Author, Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness

This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel, Ira sits down with Deb Miller, author of Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness, for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation. Deb opens up about how her memoir—born during the isolation of the pandemic—grew into a powerful message encouraging women to break free from the scripted “fairy tale” and instead craft a life built on authenticity, choice, and joy. She shares how the book became a deeply personal legacy project, something more enduring than a box of old photographs for her grandchildren—an emotional roadmap for navigating life with courage and intention.

Deb dives into the parallels between modern self-discovery and the classic Disney transformation—except, in her version, the goal isn’t a prince, but purpose. With all three of her adult children involved since the beginning, the memoir also serves as a “love letter” to her family. She reflects on her “apple pie” childhood, the challenges that followed, and the surprises of discovering a multigenerational audience that resonates with her message. From confronting the vulnerability of telling her story to forming a panel on the science and storytelling of happiness, Deb reveals why the journey to fulfillment is less about ideology and more about self-knowledge—and why joy, even in small doses, can change everything.

Deb Miller’s life is a tapestry of adventure and achievement, weaving together experiences from her small-town Indiana roots to business opportunities across the globe. Her job as a hardworking Fortune 500 executive led to rappelling the Great Wall and riding elephants in India, all while remaining a devoted mom. Now a part-time marketing professor, she cherishes the opportunity to learn from her global students as well as her children and grandchildren. Deb resides in an enchanted forest outside of Seattle, where the landscaping projects are endless and enjoyable.

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