Essaying with Shana and Michelle

Michelle reads her essay, "Have Mercy," and she and Shana discuss their thoughts on the state of our democracy and the life events happening alongside the current events that make these chaotic times so trying. They conclude that having mercy for themselves and others helps.#podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #democracy, #faith, #mercy

Shana reads her essay, "Authenticating," and she and Michelle have a conversation about how they crave realness and truth as they age, in defiance of the norms of social media, designer knockoffs, and all the procedures that could make them look like an age they are not. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #authenticity, #aginggracefully

Michelle reads her essay, "The Fire," and she and Shana have a conversation about loss, resilience, and the helpers who bring us hope when we most need it. They discuss how we need to be intentional about building and sustaining our sense of community once our kids are grown and these types of connections no longer just fall into our laps. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #LAfires, #loss, #community

Shana reads her essay, "The Matriarch(y)," and she and Michelle have a conversation about how they want to be remembered. They discuss which parts of the matriarchy they want to carry forward and which parts they want to let go. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriend, #relationships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #matriarchy, #legacy

Michelle reads her essay, "Full," about the word that describes her year-in-review. She invites you to look through your camera roll, too, to take inventory of the experiences that shaped you in 2024. Michelle and Shana have a conversation about the words they have chosen for their intentions for 2025 and invite you to join them. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Shana and Michelle have a conversation about intentions for the new year and the importance of shirking their conditioning to make things nice so that they can advocate for themselves and others. Whether it is with medical practitioners or the boundaries they hold with family and friends, they celebrate the voice that emerges with age. Join them in their goal of "responding live in 2025!" #advocate, #saysomething, #newyear2025, #intentions, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

*Warning: This episode references disordered eating Shana reads her essay, "Size Matters," and she and Michelle have a conversation about how their relationships with their bodies has changed as they get older. They discuss the messages they internalized from childhood, the ways they parent their daughters, and how they are finally finding it easier to focus on their strength and stamina instead of their shape and size. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #bodyimageissues, #bodypositivity

Shana reads her essay, "Timelines," and she and Michelle discuss the moments of history made during their lifetimes that are made personal by the connection to their families' lives. They talk about how moments like 9/11, Columbine, Princess Diana's death, and the housing crash of 2008 affect them and people they love. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #9/11, #Columnbine, #LadyDiana, #Housingcrash

Michelle reads her essay, "I am Exhausted," and she and Shana have a conversation about ways to find calm during challenging times that tap them out. They also discuss the messages Shannon Watts shared with The Gigis, with topics like audacity, legacy, and the "sacred pause." #audacity, #selfcare, #legacy, #shannonwatts, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Shana reads her essay, "Keeping the Spirit," and she and Michelle have a conversation about how spirit can be easy to come by when we're young, but becomes more like a conviction as we get older. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #holidays, #melancholy,

Shana reads her essay, "Off to the Races," and she and Michelle have a conversation about the turmoil they experience when one or more of their values is at odds with another. Lately, Shana feels as though her value of being an upstander who uses her voice to speak out against injustice is at odds with her values of seeking peace and having loyalty and unconditional love for people she cares about. #upstander, #election, #values, #harmony, #love, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Michelle reads her essay, "Let Me Ask You," and she and Shana have a conversation about the results of the election and the variety of ways people are responding to the news of another Trump presidency. Specifically, they discuss what it feels like to be a survivor of sexual assault and watch so many fellow Americans vote to put a predator back in office. #sexualassault, #survivors, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Michelle reads her essay, "Sometimes Love Looks Like That," and she and Shana have a conversation about how love was modeled in their childhoods. They also discuss unconventional ways they show their love for friends and family. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #familydynamics

Shana reads her essay, "Talking Like That," and she and Michelle have a conversation about the important roles friends play in our lives, and how friends show up for us in ways our partners and families can't necessarily relate. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #whyweneedfriends, #girlfriends

Michelle reads her essay, "Dolly Says," and she and Shana have a conversation about letting go of friendships that no longer serve them, lessons they have learned from their own mistakes, and qualities they seek in others when deciding who they want to bring in close. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #friendshipbreakup

Shana reads her essay, "Forging on from 1530," and she and Michelle have a conversation about what it's like to pack up a family home and a parent's belongings after they are gone. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast,#podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #grief, #childhoodhome, #sayinggoodbye

Michelle reads her essay, "Eighteen Weeks," and she and Shana have a conversation about a woman's right to make choices about her own body and holding the media and our politicians accountable for telling the truth. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Shana reads her essay, "The Grace of Time," and she and Michelle have a conversation about what it's like in midlife. With a front-row seat to their parents' decline and their kids' vitality, they stand in the middle, finding more peace (but admittedly some ache) over the march of time. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast

Michelle reads her essay, "The Recovering Catholic: One Woman's Story" and she and Shana discuss their views on organized religion and spirituality. They offer no answers-- just a search for understanding and deciding what works for them as individuals. #religion #faith #spirituality #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50

Shana reads her essay, "Laughing Matters," and she and Michelle have a conversation about how laughter is harder to come by in the era of divisive politics and increasing personal loss as we age. They discuss the duality of seeking acceptance for their true feelings and their dogged determination to add levity where they can. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #creativewriting, ##podcastforwriters, #femalefriendships, #laughter, #laughterafterloss

Shana interviews NYT best-selling author and Oprah Book Club pick Lara Love Hardin. They discuss the themes of her book, The Many Lives of Mama Love-- themes like shame, belonging, hope, and growth. Lara brings openness and warmth to a conversation about how our biggest mistakes and challenges can lead us to new possibilities for growth and connection. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #creativewriting, ##podcastforwriters, #femalefriendships, #shareyourstory, #nextchapter, #shame, #recovery, #growth

Shana reads her essay, "Music Makes the Memory," and she and Michelle have a conversation about the songs that are tied to their pasts and how buried emotions rise when the right song is played at just the right time. #podcast #thewritingcommunitychatshow #womenover50 #writeyourstory #music #dementia #personalessay #womenwhowrite #femalefriendships #essay #essaywriting #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #creativewriting, ##podcastforwriters, #femalefriendships, #shareyourstory

Michelle reads her essay "Looks Like We Made It," and she and Shana have a conversation about the expectations and realities of a longtime marriage. #podcast #writingpodcast #womenover50 #writeyourstory #videopodcast #lovestatus #marriage #commitment #forbetterorworse #memoir #personalessay #love

Shana reads her essay titled "The PEDES" and she and Michelle have a conversation about how grief sneaks up on you and how finding comfort with our vulnerability draws people in for a deeper connection. #vulnerability #grief #connection #memoir #motherdaughter #personalexpression #writingpodcast #writingcommunity

Michelle reads her essay, "Be Held," and she and Shana have a conversation about conquering their fears and fighting back against the programming that women should stay small. #bravery, #conqueringfears, #takingupspace

Shana reads her essay, "A Lens on Less," which explains her quest to set "Less" as an intention for the year ahead. Shana and Michelle conduct a mid-year check-in to see how they are both living into their intentions so far this year. #intentions, #resolutions, #goals, #womenover50

Michelle reads her essay, "Marshmallows," and she and Shana have a personal discussion about the emotional ramifications of terminating a pregnancy and the importance of fighting for our freedom of choice.

John Roedel reads his poem "Autism Doesn't Mean Broken," and Michelle and Shana speak with him about the lessons he has learned through raising a son with autism, his pivot from comedy to poetry, and how vulnerability helps us all release pressure from the caldera within us.

Shana reads her essay, "Where The Imaginative Things Are," and she and Michelle have a playful and honest conversation about worry and anxiety, their proposal stories, and the vulnerability required in telling their truths. #essays #memoir #womenover50 #writingpodcast #creativewriting

Today's guest, Annie Howell-Adams, reads her essay, "The Cardboard Box," and talks with Shana and Michelle about how she coped with the loss of her parents when she was just 19 years old and how her parents' lessons and life paths are still with her. (Our apologies that Annie's video dropped part way through the episode due to some technical issues. Fortunately, her audio stayed with us.)

Michelle reads her essay, "The Bloom Period," and she and Shana discuss their experiences with fertility, birthing babies, and opening their hearts wide to give and receive help. #love, #aging, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #newpodcast, #newpodcastalert, #writer, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #childbirth, #fertility, #community

Michelle and Shana welcome their very first guest to the podcast, Joy Reichart, who shares an essay about her adoption story. The three women then have a thoughtful (and, at times, funny) conversation about the stories we carry within us. Joy Reichart is a writer and coach who has always looked to writing to convey what she really needed to say. She hosts Soul Writing groups that provide a warm and welcoming space for words to flow. Her simple approach gives writers of all levels of experience the space and courage to write the messy, healing truth from the depth of their souls. You can discover more about Joy's work at soulwriting.org.

Shana reads her essay, "Time for That," which was inspired by a story Anne Lamott told at one of her live events. Shana and Michelle discuss the clarity midlife brings in helping us break free from cultural expectations that no longer serve us. #love, #aging, #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #newpodcast, #newpodcastalert, #writer, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting

Michelle reads her essay, "Don't Ask," which focuses on the pressure adults place on graduating seniors about college. She and Shana discuss their experiences with teens, re-defining "success," and finding better ways to engage young people in conversation. #women, #womenover50, #memoir, #essay, #motherhood, #parentingteens, #graduation, #collegeacceptance

Shana reads her essay, "The Empty Nest," and she and Michelle discuss the realities of loving big and letting go. #womenover50 #memoir #motherhood #writer

Michelle reads her essay, "Appendicits," and she and Shana discuss the many times they have been humbled as moms. They also discuss the importance of community and trusting your (and your childrens') intuition. #motherhood, #ittakesavillage, #essay, #memoir, #knowing

Shana and Michelle share their #MeToo stories and discuss how their assaults impact the way they think, act, and mother their daughters.

Michelle reads her essay "Spaghetti Straps" and she and Shana discuss their experiences with being upstanders.

Michelle and Shana discuss Shana's latest essay called "Gains." They reflect on the lessons and momentum created by the family women who came before them and their wishes for their own daughters.

Michelle reads an essay about losing her mom to cancer. She and Shana then discuss how grief changes over time, how we are never prepared for the end, and how we carry forward the best parts of our moms as we step into new roles in our families.

Shana shares her essay "In(di)visible" about her experiences with invisibility as she gets older. Then, she and Michelle have an honest conversation about how it feels to be 50+ in a society hellbent on hiding its age and what we are both doing to stay engaged, connected, and visible to those who will see us.

Welcome to Essaying with Shana and Michelle! We are so excited to introduce you to our why. We hope you will join us as we explore the experiences of modern womanhood through our writing and the conversations we share about the topics that capture our hearts and imaginations.