WAIM #036 - Renee Hall

Renee Hall is a survivor. I hate that I have to introduce her that way, but it is an irrefutable fact. Within the last fifteen years, Renee has seen her mother die of breast cancer, only to turn around and nearly lose her own life in that same struggle. Motherhood came to Renee late in life and as something of a surprise. Of course, she fell in love with being a Mom and set to being the best damned mother she could be. Shortly into the life of their new child, Renee lost her partner Rob to a heart attack; on April Fool’s Day of all days.What Am I Making is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.While it would be easy for someone who has endured so much to be cynical and bitter, Renee remains one of the funniest humans I have ever encountered. Her wickedly dark sense of humor and infectious laugh belie her own tragic personal history. Almost immediately, Renee displays her self-reliance as she shares a story about trying to fix an issue with her vehicle in an effort to save any money she can. We discuss working hard and feeling you are doing little more than spinning your wheels. There is some discussion on the high price of being poor, and how first world most of our problems really are.Through the story of Renee’s personal journey and challenges, you can easily spot her resilience. In her laugh and dark wit you can hear her mischievousness. In spending an hour with her you see the areas in between those spots and they bring to light the picture of a woman who is brave, hilarious, resilient, courageous, honest, and vulnerable. I hope and believe that by the time you finish this interview, you will love and admire her as much as I do. Cheers,Matty CHere is the video clip that Renee mentions her daughter watching in the interview. Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe