Shows
I Don't Know How You Do ItJustice For My Sister, with Susan Altman: Part 2In this powerful conclusion to our two-part series, we uncover the shocking truth behind Stacy's murder and follow Susan's extraordinary seven-year fight for justice.After three years of relentless investigation, Susan finally received validation that her sister was murdered by her husband, known only as "Diablo." But this breakthrough was just the beginning of an even longer journey to justice.The episode reveals the chilling motive behind Stacy's murder, detailing how forensic experts ultimately proved what Susan had known all along. We walk through the grueling legal process that finally led to Diablo's conviction...
2025-05-0633 minI Don't Know How You Do It100th Episode: Gender, Genetics, and Good Grief, with Ben MortonIn this milestone 100th episode of "I Don't Know How You Do It," host Jessica Fein welcomes writer Ben Morton, whose powerful HuffPost essay about discovering he's intersex through a routine ancestry test captivated readers nationwide. Ben shares the phone call that changed everything and how this revelation provided the missing puzzle piece to questions he'd had his entire life.Ben's memoir-in-progress, titled "Good Grief," explores the complex emotions that followed his discovery. While finding relief in understanding himself better, he also experienced grief over losing the life he'd been raised to expect. His relationship with faith...
2025-04-2237 minI Don't Know How You Do ItBe The Change: Living Like Gandhi, with Perry GarfinkelWhat would happen if you tried to live by Gandhi's principles in today's world?In this episode, we welcome journalist and author Perry Garfinkel, who embarked on an extraordinary 18-month journey to follow Mahatma Gandhi's six principles of moral living: truth, nonviolence, simplicity, faith, vegetarianism, and celibacy.Perry's experiment, chronicled in his book Becoming Gandhi, took him across three continents as he literally walked in Gandhi's footsteps, from retracing the famous 240-mile Salt March in India to visiting South Africa where Gandhi spent 20 years developing his strategies of peaceful resistance.With...
2025-03-1840 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Become Resilient AF: Grief, Gratitude, and Growth, with Blair Kaplan Venables and Alana KaplanIn this irreverent, informative, and inspiring episode, Blair and Alana Kaplan of The Global Resilience Project share their journey through profound loss and how it sparked a global movement to help others strengthen their "resilience muscle." After losing both parents within a year—their mother to unexpected cancer and their father shortly after—they created a framework for resilience that combines neuroscience, storytelling, and practical tools. The sisters discuss their annual "Grief Week" getaway, their "Dead Parents Society" merchandise, and Blair's transformative plant medicine journeys, while explaining how practices like daily gratitude and intentional storytelling can rewire our brains for...
2025-03-0453 minI Don't Know How You Do ItWhy You Should Buy the Balloon: Rare Disease, Hard Truths, and Beautiful Moments, with Erin Paterson and Laura WillIn this powerful episode marking Rare Disease Awareness Day, we bring together two remarkable guests whose lives have been profoundly shaped by rare diseases. Erin Paterson, who carries the gene for Huntington's disease and cares for her father with the same condition, and Laura Will, mother to five-year-old Alden who has polymicrogyria, share their unique yet interconnected journeys.The conversation explores the complex reality of being both a caregiver and advocate while maintaining one's own identity. From Laura's innovative concept of "soul to soul communication" with Alden to Erin's approach to involving her daughter in her father's...
2025-02-2539 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Full Catastrophe: Loss, Love, and Finding Your F*ck You, with Casey Mulligan WalshHow do you rebuild your life after devastating loss? At age 12, Casey Mulligan Walsh lost both parents within months of each other. Relocated from suburban New Jersey to upstate New York, she spent years dreaming of creating the perfect family life she'd been denied. In this powerful episode, Casey shares how her search for belonging led her through marriage, divorce, and the tragic loss of her 20-year-old son Eric. Her memoir The Full Catastrophe chronicles this journey from being the ultimate people-pleaser to finding true strength and authenticity. Whether you're dealing with grief, struggling to belong, or trying to...
2025-02-1839 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHigh-Frequency Living: Love, Loss, and My Meditation Homework, with Amanda McKoy FlanaganIn this episode, Amanda McKoy Flanagan shares her journey through multiple losses, spiritual awakenings, and discovering how to break generational patterns of emotional protection. A New Yorker turned Colorado resident, Amanda opens up about losing five family members in three years, saving her marriage to a 9/11 first responder, and learning that what first appeared as emotional breakdowns were actually spiritual breakthroughs.Amanda discusses the "great myth" passed down through generations - the belief that we should love less to protect ourselves from inevitable loss. Through therapy, meditation, and deep inner work, she discovered how this unconscious operating...
2025-02-1151 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTwo Moms Get Real: Grief, Hope, and Fierce Joy, with Morgan Motsinger and Jessica FeinOn a TEDx stage in Concord, Massachusetts, two mothers met and discovered they shared a deep bond – both had lost teenage daughters. In this intimate conversation, Morgan Motsinger and I explore what happens when life's bubble of safety gets punctured, how to navigate ongoing loss while caring for a child with a degenerative disease, and why it's so important to give ourselves permission for joy even in our darkest moments.We dig into the destabilizing events that change how we see the world, what it means to hope when circumstances feel hopeless, and why comparing our grief to...
2025-02-0459 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Unexpected Adventure: Athletes, Access, and Inspiration Porn, with Tim BrownWhat does adventure mean to you? For Tim Brown, it once meant charging down ski slopes as a patrol member and catching waves as a dedicated surfer. But on February 13th, 2011, a devastating accident on the slopes left him quadriplegic at age 25. Rather than marking the end of his adventurous spirit, this became what Tim calls "the biggest adventure I'll ever have."Today, Tim isn't just surviving - he's thriving as an adaptive athlete who has competed in the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships and made history as the first quadriplegic to heliski at Silverton Mountain...
2025-01-2836 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHope is Dope: Grief, Growth, and Extraordinary Parents, with Larry CarlatWhen Larry Carlat's 28-year-old son Rob died by suicide six years ago, Larry never imagined it would lead him to find his life's calling as a grief counselor, or to become, in his words, "the Pied Piper of psychedelics for grieving parents" In this raw and surprisingly hopeful conversation, Larry shares insights from his new book A Space in the Heart about what it means to be part of what he calls "the world's cruelest club" and how bereaved parents develop unexpected superpowers. From his transformation from skeptical New Yorker to spiritual seeker, to his radical take...
2025-01-2139 minI Don't Know How You Do ItNearly Departed: Cancer, Kids, and Courage, with Gila PfefferWhat do you do when by age 30 you're the oldest living member of your family? Do you live in fear or take action?In this powerful and humorous episode, author Gila Pfeffer shares her journey as both a "previvor" and survivor of breast cancer. After losing her mother and grandmother to breast cancer, Gila took proactive steps to prevent the same fate, only to find cancer anyway – and then write about it with unexpected wit and wisdom in her memoir Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences.Gila opens up about choosing a ra...
2025-01-1448 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFaith, Medicine, and Fatherhood: Where Terror and Wonder Meet, with James RobinsonWhere do faith, terror, and wonder intersect? In this powerful episode, author James G. Robinson takes us on an extraordinary journey across continents as he fights to save his son's life, sharing the profound lessons he learned about faith, resilience, and finding wonder in life's most challenging moments.From an unexpected prenatal diagnosis to a daring medical transport across the Pacific, James shares how his family found humanity in hospital kitchens, strength in unlikely allies, and profound wonder in life's most terrifying moments. James Robinson is the author of More Than We Expected (morethanamemoir.com...
2025-01-0745 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHappiness, Hope, and Crazy Socks: Reimagining What's Possible, with John and Mark CroninWhen John Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, was graduating high school, didn't know what would come next. So he made what turned out to be a life-changing decision -- to start a business with his father. What started with local deliveries and chocolate kisses has grown into a gigantic business that's revolutionizing how the world thinks about ability, employment, and spreading happiness, while capturing the attention of Congress, the UN, and other business leaders.Join us as John and Mark share how they built a thriving company while championing inclusive employment and creating a...
2024-12-1741 minI Don't Know How You Do ItMy Brother's Keeper: Sibling Loss and the Forgotten Mourners, with Annie Sklaver OrensteinAfter her brother was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2009, Annie Sklaver Orenstein was heartbroken and unmoored. Standing in the grief section of her local bookstore, she searched for guides on how to work through her grief as a mourning sibling — and found nothing. Annie shares how alone she felt in her grief, driving her to write Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief. We explore why sibling grief often goes unacknowledged and how siblings navigate the complex journey of mourning while their grief is frequently overshadowed by parental loss.The co...
2024-12-1039 minI Don't Know How You Do ItInfertility, Adoption, and Baby Steps To Guatemala: How I Found my FamilyWhen my husband and started trying to have a baby, we never imagined our path to parenthood would include 25 fertility procedures, two gestational carriers, and multiple journeys to Guatemala.In this deeply personal episode, I share an excerpt of Breath Taking (what made it in and what didn't), about navigating years of IVF treatments, the complex emotions of working with a surrogate, and how failure after failure led us to completely reimagine what building our family could look like. This intimate story explores the unexpected ways hope can transform us, the definition of motherhood, and how sometimes...
2024-12-0342 minI Don't Know How You Do ItRadical Bravery: Living and Ending Well with Dr. Shoshana UngerleiderIn a world where most of us run from difficult conversations, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider is running towards them. A physician, science journalist, public health advocate, and acclaimed film producer, Shoshana brings her unique multidisciplinary approach to transforming how we understand end-of-life care. As the founder of EndWell and executive producer of Oscar-nominated documentaries like "Extremis" and "Endgame", she's leading a national movement to reshape conversations about mortality -- with radical bravery.Drawing from her personal journey caring for her father during his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and her professional work advocating for compassionate healthcare, she reveals h...
2024-11-2645 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFair is a Four Letter Word, The Fall and Recovery of Joanne De SimoneSometimes our life experiences are preparing us for what comes next in ways we'd never imagine.That's what happened to Joanne De Simone, a former professional dancer who used lessons from her dance training to help her navigate the challenges of raising two children with complex needs -- one with a rare, life-limiting brain malformation and one with autism. Joanne is a graduate of Hunter College with degrees in dance and special education. After dancing professionally with companies including José Limón and Dianne McIntyre, she dedicated her life to teaching children with disabilities and supporting families.
2024-11-1937 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Medical Gaslighting to Empowered Advocate: Mackenzie Abramson's Rare OdysseyRare disease advocate Mackenzie Abramson spent more than 20 years searching for her own diagnosis, facing intense medical gaslighting along the way. She endured 30 surgeries, a mental health crisis, and endless battles to be heard and taken seriously by the medical establishment.Yet Mackenzie refused to be dismissed. She earned her master's in public health and went on to work on global health initiatives in Rwanda, Egypt, and on the COVID-19 response in the U.S. Turning her pain into purpose, Mackenzie now works at Global Genes, supporting the rare disease community.In this candid and...
2024-11-1235 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Manicurist's Daughter: Mystery, Loss, and Legacy, with Susan LieuIn 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 memoir "The Manicurist's Daughter." From spirit channeling to confronting her own body image struggles, Susan's story illuminates the complex intersection of beauty standards, cultural expectations, and generational trauma. Her raw honesty about finding her voice – and her place in the...
2024-11-0537 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Power of Acknowledging the Suck, Real Talk with Amanda Griffith-AtkinsWhat 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 caregiving. She opens up about navigating her son's complex needs while maintaining her own identity, and shares how her journey transformed both her approach to therapy and her understanding of human connection. This episode offers a masterclass in scrapping the "at least" statements...
2024-10-2937 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Pollyanna Principle: Resilience, Writing, and Reinvention, with Caroline LeavittLet'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 literary triumphs, Caroline has been through a lot. She's turned adversity into art, setbacks into stepping stones, and personal pain into powerful prose.She shares how embracing your inner...
2024-10-1544 minI Don't Know How You Do ItRedefining Hope: A Mother, Her Son, and The Chicken Who Saved Them, with Kristin Jarvis AdamsIn 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 resilience, unconventional communication, and unwavering hope will challenge your perspective on what's possible in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.You'll learn how to:Find joy in...
2024-10-0150 min
I Don't Know How You Do ItForgiving Dead Bastards: Grief, Betrayal, and Healing, with Jessica WaiteIn 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. She offers valuable insights on dealing with betrayal, finding moments of peace in the midst of chaos, and the healing potential of embracing beauty even in our darkest times.You'll Learn:Why anger can be...
2024-09-1736 minI Don't Know How You Do ItChasing Fireworks: A Breath Taking Excerpt -- MinisodeIn 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 starts as a simple outing to see fireworks turns into a night of unexpected challenges - from getting lost in the woods and temporarily misplacing her...
2024-07-0218 minI Don't Know How You Do ItLove, Loss, and Living On: A Mother's Journey, with Heather StraughterDoes 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 seizure. From that moment, their lives were forever changed as they navigated the challenges of caring for a medically complex child.Heather takes us through the 117 days they spent in the hospital...
2024-06-2544 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Script a Joyful Life, with Bestselling Author Jean MeltzerHow 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), Jean had to reimagine her life and find new ways to create meaning and joy, even from her bed.Jean discusses how she shifted from chasing external goals to living her values, and how focusing o...
2024-06-1840 minI Don't Know How You Do ItReimagined Motherhood: A No BS Zone, with Myra SackHow 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. In this deeply moving conversation, Myra shares the sacred family rituals and "shabirthdays" that brought joy and holiness into their devastation.With candor and wisdom, Myra o...
2024-06-1141 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Grief Thieves to Effing Growth Opportunities, with Lisa KeefauverWith 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 this conversation, Lisa opens up about her late husband's death, her own battle with cancer, and how she found light by becoming a "grief activist" who helps rei...
2024-06-0452 minI Don't Know How You Do ItPowering Inclusion: What Gisele Got Right, with Dawn OatesIf 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 communities.Listen in as Dawn shares her playbook for turning obstacles into opportunities and refusing to stay small when faced with exclusion. From insisting on accessible playgrounds to taking on elite private schools, her story underscores the impact one...
2024-05-2847 minI Don't Know How You Do ItComplex Parenting Times Two, Ambiguous Living with Parvathy KrishnanWhen 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 means to be a parent in constant crisis mode - the relentless anxiety, the hospital stays across multiple cities, and having to parent two children with rare diseases simultaneously.Yet Parvathy's story is ultimately...
2024-05-2141 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow an Elite Climber Survived Kidnapping and Found a Softer Strength, with Beth RoddenCan 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 kidnapping by armed militants in Kyrgyzstan that forced her to grapple with trauma, mental health struggles, and her very identity.With raw honesty, Beth opens up about her disordered eating, the challenges of...
2024-05-1438 minI Don't Know How You Do ItParenting on the Precipice, with Jessica PatayWhat 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 constant vigilance required in caring for her son Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome and shares why and how she formed a community for other moms with intense caregiving needs....
2024-05-0739 minI Don't Know How You Do ItLife Lessons and Label Makers: What No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child, with Kelley ColemanHave 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 journey of raising a son with multiple disabilities and offers invaluable advice not only for parents navigating similar paths, but for every human who wants to understand h...
2024-04-3048 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTake Your Child to Work, with Icon Nell MerlinoAny 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 impressive track record of mobilizing people and ideas, Nell brought Take Our Daughters to Work Day to life, reaching an astonishing 25 million people worldwide. As the founder of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence...
2024-04-2340 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTethered by Ideology: Faith Healers and Family Ties, with Author Kathleen BlackburnWhat 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 bible. Then her father, a former air force pilot, was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at the age of thirty-eight, and, as Kathleen writes in this searing memoir, “it was like pouring gasoline on the Holy Spirit.” Stirred by he...
2024-04-1642 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Pastor to Theological Vagabond, Jonathan Foster on Loss, Beauty, and DefianceWhen 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 loss of his daughter.In this raw, poetic dialogue, Jonathan invites us into the "liminal space" between hope and despair that he's inhabited since his daughter's death. He shares...
2024-04-0934 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTap Dancing on Everest, with Dr. Mimi ZiemanHave 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 invitation that most of us would never have the audacity to accept.At just 25 years old and one year into medical school, Mimi agreed to become the...
2024-04-0233 minI Don't Know How You Do ItAddressing the Loneliness Epidemic: Can Technology Help? With Mental Wellness Entrepreneur Jinhyun ShinIt'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 that sparked his drive to prevent suicide and how that led him to working to combat the modern "loneliness epidemic." Jinhyun reframes grief as the ultimate form of loneliness and shares his insights for honoring legacy. H...
2024-03-2637 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFinding Your Voice: Becoming an Advocate for Your Child and Yourself, with Jaclyn GreenbergIf 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 emotional rollercoaster she experienced when her second son was unexpectedly born with severe disabilities caused by a virus she contracted during pregnancy. Jaclyn takes us through the shocking diagnosis, the lack of guidance and resources...
2024-03-1943 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHealing the Healer: When a Grief & Trauma Therapist Becomes the Patient, with Meghan Riordan JarvisWhen 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 her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From finding spirituality in a documentary about mushrooms to spontaneously road-tripping across America during COVID with her kids, Meghan's personal transformation insights will reframe how you think about loss, h...
2024-03-1259 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Making of a Literary Rock Star, with Zibby OwensZibby 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, what it's like to produce a podcast every single day, the stories behind Zibby's debut novel Blank, and why it's time for authors to be treated like rockstars. We also cover Zibby's boundless energy, how she l...
2024-03-0534 minI Don't Know How You Do ItRare Disease, Real Conversation: A Dozen of Us Weigh InLife 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 host Jessica Fein and members of the rare disease community.Whether you're personally affected by a rare disease or want to understand the experience, this compilation episode delivers...
2024-02-2744 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Self Deception to Celebration, A Mother's Journey, with Cathy ShieldsWhat 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 the evolution of her relationship with her daughter, Jessica.With honesty and vulnerability, Cathy explores the deep-seated ableism she had to confront, rooted in societal expectations and personal experiences. Through her story, she sheds...
2024-02-2025 minI Don't Know How You Do ItDoctor's Notes: Life in the NICU, with Dr. Rachel FleishmanWhat's it like to have families counting on you in their time of greatest need? How do you separate work life from home life when every workday is literally life and death? How can you bring more humanity into what it at its heart is totally scientific?Meet Dr. Rachel Fleishman, a Neonatologist, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, and Director of Narrative Medicine. Dr. Fleishman's shares what it's like to care for sick and premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), explaining how the practice of narrative medicine – analyzing patients' stories – helps her empathize with f...
2024-02-1339 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTurning Heartbreak Into Action, with Rare Trailblazer Megan NolanMegan Nolan is a rare dynamo, channeling her profound resilience and determination into advocacy that's creating real change. After her son's challenging medical journey to get a diagnosis, Megan sprang into action - launching a nonprofit to fund research in just 3 months. And if that wasn't enough, she also created an online magazine, rareparenting.com, to provide much-needed support and resources for the rare disease parenting community.In this conversation, Megan shares her unwavering commitment to helping other families avoid the struggles she faced. We explore how she balances intensive caregiving with running two organizations, while also...
2024-02-0647 minI Don't Know How You Do ItUnleashing Your Inner Author: How and Why to Write Your Book, with Elizabeth LyonsHave you heard these myths about writing your book? Myth #1: You have to be a perfect writer to start. Myth #2: You need a big block of time to make progress. Myth #3: You have to have a groundbreaking idea. #4: You need an external credential to call yourself a writer. Elizabeth Lyons joins us to bust these myths and so many others about what it takes to start...and finish your book.Elizabeth is a seasoned writer and book editor with six published books under her belt. Through her popular online courses and the "Write the Damn B...
2024-01-3047 minI Don't Know How You Do ItWanderlust Wisdom: Lessons From the Road, with Dr. Marcy ColeHave you ever dreamed of leaving everything behind and setting off to travel the world? When Dr. Marcy Cole's partner suggested they do just that, Marcy didn't hesitate. She packed up her Los Angeles home where she'd lived for nearly 20 years, and together they set off on a nomadic adventure.What Marcy learned on the road was more than how delicious the pastries in France are. She had five main takeaways, each of which is a valuable lesson that can be applied back at home. Marcy also rediscovered a core piece of her identity during her journey. Y...
2024-01-2341 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Turn Fun Into a Habit, With Dr. Mike RuckerHere we are in mid-January when our new year resolutions are beginning to be put to the test. For some of us that means we're drinking more water or going on long walks or trying to meditate daily. But there's another category of resolutions that we're going to explore over the next few weeks. The first seems simple on the surface: "I want to have more fun." If only it were as easy as it sounds. Today's guest, Dr. Mike Rucker is the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder...
2024-01-1643 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTake a Breath: Living and Grieving Fully with Jessica FeinHost Jessica Fein turns the tables for episode 50. The ineffable Effie Parks of the award-winning "Once Upon a Gene" podcast returns to the show to interview Jessica about how she does it. They talk about:The rewards of openly sharing personal experiences for growth and survivalIntegrating joy and grief The value in naming ambiguous griefHow a long shot is still a shot and the worst thing that can happen when you take itWhat to do when there's no light at the end of the tunnelThe power of podcastingJoin Jessica's launch team for Breath Taking: A...
2023-12-2641 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom People Pleaser to Badass: A Mother Saves Her Son's Life and Finds Herself, with Karen DeBonisHave you ever felt something so strongly in your bones and yet everyone you turn to dismisses your concerns? Maybe they tell you you're over-reacting. Maybe they even tell you there's something wrong with you for not letting go of your instincts. What if your child's life were at stake?Navigating misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting, Karen DeBonis discusses the arduous journey she embarked on to ascertain her son's actual medical condition. Karen began to question herself and doubted her fortitude for motherhood, ultimately needing to overcome her instinct for people pleasing and unleash her inner "s...
2023-12-1936 minI Don't Know How You Do ItAn Unorthodox Transformation: One Woman’s Escape From Religious Fundamentalism, with Beatrice WeberThere's growing up in bubble, as so many of us do, and then there's growing up in a truly insular world. If you're feeling trapped by the expectations of your community and unable to express your true self, you're not alone. Maybe you've been trying to fit into the mold of your community, but deep down you know it's not where you belong, and the struggle is taking a toll on your emotional well-being.That's what happened, in a huge way, to Beatrice Weber.Beatrice is a former member of a Hasidic Jewish co...
2023-12-1242 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTherapy in a War Zone: Navigating Terror and Trauma in Israel, with Lisa FliegelSince October 7, many of us have been glued to our screens, scouring every bit of news out of Israel. Today's guest, Trauma Therapist Lisa Fliegel, knew that if she stayed home in Boston, she'd be filled with anxiety. Instead, three hours after news of the Hamas massacre reached her, she booked a plane ticket to Israel.Lisa spent a full month with the survivors of the October 7 attack who have relocated to a hotel in Eilat. There, Lisa spent time with children and adult survivors, counseled other therapists, and created a therapeutic milieu out of the hotel...
2023-12-0547 minI Don't Know How You Do ItChanging the World One Story at a Time, with Filmmaker Allison NorlianHave you heard these myths about films that break barriers and challenge perceptions? Myth #1: Only controversial films can challenge societal norms. Myth #2: Mainstream audiences are not interested in watching films that challenge the status quo. Myth #3: Creating diverse films is just a trend and not a lasting movement. In this episode, our guest Allison Norlian will debunk these myths and reveal the truth behind creating impactful and diverse films that challenge mainstream narratives.Allison Norlian is an experienced journalist, writer, and filmmaker. She's a three-time Emmy nominee and the co-founder of Birdmine, a production company t...
2023-11-2834 minI Don't Know How You Do ItBreathe, Move, Thrive: Discovering the Power of Yoga with Michelle ItzkowitzWhat is it about yoga that has everybody leaving their day jobs and heading to the mat? Why do so many people say yoga has changed their lives? And why do some of us break out in hives at the thought of spending 90 minutes in a sweltering room contorting our bodies with a bunch of strangers?Meet Michelle Itzkowitz, an extraordinary individual with a passion for yoga and mindfulness. Michelle's lifelong journey of curiosity and self-discovery began more than 30 years ago after the loss of a close friend. Motivated by the desire to understand the complexities of...
2023-11-2145 minI Don't Know How You Do ItGrieving Through the Holidays: Advice from Option B's Becca BernsteinAre you dreading the holidays as you figure out how to navigate your grief and loss? Are you looking for ways to find a sense of peace and healing during this challenging time? Or maybe you want to help someone you love deal with their grief and hardship. Our guest, Becca Bernstein of Option B, has advice and insights that can help.Becca has dedicated their career to transforming the way we talk about and heal from loss and hardship. With personal experiences of losing their mother to Frontotemporal Dementia and ALS, Becca understands the cha...
2023-11-1441 minI Don't Know How You Do ItSurprise! It's Quadruplets: Navigating Grief and Gratitude, with Ashley NessIt's one thing to find out you're pregnant when you aren't expecting it. It's another thing altogether to find out you're having quadruplets.Ashley Ness is a true inspiration when it comes to handling the challenges of motherhood. During the pandemic, Ashley received the unexpected news that she was pregnant with quadruplets - a one in 10 million occurrence. With three children already at home, Ashley's life took a dramatic turn. Ashley's journey includes spending seven months in the NICU with one of her babies, Chesley May, who sadly passed away. Her strength and unwavering dedication to her c...
2023-11-0733 minI Don't Know How You Do ItA Bucket List Legacy: The Power of Living With Intention, with Laura CarneyDo you have a bucket list? Turns out there's huge power in recording your intentions. As it turns out, there can also be incredible gifts in fulfilling somebody else's.More than a decade after her father died, Laura Carney was given a treasure that would change her life forever. It was a list, penned by her late father, filled with dreams and aspirations that were waiting to be realized. Little did Laura know, this bucket list would become her guiding light, igniting a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It's a story of inspiration, courage, and spirituality and...
2023-10-3040 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow a Career Change Changed Everything for a Mother and Her Daughter, with Kelly HegerWhat happens when a doctor tells you you aren't capable of understanding your own daughter's medical diagnosis? When a doctor said that to Kelly Heger, Kelly decided to alter her personal and professional trajectory and become an RN.Kelly is a mother of four , one of whom, Jillian, has AADC, an ultra-rare and severe brain disease. Jillian was the fourth person in the world diagnosed with this condition. Due to the complexity of Jillian's medical needs, Kelly made the decision to change her career and become a registered nurse to gain a deeper understanding and provide the be...
2023-10-2436 minI Don't Know How You Do ItYour Guide to Building Resilience, with Dr. Nefertiti B. PoynerTalk of resilience is everywhere these days, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. But what exactly is resilience? And is it something we're born with or something we can develop over time? What tools can we add to our toolkit to help fortify us for the challenges we all face in our lifetime?"Peace doesn't mean the situation is fine, it meansI'm fine in the situation." Meet Dr. Nefertiti B. Poyner. With more than two decades of experience in the fields of early care and education, adult resilience, and strength-based leadership practices, Dr. Poyner...
2023-10-1743 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Start and Finish Your Creative Project, minisode with Jessica Fein"I don't have time." "I can't stay motivated." "I lose steam after a couple of days."Does this sound familiar? You have a creative project in mind, but with work, family, and other responsibilities, it feels impossible to find the time to start and finish it. Listen in and learn about the ten ways I moved my project from dream to reality, writing my book while working full time and caring my complex family needs.In this episode, you'll be able to:Discover ways to start...and finish your creative project while b...
2023-10-1015 minI Don't Know How You Do ItA Mythical Intervention: Navigating Through a Daughter's Addiction, with Ann BatchelderYou might have heard the saying, "We can only be as happy as our least happy child." Ann Batchelder disagrees. How much is our suffering intertwined with our child's suffering? How can we help our children without layering our own fear and regret on them? And what does it mean that we're all on the addiction spectrum?In her debut memoir, "Craving Spring: A Mother's Quest, a Daughter's Depression, and the Greek Myth That Brought Them Together," Ann shares her powerful journey as a mother navigating her daughter's struggles with depression and addiction. Drawing inspiration from the...
2023-10-0336 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom NICU Nurse to Autism Advocate, with Candice HartfordHow do we go from shock, denial, and overwhelm to being a community leader and a guide for others traveling a similar path?Meet Candice Hartford, a compassionate NICU nurse who navigated an unexpected personal journey into the world of autism. Not only does Candice work tirelessly to nurture fragile, premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she seamlessly transitioned into advocating for her twin autistic boys, Keaton and Grady. The diagnosis of autism can unleash an avalanche of emotions for parents, from shock and denial to fear and uncertainty. Candice candidly shares her ow...
2023-09-2639 minI Don't Know How You Do ItResilience, Hope, and Rainbows: Mito Awareness Part 2, with Susan GeogheganSusan Geoghegan brings a unique blend of personal grit and professional planning skills to the table. She's the kind of mother who loves fiercely and fights hard for her family. Her world was rocked when her children Lorelai and Benji were diagnosed with a rare form of Mitochondrial Disease. However, she quickly transformed an unexpected journey into a platform to support, educate, and inspire others. Susan turned her sorrow into determination and became a crusader for Mitochondrial Disease Awareness. I had to actively make a decision early on that we were going to make as much good come f...
2023-09-2143 minI Don't Know How You Do ItA Father's Journey Living with Mito, Awareness Part 1 with Adam JohnsonGrief and hope. Courage and vulnerability. Becoming findable and maintaining privacy. Rare disease is full of paradoxes, as guest Adam Johnson explains. A man of remarkable fortitude and resilience, Adam faced a Mito diagnosis that led him to abandon a career he loved in education to become a dadvocate for mitochondrial disease. Adam’s resilience bloomed from his experiences with the disease; he knew staying silent was not an option if he could find connections and prevent others from enduring unnecessary periods of uncertainty, desperation, and loneliness. He ventured into unknown territory; creating a supportive community on soc...
2023-09-1947 minI Don't Know How You Do ItLove As An Action: The Lucky Few, with Heather AvisWhat does it mean to be human? Why is comfort not necessarily something to strive for? How is love more than just a feeling or emotion?These are just a few of the topics covered in this enlightening conversation with New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and founder of The Lucky Few, Heather Avis.Get ready to have your heart touched and your perspective shifted as Heather Avis shares her extraordinary journey of love. In a life she never planned, Heather takes us through the unexpected twists and turns and the divine nudge that...
2023-09-1240 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Setback to Comeback with Champion Skier Jamie MoCrazyFrom gut-wrenching loss to newfound purpose, hear how ski champion Jamie MoCrazy as defied expectations, harnessed her resilience, and embarked on a daring journey to sculpt a triumphant new identity after a traumatic brain injury shattered her skiing career.As a professional athlete, Jamie MoCrazy has always been known for her astonishing tenacity and resilience. After surviving a near-fatal skiing accident in 2015, she was forced to recalibrate her ambitions. She utilized her competitive drive to fuel her recovery and find new peaks to climb. Jamie's mother, Grace, used her experience with early childhood development to inform the...
2023-09-0546 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Ultimate Race Against Time, with Dr. Geri LandmanWhat happens when your personal and professional lives collide in the most powerful way? That's what happened to Geri Landman. A mother of three and a practicing pediatrician, Geri has taken on the fight against ultra-rare genetic disorders head-on. Her world was changed when her youngest daughter Lucy, was diagnosed with PGAP3 CDG, a rare genetic disorder. Turning tragedy into a mission, Geri, and her husband, who's also a doctor, established Moonshots for Unicorns, a nonprofit to facilitate research and find cures for similar single gene disorders. Their expertise and personal journey blend seamlessly to spearhead a p...
2023-08-2939 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Baby Step Your Way to Your Dream, with Tanya HackneyHave you followed the conventional path -- school, marriage, kids, job (maybe not in that order) and found that you life doesn't really align with your dreams? Have you been told that following the conventional path is the only way to find fulfillment, only to be left feeling unsatisfied? Maybe you look at other people and wonder how they're able to throw expectations to the wind and set off on grand adventures.My special guest is Tanya HackneyTanya went from living a life built around societal expectations to taking the path less traveled. Tanya, w...
2023-08-2243 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Adjust, Adapt, and Pivot, with Rare Mama Claire AudibertBeing a working parent is challenging under "conventional" circumstances. Amp that about by about a billion when you're a working mom of two young children, one of whom has a rare and life-threatening illness.Meet today's guest, Claire Audibert, who shines in her demanding role at Google while balancing family life with her two sons, Elliot and Oscar. Living in Normandy and working from Paris a few days a week, Claire has a profound understanding and commitment to navigating the challenges of managing work, home, and special needs in a family. Accepting and embracing the changing reality...
2023-08-1540 minI Don't Know How You Do ItUnleash Your Inner Courage and Walk Towards Fear, with Christina SpinazolaA determined and introspective hiker defies societal norms, embraces the unknown, and faces the terrifying challenge of forest fires while pursuing her dream of completing the Pacific Crest Trail.My special guest is Christina Spinazola, who dared to listen to the quiet voice within her and embarked on a remarkable journey across the Pacific Crest Trail. Covering over 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada, she proved to herself and others that courage knows no boundaries. Compelled by her firsthand experiences of traversing the rocky terrains, today she passionately guides entrepreneurs to follow their instincts fearlessly. Her fiery spirit...
2023-08-0839 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Lying and Stealing to Writing and Healing, Lara Love Hardin's Redemption StoryMeet Lara Love Hardin, a true embodiment of resilience. Lara is a four-times New York Times bestselling writer, memoirist, mother, literary agent extraordinaire, and former drug addict and convicted felon. From a seemingly perfect suburban life to a journey through addiction and incarceration, Lara's story is one of enduring hardship and incredible redemption. With an uncanny ability to rebound from life’s most formidable challenges, she climbed the social ladder in jail, earning the endearing nickname Mama Love for the way she nurtured and helped fellow inmates. Now a prolific author and empathetic literary agent, Lara works on...
2023-08-0144 minI Don't Know How You Do ItWhy 94% Of Us Are Grieving Someone Who's Still Alive and What to Do About It, With Stephanie SarazinWe're all familiar with "conventional" grief, but what happens when you're grieving somebody who is still alive? It's a grief that feels all-consuming, yet can be totally invisible to others and doesn't carry with it any of the societal norms or customs we experience when someone dies. Today's guest is Stephanie Sarazin, a brave soul who's traversed the labyrinth of ambiguous grief and emerged as a guiding light for others. Stephanie's world was majorly disrupted by the discovery of chronic betrayal in her marriage. The destabilizing experience sparked a quest in her to understand ambiguous grief and...
2023-07-2546 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHope and Healing: Beth Starck's Mission to Break Mental Health StigmasIf you're feeling overwhelmed and isolated, constantly putting on a facade of strength for your family, but deep down struggling with your own mental health issues, then you're not alone.Today's guest is Beth Starck, a remarkable woman whose resilience shines through her personal and professional journey. An advocate for mental health awareness, Beth is a single mother who has faced and overcome significant hurdles including bipolar disorder and postpartum depression. A clinical supervisor at a nonprofit organization, Beth holds a master's in social work and uses her personal experiences to support others battling mental health issues...
2023-07-1830 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow To Make a Difference with David AmbrozDavid Ambroz invites us into his incredible life journey, from being a neglected, homeless child to a nationally acclaimed advocate for child welfare. His experiences have fueled a relentless drive to change society’s outlook on poverty and homelessness, inspiring masses and even earning recognition from President Obama. In this conversation, you'll hear about how it's possible to find hope, grace, and forgiveness even in the most unimaginable of circumstances. You'll also be inspired to make your voice heard and channel your energy into action.Ambroz offers loads of practical solutions to the issues he's pas...
2023-07-1141 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Be Brave with Kristina DriscollWhat happens when you're faced over and over again with choices where the decision that feels right to you isn't the "conventional" one? How do you find the courage to follow your conviction when others are likely to judge your choices?Meet Kristina Driscoll, a woman defined by her fierce determination and unique life journey. Venturing off the conventional path, Kristina married a man 24 years her senior. Her unwavering convictions served as her north star as she navigated the challenges that followed - from becoming the caregiver to her husband with early onset Alzheimer's while raising their...
2023-07-0434 minI Don't Know How You Do ItSlowing Down, Finding Grace, and Persevering: Lessons From CharlyWhat happens when your life course is turned upside down? When everything you thought you understood about your present and your future is irrevocably altered?Joanne Goughan, a resilient working mother of five, shares her journey of unexpected motherhood and the challenges and beauty of raising a child with Down Syndrome in a raw and inspiring conversation about prioritizing what truly matters.None of us have any guarantees of what the future is going to hold for them or with them. We sign up to become parents, we roll the dice of what life is going...
2023-06-2738 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Empower Women and Girls with Nell MerlinoAny 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 impressive track record of mobilizing people and ideas, Nell brought Take Our Daughters to Work Day to life, reaching an astonishing 25 million people worldwide. As the founder of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence...
2023-06-2040 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFind Your Happy with Sheena MelwaniTaking the first step toward pursuing your dreams can be daunting, especially for people re-entering the job market after years at home. But breaking your goal into smaller, more manageable steps can make the whole process less overwhelming and more achievable. Meet Sheena Melwani, whose brother told her to "just start. Take one step today because that will mean one less step tomorrow." Pursuing her lifelong dream to be a singer, Sheena Melwani found her path unexpectedly altered as she embraced motherhood and put her music career on hold. But with determination and an amazing su...
2023-06-1339 minI Don't Know How You Do ItLife In Technicolor Gray with Corey CorriganA mother's world is turned upside down when her daughter is born nine weeks early and sent to the NICU. Just when things seem to be stabilizing, a catastrophic birth defect is revealed. Meet Corey Corrigan, a remarkable mother whose journey through parenthood has been anything but ordinary. Tune in as two rare mamas talk about what it's like to raise a child with complex medical needs. You'll hear about:How you can adapt when your life takes a devastating turnWhether toxic positivity is actually toxicWhat you really mean when you say, "I can't do it"Wh...
2023-06-0640 minI Don't Know How You Do ItDiscovering The Wisdom of Morrie with Rob SchwartzWhat's it like when the whole world is on a first-name basis with your father? Whether or not you've read it, you've definitely heard of the book, "Tuesdays With Morrie." It's one of the bestselling books of all time. Now, Morrie's son, Rob Schwartz, has come out with a new book by Morrie, The Wisdom of Morrie: Living and Aging Creatively and Joyfully.In this episode, I sit down with Rob to talk about what he learned from his father about the power of creativity and human connection, the tension of opposites, where to find...
2023-05-3033 minI Don't Know How You Do ItNick Thompson's Journey From Love is Blind to Mental Health AdvocateMeet Nick Thompson, a mental health advocate and former Love Is Blind contestant, who's on a mission to break down the barriers surrounding mental health. After experiencing the ups and downs of reality television and public scrutiny, Nick founded the UCAN Foundation, a nonprofit that supports unscripted television cast members in finding mental health care and understanding their rights. He also hosts the podcast, Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson, where he engages in authentic conversations about mental health, culture, and politics, encouraging listeners to embrace open dialogue and understanding.In this episode, you'll learn about:...
2023-05-2340 minI Don't Know How You Do ItEmbracing the Unexpected Path with Emma NadlerHave you heard these common myths about creating your own path when life doesn't go as expected? Myth #1: You have to have all the answers. Myth #2: You have to be perfect. Myth #3: You have to do it alone. Don't fret, Emma Nadler is here to bust these myths and share the truth with you. Emma Nadler is a psychotherapist who specializes in helping people understand their emotions, build deeper relationships, and find meaning in life's challenges. As the author of "The Unlikely Village of Eden" and a parent of a child with disabilities, Emma is no stranger t...
2023-05-1635 minI Don't Know How You Do ItThe Forced Joy Project with Dana FrostJust when Dana Frost overcame her battle with cancer, life dealt her another devastating blow. But it was a simple concept she called, "Forced Joy," that not only helped her through the darkest of times, but continues to help others in countless ways. Through a supportive community and irreverent and unique products, the Forced Joy Project helps people who are grieving find solace and a path towards healing through joy.In this episode, you'll learn:Practical ways to find joy even in the darkest times.Why "fine" isn't something we should either aspire to or...
2023-05-0936 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Turn Joy Into Justice with Tanmeet SethiWhat's the difference between joy and happiness? How can our posture and movement affect our mental state? And how can we access joy even when we're suffering?Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, a family medicine physician, is an advocate for joy who has spent her career caring for marginalized communities. She's worked with survivors of natural disasters, school shootings, and other traumatic events. As a mother, she faced the devastating news of her son's degenerative disease diagnosis and embarked on a journey to find joy amidst the pain. Tanmeet has shared her insights on gratitude as...
2023-05-0240 minI Don't Know How You Do ItGoing Graphic on the Road to Motherhood with Myriam SteinbergMyriam Steinberg found herself on the cusp of 40, realizing that she needed to take action if she wanted to have a family. As she navigated the world of fertility treatments, Myriam faced a series of challenges and setbacks, including miscarriages and heart-wrenching decisions about her pregnancies. Throughout her journey, she maintained a deep resolve to become a mother, despite the occasional doubts and naysayers. Myriam's determination and resilience eventually paid off when she welcomed her twins into the world. Myriam Steinberg documents her journey in the award-winning graphic novel, "Catalogue Baby: A Memoir of Infertility." In...
2023-04-2533 minI Don't Know How You Do ItComic Relief: Nika Stewart on Coping With CancerWhen Nika Stewart received her cancer diagnosis through an email, she was initially confused. She looked at the path in front of her and didn't like what she saw ... so she created a new path. Nika realized that humor and laughter could not only help her cope but also inspire hundreds of millions of other people who began following her journey. In this episode you'll learn how to:Uncover the magic of laughter in navigating challengesForge a new path when the conventional one isn't working for youShare authentically to help yourself and captivate othersConsciously select your t...
2023-04-1837 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Find the Guru Within with Erica DerricksonIn Erica Derrickson's conversation with Jessica Fein, she shares how her sister's pregnancy and a growing sense of dissatisfaction with her career in photography and acting led her to reconsider her life's direction. Erica's quest for meaning ultimately drove her to embark on a life-changing solo trip to India, which marked the beginning of her journey toward self-discovery and personal liberation. After that first trip, Erica kept on traveling, spending time in Egypt, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and more. Her experiences and insights have been chronicled in her bestselling book, Leaving America with Erica, which serves as a guide...
2023-04-1140 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTurning Hope Into Action with Dr. Maria O'RourkeDr. Maria O'Rourke, a highly respected emergency medicine physician with more than 20 years of experience, has an incredible story of resilience and determination. Growing up in the foster care system and enduring unthinkable abuse, Maria found solace and inspiration in an unlikely role model on television who guided every decision she made along the way. As Maria navigated through life's obstacles, she relied on the three-question system she devised to guide her decisions, ensuring they aligned with her goal of becoming a doctor. Despite facing hardships like leaving college, working multiple jobs, and even experiencing homelessness, Maria's de...
2023-04-0424 minI Don't Know How You Do ItNavigating Grief and Joy Inch by Inch with Kelly CervantesIn May 2016, Kelly and Miguel Cervantes received two life-changing pieces of news: Miguel landed the starring role of Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton: An American Musical and their then 7-months-old baby, Adelaide, was diagnosed with epilepsy and eventually, infantile spasms, a severe form of childhood epilepsy. Kelly transitioned from being their family’s primary bread winner to being a stay-at-home mom/nurse/pharmacist/therapist and all the other jobs that come with parenting a medically complex child. A few years later, Adelaide passed away.In this conversation, we talk about Kelly's journey from career woman to car...
2023-03-2841 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Abandoned to Abundant with Allison Hong MerrillAllison Hong Merrill is an award-winning memoirist whose story of gender inequality, bravery, and finding her voice has inspired many. After being disowned by her traditional Chinese family for dropping out of college and becoming a missionary, Allison movesto Texas with limited English skills to marry a man she doesn't really know. After a cruel betrayal, Allison defies cultural expectations and embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery and resilience.In this episode, you'll learn:1. How making one right choice at a time helped Allison go from being alone and penniless to finding her happily...
2023-03-2138 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFlipping the Script: A Stuntwoman and Her Dog Refuse to Roll OverFormer stuntwoman Bunny Young was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition as a teenager. Together with her service dog, she went on to defy expectations as she chose to live against the script, challenging society's perceptions on her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, author, speaker, and consultant.In this episode, you'll learn: 1. What it means to advocate for yourself in the face of challenges others don't see2. How to identify what really matters and simplify your life3. The difference between growing up and growing inLearn more about Bun...
2023-03-1438 minI Don't Know How You Do ItHow to Change Girls' Lives One Stitch at a TimeGorethy Nabushosi, known as Mama Gorethy, is an attorney and women's rights advocate from the Democratic Republic of Congo who fled in 1997 when her work put her and her family (including six children ages 3 to 11) in danger. Dawn McMullan is a freelance writer and editor from Dallas, Texas. Together, these two women formed Congo Restoration Project to lift girls and women up through education. The result has been a culture shift for the women and their entire Congolese community."If we would all connect with a passion that pulls at us, what a world this would be...
2023-03-0741 minI Don't Know How You Do ItRare Parents, Real ConversationOn this special episode of I Don't Know How You Do It, a powerful panel of three parents share their stories of rare disease, debate the value of staying hopeful, and explore what it means to be resilient."Sometimes resilience just means getting up and doing the next thing day after day after day. It doesn't need to be big and heroic. It can just be doing the next right thing." (Nikki McIntosh)Patti Hall is the author of the memoir Loving Large: A Mother's Rare Disease Memoir. Nikki MCintosh is the creator a...
2023-02-2843 minI Don't Know How You Do ItReaching, Risking, and Resting with Tai Beauchamp"I took up space. I didn't know that that's what I would call it now, but I took up space. I was bold, I was courageous, I was honoring of people, but I was also very intentional about making other people's voices heard because I knew that my voice and my thinking was different."- Tai BeauchampTai Beauchamp started her career in the magazine industry, where she climbed the ladder and made history at Seventeen magazine as the first Black and youngest Beauty and Fitness Director. But Tai got burnt out and left the industry...
2023-02-2131 minI Don't Know How You Do ItChanging Your Life's Course with Vickie LeuenbergerVickie Leuenberger went on a 2-week vacation and found her life's dream. She fell in love with life on the water, and fell in love with who she was on the water. Vickie returned home and spent four years learning about sailing, diesel mechanics, astronomy, and so much more so she could turn her dream into a plan. Then she quit her job, gave up her home, bought a small sailboat and set out for the sea. Vickie's courage and determination are tested over and over -- when her engine breaks, when she dislocates her shoulder, when her...
2023-02-1433 minI Don't Know How You Do ItMama On a Mission With Jacqueline ArlenJacqueline Arlen epitomizes a mama on a mission. She advocated for her daughter, Victoria Arlen, for years, while Victoria was in a vegetative state and doctors had given up hope of recovery. During that time, she found her faith and learned to get out of her head and listen to her heart.Her heart would serve her well after Victoria recovered and Jacqueline had to find her own purpose. Jacqueline founded Project Walk Boston, an activity-based recovery center for people with any mobility related disorders, based in Stratham, NH. Jacqueline explains that this was her calling not o...
2023-02-1034 minI Don't Know How You Do ItVictoria Arlen's Strength of Spirit: From Blinking to Breaking World RecordsVictoria Arlen is a testament to resilience and strength. After slipping into a vegetative state at age 11, Victoria found the power of faith, hope, and love to miraculously communicate with a blink of her eye, igniting an unstoppable journey to fulfill her promise of using her voice to be a voice for the voiceless. She defied the odds and went on to break records at the Paralympics, become a sportscaster for ESPN, and compete on Dancing with the Stars. She's also the author of the book, "Locked In," and a founder of Victoria's Victory Foundation.You will lea...
2023-02-0741 minI Don't Know How You Do ItFrom Hairstylist to Rare Powerhouse with Effie ParksJessica Fein welcomes Effie Parks to the I Don't Know How You Do It podcast to discuss Effie’'s journey as a rare-disease mom. Listen in as Jessica and Effie talk about how Effie went from being a hairdresser to becoming a leader within the rare-disease community. Find out what her oxygen tanks are that get her through every single day, how she describes what real self-care looks like, and how she found the connections that changed her trajectory. Effie's mission is to lift voices of the community, connect people to resources, and to leave this world better th...
2023-01-3136 minI Don't Know How You Do ItEpisode 0Do people look at your life and say, "I don't know how you do it?" And who do you look at and say that very thing? Whether they were thrust into extraordinary circumstances or chose the road less traveled, find out how people whose lives seem unimaginable live, love, and laugh in the midst of it all. Welcome to the journey.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and...
2023-01-2603 minI Don't Know How You Do ItTrailerWelcome to "I don't know how you do it," where we talk to people whose lives seem unimaginable from the outside. I'm so happy you're with me on this journey.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom...
2023-01-2601 min