Wild Precious Life
90 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 75 ratingsJoin author, educator, and learner, Annmarie Kelly as she laughs, cries, and kvetches with the writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and wanderers who inspire all of us to reach beyond our divisions and discover what it means to be wild, precious, and brave.
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Episodes
Our Missing Hearts with Celeste Ng
October 06, 2022 12:52 - 40 minutesCeleste Ng is a literary rockstar whose bestselling novels have been translated into over thirty languages. Her latest book, OUR MISSING HEARTS, is a story about art, power, and the legacies we pass on to our children. In this episode, Annmarie and Celeste discuss banned books, miniatures, and whether the world can, in fact, be divided into Order Muppets or Chaos Muppets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thrill, Squelch, and Growl with Ben Percy
September 29, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutesBen Percy writes novels, and comic books, and podcasts, and television, and movies, and short stories, and more. He joins us today to talk about “juggling all those flaming chainsaws.” In this episode, Ben and Annmarie discuss Wolverine, sharks, and “cussedness,” how to be stubborn in the face of rejection, and what it takes to pursue the writing life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get Schooled with Stephanie Jankowski
September 15, 2022 13:11 - 45 minutesIn her book, SCHOOLED, Stephanie Jankowski writes a love letter to what she describes as “the exhausting, infuriating, occasionally excruciating yet somehow completely wonderful profession of teaching.” In this episode, Annmarie and Stephanie discuss back-to-school survival tricks, the value of educating the whole child, and how parents and teachers can be better partners on the journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
No One Crosses the Wolf with Lisa Nikolidakis
September 01, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutesIn her recent memoir, NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF, Lisa Nikolidakis chronicles the inheritance of a crime scene, and what happened both before and after the murder-suicide that cracked her world wide open. In this episode, Annmarie and Lisa discuss trauma writing, open-heartedness, talking to horses, and how all of us are imperfect survivors of our own messy lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Be a Promised Land with Echo Brown
August 19, 2022 13:23 - 44 minutesEcho Brown’s recent memoir, THE CHOSEN ONE, examines the opportunities and costs of an Ivy League education, and the obligation universities have to support and safeguard first-generation college students. Annmarie and Echo discuss inequity, community, and the need to be a promised land for one another. Additionally, Echo talks about her current health crisis and her urgent campaign to find a kidney donor. You can learn more and contribute HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Make Me Disappear with Jessica Payne
August 04, 2022 18:06 - 59 minutesJessica Payne’s most recent novel MAKE ME DISAPPEAR is a twisting thriller that poses important questions. What would it take for anyone to make a clean escape from their own life? And how far should you go to fight back against an abuser? This book provides hope for anyone who’s ever wanted to leave a broken relationship, but could not find their way out. In this episode, Annmarie and Jessica discuss their shared love for the Pacific Northwest, juggling writing and family life, and how any s...
Be One-in-a-Million with Monica Wood
July 21, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutesMonica Wood’s most recent novel THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY will capture your imagination and warm your heart. It’s the best book you may not yet have heard of. In this episode, Monica and Annmarie discuss found families, where stories come from, and why strivers make the world go ‘round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Claim Your Inheritance with Teresa K. Miller
July 07, 2022 12:03 - 54 minutesTeresa K. Miller's poetry collection, BORDERLINE FORTUNE, won the prestigious National Poetry Series and has been featured on radio programs and book festivals across the country. However, not long ago, Teresa nearly gave up writing, after one too many publishing heartbreaks. In this episode, she and Annmarie unpack that story, compare family legacies, and ponder what truly makes a life worth living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Defy Expectations with Kirstin Chen
June 23, 2022 09:00 - 47 minutesKirstin Chen’s recent book, COUNTERFEIT, is one of the most anticipated novels of the summer, in which two Asian American women grow a fake handbag scheme into a global enterprise. The book is full of twists and surprises and makes for great beach or poolside reading. In this episode, Annmarie and Kirstin chat about luxury purses, fanny packs, daily yoga practice, and the dangers of the model minority myth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Travel Through the Pages with Jennifer E. Smith
June 09, 2022 12:01 - 58 minutesJennifer E. Smith spent years editing other people’s manuscripts before finally finding her footing to publish her own. To date, she’s now written eleven books, including THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and HELLO, GOODBYE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN that will both be released as films soon. In this episode, Annmarie and Jennifer discuss summoning courage, paying attention to small moments of joy, and how to travel the world both in and out of the pages of a book. Learn more ...
Have a Good Talk with Mira Jacob
May 26, 2022 12:42 - 55 minutesMira Jacob is a novelist, memoirist, illustrator, and cultural critic whose graphic memoir GOOD TALK has been described as “exactly the book America needs at this moment.” Annmarie and Mira discuss racism, social justice, and how to encourage our kids to ask difficult questions even when we don’t have all the answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Embrace Your Weird with Carrie Harris
May 12, 2022 09:22 - 41 minutesAs a child, Carrie Harris was the kind of girl who played STAR WARS with the boys. Even at that young age, she yearned for more female roles and adventures. So these days, she writes them. Carrie recently landed her dream job telling stories for Marvel. Annmarie and Carrie reminisce about high school hijinks and discuss the importance of unleashing the superhero inside of each one of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Translate Love and Compassion with Haleh Liza Gafori
April 28, 2022 09:00 - 47 minutesAs a child, Haleh Liza Gafori was introduced to Rumi’s Persian poetry, and as an adult, she began singing and translating these same poems. Annmarie and Haleh talk about the timelessness of this 13th century mystic, how Rumi’s work offers “liberating and nourishing perspectives” still vital to us today, and how we can both lose and find ourselves in the depth of his words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Climb Your Mountain with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
April 14, 2022 10:21 - 56 minutesSilvia Vasquez-Lavado climbs mountains. In fact, she is one of the few women in the world to complete the Seven Summits, ascending the highest peak on each continent. In this episode, Silvia and Annmarie talk about the healing power of mountain climbing and how women can work through trauma by putting one foot in front of the other and hiking far above the clouds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Unlearn Your Lessons with Elizabeth Lesser
March 31, 2022 11:59 - 1 hourElizabeth Lesser is a well-known author whose latest book, CASSANDRA SPEAKS, challenges us to think about how when women are the storytellers, the human story changes. In this episode, Annmarie and Elizabeth discuss the roles females have played throughout history, religion, and mythology, and how now is time for us to unlearn some of the gendered lessons we have come to believe so that all people can flourish and shine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Surrender and Live with Barb Roose
March 17, 2022 09:53 - 46 minutesBarb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about teaching women to live in courage and faith. Annmarie and Barb discuss hometown heartaches, why people should eat dessert first, and how to journey through your own wilderness season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We Are All We Need with Bodhi Calagna and Wilson Rodriguez
March 03, 2022 10:00 - 1 hourBodhi Calagana and Wilson Rodriguez have something in common: a love of sound. Specifically EDM or Electronic Dance Music. In this episode, Bodhi, Wilson, and Annmarie discuss finding acceptance, healing, and refuge in the EDM community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Adopt Love and Understanding with Julia Brewer Daily
February 17, 2022 11:47 - 47 minutesJulia Brewer Daily began her career in Marketing, but she always knew she had a story to tell. Now in her 60s, Julia recently published her debut novel, NO NAMES TO BE GIVEN, a semi-autobiographical account of adoption practices years ago. In this episode, Annmarie and Julia discuss the heartache, love, and joy involved both in loving a child and letting her go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Look to the Future with Laura Maylene Walter
February 03, 2022 10:00 - 52 minutesLaura Maylene Walter is the author of BODY OF STARS, a novel in which women’s bodies predict the future. Annmarie and Laura discuss love and loss and the power of manifesting our dreams through storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keep the Flame Alive with Thrity Umrigar
January 20, 2022 11:41 - 49 minutesAt the age of 21, Thrity Umrigar left India to study journalism in the United States. Decades later, she is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen books, including her latest, HONOR, in which a reporter searches for courage amid the ashes of hatred. Annmarie and Thrity talk about the resilience of women, our need to protect the most vulnerable among us, and how to find love hidden in the boredom of ordinary days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Embrace Self-Love with Megan Logan
January 06, 2022 12:33 - 46 minutesMegan Logan is a therapist, mom, and author of the SELF-LOVE WORKBOOK FOR WOMEN. In this episode, we open up about past struggles and current opportunities. Annmarie and Megan also discuss nude beaches, skydiving, and how to embrace the best version of yourself in every phase of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Just Say YES with Emily Ford Revisited
December 30, 2021 10:00 - 44 minutesDuring this holiday season, we've decided to reissue our episode featuring Emily Ford. In case you don't remember, Emily was the first woman to successfully through-hike and complete Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail in the winter. I think we can all take a little of Emily's optimism into 2022! Emily’s love of the outdoors, her incurable optimism, and SAY YES spirit will have you donning hiking boots and heading for a walk in the woods. Annmarie talks to Emily (and her trusty sidekick Diggins) about ...
Dream with Your Eyes Open with Naki Akrobettoe
December 16, 2021 13:40 - 42 minutesNaki Akrobettoe is a poet, a Ghanaian princess, and most importantly a mother. In this episode, Naki and Annmarie talk about the tricky balance of creativity and parenthood, the need for safe mental health practices, and the power of finding a home within yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Never Run Out of Stories with Rebecca Makkai
December 02, 2021 10:50 - 40 minutesRebecca Makkai is the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist, THE GREAT BELIEVERS, which tells the story of the AIDS epidemic in Chicago. Rebecca and Annmarie talk about the parallels and differences between battling Covid today and fighting HIV in the 1980s, as well as the lessons we can all learn about how to live and love in the face of fear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Make Sense of Your Self with Derdriu Ring
November 11, 2021 11:40 - 43 minutesDerdriu Ring always knew she wanted to act, and when she moved from Ireland to the United States, she continued to make this dream come true. Derdriu has performed sold-out shows from Los Angeles to Dublin and she joins us this week to talk about the magic and mystery of her craft. Annmarie and Derdriu discuss the importance of listening, working as an ensemble, and how to welcome adventures into the unknown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chase Your Dreams with Nayomi Munaweera
October 28, 2021 09:24 - 51 minutesNayomi Munaweera is currently drafting her third novel. However, her first book took over ten years to write. Through dozens of revisions, rejections, and doubts, Nayomi learned the craft and never gave up on her dream. She felt in her bones she was meant to be a writer. Annmarie speaks with Nayomi about her immigrant childhood, teenage shenanigans, and what it really means to do the sacred work of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Be A Survivor with Jonathan Penner
October 14, 2021 09:50 - 45 minutesJonathan Penner is an actor and screenwriter well-known for his multiple appearances on the show Survivor. But he joins us today to talk about arguably his most important role: caregiver for his wife, Stacy Title, an Academy Award-nominated director, screenwriter, and producer, who passed away in 2021. Annmarie and Jonathan talk about love stories, the creative life, and what happens after happily ever after. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone with Lori Gottlieb
September 30, 2021 11:12 - 43 minutesIn this episode, Annmarie speaks with writer and therapist Lori Gottlieb about the power of talk therapy to transform our story. After jobs in television, journalism, and even a stint in medical school, Lori finally found her calling in psychotherapy. She has been on both the giving and receiving end of therapeutic wisdom and Lori teaches us how to unlearn old habits and foster new connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Reclaim Your Story with Vanessa Angélica Villareal
September 16, 2021 09:58 - 48 minutesDoes poetry scare you? Does it leave you feeling more lost than found? If so, you aren’t alone. In this episode, Annmarie talks to poet Vanessa Angélica Villareal about owning your truth, storytelling as survival, and the intergenerational power of Dirty Dancing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover Your Superpowers with Sanyin Siang
September 02, 2021 09:39 - 46 minutesAnnmarie first met Sanyin in college. They passed each other in the halls and said, “Hey.” But it wasn’t until years later that they actually connected and became friends. In this episode, we catch up with Sanyin, who is now an executive coach and thought leader. She teaches us that when we look for the awesomeness in others, we can also find greatness in ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Believe in Doubt with Matthew Paul Turner
August 19, 2021 10:16 - 49 minutesMatthew Paul Turner was raised in a religious family and has spent his career authoring books about faith. However, in this episode, Annmarie and Matthew talk about the importance of uncertainty, questions, and doubt. Matthew reminds us that doubt and belief can work together as both children and adults grow in love, faith, and understanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dwell in Possibility with Eliese Goldbach
August 05, 2021 09:00 - 39 minutesEliese Goldbach was a part-time seasonal house painter. She had no health care. She felt lost. Then she applied for a job as a steelworker and spent three years stirring molten iron, driving a forklift, and galvanizing metal. She did something completely outside of her comfort zone. And it changed her. It forged her as a human and a writer. It helped her be brave. In this episode, Annmarie and Elise discuss mental health, bravery, and the many paths to hope, possibility, and lasting change. L...
Dare to Be Challenged with Mikki Kendall
July 22, 2021 08:11 - 45 minutesMikki Kendall is a writer, activist, and “occasional feminist” whose book, Hood Feminism, challenges us to rethink our perspectives on what it means to be a woman, an ally, and a progressive member of any community. Annmarie and Mikki discuss education reform, sexuality, affordable housing, and whether watching The Muppet Show can be both escapist AND a feminist battle cry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Take a Soul Detour with Francisco X. Stork
July 08, 2021 09:00 - 39 minutesFrancisco X. Stork spent thirty-three years working at one job, but felt in his heart he was called to pursue another. He is a grandfather now and has just published his 9th book. Francisco draws upon his experiences as a Mexican immigrant to write captivating stories for young readers. Annmarie and Francisco discuss do-overs, chess, hopeful endings, and how to resist putting a time limit on our dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Permission to Fail with Rachel Simmons
June 24, 2021 09:00 - 41 minutesWhen was the last time you did something that scared you? Not just bungee jumping or mountain biking, but even little fears, like talking to a stranger or asking for a raise at work? This week, Annmarie talks to author, educator, and executive coach Rachel Simmons about the importance of taking risks and exercising our “failure muscles.” Rachel reminds us that NOT being amazing is actually an important step on our journey to success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your Black Friend, Fred Joseph
June 10, 2021 10:39 - 44 minutesWhether he’s empowering kids around the world to see the film Black Panther or providing food and shelter to thousands of families during the Covid pandemic, Frederick Joseph is a tireless agent of social change. His book, The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person, is a gateway for both young people and adults to talk about racism and how to combat it. Fred and Annmarie discuss what it means to be an accomplice, the obligations of white privilege, antiracist teachings, and how to use T...
The Last Day of My First Life with Katherine Standefer
May 27, 2021 11:21 - 40 minutesWhen Katherine Standefer woke up in a parking lot with gravel in her forehead, she knew her life would never be the same. The incomparable author of Lightning Flowers takes us on a medical and spiritual journey as she discovers how to navigate life with a defibrillator in her chest. Annmarie and Katherine discuss their difficult experiences with the healthcare system, Katherine's global journey to investigate the minerals in her medical device, and the true costs of what it means to save a li...
Just Say YES with Emily Ford
May 13, 2021 09:00 - 44 minutesEmily Ford recently became the first woman to solo hike the entire Ice Age Trail in winter. Emily’s love of the outdoors, her incurable optimism, and SAY YES spirit will have you donning hiking boots and heading for a walk in the woods. Annmarie talks to Emily (and her trusty sidekick Diggins) about trail magic, the kindness of strangers, and how all of us are so much stronger than we realize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Finding Faith with Bunmi Laditan
April 29, 2021 09:00 - 39 minutesBunmi Laditan is a mom, writer, and self-proclaimed "domestic failure." She has written a number of fantastic books including the hilarious Honest Toddler, and her most recent heartfelt title, Dear God. In this episode, Bunmi walks us through lessons in faith, grace, love, and forgiveness. Annmarie and Bunmi discuss normalizing anxiety, how humor can be born from adversity, and how to survive when children turn our worlds upside-down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Introducing: Wild Precious Life with Annmarie Kelly
April 09, 2021 14:35 - 2 minutesJoin author, educator, and learner, Annmarie Kelly as she laughs, cries, and kvetches with the writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and wanderers who inspire all of us to reach beyond our divisions and discover what it means to be wild, precious, and brave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices