Wild Precious Life

In her book, SCHOOLED, Stephanie Jankowski writes a love letter to what she describes as “the exhausting, infuriating, occasionally excruciating yet somehow completely wonderful profession of teaching.” In this episode, Annmarie and Stephanie discuss back-to-school survival tricks, the value of educating the whole child, and how parents and teachers can be better partners on the journey.

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In her recent memoir, NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF, Lisa Nikolidakis chronicles the inheritance of a crime scene, and what happened both before and after the murder-suicide that cracked her world wide open. In this episode, Annmarie and Lisa discuss trauma writing, open-heartedness, talking to horses, and how all of us are imperfect survivors of our own messy lives.

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Echo Brown’s recent memoir, THE CHOSEN ONE, examines the opportunities and costs of an Ivy League education, and the obligation universities have to support and safeguard first-generation college students. Annmarie and Echo discuss inequity, community, and the need to be a promised land for one another. Additionally, Echo talks about her current health crisis and her urgent campaign to find a kidney donor. You can learn more and contribute HERE.

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Jessica Payne’s most recent novel MAKE ME DISAPPEAR is a twisting thriller that poses important questions. What would it take for anyone to make a clean escape from their own life? And how far should you go to fight back against an abuser? This book provides hope for anyone who’s ever wanted to leave a broken relationship, but could not find their way out. In this episode, Annmarie and Jessica discuss their shared love for the Pacific Northwest, juggling writing and family life, and how any story truly comes to be.

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Monica Wood’s most recent novel THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY will capture your imagination and warm your heart. It’s the best book you may not yet have heard of. In this episode, Monica and Annmarie discuss found families, where stories come from, and why strivers make the world go ‘round.

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Teresa K. Miller's poetry collection, BORDERLINE FORTUNE, won the prestigious National Poetry Series and has been featured on radio programs and book festivals across the country. However, not long ago, Teresa nearly gave up writing, after one too many publishing heartbreaks. In this episode, she and Annmarie unpack that story, compare family legacies, and ponder what truly makes a life worth living.

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Kirstin Chen’s recent book, COUNTERFEIT, is one of the most anticipated novels of the summer, in which two Asian American women grow a fake handbag scheme into a global enterprise. The book is full of twists and surprises and makes for great beach or poolside reading. In this episode, Annmarie and Kirstin chat about luxury purses, fanny packs, daily yoga practice, and the dangers of the model minority myth.

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Jennifer E. Smith spent years editing other people’s manuscripts before finally finding her footing to publish her own. To date, she’s now written eleven books, including THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and HELLO, GOODBYE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN that will both be released as films soon. In this episode, Annmarie and Jennifer discuss summoning courage, paying attention to small moments of joy, and how to travel the world both in and out of the pages of a book.

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Mira Jacob is a novelist, memoirist, illustrator, and cultural critic whose graphic memoir GOOD TALK has been described as “exactly the book America needs at this moment.” Annmarie and Mira discuss racism, social justice, and how to encourage our kids to ask difficult questions even when we don’t have all the answers.

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As a child, Carrie Harris was the kind of girl who played STAR WARS with the boys. Even at that young age, she yearned for more female roles and adventures. So these days, she writes them. Carrie recently landed her dream job telling stories for Marvel. Annmarie and Carrie reminisce about high school hijinks and discuss the importance of unleashing the superhero inside of each one of us.

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