Little Book of Confessions with Melissa May

In this heartfelt episode, Melissa opens up about the decade she spent with her dog Charlie—how he helped her break through anxiety, move across the country, and feel unconditional love for the first time. She reflects on the deep connection between pets and our healing, the unexpected friendship that blossomed through dog walks, and the recent loss of Magic, Charlie’s canine companion. This is a...

This one’s for the grandmas who quietly carry our history. In this episode, I share a tender memory of discovering a pink Mead notebook my Grandma Donna saved for decades—a notebook filled with poems and stories I wrote as a little girl. It’s not just about nostalgia. It’s about remembering the child I was, the dreams I had, and the quiet proof that I’ve always been a writer. I reflect on the powe...

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and may be difficult for some listeners. Today, I crack open a box of handwritten memories — little notebooks I used to pass around, filled with secrets, affirmations, confessions, and anonymous truths. What started as a quirky project with skeleton keys and handmade envelopes turns into a raw reflection on my past, my strength...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders.  If this topic feels too heavy right now, please take care of yourself and skip as needed. In this episode of Little Book of Confessions , I open up about my own struggles with disordered eating and the girl I met at 17 who changed me forever. She was 19, beautiful, brilliant — and in pain. Her letters, quotes, and poems still live in my...

K-dramas always hit me right in the heart — not just for the drama, but for the way they stir something in my memory. In this episode of Little Book of Confessions , I share stories about my Korean grandmother, Marie — how she escaped North Korea as a child, built a life in the U.S., and shaped who I am in ways I’m still discovering. This is a story about food, culture, memory, grief, and a goodby...

In this episode of Little Book of Confessions with Melissa May , I open up about something that used to make me feel ashamed: not having a college degree. From working three jobs and enrolling in community college at 17, to becoming a successful professional and starting multiple businesses — this is my story of grit, survival, and redefining success on my own terms. This episode is for anyone who...

A simple quote, scribbled in one of my little bar journals, stayed with me:  “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” — J.R.R. Tolkien In this episode of Little Book of Confessions , I reflect on what that quote means today — in a world that often feels heavy, dark, and divided. From the fear of eroding rights to the weight of invisible identities, I talk about the tension...

Welcome to Little Book of Confessions with Melissa May — a space for secrets, stories, and survival. In this debut episode, Melissa shares the origin story behind the journals, bar notebooks, and quiet reflections that shaped her voice as a writer and storyteller. She opens up about moving 40 times before age 14, growing up queer and part Korean, navigating trauma, and learning how to love herself...

In this deeply personal episode of Little Book of Confessions with Melissa May , I share the moment that cracked my world open — the day I found my father after more than a decade apart. What followed was a handwritten confession, a decades-old court battle, and the unraveling of a story I thought I understood. This episode is for anyone carrying family secrets, seeking truth, or healing from the...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Sexual assault  Please listen with care — or feel free to skip this episode if it’s not the right time for you. In this vulnerable episode of Little Book of Confessions with Melissa May , I share a story I’ve carried since I was 17. At the time, I couldn’t say the word “rape.” I couldn’t write it, either. So I told myself another story to survive — one I reread years later and...