this is it actually.

this is a story about libraries but it’s also about found things and human connection and love, actually. it all started in oakland, california, about 10 years ago. sharon mckellar was a librarian then, and one of her favourite parts of the job was finding things inside the books. things like love letters, recipes, kid’s drawings, photos, receipts, to do lists, anonymous poetry. the list appears t...

hello hello! i hope you had a great summer! my first guest back for the second half of season 3 is lovely. that’s the best way to describe him & i'm thrilled that he agreed to talk to me. he is a poet & author, he's been writing his whole life & he loves words just as much as i do.  we talk about our love of words, dealing with anxiety, humans we've met through social, love, heart...

the energy of the number 100 is positive and optimistic. 100 is a perfect square number. there are 100 years in a century & 100 pennies in a dollar. a person who lives to be 100 is called a centenarian. there are 100 letter tiles in a scrabble game & 100 sweat glands in one square inch of skin. 'keep it 100' means to be authentic and truthful. keep it real.  the record number of point...

when i typed “different types of celebrity crushes” into google, i got quite the mix of results. things like: what to do if you have a big celebrity crush, how do i get a celebrity to notice me, do celebrities fall in love with fans, how can you tell if a celebrity likes you, and - how to get over your celebrity crush obsession haha. celebrity crushes are fun though right? i mean, hopefully. i thi...

sometimes things, sometimes people, sometimes places. it all counts.  with special guests: @michellequance, @melanieluongo, @alluringartistry_ & errol vas. x. follow the podcast on instagram: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

a second act is defined as something a person devotes their life to later in life, after retiring or quitting an original occupation and usually, after a successful career. ok, i think that definition is so limiting! when i typed 'second act' into google, i got a lot of stories about people who were embarking on a second profitable or successful career after already having had one. and listen, the...

let’s face it, june is pretty much a write-off when it comes to school. teachers trying to teach, kids muscling through last assignments & quizzes, parents clamouring to make plans for summer so everyone stays sane. there's the summer clothing shop, the locker cleanout, the extra groceries bought... the countdown is on. and all the days lead to the last day when the final bell rings and school...

i'd say that some of the things that have changed my life also get a little twisted up with left or right turns, sliding doors, sometimes regret - it’s a whole cornucopia of feelings and woulda coulda shoulda’s, and the paths that we end up on. if you think about some of the things that have happened to you that you might consider a life-changer, it’s kind of normal to look back on how you got the...

so i came up with this brilliant topic idea and then i was like, uh oh. how DO we make the world better?  i mean, not that i thought we were going to solve the centuries old mystery in this particular episode but i wasn’t even sure we'd know where to start. but my guests just went for it & they do not disappoint. want to live in a better world? start here.  with special guests: @jenn...

regret can be a joykiller – and a non-mover-forwarder in lots of ways. but we all have it. for one thing or many. is there any good that comes from it? i like to think that it's a lesson-giver. acknowledging it, learning from it, but not living with it, may just be the way to go.  today's stories are super relatable.  with special guests: @ospreybeekeeper, @tiffanytrumptherapy, @the...

i love love love life lessons.  i mean, it kind of makes sense because my whole THIS IS A TIP thing is pretty much based around life lessons & life tips and i inundate you with life quotes on my instagram feed... so, this topic makes sense for a lot of reasons. it's chock a' block with good stuff from fabulous guests - things they've learned personally & things they've been told. i gi...

when we think about what 'made' us - we tend to think BIG. but that's not always the way. it doesn't have to be some giant, in-your-face momentous occasion - sure, it CAN be - but it can also be small subtle things that impact us in a big way. sometimes we may not even notice it, until it's passed. but it plays a part in the US of who we are. life is wild hey? and, as it goes, every story is diffe...

get ready for a lil' 5-parter! this is the first episode in my 5 part mini-series within the podcast called YOUR STORIES. it’s less about me & more about YOU. today we begin with CHILDHOOD. 'cuz it's the one thing we all have in common, right? good, bad, memorable or not, there are stories to be told & nostalgia to be had. i've lined up some of my best storytelling friends & they do not disappoint...

tiia's podcast statistics:  70% of listeners are women, 28% are men & 2% are non-binary. i'd like to think that a lot of the topics we talk about can resonate with everybody & anybody, but i also acknowledge that we talk about a lot of subjects that maybe are a little bit more female-leaning. i'm a feminist loud and proud & i believe in equal rights for everyone. i think that we l...

my birth certificate says 'jennifer' but the only person to call me that was my mom when she was mad. (& that stayed true well into my adult life, actually). i changed the spelling of my name when i was in grade 6, my dad changed his whole last name legally when he was 18 & let's face it, naming our kids can be a stressful & pressure-filled event. today's stories run the gamut! from re...

dan fischer was heading out on his surfboard, in his regular everyday way, & he decided he wanted to take his dad - who had passed away - with him.  a simple act of remembrance started a wave – literally – of kindness & healing & paying it forward & connection, & it's become bigger than dan ever imagined it would or could. we chat about love & loss & human connection. finding light in dark places....

being a teen is no picnic but also actually the best. today's stories include: weird teen style, teenage love, teen pregnancy, 80s, 90s & 00s babies & the crystal clear memory of a first not-so-great kiss. it's about to get all teen nostalgic up in here.  with special guests: @momma.barbosa, @_natandjen & @rebeccagarner_author. x. follow the podcast on instagram: @thisisitact...

leisse wilcox is obsessed with relationships. she's an expert in helping people finding truth and beauty in the relationships we have with ourself and others.  leisse is a TEDx speaker, 2x author, NLP practitioner, top podcast host, cancer survivor, solo parent of three girls…and taco enthusiast. find leisse @leissewilcox on instagram and on the interwebs at www.leissewilcox.com. her books: a...

i can't believe it's taken me 84 episodes to get to parenting, but let's face it, it's a biggie.  we barely scratch the surface but this episode is loaded with a bunch of different stories from all different types of parents & parenting situations. same, but oh so different.  with special guests: @britszc89, @thefeelingslady, @roamandramblephoto, @whyamipod & @sweetpotatochronicl...

i never owned a pair of penny loafers & i cobbled together looks through the fashion racks at bargain harold’s and bi-way. my hair was my hair – god help me - and it was what it was. when it comes to fads, i think we’re all just trying to stand out by fitting in and it can be a little bit messy. fads come & go and sometimes they swing back 'round again.  with special guests: @ellencba...

we're baaaackk! & i can't think of a better guest to kick off season 3 with! LU has created LULAND - a world of positivity, female empowerment, graciousness, gratitude & community. it all began with a clothing swap & now she’s about to drive across the country in a green leopard print bus named after her mom, stopping in cities to meet new people, talk about liberation, sex, self-love,...

a little look back with a large look ahead, it's the final episode of season 2! with a beautiful astrology reading from my special guest kesley, @irongypsylife. x. find kesley at www.kesleytweed.com follow the podcast on instagram & tiktok: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

today's topic could be a million-parter - cuz let's face it, EVERYTHING is a thing that happened. i like to think there's a lesson - or a great story! - in all of it. what do we come out with? how do we learn? or is it just a thing we get to tell over a round of drinks? with special guests: @bad_girl_camp_, @carolinehabib & @gregkrinoshow. x. follow the podcast on instagram & tiktok: @this...

i feel fortunate to be able to say i've experienced some pretty momentous holidays in my life. both of the travel & marked-date-on-the-calendar variety. today's stories give me all the feels. and definitely make me want to travel again asap. with special guests: @eranthomson, @serenaholmesauthor & @melodiejewel. x. follow the podcast on instagram & tiktok: @thisisitactually follow me &...

not gonna' lie, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to get people to tell their stories of selflessness but i was determined to get them, 'cuz i know they're out there! these ones do not disappoint. #DoGoodShit  with special guests: @dylanlockstar, @candace_jongkind, @jayelehm, @afk2pt0 & @bigbikegiveaway. x. follow the podcast on instagram & tiktok: @thisisitactually follow me &...