Welcome to the Gathering Pod, the audio version of my weekly gathering room broadcast. I'm Martha Beck.

I wish I could give you all big, big non-COVID hugs, hugs, hugs, and talk to you about a subject that I have had a lot of experience with.

Embarrassment. So, you know, I spend a lot of time meditating, focusing on spiritual things, trying to be above the noise, you know, better than my ego.

But sometimes I get tested, folks, and this week I was tested.

So I, as you know, I occasionally write myself a book.

And when you write a book, then people have you come on various venues to chat about the book.

And just now it's getting to the COVID place where people are actually starting to ask me to come into television studios instead of just zooming out like we're doing right now.

So last week, I had a TV thing in a studio for the first time in like, I don't remember how long.

And I went in, it was a major network. And I met with the,

and I was in there. I had to do my own hair and makeup, which is a nightmare because TV makeup is a whole different deal. And then I did all my makeup, but then I had to wear a mask. And then I took

the mask off in the bathroom and I had the whole mask crease,

which trust me, I just don't have extra room for that. So then I just stuffed a lot of toilet paper

into my mask and along the sides to my ears. And so the band wouldn't make these marks in my face.

Then I just walked around with these big p puffy wads of toilet papers sticking out

of my face. And still, I was fine because, you know, all right, I can handle this stuff. People are

going to understand. I don't even care if they laugh. I am fine. So then in comes the TV anchor,

and he is the loveliest man.

And he has a really interesting life story of his own, which is his to tell.

I'm not going to tell you what it is, but he's been through a lot of, like, shaming in his life.

And for various reasons, not neurotypical.

He's gay. I think he'd be fine because he's like a huge advocate

for gay, right? See if I told you that. So he starts talking to him and he's just read my book

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