In Her Words

Latest Episodes:

Kendall Kendrick on Po' Folks, Underground Raves, Rock N Roll Radio, Miscarriage, Motherhood, and the Ancestors (It's a lot y'all) Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

The Golden Voice, the mellifluous tones I could listen to all day, speaks to me over the cicadas at Latta Nature Preserve (her happy place). We laugh and almost cry and talk about the time she almost died in an ER and why the US Healthcare system turns its back on women, especially mothers of color. And we summon the ancestors - especially the mothers of mothers of mothers of mothers of…you know, the matriarchy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Turner, a cancer survivor, pays it forward with her own charity Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

When New Haven, CT police woman Kelly Turner was first diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, it wasn’t just cops who stepped up to support her. It wasn’t just her church or her friends. It was complete strangers. The outpouring of support blew her away. So when she got back on her feet, she vowed to pay it forward. Two decades later her CHAIN charity is still planning charity fundraisers including her trademarked BREAKFAST AND A MOVIE! If you think people aren’t capable of caring and doing amazing acts of goodness, listen up!

The Chain Fund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Molly Barker is right where she should be Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Molly Barker founded Girls On The Run. It helped millions. Then she left her home of Charlotte, NC for tiny Marfa, Texas and a spiritual journey back to herself. She returns to #CLT years later a new person getting back to her roots. We instantly connect over spirituality, sobriety, and loving to “poke the bear.” Our wide ranging conversation moves seamlessly from her rage over the Supreme Court overturning Roe to toppling the pillars of white supremacy to her mom’s blunt honesty to why she gives a shit what anyone thinks.

White Supremacy Culture

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy Day shares her wounds and healing on adoption, reunion, alcoholism and recovery Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Nancy Day’s mother never held her, not even for a moment. She thought it would just make it too hard to do what she had to do next: give her up for adoption. At midlife Nancy reunites with her birth mother and discovers a woman with few regrets. Nancy herself has one flash of insight after another about identity, pain, healing, addiction, trauma, and recovery. A rich, rich life as a full contact event - no running. No hiding.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Noble's husband died and there was no one to hug. How she learned to dance again. Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Caroline Noble’s husband had both pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer’s. So in a cruel joke, she had to repeatedly tell him he was dying… over and over again. On the flip side, he spent many of his days unaware how short life was - which led to uncommon laughter, surprise and adventure. A natural born storyteller, Caroline frames the terrible year in the concept of home and the family cottage on Lake Wylie. When her husband died, she reframed and rediscovered a new home for herself and her wonderful dog Star (who sits in on the interview)!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Betsy Thorpe: Editor, Writer, Loves a Good Story, Hates the Sound of Chewing (misophonia) Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

Betsy Thorpe did an AWESOME job editing my new children’s picture book called Sofia Loves Tortillas. Molly Grantham at WBTV recommended her. She’s worked with some real big-time authors and publishers. She’s now in the midst of her own three-book deal meaning she’s got to write every single day. And she loves it. So if you have any interest in writing, publishing, storytelling, TV, film, you’ll enjoy this.

Along the way we talk lots of shop from Chaucer to Tolkien to C.S. Lewis like a couple of old English majors. We start with her misophonia (when the sound of chewing makes you furious) which she did not even know was a real thing until like five years ago. You’ll like Betsy. She’s got a lot to say. And I’ve got a lot to learn!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dee's ex kept beating her. So she shot him. She still regrets it. Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

Dee could sign before she could speak as a #CODA - the child of a deaf adult, her mother. She had two children by the time she was 16 and moved out.

Then about 20 years ago she shot and killed her ex with a sawed off shotgun. He kept punching her in the face and chest when she was pregnant. She says it was self defense, that she was worried he would kill her, the unborn child and her kids.

She gave birth to that child while in the custody of the county jail, and had to hand over the baby on her way to a lengthy prison sentence.

If you meet her today you would never in a million years guess that any of that happened. Dee talks about how she did her time, made honor grade, got into a half way house, landed a job and made amends to the daughter whose father she killed. It has not been easy. She is strong. A huge believer in prayer, resilience and making the most of second chances.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liza Donovan illustrates SOFIA LOVES TORTILLAS (my new children's book under the pen name B.B. Bowen) Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

Liza Donovan is a world class artist who won a competition to produce one of five official posters for the Women’s March in 2017. Her poster of a raised black fist and flame producing a dove has been used all over the world!

So I was VERY impressed when my friends Leigh Ann and Tom introduced me to Liza. She was the perfect choice to illustrate my very first children’s picture book: SOFIA LOVES TORTILLAS (available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound.org or bookshop.org). Liza and I talk about art and inspiration and (of course) about creating SOFIA! A really fun conversation!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Alice Yu, recent Duke Med grad, talks Chinese vs. Western Medicine, the Best Possible Death, and A Capella Groups Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Alice Yu tears up as we talk about the loss of a patient. We venture into what Western Docs might learn from Chinese medicine, and her decision to treat kids with cancer. It’s a conversation that’ll make you feel better about the next generation of doctors coming up!

Dr. Alice was the musical director of an A Capella group at UNC Chapel Hill, so we also talk Broadway musicals. Well rounded conversation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Clapp Miller’s MOM taught her sex ed at school; then she won a role as an intern in the Clinton White House Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Rachel Clapp Miller carried the hidden camera in her purse for our investigative report on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board boozing it up at public expense. The report won an Emmy and a National Headliner Award. Yet the poor woman got very little credit! Plus she had to work with ME! (No easy task) Rachel agreed to be a developmental producer for this podcast. We start with her MOM being her SEX ED teacher in NY public schools (YIKES) and move on to her internship in the post-Lewinsky Clinton White House. Then we get to whether I shouted AT her in the newsroom. It’s a fun convo. Enjoy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.