I am absolutely addicted to podcasts. My current queue of podcasts waiting to be listened to is literally 35 episodes long, and this is actually the lowest it has been in a long time. I basically need a road trip from one coast to the other in order for me to even consider catching up. And yet, every week I eagerly check out my subscribed podcasts to see what fun new episodes I can download this week.
That’s right, Amy, make the problem worse.
I don’t know if I can fully express what it is about podcasts that I love so much, but I think it’s essentially the intimacy of them. I love the familiarity that comes from listening to someone casually sharing their perspectives with me, because along with hearing their intended thoughts, I also pick up on all kinds of other things. Inevitably, their personality comes out, along with personal details about their lives that I wouldn’t know otherwise, and sometimes even their little quirks. Hearing this person that I will likely never meet in person speak on a podcast makes them become “real” to me in a way that they never could in any other format.
Whether I’m listening while driving, cleaning, or just sitting and drinking a cup of tea, I often find myself feeling like I’ve just had a great conversation with a good friend. For an introvert like me, it’s sometimes the perfect way for me to feel connected in a way that isn’t draining, doesn’t demand anything of me, and I don’t have to worry about making small talk (insert full body shiver).
And so it probably isn’t a shock that I found my way around to starting my own podcast. It was likely only a matter of time, honestly.
For a few years now, I’ve had this idea on the back burner for a maybe-possibly-someday-podcast. I thought it might be fun to record some conversations with my husband, talking about our creativity and mental health journeys, and how we are attempting to incorporate all aspects of who we are into our life together. I know the things we struggle with, and as a therapist, I know that they are the same things that other people struggle with as well, and so I wondered if maybe listening to us talking about all of it might help other people at least not feel so alone, even if we can’t help them find any answers. And while we’re at it, let’s talk about advocacy, too, because that’s near and dear to my heart and is very much needed today.
I also thought it might be fun to have some episodes that consisted of me talking with some of my creative friends, because they are fun and interesting and talented and fabulous, and I want more people to get to know them and learn from their wisdom. I firmly believe that the more we can build up and support the fascinating and smart women around us, the better our world becomes.
I started dreaming of having these conversations, of what could be, and the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. It gave me those this-is-scary-but-thrilling little tingles. I talked about it with my husband, and he grudgingly (he’s not a microphone-in-the-face kind of person) had to admit that he really liked the idea, too. And so we began to plan, and I made a list of some of the wonderful women I am privileged enough to call friends, and soon I had a list that would cover at least two seasons of episodes, especially when combined with some episodes between me and my husband, and the tingles grew into full-on goosebumps.
I wanted to do this, but I was terrified to do this.
But eventually I had a firm talk with all of my excuses, and over this past summer, on my birthday, I sat down with my husband, and we hit record on our very first episode. It was a little rough, and you can hear my nerves in the beginning, and at some point our granddaughter makes her presence known from another part of the house, but we did it. It’s real and it’s vulnerable, and I’m pretty proud of it.
Over the next few weeks I recorded two more, one with my friend Alix Klingenberg, and one with another friend Hannah Marcotti. They are both amazing women, and I can’t wait for you to meet them (if you aren’t lucky enough to know them already. If you do, then you know what greatness I refer to). Later this fall, I am recording with two other fantastic women.
This first episode, between me and my husband, is available for free to everyone. Most of them, however, and all of the episodes with me and a guest, are only available to my paid subscribers. It is very important to me that my guests feel comfortable speaking freely and openly, because I want to be able to have the kinds of deep, honest, and vulnerable conversations that listeners can really connect with, and this only happens when we know we are in a safe and caring community. This is also why I am offering this podcast only on Substack, because it is a platform with such a wonderful community, even without the paywall consideration.
I am well aware that listening to a podcast on a platform that is generally more writing-based is a tough sell. You all aren’t in the listening mode right now. Believe me, I get it. And if you never listen, I completely understand. No offense taken whatsoever. But if you feel so inclined, I invite you to make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, maybe apple cider (that’s what I’m currently drinking, and it’s giving me all the autumn vibes right now), settle into a comfy seat, and hit play. Give yourself half an hour of listening to us in a whole new light, learn more about us than you ever could just reading my words, and let’s enjoy connecting on a new level.
Share this post