Humancraft

Susan Devan Harness is the author of Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption, a memoir describing her experience as a transracial adoptee removed from her American Indian home and adopted by a white family in Montana. Susan is also the author of Mixing Cultural Identities Through Transracial Adoption: After the Indian Adoption Project. She is a High Plains Book Award winner in the categories of “Indigenous Writer” and “Creative Nonfiction” and is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Susan received her B.A. in anthropology from the University of Montana and her M.A. in cultural anthropology and M.A. in creative nonfiction from Colorado State University.  She is still very much involved in the issue of American-Indian transracial adoption and continues to write and speak nationally and internationally about the topic and about American-Indian assimilation policies and practices.  

Reyna Grande is an award-winning novelist and memoirist. She is the author of the bestselling memoirs, The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home, where she writes about her life before and after she arrived in the United States from Mexico as an undocumented child immigrant. Her other works include the novels, Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, and A Ballad of Love and Glory, a novel set during the Mexican-American War.  She is also the co-editor of an anthology by and about undocumented Americans called Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival and New Beginnings. Her books have been adopted as the common read selection by schools, colleges, and cities across the country.

Judy Liautaud is the author of two memoirs, the first titled “Sunlight on My Shadow: A Birth Mother’s Journey From Secrecy to Renewal,” and the second titled “South of Ordinary: A Moving Tale of Young Love and Self-Discovery.” She’s also the author and publisher of several children’s educational books through her publishing company City Creek Press, including “Times Tables the Fun Way,” “Addition the Fun Way,” and “Story Problems the Fun Way.” In our interview, we discuss Judy’s secret teen pregnancy, the pain and grief of giving up her baby for adoption, the healing and joy of finding and meeting her daughter decades later, and other ways in which she has healed and transformed throughout her life journey. 

Nicca Ray is the author of “Ray by Ray: A Daughter’s Take on the Legend of Nicholas Ray,” a blend of memoir and biography about her famous father and the impact of his absence in her life. She is also the author of poetry collections titled “Back Seat Baby,” “Curve,” and “Go Go Go Girl.” Her second memoir, “Love and Cigarettes” is coming soon, and her play “Cry of the Butterfly” will be performed in New York City in Fall 2025. In our interview, Nicca and I discuss the impact of addiction and sexual abuse in her life and family, the ways in which her legendary filmmaker father’s absence affected her life, and how she ultimately found healing, peace, and connection.

Christina Vo is a Vietnamese-American writer and the author of two memoirs, one titled “The Veil Between Two Worlds,” and the other a dual memoir written with her father called, “My Vietnam, Your Vietnam.” In our interview, we discuss the differences in experiences and perspectives between her and her father, who fled post-war Vietnam in the 1970s; the death of her mother when she was a teenager; her extended journeys to Vietnam as an adult to better understand her heritage; and her continued exploration of identity, culture, and belonging in her life and writing.  

Ron Jansen is a Marine combat veteran and the author of a memoir titled, “An Otherwise Healthy Person: A Marine’s Story of Going to Fallujah and Fighting to Come Home.” In our interview, he discusses his deployment to Fallujah during a time of intense fighting between the U.S. military and the Al Qaeda-backed insurgency, the challenges he faced when he returned home and was confronted with his own internal battles, and his ultimate awakening to his authentic self.   

Shelly Edwards Jorgensen is the author of a memoir titled "Beautiful Ashes: A True Story of Murder, Betrayal, and One Woman’s Search for Peace.” In the memoir and in our interview, Shelly talks about multiple traumas she experienced growing up, including living with an alcoholic, abusive father both before and after he murdered her mother; testifying against him at his trial; and suffering sexual assault. She also discusses the uplifting power of her faith during the darkest times, her healing journey, and all the ways in which she has ultimately embraced a new mindset on life, faith, and the purpose of suffering.   

Donell Barlow is a prolific author, having published a memoir called "Medicine Tracks,” two children’s books called “Bigfoot and Lightening Bug” and “Creature Teacher Yoga,” and a poetry book titled “Words Have No Meaning.” She is Yurok and an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe, Otter Clan. She works with Native communities as a Research and Training Coordinator and Certified Holistic Health Coach. In our interview, Donell talks about all the dynamics present in diet and nutrition; the benefits of embracing different forms of medicine in life, including food, Native practices, dreams, and animal encounters; how suffering and grief are their own important lessons; and the ways in which Native communities are embracing and rebuilding their cultural identities and practices. 

Amy Turner is a schoolteacher, former lawyer, and author of a memoir called “On the Ledge.” The memoir tells the story of her father’s attempted suicide when she was four years old, the hypervigilance and fear that then plagued her into adulthood, and how her own brush with death decades later unexpectedly led her on a path of healing and creativity. In our interview, Amy discusses the events detailed in her book and more.

Gilbert Mfitundinda is the author of a book titled, “Life’s Lens: Looking Through the Eyes of a Compassion International Child” a memoir about his life growing up in extreme poverty in Uganda and later moving to the United States. He is also the founder and CEO of a non-profit called Love Restoration, an organization that provides education, nutrition, and health care to children in Uganda. In our interview, Gilbert discusses his life in Uganda, how sponsors from the U.S. provided him with the rare opportunity to stay in school, what it was like to move to the U.S., and all the ways both big and small that people can empower and help others.

Michelle Schuman is a retired ecologist who specialized in wetland science and environmental policy in Alaska for more than four decades. Part of her work in Alaska included acting as a first responder at the Exxon oil spill, a major environmental disaster that occurred in 1989. She is also the author of a novel called “Jaquar Moon,” and a memoir titled, “The Understory: A Female Environmentalist in the Land of The Midnight Sun.” In addition to her first two books, she has finished another novel, an environmental thriller that she hopes to release this year. In our interview, she discusses all of these aspects of her life and more. 

Randi Fine is a pioneer in the narcissistic abuse movement and a narcissistic abuse expert and coach. She is also a podcast host and the author of a book called “Close Encounters of the Worst Kind: The Narcissistic Abuse Survivor's Guide to Healing and Recovery” and a memoir titled “Cliffedge Road.” In our interview, Randi talks about narcissistic personality disorder, narcissistic abuse, her own experience of having a parent with the disorder, and what victims can do to enlighten themselves about it, protect themselves going forward, and heal. 

Rick Evans is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, activist, veteran, and author of a book titled, “My Life for Yours,” a memoir about the challenges he's overcome in his life. In our interview, Rick discusses how he navigated the extreme hardships of his childhood, including his mother’s incarceration for murder when he was only six years old, and how he ultimately embraced leadership, hard work, compassion, and positivity to create a life of abundance and service to others.

My guest today is Lamees Al Ethari. Lamees holds a Ph.D. from the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo in Canada, where she teaches creative and academic writing and literature. Her publications include a poetry collection titled “From the Wounded Banks of the Tigris” and a memoir titled “Waiting for the Rain: An Iraqi Memoir." Both publications focus on her experiences living through the 2003 invasion of Iraq, its aftermath, and her subsequent migration from the country. 

Susan Hutchinson is the author of a book called “Forever with Me,” a memoir about the lives and tragic deaths of not one but two of her daughters within a five-year time period. In our interview, Susan talks about her book, her grieving processes, and how she ultimately survived with the determination to keep living life to the fullest and the desire to show others in her position that they too can make it to the other side. Link to Susan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Me-Memoir-Susan-Hutchinson/dp/B08P3H12DPLinks to Humancraft social media:https://www.instagram.com/humancraftpodcast/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093217795877https://twitter.com/humancraftpodhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-huddleston-a38490250/

Brad is the author of a book called “Lemon Belly: A Memoir of Resilience and Crohn’s Disease.” The book describes the inspired way in which he has tackled decades of serious health challenges due to Crohn’s Disease, including a year-long health crisis that nearly killed him. In our interview, Brad discusses his book, his life with a chronic illness, and how he has remained positive and determined despite his hardships.

Heather Bond is the author of a book called “Athena Rising,” a memoir about the extraordinary experiences she’s had in her life and how they ultimately led her on a path of self-discovery and transformation. She is also the founder of a group called Trekking Ambassadors, a team of international adventurers who provide solar lights and eyeglasses to remote villages with little or no electricity and a lack of essential supplies. In her earlier years, she was a forest-service firefighter, Los Angeles firefighter, and Hollywood stuntwoman, and she participated in numerous extreme endurance races. In our interview, Heather discusses her life and her conviction to live it to the fullest with no regrets. 

Shani Raviv is the author of a book called “Being Ana: A Memoir of Anorexia Nervosa.” She is also the creator of “Journey Writing Circles,” a group healing experience in which women and teen girls journal, share, and connect. In our interview, Shani discusses what it was like for her to live with anorexia for ten years of her life and how she was able to recover and create a full, nourishing life.  Link to her book: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Ana-Memoir-Anorexia-Nervosa/dp/163152139X

Kristin Joy Lavin is the author of “The Butterfly Promise,” a memoir about love, grief and the afterlife, particularly as they relate to her relationship with her beloved grandmother. She talks with Beth about her book, spirituality, messages and signs from the afterlife, and grieving the loss of the ones we love.

Latrea Russ is an author, disability-empowerment coach, and speaker. Her most recent book is a memoir titled “It's Not What It Looks Like: I'm Not Doing That Anymore.” She talks with Beth about how she persevered through a difficult childhood and the challenges of living with a disability to live a purpose-driven, fulfilling life. 

Laura is the author of “My Prosthetic Life,” a memoir about her experiences growing up with a prosthetic arm due to a birth defect caused by her mother taking Thalidomide for morning sickness during her pregnancy. She joins Beth to discuss all the ways in which living with a physical difference affected her life and how she eventually learned to accept and love herself exactly as she is.   

Patricia Rodi is a mother, wife, cancer survivor, peer mentor, and author of the memoir, “What Comes After Cancer: A Memoir for Patients, Family, and Friends Dealing With Critical Illness.” She talks with Beth about surviving cancer and all the ways in which cancer has affected her life, including unexpected gifts and blessings she found along the way.

Paul Honeycutt is the CEO of The Creation Lab, a leadership-consulting business that seeks to bring an intuitive, heart-centered approach to leadership in the workplace. He joins Beth to discuss his childhood growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, how he came to terms with his homosexuality in the midst of his strict religious upbringing, and the ways in which he uses what he learned throughout the years to make positive change in his work and life today.   

Aly Bird is a qualifying registered psychotherapist, coach, speaker, and author of the book, “Grief Ally: Helping People You Love Cope with Death, Loss, and Grief.” She talks with Beth about grief, grief support, and the loss of her husband. 

Momoko Uno is a doctor of integrative medicine, certified functional medicine practitioner, acupuncturist, board-certified Chinese herbalist, and author of the book “14 Days: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Quarantine Hell.” She talks with Beth about her medical career, how her confinement in Australia's hotel quarantine during Covid kept her from being with her mother before her death, grief, coping mechanisms, and more.

Maria Reich is a certified canine nutritionist, co-owner of The Pet Health and Nutrition Center, and author of the book, “A Thousand Lifetimes: The Story of a Woman and Her Dog: Both Sides of the Tale.” She talks with Beth about her book, animal communication, pet health and nutrition, and all the ways we can best care for our pets.  

Sorana Mitchell is a mother, singer/songwriter, writer, poet and author of the memoir “Still Smiling.” She talks with Beth about the sudden loss of her beloved father when she was a child, a difficult relationship with her mother, surviving sexual abuse, living with bipolar disorder, and finding positivity and joy in the midst of it all.