In this episode of A Fresh Story: Book Talk, Olivia Howell interviews novelist Kristin Bair about her powerful new book Clementine Crane Prefers Not To—a fierce, funny tale of midlife burnout, motherhood, and learning to say no. Inspired by personal experience and literary classics, Kristin’s novel speaks to any woman navigating identity shifts and emotional reinvention.

In this emotional episode of A Fresh Story, author Anna Rollins shares how she spent 15 years secretly writing about food, sex, and faith—until a traumatic birth and the pandemic pushed her to finally speak her truth. Her memoir Famished explores the intersection of purity culture and diet culture, and this conversation is a must-listen for anyone healing from body shame, religious trauma, or creative fear.

In this episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia Howell sits down with Laura Danger, educator and author of No More Mediocre, to explore the emotional weight of care work, domestic inequity, and weaponized incompetence. Laura shares personal insights, actionable tools, and powerful stories that challenge the myth of the “good enough” partnership and offer a new path toward equity, intention, and community care.

In this emotional episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia Howell interviews Tiffany Graham Charkosky about her memoir Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy. Tiffany opens up about losing her mother at 11, navigating genetic testing, and parenting without a roadmap. A must-listen for anyone exploring grief, motherhood, life transitions, or writing through personal trauma.

Lori Lyons shares how she built a joyful, peaceful blended family with her husband’s ex-wife—from open adoption to co-parenting with deep mutual respect. A Hall of Fame sports writer, stepmom, and adoptive mom, Lori proves that with empathy and intention, families after divorce can thrive. A must-listen on blended families, step-parenting, and divorce recovery.

Two dads. One brave baby. A family built through love, surrogacy, and a NICU miracle. In this episode of A Fresh Story, Danny Auld and David Fullner share how their journey to fatherhood inspired Kekoa Foods, their organic baby food brand. From starting a family through surrogacy to launching a purpose-driven business, this powerful story explores parenting, life transitions, and entrepreneurship.

In this inspiring episode of A Fresh Story, artist and YouTuber Scott Christian Sava shares the journey behind his book Becoming an Artist: How to Make Art Like a Human by Embracing Failure, Discovering Your Creative Voice, & Finding Joy in the Process. We explore creativity, community, and why art isn’t about perfection—it’s about being human. A must-listen for artists and dreamers alike.

After losing her mom to brain cancer and becoming guardian to her little sister, Chloe Sexton turned heartbreak into hope—building a viral bakery, Chloe’s Giant Cookies. In this emotional episode of A Fresh Story, Chloe shares how grief, guardianship, and resilience shaped her journey as a business owner, single mom, and TikTok creator. A powerful story of love, loss, and fresh starts.

In this episode of A Fresh Story, we sit down with Leslie Gray Streeter—journalist, memoirist, and now debut novelist—to unpack the heartbreak, humor, and honesty woven into her new book, Family and Other Calamities. With wit and grace, Leslie shares how she turned personal loss and professional scandal into fiction that cuts close to the bone.

In this episode of A Fresh Story, Emily Westerfield shares her transformative journey from surrogate to surrogacy agency owner. Discover the emotional and logistical aspects of surrogacy, the importance of psychological readiness, and the powerful bonds formed with intended parents.

After losing her daughter Baylie Grogan in a tragic college accident, Shawnee Baker became an advocate for healthcare proxy awareness and college safety reform. In this powerful episode, Shawnee shares Baylie’s heartbreaking story and why every family needs legal protections in place for young adults. We discuss medical decision-making, toxicology laws, and the mission behind the Baylie’s Wish Foundation. A must-listen for all parents.

Transgender father Trystan Reese shares his powerful journey through adoption, trans fatherhood, and building a blended LGBTQ+ family. From unexpected parenthood to raising a neurodivergent child, Trystan opens up about love, identity, and resilience. A must-listen on modern parenting, chosen family, and redefining fatherhood.

After divorce turned her world upside down, Olivia Howell began rebuilding her life from the ground up—with honesty, intention, and love. In this episode of A Fresh Story, she shares how she created a joyful, modern family with her two sons, overcame postpartum depression, and found strength through tradition, support, and self-trust.

What happens when love finds you across an ocean? In this episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia sits down with her sister, Genevieve Dreizen, to talk about the beautifully complex journey of building a life—and a family—across continents. From a chance meeting in Scotland to the quiet triumphs of long-distance love, this is a story that blends vulnerability, resilience, and deep-rooted connection.

In the kickoff episode of A Fresh Story’s new Family Season, sisters and co-hosts Jenny Dreizen and Olivia Howell sit down to reflect on the evolution of their podcast, with over 200 episodes under their belt, the duo shares how their fascination with storytelling—and particularly stories rooted in family dynamics—has shaped both their show and their own understanding of identity.