Marisa Renee Lee on Overachieving, Grief, and Life After the White House
The Mom Room
Renee Reina & Podcast Nation
4.8 • 602 Ratings
🗓️ 10 March 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ep584. Renee is joined by author, speaker, and former White House staffer Marisa Renee Lee for a conversation about grief, chronic illness, and the pressure of being an “overachiever.” Marisa shares how becoming a caregiver as a teenager for her mom shaped her drive, eventually leading her to Harvard, Wall Street, and the White House. They talk openly about loss, navigating long COVID while parenting a young child, and the pitfalls of tying your worth to productivity. Marisa also shares the inspiration behind her new book Waiting for Dawn, which explores how to live well and hold onto hope even in seasons of uncertainty.
Find Marisa:
Website: marisareneelee.com
IG: @marisareneelee
Substack: marisareneelee.substack.com
Book: Waiting for Dawn - Out April 7!
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Transcript
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