Growing up, Adam Frankel idolized his father and his father’s father, eventually following in their footsteps to become a successful speechwriter for politicians like John Kerry and Barack Obama. But at the age of 25, Adam discovered a truth that caused him to question everything—including his place in the lineage he’d molded his life around.

Bubbe and Zayde and Grandma and Pa

Family Secrets. We all have them. And while the discovery of family secrets can initially be terrifying or traumatic, often these discoveries have the power to liberate, heal, and even uplift us. Join Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of the memoir Inheritance, and her guests as they explore astonishing family secrets and uncover the extraordinary lessons the truth can teach us.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Season 10 will launch in June; in the meantime, here’s an update on all things Family Secrets, some of which hit quite close to home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Message from Dani

Alice’s upbringing is one of simultaneous excess and absence, and in the deep canyon between the two, she loses herself entirely. In order to finally find herself and heal, she must confront the complicated truths and lies told by her artist parents. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Virtuosic Patient

Maggie made a life for herself as a successful poet, wife, and proud mother of two. But after years of marriage, she sensed something to be terribly off. When her intuition led to a painful discovery, she could finally claim her truth and grow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Answer to the Offness

Her paternity. Her health. Her very self. For many years, these are all mysteries to Kimberly. As she reckons with this myriad of unknowns, she learns more than she ever expected to know. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Belong to the Mystery

In his journey toward self-discovery, Shane must reconstruct his past by cobbling together memories of his kidnapping, upbringing, and the enormous swell of questions which once defined his identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bubbe and Zayde and Grandma and Pa

Download our free app to listen on your phone