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Family Secrets
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Family Secrets. We all have them. And while the discovery of family secrets can initially be terrifying or traumatic, often these discoveries have the power to liberate, heal, and even uplift us. Join Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of the memoir Inheritance, and her guests as they explore astonishing family secrets and uncover the extraordinary lessons the truth can teach us.
229 Episodes
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Author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin joins Dani to talk about aphorisms and family secrets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1A ninety-year old father and his youngest daughter come together to unpack a secret that altered—and ultimately made sense of— the shape of each of their lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Not every member of a family is told the same story. Elissa wrestles with the necessity of claiming her voice, even as telling her own singular truth may exact a painful price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A box of letters. A hidden life. A history rewritten. Susan must reckon with how to move forward—how to be a daughter, a sister, a mother—after so much staggering change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As E.A. takes to the road on a route once taken with her mother, she must confront the stories we inherit, the ones we choose to tell, and the one’s we don’t.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does it mean to be a family of one? Steven examines his search for belonging in the wake of disappearance, loss, and profound mystery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marian’s body knows something her brain does not. It takes years before she finally has the language to define herself. To be herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erin grows up in and around violence and anger. But nothing could have prepared her for the tragic discovery she makes at age twenty-seven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Through the dual lens of a devoted sister and parent, Julie explores the emotional terrain of family illness and secrecy, puzzling over how she can care for others without losing herself entirely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As Sarah navigates the world as an artist and writer, she must confront the genetic history—its myriad patterns and traumas—at the heart of her story, her very self.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brando’s father is an American Indian incarcerated political activist. Or is he? His mother tells a lot of stories. It’s almost impossible to know what’s true and what isn’t.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Griffin grew up in a family whose illustrious life defined them. But beneath their fame were the secrets that shaped his world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At the age of sixteen, Jill began a relationship that lasted most of her life with her much-older professor. Twenty-five years ago, she wrote a memoir. But with time comes new memories, new clarity. She’s realized something: it's time to tell the story again, and differently.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In her quest for answers about her biological mother in South Korea, Tracy finds more—and in some ways, less—than what she’s bargained for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Sacha looks back to her childhood, she sees the branches of a gnarled and tangled family tree. But through art, reflection, storytelling – and just the right therapy – she finally begins to pry the pieces apart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Growing up in Ahmedabad, one of India’s fastest-growing cities in the early 2000s, Zara’s world ignited –both literally and figuratively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Garth was growing up, he managed to hide his struggles from his parents. But when Garth becomes a parent himself, he must decide when—and if, at all—to come out of hiding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nabil’s dad is not exactly in the picture when he grows up. But he is in other pictures, many in fact. He’s a famous jazz musician and throughout most of Nabil’s life, he’s only a stone’s throw—and yet, a world—away.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After years of keeping her abortion a secret, Honor discovers the power of telling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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why am i hearing an ad for shitty tony robbins on your podcast? i know you are aware of his victimization and manipulation tactics. this is so incredibly disappointing.
what a remarkable episode...thank you both
I love this podcast but there are suddenly too many ads.
This is shite. Child porn ? and she let him back in?
where do we listen to more ?
Very interesting and definitely bizarre relationship.
Dizziness is a symptom of untreated hyperthyroidism.... frustrating.
At around 33-34 minutes, they're talking about your people who haven't been in their circumstances don't get how they feel. I think, if you can't have at least some sort of understanding, then you're pretty cold. Seriously! You're talking about Who You Are! These people who claim to love you have kept the biggest secret from you! plus the whole town knows, except you?! I'm not sure I would ever want to talk to them again! What a terrible family. Did they ever say they were sorry even!?
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A little disappointed in this particular episode even though I really get alot from this podcast. The secret didnt really feel like much of one and I found it hard to relate to what often sounded like a bit of entitled griping.
I'm a fan of this podcast; I find it incredibly moving and powerful. But this one had me annoyed and frustrated. Did Cassandra listen to what she was saying? More than once she praised herself as an academic "who knows research" but it never occurred to her to check newspapers? She grew up as a Black woman in Alabama and by her own words has written often about race and racism but was surprised about the racism in news reporting in AL in the 60s? Just really silly and annoying.
Jace Alexander is a pedophile. it's not illegal porn it's child porn. Sexual abuse of children. His wife is either ok with this or extremely niave.
Just too wierd.
This episode and guest are the worst thus far.
I haven’t listened to this podcast in quite a while and was curious about there being 12 comments on here. I didn’t have to listen very long to figure out why. This episode is disgusting and so offkilter. There are so many things overlooked and not talked about and excused that should absolutely not be. my respect just went down the drain for the host 
Hardly a story worth an entire episode about.
terrible episode. terrible guest. her husband looked at CP (probably not the first or last time) but decides to twist it and say regular p*rn is the bigger issue in society? pearl clutching about that while staying married to a sick man and also feeling "compassion" for all other sick men. not surprising neither of them get any work anymore. disgusting.
Shame on her mother for taking her choice away like that. I’m sure that haunted her her entire life and will continue to. I know she was young and made some bad choices but come on.