Wild Precious Life

Dr. Ebony Butler is a Licensed Psychologist, Trauma Expert, and Food Relationship Strategist who has made it her mission to make counseling accessible and safe for everyone. She recently created My Therapy Cards to support men, women, and teens who want to work towards self-exploration and discovery on their own time. In this episode, Annmarie and Dr. Ebony discuss vulnerability, the dangers of di...

Celeste Ng is a literary rockstar whose bestselling novels have been translated into over thirty languages. Her latest book, OUR MISSING HEARTS, is a story about art, power, and the legacies we pass on to our children. In this episode, Annmarie and Celeste discuss banned books, miniatures, and whether the world can, in fact, be divided into Order Muppets or Chaos Muppets. Learn more about your ad...

Ben Percy writes novels, and comic books, and podcasts, and television, and movies, and short stories, and more. He joins us today to talk about “juggling all those flaming chainsaws.” In this episode, Ben and Annmarie discuss Wolverine, sharks, and “cussedness,” how to be stubborn in the face of rejection, and what it takes to pursue the writing life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

In her book, SCHOOLED, Stephanie Jankowski writes a love letter to what she describes as “the exhausting, infuriating, occasionally excruciating yet somehow completely wonderful profession of teaching.” In this episode, Annmarie and Stephanie discuss back-to-school survival tricks, the value of educating the whole child, and how parents and teachers can be better partners on the journey.   Learn m...

In her recent memoir, NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF, Lisa Nikolidakis chronicles the inheritance of a crime scene, and what happened both before and after the murder-suicide that cracked her world wide open. In this episode, Annmarie and Lisa discuss trauma writing, open-heartedness, talking to horses, and how all of us are imperfect survivors of our own messy lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Echo Brown’s recent memoir, THE CHOSEN ONE, examines the opportunities and costs of an Ivy League education, and the obligation universities have to support and safeguard first-generation college students. Annmarie and Echo discuss inequity, community, and the need to be a promised land for one another. Additionally, Echo talks about her current health crisis and her urgent campaign to find a kidn...

Jessica Payne’s most recent novel MAKE ME DISAPPEAR is a twisting thriller that poses important questions. What would it take for anyone to make a clean escape from their own life? And how far should you go to fight back against an abuser? This book provides hope for anyone who’s ever wanted to leave a broken relationship, but could not find their way out. In this episode, Annmarie and Jessica dis...

Monica Wood’s most recent novel THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY will capture your imagination and warm your heart. It’s the best book you may not yet have heard of. In this episode, Monica and Annmarie discuss found families, where stories come from, and why strivers make the world go ‘round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teresa K. Miller's poetry collection, BORDERLINE FORTUNE, won the prestigious National Poetry Series and has been featured on radio programs and book festivals across the country. However, not long ago, Teresa nearly gave up writing, after one too many publishing heartbreaks. In this episode, she and Annmarie unpack that story, compare family legacies, and ponder what truly makes a life worth livi...

Kirstin Chen’s recent book, COUNTERFEIT, is one of the most anticipated novels of the summer, in which two Asian American women grow a fake handbag scheme into a global enterprise. The book is full of twists and surprises and makes for great beach or poolside reading. In this episode, Annmarie and Kirstin chat about luxury purses, fanny packs, daily yoga practice, and the dangers of the model mino...

Jennifer E. Smith spent years editing other people’s manuscripts before finally finding her footing to publish her own. To date, she’s now written eleven books, including THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and HELLO, GOODBYE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN that will both be released as films soon. In this episode, Annmarie and Jennifer discuss summoning courage, paying attention to smal...

Mira Jacob is a novelist, memoirist, illustrator, and cultural critic whose graphic memoir GOOD TALK has been described as “exactly the book America needs at this moment.” Annmarie and Mira discuss racism, social justice, and how to encourage our kids to ask difficult questions even when we don’t have all the answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a child, Carrie Harris was the kind of girl who played STAR WARS with the boys. Even at that young age, she yearned for more female roles and adventures. So these days, she writes them. Carrie recently landed her dream job telling stories for Marvel. Annmarie and Carrie reminisce about high school hijinks and discuss the importance of unleashing the superhero inside of each one of us. Learn mor...

As a child, Haleh Liza Gafori was introduced to Rumi’s Persian poetry, and as an adult, she began singing and translating these same poems. Annmarie and Haleh talk about the timelessness of this 13th century mystic, how Rumi’s work offers “liberating and nourishing perspectives” still vital to us today, and how we can both lose and find ourselves in the depth of his words. Learn more about your ad...

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado climbs mountains. In fact, she is one of the few women in the world to complete the Seven Summits, ascending the highest peak on each continent. In this episode, Silvia and Annmarie talk about the healing power of mountain climbing and how women can work through trauma by putting one foot in front of the other and hiking far above the clouds. Learn more about your ad choices....

Elizabeth Lesser is a well-known author whose latest book, CASSANDRA SPEAKS, challenges us to think about how when women are the storytellers, the human story changes. In this episode, Annmarie and Elizabeth discuss the roles females have played throughout history, religion, and mythology, and how now is time for us to unlearn some of the gendered lessons we have come to believe so that all people...

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about teaching women to live in courage and faith. Annmarie and Barb discuss hometown heartaches, why people should eat dessert first, and how to journey through your own wilderness season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bodhi Calagana and Wilson Rodriguez have something in common: a love of sound. Specifically EDM or Electronic Dance Music. In this episode, Bodhi, Wilson, and Annmarie discuss finding acceptance, healing, and refuge in the EDM community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Brewer Daily began her career in Marketing, but she always knew she had a story to tell. Now in her 60s, Julia recently published her debut novel, NO NAMES TO BE GIVEN, a semi-autobiographical account of adoption practices years ago. In this episode, Annmarie and Julia discuss the heartache, love, and joy involved both in loving a child and letting her go. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Laura Maylene Walter is the author of BODY OF STARS, a novel in which women’s bodies predict the future. Annmarie and Laura discuss love and loss and the power of manifesting our dreams through storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the age of 21, Thrity Umrigar left India to study journalism in the United States. Decades later, she is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen books, including her latest, HONOR, in which a reporter searches for courage amid the ashes of hatred. Annmarie and Thrity talk about the resilience of women, our need to protect the most vulnerable among us, and how to find love hidden in the boredo...

Megan Logan is a therapist, mom, and author of the SELF-LOVE WORKBOOK FOR WOMEN. In this episode, we open up about past struggles and current opportunities. Annmarie and Megan also discuss nude beaches, skydiving, and how to embrace the best version of yourself in every phase of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During this holiday season, we've decided to reissue our episode featuring Emily Ford. In case you don't remember, Emily was the first woman to successfully through-hike and complete Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail in the winter. I think we can all take a little of Emily's optimism into 2022! Emily’s love of the outdoors, her incurable optimism, and SAY YES spirit will have you donning hiking boots and...

Naki Akrobettoe is a poet, a Ghanaian princess, and most importantly a mother. In this episode, Naki and Annmarie talk about the tricky balance of creativity and parenthood, the need for safe mental health practices, and the power of finding a home within yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Makkai is the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist, THE GREAT BELIEVERS, which tells the story of the AIDS epidemic in Chicago. Rebecca and Annmarie talk about the parallels and differences between battling Covid today and fighting HIV in the 1980s, as well as the lessons we can all learn about how to live and love in the face of fear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...