19 APR 2024 · Struggling to deal with the loss of their husbands, one to the trap of addiction and one to a shockingly sudden death, Nicole and Suzanne connected and soon bonded over wine and karaoke. In this refreshingly candid "How Do We Deal?!" chat, they share how their friendship, forged out of grief and sustained by humor, helps them manage and embrace their lives as solo parents. Suzanne and Nicole give their hilarious and insightful takes on caring for their children as they all grieve, and the oddities of a social world that can't seem to handle the very common, fundamental topics of death or divorce (not to mention the people in the throes of them). Dara and Amber were blown away by their strength and wit, as they confronted the full weight and gravity of having recently lost their spouses. Nicole and Suzanne still haven't identified their signature karaoke songs, but they do have a lot of wisdom and laughter to share!  Podcast theme music by the soulful and talented https://open.spotify.com/artist/4W7xuppzxE0ntRhDNncNtU?si=ZL7wtEPuT3GWCUoRS9aOjQ. Editing by Dara the amazing.  We're always grateful for a follow, 5-star review, or a quick share-with-a-friend. Thank you for listening and supporting "How Do We Deal?!" We hope it helps you deal, just a little bit better, each day.

5 APR 2024 · In this special episode recorded in Mexico during a trip to see Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Dara interviews fellow DMB super fan and podcast host Renae Lipsmeyer. On "The Space Between Podcast," with close to 100 episodes released, Renae tells the story of DMB fans and how the band has been transforming and enriching lives for over 30 years. In her conversation with Dara, Renae shares her own journey, including how podcasting about the music she loves may have saved her life. Channeling her passion for the band into meaningful conversations on her podcast helped her deal with severe depression while working as a nurse during the pandemic. With heartfelt insight and humor, Dara and Renae also discuss what makes DMB so uniquely powerful to so many people, and what the band (and the experience of connecting with other fans, especially at live shows) means to them. You can find https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-space-between-podcast/id1655534709 You can also watch https://www.youtube.com/@kissonthelipsmeyer You can find and connect with https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089172674037. Thanks to https://open.spotify.com/artist/4W7xuppzxE0ntRhDNncNtU?si=zp00OOn7RAujZP7mIqNVTA for How Do We Deal's music! Support "How Do We Deal?!" by giving us a follow or a 5-star review, or tell one person you think might like the show! We're grateful for all our "Dealers." Find us online at https://www.howdowedeal.com/.

29 MAR 2024 · Our friend Bernard Grant, Ph.D. is many things, all of them remarkable. Multiply neurodivergent, they are an Autistic advocate, life coach to Autistics and parents seeking insight from an Autistic person on how better to support their Autistic children, neurodiversity trainer, award-winning writer of fiction and essays, and talented editor. To say that our conversation opened our eyes and minds would be the understatement of the century. You do not want to miss the opportunity hear their unique, clarifying perspective on everything from Autistic vs. neurotypical culture, racelessness and why racializing people perpetuates racism, and how they finally learned to love themself and disregard the judgements of (neurotypical) others during the calm and stillness provided by the pandemic. We loved our discussion so much, we look forward to having them back soon. Listen now, and you'll walk away with potentially life-changing insight! Links for resources mentioned in our discussion, and some definitions of terms that many may not be familiar with, are below. LINKS: Bernard's professional website: https://bernardgrant.com/ Follow Bernard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardgrant/ High five habit with Mel Robbins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/high5habit/?hl=en Sheena Michele Mason's substack on racelessness: https://racelessness.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL19-3B-OVYocnpfUfVcuMB-P-0Rj3HlZ8 Percival Everett's novel: https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/erasure TERMS: PDA: Pathological demand avoidance, while framed negatively by the medical establishment, applies to a neurotype with an intense need for autonomy and whose nervous system is set on alert by external demands. Info dumping: A form of communication reserved for trusted connections, in which a person shares in-depth, detailed information about a specific interest or passion. Dyspraxia: Also sometimes called developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), a neurological difference affecting movement and co-ordination (not related to intelligence or intellect). Increases the difficulty of tasks requiring balance or fine-tuned motor skills, like playing sports or learning to drive a car. CREDITS: Hosted by Dara and Amber. Music by https://open.spotify.com/artist/4W7xuppzxE0ntRhDNncNtU?si=ZOysbVLrRwC61bqxvrmAQA Editing by Dara.

22 MAR 2024 · This is the second and final part of Dara and Amber's powerful discussion Monica Jones, our childhood friend and an incredibly strong and kind human. She shares what it's like to deal with a terminal diagnosis, metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer, and reflects on defying the odds for almost a decade. In this episode, you'll also hear about her hopes and boundless love for her daughter, how this diagnosis has shaped relationships, what her friends' and family's support means to her, and how she focuses on the positive as much as possible. Listen and you're sure to be deeply moved and inspired, with room for some laughter, as we all learn from Moni in the ultimate "How Do We Deal?!" conversation.  Our deepest gratitude to Moni for her time and openness in sharing. We love you, Moni! We are sending out into the universe a call and intention for science to find the right medications to keep you with us forever! And we can't emphasize this enough: F*CK CANCER! Note: Metastatic breast cancer research is under-funded. While 30% of breast cancer patients will metasticize, only 2-5% of funding raised for breast cancer research goes to this form of the disease. To educate yourself or help fund research, see the links below. Donate to MBC research and find resources: METAvivor (Metastatic Breast Cancer Research and Support) https://www.metavivor.org/ Learn about MBC: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Metastatic Breast Cancer Program) https://www.dana-farber.org/cancer-care/treatment/breast-oncology/programs/metastatic-breast-cancer

15 MAR 2024 · F*CK CANCER. In part 1 of 2 in the ultimate "How Do We Deal?!" discussion, we welcome childhood friend (from our Massachusetts hometown) and certified badass Monica Jones, who has been living with metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer for over nine years. During that time, she became a parent, defied odds and expectations, and jumped into fierce, much-needed advocacy to help address the most deadly type of breast cancer, which is severely underfunded and poorly understood by most. Get to know the amazing force that is Monica. Find out what it's like to deal with a terminal diagnosis, on top of all the other big and small struggles we all face, while cultivating hope. Learn how best to support friends facing this situation. And become aware of the biggest threat to women's health you've likely never heard of. Monica is an incredibly strong person, with whom we also have fun reminiscing, so you don't want to miss this!  METAvivor (Metastatic Breast Cancer Research and Support) https://www.metavivor.org/ Dana-Farber Cancer Institute https://www.dana-farber.org/ 

8 MAR 2024 · Dara and Amber are back, bae-bae! In the season 2 intro episode, they get hyped and give a preview of the issues and guestperts coming up on the podcast. This season brings a new format by welcoming friends with unique experiences and expertise that can give us all insight on how to deal. Join our hosts as they look forward to the discussions ahead, sharing thoughts, questions and a few laughs on everything from fitness habits to the roots of crime, the seismic shock of grief to the power of music, everyday self-care to the eternal afterlife... and more!

19 MAY 2023 · In the season 1 finale, Dara and Amber look back, and forward, talking about the experience of podcasting, how they've dealt with the vulnerability, what they've learned, and the feedback they've received. As your hosts look to season 2, they prepare to welcome guestperts to tackle important topics, including everything from gun violence to self care. Hear about how it's gone, what the podcast and the listeners they call "Dealers" have meant to them, and the best that's yet to come. And get ready for a new level of dealing this fall!

12 MAY 2023 · What is normal? It depends. But as podcasters, our new normal is getting positive, fun, and relevant input from our Dealers! In the course of day-to-day life, "normal" means something different to Dara and Amber. As the neurodivergent parent of an autistic child, Amber assumed the idea of "normal" was oppressive and bad. Dara realizes how important "normal" was to her, while growing up, as a survival tactic. Staying in the middle of the pack felt safer, but is it now affecting how she parents her children? Amber also has a realization when Dara points out that some degree of "normal" is important for humans, because being constantly surprised and thrown off guard (like during the pandemic) is unsustainable. Bizarrely, they create an episode-specific theme song. Listen for it.

5 MAY 2023 · Dara and Amber realize that while stereotypes divide us, they're also how our brains make sense of a fast-moving, diverse world. So how do we deal? By pausing to reflect on the assumptions we make, and the limits we place on the fullness of others' being. Dara and Amber explore input from our listeners (whom we lovingly refer to as "Dealers") on the stereotypes they face in their own lives. Your hosts also realize that they hold different stereotypes for the very same group (drivers of fancy cars). Do you stereotype? Pause, reflect, and be human with us. Life is ridiculous.

28 APR 2023 · Social media can connect us across miles and years. But it’s also implicated in harming mental health–and the Senate is currently considering a ban for kids under 13. It's part of our lives, for better or worse, so how do we deal? Dara chooses to share and see the sunny side–emphasizing that obviously no one’s life is perfect–while keeping tabs on people she loves and is inspired by. Amber has finally learned to stop engaging in pointless political debates, and embraces a mantra of “balance” in setting boundaries for her teen daughter. They arrive at a couple of key takeaways, while wondering about the metaverse and why it makes any sense at all--if so, can they start a virtual farm?