Welp, we're skipping the official relaunch and jumping right back into things thanks to highly-paid professional athlete (and evidently in-demand graduation speaker) Harrison Butker. He’s got thoughts about your purpose, calling, vocation, life choices . . . and I have thoughts about THAT. If Travis Kelce weren't busy making heart eyes beside Lake Como with the woman Butker quotes only as "my teammate's girlfriend," I'd be curious to know his thoughts. Instead, I'll offer my own in a...

Welcome to 2023 and a metric ton of royal updates, flip-flopping opinions and journalistic analysis. Recently, royal-watching has been both a sociological study and a Rorschach test; what we see reveals much about us. If you haven't heard the in-depth walk-through of H&M's first three docuseries episodes, listen to The Doc Without Drama before pressing play here. (BTW, an additional 100-minute royal rundown will be live tomorrow on Patreon as thanks for subscribing!) I intended this to...

After a sabbatical, we're back with a quick-turnaround episode dissecting the first three episodes of the Sussexes' Netflix documentary. Come back next week for a breakdown of the final three! We mix in a bit of history, context, caveats and perspective, but I anticipate a third episode will come post-documentary where we dive into the Queen's death and funeral; who's gotten new titles; who didn't inherit the ones they were promised; who's in danger of losing theirs; what King Charles' coron...

Nothing about growing up is easy, whether you have kids or not. To be candid, my four children have done nothing but make clear how NOT grown up or prepared I am for the realities of life with children in 2022. Today, Meg and Mary Flo of Birds & Bees are here to save us. And maybe our sanity and a whole lot of face while they're at it! Every part of parenthood requires a deep bench and lots of backup. Today, I hope you'll hear how many folks are in your corner. Whether it's learning to ...

There aren’t words for today, just loosely connected thoughts and a deep, aching well of feelings. If you need a friend’s voice right now, here’s one. 💗 This episode was released earlier today on Patreon. Thanks for being here, y'all! I'd love your thoughts, questions, ideas, and everything in between. You can find me at @ButNotAllAtOnce on social media or ButNotAllAtOnce.com. For extra content, additional episodes, and upcoming guest follow-ups, visit Patreon.

Do women have hobbies? Do grown-ups know how to blow off steam? Is it possible to relax while both doing and NOT doing something? Let's dive in to what spring break could look like for grown-ups. Come back later this week for a meatier interview; in the meantime, let's imagine we've rented the largest beach house known to mankind and dedicated each room to a different fantastic activity. (Yes, napping is an activity.) I can't wait to hear what the perfect solo spring break would look like f...

It wasn't an announced break, but we WERE on a break - and now it's over. Delighted to catch back up with you about how I've been, how you've been, how the world has been (eep), what the royals are up to, and what we can expect in the months ahead. Have missed you, friends! Episodes mentioned: Margot Guy's Long Road to Motherhood Oprah's Sussex Interview The update to Margot's episode will be available on Patreon early next month! If you'd like to participate in the "Postcards as Pick-...

In the midst of a challenging season (say, facing your high school sweetheart's metastatic cancer diagnosis), it can be hard to see anything beyond the moment ahead. Envisioning the future, or even making it through the next step, can seem downright impossible. Megan Scherer knows that feeling well, and her family has used it to change the lives of others'. The Scherers' charity, Worth the Wait, provides emotional and financial support for cancer patients hoping to preserve their fertility o...

Here's an extra chat for you this week based on a through-line in my conversations this week. My colleagues and friends (and I) seem to be feeling, thinking, crying over, looking like and worrying about things that may resonate with you too. Listen first, and then have a cookie. Take a nap. Send someone else a chicken pot pie. Ask for a break. Cry all the tears. Punch some pillows. Give yourself a sanity walk. DM me. Allow yourself to be an unkempt, actual hot mess - not an Instagram one. O...

In April 2019, Meredith Jaggard was fearless enough to join But Not All At Once as our first-ever guest. The podcast was just a concept then, and by pouring out her heart and her story, Meredith started it with a bang. Now she's back for more. Today we talk about the lives her words changed, an obituary I had to write, pandemic weight gain, modern marriage, and uprooting your whole life a second time to build a new one. Learn how she moved (again!) and continued to battle MS during C...

Brooke Turner's story may be But Not All At Once's most downloaded episode ever - and for good reason. Describing herself as a "student of hope" despite unexpected widowhood and terminal cancer, Brooke shared words I revisit whenever I need a little perspective and a few hours with a friend. Today Brooke's sister, Liz, finishes her story with an update on the grieving, healing, joy-filled Turner/Fisher family of eight. She and her husband now have six children from third to sixth grades, and...

Brooke Turner's story may be But Not All At Once's most downloaded episode ever - and for good reason. Describing herself as a "student of hope" despite young, unexpected widowhood and a terminal cancer diagnosis, Brooke chose her words carefully and meant every one of them. It's a conversation I revisit when I need a few hours with a friend, and one of the great privileges of my life. Today Brooke's sister, Liz, steps away from her very full plate to give us an update on the Turner/Fisher f...

Amber Michels, founder of The Peace of Mind Project and the forthcoming Lighthouse Effect, joins But Not All At Once to talk about women and work. Things you'll hear us touch on: -What is the Great Resignation, and why is it happening now? -"It isn't that complicated." Treating employees like humans, not machines, changes everything. -There's no such thing as a non-working mom. -Parental leave, healthy work environments, and work-life balance benefit employees regardless of whether or not th...

In genuine irony, this episode was delayed a week after things did not in fact get easier. With both a new puppy and a new business, things felt flat-out wild. But we're back, and I'm reminding us all of what gets easier over time, just in case it's hard to imagine from deep in the trenches. If you saw my list on Instagram, you'll have a preview of what I mean. Parts of life, decision-making, body issues, communicating, self-care and even parenting do get easier over time. (Conversely, parts...

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and today But Not All At Once dives into the story of Katie Alice Walker and her beautiful third baby, Jayne. Katie Alice walks us through the shock and grief of an unexpected diagnosis and the joy of meeting a child whose name has been spoken by an entire community in prayer. There's beauty to be found even in the uncertain, unforeseen and just plain hard; Katie Alice's words are a testament to that. Whether your family has faced similar news, yo...

Meredith Puckett joins But Not All At Once to answer listener questions about grief, loss, and the seemingly easy task of "feeling your feelings." It's everyone's go-to advice for women facing divorce, life change, loss, or parenting in a pandemic, but how exactly how do we do it? (For reference and as a caution for anyone who may need it, this episode includes general themes of grief around separation, divorce, and pregnancy/infant loss.) Later this month, Meredith will be on the podcast'...

September 27th is a day Anne's body remembers each year, even if her brain doesn't quite catch up to it. This bonus episode dives into grief, miscarriage, trauma, guilt when you don't feel grateful "enough," and why you don't have to be useful to be worthy. You can read more of these words at Anne's blog, from a previous lifetime, on the subject. Thanks for being here, y'all! I'd love your thoughts, questions, ideas, and everything in between. You can find me at @ButNotAllAtOnce on so...

Mamie Morgan is a poet, educator and entrepreneur with an eye for design and a passion for accepting people as they are. Today she talks to But Not All At Once about finding grown-up love; the beauty of blooming late; grieving a parent; and building a life more beautiful (but quite different) than you imagined. You can read Mamie's poetry at mamiemorgan.com and visit Opal Bride in West Greenville or at opalbride.com. To support the work of But Not All At Once, hear bonus episodes, and watc...

Today's episode is a smorgasbord of topics requested by our little Instagram community. First up, the Murdaugh (pronounced "Murdock") murders right here in South Carolina. This is a tragic, complicated, ready-for-Netflix story. I recommend you dive into Mandy Matney's podcast to catch up on years of Lowcountry legal entanglements, unfortunate deaths and mysterious happenings. Next, the Time 100 cover featuring Harry, Meghan and a boatload of memes about their pose. Also, Britney Spears' en...

Shakespeare wrote that "the course of true love never did run smooth." While they could apply to any facet of life, these words may encapsulate best the exhaustion and adventure of parenting. That's certainly the case for Tinsley Maness and her son, Hart. What started smoothly when her second child was born soon changed course, planting a desire to advocate not only for him, but also for others outside the "typical." You'll hear Tinsley speak of Hart's school, the Meyer Center, and Greenvi...