Happy Birthday, Wait - What Do You Do Again? 🥳

One year ago, I started this podcast after spending a long time noodling on it. I’ve spent over 20 years of my professional life meeting fascinating people whose stories deserve to be heard. So after years of thinking about it, I sat in my friend Casey’s kitchen and Googled and made a plan. I was nervous. I didn’t know how to edit. I worried no one would listen (or even worse, that people would listen). I didn’t even have a mic. How would I find guests? There were a lot of reasons to give up, but I gave myself permission to not be good at first, to not have all the answers, and just start.

Casey's kitchen table

I have to be honest with you - it feels strange to celebrate this anniversary with everything happening in the world and in our backyards. But I also think that pausing to reflect matters too. Because even in this time of violence and schism and grief, I believe more than ever in the power of conversations, understanding, empathy, truth, and community. I truly believe that everyone has a story to share. That most people, at their core, are good and that we’re more alike than we are different, especially when we take the time to listen and try to understand. Stories remind us we’re not alone. They make space for nuance, mess, wonder, and growth. That’s what the podcast was created for, and it’s why I’m still recording.

This show has been a way to shine a light on resilience, creativity, weirdness, wonder, and the many ways people show up in the world. I’m grateful for every guest who’s trusted me with their story, and for every one of you who’s tuned in, shared an episode, or reached out.

To mark the anniversary, I did something a little different. My yap buddy, Matt, interviews me and he wanted the scoop.

It’s a real “Meghan DeFord, this is your life!” and I hope you’ll listen. And more than that, I hope you’ll keep sharing your stories too and stay curious about others' stories.

So what's next? More interesting guests, maybe some solo episodes and community experiences, merch, all of it’s on the table. But mostly, I want to keep sharing real stories that make us all feel a little more connected.

Here’s to another year of curiosity, connection, and asking, “wait - what do you do again?”.

xoxo,

Meghan