Pebble in Your Shoe Podcast

On Lowering Our Expectations with Poet, Jessica de Koninck S1 Ep. 10

Jessica DeKoninck, 70 years old, is a mother, grandmother, retired attorney, poet, author, and long-time Montclair, New Jersey resident. At age 50, Jessica went back to school for her M.F.A. from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. It took her years to call herself a poet, but a poet she is. A winner of the 2023 Stephen A. DiBiase Poetry Contest, her work has been featured in the Writer’s Almanac and Verse Daily, and her poems, reviews and articles have appeared in numerous publications. She’s written a full-length poetry collection called “Cutting Room” (Terrapin Books) and a chapbook called “Repairs" (Finishing Line Press.) Jessica is a co-editor of ALTE, a multi-platform publication and teaches in the M.P.A. program at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J. Jessica shares two of her poems on the podcast and passes on some valuable advice on imposter syndrome. She’s one smart cookie and a gracious guest. I’m delighted to present this interview with Jessica.   For more, www.jessicadekoninck.com [http://www.jessicadekoninck.com/] https://www.altegettingoldtogether.com [https://www.altegettingoldtogether.com],

It's a Beautiful Sober Life with Writer, Michele Maize S1 Ep. 9

Michele Maize is a 46-year-old mother, wife, and sober traveler from Orange County, California. She struggled with addiction for many years of her life but is now over three years sober. Even though she failed many times, sobriety is now the most important thing in her life. Without it, she wouldn’t be writing, traveling, and living the fulfilling life she does now. It took her many rock bottoms to get to this point. She’s a yoga enthusiast, eats plant-based, and travels whenever possible. She’s worked in different fields but has found writing in sobriety, and it quickly became her passion and free therapy. She shares her journey through her tumultuous childhood, bipolar diagnosis, attempts at sobriety, breast cancer discovery, and her travels worldwide on Medium. She is one of the most beloved writers on Medium, and it’s an honor to talk with her. https://medium.com/@soberveganyogi

The Granny Who Stands on her Head: Ann Richardson S1 Ep. 8

Author Ann Richardson, age 82, is American-born but has lived in London with her English husband since her mid-20s. They have two adult children and two teenage grandsons, with whom she is very much involved. Ann has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and has had a prestigious professional career as a Qualitative Researcher in health and social care. In her later years, she has written four non-fiction books, which include “Wise Before Their Time,” “Life in a Hospice,” “Celebrating Grandmothers,” and lastly, “The Granny Who Stands on Her Head,” which is also the name of her bimonthly Substack. Her writings have been translated into several languages. Ann is also a contributor for an online magazine for older women: sixtyandme.com Website: https://annrichardson.co.uk Substack: https://arichardson.substack.com Other writing: https://sixtyandme.com/author/Ann-Richardson/

Badass Autism Mom, Podcaster, and Advocate: Rashidah Cartwright S1, Ep. 7

Rashidah Cartwright is 45 years old and the proud mother of four beautiful children, two of whom are living with autism. Besides working a full-time job, Rashidah is also the host of a weekly podcast called “Autism for Badass Moms.” She started this podcast as a beacon of hope and encouragement for autism moms to share their experiences, insights, and advice. Besides her podcast, Rashidah has over 18 years of service in the mental health and substance use profession, working with children, youth, and adults in hospitals, day programs, and outpatient services. Rashidah is an acclaimed public speaker who teaches others to empower themselves. Rashidah’s life and work are clear testaments of her commitment to improving mental health outcomes and her dedication to supporting those in the autism community. Her resilience and professional expertise make her an inspiring leader in mental health and personal development. https://www.autismforbadassmoms.com/ https://open.spotify.com/show/7Kpg8RyTfVWqo8SHHtWCL0?si=c60cfbf2e74b4e56 https://www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095054651586

The Indomitable Spirit of Psychotherapist, Artist, and Writer Linda Hoenigsberg S1 Ep. 6

Linda is 72 years old. While she grew up, lived, and worked in California, she moved to Montana almost thirty years ago. After being kicked out of high school, she returned to school at age 50 to pursue a dream career, becoming a psychotherapist at age 59. She survived a couple of bad marriages, a terrible fall, and the death of her only brother. A life-threatening brain tumor caused her to scale back her career but sent her to pursue another passion--art. Linda is a watercolor painter and is now learning surface pattern design. A mother of three adult children (as well as two bonus stepchildren), a grandmother of 12, and a great-grandmother of five, Linda has an unbelievable story of triumph over multiple mental health and physical challenges. You will be captivated by Linda's story and her unstoppable willingness to keep going no matter what. https://lindahoenigsberg.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/llochridgehoenigsberg/