Inside Voice

Happy Mother's Day from Inside Voice! This special episode shines a spotlight on Seattle writers, Wendy Staley Colbert, Tiffany Kelly, Patty Kinney, Kelly McKenzie, Jennifer Munro and Katie Anthony. Motherhood. It's messy, unpredictable and beautiful. The stories on this show are a powerful collection of the heartfelt and heartbreaking moments that define us as mothers. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Wendy Staley Colbert Tiffany Kelly Patty Kinney Kelly McKenzie Jennifer Munro Katie Anthony New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

Deva Dalporto from MyLifeSuckers talks to us about the creative process behind her viral parody videos, life before YouTube fame and what projects she is working on next! Deva Dalporto of MyLifeSuckers is the creator of the viral videos "Suburban Funk," "I Just Need Some Space," "What Does the Kid Say," "Let It Go—Mom Parody," and many more. NBC called her the "Weird Al of YouTube Moms." Her videos have garnered over 70 million views and have been on Good Morning America, The Today Show, People.com, CNN, ABC, Fox News, HuffPost, PopSugar, Scary Mommy, Parents, trending on Yahoo several times and more. A former Senior Editor for Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect, Deva has written for HuffPost, Yahoo!, PopSugar, Scary Mommy, Bio.com, What The Flicka and WeAreTeachers. She won a BlogHer Voice of the Year Award for Short Form Video and was nominated as "Best Fan Cover Artist" in ABC's Billboard Music Awards Special. Deva is a contributor to the anthologies I Just Want to Be Alone and The Bigger Book of Parenting Tweet

Liz Petrone reads her heartbreakingly romantic story, 'How I Lost Love And Gained Life On My Wedding Day.' Liz Petrone is a mama, yogi, writer, warrior, wanderer, dreamer, doubter, and hot mess. She lives in a creaky old house in Central New York with her ever-patient husband, their four babies, and an excitable dog named Boss, and shares her stories on her website lizpetrone.com. You can also find her on Facebook and on Instagram. Links Mentioned in This Episode: Liz Petrone | Blog FB Instagram New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

Andrea Rhoades from Selfies to Selfless reads her essay '4 Ways Millennial Parents Can Deal With Online Judgment.' Andrea Rhoades is the creator of Selfies to Selfless, a blog for Millennial parents. She is passionate about chatting with the newest generation of parents to better understand the unique challenges they face. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Selfies to Selfless | Blog Facebook Twitter New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

Jennifer Christensen from EARMUFFSKIDS reads her painfully hilarious essay 'Vasovagal Is Not A Feminine Itch Product.' Jennifer Christensen is a wife, mother of three, school psychologist, photographer, and aspiring writer. She can run 1/2 marathons without dying, but she can't always run them without peeing her pants. Jennifer enjoys reading, kickboxing classes at the gym, and wasting hours on social media. She blogs about keeping the chaos together at www.earmuffskids.wordpress.com. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Links Mentioned In This Episode: EARMUFFSKIDS | Blog FB Instagram Twitter New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

TRIGGER WARNING: Alexis Edwards from Mrs. Mombie reads her essay 'I Was Raped, But You Probably Won't Believe Me.' I'm Alexis, the perpetually tired mama to Rory (2012) and Rowan (2014) and wifey to a 6'7″, fuego bearded Irishman. I'm loud, opinionated, and do what I want. I survive on all the coffee, wine, sarcasm, and occasionallots of curse words. My husband comes from a big family and wants me to give birth to at least six tiny humans. I tell him everyday he's coo coo for cocoa puffs. I'm too tired for that business. Plus, my body is wrecked and I can't for the life of me do enough kegels to repair the damage my first two caused. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Mrs. Mombie | Blog Instagram Twitter Birth360 If you or someone you know has or is experiencing abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can help. They are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitt

Sheri Schooley from Mommyopoly reads her xoJane featured essay, 'I Flew 1,200 Miles to Fake Being Engaged to an ICU Patient I'd Never Met Before - And Now We're Married.' Sheri Schooley (Mommyopoly) is a sarcastic, witty, self-depricating, middle-age wife and mother of 2 incredibly amazing daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, as well as making people laugh. She currently resides in the way-too-hot state of Florida and is phenomenal at complaining at complaining about it. Sheri expresses herself best through the written word and hopes that you'll be able to connect with her through her stories of relationships, parenting, and neuroses. She can be found on Facebook  and Twitter @Mommyopoly. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Mommyopoly | Blog FB Twitter New episodes every week! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.  

Kate Chapman from This Life In Progress reads her essay 'What The Brady Bunch Taught Our Blended Family' and talks about how the popular sitcom from the 70's unexpectedly helped pave the way for a major transition. Call me Kate. My husband Gabe and I live on the East Coast with the six children in our modern-day Brady Bunch: Simon, Sara, Caden, Amy, Lottie and Jack. Our blended family of eight lives on our suburban mini-farm with our French bulldog Miller, six hens, and various other assorted pets (today, a hamster and a colony of bees. There's a campaign underway for parakeets, but I digress). We're sharing our story, tips and tricks and failures too, so that other families affected by divorce and remarriage feel less alone. Is that you? You've found your tribe! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest on our blended stepfamily adventures, up to the minute hilarity, and tips and tricks for families of all kinds. Need help? Submit a question to the weekly Ask Kate column or

Lauren Lodder from Mommy Owl reads her essay that was featured on The Mighty about almost losing her 1-year-old daughter to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Hi! I'm Lauren. I live in Texas with my husband and two young daughters, ages 2 and 4. Before becoming a work-at-home mom and a freelance writer, I taught writing and literature classes at the college level. I earned my BA from UC Berkeley and my MA from CSUF. My favorite part of this parenting gig is watching my babies become strong and opinionated young ladies. Writing about their various shenanigans gives me so much joy because kids are hilarious. In my downtime, I enjoy cuddling with my husband (sans children), reading science fiction books, and drinking bubbly champagne. You can find me blogging @ Mommyowl.com, on Facebook @ mommyowldotcom and on Twitter @Lhlodder. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Mommy Owl By Lauren Lodder | FB Mommy Owl | Twitter Huffington Post New episodes

Award-winning author Ronit Plank brings us back to the '90s with "Not So Glamorous", her essay about spokesmodeling, bars, a break up, and trying to find herself in the city. Ronit's essays and fiction have appeared in The American Literary Review, Salon, Best New Writing 2015, and The Iowa Review (runner up, The 2013 Iowa Review Award for Fiction), among others. Her story "Gibbous" was a Narrative 2014 Winter Short Story Contest finalist and won the Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose. Her essay "I'm Sorry About the Dog" was given Special Mention in Hunger Mountain's 2016 Creative Nonfiction Prize and will be published in Proximity Magazine's April 2017 issue. Her short story "The Plan" won Sequestrum's 2016 New Writer Award and will appear in their summer 2017 issue. Ronit earned her MFA in nonfiction at Pacific University and is currently working on her coming-of-age memoir.  More about her, a c

Happy Holidays from Inside Voice! This episode is a collection of short festive stories that are sure to warm the cockles of your heart. So, fire up that virtual yule log, spike the eggnog - sit back, relax and enjoy the show! Shannon Day "Exile The Elf In 8 Simple Steps" Shelly Mazzanoble "The Fright Before Christmas" Elise Seyfried "Black Friday Shoppers!" Lauren Ziemski "Olympic Manor" Alexandra Rosas "Quick Fixes To Keep Your Post-Holiday Home Guest Ready" Kristine Laco "The Best Worst Christmas Ever" Sarah Guthrie "The Flagpole Christmas Tree" Jill Robins "Wreck The Halls" Karen Anderson "Disaster Planning Guide For The Holidays" Kelly McKenzie "Gingerbread Basics And Snow Globe Creations 101" Hannah Mayer "The Santa Tradition" Jennifer Scharf "An Open Letter To The Elf On The Fucking Shelf"

Sandy Rhyneer, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands reads her emotionally powerful essay about the day she gave birth to her only son. Sandy Rhyneer is a Cuban-born, Miami-raised, NYC-transplant mixing it up in Seattle. Sandy does not fancy herself a writer, although she's spent the majority of her career writing and editing. She has a BA in psychology, which she put to good use at high-profile PR sweatshops, before devoting more than a dozen years to furthering non-profit missions; first, at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and now at the regional Planned Parenthood where she is VP of Marketing & Communications. After her son was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome, she became an outspoken advocate for people with the condition, especially on the topic of inclusion. Sandy serves on the marketing committee for the LuMind Research Down Syndrome Foundation. She chronicles her journey as Lucas' mom on MundoBean. You can find he

Katie Anthony reads her powerful and heartfelt essay 'You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat' - a survival hymn for all the exhausted new moms treading water. Katie Anthony lives in Seattle with her husband and two sons, ages 3 and 1. She is the only person in her house who cannot tell the difference between a backhoe loader and and excavator. Please do not try to explain it to her. Katie blogs at KatyKatiKate and tweets at @yokatykatikate. Links Mentioned In This Episode: KatyKatiKate | Blog You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat Manhood For Amateurs | Michael Chabon Inner Fucking Peace | YouTube New episodes every Thursday! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

MomCaveTV founder Jennifer Weedon Palazzo takes us on her journey to motherhood with her heartfelt piece 'Back to Work.' Jennifer Weedon Palazzo is the creator of MomCaveTV.com, an online network of comedy shows for moms including Slummy Mummy, Slacker Mom, Double Leche, Blabbermom, and MomCave LIVE. When she's not writing about the funny side of being a mom for sites like Scary Mommy and Mamalode, Jennifer can be found eating Reese's Cups while furiously bidding on vintage clothing on eBay. She splits her time between Manhattan and the Berkshires with her husband, Evan, bandleader of The Hot Sardines and their two kids. Follow her on Twitter @MomCaveTV and visit https://www.youtube.com/MomCave. Links Mentioned In This Episode: MomCaveTV | Blog MomCaveTV | YouTube MomCaveTV | FB MomCaveTV | Twitter Back To Work | Mamalode New episodes every Thursday! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER founder Ann Imig reads her poignant and humor-filled post '8 Years Of Blogging, 8 Tentacles Still Spinning.' Ann Imig is the founder of the live-reading series and video sharing company LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER and editor of the acclaimed anthology LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: What She Said Then, What We're Saying Now (Putnam Books, 2015). A Stay-At-Home Humorist, Ann's writing has been featured on sites like CollegeHumor, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The Huffington Post and The Washington Post. National TV appearances include ABCnews.com, NBC Nightly News and the webseries Battleground and The Louise Log. Ann's blog (annsrants.com) has been named a Babble Top 100 Mom Blog, A BlogHer Voice of the Year, and a SheKnows Top 5 Funniest Mom Blog. Ann lives with her husband and children in Madison, Wisconsin. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Ann Imig | Blog Ann Imig | FB LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER | Blog LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER | FB LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: What She Said Then, Wh

BLUNTmoms Editor in Chief Magnolia Ripkin reads her hilariously snarky take on '9 Essential Items For The Over 45 Set.' Magnolia Ripkin is sort of like your mouthy Aunt who drinks too much and tells you how to run your life, except funny… well mostly funny… like a cold glass of water in the face. She writes a flagrantly offensive blog at Magnolia Ripkin Advice Blog answering pressing questions about business, personal development, parenting, heck even the bedroom isn't safe. She is the Editor in Chief at BluntMoms. Other places to find her: Huffington Post,  The Mighty and Modern Loss. You can also check her out in two amazing compendiums of bloggers who are published in "I Just Want To Be Alone."  And most recently, Martinis and Motherhood, Tales of Wonder, Woe and WTF. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Magnolia Ripkin | Blog Magnolia Ripkin | FB Twitter 9 Essential Items For The Over 45 Set New episodes every Thursday! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You ca

Molly England from Bluebonnet Babies reads her compelling story Best Kept Secret detailing the search for and eventual meeting of her biological father. Molly England earned her master's degree in social work at The University of Edinburgh. She currently lives in Texas with her husband and their three children. She is a devoted blogger, freelance writer and a passionate Certified Bradley Method® Natural Childbirth Educator. Molly contributes to On Parenting - The Washington Post, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Well Rounded NY, Mamalode and more. Links Mentioned In This Episode: Bluebonnet Babies Bluebonnet Babies | FB Molly's Journey Best Kept Secret New episodes every Thursday! Don't forget to subscribe to Inside Voice on iTunes. You can also follow Inside Voice on Twitter and Facebook.

Karen Alpert from Baby Sideburns reads an excerpt from her hilarious book I Want My Epidural Back: Adventures in Mediocre Parenting. Are your kids having sleepovers? This one's for you... Hi, I'm Karen Alpert, aka Baby Sideburns. I'm a mom who likes to wear fat pants and drink Hershey's syrup straight from the bottle while I cook dinner every night. And by cook dinner, I mean nuke chicken nuggets in the microwave. Thanks for checking out my page! You might notice that I swear on here a little. If that bothers you, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better I never do it in front of my kiddos (unless they drop a bowling ball on my head or something), and really I just do it in my writing because what I write is what goes through my head. Here are some other things I do besides curse in my head: Use fake words like vajayjay and anyways Write sponsored posts so I can buy chicken nuggets and Hershey's syrup Raise two kiddos named Zoey and Holden (who were 5 and 2.5 when this page was created but who mig

Shelly Mazzanoble reads her hilarious post '6 Reasons My Vagina Is Happy I Had A C-Section' - tell us about your vagina birth story! A million years ago, Shelly Mazzanoble had a short story published in a literary magazine calledWhetstone. She was paid $50 which she spent on a keg of beer and threw a great, big party. Motivated by her strong desire to curate menus for cocktail parties and her friends' penchant for drinking free beer, Shelly has gone on to publish short stories and essays in Carve, The Seattle Times,Scary Mommy, In the Powder Room, Pregnant Chicken, Blunt Moms, and has been syndicated on popular websites such as TODAY Parents and BlogHer, where she has been named a featured writer. She writes a regular column called Mom in the Middle for the Seattle-based parenting network, PEPs (Program for Early Parent Support) where she seeks to scare daunt forewarn enlighten new parents about the  terrors joys of parenthood and has recently realized h

Lynn Morrison reads her controversial post I Gave Up A 6 Figure Salary For My Husband (And That Is Worth Some Money) - do you think you deserve a wife bonus? Lynn Morrison is a smart-ass American raising two prim princesses with her obnoxiously skinny Italian husband in Oxford, England. Born and raised in the Deep American South, Lynn avoided becoming mired in the Mississippi mud by escaping to go to college in California. Had she known that the move would eventually lead to marriage to a nerdy Italian, she might have chosen a mud mask instead. As the Nomad Mom, Lynn exposes the truth about what it's like to be married to an uber-brainiac and the mother to multilingual children. The truth is, her days are pretty much like everyone else's, just with more pronunciations of the word "water." After a long day of struggling to remember to say "chap" instead of "y'all" or "dude," Lynn likes nothing better than to curl up with her Macbook and a glass of wine and write thought-provoking essays on why sweatpants are t