Good Things from Lemonada

In the late 90s, sociologist and organizer Rami Nashashibi encountered Chicago communities facing poverty, gun violence and substandard housing. Rather than succumb to pessimism or despair, he founded the Inner-City Muslim Action Network to organize people to fight for community investment and dignified lives. Guest host Stephanie Wittels Wachs speaks with Rami about how both his upbringing and his Muslim faith shape his vision for...

Putting yourself out there — the good, the bad, the ugly — in the social media age can be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, to put it mildly. Few people know that quite as well as writer, director, producer, and actor Lena Dunham. Lena shot to superstardom at only 24 years old when her hit HBO show “Girls” debuted in 2012 and has been living her life very much in the public eye ever since. Lena tells Claire about her lifelong love...

There’s no way to have gotten through the last few years without some anxiety. But comedian and mental health advocate Kelsey Darragh has been experiencing anxiety-induced panic attacks for as long as she can remember. In the years since, she’s tried it all – therapy, medication, treating the physical symptoms caused by her anxiety – she shares her hard-won knowledge of what works to help her manage her anxiety, panic disorder, and...

Despite what we’ve learned in fairy tales during our childhood, there’s no such thing as the perfect relationship. Marriage therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw has seen and heard it all and offers up practical advice on understanding the issues in your relationship, how to work through them, and when to consider calling it quits. This episode’s practice is about communication, getting your needs met, and building a relationship that works...

Being a religious leader doesn’t mean you're an expert at practicing forgiveness. Lutheran minister Nadia Bolz-Weber says being in quarantine gave her the ego check she needed to get real about forgiveness and compassion — for herself and others. This episode’s practice is about apologies and circling back to the relationships in your life that could use some mending. 

Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://...

The murder of George Floyd was shocking and changed all of us — regardless of our racial identities. For nonbinary activist, actor and writer Brandon Kyle Goodman, it was a moment for them to find their voice. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Brandon posted a video on Instagram addressed to their white friends who were reaching out, asking them what they should do. That video went viral, and Brandon continued to use their soci...

Thirty years ago, Dr. BJ Miller had an accident that changed his life forever. He was out late one night messing around with his college buddies, jumped up on a train car, and was electrocuted with 11,000 volts of electricity. BJ went on to lose both legs and most of one arm. He spent a year in physical recovery and longer in emotional and psychological recovery. But all of these experiences led him to where he is today: interviewe...

Waking up to the realization that you drunk-dialed someone the night before can be pretty embarrassing. But for Tara Schuster, it was life changing. The night of her 25th birthday, Tara drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help. The next morning, she decided to find that help she begged for. Tara tells Claire how she realized she needed to re-parent herself, the techniques she initially scoffed at that proved most helpful for he...

Lily Cornell Silver knows that being in your 20s is hard. Being in your 20s and navigating COVID-19, college, grief, and your mental health can feel completely overwhelming. Lily, a 21-year-old mental health advocate, and Claire talk about how open, honest conversations with Lily’s mom, Susan Silver, are a key part of her mental health regimen, including as Lily continues to process losing her dad, Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, to s...

Dr. Alauna Curry is like every other therapist out there – a regular person with struggles and pain just like the rest of us. And in 2017, when her marriage, finances, and health all came crashing down, she was reminded that everyone has trauma – but not all of us know how it affects us or the empathy with which we view the world. This episode's practice is about understanding our traumas, and using our brains to learn practical sk...

Sex therapist Dr. Alex Katehakis started studying sex in her 30s, after years of struggling to build and maintain romantic relationships. Her early work in the field of sex addiction helped her to work through her own sexual issues and to understand healthy sexuality in new ways, including busting the myth that “penetrative sex is the end-all, be-all to sex and sexuality.” This episode’s practice is about learning to talk about sex...

Comedian Jen Curran thought she was having a normal pregnancy, but then the complications started. Her doctors told her to lose weight, but they were wrong. Weeks after giving birth, she received a diagnosis that turned her dream of motherhood upside down. This week’s practice is about letting go of disappointments and getting mad (and then moving forward). 

Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.faceboo...

Marc Brackett isn’t the first person to feel like an emotional wreck after a disagreement with their partner, family, or friends - and neither are you. Emotional intelligence starts with becoming aware of your own feelings then understanding your reactions to them. This episode’s practice is about self-compassion and how to go easy on yourself when you’re feeling big feelings.

Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  ...

Ricki Lake opens up about shaving her head, losing a beloved husband to suicide, meeting the new love of her life and learning to love herself in her 50s. This episode’s weekly practice is all about love, from romance to friendship. How can you open the door to deeper connection in your own life? 

Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod

Resources from the show

Loving ourselves is not easy. Author Dr. Kristin Neff says in order to actually love yourself you must be willing to turn toward pain, forgive others, and talk to yourself like you would your dearest friend. And most importantly, you must ask yourself: What’s standing in the way of loving myself even more? This episode's practice is about giving yourself permission to be kind to yourself– on the good days, the bad ones, and especia...

Are you holding onto a grudge and want to get to a place where you can forgive that person? Claire gives you some tips on how to get to a place where you are ready to forgive. Plus, she answers a question from a listener who finds herself making poor life choices after her father’s death.

Check out these resources mentioned in this episode: 

• The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

Are you looking to get out of a toxic relationship? Claire gives you some tips on removing yourself from unhealthy relationships of all kinds. Plus, she answers a question from a listener who wants his sons to smoke weed less often.

Check out these resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Marijuana Anonymous

Do you have something you want Claire’s help with? Send her a question to be featured o...

Cheryl Strayed gets real about being a broke bestselling author, comparing herself to other moms, practicing self-compassion - and then struggling all over again when the pandemic threw her off her game. Claire offers a weekly practice for how to have more authentic interactions with the people in your life. 

Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod

Resources from the show