In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, to talk about hiking solo, navigating grief, and learning to trust yourself when the path ahead is unclear.Christine shares her story of leaving behind a life that no longer fit, walking into the wilderness with a heavy pack and an open heart. We talk about what it means to rewrite the stories we’ve inherited, how nature can be a mirror, and why solitude can be the most honest company.Whether you’ve ever dreamed of thru-hiking or you’re on your own journey of reinvention—this conversation is one to carry with you.Listen to the show on Spotify:Find us here:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoirLearn more about Christine here:Ruggedoutdoorswoman.comInstagram: @Ruggedoutdooswomanemail: ruggedoutdoorswoman@gmail.com

Hospice nurse and TikTok storyteller Penny Hawkins Smith joins me to talk about her memoir, Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living.In this powerful conversation, Penny shares what it's like to sit at the bedside of the dying—and how witnessing death has helped her live more fully. We talk about her journey from addiction to caregiving, her viral presence on TikTok, and how telling the truth about death can transform how we show up in life.

This episode is raw, hopeful, and filled with hard-won wisdom.

Watch full episode on youtube:

https://youtu.be/Ibul77zMTtk

📚 Learn more about Penny: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/ @hospicenursepenny

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Author Jane Wong joins me to talk about her lyrical and rebellious memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Born to a Chinese immigrant family and raised in a working-class neighborhood, Jane explores hunger in its many forms—emotional, cultural, and physical—and how writing became an act of survival, resistance, and joy.

We talk about abandonment, family, poetic storytelling, and what it means to reclaim your voice across generations.

📚 Learn more about Jane and her work: janewongwriter.com

Jane Wong (@paradeofcats) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong / Restaurant Baby Ceramics 🥬 (@restaurantbabyceramics) • Instagram photos and videosJane Wong - Tin House

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