Fresh Starts Podcast Network

Playwright Lynne Streeter Childress joins Olivia Howell to talk about why live theater matters for kids and families, and the story behind her show Feeling All the Feelings.

Hillary Frank of The Longest Shortest Time talks with Olivia Howell about Wedlocked, her audio thriller about a woman who feels trapped in a marriage that looks perfect from the outside.

Energy healer Jo-Anne Suriel joins A Fresh Story: Simple Tips to Support Yourself to share expert guidance on reconnecting with creativity, calming the nervous system, and rebuilding emotional resilience during major life transitions. Learn simple daily practices, grounding exercises, and the healing story behind her album The Remembering.

In this A Fresh Story: Book Talk episode, Olivia sits down with economist and author Dr. Corinne Low to talk about her book Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours. Blending rigorous research with her own story of marriage, motherhood, divorce, and starting over, Corinne explains why so many women feel burned out, unseen, and “on” all the time.

In this episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia Howell and therapist Laura Fink dive into the concept of emotional agility—learning how to move through life’s struggles with honesty and resilience. They explore the impact of social media on mental health, the dysfunctional ways we cope with emotions, and why feeling your feelings is essential for healing.

In this A Fresh Story: Book Talk, Heather & Douglas Boneparth discuss Money Together, a story-driven guide to money, love, and equity at home. We unpack cultural scripts, caregiving, “contribution,” and healing after financial hurts—with practical prompts for real conversations.

In this A Fresh Story: Book Talk, Amanda Goetz shares Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and Actually Love What You Have—a practical, hope-filled guide to rebuilding after divorce and major life transitions. We explore “character theory,” intentional seasons, and guilt-free check-ins that help mothers, leaders, and anyone healing from trauma rewrite their inner scripts.

In this A Fresh Story: Book Talk episode, Ravi & Mahaley Patel share the heartbreaking and inspiring journey that led to their new book, Your NICU Story. Born from their experience of losing their daughter Saachi after a NICU stay, the book offers guided reflections, partner perspectives, and tools for healing. A must-listen for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or the NICU.

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.

In this episode of A Fresh Story, teen leadership coach Lorraine Connell shares powerful stories from her book A Teacher’s Story, revealing how real leadership often begins in quiet, unexpected ways. Learn how one act of belief transformed teens into confident leaders—and why rethinking leadership is essential for parents, teachers, and youth mentors.

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.