Tell Me What It's Like

Stacy Raine
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Have you ever wished for a window into someone else’s world? Tell Me What It’s Like is a podcast about lived experience — the experiences that challenge us, surprise us, and shape how we see the world. Host Stacy Raine sits down with people to explore what it was like to live through them, and how those experiences changed their perspective.

  1. Becoming a Toy Photographer: Mitch Wu on Turning Play into a Creative Career

    1D AGO

    Becoming a Toy Photographer: Mitch Wu on Turning Play into a Creative Career

    Mitch Wu thought he knew exactly what his creative career would look like. But after years in product design, a difficult job, and the loss of his brother, he realized how far he’d drifted from the kind of work he actually wanted to be doing. Then one afternoon he and his nephew went to the park with a couple of action figures and from the first photograph he knew he'd found what he was meant to do. In this episode, Mitch shares what it’s like to build miniature worlds, develop a creative niche that didn’t really exist, and turn play into a profession. "Then I took the photo and I looked at what I got on the camera and it's like, my God, this is, it was like clear as day that that's what I was going to do for my next career."Hear Mitch talk about:His journey from illustration to product design to wedding photography—and how he realized he’d gotten off his creative pathThe moment in a park with his nephew that instantly shifted his career directionWhat toy photography actually is, and why it’s rooted in storytelling and world-buildingHow he built a career in a niche that barely existed at the timeThe difference between being a “commodity” creative and owning a specialized nicheWhy continual learning and experimentation keep his work evolving Mentioned in this episode:Larger Than Life (documentary) – See Mitch at work and get a behind-the-scenes look at his toy photography processNew York Toy Fair – The largest toy industry convention in North America, where Mitch exhibited his work and connected with major brandsDisney+ Marvel documentary series – A series featuring toy creators, including Mitch and his workMitch Wu’s toy photography work – See examples of his work for major toy companies, including Mattel’s Ever After High, one of Mitch’s first major clients Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    43 min
  2. Understanding Medicare: Toni King on Navigating a Complex System

    MAR 25

    Understanding Medicare: Toni King on Navigating a Complex System

    Toni King was at a Medicare workshop when she realized how easy it is for someone to misunderstand the system—and how difficult it can be to fix those misunderstandings once they happen. She’s spent years helping people navigate Medicare, a process shaped by rules, timelines, and decisions that aren’t always intuitive. She shares what it’s like to guide people through it, how the system works, and why it can be so challenging to understand from the outside. "The whole thing is all about rules."Hear Toni talk about:How she got started helping people navigate MedicareWhy the system can be difficult for people to understandThe structure of Medicare and how the different parts fit togetherThe role of private insurance within MedicareWhat people need to think about as they approach enrollment Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Toni KingMedicareSocial SecurityMedicare Advantage (Part C)Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    38 min
  3. How Cities Are Designed: Creating Walkable Places with Jahnavi Kirtane

    MAR 18

    How Cities Are Designed: Creating Walkable Places with Jahnavi Kirtane

    Cities don’t just develop over time — they’re shaped by decisions about transportation, where we build, and what gets prioritized. Urban planner Jahnavi Kirtane explains how those decisions come together, why so many places in the U.S. are built around cars, and how walkability affects independence, access, and everyday life in ways most people don’t realize. "Walking is really good for you, both your physical health and your social health and emotional health."Hear Jahnavi talk about:The difference between growing up in a car-dependent suburb and navigating New York CityWhat “walkability” actually means and how it shows up in daily lifeWhy many U.S. communities are designed around carsThe kinds of decisions that shape how cities functionHow design influences independence, access, and connection Mentioned in this episode:Walkable City by Jeff SpeckSpeck Dempsey, the planning and design firm where Jahnavi worksJeff Speck's TED talk, The Walkable City Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    45 min
  4. Scaling Social Impact: Suzanne Smith on Helping Organizations Create Change

    MAR 11

    Scaling Social Impact: Suzanne Smith on Helping Organizations Create Change

    Suzanne Smith has spent her career working with nonprofits and has witnessed a reality many people outside the field don’t see: solving big social problems requires more than passion and good intentions. It requires organizations strong enough to grow and build long-term sustainability. In this episode, Suzanne shares what it’s like to work in the social impact world, and what she’s learned from working with organizations trying to turn big ideas for change into lasting results and stronger communities. "One of the things I saw was the fact that the issues were scaling, but the organizations were not scaling along with them."Hear Suzanne talk about:Growing up in a family that talked about social issues at the dinner tableHer early career working in lobbying and the nonprofit sectorWhy many nonprofits struggle to scale their impactThe intersection of nonprofit, business, and government in creating changeWhy she believes social change work is a calling, not just a job Mentioned in this episode:Social Impact ArchitectsSuzanne Smith’s Substack blog, Social Trendspotter Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    42 min
  5. 22 Days in a Buddhist Monastery: Clarity That Comes From Silence

    MAR 4

    22 Days in a Buddhist Monastery: Clarity That Comes From Silence

    When Laurie Jacobson was 43, she found herself in a deeply unhappy marriage and increasingly isolated and depressed. After years of trying conventional therapies and self-help approaches without relief, she made a decision that felt radical at the time: she signed up for a silent retreat at a Buddhist monastery she’d discovered through a pamphlet in a coffee shop. Over the next 22 days of meditation and silence, Laurie experienced a profound shift in perspective that helped her see her life differently, and ultimately gave her the clarity she needed to make a difficult life decision. "Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, because sometimes it takes stepping outside your comfort zone to find a better place."Hear Laurie talk about:What daily life was like during a silent meditation retreatWhy she decided to go to a Buddhist monastery after trying many other forms of helpThe surprising mental clarity that can come from long periods of silence and meditationHow the experience changed the way she saw her marriage and gave her the strength to leave itThe lessons she carried forward about openness, desire, and letting go Mentioned in this episode: Theravada BuddhismLaurie's book, Unexpected Awakening: 22 Days at a Buddhist Monastery Freed Me from Abuse Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    51 min
  6. Parenting Tween Girls: Christina King on the Teenage Brain

    FEB 25

    Parenting Tween Girls: Christina King on the Teenage Brain

    As a teenager, Christina King looked like she was doing everything right — she had good grades, played sports, took advanced classes. But when her mom paused during an argument and asked, “Are you happy?” it changed the course of her life. Today, Christina is a therapist specializing in tween and teen girls, and she shares what’s really happening in the teenage brain, why emotional ups and downs are often developmentally normal, and how parents can stay connected during one of the most intense seasons of growing up. "I say with teens that sometimes it's like all gas, no brakes."Note: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. It includes discussion of teen mental health, including self-harm, in the context of helping parents understand and respond. Hear Christina talk about:The question that led her to therapy as a teenWhat "all gas, no brakes" means for the adolescent brainWhy emotional volatility can be a healthy signTween girl friendship dynamics and indirect aggressionSocial media, comparison culture, and feeling left outThe difference between venting mode and problem-solving modeWhy parents should depersonalize their teen's emotions Mentioned in this episode:Christina King Family TherapyFind Christina on InstagramInside Out 2 (when discussing adolescent emotions) Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    53 min
  7. Unexpected Pregnancy at 21: Finding a Safety Net with Kristen Mardis

    FEB 18

    Unexpected Pregnancy at 21: Finding a Safety Net with Kristen Mardis

    Kristen Mardis was 21 years old, fresh out of college, and had just been accepted into graduate school when she found out she was pregnant. With no financial safety net and no health insurance, she had to quickly figure out how she would care for a baby while still pursuing her dream of becoming a speech pathologist. In this episode, Kristen shares what it was like to navigate Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and childcare assistance — and how those programs gave her the foundation she needed to build the life she has today. “None of that would have happened without those programs.”Hear Kristen talk about:Finding out she was pregnant just weeks after being accepted into graduate schoolHow Medicaid and SNAP helped her access prenatal care and feed her babyNavigating childcare assistance so she could finish her master’s degreeThe stigma around government assistance — and the dignity everyone deservesHow her experience shaped the way she now serves families in her work as a speech pathologist Mentioned in this episode:SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)MedicaidChildcare assistance programs Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    39 min
  8. Behind the Scenes of News and Life: Carol Lin on Reporting History

    FEB 18

    Behind the Scenes of News and Life: Carol Lin on Reporting History

    Carol Lin spent her career inside newsrooms built for breaking news. She covered some of the most difficult moments in recent history, including being the first person to report the attacks on September 11. In this conversation, she reflects on her career in journalism and the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped her life. She also discusses what it was like to revisit those experiences while writing her memoir. "And then I hear the music, the breaking news animation comes up and we are live."Hear Carol talk about: What it’s like inside a newsroom built for breaking newsThe moment she realized she was going live on September 11 without a scriptHow anchors rely on producers, reporters, and unseen teams during national crisesThe emotional discipline required to deliver information in uncertain momentsThe intersection of her career with major personal turning pointsWhy writing her memoir required revisiting both professional and private painWhat she hopes readers — and her daughter — take away from her story Mentioned in this episode: The first moments reporting 9/11 (viewer discretion advised)Carol Lin’s memoir, When News Breaks Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast appLeave a rating & review — it helps others find the showShare the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media

    42 min
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About

Have you ever wished for a window into someone else’s world? Tell Me What It’s Like is a podcast about lived experience — the experiences that challenge us, surprise us, and shape how we see the world. Host Stacy Raine sits down with people to explore what it was like to live through them, and how those experiences changed their perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Stacy Raine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Stacy Raine
  • Show Website
    Tell Me What It's Like

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