I'm Natalie Moore. I fell in love with soap operas when I was just five years old, and I still

watch them. Their television's longest scripted series and have zero reruns. Now let me tell you,

soap operas aren't just some silly art form. They are significant. In this season of making,

Stories Without End from WBEZ Chicago.

Join me as I share how the genre began, their social impact, and why these stories endure.

Listen wherever you get your podcast.

From WBEZ Chicago, this is Nerdette.

I am not Greta Johnson, but you did make it to the weekend. Congratulations. I'm producer Anna Bauman filling in for Greta, who is out this week. Today, we're going to look back at two of our favorite conversations from last year. Later in the episode, cookbook author Roxanna Julepot makes the case for baking with whole grain flowers. I always wanted to make this decadent, time honor, delicious goods, just with better

ingredients. But first, we're starting things off with a story about pushing yourself to your

limits and coming out stronger for it.

Nearly every morning over the course of the pandemic, Jennifer Hoffman has jumped into Lake Michigan around sunrise in every type of weather.

Greta talked to her on a frigid winter day last February.

So I think we should start with the big obvious question probably. Why do you do this?

You know, I think the why has changed a little bit. I mean, now there's several components. I think the

why for me originally was I was dealing with some pretty heavy personal things in my life, and it was COVID, and I just felt like it could help.

I mean, it seems like a great way to really get out of your head.

I think that for me was also something so important. I think when you swim in cold water,

I didn't realize it at the time, but I think what happens is that you are forced to be in the

present moment. And if you struggle with that, it's a fantastic way to deal with that.

When you tell people about the fact that you do this,

and I assume someone inevitably must say, that's completely insane, how do you respond?

You know, I actually tell everyone that you can do it. It's actually much calmer and less crazy

...