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Good Things from Lemonada

Lemonada Media

Good Things from Lemonada Media is a podcast about the good people in the world who are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to make things better. Each week, we'll be talking about this country's most complex and confounding issues in an effort to affect systemic change, with a rotating cast of incredible guests and Lemonada hosts. From the dire condition of the American foster care system to the decline of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, protecting democracy, and more, we’re focusing on solutions – with the people putting them into action.

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Our Editor's Take

The host of the New Day podcast, Claire Bidwell Smith, has decades of experience when it comes to grief and anxiety. It all started when both of her parents received a cancer diagnosis when Smith was only 14 years old. When she was 18, Smith lost her mother to the disease. Her father died not too long after when Smith was 25.

There is no doubt that this traumatizing experience contributed to her career choice. It also contributed to the creation of the New Day podcast. Not only does Smith have a master's in clinical psychology, but her specialty is grief therapy. Her first book on the topic was a memoir titled The Rules of Inheritance. She continued to write three more books about the subject. She also published articles in countless newspapers and magazines. Those include The New York Times, Psychology Today, and The Washington Post.

As much as Smith is an expert on loss, the podcast New Day is not limited to that realm. The therapist carries everything she's learned by dealing with grief into general life advice for anyone feeling low. With this podcast, she wants to help the listeners create a life worth living. She offers this practical advice in three episodes per week.

In the shorter, solo episodes, Smith offers tips to help make life easier. These are small steps that the listeners can take if they are not happy with their everyday reality. For instance, it explains how to not reach out for the phone first thing in the morning. Other episodes show how one can set short-term goals and actually achieve them. Smith also explains how to start a successful gratitude practice.

In the longer episodes, Smith conducts honest, meaningful conversations. She talks to experts like death doulas or marriage therapists. But she also speaks to comedians, authors, and actors like Lena Dunham and Ricki Lake. Every New Day guest has a fascinating life experience to share. Smith uses each one to educate the listeners in a compassionate and caring way.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Fostering a Better Future (with Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez and Lisa Guillette)
6d ago
Fostering a Better Future (with Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez and Lisa Guillette)
When young adults leave the foster care system they’re left trying to find housing or employment on their own. Oftentimes, the thing they yearn for the most is family. In this special episode, Gloria chats with the president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Systems Innovation, Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, and CEO at Foster Forward, Lisa Guillette. Our guests discuss how they’re helping youth aging out of foster care age into an ecosystem of belonging. Whether it’s legally creating ‘soul’ families or providing affordable homes, they tell us the ways they’re working with former foster kids to break the cycle and achieve stability.    This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization devoted to building brighter futures for all children, youth and young adults, and ensuring they have the family, community and opportunity they need to thrive. Learn more at www.aecf.org. Views expressed in this episode are solely those of the participants.   No One is Coming to Save Us is presented by Neighborhood Villages. Neighborhood Villages is a Massachusetts-based systems change non-profit. It envisions a transformed, equitable early childhood education system that lifts up educators and sets every child and family up to thrive. In pursuit of this vision, Neighborhood Villages designs, evaluates, and scales innovative solutions to the biggest challenges faced by early childhood education providers and the children and families who rely on them, and drives policy reform through advocacy, education, and research.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/.   Laugh, cry, be outraged, and hear solutions! Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nooneiscomingtosaveus.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Does It Feel to Be Vulnerable in Front of the World? With Lena Dunham
Mar 31 2023
Revisiting How Does It Feel to Be Vulnerable in Front of the World? With Lena Dunham
Putting yourself out there — the good, the bad, the ugly — in the social media age can be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, to put it mildly. Few people know that quite as well as writer, director, producer, and actor Lena Dunham. Lena shot to superstardom at only 24 years old when her hit HBO show “Girls” debuted in 2012 and has been living her life very much in the public eye ever since. Lena tells Claire about her lifelong love of self-expression and creativity, how being so open about the hard things in her life actually helps her heal, and how her relationship with womanhood, grief, and loss intersects with her writing. Plus, Lena and Claire discuss how early experiences shaped their views on Roe v. Wade.   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Do I Manage My Anxiety? With Kelsey Darragh
Mar 24 2023
Revisiting How Do I Manage My Anxiety? With Kelsey Darragh
There’s no way to have gotten through the last few years without some anxiety. But comedian and mental health advocate Kelsey Darragh has been experiencing anxiety-induced panic attacks for as long as she can remember. In the years since, she’s tried it all – therapy, medication, treating the physical symptoms caused by her anxiety – she shares her hard-won knowledge of what works to help her manage her anxiety, panic disorder, and depression. This episode is about slowing down, being realistic about what you can and can’t control, and how to create routines for yourself that bring a sense of calm and independence to your life.    Resources from the show Listen to Kelsey’s podcast “Confidently Insecure”  Check out Kelsey’s workbook “Don't F*cking Panic: The Shit They Don’t Tell You in Therapy About Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, & Depression”  Watch Kelsey’s viral video about taking anxiety medication here   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Can I Be Happier in My Relationship? With Elizabeth Earnshaw
Mar 17 2023
Revisiting How Can I Be Happier in My Relationship? With Elizabeth Earnshaw
Despite what we’ve learned in fairy tales during our childhood, there’s no such thing as the perfect relationship. Marriage therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw has seen and heard it all and offers up practical advice on understanding the issues in your relationship, how to work through them, and when to consider calling it quits. This episode’s practice is about communication, getting your needs met, and building a relationship that works for you AND your partner.    Resources from the show Read Liz’s Relationship Guide  “I Want This to Work.”If you happen to be a resident of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, California, Utah, or Maryland, check out A Better Life Therapy to find a local therapist who specializes in individual therapy, couples, family, and more!   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonadamedia.com.    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How to Forgive an A**hole with Nadia Bolz-Weber
Mar 10 2023
Revisiting How to Forgive an A**hole with Nadia Bolz-Weber
Being a religious leader doesn’t mean you're an expert at practicing forgiveness. Lutheran minister Nadia Bolz-Weber says being in quarantine gave her the ego check she needed to get real about forgiveness and compassion — for herself and others. This episode’s practice is about apologies and circling back to the relationships in your life that could use some mending.    Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show Listen to Nadia’s podcast, The Confessional.  Read “The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World” by Desmond TutuCheck out Dr. Kristin Neff’s self-compassion meditations and exercises here. Nadia references Jean Valjean, one of the main characters in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonadamedia.com.    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Can I Use My Voice For Social Change? With Brandon Kyle Goodman
Mar 3 2023
Revisiting How Can I Use My Voice For Social Change? With Brandon Kyle Goodman
The murder of George Floyd was shocking and changed all of us — regardless of our racial identities. For nonbinary activist, actor and writer Brandon Kyle Goodman, it was a moment for them to find their voice. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Brandon posted a video on Instagram addressed to their white friends who were reaching out, asking them what they should do. That video went viral, and Brandon continued to use their social media platform to give space for Black trauma AND Black joy, modeling a way for others to express themselves, to learn, to be heard, and to find their voice. This episode's practice is about finding spaces of belonging, and how to use your voice for social change, even when you’re afraid.    Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show Watch Brandon’s viral video to his white friends here Read “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonadamedia.com.    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Can I Accept My Body and My Fears? With BJ Miller
Feb 24 2023
Revisiting How Can I Accept My Body and My Fears? With BJ Miller
Thirty years ago, Dr. BJ Miller had an accident that changed his life forever. He was out late one night messing around with his college buddies, jumped up on a train car, and was electrocuted with 11,000 volts of electricity. BJ went on to lose both legs and most of one arm. He spent a year in physical recovery and longer in emotional and psychological recovery. But all of these experiences led him to where he is today: interviewed by Oprah; profiled by “The New York Times Magazine”; and a leading figure in the death and dying realm. This week’s practice is all about accepting our bodies — and our fears. As BJ Miller says, “The goal isn’t to become fearless. The goal is to learn how to live with fear.”   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Learn more about today's guest: Read BJ’s memoir, "A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death".Check out Mettle Health, which BJ Miller co-founded, and offers online palliative and holistic care to anyone in the United States.     Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonnadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Do I Re-Parent Myself? With Tara Schuster
Feb 17 2023
Revisiting How Do I Re-Parent Myself? With Tara Schuster
Waking up to the realization that you drunk-dialed someone the night before can be pretty embarrassing. But for Tara Schuster, it was life changing. The night of her 25th birthday, Tara drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help. The next morning, she decided to find that help she begged for. Tara tells Claire how she realized she needed to re-parent herself, the techniques she initially scoffed at that proved most helpful for her, and what advice she has for people at the beginning of their own healing journey. Plus, she reveals to Claire what celebrity she uses as her stand-in for an ideal parent.   Resources from the show Lemonada’s February Book of the Month: Glow in the F*cking Dark by Tara SchusterBuy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara SchusterThe Artist's Way by Julia Cameron   Do you have something you want Claire’s help with? Send her a question to be featured on an upcoming episode by emailing us at newday@lemonadamedia.com or submitting one at www.bit.ly/newdayask.   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.   Sign up for our online community of fellow Lemonada lovers for free at lemonadamedia.com/mylemonada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Do I Talk to My Kids About Their Mental Health? With Lily Cornell Silver
Feb 10 2023
Revisiting How Do I Talk to My Kids About Their Mental Health? With Lily Cornell Silver
Lily Cornell Silver knows that being in your 20s is hard. Being in your 20s and navigating COVID-19, college, grief, and your mental health can feel completely overwhelming. Lily, a 21-year-old mental health advocate, and Claire talk about how open, honest conversations with Lily’s mom, Susan Silver, are a key part of her mental health regimen, including as Lily continues to process losing her dad, Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, to suicide. This week’s practice is all about mental health and self-care — for parents and for kids, in your 20s and beyond.   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show The Jed Foundation provides resources for protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults.If you’re a parent or a friend of someone struggling with their mental health, check out The National Council for Well Being. Have you had suicidal thoughts? Check out Now Matters Now for support. Read To Write Love On Her Arms mental health blog.    Learn more about today's guest: Listen to Lily’s podcast, “Mind Wide Open” where she interviews guests of all types that speak to their struggles with mental health and moments of grief, trauma, depression, etc.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonnadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Do I Stop Beating Myself Up? With Alauna Curry
Feb 3 2023
Revisiting How Do I Stop Beating Myself Up? With Alauna Curry
Dr. Alauna Curry is like every other therapist out there – a regular person with struggles and pain just like the rest of us. And in 2017, when her marriage, finances, and health all came crashing down, she was reminded that everyone has trauma – but not all of us know how it affects us or the empathy with which we view the world. This episode's practice is about understanding our traumas, and using our brains to learn practical skills that will help us heal them.    Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show Learn more about ACES (Adverse Childhood Events) here. Check out Oprah’s interview with 60 minutes talking about ACES Read “The Body Keeps The Score” by Bessel van der Kolk.   Learn more about today's guest: Sign up for Dr. Alauna’s Trauma Recovery Courses    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonnadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting How Can I Have a Great Sex Life? with Dr. Alex Katehakis
Jan 27 2023
Revisiting How Can I Have a Great Sex Life? with Dr. Alex Katehakis
Sex therapist Dr. Alex Katehakis started studying sex in her 30s, after years of struggling to build and maintain romantic relationships. Her early work in the field of sex addiction helped her to work through her own sexual issues and to understand healthy sexuality in new ways, including busting the myth that “penetrative sex is the end-all, be-all to sex and sexuality.” This episode’s practice is about learning to talk about sex—with ourselves, our partners and our kids—and how these conversations can lead to better sex.    Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show Read “Sexual Reflections: A Workbook for Designing and Celebrating Your Sexual Health Plan” by Dr. Katehakis  Listen to The Alex Katehakis Podcast For more information on sex and sexuality, check out the Center for Healthy Sex website - https://centerforhealthysex.com  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Jen Curran
Jan 20 2023
Revisiting When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Jen Curran
Comedian Jen Curran thought she was having a normal pregnancy, but then the complications started. Her doctors told her to lose weight, but they were wrong. Weeks after giving birth, she received a diagnosis that turned her dream of motherhood upside down. This week’s practice is about letting go of disappointments and getting mad (and then moving forward).    Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show:   Read “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema ChödrönRead “Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life” by Jon Kabat Zinn Learn more about today's guest: Support The Ruby LA    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonnadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revisiting Giving Yourself Permission to Feel with Marc Brackett
Jan 13 2023
Revisiting Giving Yourself Permission to Feel with Marc Brackett
Marc Brackett isn’t the first person to feel like an emotional wreck after a disagreement with their partner, family, or friends - and neither are you. Emotional intelligence starts with becoming aware of your own feelings then understanding your reactions to them. This episode’s practice is about self-compassion and how to go easy on yourself when you’re feeling big feelings.   Want to connect? Join the New Day Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newdaypod   Resources from the show Read Self-Compassion Step by Step: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristen Neff For meditations that can help assist you in cultivating compassion for yourself visit www.selfcompassion.org  Learn more about today's guest: Read Marc’s latest book: Permission to Feel  Learn more about RULER and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Did you try one of these weekly practices? We want to hear about it! Call 833-4-LEMONADA (833-453-6662) or email us newday@lemonnadamedia.com    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/newday/ shortly after the air date.   Follow Claire on IG and FB @clairebidwellsmith or Twitter @clairebidwell and visit her website: www.clairebidwellsmith.com   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.