I Don't Know How You Do It

In this powerful episode, author and performer Susan Lieu shares her journey of uncovering long-buried family secrets after her mother's death from a botched tummy tuck. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and a self-described "multi-hyphenate storyteller," Susan reveals how she transformed decades of silence into art, taking her one-woman show on a national tour and writing her...

What would happen if we were all more honest about what we're really going through? Amanda Griffith-Atkins, therapist and mother of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome, has built a powerful community around that very question. In this raw and refreshing conversation, Amanda challenges the "special needs warrior" narrative and toxic positivity that often surrounds disability and careg...

Let's dive into the extraordinary life of bestselling author, Caroline Leavitt. You might know Caroline from one of her best selling novels like Days of Wonder , With or Without You , Cruel, Beautiful World , Pictures of You , just to name a few. But the story of Caroline's personal life is just as dramatic as any of her books. From family curses to medical miracles, From heartbreak to l...

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 resilien...

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...

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 s...

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 seiz...

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), Je...

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...

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...

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 communi...

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 mea...

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 kidna...

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...

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 jour...

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...

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...

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 l...

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 invit...

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 th...

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 emot...

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 he...

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,  w...

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...

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...