Withness

We finish up our second season with some conversation about the way we all impress each other, how much it matters for us to take note of each other, and how our love for each other can keep us going. We use Dacher Keltner's book, Awe, as our starting place. And maybe as a place to start next season. 

We talk again with Jess to see what life is like farther down the road with cancer as a part of her story. Hear about how her friends made her birthday one to remember and how she's finding and making meaning through these days. To learn more about her story or to support her, check out @TeamJessLFG on instagram or search for Jessica Carter on CaringBridge. 

What's it like when the storm passes through town and you have to keep living with it? We talk with Johnny and Meredyth about the day their life together changed forever and how Withness kept them going. 

It's a college reunion! We interview Rachel the pediatrician about what it's like to be With patients through fear and sickness. To find Rachel on social media and ask her about your kid's runny nose, go to @honeybeepedsmd on instagram. 

We talked to my friend Joey about how to live with cancer, difference, and falcons. You can learn more about Joey's work in Cincinnati at Bespokenlive.org.

We talk with our friend Jason about what it's like to create, to parent, and to grow with depression. We also talk about what it's like to be Super Churched People wrestling with sorrow. And Jason gives us one question we could all be asking each other more often.

Jess is kind enough to let us in on what it's like to deal with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis crashing into your life. Hear how she invited others to show up for her and how they've gone above and beyond to be with her. 

We're back! Now with giant life updates! Our own co-host Keaton had a significant off-season so we're catching up with her and previewing the season to come. 

Since Withness is such a vital part of the holiday season, we take a look at some of our Lows and Highs of being with our people on these important days. We also consider the original Withnesser and what to do when we don't want to be with Mariah Carey for Christmas. Be sure to stay til the end to hear Laura's very first attempt at a Christmas podcast recorded on a Fisher Price tape deck. 

To close out our first season, we talk through what our guests taught us. We also wonder about social media condolences, the danger of small talk, and the power of shame. Also, our friend Ben returns to talk about what it means to speak at a funeral. 

"You're in the moment: You're left with do I completely detach or am I in it? I was just in it." We're calling in an expert Withness today. Blum showed up for Tom and Sheila for coffee on regular afternoon visits and in what became their last days. Hear him try to describe what came naturally to him. 

"I want to give people one last message of hope and love and that you don't have to fear." We interviewed Joyce right after she outlived the doctor's prognosis, after she felt like her bucket list was checked off, and as it turns out, right before she died. Listen in as we talk about her decision to host a living wake and what it's like to look back on a life well lived. 

"We counted up. We didn't set an expiration date on how time we had with Benjamin. We just enjoyed every single day." Even though Leslie's son had a disease only 2 people in every million have, there are universal truths we all need from their story. 

"I just wanted her to say something--i wanted her to be that cheerleader." What do you do when you lose the voice that's rooted for you your whole life? And what do you do when they're with you but not with you? Jason tells the story of grieving his mom while she was still living. 

"I was more worried for his friends than for myself. I wanted them to hold onto life." Furaha woke up in the middle of the night to the knock no parent wants at their door. We talk about the big life of her son Evan and how her care for his friends led to a group selfie at his funeral. 

In exchange for coupons to mini-golf that may or may not be honored, Ben tells us the story of losing his parents at a young age and we wonder with him just how joy belongs in painful stories.

“I need my life to be a eulogy for him.” Sarah tells us the too-short story of her son Levi: how they laid him down and how they carry him still.

We make a case for Withness as a word and a reality. We talk about Laura’s own family story and how it made us hit Record on this project.