Ducking Realitea

Siobhan

Ducking Realitea Casual Conversations About Serious Sh*t.  Real Stories. Raw Moments. Big Joy.Hosted by Siobhan Welcome to Ducking Realitea, the podcast where we spill truth like tea and dive into the gritty, hilarious, and healing parts of being human. Hosted by Siobhan, this show is all about casual conversations with real people who’ve lived through some serious sh*t and came out the other side with stories worth sharing. From trauma to transformation, heartbreak to humor, we explore what it means to rebuild your life, trust your gut, and find joy even in the mess. These are the stories behind the strength, raw, unfiltered, and deeply human. If you're craving connection, curious about how others have healed, or just need a reminder that you’re not alone, this pod’s for you. Grab your beverage of choice (or roll one up), and join us each week for soulful storytelling with a side of sass. Let’s rebel against the noise, talk about what actually matters, and maybe even laugh our way through the chaos. Because here at Ducking Realitea, we believe: Your story matters. Vulnerability is power. And joy is always worth chasing.

  1. Massholes, Music, and Mayhem with Johnny Dismal

    FEB 3

    Massholes, Music, and Mayhem with Johnny Dismal

    Send us a text This episode of Ducking Realitea is a chaotic, tender wander through the life of Johnny Dismal: bartender-turned–festival boss, punk rocker, and darkly hilarious visual artist. Johnny and Siobhan trace his journey from a childhood bouncing between Air Force bases in Europe to becoming a self-described “Masshole” obsessed with hardcore shows along the New England coast. Johnny unpacks how music and art showed up early—parents spinning John Denver and Peter, Paul and Mary, while he snuck horror flicks and formed teenage bands with friends who barely knew how to hold their instruments. A brutal early critique (“you have absolutely no talent”) became a lifelong vow to never shit on anyone’s creative dreams, a value that quietly shapes everything he does. They go deep into festival bartending and people management: herding 600 bartenders, de-escalating drunk chaos, and why you should never punch a guest over twenty-five cents in tip money. Johnny and Siobhan riff on grief, humor, classism vs. racism in Boston, walking as therapy, and why bars still matter as community hubs—even if you don’t drink. It’s a conversation about art, work, chosen family, and humanity from two folks who’ve spent decades doing that shit from behind the bar.

    1h 42m
  2. Lion, Lamb & Big Dick Energy: Becoming Unapologetically You with Sarah Woodruff

    JAN 27

    Lion, Lamb & Big Dick Energy: Becoming Unapologetically You with Sarah Woodruff

    Send us a text Siobhan sits down with artist and entrepreneur Sarah Woodruff to talk about what it really means to live creatively, without apology. Sarah shares her winding journey through thrift-store fashion eras, owning multiple businesses in her twenties, founding a burlesque troupe, singing in bands, and eventually stepping away from a soul-draining corporate job to rebuild her life (and studio) on her own terms. They explore the difference between confidence and comfort in your own skin, the grief of losing joy when creativity becomes transactional, and the relief that comes from realizing you’re not meant for everyone. Sarah opens up about self-criticism, ADHD tendencies, perfection paralysis, and how returning to playful, low-stakes creation through the Alameda Gallery & Collective helped her reconnect with joy. The conversation weaves through motherhood, long-term partnership, bar culture as community, boundaries, gossip, and the responsibility that comes with sharing your story publicly. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t need permission, that growth is messy, and that being “a lot” is often exactly the point. If you’ve ever dimmed yourself to fit, this episode will gently (and hilariously) remind you to turn the light back on.

    1h 21m
  3. One in a million with Jamey Aspel

    JAN 20

    One in a million with Jamey Aspel

    Send us a text What are the odds an adopted kid is a perfect kidney match for their dad? Jamey Aspel’s story is one in a million—and somehow also painfully human. In this funny and deeply honest conversation, Jamey joins Siobhan to talk about growing up adopted in evangelical Appalachia, coming of age as a gay kid in a world that told him he was wrong, and the jaw-dropping moment he discovered he was a near-perfect kidney donor match for his adopted father. What began as “I’ll just get tested” became major surgery, a decade of life gifted back, and a reckoning with love, obligation, identity, and faith. Along the way, Jamey opens up about religious trauma, late coming-out, estrangement, grief, therapy, and learning how to move beyond survival toward real growth. Equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious, this episode is about resilience, chosen family, and choosing joy, even when the world is still very much on fire.

    1h 47m
  4. A Touch of Tism 4 in a Dumpster Fire World

    JAN 13

    A Touch of Tism 4 in a Dumpster Fire World

    Send us a text In this milestone 60th episode, Siobhan is joined by Danielle and Holly for a wide-ranging, deeply candid conversation that feels less like a podcast and more like sitting at a bar with people who actually care about the world, and each other. They talk about community as a form of survival, especially in a time when the news cycle feels relentless and overwhelming. From taking intentional breaks from social media to protect mental health, to the unspoken rules of neighborhood bars as places where empathy, accountability, and respect are still taught in real time, the trio reflects on what it means to show up for people without burning yourself out. The episode weaves humor and heaviness seamlessly, touching on politics, cultural identity, generational differences, drugs (with harm-reduction honesty), grief, forgiveness, and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. They explore the idea that people are allowed to change their minds, that identity shouldn’t be a prison, and that grace is often more powerful than outrage. At its core, this episode is about choosing humanity, starting small, staying local, and remembering that community isn’t an abstract concept. It’s the people in the room, the bar down the street, and the way we treat each other when no one’s watching.

    1h 43m
  5. Don’t Die, Punk, Pain, and Pouring Drinks with Steve Lofgren

    JAN 6

    Don’t Die, Punk, Pain, and Pouring Drinks with Steve Lofgren

    Send us a text Steve “Stevie” Lofgren might technically be “just” a bartender, but this conversation makes it clear he’s also a philosopher in a leather jacket, the kind you meet at 1am who accidentally helps you rethink your whole life. Siobhan and Stevie trace their friendship from late-night bar hangs to 4am world-saving sessions, then dive headfirst into his wild, unfiltered Oakland upbringing. Growing up in 70s/80s Oakland as one of the only white kids on the block, Stevie learned early that neighborhood codes mattered more than police, respect kept you safe, and you absolutely did not mess with your neighbors. He shares stories of hippie parents, beaded doorways, and a household where mom’s boyfriend lived with dad, until the bombshell moment when his parents moved out while he was still in high school, leaving him and his brother the house, a hundred bucks on the fridge, and zero supervision. Cue legendary parties, punk bands, early acting gigs, and a lifetime of DIY survival skills. From there, the conversation moves through grief and loss, friends dying too young, cancer ripping through people they love, and how both of them learned to live with grief instead of being swallowed by it. They talk chronic pain, burnout, “non-people days,” bartending as performance art, and why neighborhood bars might be one of the last real classrooms for learning how to be a good human in public. It’s messy, funny, tender, and deeply honest,  an ode to chosen family, dark humor, and choosing joy without pretending the darkness isn’t there.

    1h 51m
  6. Officer Andrea Fetzer (Alameda Police Department K9 Handler) + Ace the K9

    12/23/2025

    Officer Andrea Fetzer (Alameda Police Department K9 Handler) + Ace the K9

    Send us a text What’s it really like to work alongside a police dog? On this episode of Squirrel Gurls, we sit down with Officer Fetzer from the Alameda, California Police Department K9 Unit to get an inside look at life as a K9 cop. From her path from law school to the K9 unit to the unique bond she shares with her partner, Ace, this episode dives into a world most of us only see from a distance. Officer Fetzer shares gripping and entertaining stories from Ace’s training and work as a detection dog, specializing in sniffing out firearms and ammunition. She also explains the different types of dogs used in K9 units, how they are chosen for specific roles, and the rigorous training required to turn a dog into a skilled law enforcement partner. Listeners also get a peek into their home life, where Ace gets to relax and bond with his handler away from the streets. Whether you’re a dog lover, curious about law enforcement, or just love a good story, this episode is full of insight, heart, and a few surprises along the way.

    1h 15m
  7. Motherhood, Therapy & Not Losing Yourself with Carissa

    12/16/2025

    Motherhood, Therapy & Not Losing Yourself with Carissa

    Send us a text In this deeply candid episode of Ducking Realitea, Siobhan sits down with therapist-in-training and soon-to-be mom Carissa Kerwin for a conversation that moves effortlessly between laughter, frustration, and profound insight. From navigating long-distance love and career pivots to surviving pregnancy hormones that no one warned her about, Carissa shares what it really looks like when life stacks all the transitions at once. Carissa opens up about her journey from special education teacher to licensed therapist, and how working with emotionally overwhelmed teens revealed her true calling: helping people regulate emotions, unpack trauma, and feel less alone in their mess. The conversation dives headfirst into childhood wounds, therapy myths, people-pleasing, and why you don’t actually have to “rehash everything” to heal. Together, Siobhan and Carissa unpack the realities of pregnancy and postpartum mental health, how isolating it can feel, how little research exists for women’s emotional experiences, and why needing support doesn’t make you weak. They also explore relationships, emotional labor, adoption, social media’s impact on body image, and the power of simply being listened to instead of “fixed.” It’s honest, validating, and refreshingly unpolished, exactly the kind of conversation we need more of.

    1h 39m
  8. Living Before Dying: Cancer, Coaching & Curiosity with Sarah Knopp

    12/09/2025

    Living Before Dying: Cancer, Coaching & Curiosity with Sarah Knopp

    Send us a text This episode of Ducking Realitea dives headfirst into the messy, funny, terrifying, and strangely beautiful reality of living with metastatic cancer. Siobhan sits down with Sarah Knopp, who was told she had six weeks to live after aggressive HER2-positive breast cancer had already spread to her liver. Eleven years, 160+ rounds of chemo, brain surgery, a hysterectomy, and a lot of dark humor later, she’s not only still here — she’s coaching others to survive the chaos. Sarah shares stories of diapers and puppy pads, neuropathy, sex after chemo, cannabis, Ritalin, medical gaslighting, and why she estranged herself from her family to stay alive. Now a certified cancer coach, she teaches patients how to advocate for themselves, ask better questions, and protect their energy. Bold, irreverent, and full of real talk,  this isn’t a cancer sob story. It’s a blueprint for living.

    2h 15m
See All (67)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Ducking Realitea Casual Conversations About Serious Sh*t.  Real Stories. Raw Moments. Big Joy.Hosted by Siobhan Welcome to Ducking Realitea, the podcast where we spill truth like tea and dive into the gritty, hilarious, and healing parts of being human. Hosted by Siobhan, this show is all about casual conversations with real people who’ve lived through some serious sh*t and came out the other side with stories worth sharing. From trauma to transformation, heartbreak to humor, we explore what it means to rebuild your life, trust your gut, and find joy even in the mess. These are the stories behind the strength, raw, unfiltered, and deeply human. If you're craving connection, curious about how others have healed, or just need a reminder that you’re not alone, this pod’s for you. Grab your beverage of choice (or roll one up), and join us each week for soulful storytelling with a side of sass. Let’s rebel against the noise, talk about what actually matters, and maybe even laugh our way through the chaos. Because here at Ducking Realitea, we believe: Your story matters. Vulnerability is power. And joy is always worth chasing.

Information

  • Creator
    Siobhan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ducking Realitea
  • Show Website
    Ducking Realitea