What 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 radically different approach to illness than her own mother took, making the controversial decision to shield her young children from her diagnosis, and how her incredible network of friends showed up in exactly the right ways during her treatment. Through stories both touching and hilarious – including an intake form that asks about everything from frozen ribeye steaks to forgotten surgical tools – Gila demonstrates how humor can help us navigate life's darkest moments.

Her experience offers valuable insights for anyone facing health challenges, supporting loved ones through crisis, or making difficult parenting decisions. With warmth and wit, she reminds us that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to handling life's biggest challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust that you know what's best for your family. What works for one family might not work for another, and that's okay.
• Create a small, trusted circle of support rather than trying to include everyone who wants to help. Choose people you feel completely comfortable being vulnerable with.
• Remember to check in on the partner and kids of someone going through a health crisis - they often get overlooked but need support too.
• Take preventative health measures seriously, especially if you have family history. Don't let fear stop you from getting screenings or genetic testing.
• Make decisions based on what feels right for you and your specific situation, not what others think you should do.

Learn more about Gila:

Instagram
Gila's website 

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

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Where 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) a memoir of his five years parenting a remarkable child, an experience that opened his eyes to what it means to live, grow and heal. The book was inspired by his article “Road to Recovery”, which was featured on the front page of the Times’ Sunday Travel section in 2017. Describing a road trip his family took after the death of his son, the piece was selected as a notable essay in "The Best American Travel Writing 2018." 

You'll learn:

• How children teach us to see the world differently
• How a source of terror can also be a source of wonder
• How communicating with children honestly is the best gift you can offer
• Why and when to push the limits
• Where to find unexpected allies
• And so much more...

Learn more about James:
Website
Get the Book
Instagram

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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

When 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 model for mission-driven business success. Their story proves that doing good and doing well aren't just compatible – they're a winning business strategy.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Your hiring competitive advantage
• The power of leading with happiness and authenticity in business
• Why something as simple as adding an extra lollipop can make a huge difference 
• Why seeing what's possible is crucial for creating change
• The secret to creating a workplace culture that celebrates every employee's dignity and potential
• Why advocacy and social impact can become natural extensions of your business model

Learn more about John & Mark:
Website
Facebook
Mark on LinkedIn   
Johns Crazy Socks onLinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube 
TikTok 

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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

After 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 conversation delves into the unique challenges siblings face, from being expected to care for grieving parents to struggling with finding joy again. Annie shares personal insights about discovering her brother's journals, experiencing signs from beyond, and learning that it's possible to hold both grief and joy simultaneously.

You'll learn:

• The importance of gluten-free meatballs or a cozy throw
• Why grief isn't a pie
• What do about the aftershock of joy
• Whether you should read your sibling's private journals or letters after they're gone
• How you might recognize signs from your sibling and find comfort in unexpected places
• And so much more

Learn more about Annie:
Annie's website
Instagram

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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

When 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 Plan B becomes the story we were meant to live all along.

From awkward dinner parties with potential surrogates to hormone shots on Amtrak, from the heartbreak of missing plus signs to the growing pull of international adoption, I learned that  sometimes our deepest disappointments can lead us exactly where we need to go.

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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

In 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 how confronting mortality can help us live more meaningfully and how we can bring wonder, hope, and even joy to life's most challenging transitions.

You'll learn:

• How to start difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes with loved ones
• The true role of palliative care and when to seek its support
• Practical steps for becoming a better healthcare advocate
• Ways to find meaning and purpose by reflecting on mortality
• Strategies for supporting family members through serious illness
• How to approach life's biggest transitions with radical bravery.

Learn more about Shoshana:

Instagram
Before We Go podcast
EndWell
Shoshana's Website
EndWell Project 

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!

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

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

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

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!

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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 

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!

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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