Advertise on podcast: We Should Talk About That

Send me a Text Message about the show! Well, I've saved the best for last in this season finale.  In 2022 I introduced you to my daughter, Grace.  Close to finishing up her freshman year in high school, we talked about her experience being autistic and what ways she felt like she was different than "typical" teenagers. Now, three years later, Grace just graduated from high school and is about to embark on new adventures.  I asked her if she would join me one more time on the podcast to do a little "where is she now" episode and revisit some of the same topics we first talked about in 2022.   Join me in conversation with my incredibly brilliant, funny, insightful, and courageous daughter.  It's my favorite episode yet. And yes, this is the season six finale.  As Alice Cooper says, "School's Out for Summer", but for purposes of the podcast it would be "No New Episodes for Summer!"  Not nearly as catchy, but still very true.  Use this time to catch up on all the WeSTAT you may have missed and I'll see you again in the fall for season seven! Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! We should talk about divorce.  I mean, talk about a topic that absolutely fits the theme of this show: talking about the things people DON’T want to talk about. Divorce is gotta be top three. Right?  And it is definitely a topic that leaves those going through it feeling very isolated and alone.  Because, no one wants to talk about it. Sharing a life with someone is hard.  Raising kids is hard.  Aging is hard.  Changing is hard.  I mean, it’s just hard.  And requires attention and work.  And I just do not think there are enough resources out there for people who need it.  Especially ones that can be utilized early enough that they can actually make a difference.  Which is why I am so happy to be talking to my guest today. Doctor Becky Whetstone is a licensed marriage and family therapist and nationally recognized expert on marriage crisis and divorce recovery. She is the author of the new book, "I (Think) I Want Out: What To Do When One Of You Wants To End Your Marriage”.  Link for Dr. Whetstone: Marriage Crisis Manager Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! May is Foster Care month I could not think of a better person to talk about child welfare, child poverty, and children in the care of the state than David Ambroz. David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.   His best-selling memoir A PLACE CALLED HOME gives us a front row seat to the young life of a gay kid navigating homelessness, extreme poverty and hunger, a mother's mental illness, and a dozen-plus foster homes. David compassionately, eloquently, vulnerably, and credilbly leads me in a conversation about something that requires all of our attention. Find out more about David here: https://www.davidambroz.com/ Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Melinda Wenner Moyer is back to talk about her latest book, Hello Cruel World, Science based strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times, which comes out 5/27/25.  This book is a science-based, hopeful guide on how to raise children who will not just survive, but thrive in this challenging, terrifying world—and who could ultimately help save it. Melinda talks with me about the 10 skills necessary to foster in children (and ourselves!) that will prepare them to be resilient in a world that can feel like it is falling apart.   Buy the book here More about Melinda Wenner Moyer here Link to Melinda's other episode Other Resources talked about in this episode: The Listening Project Paul Bloom Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! What if joy has been misdefined?  What if it isn't some luxury that we have to find and keep, but instead something inevitable?  Something that always finds it's way back to us?   Dr. Mary Catherine McDonald joins me this week to talk about her new book, The Joy Reset, and it is exactly what I needed to hear.  Maybe it's what you need too? The Joy Reset Dr. MC McDonald Resources mentioned: Unbroken: The Trauma Response is Never Wrong by Dr. MC McDonald The Grieving Brain by Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor Dr. Peter Levine and Somatic Experiencing  Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Daria Burke is an American writer, speaker, and wellbeing advocate.   Daria largely raised herself in Detroit, tiptoeing around the mood swings of a drug-addicted mother, often without running water at home. She became a model student, hiding any evidence of struggle.and determined to leave Detroit and her past behind. She sped up the corporate ladder at the biggest beauty brands, rising to the C-Suite level. She was the picture of success.  And then, on the night of her 35th birthday, her past came calling. One minute, she was laughing over wine; the next, she was curled up in the fetal position. All she could think about was her mom, passing a crack pipe, and her grandmother, ripped from her in a car accident. She embarked on a FOUR-YEAR deep dive into how the brain and body work.  Her debut memoir, OF MY OWN MAKING comes out April 22nd. It is a soulful and scientific exploration of overcoming adversity, healing from childhood trauma, and rewriting one's own story. Link to Of My Own Making Daria Burke on Instagram Daria Burke on Threads Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Nicole Graev Lipson is the author of Mothers and Other Fictional Characters, which is a memoir written in essay form. Each essay in the book provides insight into her experience inl the many roles that she, and other women often feel pressure to play.  With a goal of going beyond the ready made stories of womanhood, she has managed to provide a very revealing and affirming picture of the woman she has become today-as well as who she is still becoming.  I was particularly drawn to her essay about her IVF journey, "Very Nice Blastocysts," which is all about her struggle to determine what to do with her three frozen embryos left over from a successful round of IVF.   I invited Nicole on to have one of my favorite types of conversations, a both/and one.  To talk about her views on life, how her experience has impacted those views, and why it’s important to have these conversations with each other.   Mentioned in this episode: Nicole Graev Lipson Lidia Yuknavitch "Chronology of Water" Gwendolyn Brooks "the mother" Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Ronald Young Jr, 4-time award winning podcast host and pop culture commentator, joins me to talk about his podcast "Weight For It'.  Fresh off his 2025 Ambie Award as best podcat host, and in anticipation of season three coming out in the fall, Ronald sat down with me to talk about the series.  Over the first two seasons, Ronald has shared about his journey with weight, his insights on body image/mental health, and how the media shapes our perceptions of self.  He’s looked at a variety of topics ranging from fat liberation, the fashion industry, attraction, shame, grief, and even taken us with him on a visit to the doctor. Our conversation focuses on the art of podcasting, the difficulty when an interviewer becomes the interviewee, and how we can all be better sources of support to each other as we carry the weight of weight. Ronald Young Jr. is an award-winning podcast host, producer, and storyteller, best known for his critically acclaimed podcast Weight For It. The groundbreaking series, which delves into the complex ways we think about our bodies, was an official selection at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, winner of three awards at the 2024 Ambie Awards and listed as one of the “Best Podcasts of 2023” by The New York Times, Vogue, and Vulture. Nominated for this year’s top Ambie Award, Ronald also received the Independent Media Initiative Award in 2024. Season three of Weight For It is set to premiere in Fall 2025. An avid pop-culture enthusiast, Ronald blends knowledge and natural charm to host Pop Culture Debate Club from the BBC and Lemonada Media as well as Slate’s Working series, where he interviews influential creatives. He is also a frequent contributor to NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and WAMU’s 1A and his work has been showcased on prominent programming such as Snap Judgement, Search Engine and The Drew Barrymore Show. As the Founder and Owner of ohitsBigRon studios, Ronald has created multiple acclaimed series, including Time Well Spent and the movie review podcast Leaving the Theater. Ronald is passionate about social justice and equity. His storytelling continues to shape conversations around body image, culture, and justice. As an Associate Producer on Seizing Freedom, he helped bring to life powerful untold narratives from Black history. Ronald is based in Alexandria, VA. Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Raffi Grinberg is a Business leader, educator, and author of the new book "How to Be a Grown Up: The 14 Essential Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Just Now)”. Based in Washington DC., he co-founded The Constructive Dialogue Institute (with Jonathan Haidt) and runs the invite-only society, Dialog, which brings together an incredibly wide ranging group of global leaders and thinkers for informal conversations that can end up shaping our policy and culture. He graduated with honors from Princeton University and previously worked in management at Bain & Company. He is the author of a mathematics textbook published by Princeton University Press. He also created and taught the popular "Adulting 101" course at Boston College. I’ve already pre-ordered MANY copies of this book for both my kids and it will probably be my go-to gift for the many graduating seniors that I know.  But it’s also incredibly important for parents to read this too.  First to better support those that we love as they enter their next phase of life, and second, we need to do the exercises ourselves because it’s never too late to take a refresher course on, or maybe learn for the first time “how to be an adult” Buy the book! Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! I’m a little late to highlight rare disease month.  Technically, the month of February traditionally is Rare Disease awareness month with Rare Disease Day falling on February 28th.  But, sadly, as is happening with so many awareness months and days in the US, the FDA/NIH planned 2 day meeting focused on Rare Disease Day on 2/27 and 2/28 was cancelled this year.  So, I guess I’m not too late after all, and instead I’m declaring today, the day you are listening to this podcast to be Rare Disease Day.  A day to raise awareness for the 300 million people world wide living with a rare disease.   A rare disease is when a disease affects fewer than 1 in 2000 people. And that rareness causes significant challenges.  A lack of scientific knowledge and study about these diseases can make diagnosis more difficult. Many people with a rare disease spend a long time being misdiagnosed and therefore unable to access the types of treatments or support best suited for their actual disease.  Funding for research can be harder to find when you are studying a disease that impacts a smaller proportion of the population.  And yet, that smaller proportion does not make the difficulty of living with a rare disease any easier.  So awareness is incredibly important, to bring attention to those with rare disease, to create support and community, and to encourage research.  And today, I have two women as my guests on the show that are living with a rare disease. Avery Roberts resides in New York, and is a wearer of many hats — an advocate, dancer, foodie, and avid traveler. She was the first wheelchair user to perform on the great stage of the world-renowned Radio City Musical Hall in New York City, as well as, separately, among the first few wheelchair users to feature in a nationally televised live production, where she appeared as a dancer. Kelly Berger resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a passionate advocate for rare disease, winning a 2024 RareVoice Award. She adores live music and is always attending a concert, typically driving states away to see her favorites. Kelly utilizes her adapted mobility van as her means of independence fueling her thirst for constant travel adventures—she’s explored over 40 states and counting. They both have Congenital Muscular Dystrophy or CMD for short and they both were recently on Capitol Hill lobbying for Rare disease the last week in February.  We talk about rare disease, the challenges facing those in the disability community, and the importance of having a seat at the table. Resources mentioned in this episode: Rare Disease Awareness Congenital Muscular Dystrophy All Wheels Up Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! The broken rung: a phenomenon even more pervasive than the glass ceiling in holding women back from career success.  Women around the world do extremely well when it comes to their education. They graduate at higher rates than men do and have higher average GPAs. But then a strange thing happens: Upon entering the workforce, they immediately lose their advantage. When the first promotions come around, the slide continues—for every 100 men who are promoted to manager, only 81 women get promoted. Women risk falling behind far before they are even tapping the “glass ceiling”. So, what should we do about that?  Especially in a climate where talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion has become the third rail of business development? McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez have written a new book, THE BROKEN RUNG: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women--and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It.  The book is based on over a decade of McKinsey research, conversations with more than 50 remarkable leaders, and their own experiences as senior partners working with companies and women leaders.  Buy the book Kweilin Ellingrud is McKinsey's Chief Diversity Officer and a director of the McKinsey Global Institute, based in Minneapolis. As a senior partner at McKinsey, she has led research on the topics of gender equality, racial equity, generative AI, the future of work, and global competitiveness. She also serves clients in financial services across strategy and operational transformations. Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! I like talking about uncomfortable things.  It's why I have this podcast-so that I have a space to be able to explore topics that might make some people feel uncomfortable, but are typically things we should be talking about more often.  Today is no different. Today I want to talk about death.  This isn't the first time I've covered this topic.  In fact, WAY back in 2020-even before the world shut down in a pandemic-I talked about death with three other incredible women.  Here is a link to that episode, it's great! 2020 Death Episode So it should come as no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to interview my guest today. Rupert Callender has been a self taught, self proclaimed “radical” undertaker for the past 25 years, bringing unlikely influences such as acid house, crop circles and the counterculture on what remains an extremely patriarchal and increasingly corporate industry. His stripped back immersive approach has led to him being declared “the best undertaker of all time, by a country mile” by The Good Funeral Guide.  His company, The Green Funeral company is in the UK and his memoir, “What Remains? Life death and the human art of undertaking” has been optioned by Working Title to turn into a TV drama. https://www.thegreenfuneralcompany.co.uk/ Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Is talking about the environment controversial?  Nope.   And yet.....why does the worry wort inside my head always stop and ask "Uh oh-will this be seen as political"?  Luckily,  I have the fearless Debbie Levin as my guest today to quiet that pesky worry wort and lead me in a fantastic conversation about  sustainability and improving the environment.  For more than twenty years Debbie has been a powerhouse in Hollywood, and beyond, in persistently making important changes that has moved our culture towards protecting our environment.   Today's Guest: Debbie Levin is the CEO of the Environmental Media Association (EMA), where she has spent over two decades harnessing the power of entertainment to drive environmental change. Under her leadership, EMA has become a leading voice in sustainability within the entertainment industry, launching impactful initiatives like the EMA Green Seal for sustainable productions and EMA IMPACT, a forum uniting leaders in business, media, and advocacy. A passionate advocate and thought leader, Debbie is dedicated to using creative storytelling and industry partnerships to inspire global environmental action. Based in Los Angeles, she continues to champion sustainable practices across media and entertainment. For more information: https://www.green4ema.org Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Send me a Text Message about the show! Time to do an update on how things are going in the Department of Education now that we are 623 days into the Trump administration.  Wait, no…..I’m being told it has actually been 27 days.  I’m sorry. So when I last spoke about the Dept of Education, it was November 18th and I was reacting to the release of then President elect Trump’s 10 point education plan. I did an overview on the history of the Department of Education and an overview of the programs in which the Department oversees.  I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, to listen to that episode first as I will be jumping into a lot more detail and specifics about the Department of Education in this episode. You can listen to that episode here And now we know what the reality is of this administration’s plan.  As President Trump said in a press conference from the Oval office on February 13th, “I’d like to close the department of education immediately”. Although his nominee for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon is still going through her confirmation hearing, she has echoed this goal, although perhaps on a slightly slower timeline than the President has said.  Today I want to try my best to articulate what these proposed changes will mean in practice in as plain and clear language as I can.   Read Project 2025 here Read Proposed Programs to be closed here Support the show Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/ Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpod Have a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news? https://www.westatpod.com/ Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new