Eboni Jones Stewart gets real about pregnancy loss

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Eboni Jones Stewart gets real about pregnancy loss

This week on It’s a Lot, librarian and bonus mom Eboni Jones Stewart joins me for a very honest conversation about her path to becoming a bonus mom and her long journey of trying to get pregnant with a biological child of her own. We discuss the scourge that is Roblox, how special (and overstimulating) it is to have living room kids, the atrocious things people (medical professionals included) say to you after a pregnancy loss, and more.

In the second half of the episode, we explore how techno-optimists have ruined social media (and possibly the world) by never considering the consequences of their actions, and discuss how Ella has learned to use her privilege to speak up and uplift others’ voices.

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Author and sex & culture critic Ella Dawson on how capitalism makes it harder to create art

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Author and sex & culture critic Ella Dawson on how capitalism makes it harder to create art

After following Ella’s work for years, I was delighted when we struck up an online friendship after I reviewed an advance copy of her (fantastic) debut novel, But How Are You, Really. Since then, Ella has spoken to my college students twice, chatted with me about burnout and boundaries for my business blog, and now joined me on my podcast, It’s a Lot. In this episode, we talk about the mental health impact of the post-publication adrenaline crash, coping with feelings of disappointment through finding community and having honest conversations, and the joys of interviewing other progress romance writers for Ella’s podcast, Rebel Ever After.

In the second half of the episode, we explore how techno-optimists have ruined social media (and possibly the world) by never considering the consequences of their actions, and discuss how Ella has learned to use her privilege to speak up and uplift others’ voices.

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Pauly Guglielmo gets honest about paternity leave struggles & his inability to resist buying his kid a toy at TJ Maxx

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Pauly Guglielmo gets honest about paternity leave struggles & his inability to resist buying his kid a toy at TJ Maxx

I had a blast chatting with Pauly Guglielmo, a food entrepreneur, radio/podcasting legend, and dad of two, about everything from our childhood traumas to the fun parts of parenthood in a special two-part episode. In part one, Pauly interviews me in his style of his podcast about entrepreneurship, The Pauly Guglielmo Show. In part two, I interview Pauly in my It’s a Lot style about the many aspects of his life that are just a lot.

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Dads & gallery co-curators Quajay Donnell & Richard Colon are building community & leading by example

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Dads & gallery co-curators Quajay Donnell & Richard Colon are building community & leading by example

Years ago, I interviewed both Quajay Donnell and Richard Colon for my passion project, I Heart ROC. We’ve all experienced a lot of life changes since then, and our friendships have grown too, so I was excited to check in five years later for a podcast interview! We talk about how photography has helped them better get to know Rochester, their journey to founding Behind the Glass Gallery, and their experiences as dads. At the end of the day, sometimes you’ve just gotta jump in the bounce house, even if you’re in your 40s and you know your legs will hurt the next day!

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Jon-Stephen Stansel on creativity & humor as a social media pro and dad

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Jon-Stephen Stansel on creativity & humor as a social media pro and dad

I’ve followed the work of social media consultant Jon-Stephen Stansel for years, so I was thrilled when he agreed to chat with me for the It’s a Lot podcast. After getting his start doing social media at higher ed institutions and government agencies, his online connections led to him working with brands like Invincible, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Hazbin Hotel, Sausage Party: Foodtopia, and Avatar: The Way of Water. In this conversation, we talk about the joys of being creative and funny on social media, how AI lacks taste that’s necessary to succeed as a social media manager, the dark pits of the internet, and more. In the second half of the show, we also explore Jon-Stephen’s life as a dad and the joys he’s finding on his parenthood journey.

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Editor & dad Brendan Dabkowski shares about screentime shame & parent guilt

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Editor & dad Brendan Dabkowski shares about screentime shame & parent guilt

I met my friend Brendan Dabkowski through Instagram years ago and now we’re both adjunct professor at Nazareth University. We’re also both parents of little ones and know the struggles of finding enough childcare, needing mental health support to navigate parenthood, and more! It was fun to dive deeper on these topics with a friend. My favorite parts were hearing about some of the joyful experiences of his life as a dad so far, like taking his son on long bike rides and watching his daughter light up around their new kitten!

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