The Happy Meemaw

Seth Whitten has a fantastic sense of humor, and I think you'll be riveted by the story he tells about surviving a catastrophic accident in his youth and finding his calling at disAbility Resource Center, a Center for Independent Living in Fredericksburg, VA. He is candid about his journey and shares the great work he and the folks at dRC are doing for members of our community. You can learn m...

I'm so happy to welcome back my friend, author Donna Costello, as we do a deep dive on her recent ADHD diagnosis and how it answered lots of questions about not only her behaviors, but about her drive for writing. While often we associate ADHD with kids, Donna shares how it affects her life and ways she's come to adapt and tailor her writing habits to fit the diagnosis. Be sure to follow T...

Join me for this week's The Happy Meemaw Reads with Author Chris Grooms as we discuss his love of all things fantasy, and the creation of Gaiand and his character, Wulf Blackhawk. Chris is a retired US Marine who loved all things fantasy as a kid, found D&D, and shared his love of all things fantasy with his sons. We chat about his books, including the soon-to-be-released "Tales from...

Imagine looking around for some property on the water where you can escape for the weekend, and that search takes you to the cutest little retro inn in need of some TLC. That's the story of Riverview Inn owner Kelly Woods Vaughn and the adorable boutique hotel her family owns and operates in Colonial Beach, VA. Kelly discusses the journey to the inn, its renovation, and its role in the revital...

It's Meemaw Music Monday and this week I'm picking my top 5 songs by the iconic group Chicago with my friends Julie and Kathy. We've all been fans for nearly 50 years and have some very difference preferences when it comes to this legendary band, their songs the sound of our childhood. Here's hoping you find a new listen, and maybe a new favorite! Thanks for listening!

Few writers out there cranking out great thrillers can boast the resume that Jeffrey James Higgins has - he has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor, and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, and ABC News , among others. And now he has created the N...

I'm so happy to welcome back author Wendy L. Anderson for this Friday's The Happy Meemaw Reads as we discuss her newest release, "The Dragon Thief's Heart." The book released Jan 13 and we discuss this stand-alone novel, Anderson's 15th release, and the coming-of-age story of Kieran and Una and how Kieran's quest to become a warrior gets him much more than he bargaine...

This week on The Happy Meemaw, I'm joined by my wonderful friend, Dr. Mary Margaret Carrillo, to catch up on her amazing project, the Latina Voices Institute. Borne from her life's journey and pathway to her doctorate, Mary Margaret is the founder, CEO, and driving force behind the Latina Voices Institute. She leads initiatives that provide learning opportunities and cultivate leadership a...

This week I'm joined by Sue Henderson, a military veteran who has traveled to over dozens of countries throughout her life. Last summer she and her husband took an extended trip to Italy and we discuss how they planned, tips and ideas to make your planning easier, and details about their fantastic Italian visit. Sue and her husband will be hosting an info session on travel planning in the Frederic...

For my first episode of 2026, I once again sit down with my friend Rob Fagan to discuss the release of his book, "31 Days to Emergency Preparedness and Personal Resilience." We talk about his vast experience in emergency preparedness and disaster management, and how he's working to educate anyone interested through his book and a course he's developed. Learn more about it at Unli...

Happy Friday - today is a wonderful episode of The Happy Meemaw Reads podcast with poet, artist, and educator Chad Boxley. We talk about his collection of poems, "Turnbuckle," inspired by his love of pro wrestling, as well as his life as a creator and the incredibly important work he does every day teaching art to incarcerated youth. Chad and I are both wrestling buffs and had a great ch...

My grandma used to say that "getting old ain't for sissies," and she wasn't wrong. Women experience so many changes as they age, and writer Laurie S. Jacobson was kind enough to join me to answer some questions posed by my friends as they navigate the phases of menopause. It's nice to know others are experiencing the same things you are, so give us a listen, and if you have q...

Meet Author Jessica Jude, who is busy writing fantastic posh romances at 4:30 in the morning while all of you are still in REM. Jessica talks about her books set in the fictitious Wesbourne, and we get into her new release, King of Obsession, a rock star romance/fake dating trope with the imperfect but endearing Rhett and Saylor. Learn more about Jessica and purchase her books here: https://www.je...

It's Meemaw Music Monday! Today I'm joined by my friend Sarah Sparrows as we accomplish the impossible task of listing our top 5 female rock vocalists. Sarah and I learn from each other every time we talk, and this visit is no exception! Chime in and let us know how close we got to your top 5 Female Rock Vocalists. Be sure to follow The Happy Meemaw podcast on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon. V...

I had an insightful chat with author Laurie S. Jacobson about her book, "Unexpected Awakening: 22 Days at a Buddhist Monastery Freed Me From Abuse." Laurie discusses how her life changed when she took a brave step and escaped to a silent retreat, and how she was able to find the strength and courage to leave an unhealthy relationship and find her way to joy in her life. Learn more about...

What a blast to chat with Mia Phifer of Mia Phifer Consulting about running successful Democratic political campaigns and coaching potential candidates. I've long admired Mia, who grew up in the same small Southern Illinois town that I did, and I was excited to talk about what it takes to coach potential political candidates (at every level) and the evolution of running campaigns. Visit Mia&#3...

The Happy Meemaw Reads is back with a conversation with Author Dee Armstrong. I loved meeting Dee and learning about how she became a writer, the inspiration for her Twin Springs series, and a preview of the release of her new book, Haunted by a Broken Oath, available on Nov. 11. Enjoy our conversation and Dee's books - thanks for listening! Learn more about Dee's work at www.deearmstrong....

My friend Tricia Wolfrey of the Rappahannock Chapter of American Red Cross joins me this week to discuss fire safety. October is always Fire Safety Month as we prepare for the change of seasons and the holidays. Take a listen and be sure to double check all of the tips that will keep you and your family safe! Thanks for listening! Learn more about American Red Cross Fire Safety at Home Fire Preven...

Welcome to the first Meemaw Music Monday! The inaugural episode features my friends Mary and Julie as we discuss our top 5 Billy Joel songs. You may remember from a past The Happy Meemaw episode that we became friends as pen pals when we were kids, and our love of the Piano Man drew us together. We were challenged to only feature 5 songs each, but the discussion was fun. Thanks for listening!

This week I have the pleasure of chatting with Miriam Niemi, executive director of the Love Thy Neighbor food pantry in King George County, VA, about the organization and its service to our local community. Miriam talks about the evolution of the non-profit organization, the need for donations and volunteers, and the ways the pantry serves our neighbors. Thanks for listening! Learn more about Love...

Happy Friday! This week's The Happy Meemaw Reads features a chat with author David Gorman, who's penned several books in the series Waldameer Mystery Files. The books are geared towards kids ages 8 - 12 and feature siblings solving mysteries in an amusement park. I loved hearing David's story and I think you will too! Check out David's books at Author David Gorman | Children's...

I'm joined this week by Mike Byle, owner of CB Train Junction, who took his lifelong love of trains, pursued a career working on advancements in train advancement and safety, and after retirement, found himself a business owner of a great train store in Colonial Beach, VA. Mike talks about his childhood, his rewarding career, and the hobby that has become a store the entire community can share...

Happy Friday! The Happy Meemaw Reads is back with a wonderful conversation with author Bronwen Chisholm, who has made a career as an author in the world of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Bronwen has reimagined and elegantly added to this classic novel and in our conversation, she shares her eternal love for the story and its iconic characters, and takes us through her journey as an author....

It's Friday - time for The Happy Meemaw Reads! I'm so happy to welcome back author Donna Costello, and today she's bringing her writing partner Lara Cook to talk about their new series, Outlaw Royales Motorcycle Club, and how they work together to create memorable characters and stories with lots of smolder and spice. Be sure to order the first book in their series, King of Clubs, at A...

If you listen to The Happy Meemaw regularly, you know that my friend Rachael Carroll said the unthinkable in our chat about her many travel adventures - her worst trip was to Hawaii. Now we can put the pearl clutching aside because she gave the islands another chance with great results. Please enjoy our chat and as always, thanks for listening!