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★★★★★

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16 reviews

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What It’s Really Like is a podcast hosted by Molly Burke, who draws on her lived experience as a blind woman to go beyond the superficial and uncover the unexpected stories behind fascinating lives. Each episode features honest, revealing conversations with people whose experiences challenge assumptions and change the way we see the world. Prepare to drop the stereotypes, forget the taboo, and open your mind. It’s a show for thoughtful listeners who know every story is more complicated than it appears. For people who listen with empathy, think with openness, and always leave room to be surprised. Expect funny, intimate, and unpredictable stories that are impossible to pause. From pop-culture personalities and remarkable public figures to people who have lived through the unimaginable, every guest brings unexpected turns and unforgettable revelations. Molly built her career by being raw and vulnerable, and she has seen the real-world impact that can have. Now, she is creating a space that empowers others to share with that same openness. Molly believes that when we understand one another better, we build compassion, bridge divides, and realize we have far more in common than we think. Raw, captivating, and deeply human, What It’s Really Like is for people who are more curious than certain—and who know the most fascinating stories begin when we make room for the awkward question.

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Check latest episodes from What It's Really Like with Molly Burke podcast

What It’s Really Like Having A Paralyzed Face ft. Austin

2026/11/06

What It’s Really Like to Refuse Treatment for Your Blindness… ft. Lachi

2026/10/30

Go to https://www.OSEAMalinu.com/MOLLYBURKE for 10% OFF your first order! Get $20 OFF your first live purchase when yoi shop on Whatnot, today! Follow Molly on Socials: @MollyBurkeOfficial Pre-order my children's book, Eltie Takes the Lead! A heartwarming story inspired by the journey of a guide dog puppy, perfect for young readers who love animals and big hearts. Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-BN Amazon: https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-Amazon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like to be Deafblind and Graduate from Harvard Law School ft. Haben Girma

2026/10/23

What It’s Really Like to Be a Standup Comedian with a Speech Difference ft. Tina Friml

2026/10/16

What It’s Really Like to Be a Standup Comedian with a Speech Difference ft. Tina Friml

2026/10/16

What It’s Really Like Going Completely Blind as a Mom of 2 Under 5

2026/10/09

What It’s Really Like Becoming a Quadriplegic, Then Surviving Cancer

2026/10/02

Follow me on Socials: @MollyBurkeOfficial Pre-order my children's book, Eltie Takes the Lead! A heartwarming story inspired by the journey of a guide dog puppy, perfect for young readers who love animals and big hearts. Barnes & Noble: ⁠https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-BN⁠ Amazon: ⁠https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-Amazon⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like Being Diagnosed with Autism After Being on Big Brother

2026/09/25

Follow Molly on Socials: @MollyBurkeOfficial Pre-order my children's book, Eltie Takes the Lead! A heartwarming story inspired by the journey of a guide dog puppy, perfect for young readers who love animals and big hearts. Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-BN Amazon: https://bit.ly/EltieTakesTheLead-Amazon Thank you for supporting this episode and the incredible work of guide dog puppy raisers everywhere! To watch the GeniusBrain podcast on YouTube go to: https://bit.ly/WhatItsReallyLikeYT Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/WhatItsReallyLikePod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It's Really Like Training a Guide Dog for a Blind Person

2026/09/18

In this episode of What It's Really Like, I sit down with a professional guide dog trainer from Guide Dogs of America whose career path is anything but ordinary. Before training guide dogs, she worked as an animal trainer at Universal Studios and spent time training animals at a zoo — experience that now shapes the incredible, highly specialized work she does helping guide dogs prepare to become the eyes of a blind or visually impaired handler. I talk with her about what it actually takes to train a guide dog, the differences between training animals for entertainment versus training for lifesaving service work, and the emotional and technical skill it takes to prepare a dog for one of the most important jobs there is. We also dig into what it's like learning to work with a blind person — the trust, communication, and adjustments that go into that process from the trainer's side. Guide Dogs of America provides expertly trained guide dogs, service dogs, and facility dogs to people in need — completely free of charge, thanks to volunteers, staff, and generous donors. Learn more about Guide Dogs of America: https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/ Pre-order my children's book, Eltie Takes the Lead! A heartwarming story inspired by the journey of a guide dog puppy, perfect for young readers who love animals and big hearts. Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eltie-takes-the-lead-molly-burke/1149412262?ean=9781419778230 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419778234?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackThank you for supporting this episode and the incredible work of guide dog puppy raisers everywhere! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It's Really Like Being A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

2026/09/11

What It's Really Like Raising a Guide Dog Puppy for Guide Dogs of AmericaIn this episode of What It's Really Like, we sit down with a guide dog puppy raiser to talk about what it actually takes to raise a future guide dog — from the very first wobbly days as a tiny puppy to the bittersweet moment of handing them off for formal training. We dig into the highs, the heartbreak, the training milestones, and why fostering a pup with a purpose is one of the most rewarding (and hardest) things you can do.Guide Dogs of America provides expertly trained guide dogs, service dogs, and facility dogs to people in need — completely free of charge. None of it is possible without volunteer puppy raisers and the generosity of donors. Want to get involved?Donate or learn about volunteering as a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs of America: [insert GDA website link] Pre-order my children's book, Eltie Takes the Lead!A heartwarming story inspired by the journey of a guide dog puppy, perfect for young readers who love animals and big hearts. Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eltie-takes-the-lead-molly-burke/1149412262?ean=9781419778230 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419778234?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackThank you for supporting this episode and the incredible work of guide dog puppy raisers everywhere! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like Being A Disabled Supermodel

2026/08/28

In this episode of What It’s Really Like, I sit down with model, actress, and disability advocate Jillian Mercado to talk about growing up with immigrant parents, being misdiagnosed before finding out she actually had muscular dystrophy, and finding her way into an industry that had rarely made space for people like her. We talk about the Diesel campaign that went viral and launched Jillian’s modeling career, her work with major brands, breaking barriers in fashion and entertainment, and what authentic representation looks like both on and off screen. We also talk about being Latina in the media, the importance of seeing yourself represented, and Jillian’s experiences navigating an industry where disability and difference have historically been overlooked. Follow Jillian:Instagram: @jillianmercadoTikTok: @thejillianmercado LISTEN TO WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3blYuCo2n6CkXsEfu7o31e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-its-really-like-with-molly-burke/id6798020654 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MollyBurkeOfficial Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b6328833-8f84-4a8f-a675-867c81a01538/what-it's-really-like-with-molly-burke iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-what-its-really-like-with-340307302 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like Raising an Autistic Daughter as a Single Mom

2026/08/21

What’s it really like raising an autistic child as a single mom? In this episode, I sit down with Christine Romeo, mom of Abbey Romeo from Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, for an honest conversation about parenting, autism, advocacy, and navigating the journey from childhood diagnosis to adulthood. Christine shares what she learned raising Abbey, the challenges of navigating therapies, education and support systems, and how she learned to let go of expectations and create a life built around Abbey’s strengths, interests and goals. We also talk about Abbey’s experience on Love on the Spectrum, their mother-daughter relationship, and what Christine wishes more parents understood about raising an autistic child. Follow Christine and Abbey! Christine's IG: @ChristineAbbeysMom Abbey's IG & TikTok: @HatsByAbbey LISTEN TO WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3blYuCo2n6CkXsEfu7o31e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-its-really-like-with-molly-burke/id6798020654 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MollyBurkeOfficial Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b6328833-8f84-4a8f-a675-867c81a01538/what-it's-really-like-with-molly-burke iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-what-its-really-like-with-340307302 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like When your Disability is Someone’s Fetish

2026/08/14

The What It’s Really Like podcast is now available on all major podcast platforms! If you love the show, please subscribe wherever you prefer to listen so you never miss a new episode. What’s it really like to become paralyzed after a car crash, navigate relationships as a disabled woman, and discover that some people are sexually attracted to your disability in your teens? In this episode of What It’s Really Like, I sat down with Tara Shetterly for an honest, unfiltered conversation about becoming paralyzed, relationships, disability and sexuality, disability devotees, and navigating a world that isn't always designed with disabled people in mind. Tara shares the story of the car crash that changed her life, what it was like going through her paralysis and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what happened when her boyfriend was told to leave after she became paralyzed. Tara also opens up about dating and intimacy as a disabled woman, what it's like to have people fetishize your disability, disability parking, accessibility, ableism, and some of her biggest hot takes about living with a disability. This conversation is about so much more than paralysis. It's about love, identity, sexuality, resilience, independence, and challenging the assumptions people make about disabled people. Subscribe to What It’s Really Like with Molly Burke for new episodes every Friday. FOLLOW TARA SHETTERLY: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_shett/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tara_shett YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParaTara LISTEN TO WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3blYuCo2n6CkXsEfu7o31e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-its-really-like-with-molly-burke/id6798020654 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MollyBurkeOfficial Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b6328833-8f84-4a8f-a675-867c81a01538/what-it's-really-like-with-molly-burke iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-what-its-really-like-with-340307302 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It's Really Like with Molly Burke Trailer

2026/08/07

We're excited to announce, What It's Really Like with Molly Burke is officially available anywhere you watch your podcasts! New episodes come out every Friday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It’s Really Like to Outlive Your Life Expectancy

2026/07/31

Roman Perkins was born with Hurler syndrome (MPS I), one of the rarest genetic disorders in the world. Doctors didn't expect him to live into adulthood, but today he's defied those expectations and is sharing what life is really like living with a rare disease.In this episode of the What It's Really Like podcast, Roman opens up about growing up with a life-limiting diagnosis, navigating disability, overcoming assumptions about what he's capable of, and building a life on his own terms. He also shares the realities of living with a condition most people have never heard of, the challenges he's faced, and why representation and understanding matter. Follow Roman:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romanperkyyy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@romanperkyyy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast reviews

Read What It's Really Like with Molly Burke podcast reviews

5 out of 5

16 reviews

★★★★★

jenorbit 2026/09/18

Team Molly & Elton

Molly has a great content, a wonderful sense of humor, and a great voice for narration. I first heard about Molly on 2 Hot Takes and love her content,...

★★★★★

Emilayyyyyyy 2026/09/13

Great Conversations, Great Host!

The premise of this podcast is a great idea. It’s very interesting hearing perspectives of different people with experiences with different disabiliti...

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