What’s it like to set a world record? To invent a new product? To survive an extremely rare illness?
On Tell Me What It’s Like, host Stacy Raine sits down with people who’ve lived through powerful and uncommon experiences. Each conversation explores how it happened, why it matters, and how it changed the way they see the world.
Listen to the latest episode:
Dying Well: JoAnne Chitwood on 40 Years of Hospice Nursing
After 40 years at the bedside of dying people, hospice nurse JoAnne Chitwood shares the perspective gained from witnessing death as a part of life.
Dating Again After 30 Years: Victoria Vaughn on the Frogs She’s Kissed
After 30 years of marriage, Victoria Vaughn re-entered the dating world only to discover a pool full of what she calls “frogs.” In this episode, she shares the surprising realities of dating later in life and what it takes to recognize the right person when you finally meet them.
Becoming a Toy Photographer: Mitch Wu on Turning Play into a Creative Career
Mitch Wu shares the moment toy photography became his career, and how he builds detailed, story-driven worlds from everyday materials.
Understanding Medicare: Toni King on Navigating a Complex System
Toni King explains how Medicare works and why a system shaped by rules, timelines, and multiple parts can be difficult to navigate without guidance.
How Cities Are Designed: Creating Walkable Places with Jahnavi Kirtane
Jahnavi Kirtane explains how cities are designed—and how decisions about walkability, cars, and infrastructure shape independence, access, and daily life.
Scaling Social Impact: Suzanne Smith on Helping Organizations Create Change
Suzanne Smith shares what she’s learned from years working with nonprofits about what it takes to turn big ideas for change into lasting results.
22 Days in a Buddhist Monastery: Clarity From Silence with Laurie Jacobson
Laurie Jacobson discusses how spending 22 days at a Buddhist monastery during a silent retreat gave her a new perspective on her life and the clarity to make a difficult decision.
Christina King: Parenting Tween Girls
Christina King talks about how she became a therapist specializing in tween and teen girls, and shares parenting tips for helping your child through the tough years.
Kristen Mardis: Finding a Safety Net
Kristen Mardis details what it was like to discover she was unexpectedly pregnant at 21, and how government programs made the difference.
Carol Lin: Behind the Scenes of Reporting History
Carol Lin shares what it was like to report live on September 11 as the first national anchor to break the news, and the behind-the-scenes moments in her personal life that shaped who she is today.
BONUS: Favorite Holiday Traditions by Season 1 Guests
As the year comes to a close, guests from Season 1 of Tell Me What It’s Like share the holiday traditions that matter most to them.
Sarah Teresinksi: Upcycling for Stylish Home Decor
Sarah Teresinksi takes old and unused items and turns them into new, beautiful things for the home.
Susan Polgar: The Woman Who Changed Chess
Susan Polgar changed the game of chess for all women.
Jeff Burningham: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI
Jeff Burningham wrote a book on what it means to be human in the age of AI.
Charlie Wells: What Happened To Millennials
Journalist Charlie Wells investigated what happened to Millennials.
Cori Burns: Creating a Walking Shoe for Women’s Fitness
Cori Burns created a new walking shoe for women’s fitness.
Linda Strader: Among the First on a Fire Crew for the U.S. Forest Service
Linda Strader was among the first women on a fire crew for the U.S. Forest Service.
Jennifer Daniel: Teaching Modern Manners
Jennifer Daniel is an etiquette teacher for modern manners.
Valerie Russell: Building a Business Abroad
Valerie Russell left everything behind and opened a business in Guatemala.