For Love of Memoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Angie Hawkins, author of Running in Slippers, shares the story behind her book and the experiences that shaped it.Running in Slippers traces what it looks like to keep moving through life when things don’t unfold the way you expected. In our conversation, Angie talks about the moments that forced her to keep going, what it meant to live through those experiences in real time, and how writing the book changed the way she understands them now.This is a conversation about endurance, perspective, and what it takes to keep showing up to your own life.

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I’m joined by Janine Warfield, author of Becoming a Medium.Janine wasn't born a medium. She set out to learn it deliberately, treating it as a discipline rather than a belief system or an identity she stumbled into.We talk about what it means to pursue something unconventional with seriousness and restraint. Janine shares how she approached learning mediumship with curiosity, skepticism, and responsibility, and how writing this memoir required careful decisions about what to include, what to leave out, and how to avoid turning lived experience into persuasion.This isn’t a conversation about proving anything. It’s about intention, discernment, and authorship. About choosing a path that doesn’t come with permission, and writing honestly about the process of becoming.Follow Janine here:www.janinewarfield.comand purchase Becoming a Medium here:https://a.co/d/0bsVXtzs

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Erin Swanson speaks with Christian Austin about his memoir Resilient: Childhood Adversity to Cambridge University.Christian shares his journey from abuse, trauma, addiction, and incarceration to academic achievement at Cambridge. But this conversation is not about inspiration as spectacle. It is about responsibility, education as a turning point, and the long process of rebuilding identity after early harm.We discuss what it means to grow up without stability, how systems can both fail and support, and the discipline required to break patterns that once felt inevitable. Christian reflects on the difference between surviving adversity and integrating it, and on the quiet work of becoming someone new without denying who you were.This is a conversation about resilience without romanticizing suffering, and about the courage it takes to change direction when your story has already been written for you.

In this episode, we meet Catherine Crosby to discuss her book, Voices from Inside: A Memoir in Verse, a poetic memoir about dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.As Catherine invites us into her fascinating but often misunderstood world, we talk about the realities of dissociation and how she has learned to work with her alters, ultimately harnessing what she describes as a kind of inner “superpower.”We discuss why poetry became the only form capable of holding this story, how language both reveals and limits understanding, and what it takes to tell the truth about a life that does not fit a single narrative voice.This conversation offers a thoughtful, humane look at dissociative identity disorder and challenges many of the assumptions people carry about identity, memory, and what it means to be whole.

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I’m joined by Sue William Silverman, author of Selected Misdemeanors. Sue is one of the most authentic people I’ve ever met, and her way with language — especially metaphor — is nothing short of genius.She shares her story with radical honesty, taking us through her upbringing in a religious household, an early marriage, and a secret life shaped by shame, desire, and compulsive shoplifting. What unfolds is not scandal for spectacle’s sake, but a deeply reflective exploration of identity, secrecy, and what it costs to live divided lives.Throughout our conversation, Sue uses metaphor as a kind of emotional compass, helping us navigate guilt, confession, and accountability with remarkable clarity and tenderness.We talk about:• Writing with unflinching truth• The difference between guilt and shame• Addiction, confession, and reckoning• Memoir as a path toward self-understandingA conversation about self-confrontation, compassion, and the courage it takes to finally tell the truth — first to yourself, and then to the world.Follow Sue and purchase a copy of Selected Misdemeanors here:Sue William Silverman - WELCOME TO SUE'S VIRTUAL HOMEFollow FLOM everywhere we go:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I’m joined by Maggie Doyne, author of Between the Mountain and the Sky.Maggie’s journey began when she was just a teenager on a gap year and encountered a young girl working in a Nepali riverbed. That moment led her to dedicate her life to supporting children and communities in Surkhet, Nepal, co-founding the BlinkNow Foundation and the Kopila Valley School and Children’s Home. Over the years, her work has been recognized on the global stage, including being named CNN Hero of the Year in 2015 for her humanitarian efforts. Between the Mountain and the Sky is a memoir that explores devotion, responsibility, loss, and the ongoing work of showing up, not as a symbol, but as a human being in all of life’s complexity. The documentary of the same name brings these themes to the screen, offering another lens on Maggie’s life and work. In our conversation, Maggie reflects on the experiences that shaped her path, the cost of commitment, and what it means to write honestly about a life lived in service to others.BlinkNow Foundation (supporting the Kopila Valley School and children’s programs) https://blinknow.orgGet the Book (Bookshop.org)https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Between+the+Mountain+and+the+Sky+Maggie+Doyne Between the Mountain and the Sky (Documentary)https://betweenthemountainandthesky.com Follow FLOM everywhere we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

My conversation with Bill Hulseman dives into the heart of his memoir-in-essays, Six to Carry the Casket and One to Say the Mass — a powerful exploration of family, faith, queerness, and the complicated legacies we carry. Bill talks about what it means to grow up in a world that both shapes you and wounds you, and how loss, love, and truth-telling helped him rebuild his sense of self.If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, belonging, or the weight of family storylines you didn’t choose, this episode will meet you right where you are.Follow Bill and buy a copy of his book here: https://www.billhulseman.comIG - @billhulsemanritualsFollow FLOM wherever we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, we meet Jeanne Krieg, author of Seeing Red: A Misfit’s Unapologetic Search to Be Used by God—a raw memoir of spiritual restlessness, unexpected break-through, and a misfit’s search for purpose.Jeanne’s story begins with a prayer in the middle of a moment she couldn’t handle—and leads into audacious healing, strange hauntings, and the deep clarity that comes when you realize your calling was waiting on the other side of the pain.We talk about:• Growing up feeling like you didn’t belong in faith spaces• The moment a desperate prayer brought an unexpected wave of peace• How bizarre experiences forced her to rewrite the narrative she was living• The cost and freedom of being a misfit called by God• Why healing sometimes looks like being broken and rebuiltIf you’ve ever wrestled with faith, identity, or the truth that you’re not built to fit someone else’s mold—this conversation will speak straight to you.Follow Jeanne and order a copy of Seeing Red here: https://www.jeannekrieg.com/Check out her Substack: The Good God News NetworkEmail her here to receive the first three chapters: [email protected] FLOM wherever we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with psychologist and memoirist Diane Pomerantz, author of Lost in the Reflecting Pool.We talk about what happens when the fairytale you thought you were living slowly unravels into gaslighting, confusion, and emotional danger.Diane opens up about loving a man who slowly chipped away at her sense of self — and the long road back to clarity, courage, and freedom.🎧 Listen for:• How narcissistic abuse begins quietly• The moment Diane realized she was disappearing• What it takes to break free from psychological control• How writing her memoir helped her reclaim her voiceIf this episode resonates with you, please consider subscribing. It helps us share more powerful, healing stories.Follow Diane and purchase a copy of Lost in the Reflecting Pool here: https://www.dianepomerantzauthor.com/

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Anne Beaudoin, author of The Truth of Chasing Rainbows, to talk about what happens when you leave everything behind to start over in a new country and in a new life.Anne’s story begins with a bold leap of faith: buying a rainbow trout farm in Costa Rica. But what unfolds is far more than an adventure. It’s a story about reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to listen when life whispers, “There’s more for you.”Together, we talk about chasing dreams, facing the unknown, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places.If you’ve ever dreamed of starting over, this conversation will remind you that sometimes, the greatest risks lead to the most beautiful rewards.Follow FLOM wherever we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoirFollow Anne and purchase The Truth of Chasing Rainbows here: annebeaudoinwriter.com

In this episode, I talk with author Frances Rowley Beaumont about A Life Without Hands, the remarkable story of John Oliver — a man born without hands who defied every expectation placed on him.Frances shares her deeply personal journey through love, identity, caregiving, and the lessons John taught her about resilience, independence, and grace.🎧 Highlights:• Falling in love with someone the world underestimates• Building a life around creativity and dignity• The emotional cost — and gift — of loving someone extraordinary• What writing this memoir taught her about healingA powerful, moving conversation about love in its rawest form.You can order A Life Without Hands: John Oliver and Me in a few ways:1) Worldwide order (paperback)Order at: www.Books.by/frbeaumontPrice: $19.99 + p&pWorldwide deliveryBuying 6+ copies? Use code CLUB25 at checkout for 25% off.2) Signed copy from the author (UK site)Order at: www.francesbeaumont.co.ukPrice: £19.99 + p&pIncludes an author-signed copy and a striking bookmark of John Oliver with his cat.Christmas offer (2025, November only)Solve your gift list in one go.Message me via the Contact page on my website with your friends’ details, and I’ll send them a book with your personal message on a Christmas bookmark at no extra cost.Please allow 2–3 weeks for delivery outside the UK.Digital editionsePub (from my website): £7.99Kindle (and paperback) on Amazon: £7.99 (Kindle) / £19.99 (paperback)Link reference: www.Amazon/ Beaumont,JohnoliverbookWatch a short introductionYouTube: youtube.com/user/frabo888Share your thoughtsI welcome your feedback and reviews.Email: [email protected] use the contact form at www.francesbeaumont.co.uk

Singer-songwriter and memoirist Kelita Haverland joins me to talk about her life behind the microphone — and the secrets she carried long before she ever stepped onto a stage.Kelita’s story is one of survival, loss, and the way art becomes a lifeline when your world breaks open.💬 In this episode we explore:• Her childhood trauma and the silence surrounding it• How music became her refuge• What forgiveness looks like after unthinkable pain• The power of reclaiming your voiceRaw, honest, and unforgettable.Follow Kelita and purchase a copy of Reason to Sing here:https://reasontosingbook.comFollow FLOM wherever we go:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I talk with Erika C. Lowenkopf about her memoir, Missing the Boat. Erika’s book is told in three acts and takes us through the lasting wounds of childhood bullying, the grief of infertility, and the surprising adventure that helped her rediscover joy.With honesty, vulnerability, and humor, Erika shares what it means to live through pain and still find light along the way.🎙️ In our conversation, we explore:How childhood bullying shaped her sense of self—and how she reclaimed her voiceBreaking the silence around infertility and childlessnessWhy laughter became one of her most important survival toolsThe unexpected journey that brought hope and belonging back into her lifeThis is a conversation about resilience, courage, and the power of writing to transform our hardest stories into connection.Purchase Missing the Boat here:https://a.co/d/btkpgqPPurchase Alive Out of Spite tshirt here: https://share.google/euCY7ysAJtOimwRxG

In this conversation with Inga Aksamit, we explore what it means to grow up between cultures, between parents, and between versions of yourself.Her memoir, We Walk Faster When We’re Alone, reveals a family history shaped by displacement, trauma, and hard-won freedom.💬 Topics include:• Navigating identity in complicated family systems• The emotional weight of survival stories• Carrying both privilege and pain• Writing your way toward belongingA deep, thoughtful episode for anyone who’s ever felt in-between.Follow Inga and order a copy of Between Worlds here: https://ingasadventures.comIhttps://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Step into the world of Larry Formato—where the line between survival and ruin is razor-thin. In Dangerous Ways, Larry takes us deep into his past, revealing a life shaped by high-stakes decisions, calculated moves, and the constant hum of risk. From the streets where trust was earned the hard way to moments where everything could change in an instant, his story is raw, unflinching, and unforgettable.This conversation isn’t just about looking back—it’s about the lessons learned in the heat of danger, the cost of living on the edge, and the resilience it takes to start over.Watch the documentary Dangerous Ways here:   • Dangerous Ways "Official" Documentary of L...  Purchase the book Dangerous Ways here:   • Dangerous Ways "Official" Documentary of L...  Follow For Love of Memoir everywhere we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

When Jim Mazziotti's teenage son entered a youth challenge program, it felt like a last-hope move—a lifeline for a family struggling to find something, anything, that might break through. But what happened next wasn’t just transformative for his son—it reshaped Jim’s life, too. In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Jim shares the story behind his book The Challenge: How 144 Letters Changed My Life, the Life of My Son, and Will Change Your Life Too. What began as a commitment to write one letter every day turned into a powerful practice of vulnerability, healing, and connection between a father and his son.If you’re a parent searching for hope, or someone who’s ever questioned how to show up when life gets hard—this conversation is for you.Watch full episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/VAutiCcDxqMPurchase The Challenge- How 144 Letters Changed My Life and the Life of My Son here:https://www.jimmazziotti.com/the-challenge-bookLearn More about The National Guard Youth Challenge here:https://ngchallenge.org/#MemoirPodcast #ParentingThroughCrisis #TheChallenge #JimMazziotti #LettersThatHeal #ForLoveOfMemoir

What happens when your childhood is shaped by two worlds—one Native, one assimilated—and neither quite fits?In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Jackson Taffa, Quechan and Laguna Pueblo author of the powerful memoir Whiskey Tender. Part coming-of-age story, part cultural excavation, Deborah’s book is a lyrical and unflinching look at growing up in 1980s New Mexico, navigating family secrets, displacement, and the long shadow of U.S. policy on Native identity.We talk about the dualities that shaped her story—the rebel and the student, the silence and the truth—and how writing her memoir became an act of reclamation. Deborah also shares insights into how her upbringing, her ancestors, and her children all helped shape the story she tells on the page.Whether you’re a memoir writer, a lover of untold history, or simply someone trying to make peace with where you come from, this one's for you!Follow Deborah here:https://deborahtaffa.comFind us here:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, to talk about hiking solo, navigating grief, and learning to trust yourself when the path ahead is unclear.Christine shares her story of leaving behind a life that no longer fit, walking into the wilderness with a heavy pack and an open heart. We talk about what it means to rewrite the stories we’ve inherited, how nature can be a mirror, and why solitude can be the most honest company.Whether you’ve ever dreamed of thru-hiking or you’re on your own journey of reinvention—this conversation is one to carry with you.Watch the show on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HPF1k0i-i6IFind us here: https: //linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoirLearn more about Christine here: Ruggedoutdoorswoman.comInstagram: @Ruggedoutdooswomanemail: [email protected]

Hospice nurse and TikTok storyteller Penny Hawkins Smith joins me to talk about her memoir, Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living.In this powerful conversation, Penny shares what it's like to sit at the bedside of the dying—and how witnessing death has helped her live more fully. We talk about her journey from addiction to caregiving, her viral presence on TikTok, and how telling the truth about death can transform how we show up in life.This episode is raw, hopeful, and filled with hard-won wisdom.Watch full episode on youtube:https://youtu.be/Ibul77zMTtk📚 Learn more about Penny: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/ @hospicenursepenny  🔗My Linktree:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Author Jane Wong joins me to talk about her lyrical and rebellious memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Born to a Chinese immigrant family and raised in a working-class neighborhood, Jane explores hunger in its many forms—emotional, cultural, and physical—and how writing became an act of survival, resistance, and joy.We talk about abandonment, family, poetic storytelling, and what it means to reclaim your voice across generations.📚 Learn more about Jane and her work: janewongwriter.comJane Wong (@paradeofcats) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong / Restaurant Baby Ceramics 🥬 (@restaurantbabyceramics) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong - Tin House🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir📲 Follow us on Instagram: @ForLoveOfMemoir💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: [email protected]🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of childhood abuse, emotional manipulation, and domestic violence. Please take care while listening.What happens when the person who’s supposed to protect you becomes the one you have to escape?In this episode, I talk with David Crow, author of *The Pale-Faced Lie*, a gripping memoir about growing up under the shadow of a violent and manipulative father. Raised on lies and trained in deceit, David’s early life was shaped by fear, secrecy, and survival.We discuss what it takes to break free from a legacy of control, how he found the courage to tell his story, and why speaking the truth—especially about family—is both painful and freeing.📘 Purchase David’s book: https://www.sandrajonaspublishing.com/the-pale-faced-lie/🛒 Or buy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cwUWGWG🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir📲 Follow us on Instagram: @ForLoveOfMemoir💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: [email protected]🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Mark Porro, author of A Cup of Tea on the Commode, to talk about the hilarity and heartbreak of caregiving, the power of storytelling, and what it means to show up when it matters most. Mark brings wit, warmth, and hard-earned wisdom to the conversation—you won’t want to miss it.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!📚 Find Mark’s links and more in the description below.Website:https://acupofteaonthecommode.org/Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Cup-Commode-Mark-Steven-Porro/dp/1608082849/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cup-of-tea-on-the-commode-mark-steven-porro/1143839916?ean=9781608082841🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir📲 Follow us on Instagram: @ForLoveOfMemoir💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: [email protected]🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir