Partners sleeping in separate bedrooms (or, as The NY Times calls it, “sleep divorce”) is a topic many different people have a bajillion different thoughts—and feels—about. Does it reinforce intimacy? Does it mean there’s a problem in the relationship? Does it represent the end or an expansion? Does it mean it’s time to leave or an opportunity to be even more intentional? And all the other things you might be thinking.

This one took two sessions because the first time, I was so uncomfortable with all of this talk about (intentional) intimacy, that I crashed the car and changed the subject—radically. Thankfully, my bestie Addie was willing to talk about this not once, but twice. And not only that—she was incredibly real and vulnerable. I am beyond grateful to her.

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

And please, comment and let Addie and I know your thoughts on all this!

Link to The NY Times article we reference.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

The Stories That Sparkle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber not my Substack: hellarader.substack.com.

All my links: linktr.ee/hellarader

This episode of the Stories That Sparkle Podcast is the last of three conversations I recorded while on the road around Atlanta, GA, and it bookends the trip perfectly. My bestie Lucy and I lounge around in our PJs, sip coffee in her sunroom, and talk about her journey after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. Hint: her story honors the fear and anger while also celebrating the love and service.

Lucy is a funstigating adventurer who insists on having a good time (we are two feathers of a bird), even when she gets serious about how trusting the nudge saved her life!

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

I am so grateful that I get to record women’s stories, amplify women’s voices, and celebrate women’s choices. To support my work, help me get the word out: share the podcast with others and encourage them to pass it on. Thank you!

In this week’s episode of the Stories That Sparkle Podcast, I sit down with Kathryn, who is a woman I have known for almost twenty years, and from whom I have learned a lot of important spiritual lessons.

This is the second conversation I recorded on my 10-day driving tour outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Because so much came up for me during that trip and by the time I got to Kathryn’s house, I really wanted to ask her about how she grows through the good. The result is a continuation of the back and forth exchange of spiritual ideas that started when I arrived at her house the day before. (I learned a lot of lessons about pacing myself by not pacing myself. I look forward to putting all that into practice on the upcoming 4-week, cross-country tour).

Also: early on, you will hear from Sadie, Kathryn’s pup, who chomps on her bone, and once in while, chimes in.

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

I am so grateful that I get to record women’s stories, amplify women’s voices, and celebrate women’s choices. To support my work, help me get the word out: share the podcast with others and encourage them to pass it on. Thank you!

The Stories That Sparkle is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my Substack.

This episode of The Stories That Sparkle Podcast is the first in a trio of conversations I recorded on a mini driving tour around various towns outside the perimeter of Atlanta, GA. Over ten days, I covered 1,400 miles start to finish, stayed in multiple homes, and recorded three different with women I know. It was a trial run in preparation for the big cross-country tour I am doing in September (more about that at the end of this episode). While I did not plan it—at least not intentionally—all three conversations very explicitly revolve around spirituality, the woo, or whatever else you might want to call it.

Anyways, for this first conversation, I sit down with Julie, a woman who sparkles with effervescence from every part of her being, and listen to her share about the death of her (adult) son Luke. And while we get into the deep grief and pain of that impossible loss, Julie, who reflects the same love for life that Luke had, carries a message of hope, spiritual connection, and courage that you will not want to miss.

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

All these women are amazing and they share with such courage so please help get the word out: share this episode or the podcast, rate, review and comment, and please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my Substack: hellarader.substack.com

To keep up with all the shenanigans on my upcoming cross-country tour, please follow me on Instagram. Links to all the things are available on Linktr.ee

In early June, I loaded up my recording equipment, and drove to Hillsdale, NY to meet up with Joanna. The last time we saw each other was sixteen years ago when we both lived in NYC and she would crash the East Village Radio recording studio while Ruth and I were live on the air with the Hella Fabulous Show. But, from the way we launched right into our raucous conversation and finished each other’s sentences, you would think we hang out every day. Anyways, Joanna has lived at least 4, or maybe 5, different lives—and while we get into some of that, we mostly focus on the Upper Shire, a magical campsite she built with her partner Barbara. Joanna aka Backroad Jo may live in the rolling hills of the Hudson Valley, but she is definitely still punk rock on the inside. (more links to more about the Upper Shire below).

As hilarious as she is gracious, Joanna made it easy for me to laugh at the technical glitches that came up during this true on-the-road recording session. (FYI—I selected the wrong input settings so I had to get help from Reddit and ultimately YouTube to work out how to fix that in post-production…thank you to the internet for saving this episode from total ruin).

Anyway, this one is a lot of fun, and I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

Links for all things Upper Shire:

Upper Shire booking page on HipCamp

Video about the Upper Shire, featuring Joanna and Barbara

Upper Shire on Instagram

And CLICK HERE to link to all my things.

In this episode of The Stories That Sparkle podcast, Natalie shares about how becoming a runner helped her bring order into chaos and embrace her body’s strength. We also discuss health & wellness, ways in which we talk about our bodies, and how we could shift the conversation about our body image issues. And I just love Natalie’s effort to pass on a new vocabulary and open dialogue to her daughter.

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

All these women are amazing and they share with such courage so please help me get the word out: send the podcast to two friends, and subscribe to my Substack (hellarader.substack.com) to get all the updates about new episodes.

New episodes are out every Wednesday.

And here are all the links to all my things: linktr.ee/hellarader

In this episode of The Stories That Sparkle podcast, I sit down with Vanessa, a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it, to talk about how she connects to purpose in her work, steps in to help out no matter her title, and always remembers to trust the process. I will definitely have her back to talk about a whole lot of things we get to at the very end of this episode.

Alll these women are amazing and they share their stories with such courage. Please help me get the word out: this podcast with two friends, comment on this episode, and follow/rate/review wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you!

Links to all the things I do (including resources I have posted) available on Linktr.ee/hellarader.

In this episode of The Stories That Sparkle, Mandy shares about the devastating loss of her mom, the need to confront her own anger in order to move through her grief, and the healing power of a community that never stopped showing up. Mandy is one of the most exuberantly loving people I know, and a woman who knows how to hold space when you’re struggling.

I want to give you a brief content warning for discussion of mental illness, depression and suicide including the description of finding a loved one who has chosen to take their own life.

Please care of yourself, and, if needed, skip listening to this episode. And, if you or a loved one are struggling with depression, mental health issues, or suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone and that there are resources available to you for help. I have included some of those in the show notes. Of course, you can always reach out to me: [email protected] and I will do my best to connect you with the help you may want or need.

Mandy carries a lot of love, hope and joy, so I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

Resources:

988 Lifeline (use link for ways to connect by chat, email, text or phone, and other resources)

To call, 24/7, simply dial: 988

"At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone."

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (if you are a loss survivor, use this link to connect to support)

"You are not alone. Suicide affects millions each year, and thanks to our donors and volunteers—many of whom are loss survivors themselves—we can provide these resources to help you heal. AFSP offers many programs and resources to support loss survivors. Additional external resources can be found by visiting our Suicide loss resources page."

Concern Hotline (use this link for local resource in Winchester, VA)

540-667-0145

"Our mission is to comfort, calm, and assist those in need by providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services through compassionate listening and empathetic support via trained volunteers on a 24-hour hotline."

NAMI Helpline (use link for ways to connect by chat, email, text or phone for mental health resources)

1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

"The NAMI HelpLine is a free, confidential nationwide service that provides one-on-one emotional support, mental health information and resources needed to tackle tough challenges that you, your family or friends are facing. Or, you can look through our self-help online resources below to find your answers."

I am so grateful that I get to amplify women’s voices, stories and choices. Please help me get the word out: share the podcast with two people you know and subscribe to my Substack.

Thank you!

All the Links: LinkTree

Follow me on Instagram: @hellarader

Three years ago, I stuck a big post-it note on my wall. It’s still up there, even if a little bit faded. On it, I wrote: “Within two years—I will have a very different job and the way I make my money will look NOTHING like it does now. One. Woman. Show.”

Then I got nervous. I did not want to limit or “tell” the Universe or the God of my Experience aka my Higher Power, the Still Small Voice, what to do (or how) so I added a “?” and then an addendum caveat: “Or? No limit on what. No rush—do not push the river.”

Well, it’s three years later, and my life, never mind my job, looks nothing like it did in 2022. I wrote a book, not a one woman show. I started a podcast as a way to share other women's stories, not my own. And today, I release the an episode with only my voice making an appearance. It is a show with one woman. Or, a one woman show.

Enjoy!

To get all the links and keep up with all the things I am doing, go to: linktr.ee/hellarader, becomes a subscriber on Substack, or follow me on Instagram: @hellarader

(and btw—I will workshop parts of this episode into a true one woman show…just give me a minute).

I am so grateful that I get to amplify women’s voices, stories and choices. Please help me get the word out: re-stack this post, share the podcast with others and then rate, review and comment. Thank you!

New Episodes drop every Wednesday.

In this episode of The Stories That Sparkle podcast, Carrie and I crisscross time and space, loop around only to come full circle as we chat about her evolving experience of motherhood and her own growth as seen through the lens of giving birth to four amazing kids.

This episode concludes the series on Change with a BANG! Carrie is as magical and funny as she is wise and loving so we cover: Motherhood. Change by Degrees and as Natural Disaster. The Three C’s of Change: Control, Curiosity, Choices. Plus: we discover that two ADDs make a linear thought.

This episode is also full of firsts—the first time I sit down with someone that I have known for almost thirty years and with whom I have shared a lot of life and covered a lot of ground, the first time I record somewhere other than in my sunroom, and the first time I use my mobile recording set up.

Phew, there is a lot going on in this conversation and you do not miss this one!

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.