. They traded their conventional life in the city for an adventure at sea, living aboard a boat for a decade. Tanya's expertise as a former elementary school educator came in handy as she successfully homeschooled her five children amidst the rhythm of tides and sails. Returning to 'normal life' a decade later, she has encapsulated her unique journey in her book "Leaving the Safe Harbor."
We baby stepped our way out of suburbia and into a little house in Florida and onto a little boat that we could practice on. And my husband baby stepped out of a brick and mortar career into working from home, which eventually led to him becoming a digital nomad. I had quit teaching so that I could stay home with the kids, but my natural next baby step was to homeschool. - Tanya Hackney
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What it means to baby step into your dreams
- How to coach yourself through audacious goals
- Why you need to find alone time, and how to do it
- Why you shouldn't postpone your dreams
- How to collect verbs instead of nouns
Learn more about Tanya:
Blog
Book
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Being a working parent is challenging under "conventional" circumstances. Amp that about by about a billion when you're a working mom of two young children, one of whom has a rare and life-threatening illness.
Meet today's guest, Claire Audibert, who shines in her demanding role at Google while balancing family life with her two sons, Elliot and Oscar. Living in Normandy and working from Paris a few days a week, Claire has a profound understanding and commitment to navigating the challenges of managing work, home, and special needs in a family. Accepting and embracing the changing reality is just one way Claire succeeds at home and at work.
Believe what you know. Trust your instincts. When something feels wrong, it usually is. - Claire Audibert
In this episode, you'll learn
- What it means to live with intention.
- Why the mantra "adjust, adapt, pivot," can be a saving grace.
- How to honor your parental intuition and champion for your family's needs.
- Why filling your own cup changes things for you and for those who depend on you.
- What you need to do before you can find your tribe.
- And much more...
Learn more about Claire:
Instagram
Website
Claire's Book
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
A determined and introspective hiker defies societal norms, embraces the unknown, and faces the terrifying challenge of forest fires while pursuing her dream of completing the Pacific Crest Trail.
My special guest is Christina Spinazola, who dared to listen to the quiet voice within her and embarked on a remarkable journey across the Pacific Crest Trail. Covering over 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada, she proved to herself and others that courage knows no boundaries. Compelled by her firsthand experiences of traversing the rocky terrains, today she passionately guides entrepreneurs to follow their instincts fearlessly. Her fiery spirit and empathetic coaching have inspired many to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the thrill of their unique adventures.
"Wisdom whispers. It's very quiet. You have to get really still to hear it. And it's usually terrifying when it says, like, 'Go hike across the state of Vermont.'"
- Christina Spinazola
In this episode, you'll be able to:
- Learn how to create the conditions. to hear wisdom whisper
- Understand the crucial role of mindfulness in harnessing inner wisdom.
- Garner tactics to convert fears into initiators for taking purposeful action.
- Unravel the hidden benefits of slowing down to catalyze your career and personal life.
- Expand your comfort zone for fostering boldness and increased self-reliance.
Learn more about Christina here.
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Meet Lara Love Hardin, a true embodiment of resilience. Lara is a four-times New York Times bestselling writer, memoirist, mother, literary agent extraordinaire, and former drug addict and convicted felon.
From a seemingly perfect suburban life to a journey through addiction and incarceration, Lara's story is one of enduring hardship and incredible redemption. With an uncanny ability to rebound from life’s most formidable challenges, she climbed the social ladder in jail, earning the endearing nickname Mama Love for the way she nurtured and helped fellow inmates. Now a prolific author and empathetic literary agent, Lara works on projects with the likes of Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. Her Oprah Book Club selection, The Sun Does Shine, which she coauthored with Anthony Ray Hinton, depicts a powerful narrative of strength and defiance against all odds.
Lara's memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, takes us through her incredible journey from the picture-perfect soccer-mom life through her time in jail to rebuilding her life and claiming her voice.
In this episode you'll learn:
- What it means to live in the power of now
- Why real power is quiet power
- Who it is that each of us more than anyone else
- What can happen when we own our story
- Why we need to look beyond a single season of someone's life
- And so much more
Learn more about Lara:
Personal Website
Business Website
The Gemma Project Nonprofit
TedX Talk
Instagram
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
We're all familiar with "conventional" grief, but what happens when you're grieving somebody who is still alive? It's a grief that feels all-consuming, yet can be totally invisible to others and doesn't carry with it any of the societal norms or customs we experience when someone dies.
Today's guest is Stephanie Sarazin, a brave soul who's traversed the labyrinth of ambiguous grief and emerged as a guiding light for others. Stephanie's world was majorly disrupted by the discovery of chronic betrayal in her marriage. The destabilizing experience sparked a quest in her to understand ambiguous grief and formulate a way to navigate it. She then went on to develop a pioneering model that defines the ambiguous grief process. Stephanie's Gold-winning book, Soul Broken, serves as a helping hand to the 96 percent of people who will experience ambiguous grief at some point in their lives.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Draw back the curtains on ambiguous grief, including its manifold challenges and coping methods.
- Embark on an exploration of various healing practices that are effective after life-altering events and periods of grief.
- Unmask the common practice of concealing trigger events in ambiguous grief to safeguard loved ones
- Discover what it means to be soul broken.
- Find out why hope is a double agent.
- Learn how to put away things you can't control.
- Embrace the internal hope that allows you to live the life that is, rather than the life you used to have.
Connect with Stephanie on Instagram
Read Soul Broken
Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
If you're feeling overwhelmed and isolated, constantly putting on a facade of strength for your family, but deep down struggling with your own mental health issues, then you're not alone.
Today's guest is Beth Starck, a remarkable woman whose resilience shines through her personal and professional journey. An advocate for mental health awareness, Beth is a single mother who has faced and overcome significant hurdles including bipolar disorder and postpartum depression. A clinical supervisor at a nonprofit organization, Beth holds a master's in social work and uses her personal experiences to support others battling mental health issues. Following her diagnosis and recovery from alcohol addiction, Beth uses her story to help dismantle the stigmas surrounding mental health within motherhood.
In this episode, you'll be able to:
- Gain a deeper compassion for mothers grappling with mental health issues and learn what they wish others knew.
- Hear a powerful story of recovery that inspires resilience.
- Realize the healing power of sharing your true story openly.
- Shed light on the stigmas around mental illness and learn why it's crucial to dismantle them.
- Learn how you can help a friend who is struggling.
Learn more about Beth:
Watch
Instagram
Facebook
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
David Ambroz invites us into his incredible life journey, from being a neglected, homeless child to a nationally acclaimed advocate for child welfare. His experiences have fueled a relentless drive to change society’s outlook on poverty and homelessness, inspiring masses and even earning recognition from President Obama.
In this conversation, you'll hear about how it's possible to find hope, grace, and forgiveness even in the most unimaginable of circumstances. You'll also be inspired to make your voice heard and channel your energy into action.
Ambroz offers loads of practical solutions to the issues he's passionate about, including child poverty and the foster care system. But he also challenges each of us to find the issues that we care about and to step up to make a difference. And he explains how!
We are not helpless bystanders but active participants who can shape the world around us. David provides us with practical steps to turn our sense of responsibility into concrete action. His words serve as a sterling reminder that every individual has the power to effect change and make a difference in their communities.
You'll learn:
- One thing you can do today to start taking action
- How to make the most of the 20 seconds in an elevator or the 3 minutes before your Zoom call starts
- How forgiveness can save your life
- Why making change is a slog, and why you should stick with it anyway
- A new way to end the sentence, "I can't."
And so much more...
Connect with David here:
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Linkedin
Buy "A Place Called Home" by David Ambroz
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when you're faced over and over again with choices where the decision that feels right to you isn't the "conventional" one? How do you find the courage to follow your conviction when others are likely to judge your choices?
Meet Kristina Driscoll, a woman defined by her fierce determination and unique life journey. Venturing off the conventional path, Kristina married a man 24 years her senior. Her unwavering convictions served as her north star as she navigated the challenges that followed - from becoming the caregiver to her husband with early onset Alzheimer's while raising their young son, to deciding whether to date as her husband's illness progressed. She's learned patience and resilience in the face of adversity and now shares these lessons as the host of her own podcast, She's Brave.
In this episode, you'll:
- Discover empowering ways to care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's.
- Learn to navigate the daunting world of complex decision making, finding the middle ground between instincts and expert advice.
- Understand the vital role of self-care in caregiving, and realize the importance of involving professionals in this journey.
- Explore the realm of unconventional choices in caregiving, learn about the courage it takes and the difference it can make.
- Get insights on how to balance personal desires, such as love and companionship, with dedication to your role as a caregiver.
Connect with Kristina:
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What happens when your life course is turned upside down? When everything you thought you understood about your present and your future is irrevocably altered?
Joanne Goughan, a resilient working mother of five, shares her journey of unexpected motherhood and the challenges and beauty of raising a child with Down Syndrome in a raw and inspiring conversation about prioritizing what truly matters.
None of us have any guarantees of what the future is going to hold for them or with them. We sign up to become parents, we roll the dice of what life is going to throw at us. - Joanne Goughan
When Joanne Goughan found out she was expecting her fifth child at 41, she never imagined the emotional rollercoaster that was about to unfold. As she welcomed baby Charlie into the world, she was blindsided by the news that her little girl had Down Syndrome. Struggling to come to terms with this new reality, Joanne experienced deep grief and a sense of loss for the life she had anticipated. However, she began to see the incredible strength and love that her daughter brought into their lives, and slowly embraced her new role as a mother to a child with special needs. Joanne's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes life's most challenging moments can lead to our greatest growth and understanding.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- To celebrate your own extraordinary journey and stop comparing yourself to others
- What it's like to immerse yourself in the experience of unforeseen motherhood and cope with a child's unexpected diagnosis.
- The crucial role of promoting awareness and advocating for individuals with disabilities and their family members.
- How parenting while running a business help you be better at both
- How to prioritize time effectively and concentrate on what holds the most importance.
Learn more about Joanne here:
Facebook
Instagram
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Any great movement requires not only the ability to generate creative ideas but also the skill of mobilizing people around those ideas and bringing them to life. How do you do that?
Introducing Nell Merlino, a creative catalyst and trailblazer who has dedicated her life to advocating for women's empowerment and raising visibility and recognition of women and girls' contributions. With an impressive track record of mobilizing people and ideas, Nell brought Take Our Daughters to Work Day to life, reaching an astonishing 25 million people worldwide. As the founder of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, she also facilitated women's access to billion-dollar financing, grants, contracts, and markets. Nell's current project, Crown Quest, further amplifies women's achievements by creating beautiful visual tributes to their influence and impact.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The first step in taking an idea from theory to reality
- How inspiration can be found in unexpected places
- Why we have to recognize our own value
- What it means to be a lioness
- The power of being able to read a room
Learn more about Nell here.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Taking the first step toward pursuing your dreams can be daunting, especially for people re-entering the job market after years at home. But breaking your goal into smaller, more manageable steps can make the whole process less overwhelming and more achievable.
Meet Sheena Melwani, whose brother told her to "just start. Take one step today because that will mean one less step tomorrow."
Pursuing her lifelong dream to be a singer, Sheena Melwani found her path unexpectedly altered as she embraced motherhood and put her music career on hold. But with determination and an amazing support system, Sheena found her way back to music and to a brand new way of connecting with people through humorous videos with her husband. The world responded, with billions of people viewing Sheena's videos, embracing her sense of joy, and connecting to her laughter.
But that's not all. Sheena and her family knew there were other ways to spread joy. After experiencing years in the hospital with her sister's child, Sheena and her family started a nonprofit to bring "joy boxes" to kids with long-term illnesses.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to work backwards to realize a dream
- Why taking that first step can feel like a mystery ... and why you should do it anyway
- How being authentic and relatable is the best way to connect with your people
Learn more about Sheena and Spread the Joy here.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
A mother's world is turned upside down when her daughter is born nine weeks early and sent to the NICU. Just when things seem to be stabilizing, a catastrophic birth defect is revealed.
Meet Corey Corrigan, a remarkable mother whose journey through parenthood has been anything but ordinary. Tune in as two rare mamas talk about what it's like to raise a child with complex medical needs. You'll hear about:
- How you can adapt when your life takes a devastating turn
- Whether toxic positivity is actually toxic
- What you really mean when you say, "I can't do it"
- Why you might feel isolated, even with people who are in your same situation
- How to find a new measure of happiness
- Why hearing things like, "you're a superhero," can actually make you feel like a failure
Find our more about Harper's Village
Read Corey's blog
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What's it like when the whole world is on a first-name basis with your father?
Whether or not you've read it, you've definitely heard of the book, "Tuesdays With Morrie." It's one of the bestselling books of all time. Now, Morrie's son, Rob Schwartz, has come out with a new book by Morrie, The Wisdom of Morrie: Living and Aging Creatively and Joyfully.
In this episode, I sit down with Rob to talk about what he learned from his father about the power of creativity and human connection, the tension of opposites, where to find true joy, and so much more.
You'll learn:
- What it means to "stay human"
- How to find what creativity means to you
- Why...and how...joy and despair are connected
- How to deal with regret
Find out more about Rob, The Wisdom of Morrie, and the upcoming mental health music benefit Rob's producing, Onetopia:
The Wisdom of Morrie
Onetopia
Instagram
Email Rob directly at gangamati@yahoo.com
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Meet Nick Thompson, a mental health advocate and former Love Is Blind contestant, who's on a mission to break down the barriers surrounding mental health. After experiencing the ups and downs of reality television and public scrutiny, Nick founded the UCAN Foundation, a nonprofit that supports unscripted television cast members in finding mental health care and understanding their rights. He also hosts the podcast, Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson, where he engages in authentic conversations about mental health, culture, and politics, encouraging listeners to embrace open dialogue and understanding.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
- The power of open dialogue in combating mental health stigma
- The hidden effects of unscripted cast participation on mental wellbeing.
- Speaking up when something isn't right
- Moving forward when others have unsolicited opinions on your life
- The value of sharing your vulnerability with people who care
Find out more or connect with Nick:
Instagram
Website
Foundation
TikTok
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Have you heard these common myths about creating your own path when life doesn't go as expected? Myth #1: You have to have all the answers. Myth #2: You have to be perfect. Myth #3: You have to do it alone. Don't fret, Emma Nadler is here to bust these myths and share the truth with you.
Emma Nadler is a psychotherapist who specializes in helping people understand their emotions, build deeper relationships, and find meaning in life's challenges. As the author of "The Unlikely Village of Eden" and a parent of a child with disabilities, Emma is no stranger to the unexpected hurdles life can present. Her book is a heartwarming and humorous exploration of the importance of adapting and accepting when life doesn't go according to plan. Emma's unique experiences have shaped her into an empathetic and compassionate guide for others facing similar challenges, inspiring them to create their own imperfect path.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
- The benefits both of asking for help and of being asked for help.
- The significance of community and support in your caregiving journey.
- The validity of ambiguous loss and ambiguous grief
- Fixing the one person you have the power to fix
- Containment as a means of handling tough emotions.
- Showing up for people and cultivating tenacity
Learn more about Emma:
Website
Instagram
Learn more about ambiguous loss and ambiguous grief:
Ambiguous Loss Website
A New Kind of Grief: It's Ambiguous (Article by Jessica Fein)
Soulbroken: A Guidebook for Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief, by Stephanie Sarazin
Listening to this podcast in no way creates a client/therapist relationship with Emma Nadler. No legal, counseling, or other professional services are being rendered and nothing is intended to provide such services or advice of any kind. If you are having a mental health emergency, please contact 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You can also text or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Just when Dana Frost overcame her battle with cancer, life dealt her another devastating blow. But it was a simple concept she called, "Forced Joy," that not only helped her through the darkest of times, but continues to help others in countless ways.
Through a supportive community and irreverent and unique products, the Forced Joy Project helps people who are grieving find solace and a path towards healing through joy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Practical ways to find joy even in the darkest times.
- Why "fine" isn't something we should either aspire to or settle for.
- The role of community in easing the pain caused by loss.
- The impact of sharing memories and personal stories in the healing process.
Learn more about Dana
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
What's the difference between joy and happiness? How can our posture and movement affect our mental state? And how can we access joy even when we're suffering?
Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, a family medicine physician, is an advocate for joy who has spent her career caring for marginalized communities. She's worked with survivors of natural disasters, school shootings, and other traumatic events.
As a mother, she faced the devastating news of her son's degenerative disease diagnosis and embarked on a journey to find joy amidst the pain.
Tanmeet has shared her insights on gratitude as medicine on two TEDx stages, and her book "Joy is My Justice" offers a powerful exploration of the intersection between ancient spiritual practices and modern neuroscience.
In this episode, you'll:
- Learn how to access joy throughout adversity.
- Discover why joy can be an act of resistance.
- Develop practices of self-compassion and gratitude to nurture emotional well-being.
- Discern the differences between happiness and joy for a richer life.
- Find out how what you do in your body rewrites the way your brain interprets and translates what's happening.
Learn more about Tanmeet and her work:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Myriam Steinberg found herself on the cusp of 40, realizing that she needed to take action if she wanted to have a family. As she navigated the world of fertility treatments, Myriam faced a series of challenges and setbacks, including miscarriages and heart-wrenching decisions about her pregnancies. Throughout her journey, she maintained a deep resolve to become a mother, despite the occasional doubts and naysayers. Myriam's determination and resilience eventually paid off when she welcomed her twins into the world.
Myriam Steinberg documents her journey in the award-winning graphic novel, "Catalogue Baby: A Memoir of Infertility."
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
- Master a new kind of decision-making technique for challenging circumstances.
- Separate personal emotional burdens from your child's experience.
- Recognize the importance of reaching out to build community.
- Use laughter as a coping technique
Learn more about Myriam and Catalogue Baby:
Website
Instagram
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
When Nika Stewart received her cancer diagnosis through an email, she was initially confused. She looked at the path in front of her and didn't like what she saw ... so she created a new path. Nika realized that humor and laughter could not only help her cope but also inspire hundreds of millions of other people who began following her journey.
In this episode you'll learn how to:
- Uncover the magic of laughter in navigating challenges
- Forge a new path when the conventional one isn't working for you
- Share authentically to help yourself and captivate others
- Consciously select your thoughts to change your feelings
Learn more about Nika:
Website: shine-365.com
Youtube: youtube.com/nikastewartshine
Instagram: @nikastewartshine
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
In Erica Derrickson's conversation with Jessica Fein, she shares how her sister's pregnancy and a growing sense of dissatisfaction with her career in photography and acting led her to reconsider her life's direction. Erica's quest for meaning ultimately drove her to embark on a life-changing solo trip to India, which marked the beginning of her journey toward self-discovery and personal liberation. After that first trip, Erica kept on traveling, spending time in Egypt, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and more. Her experiences and insights have been chronicled in her bestselling book, Leaving America with Erica, which serves as a guide for others who are yearning to follow their dreams. Erica currently resides in Hummingbird Valley, Guatemala, where she's building a permaculture home.
In this episode you'll learn:
- How to take the first step in finding...and following your dream
- What two emotions lead to the most personal growth
- How to deal with the people who can't support your desires
- How to embrace the mindset of a seeker
- How to use frustration as fuel to seek out new experiences, knowledge, and opportunities for growth and fulfillment.
Connect with Erica:
Find Erica's Daily videos on Facebook here
Find Erica's videos on Youtube here
Get on Erica's mailing list for news and travel offers
Join Erica's exclusive subscription group the High Vibe Tribe
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Dr. Maria O'Rourke, a highly respected emergency medicine physician with more than 20 years of experience, has an incredible story of resilience and determination. Growing up in the foster care system and enduring unthinkable abuse, Maria found solace and inspiration in an unlikely role model on television who guided every decision she made along the way.
As Maria navigated through life's obstacles, she relied on the three-question system she devised to guide her decisions, ensuring they aligned with her goal of becoming a doctor. Despite facing hardships like leaving college, working multiple jobs, and even experiencing homelessness, Maria's determination never wavered. She joined the army to gain the education and stability she needed, eventually becoming a successful doctor treating wounded soldiers on the battlefield in Kuwait.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. The power of finding someone who believes in you
2. How you can turn hope into action
3. Why it's important to breathe and do
4. What not to do with the lessons you learn along the way
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
In May 2016, Kelly and Miguel Cervantes received two life-changing pieces of news: Miguel landed the starring role of Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton: An American Musical and their then 7-months-old baby, Adelaide, was diagnosed with epilepsy and eventually, infantile spasms, a severe form of childhood epilepsy.
Kelly transitioned from being their family’s primary bread winner to being a stay-at-home mom/nurse/pharmacist/therapist and all the other jobs that come with parenting a medically complex child. A few years later, Adelaide passed away.
In this conversation, we talk about Kelly's journey from career woman to caregiver while Miguel was starring in one of the most acclaimed shows of all time, how parenting Adelaide changed the way she approaches parenting her other children, and how Kelly's life's work is forever changed.
You'll learn:
- Why it's okay if you're not okay...but also if you are...while grieving
- The importance of recognizing and honoring life's inchstones
- The most important superpower you can have when your life is turned upside down
Kelly Cervantes is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog, "Inchstones," where she shared the stress, love, and joy that came with parenting her medically complex daughter. Since Adelaide's passing, Kelly has continued to write candidly about her grief journey, culminating in her upcoming book, "Normal Broken."
Pre-order "Normal Broken" here
Read Kelly's blog Inchstones here
Read the poem mentioned in this conversation, "Because My Heart is Where You Now Dwell," by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Allison Hong Merrill is an award-winning memoirist whose story of gender inequality, bravery, and finding her voice has inspired many. After being disowned by her traditional Chinese family for dropping out of college and becoming a missionary, Allison movesto Texas with limited English skills to marry a man she doesn't really know. After a cruel betrayal, Allison defies cultural expectations and embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery and resilience.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How making one right choice at a time helped Allison go from being alone and penniless to finding her happily ever after
- Which obsession can change the world
- Why celebrating yourself can be the decision that sets you free
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Former stuntwoman Bunny Young was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition as a teenager. Together with her service dog, she went on to defy expectations as she chose to live against the script, challenging society's perceptions on her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, author, speaker, and consultant.
In this episode, you'll learn:
-
What it means to advocate for yourself in the face of challenges others don't see
-
How to identify what really matters and simplify your life
-
The difference between growing up and growing in
Learn more about Bunny at www.bunnyyoung.com. Find her on Instagram @bunnyhas6legs
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Gorethy Nabushosi, known as Mama Gorethy, is an attorney and women's rights advocate from the Democratic Republic of Congo who fled in 1997 when her work put her and her family (including six children ages 3 to 11) in danger. Dawn McMullan is a freelance writer and editor from Dallas, Texas. Together, these two women formed Congo Restoration Project to lift girls and women up through education. The result has been a culture shift for the women and their entire Congolese community.
"If we would all connect with a passion that pulls at us, what a world this would be, right? It could be homeless people in your neighborhood, it could be absolutely anything where you're lifting up other people. And mine just happened to be for reasons I absolutely can't explain. In DRC." -Dawn McMullan
In 2007, while the war still raged, a grade-school friend told Gorethy that her country needed her. So she went back.
She returned to find a country devastated by war. Starting with 30 children who had lost their parents to a rebel attack on their village, Gorethy did what she could to put the pieces back together. She took the children in, gave them a house, found caretakers, and Congo Restoration was born.
Today, most of the orphans are teenagers or in their early 20s, being supported by extended family with help from Congo Restoration.
From the original orphan program, Congo Restoration has grown into a transformative mission with the goal of lifting up the women and children of Congo through education.
In 2010, they started a sewing school to empower women. In 2017, they began funding college for orphans and other young adults with the Congo Restoration Collegiate Scholars program. In 2019, they opened the Congo Restoration Girls School of Compassion — offering free primary school education.
Gorethy and Dawn's story of making a difference through education in Congo is one of tragedy, resilience, and hope.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. How to listen to your heart to make a difference in the world
2. How a powerful partnership has changed the culture for women in a Congolese village
3. How lifting up girls and women can have unimaginable ripple effects
Resources:
www.congorestoration.org
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
On this special episode of I Don't Know How You Do It, a powerful panel of three parents share their stories of rare disease, debate the value of staying hopeful, and explore what it means to be resilient.
"Sometimes resilience just means getting up and doing the next thing day after day after day. It doesn't need to be big and heroic. It can just be doing the next right thing." (Nikki McIntosh)
Patti Hall is the author of the memoir Loving Large: A Mother's Rare Disease Memoir. Nikki MCintosh is the creator and founder of Rare Mamas, a resource for mothers of children with Rare Diseases, and host of the Rare Mamas Rising podcast. Daniel DeFabio is the Director of Community Engagement at Global Genes, co-founder of Disorder, the Rare Disease Film Festival, and the Disorder Channel.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. What oxygen tanks help people through the most challenging times
2. How we can embrace hope while also protecting ourselves from being too hopeful in difficult situations
3. What resilience looks like in the face of a rare disease diagnosis
Books Recommendations:
1. Loving Large: A Mother's Rare Disease Memoir by Patti Hall
2. When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner
3. Hope(less) by Catherine Hammond
4. Raising a Rare Girl by Heather Lanier
5. A Sky Full of Stars by Meg Apperson
6. No Such Thing as Normal by Megan DeJarnett
7. Extraordinary: A Book for Children With Rare Diseases by Evren & Kara Ayic
8. Still Point of the Turning World by Emily Rapp Black
9. Bewilderment by Richard Powers
10. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
"I took up space. I didn't know that that's what I would call it now, but I took up space. I was bold, I was courageous, I was honoring of people, but I was also very intentional about making other people's voices heard because I knew that my voice and my thinking was different."
- Tai Beauchamp
Tai Beauchamp started her career in the magazine industry, where she climbed the ladder and made history at Seventeen magazine as the first Black and youngest Beauty and Fitness Director. But Tai got burnt out and left the industry to start a job- readiness training program for young people in Newark, before taking up the mantle of entrepreneurship. Now she's a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, whose work centers on elevating and empowering women. She's also an award-winning TV host and producer, co-founder of Brown Girl Jane, and host of Morning Mindset with Tai. Tai was named one of the 50 most influential people in the multicultural market by WWD.
In this episode, youll learn :
1. What it feels like to be the "only" in a room and take up space .
2. What it takes to launch a successful business.
3. What are the different kinds of rest and how you can incorporate them into your routine for optimal wellness.
Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/taibeau/
https://morningmindsetwithtai.com
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Music credit: Limitless by Bells
Vickie Leuenberger went on a 2-week vacation and found her life's dream. She fell in love with life on the water, and fell in love with who she was on the water. Vickie returned home and spent four years learning about sailing, diesel mechanics, astronomy, and so much more so she could turn her dream into a plan. Then she quit her job, gave up her home, bought a small sailboat and set out for the sea.
Vickie's courage and determination are tested over and over -- when her engine breaks, when she dislocates her shoulder, when her toilet sinks in the ocean. Vickie faces unexpected obstacles and the fear of not being good enough for her boat.
You will learn:
1. What it's like to give up everything and move for a life of adventure?
2. How to make a big life change, even if it's scary.
3. What to do when you're feeling stuck.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Jacqueline Arlen epitomizes a mama on a mission. She advocated for her daughter, Victoria Arlen, for years, while Victoria was in a vegetative state and doctors had given up hope of recovery. During that time, she found her faith and learned to get out of her head and listen to her heart.
Her heart would serve her well after Victoria recovered and Jacqueline had to find her own purpose. Jacqueline founded Project Walk Boston, an activity-based recovery center for people with any mobility related disorders, based in Stratham, NH. Jacqueline explains that this was her calling not only so she could help her own daughter walk again, but for countless others who benefited as well.
But that wasn't all. Next, Jacqueline co-founded Victoria's Victory Foundation to provide awareness and advocacy for access and inclusion as well as assistance for everyday needs for people living with mobility challenges.
You will learn:
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How Jacqueline found her faith and how it carried her through her daughter's illness
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How she decided to open Project Walk Boston even though she was petrified
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How parents can find their own purpose once their children are flying solo
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Victoria Arlen is a testament to resilience and strength. After slipping into a vegetative state at age 11, Victoria found the power of faith, hope, and love to miraculously communicate with a blink of her eye, igniting an unstoppable journey to fulfill her promise of using her voice to be a voice for the voiceless. She defied the odds and went on to break records at the Paralympics, become a sportscaster for ESPN, and compete on Dancing with the Stars. She's also the author of the book, "Locked In," and a founder of Victoria's Victory Foundation.
You will learn:
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How did Victoria Arlen find her message in her mess?
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What motto did Victoria create that helps her move from strength to strength?
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How did Victoria go from being told she could never walk again to becoming a Paralympic champion and contestant on Dancing with the Stars?
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What accomplishment leaves Victoria speechless?
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
**Jessica Fein welcomes Effie Parks to the I Don't Know How You Do It podcast to discuss Effie’'s journey as a rare-disease mom. Listen in as Jessica and Effie talk about how Effie went from being a hairdresser to becoming a leader within the rare-disease community. Find out what her oxygen tanks are that get her through every single day, how she describes what real self-care looks like, and how she found the connections that changed her trajectory. Effie's mission is to lift voices of the community, connect people to resources, and to leave this world better than she found it.
Follow her at www.effieparks.com and www.onceuponagenepodcast**.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Do people look at your life and say, "I don't know how you do it?" And who do you look at and say that very thing? Whether they were thrust into extraordinary circumstances or chose the road less traveled, find out how people whose lives seem unimaginable live, love, and laugh in the midst of it all. Welcome to the journey.
Find more at www.jessicafeinstories.com
Welcome to "I don't know how you do it," where we talk to people whose lives seem unimaginable from the outside. I'm so happy you're with me on this journey.