Family Secrets

David’s mother is a fantasist with a secret. But hers is the kind of strange secret that’s out in the open…sort of. As David grows up, he finds the intersection between drama and comedy in this tangled history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

The cult is a secret to most people she knows. Her very identity is a secret to most people she knows. But at a certain point, Lauren needs to be herself. She needs to tell her story and corroborate it. She needs to set herself free.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2024

Reed grew up with a camera in his hand. At first, the videos he made with his brothers were just for fun. But when their mom goes missing, the boys embark on a cinematic journey to solve the complex mystery of their mom’s disappearance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2024

When Molly’s secret longings and buried desires become the basis of her marriage, she must decide how—and how much—to disclose. To her husband, her children, and herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2024

Deep in Dina’s family lore is a story of a fire; someone burned a house down. But who? And why? After a lifetime of wondering, Dina finally hunts down the truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2024

When Michelle gets a knock on her door one day in 2017, her life—and the lives of her loved ones—will be forever changed. What she learns that day will send her and her beloved sister down a harrowing and unforeseen path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2024

Barrett and his wife Jane are both oncologists – they share a social world, a professional world, and a rich life together. But one thing is not shared—a secret that’s as heartbreaking as it is cataclysmic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2024

Growing up, Whit was extremely close with her mother. But when she becomes pregnant in her twenties, her mother extracts herself entirely; she spends the rest of her life pretending as if Whit simply does not exist. Why? To answer this burning question, Whit must dig and dig and dig.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2024

Welcome to the 10th season of Family Secrets. Join us starting June 6th for new stories about identity, connection, and how we all long for the truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024

Alice’s upbringing is one of simultaneous excess and absence, and in the deep canyon between the two, she loses herself entirely. In order to finally find herself and heal, she must confront the complicated truths and lies told by her artist parents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 January 2024

Maggie made a life for herself as a successful poet, wife, and proud mother of two. But after years of marriage, she sensed something to be terribly off. When her intuition led to a painful discovery, she could finally claim her truth and grow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 January 2024

Her paternity. Her health. Her very self. For many years, these are all mysteries to Kimberly. As she reckons with this myriad of unknowns, she learns more than she ever expected to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 December 2023

In his journey toward self-discovery, Shane must reconstruct his past by cobbling together memories of his kidnapping, upbringing, and the enormous swell of questions which once defined his identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2023

Susan takes great lengths and risks to get answers about her biological family. But sometimes, in the world of family secrets, these kinds of answers beget more questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2023

Brittany’s early life is defined by the road; she and her mom are vagabonds of sorts, never settling for too long in one place. But at least they have each other. That is, until they don’t.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2023

When Sarah is a young child, her parents vanish at sea. They are never found. How does she mourn what she cannot remember? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2023

Daniel grows up idolizing William, his friend and future brother-in-law. William is adventurous, effervescent and inspiring. But William has other attributes, too—secrets locked inside himself and when they come out, Daniel’s world unravels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 November 2023

Happy Thanksgiving to our Family Secrets family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2023

It started with a wreck – a car accident steeped in the history of Cassandra’s family. When she learns about the accident and the secrets it bore, she can at last begin to understand who she is, and who she will become.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2023

Nobody thinks they’re joining a cult. Certainly not the children who are born into it. When, over time, Mikel learns the truths about his childhood, a whole world of information can finally crystalize.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2023

Join us on November 9th for new stories of resilience, memory, and the way in which long-held family secrets so often need out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2023

Today’s Great Minds bonus episode features scholar of bioethics and founder of The John Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Dr. Ruth Faden. She and Dani take a deep dive into the thematic waters of a powerful family secrets story from our second season. Take a listen to 'The Loving Choice' here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2023

Tune in next week for our next Great Minds bonus conversation with renowned scientist, academic, and founder of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Ruth Faden. We’ll be speaking about an unforgettable family secrets story from our second season. Take a listen to that episode in advance here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2023

For this week’s Great Minds bonus episode, Dani sits down with bestselling author Kris Carr to explore the moving themes and meanings woven into a Family Secrets story from Season 6. Listen to Trent Preszler’s episode, ’Taxidermied Duck’ here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 October 2023

Next week’s bonus conversation is with bestselling author and wellness leader, Kris Carr. We’ll be unpacking a moving and memorable Family Secrets episode from Season 6. Take a listen to that episode in advance! Listen to Trent Preszler’s episode, 'Taxidermied Duck' here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 September 2023

As part of this special bonus series, Dani and great mind Dr. Mark Epstein explore the powerful themes that underscore a memorable Family Secrets story from our third season. Listen to David Kacyznski's episode, 'What's Wrong With Teddy?' here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2023

Next week’s bonus conversation is with one of our favorite writers and thinkers, about an unusual and unforgettable Family Secrets episode. Listeners are encouraged to revisit the past episode in advance! Listen to David Kacyznski's episode, 'What's Wrong With Teddy?' here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 September 2023

In the first episode of this special bonus series, Dani and great mind Dr. Galit Atlas unpack the themes presented in a memorable Family Secrets story from our third season. Listen to Adam Frankel's episode, Bubbe and Zayde and Grandma and Pa here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 September 2023

Dani announces a new bonus series of conversations with great minds coming soon!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 August 2023

In this bonus episode, Dani sits down with Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer Jennifer Senior about her latest cover story in The Atlantic - ‘Those We Sent Away’ - which explores her own family secret. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 August 2023

As we prepare for Season Nine, Dani pauses to say hello to our Family Secrets family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 July 2023

In the second part of this inspiring two-part episode, writer and musician Jessica Willis Fisher finishes her powerful story of survival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 July 2023

In the first part of this harrowing two-part episode, writer and musician Jessica Willis Fisher courageously speaks the unspeakable truths of the abuse she faced at the hands of her father. But this is just the beginning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 June 2023

From the outside, Priscilla’s family life looks dazzling. Her parents are both revered in the literary community and she and her sister grow up in an artistic home. But things change when their parents decide to do something they said they never would: they divorce. After this, their father’s hidden life begins to rise to the surface.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 June 2023

Kyleigh and her older sister Kait couldn’t be closer. They lean on one another all throughout childhood. But at a certain point, Kait’s mental health begins to fray and with it, so does Kyleigh’s grip on her relationship with her beloved sister. When Kait disappears, Kyleigh is left to grapple with incredible loss and the painful reality of questions that can never be answered.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 June 2023

Letty’s life is laced with “shanda”—the Yiddish word for shame or disgrace. And the shanda is not hers alone; it stretches back and through many generations of suppression, secrecy, and the enormous heft of overcoming stigma and breaking the cycle for once and for all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 June 2023

Emi is a brilliant child caught in the storms of the adults around her. As such, her own troubles begin to brew and her secrets compound. From foster care to homelessness to an Ivy League education and robust career, Emi’s trajectory is an extraordinary lesson in what is possible when resilience wins the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2023

Allison knows something is fundamentally different about her. She looks different and she feels different from the other girls in school. But when her parents refuse to acknowledge just how different she is, it becomes harder and harder for her to reckon with who she is, and who she wants to become.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2023

Forever punctuated by shame, secrecy, and danger, Isaac's search to know himself has always been a precarious journey. But as he walks the rocky road toward self-acceptance, he must reconcile his need to be both strong and vulnerable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2023

From a very young age, Sophia is taught to deflect when people ask questions. Her parents teach her this lesson, and they tell her to keep a low profile as an American living abroad. When she finds a letter she’s not supposed to read, she learns what her parents do for a living – and that changes everything.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2023

Growing up among conflicting cultures and customs, Carmen feels a profound sense of otherness. When her mother reveals their family secret, Carmen’s conflicts deepen and the puzzle pieces of her identity scatter before eventually— they finally snap into place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2023

Join us starting May 4th for 10 new stories of tenacity, resilience, and the profoundly necessary excavation of long-held family secrets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2023

In this special bonus episode, the tables are turned as veteran journalist and podcast host Kimi Culp interviews Dani about her own family history and the secret at its core.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2023

Stories from our friends at The Secrets Hotline Podcast, hosted by Nick van der Kolk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2023

In this bonus episode, Dani speaks with renowned physician and author Dr. Gabor Maté about his new book,The Myth of Normal, and the ways in which we can begin to heal from our wounds and traumas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2023

In this bonus series, “Dani’s Listening”, Dani connects with listeners by responding to those who’ve called in to share their family secrets. Mark your calendars for the launch of season 8 on May 4th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2023

In this bonus series, “Dani’s Listening”, Dani connects with listeners by responding to those who’ve called in to share their family secrets. Mark your calendars for the launch of season 8 on May 4th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2023

Dani shares a message this Thanksgiving with the Family Secrets community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2022

When Judy receives a thick envelope from her father—presumably including answers to long kept secrets about his identity and past—he instructs her to burn it before opening. Despite her plaguing curiosity, she follows her father’s wishes. But later in her life, she seeks answers. What was in that envelope? And who was her father, really?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2022

As Tad reckons with the choices he’s made in his relationships—most prominently, in his marriage—he must confront the choices made by his father, too. And his grandmother. In uncovering staggering truths, he finds his own struggles with intimacy are part of a long string of inherited secrecy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2022