#38: Caregiving, Loss, and Writing: with Jessica Fein
Have you ever wondered how to find hope and light in the midst of profound loss?
Allison Lane sits down with Jessica Fein—author of Breathtaking: A Memoir of Family Dreams and Broken Genes, TEDx speaker, Psychology Today columnist, and podcast host of I Don’t Know How You Do It. Jessica shares her deeply personal story of caregiving for her daughter, Dahlia, while navigating immense grief, and how writing became her outlet for connection, healing, and hope.
Jessica’s journey highlights resilience, humor, and the power of storytelling. Whether you're an author, caregiver, or seeking inspiration, this episode offers wisdom and practical tools to fuel your creative dreams.
What You’ll Learn:
- How Jessica turned caregiving into a story that resonates universally.
- Why humor and joy are essential tools in the face of grief.
- The ripple effect of sharing your story and connecting with readers.
- Practical tips for authors: querying agents, building a platform, and navigating publishing.
- Why every writer (yes, you!) deserves to embrace their story with “Why not me?”
Resources Mentioned:
- Jessica Fein’s Website: https://www.jessicafeinstories.com/ | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fein-b643b09/ | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feinjessica | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.fein.92/
- Jessica Fein’s Book: Breathtaking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes https://bookshop.org/a/55773/9781681151106
- Jessica’s Blog on Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/grace-in-grief
- Jessica’s TED Talk on Grief Literacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClaQkyLnAaw
- Jessica Fein’s Podcast “I Don’t Know How You Do It” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-dont-know-how-you-do-it/id1668168226
- Allison Lane’s Compassionate Critique Events: https://www.lanelit.com/cc
Timestamps:
- [00:01:41] The story behind Jessica Fein’s sold-out book launch.
- [00:05:30] How Jessica’s memoir found its universal message.
- [00:12:50] From rejection to success: Finding her dream agent.
- [00:21:18] Balancing caregiving, writing, and launching a podcast.
- [00:27:46] Overcoming imposter syndrome as a writer.
- [00:38:18] “Why Not You?”—Jessica’s advice for aspiring authors.
