I Don't Know How You Do It

Sometimes 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.

Joanne also became an advocate. She and her son, Sebastian, were instrumental in a legislative change allowing students with intellectual disabilities to participate in NCAA D3 intercollegiate sports.

Joanne writes about all of it in her memoir, Fall and Recovery. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Exceptional Parent Magazine, and the Rumpus, among other publications. She is a contributing author to “Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disabilities.” Joanne has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, on HuffPost Live, CNN, and GMA3. 

You'll learn:

1. How your life experiences might intertwine in unexpected ways
2. The biggest lifeline in times of challenge
3. Strategies for maintaining your identity beyond just being a caregiver
4. Advice for advocating relentlessly and not taking "no" for a final answer.
5. Why unvarnished truth is way more useful -- and interesting -- than hearing from someone who's got it all figured out.

Learn more about Joanne:
Instagram:
Facebook
Website

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"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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Rare 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 inspiring conversation, Mackenzie shares her odyssey from medical disbelief to rare disease empowerment. She discusses the trauma of gaslighting, the importance of mental health advocacy, and how she manages to remain hopeful even in the face of immense challenges. Mackenzie's story is a testament to the power of unchosen resilience and the transformative impact one person can have.

Key Takeaways:

• You are the expert on your own health - trust your instincts and speak up for yourself
• Don't wait to build your mental health toolbox, even before you think you need it
• Two truths can coexist - you can feel gratitude and feel like "this sucks" at the same time
• Finding your community is crucial, but you must also be willing to advocate for yourself
• Resilience can be unchosen, but it can also empower you to do things you never imagined

Learn more about Mackenzie:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Linktree 

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"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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

In 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 world – reminds us that healing isn't just about moving forward, but about going through the darkness to find the light.

You'll learn:

• How to stop taking things personally
• Why you should feel it to heal it
• The truth behind inherited shame and how you can break free from it
• Why we need to ignore statistics
• The power of transforming your scars into superpowers
• Why you should trust the detours 
• And so much more

Learn more about Susan:
Instagram 
Facebook
Tiktok: susanlieuofficial
LinkedIn
Website

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

What 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 and embracing the messy, beautiful complexity of being human.

Key Takeaways:

• Stop starting sentences with "at least" - when someone shares struggles, they need acknowledgment, not silver linings
• "Name it to tame it" - explicitly naming difficult feelings helps process them
• Treat yourself with the same compassion you'd offer a best friend
• Your identity doesn't have to be consumed by caregiving - it's healthy to maintain other parts of who you are
• Challenge traditional caregiving roles to create true partnerships
• Sometimes the most powerful response to someone's pain is simply saying "This sucks. I'm here with you."

Find more about Amanda:
Website
Instagram

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Let'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 Pollyanna isn't about blind optimism, but about finding the strength to keep moving forward. We explore the healing power of storytelling, The importance of persistence in the face of rejection and how sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply refuse to give up.

Caroline also offers valuable insights into the publishing world and shares the story behind A Mighty Blaze, her initiative that connects writers to readers online.

You'll learn:

1. How persistence can be a superpower when facing repeated setbacks
2. Why embracing your 'inner Pollyanna' might be the key to finding happiness and success
3. How writing can serve as a powerful therapeutic tool for processing emotions
4. The importance of refusing to give up, even when others expect you to
5. Ways to find gratitude and joy amidst sorrow and challenges
6. How creative problem-solving can transform obstacles into opportunities
7. And so much more...

Learn more about Caroline:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
Psychology Today
A Might Blaze

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

In 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 small moments, even during the darkest times
• Be vulnerable and honest about your struggles to open doors for support
• Allow your faith and spirituality to evolve during times of crisis
• Support others in ways that really matter
• Cultivate at least one reliable support person - your "3am peep"
• Actively seek hope, even in the most unexpected places
• Recognize that traditional communication isn't the only path to understanding
• Embrace the idea that 'normal' may need to be redefined in times of crisis
• Trust your instincts as a caregiver, even when they seem unconventional

Find more about Kristin:

Website
Instagram
Facebook

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

In 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 a useful part of the grieving process, and how to recognize when it becomes corrosive. 
• How to use being present in the moment as a healing technique. 
• How to put yourself in the way of beauty.
• How to change your perceptions and beliefs, and why you might want to. 
• Why there may be a time for some healthy revenge, and how you might find forgiveness, too.
• And so much more...

Find out more about Jessica Waite:
Website
Instagram

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

In 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 son, to an emergency surgery for her daughter.

Through this deeply personal anecdote, Jessica explores the complexities of parenting a child with serious medical needs while trying to maintain a semblance of typical family life. She touches on themes of guilt, fear, resilience, and the struggle to bridge the gap between her family's reality and the outside world.

This episode offers listeners an intimate glimpse into Jessica's experiences and writing, perfectly encapsulating the podcast's mission of diving into lives that seem unimaginable from the outside. It's a fitting bookend to the season, leaving audiences with much to reflect on until the show's return in September.

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Does 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, the search for a diagnosis, and the profound shift in her identity as a mother. She shares the joys and struggles of parenting a child with special needs, the incredible bond she shared with Jake, and the devastating loss her family experienced when he passed away at just four years old.

Through it all, Heather found strength, purpose, and a new perspective on life. She turned her pain into promise by founding Jake's Help From Heaven, a non-profit organization that has provided more than $1.7 million in grants to families with medically complex children.

Heather's story is a testament to the power of a mother's love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the possibility of finding light in even the darkest of times.

You'll learn:

• Why you should listen to the pit in your stomach
• How it's your right to question doctors and share what's best for your family
• The beauty of focusing on what someone can do, rather than what they can't
• Why the comments that make us mad and make us hate the person who said them can be exactly what we need to hear
• The value in sharing your journey, even -- and maybe especially -- in your darkest times 

Learn more about Heather:
Jake's Help From Heaven
Jake's Help From Heaven IG
Heather on IG
Jake's Help From Heaven FB
Heather on FB

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

How 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 on small incremental improvements transformed her life over time. She opens up about the challenges of being a disabled author and the importance of disability representation in fiction.

Through her bestselling novels like The Matzo Ball and Mr. Perfect on Paper, Jean brings a much-needed perspective to the romance genre as both a Jewish and chronically ill writer. 

Jean's story is a powerful reminder that we can face incredible hardship and still find ways to lead joyful, purposeful lives. Her insights on resilience, career pivots, and redefining success will resonate with anyone who has confronted unexpected roadblocks. Jean's message is ultimately one of hope - that no matter where you are today, embracing your authentic self and taking small steps forward can lead to a life beyond your wildest dreams.

You'll learn:

• How 2 percent increments of better can get you where you want to go. 
• Why living your values is a better formula than setting dream goals
• How it's possible to create joy without even leaving your room for the long-term
• The power of the question "where are you?"
• And so much more...

Learn more about Jean:
Jean's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Substack: JeanMeltzer 
TikTok: JeanMeltzer
Threads: JeanMeltzer 

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, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Music credit: Limitless by Bells