In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Anne Beaudoin, author of The Truth of Chasing Rainbows, to talk about what happens when you leave everything behind to start over in a new country and in a new life.

Anne’s story begins with a bold leap of faith: buying a rainbow trout farm in Costa Rica. But what unfolds is far more than an adventure. It’s a story about reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to listen when life whispers, “There’s more for you.”

Together, we talk about chasing dreams, facing the unknown, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting over, this conversation will remind you that sometimes, the greatest risks lead to the most beautiful rewards.

Follow FLOM wherever we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Follow Anne and purchase The Truth of Chasing Rainbows here: annebeaudoinwriter.com

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Frances Rowley Beaumont, author of A Life Without Hands: John Oliver and Me, to explore the extraordinary true story of a man who refused to let circumstance define him.Born without hands in 1925, John Oliver lived a life of independence, creativity, and humor — working as a chef, an artist, and a tugman on the River Medway. Through her beautifully written memoir, Frances weaves John’s story together with her own, offering a deeply personal reflection on resilience, love, and what it means to truly see beyond limitations.In our conversation, we talk about John’s remarkable spirit, the lessons Frances learned from telling his story, and the emotional process of writing a memoir that honors another person’s life while revealing your own.It’s a tender, unforgettable look at what it means to live — and to love — without boundaries.🔗 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.You can order A Life Without Hands: John Oliver and Me in a few ways:1) Worldwide order (paperback)Order at: www.Books.by/frbeaumontPrice: $19.99 + p&pWorldwide deliveryBuying 6+ copies? Use code CLUB25 at checkout for 25% off.2) Signed copy from the author (UK site)Order at: www.francesbeaumont.co.ukPrice: £19.99 + p&pIncludes an author-signed copy and a striking bookmark of John Oliver with his cat.Christmas offer (2025, November only)Solve your gift list in one go.Message me via the Contact page on my website with your friends’ details, and I’ll send them a book with your personal message on a Christmas bookmark at no extra cost.Please allow 2–3 weeks for delivery outside the UK.Digital editionsePub (from my website): £7.99Kindle (and paperback) on Amazon: £7.99 (Kindle) / £19.99 (paperback)Link reference: www.Amazon/ Beaumont,JohnoliverbookWatch a short introductionYouTube: youtube.com/user/frabo888Share your thoughtsI welcome your feedback and reviews.Email: frabauthor3@gmail.comOr use the contact form at www.francesbeaumont.co.uk

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with singer-songwriter and author Kelita Haverland to talk about her powerful memoir, Reason to Sing.Kelita’s story is one of heartbreak and healing—growing up with deep wounds, facing unimaginable losses, and still finding a way to create beauty through music. With raw honesty and grace, she shares how she turned pain into purpose, using her voice to inspire others and reclaim her story.🎙️ In our conversation, we talk about:How childhood trauma shaped Kelita’s journey and artistryThe role of music in transforming grief into hopeThe courage it takes to tell the truth about loss, faith, and healingWhy she believes every story carries a reason to singThis is a deeply moving conversation about resilience, creativity, and the power of using your voice to bring light into the world.🔗 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.Follow Kelita and purchase a copy of Reason to Sing here:https://reasontosingbook.com/Follow FLOM wherever we go:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I talk with Erika C. Lowenkopf about her memoir, Missing the Boat. Erika’s book is told in three acts and takes us through the lasting wounds of childhood bullying, the grief of infertility, and the surprising adventure that helped her rediscover joy.

With honesty, vulnerability, and humor, Erika shares what it means to live through pain and still find light along the way.

🎙️ In our conversation, we explore:

• How childhood bullying shaped her sense of self—and how she reclaimed her voice

• Breaking the silence around infertility and childlessness

• Why laughter became one of her most important survival tools

• The unexpected journey that brought hope and belonging back into her life

This is a conversation about resilience, courage, and the power of writing to transform our hardest stories into connection.

Purchase Missing the Boat here:https://a.co/d/btkpgqPPurchase Alive Out of Spite tshirt here: https://share.google/euCY7ysAJtOimwRxG

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with author Inga Aksamit to talk about her powerful memoir, Between Worlds: An Expat’s Quest for Belonging. Inga opens up about the emotional highs and lows of living across cultures, navigating identity, and finding home in unexpected places.With honesty, humor, and heart, she invites readers into her deeply personal journey of belonging—one that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt out of place.🎙️ Tune in for:The truth behind the expat experienceHow travel shapes identity and resilienceFinding connection and self-acceptance while “between worlds”https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoirhttps://ingasadventures.com/

Step into the world of Larry Formato—where the line between survival and ruin is razor-thin.

In Dangerous Ways, Larry takes us deep into his past, revealing a life shaped by high-stakes decisions, calculated moves, and the constant hum of risk. From the streets where trust was earned the hard way to moments where everything could change in an instant, his story is raw, unflinching, and unforgettable.This conversation isn’t just about looking back—it’s about the lessons learned in the heat of danger, the cost of living on the edge, and the resilience it takes to start over.Watch the documentary Dangerous Ways here:   • Dangerous Ways "Official" Documentary of L...  Purchase the book Dangerous Ways here:   • Dangerous Ways "Official" Documentary of L...  Follow For Love of Memoir everywhere we go: https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

When Jim Mazziotti's teenage son entered a youth challenge program, it felt like a last-hope move—a lifeline for a family struggling to find something, anything, that might break through. But what happened next wasn’t just transformative for his son—it reshaped Jim’s life, too.

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Jim shares the story behind his book The Challenge: How 144 Letters Changed My Life, the Life of My Son, and Will Change Your Life Too.

What began as a commitment to write one letter every day turned into a powerful practice of vulnerability, healing, and connection between a father and his son.

If you’re a parent searching for hope, or someone who’s ever questioned how to show up when life gets hard—this conversation is for you.

Watch full episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/VAutiCcDxqM

Purchase The Challenge- How 144 Letters Changed My Life and the Life of My Son here:

https://www.jimmazziotti.com/the-challenge-book

Learn More about The National Guard Youth Challenge here:

https://ngchallenge.org/

#MemoirPodcast #ParentingThroughCrisis #TheChallenge #JimMazziotti #LettersThatHeal #ForLoveOfMemoir

What happens when your childhood is shaped by two worlds—one Native, one assimilated—and neither quite fits?

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Jackson Taffa, Quechan and Laguna Pueblo author of the powerful memoir Whiskey Tender.

Part coming-of-age story, part cultural excavation, Deborah’s book is a lyrical and unflinching look at growing up in 1980s New Mexico, navigating family secrets, displacement, and the long shadow of U.S. policy on Native identity.

We talk about the dualities that shaped her story—the rebel and the student, the silence and the truth—and how writing her memoir became an act of reclamation. Deborah also shares insights into how her upbringing, her ancestors, and her children all helped shape the story she tells on the page.

Whether you’re a memoir writer, a lover of untold history, or simply someone trying to make peace with where you come from, this one's for you!

Follow Deborah here:

https://deborahtaffa.com

Find us here:

https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, to talk about hiking solo, navigating grief, and learning to trust yourself when the path ahead is unclear.

Christine shares her story of leaving behind a life that no longer fit, walking into the wilderness with a heavy pack and an open heart. We talk about what it means to rewrite the stories we’ve inherited, how nature can be a mirror, and why solitude can be the most honest company.

Whether you’ve ever dreamed of thru-hiking or you’re on your own journey of reinvention—this conversation is one to carry with you.

Watch the show on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HPF1k0i-i6I

Find us here: https: //linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Learn more about Christine here: Ruggedoutdoorswoman.com

Instagram: @Ruggedoutdooswoman

email: ruggedoutdoorswoman@gmail.com

Hospice nurse and TikTok storyteller Penny Hawkins Smith joins me to talk about her memoir, Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living.In this powerful conversation, Penny shares what it's like to sit at the bedside of the dying—and how witnessing death has helped her live more fully. We talk about her journey from addiction to caregiving, her viral presence on TikTok, and how telling the truth about death can transform how we show up in life.

This episode is raw, hopeful, and filled with hard-won wisdom.

Watch full episode on youtube:

https://youtu.be/Ibul77zMTtk

📚 Learn more about Penny: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/ @hospicenursepenny 

🔗My Linktree:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Author Jane Wong joins me to talk about her lyrical and rebellious memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Born to a Chinese immigrant family and raised in a working-class neighborhood, Jane explores hunger in its many forms—emotional, cultural, and physical—and how writing became an act of survival, resistance, and joy.

We talk about abandonment, family, poetic storytelling, and what it means to reclaim your voice across generations.

📚 Learn more about Jane and her work: janewongwriter.com

Jane Wong (@paradeofcats) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong / Restaurant Baby Ceramics 🥬 (@restaurantbabyceramics) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong - Tin House

🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @ForLoveOfMemoir

💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: 4theloveofmemoir@gmail.com

🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:

https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of childhood abuse, emotional manipulation, and domestic violence. Please take care while listening.

What happens when the person who’s supposed to protect you becomes the one you have to escape?

In this episode, I talk with David Crow, author of *The Pale-Faced Lie*, a gripping memoir about growing up under the shadow of a violent and manipulative father. Raised on lies and trained in deceit, David’s early life was shaped by fear, secrecy, and survival.

We discuss what it takes to break free from a legacy of control, how he found the courage to tell his story, and why speaking the truth—especially about family—is both painful and freeing.

📘 Purchase David’s book:

https://www.sandrajonaspublishing.com/the-pale-faced-lie/

🛒 Or buy on Amazon:

https://a.co/d/cwUWGWG

🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir

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💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: 4theloveofmemoir@gmail.com

🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:

https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Mark Porro, author of A Cup of Tea on the Commode, to talk about the hilarity and heartbreak of caregiving, the power of storytelling, and what it means to show up when it matters most. Mark brings wit, warmth, and hard-earned wisdom to the conversation—you won’t want to miss it.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!📚 Find Mark’s links and more in the description below.

Website:https://acupofteaonthecommode.org/
Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Cup-Commode-Mark-Steven-Porro/dp/1608082849/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cup-of-tea-on-the-commode-mark-steven-porro/1143839916?ean=9781608082841

🎥 Watch full interviews on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ForLoveOfMemoir

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @ForLoveOfMemoir

💬 Share your favorite memoir with us here: 4theloveofmemoir@gmail.com

🔗 Find more episodes, links, and updates at:

https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir