In this episode, Michelle Glogovac speaks with Dr. Jessi Gold about the importance of mental health conversations, the stigma surrounding them, and the role of empathy in understanding emotional struggles. They discuss the challenges of burnout in healthcare, the significance of self-disclosure in therapy, and the impact of societal issues on mental well-being. Dr. Gold shares insights from her memoir, How Do You Feel? , emphasizing the need for open dialogue and sustainability in mental health ...
Feb 25, 2025•41 min•Ep. 281
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Becky Ellis about her memoir, Little Avalanches , which explores the generational impact of war through her own childhood experiences and her father's combat experiences in World War II. The conversation delves into the challenges of understanding and sharing war stories, the importance of empathy, and the need for open conversations about trauma and silence within families. Becky shares insights on how her father's...
Feb 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 280
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Brian Cuban, who shares his profound journey through addiction, recovery, and the impact of family support. Brian discusses his struggles with alcohol and cocaine, his experiences in law school, and the turning point that led him to seek help. He emphasizes the importance of sharing stories and resources for those facing similar challenges, highlighting the privilege that can affect recovery outcomes. Brian's new novel, The...
Feb 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 279
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Sash Bischoff about her debut novel, Sweet Fury . The conversation explores the book's themes, including the influence of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the complexities of the Me Too movement, and the dynamics of feminism. Sash shares her journey from theater to writing, the process of crafting suspenseful twists, and her experiences recording the audiobook. The episode concludes with a discussion about Sash's upcoming book t...
Feb 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 278
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews authors Azul Terronez and Steve Vannoy about their book Gone Missing , the first in a historical fiction series. The conversation delves into the personal stories that inspired the book, the importance of empathy in storytelling, and the rich history of the Appalachian community depicted in their work. The authors share their writing process, the significance of family narratives, and how they aim to humanize characters oft...
Feb 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 277
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Susan Liu, author of The Manicurist Daughter . They explore Susan's journey of uncovering her mother's story, the importance of intergenerational healing, and the challenges of self-discovery and motherhood. Susan shares her experiences as a storyteller and performer, discussing her one-woman show and the emotional rollercoaster of her creative process. The conversation delves into themes of personal growth, the quest for ...
Feb 06, 2025•43 min•Ep. 276
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth . They explore the concept of wealth beyond just financial means, discussing the importance of social connections, mental health, physical well-being, and personal growth. Sahil shares his journey of redefining success, emphasizing the significance of tiny daily actions and investments in relationships. The conversation highlights the need for curiosity and the power of simple h...
Feb 04, 2025•36 min•Ep. 275
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Gemma Tizzard about her historical fiction novel, Grace Of The Empire State . The conversation explores the extensive research Gemma conducted on the construction of the Empire State Building during the Great Depression, the portrayal of strong women in her story, and the balance between her writing career and day job. Gemma shares her insights on American history, the writing process, and the importance of relations...
Jan 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 274
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, the hosts of the Datable Podcast and authors of the book How to Be Datable . They discuss their journey in the dating world, the challenges of modern dating, and the importance of authenticity and confidence in relationships. The conversation also covers their writing process for the book, success stories from their community, and the evolution of dating perspectives over the years. The episode emp...
Jan 28, 2025•36 min•Ep. 273
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks podcast. They discuss Traci's journey into the world of books and podcasting, her reading habits, and the importance of advocating for literature in prisons. Traci shares insights on parenting and reading with children, as well as navigating classic literature's impact on modern readers. The conversation highlights the significance of asking for help in the industry and the joy o...
Jan 23, 2025•36 min•Ep. 272
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Stephanie Kiser, author of Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant . They discuss Stephanie's journey from a struggling writer to a nanny for some of New York's wealthiest families, exploring themes of inequality, parenting philosophies, and the impact of education and student debt. Stephanie shares her personal growth through her experiences and the influence of Hillary Clinton's book on her political views. The conversation...
Jan 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 271
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Cindy Muchnick, author of The Parent Compass , about the importance of fostering independence in children from an early age. They discuss the impact of the college admissions scandal on parenting styles, the necessity of early parenting strategies, and the challenges parents face in allowing their children to take responsibility for their own lives. Cindy emphasizes the need for parents to build support networks and naviga...
Jan 16, 2025•33 min•Ep. 270
In this episode of the My Simplified Life podcast, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes back Louis L. Reed to discuss his new children's book, Deuce's First Step . The conversation explores the impact of parental incarceration on children, the inspiration behind the book, and the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing the needs of these children. Louis shares his personal experiences and aspirations for the book, aiming to reach a million children affected by parental incarceration and...
Jan 14, 2025•28 min•Ep. 269
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Victor Shi, a young political activist and former delegate. They discuss Victor's early involvement in politics, his experiences in various campaigns, most recently on the Harris Walz campaign, and the importance of community engagement. Victor shares insights on the role of young people in politics, the impact of podcasting, and the significance of local politics. The conversation emphasizes the need for authentic connecti...
Jan 09, 2025•34 min•Ep. 268
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Amy Wilson about the complexities of people pleasing, particularly among women. They explore the societal pressures that lead to this behavior, the impact of social media, and the importance of setting boundaries. Amy shares insights from her new book, Happy to Help , discussing her journey as a people pleaser and how to navigate personal and professional challenges. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-car...
Jan 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 267
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Lauren Ling Brown, author of the debut novel Society of Lies . They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of representation in literature, and the personal struggles Lauren faced while writing. The conversation delves into themes of trauma, abuse, and the significance of empathy in storytelling, highlighting how literature can foster understanding and connection among readers. What We're Talking About... B...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 266
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Nikkya Hargrove, author of the memoir Mama and owner of the new bookstore, Obodo Seredipity Books in Stratford, Connecticut. Nikkya shares her journey of writing her book, the themes of community, forgiveness, and motherhood, and the challenges of being a queer black woman. She discusses the importance of storytelling and creating a safe space for diverse narratives in her bookstore. The conversation also touches on family...
Dec 31, 2024•32 min•Ep. 265
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Leslie Rasmussen about her book, The Stories We Cannot Tell , which addresses the often-taboo subjects of miscarriage, infertility and a woman's right to choose. They discuss the importance of sharing personal stories to foster connection and support among women. Leslie shares her journey from TV writing to novel writing, highlighting the differences in the creative process and the impact of the political climate on...
Dec 26, 2024•28 min•Ep. 264
In this episode, Michelle Glogovac interviews Courtney Lund O'Neil, author of Postmortem , which explores the chilling story of John Wayne Gacy through the lens of Courtney's mother, who was the last person to see one of Gacy's victims. The conversation delves into the impact of trauma on families, the societal fascination with criminals, and the importance of telling stories from different perspectives. Courtney shares her journey of writing the book, the courtroom drama surrounding the case, a...
Dec 24, 2024•36 min•Ep. 263
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Zelly Ruskin about her debut novel, Not Yours to Keep , which explores themes of adoption and infertility. Zelly shares her journey from social worker to author, the emotional realities of adoption, and how societal perspectives on adoption have evolved. The conversation also touches on the impact of politics and mental health on adoption practices, as well as the differences between domestic and international adopt...
Dec 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 262
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Jasmin Falk-Dickerson about her memoir, The Last Sandstorm , which chronicles her unique experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia as a child of a Saudi father and an Italian mother. Jasmin discusses her journey of self-discovery, the challenges of navigating cultural identity, and her advocacy for social understanding. The conversation touches on the importance of women's rights, the impact of media exposure, and the ongoing...
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Ep. 261
In this episode of the My Simplified Life podcast, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Hannah Mary McKinnon, also known as Holly Cassidy. They discuss Hannah's latest romantic comedy, The Christmas Countdown, and explore her unique ability to write in two different genres: thrillers and romantic comedies. The conversation delves into Hannah's Swiss heritage, her writing process, the challenges of balancing writing with family life, and the nostalgia of holiday traditions. Hannah shares her ...
Dec 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 260
In this conversation, Michelle Glogovac and Stephanie Harrison explore the concept of happiness, emphasizing a new philosophy that encourages individuals to pursue happiness in a way that positively impacts the world. Stephanie shares her personal journey towards finding happiness, her book, New Happy , and the importance of empathy, community, and compassion in fostering well-being. They discuss the challenges of navigating pain, the transformative power of helping others, and the need for open...
Dec 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 259
In this engaging conversation, Michelle Glogovac interviews Nora Dahlia about her new contemporary romance novel Pick Up . They discuss the emotional impact of the book, its inspiration from real-life experiences, and the challenges of writing while balancing motherhood. Nora shares insights into her writing process, the influence of travel writing, and the importance of identity beyond being a mom. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of parenting and the role of involved mothers in sc...
Dec 05, 2024•37 min•Ep. 258
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Meg Tady about her latest novel, Bluebird Day. The conversation explores the inspirations behind the book, including Meg’s personal experiences and research in Switzerland. They discuss themes of estrangement, climate change, the writing process, and the influence of family on Meg’s work. The episode concludes with Tady sharing insights into her future projects and the importance of supporting local bookstores. What ...
Dec 03, 2024•33 min•Ep. 257
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews her friend and author Jeanne Blasberg about her multifaceted life and career. Jeanne shares her journey from Wall Street to becoming a novelist and lettuce farmer, discussing the unexpected pivots and life lessons. They explore the parallels between writing and athleticism, the influence of motherhood on creativity, and Jeanne's personal exploration of identity through her conversion to Judaism. This episode is filled with ...
Nov 26, 2024•38 min•Ep. 256
In this episode, Michelle Glogovac and Anastasia Zadeik explore the intricacies of storytelling, the significance of life lessons, and the celebration of life through funerals. They delve into the importance of mental health, the power of presence, and the unique experiences that shape our understanding of literature. The discussion highlights the beauty of connection through shared stories and the impact of personal experiences on the reading journey. What we’re talking about Everyone has a sto...
Nov 19, 2024•49 min•Ep. 255
In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes back Emma Grey, author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Emma shares insights into her writing journey, discussing the challenges and inspirations behind her latest novel. The conversation touches on character development, tackling complex themes, and the importance of persistence in the face of rejection. What we’re talking about Embrace the Messy First Draft Persistence in Writing and Rejection Draw Inspiration fro...
Nov 12, 2024•29 min•Ep. 254
In this solo episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac reflects on the significance of Election Day 2024. Michelle shares her personal experiences and emotions and discusses the importance of staying positive and focused on the highs despite the challenges faced during the election period. She emphasizes the power of using our voices for good, advocating for kindness and unity, and maintaining hope for the future. What we’re talking about The importance of reflecting on the highs and...
Nov 05, 2024•11 min•Ep. 253
In this solo episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac explores the New Happy concept introduced in Stephanie Harrison's book. Michelle also addresses the unrealistic portrayals of success in the online world, urging listeners to recognize the hidden struggles behind seemingly perfect lives. The conversation highlights the significance of authenticity, self-care, and the need to prioritize what truly matters in life. What we’re talking about The concept of New Happy focuses on helpin...
Oct 29, 2024•15 min•Ep. 252