Tell Me What It's Like

Stacy Raine
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

What's it like to be a tween therapist? To switch careers and begin photographing toys? To have Guillain-Barré? To be the first female chess grandmaster? Tell Me What It’s Like is a podcast about uncommon experiences and what they teach us about the world. Host Stacy Raine talks with people who have spent years in roles and life situations most of us don’t experience to understand what it’s actually like, what they’ve seen over time, and what those experiences reveal.

  1. Inside Fertility Medicine: Dr. Yemi Famuyiwa on Birth, Loss, and the Science of Having Babies

    5d ago

    Inside Fertility Medicine: Dr. Yemi Famuyiwa on Birth, Loss, and the Science of Having Babies

    Dr. Yemi Famuyiwa knew she wanted to be a doctor long before she knew what kind. It was during her third-year rotations at Emory that the answer became obvious. She'd had “a roaring blast” in her OBGYN rotation and couldn't imagine anything else. She went on to specialize in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and has spent decades helping people navigate one of the most emotional experiences a person or couple can face. In this episode, she talks about what she's noticed inside that world — the science, the cultural pressures that leave women suffering in silence, and the grief that has no name.Nullam id diam metus. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Nullam interdum est erat, rutrum tristique ipsum cursus a. " I hope I never get over it. It's just such a magical moment."Hear Dr. Famuyiwa talk about:What it was like to guide her first baby into the world and how she hopes she never gets over itThe cultural pressure on women in paternalistic societies to conceive, and what can happen when they can'tWhy men suffer in silence too, and how infertility can challenge a marriageAmbiguous loss: the grief that never ends and has no body to weep overWhy infertility is rising worldwide — and why delaying childbearing is only part of the storyWhat she wishes people understood about their own biology before it's too late Mentioned in this episode:The Quest for Fertility by Dr. Yemi FamuyiwaDr. Nanette Wenger, cardiologist at Emory, who influenced her during medical schoolGrady Memorial Hospital, AtlantaEmory University School of Medicine 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    44 min
  2. From Blogger to Influencer to Done: Chelsea Coulston on the Creator Economy

    May 27

    From Blogger to Influencer to Done: Chelsea Coulston on the Creator Economy

    In 2012, Chelsea Coulston had just moved to a new house in a new city with a newborn while her husband was deployed. She turned her focus to decorating her new rental home, and turned to the internet for help. But she wasn’t finding much to inspire her, since most of what existed was meant for people who could make permanent changes. So she started a blog called Making Home Base to share renter-friendly decorating ideas for military families. What followed was a 13-year front-row seat to how the internet went from a wholesome, free exchange of ideas to a massively profitable influencer industry — and why she ultimately walked away. " I think we're to this place where social media doesn't feel good. The content that we see doesn't feel real or authentic a lot of times. "Hear Chelsea talk about:How home bloggers were among the first to use Instagram — not to sell, but to send people back to their sitesHow the money worked: sidebar ads to Google AdSense to brand deals to sponsored posts, and what that means for authenticityWhy Chelsea calls the creator economy the Wild West, and what it actually takes to keep upWhy everyone with a following is an influencer now and why that comes with responsibilityWhat made her walk away, and why she'd reset the whole thing to the early blogging days if she could Mentioned in this episode:Making Home Base — Chelsea's blogMaking Home Base on InstagramBrick— an app designed to help people limit their time on social media 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    44 min
  3. The Reality of Reality TV: The Psychologist Who Decides Who Gets on the Show

    May 20

    The Reality of Reality TV: The Psychologist Who Decides Who Gets on the Show

    Have you ever wondered how the people on reality TV get cast? Dr. Steven Stein is a psychologist who's spent twenty years helping make that call. Working behind the scenes of shows like The Amazing Race Canada and Big Brother Canada, he assesses who belongs, who can handle it, and what might happen when the cameras start rolling. "People want to be the villain. And if you fake it, we try to screen you out. You can’t fake being a villain."Hear Steven talk about: How casting works: the psychological assessments, the interviews, and how producers narrow thousands of applicants to a final castThe personality traits that drive people to apply for reality TV in the first placeWhat it really means to be the "villain" and why the best ones know the difference between the game and real lifeThe 12 reality TV archetypes he's identified and the quiz he's developed to find out which one you areWhy social media has fundamentally changed what contestants experience after the show airsWhat reality TV has taught him about behavior, emotion, and how people perform under pressure Mentioned in this episode: Multi-Health Systems (MHS) — Dr. Stein's company, which developed the EQ-i emotional intelligence assessmentYes, Chef with Martha Stewart — the cooking competition show Dr. Stein describes as one of the more intense sets he's worked on 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    42 min
  4. Joining Their Reality: Lisa Skinner on Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Caregiving

    May 13

    Joining Their Reality: Lisa Skinner on Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Caregiving

    When Lisa Skinner was a teenager, she went to visit her grandmother, who began telling her frantic stories about birds living in her mattress and men trying to steal her jewelry. There were no birds, and there were no men, but Lisa would soon find out that her grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease. That experience shaped the course of Lisa’s life and eventually led her into dementia care, where she’s spent decades helping families better understand what their loved ones are experiencing and how to care for them with compassion and dignity. In this episode, Lisa shares what she’s learned from both her personal and professional experiences with Alzheimer’s and dementia, including why “joining their reality” can completely change the caregiving experience. "A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease does not have to equate to this is the end of the person’s life."Hear Lisa talk about:The moment she first realized her grandmother had Alzheimer’sThe difference between Alzheimer’s disease and the umbrella term dementiaHow her experiences with eight family members led her into dementia careWhy traditional caregiving instincts often do not work with dementia patientsWhat it means to “join their reality” instead of correcting themHow person-centered dementia care can help families live more meaningful lives together Mentioned in this episode:Lisa Skinner’s latest book on Alzheimer’s and dementia careLisa’s podcast and newsletter resourcesLisa’s television show on dementia care 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    52 min
  5. Finding her Birth Mother at 51: Julie Melanson on Adoption and Identity

    May 6

    Finding her Birth Mother at 51: Julie Melanson on Adoption and Identity

    Julie Melanson always knew she was adopted, but it wasn’t until she was 51 years old that she decided to search for her birth mother. She eventually found her, built a connection with both her mother and her birth siblings, and then lost her mother soon after. Julie reflects on what it was like to grow up as an adoptee, search for her mom, meet her for the first time, and get to know her during the time they had together. "And she said, 'I am your mother and I have been looking for you for the last five years.'"Hear Julie talk about:Growing up in a large extended family with 17 cousins and summers at the family lake houseWhat her adoptive mother used to say about her birth motherWhy she waited until 51 to begin searching for her birth familyWhat it felt like to finally find and meet her birth motherDiscovering similarities between herself and her biological relativesThe complicated emotions of finding — and later losing — her birth mother Mentioned in this episode:Julie’s memoir, Not Yours To Keep, about adoption and her birth mother’s strength“The Prayer” by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    55 min
  6. Switching Sides: James Porfido on Becoming a Defense Attorney After Prosecuting

    Apr 29

    Switching Sides: James Porfido on Becoming a Defense Attorney After Prosecuting

    Note: This episode includes discussion of crime and the criminal justice system, including violent crime. James Porfido spent years as a prosecutor, working to put accused criminals behind bars—until he made a pivotal shift and began defending them instead. Now, having seen the criminal justice system from both sides, he shares what changed his perspective, what most people misunderstand about fair trials, and why he believes the system doesn’t always deliver equal justice. " As an attorney, this is how I viewed my transition to becoming a defense attorney: we all are guaranteed a fair trial and due process under the law, and we have constitutional protections. "Hear James talk about:His path from prosecutor to defense attorney, and what changed his perspectiveThe meaning of “innocent until proven guilty” in practiceThe state’s obligation in a criminal caseThe role of a strong defense attorney in ensuring a fair trialWhy he believes the justice system isn’t always equalWhat everyday citizens misunderstand about the legal system Mentioned in this episode:The Salem Witch TrialsFramed, by John GrishamUnequal Justice by James Porfido 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    44 min
  7. Earth Day Special | Trash Wolf: Leader of the Anti-Litter Pack (Re-Release)

    Apr 22

    Earth Day Special | Trash Wolf: Leader of the Anti-Litter Pack (Re-Release)

    This Earth Day, listen to one of the most earth-friendly guests from Tell Me What It's Like so far: Trash Wolf. While there are lots of people who talk about helping the environment, Florida’s Trash Wolf took a different route. In 2022, Trash Wolf began prowling the streets, putting on a wolf suit to patrol his neighborhood and solve one specific problem: litter. Since this episode first aired, Trash Wolf's anti-litter pack has doubled in size, illustrating that his unique approach to caring about the earth makes a lot of sense. "It's your neighborhood. It's your community. You live there. If you are already out and walking around, pick up a piece of litter or two."Hear Trash Wolf talk about:The Origin Story: What finally pushed him to put on the mask, and why it was a wolfThe Philosophy: How cleaning up trash teaches us about the world.The Call to Action: Why his mission is really about awareness, community, and taking that first step. Mentioned in this episode: Trash Wolf on InstagramTrash Wolf on YouTube 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
  8. Dying Well: JoAnne Chitwood on 40 Years of Hospice Nursing

    Apr 15

    Dying Well: JoAnne Chitwood on 40 Years of Hospice Nursing

    When JoAnne Chitwood graduated from nursing school, she wasn't sure what she actually wanted to do—until a hospice volunteer at the bedside of her patient told her, "JoAnne, you are a hospice nurse". She had never even heard the term, but she soon realized she was born for the role. JoAnne has spent the past four decades at the bedside of the dying. In this episode, she shares the profound lessons learned from 40 years of end-of-life care: how to manage terminal anxiety, why death mirrors the birth process, and how "pouring love" into patients can lead to the most unexpected outcomes. "Hospice has a level of intuition and sensitivity that I have not found in any other area of nursing or healthcare... it’s fabulous."Hear JoAnne talk about:How JoAnne discovered she was "born" for this hospice workWhy the dying process is a mirror image of birth, as the body begins to "unwind" and nourish itself from within.Managing the many different facets of hospice nursingWhy she doesn’t run from sadnessWhy forty years of witnessing "peaceful" transitions has completely removed her own fear of death. Mentioned in this episode:Please Help Me Die Well Book Series by JoAnne ChitwoodThe Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine AronThe Medicare Hospice Benefit 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 Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.

    51 min
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About

What's it like to be a tween therapist? To switch careers and begin photographing toys? To have Guillain-Barré? To be the first female chess grandmaster? Tell Me What It’s Like is a podcast about uncommon experiences and what they teach us about the world. Host Stacy Raine talks with people who have spent years in roles and life situations most of us don’t experience to understand what it’s actually like, what they’ve seen over time, and what those experiences reveal.

Information

  • Creator
    Stacy Raine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Stacy Raine
  • Show Website
    Tell Me What It's Like

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