TTFA Anthologies

Latest Episodes:

S4: Am I Grieving Right with Dr. Katherine Shear Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

In 2022, Prolonged Grief Disorder was added to the DSM-V. A new mental health disorder tied to grief ruffled a lot of feathers, including Nora’s. She talked about it on TTFA (including skepticism around this diagnosis) and you all shared your thoughts on this news as well.

This episode is a very cool follow up because we get to learn more about this disorder from one of the doctors who created the diagnosis. Nora interviews Dr. Katherine Shear from Columbia University’s Center for Prolonged Grief about the difference between grief and prolonged grief, the treatment plan she and her team developed, and how American culture is still *so* bad at grieving.

Listen to the previous episodes:

How Long Should Grief Last?

How Long Should Grief Last? Part 2

Episode originally published on 11/26/2024

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Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program is ranked among the nation's top 8% of graduate social work programs by the U.S. News & World Report. With three New York campuses, plus hybrid and fully online options, Fordham’s flexible program works with your schedule to help you earn a degree on your timeline. Our evening and weekend part-time study plan is ideal for working adults, with most students maintaining employment throughout their education.

Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Friends to the End Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

It’s rare to have a friendship that actually lasts forever, but that’s what Josie and Miles have. When Miles’s cancer comes back after years of remission, Josie is there for him every step of the way … until there are no more steps to take.

Originally published 8/24/2021

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Normalize "Bad Women" with Rebecca Woolf Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Being a widow is complicated. On top of the earth-shattering grief you experience, there’s a huge societal pressure to be the perfect image of a grieving partner, missing the love of your life. But what if the person who died was actually kind of a huge jerk? How do you take care of someone who doesn’t really deserve it? And what does it mean to be a good woman or a good widow?

⁠All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire by Rebecca Woolf⁠

⁠The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards by Jessica Waite

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: About Bob Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

When Laura gets a call from the hospital telling her that her dad has severe frostbite and could die, Laura is shocked. Not because of the whole frostbite part ... but because her dad is alive. She hasn't seen or talked to him in years and honestly assumed he was long dead.

This is a story about what happens when we realize our parents are, in fact, real people — and that real people mess up and make mistakes.

Originally published 6/5/2018

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: The Intended Outcome Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

After fertility treatments fail, Deya and Sandra decide to adopt a child through the foster system. They have a lot of love to give. They also know the intended outcome of foster care is for the child to reunite with their birth family.When Deya and Sandra begin fostering a baby girl, they try to not get too attached ... but it's SO hard. And as the baby's birth mother works toward reunification, the women are torn. They want the young mother to succeed. They believe in reunification! They also fear losing the baby girl they've come to deeply love.

Originally published 2/26/2019

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Former Life Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

Kelsey and Louie’s life is blessedly boring in the best kind of way. They have good jobs. They live in the suburbs. They have a kid.

When Kelsey gets pregnant again, everything changes. Not just because they’re about to go from one kid to two, but because Kelsey isn’t feeling well. She’s diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Some changes you anticipate. They are eagerly awaited — like a pregnancy. And some changes just jump out at you and turn everything upside down.

Originally published 9/24/2019

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Don't You Want Somebody to Take Care of You? Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Gina became a caregiver at a young age.

By age 6, she was emotionally responsible for her mother, her brothers and herself, and she learned to mute her own needs for the sake of others.

As an adult, she’s still shaking off the long-term effects of being parentified and learning to attend to her own human needs.

You can read Gina’s work at http://ginadwagner.com/

Originally published 3/2/2021

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: A Good Death Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

We all want a good death — a death where we’re surrounded by the people we love and don’t feel any fear or pain.

A good death is what Ron Deprez wanted when his body became ravaged by ALS… and thanks to his daughter, Esmé, and Maine’s death with dignity legislation, that’s exactly what he got.

In this episode, Esmé Deprez shares her father’s story with us. Esmé is a very talented writer and journalist. You can read her Bloomberg article about her dad here.

Originally published 4/27/2021

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Her Name Was Heather Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Melissa is the epitome of responsible. She loves following rules and has spent her whole life trying to be the best person possible. But accidents happen, and one winter morning, a split second changes everything she thought she knew about herself.

Originally published 8/31/2021

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S4: Under a Cloud of Loss Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Damon’s grandparents were murdered 18 months before he was born. He never knew them, but their deaths — and the trial for their killer — defined much of his childhood.

For nearly three decades, Damon’s mother has attended every parole hearing to deliver a victim impact statement.

When we meet Damon, there is another such hearing coming up, but his mother is unable to attend. For the first time in his life, Damon prepares to see his grandparents’ murderer face to face.

Originally published 1/23/2017

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Learn more about Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program at:fordham.edu/TTFA.

Find Nora’s weekly newsletter here! Also, check out Nora on YouTube.

The Feelings & Co. team is Nora McInerny, Marcel Malekebu and Grace Barry.

Find all our shows at www.feelingsand.co.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices