What if the story you’re most afraid to tell is the one that holds the key to healing—not just for you, but for others too?

Allison Lane has built a career helping authors, leaders, and everyday truth-tellers shape their stories and bring their messages into the world. A story strategist and messaging expert with a background in big-brand marketing, she now guides people through the vulnerable, transformative work of telling the truth—on the page and beyond.

But behind her sharp strategic mind and no-fluff approach is a life shaped by experiences that would leave most people asking, “How did you survive that?”

In this episode of I Don’t Know How You Do It, we talk about what it really means to own your voice—from the stories that shimmer in shame to the ones that help others heal. Allison shares her personal journey from surviving a traumatic childhood to building a thriving business helping others share their expertise and write their books.

Whether you're wondering how to tell your story, navigating shame from the past, or dreaming of writing a memoir or launching a message-driven career, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and clarity.

You'll learn:

• Why shame simmers in secrecy—and what happens when we say it out loud
• What resilience really looks like (hint: it’s not about being tough)
• How to move from surviving to shaping a message that makes an impact
• Why your “obvious” story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear
• The difference between surviving and healing—and how storytelling can be the bridge
• What to do if you want to write a book or tell your story but don’t know where to begin

Learn more about Allison:

Website
LinkedIn
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

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"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Watch Jessica's TedX Talk

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Most people freeze in the face of grief. Jen Noonan walks toward it.

As a licensed clinical social worker at The Children’s Room, Jen supports children, teens, and families after the death of a parent, sibling, or child. Her work is quiet, courageous, and sacred—the kind of care most people couldn’t imagine doing. But for Jen, this is the work that called her.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to hold space for grief without trying to fix it, how kids experience and express loss differently than adults, and why just being there—especially in the hard moments—can be everything.

We also talk about:

• Why children often lead the way in grief
• The myths that keep adults from showing up
• How to talk to grieving kids in honest, age-appropriate ways
• What it really looks like to “hold space”
• The difference between avoiding grief and being present with it

If you've ever struggled with what to say to someone in grief—or feared saying the wrong thing—this episode offers clarity, compassion, and hope.

Plus: I share a bit about my own work on grief literacy, including my TEDx Talk on how we can become a more grief literate society.

Learn more about The Children's Room at their website or on Instagram

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Watch Jessica's TedX Talk

Music credit: Limitless by Bells

Nicola Kraus burst onto the literary scene as co-author of the global sensation The Nanny Diaries. But her story didn’t stop there—and in this episode, she opens up about what came next. From ghostwriting and caregiving to lead parenting and late-in-life bat mitzvah prep, Nicola shares the real-life experiences that shaped her new novel, The Best We Could Hope For.

We talk about:

• What it’s really like to have overnight success—and what comes after
• Caring for her mother over a 14-year cancer journey
• How Gen X is redefining parenting and breaking cycles
• The surprising link between joy and self-discipline
• Managing anxiety, creative work, and caregiving at the same time
• Why reclaiming milestones (like an adult bat mitzvah!) matters

Nicola is funny, sharp, and deeply honest about what it takes to show up—for family, for your work, and for yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Early success doesn’t guarantee an easy road. Even after a global bestseller, Nicola had to hustle, pivot, and rebuild.
• Caregivers need care too. Whether it's sleep, support, or someone to show up at 5 a.m., help matters—and asking for it is essential.
• Joy requires discipline. It may not just arrive on its own. Make room for it through conscious, embodied effort.
• Break big projects into small, doable steps. Post-its, lists, and visible progress can make even the most overwhelming seasons manageable.
• Energy doesn’t lie. When deciding what to take on, ask yourself: if this disappeared, would I feel relieved or disappointed?
• Name the hard stuff. Denial creates wounds. Acknowledging pain—within families, relationships, or ourselves—is the first step to healing.
• It’s never too late to reclaim a ritual or milestone. Whether it’s a midlife bat mitzvah or something else entirely, meaningful experiences have no expiration date.

Find more about Nicola:

Instagram

Website

Facebook

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now!

Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.com

Order Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Watch Jessica's TedX Talk

Music credit: Limitless by Bells