2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

We won an International Women's Podcast Award!

In this 100th episode and our podcast finale Valerie and Laurel turn the microphone on each other and share their own 2 Lives stories.

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

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Listen to our award winning episode here and Heather Straughter's own podcast here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

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Before 2020 Laura worked night and day to achieve her dream of being on Saturday Night Live. Then she got Covid and months later woke up from a coma completely paralyzed and unable to communicate. Today she lives with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome caused by scarred lungs and a whole new outlook. With new found grit and purpose Laura shares her humor on TikTok and hosts a podcast called "Iconically Ill."

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Laura Lyons and read the episode transcript at our website.

After two scary surgeries Rachel Stone lived in fear of a rare orbital tumor returning. It was only when she left the corporate world to pursue her writing dream that her tumor shrank.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Rachel Stone and read the episode transcript at our website.

Alysse Dalessandro posted a picture of herself in a bikini because after years of bullying she finally understood that being confident in her body and telling her story changed hearts and minds.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Alysse Dalessandro and read the episode transcript at our website.

Today Sara Cunningham gives free mom hugs to any member of the LGBTQ+ community who needs them after years of rejecting her son's coming out because she had adhered to rules of her church. Still she doesn't feel she's done enough to make up for that lost time with him.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Sara Cunningham and Free Mom Hugs and read the episode transcript at our website.

Amy's at the top of her game as a marketing consultant and journalist doing what she loves but it took a major setback before she could fully embrace this second chapter and reinvent her life.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Amy Shoenthal and read the episode transcript at our website.

In her twenties Amy Downs was living what she calls a complacent, shallow existence. When she discovered her husband couldn't fix her life, she coped by eating. It wasn't until tragedy struck on April 19, 1995, that she made a promise to change her life.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Halle Hewitt helped produce this episode. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Learn more about Amy Downs at our website.

Stacy Blemaster loved being up on stage because she knew what role to play. It took a bipolar diagnosis, many years of therapy and Emotions Anonymous before she fully accepted herself as she is.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Find out more about Stacy Blemaster and read the episode transcript at our website.

Susan Lieu shares her family's trauma in a one-woman show and memoir in an effort to find understanding and healing, despite the fact that her family refused to talk about it and saw her as "too emotional." But by using her voice she found she could let go of the shame and help others at the same time.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Susan Lieu and read the episode transcript at our website.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

TW: We describe a violent situation in this episode. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence go to thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Darcy Alexandra course corrects and unlearns the violent messages and behaviors she was taught as a child.

2 Lives "The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Camila Kerwin of the Rough Cut Collective edited this episode, which originally dropped in February of 2022. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Subscribe to Laurel's Substack here.

Support 2 Lives at https://ko-fi.com/2livespodcast

You can learn more about how to support the show here. Or order merch here.

Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Find out more about Darcy Alexandra and read the episode transcript at our website.