# Jo Ann Beard

Ever wondered what it’s like to navigate a bustling fair while indulging in deep-fried ranch dressing? Join us as Rita recounts her whimsical adventure at the Minnesota State Fair, featuring humorous tales of quirky Midwestern traditions and fond family moments. We then welcome our guest, Janelle G…

Paula Whyman joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about getting out of our comfort zone,  her attempt to restore native meadows in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, becoming obsessed with subjects and deep diving, writing about science and nature, controlling and selecting details fo…

This week, in honor of the start of the holiday season, we're presenting stories about parents — and the ways our relationships with them intersect with science. Part 1: As a kid, Dan Souza finds it hard to appreciate his mother’s nursing expertise until he sees it in action after a series of fatef…

Melissa Fraterrigo joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about the personal and emotional toll of being female, becoming a mother and watching her daughters navigate culture, making sense of our world through memoir and essay, discovering a softness for the younger versions of ourselves, when …