When Lori Lyons became a stepmom, she knew exactly what she didn’t want: the tension, jealousy, and divided loyalty she had grown up with as a child of divorce. Instead, she envisioned something radical for the time—a family that included everyone, even her husband’s ex-wife. In this heart-opening episode of A Fresh Story, Lori invites us into her Louisiana home and into a decades-long story of blended family done beautifully right. A Hall of Fame sports writer, adoptive mom, caretaker, and storyteller, Lori’s life is a patchwork of intentional relationships, deep empathy, and the kind of resilience you can only earn the hard way.

From taking off her engagement ring before a pickup at her now-stepkids’ house to asking her husband’s ex-wife to be her adopted daughter’s godmother, Lori’s story is a masterclass in humility, generosity, and healing generational hurt. She shares the tender details—how Cheryl became “Nanny,” how they tag-team holidays and emergencies, and how they grieved, celebrated, and raised children together as a team. Her voice is strong and steady, grounded in years of lived wisdom, but it’s the softness underneath—the mother who wanted her daughter to feel included, the woman who chose peace over pride—that stays with you.

This is more than a story about co-parenting—it’s a story about what becomes possible when we abandon old rules about exes, stepfamilies, and women’s roles, and build new families from the heart. Lori reminds us that the people who show up for us—who wash dishes in our kitchens after the Christmas parade, who split the mother-of-the-groom dance without blinking—those are our people. This episode will make you cry, laugh, and maybe even believe that a peaceful, joyful blended family isn’t just possible—it’s worth fighting for.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

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📬 Newsletter: https://freshstartsregistry.substack.com/

Some weeks, it all bubbles over—and this was one of them. In this emotional, unfiltered, and deeply personal episode of The Weekly Wrap-Up, sisters Olivia Howell and Genevieve Dreizen unpack a week full of professional friction, single mom milestones, and the aching beauty of watching your child graduate when life hasn’t gone to plan. Olivia shares the vulnerable experience of sitting solo at her son’s graduation—reflecting on how far they've come since the early, uncertain days of her divorce—and the overwhelming gratitude she feels for the teachers and support systems that helped carry them through.

But it’s not all tears and tissues. The sisters pull no punches in their fiery takedown of gatekeeping in the divorce coaching industry, challenging misinformation and defending the importance of kindness in professional spaces. Their candid discussion—sparked by a particularly condescending Facebook exchange—evolves into a powerful meditation on regulation, integrity, and the unseen labor of women who dare to claim space. And somehow, through it all, there's room for fireflies, Marco Polo shoutouts, and a whole lot of laughter.

This episode is a testament to the magic of staying soft while standing your ground. Whether you’re parenting solo, rebuilding your life, or just trying to make it through another exhausting June, you’ll find yourself nodding along—and probably crying too. This one’s for the moms with tear-streaked cheeks, overfilled hearts, and unmatched strength.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

📬 Newsletter: https://freshstartsregistry.substack.com/

Some weeks feel like a blur of soft moments and wild schedules, where the biggest revelations are found not in headlines, but in quiet yards, tiny donuts, and the hum of treadmills. In this week’s wrap-up, Olivia and Genevieve invite listeners into their real lives—the ones with deer sleeping in the backyard, pool memberships, belt tests, donut day detours, and dreams of Muppet parades. It's a gentle episode full of small delights, missed routines, and the ongoing dance between burnout and creativity.

Genevieve shares her renewed love of swimming and her evolving reflections on little treat theory—a life philosophy that reframes happiness as a practice of cultivating tiny moments of joy, not chasing big milestones. Olivia opens up about dealing with physical discomfort, missing her workouts, and the bittersweet magic of seeing a deer and her fawn appear every morning. There's laughter, sibling banter, and a reminder that healing, creativity, and exhaustion can all coexist.

The sisters also talk about their newest project, a podcast called Actually I Don’t, which will explore the world of broken engagements and canceled weddings, and Olivia shares her excitement about becoming a certified divorce coach and opening up free consultation sessions again. From spontaneous wisdom about contentment to donut box design critiques, this episode is a love letter to the beauty of the ordinary—and a warm invitation to honor your own moments of transition.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

Scott Christian Sava didn’t plan to write a book or become a YouTube mentor to millions. He just wanted to draw Spider-Man. But as his creative journey unfolded—from comic books and video games to filmmaking and community-building—Scott discovered something bigger than himself: the call to teach, to connect, and to remind others that art is a deeply human experience. In this heartfelt episode of A Fresh Story, Scott shares the long road to becoming the artist—and person—he was always meant to be.

At the center of our conversation is Scott’s new book, Becoming an Artist: How to Make Art Like a Human by Embracing Failure, Discovering Your Creative Voice, & Finding Joy in the Process. It’s part memoir, part creative manifesto, and part love letter to anyone who's ever made something just because it felt good. We talk about the myth of “cheating” in art, the loneliness of creative life, and how perfectionism can block joy. Scott reminds us that making art is not about being the best—it’s about being real.

Whether you're a lifelong artist or someone who's been too scared to pick up a pencil, this episode is for you. Scott’s honesty, humility, and humor breathe life into every lesson, and his story is a reminder that creativity isn't just a skill—it's a legacy. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, Becoming an Artist just might be your permission slip to begin again.

Grab the book here: https://amzn.to/3Hq3oTf

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

Olivia had a secret—and not the bad kind. This week on A Fresh Story, she shares a joyful surprise: after quietly enrolling in and completing a certification, she’s now a certified divorce coach. For someone who’s spent years writing about divorce, supporting others through it, and building an entire support ecosystem, it wasn’t about adding another title. It was about taking responsibility for her words and the people who read them. What started as a quiet spark during meditation became a proud milestone, made even sweeter by the sisterly reveal.

Meanwhile, Genevieve battles a broken washing machine in a rental that seems to fight back at every turn, shedding light on the invisible emotional labor of tenants everywhere. Her story isn’t just about appliances or landlords—it’s about boundaries, burnout, and the frustrating gray area between dependence and control. But even amid chaos, she finds joy in small rituals: a new bathing suit, the return of lap swimming, the soft power of reclaiming personal style.

This week’s episode is a celebration of progress—messy, nonlinear, but beautiful. Olivia and Genevieve share music, routines, and reflections on the sacred act of feeling good in your skin. With honest laughter, a few “I told you so”s, and a new podcast award under their belt, the sisters remind us that wisdom lives in the little things—and that you’re never too busy (or too tired) to grow.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

Chloe Sexton didn’t plan on becoming a mom—or a business owner shipping massive cookies across the country. But life has a way of rewriting the script. When Chloe’s mother was diagnosed with brain cancer and later became pregnant, Chloe stepped up to help raise her baby sister, Charlotte. Years later, that unexpected bond transformed into guardianship. And just as Chloe was navigating pregnancy, job loss, and grief, she found herself baking cookies in her Memphis kitchen—cookies that would soon go viral.

What started as a hobby turned lifeline, Chloe’s love for Martha Stewart-level baking evolved into a full-fledged company: Chloe’s Giant Cookies, a now-booming bakery known for its decadent, oversized treats. With the support of her husband and family, Chloe grew her business into something extraordinary—all while documenting her grief, parenting, and advocacy on TikTok. From mixing dough to managing loss, Chloe shares how authenticity became her superpower.

This episode of A Fresh Story is a heart-wrenching and heartwarming look at what happens when you grieve out loud, raise a family that wasn’t part of the plan, and build a business that nourishes not just others—but your own healing. Chloe reminds us that family is what you make it, and sometimes the best fresh starts come with a side of cookies.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when sisters talk—not about the big milestones, but about the quiet moments in between. In this emotional and deeply honest episode of A Fresh Story’s Weekly Wrap-Up, Olivia and Jenny invite listeners into one of those rare, intimate conversations where laughter and longing intertwine. What begins as playful banter about Dunkin’ Donuts and “noise violations” unfolds into a soulful reflection on energy, sisterhood, and the ways we see (and 'missee') each other.

As they peel back the layers of their relationship, Olivia reveals how Jenny’s powerful presence has shaped her world since childhood—and how, even now, their energies remain entangled across oceans. They speak candidly about the emotional weight of distance, the burnout that comes from loving too deeply, and the surprising tenderness of growing apart to grow stronger. And as they swap love songs and childhood memories, we’re reminded how music becomes the language for what we often can’t say out loud.

But this isn’t just a personal episode—it’s also a celebration. Olivia and Jenny share the behind-the-scenes story of their newest creation: the Divorce Guide Series, a rainbow of supportive books designed to be accessible, nonjudgmental, and profoundly helpful. Their commitment to offering these guides for free, no strings attached, underscores what A Fresh Story is all about—making space for healing, humor, and the power of starting over.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts

In this episode of A Fresh Story, we sit down with Leslie Gray Streeter—journalist, memoirist, and now debut novelist—to unpack the heartbreak, humor, and honesty woven into her new book, Family and Other Calamities. With wit and grace, Leslie shares how she turned personal loss and professional scandal into fiction that cuts close to the bone.

We follow Leslie’s journey from writing about her own grief in her memoir to crafting a protagonist—Dawn Roberts—who’s just as complex, scarred, and compelling. Dawn returns to Baltimore with her late husband’s ashes, only to be confronted by the ghosts of betrayal, ambition, and love. Leslie takes us behind the scenes of building this character, revealing how fiction gave her the freedom to explore emotional truths that nonfiction sometimes can’t contain.

This conversation is about more than a book—it’s about reinvention, aging with power, and the radical act of writing women in their 40s and 50s as vibrant, sexy, and deeply human. Leslie talks pop culture, storytelling as self-discovery, and why reclaiming your narrative isn’t just cathartic—it’s necessary. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your calamities into a comeback, this episode is your permission slip.

BUY Family & Other Calamities: https://amzn.to/43oN7FA

In this episode of Weekly Wrap-Up, hosts Olivia Howell and Jenny Dreizen of Fresh Starts Registry share an engaging and heartfelt reflection on the week's events. They kick things off with the exciting news that their podcasts have been named semifinalists in the Quill Podcast Awards, highlighting their deep commitment to creating impactful and community-focused conversations. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion they pour into their work, sparking a meaningful discussion about the journey of building a brand that prioritizes education and support during life's most challenging transitions.

The sisters also introduce a brand-new resource for divorce support—a comprehensive guide with 250+ essential questions to ask divorce professionals, available completely free of charge. Their belief that education during crisis moments should not be monetized underscores their mission to make divorce support accessible and stigma-free. Throughout the episode, they share personal stories, reflections on work-life balance, and the joy of small comforts like warm socks and having ice at home—moments that ground and uplift them during the chaos of life changes.

The episode concludes with light-hearted banter, reflections on social media etiquette during divorce, and a reminder of the importance of curiosity in understanding oneself and navigating relationships.

Key Takeaways:

🎉 Semifinalists in the Quill Podcast Awards: A Fresh Story and Jenny Says So are in the top three for Best Branded Podcast and Best Creative Branded Podcast.

💡 The Podcast Journey: Reflecting on the culmination of their life's work in creating impactful conversations around divorce, life transitions, and community building.

📚 New Divorce Support Resource: Over 250+ essential questions for divorce professionals, offered for free—no email required, no paywalls, just pure support.

✨ Education During Crises Should Be Free: They believe that monetizing information for people in crisis is unjust, and their resource is a testament to their commitment to accessible support.

🏡 Home Comforts Matter: The simple joy of warm socks and a home ice maker brings a sense of normalcy and happiness.

🎨 Post-Divorce Trends: Decorating with color and personal style becomes a form of self-expression after divorce.

🔍 Curiosity as a Superpower: Emphasizing curiosity over judgment, both in understanding oneself and in navigating relationships.

💡 Navigating Social Media During Divorce: Be mindful of what you share—social media can be used against you in legal matters.

👥 Community vs. Audience: Understanding the difference is key to building meaningful connections.

💭 Light-Hearted Moments: Fun discussions about home decor, Snapple facts, and making iced coffee at home with an ice maker.

Listen to this episode for thoughtful reflections, practical advice, and a sprinkle of humor as Olivia and Jenny explore the realities of life after divorce, the joy of small comforts, and the impact of meaningful support.

Emily Westerfield’s journey into surrogacy began not with a grand plan, but with a simple, profound desire to help others. After experiencing her own ups and downs with pregnancy, Emily found herself drawn to the idea of carrying a child for another family—a selfless act of compassion and strength. Her story unfolds with heart and honesty as she shares the transformative experience of being a surrogate, navigating the emotional landscapes of pregnancy and loss, and ultimately finding her calling in helping others build their families. With each step, Emily learned more about the intricate process of surrogacy, from the deep bonds formed to the legal and logistical challenges that come with carrying someone else’s dream.

But Emily’s journey didn’t stop at surrogacy. Inspired by her experiences, she transitioned from surrogate to entrepreneur, founding her own surrogacy agency. In her conversation with us, Emily opens up about the crucial importance of psychological readiness, the often-overlooked emotional toll of surrogacy, and the need for a solid support system. She shares intimate moments of connection with intended parents—moments of joy, relief, and sometimes heartbreak. Her story is not just one of motherhood but of creating possibilities for families who had almost given up hope.

Throughout the episode, Emily dispels myths about surrogacy, addresses the stigmas attached, and reveals the rigorous screening process that ensures both surrogates and intended parents are fully prepared for the journey ahead. She emphasizes that while the logistics of surrogacy are complex and the legal framework can be daunting, the outcome—a new life and a complete family—is always worth it. Emily’s candid insights and heartfelt reflections remind us that surrogacy isn’t just about carrying a baby; it’s about carrying someone else’s hope.

🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry:

The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry

🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartspodcasts