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Artwork for Family Secrets

Family Secrets

iHeartPodcasts
Family Secrets
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Identity
Childhood Trauma
Grief
Suicide
Motherhood
Dani Shapiro
Trauma
Writing
Adoption
Domestic Violence
Racism
Inheritance
Family Trauma
Financial Issues
Abuse
Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health
Resilience

Family Secrets. We all have them. And while the discovery of family secrets can initially be terrifying or traumatic, often these discoveries have the power to liberate, heal, and even uplift us. Join Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of the memoir Inheritance, and her guests as they explore astonishing family secrets and uncover the extraordinary lessons the truth can teach us.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes264Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Family Secrets

Latest Episodes

In our extraordinary season finale, Mary Afsari shows us how our unknowable pasts—the tragedies, traumas, and truths—can shape a future and change a life. Many lives, in fact.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Emily returns from a family trip, she tells people she has a “crazy story” but it’s more than that. It’s always more than that.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casey’s biological mother doesn’t want to be found. But still, Casey seeks to find her. Needs to. And when she does, a deluge of truth pours forth.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom’s father takes up all the oxygen in the room with a presence that's larger than life. Larger, in fact, than the many lives he keeps hidden from his wife and children. Tom must reckon with this legacy as he sets out to forge his own.

See omnystud... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Mary Fariba Afsari
Portland, Oregon-based, board-certified OB/GYN and author
Self-employed/OBGYN practice
Episode: A Skirt Caught on Fire
Emily Labarge
Canadian writer and memoirist, author of Dog Days
Author
Episode: I Think You Should Stop Talking
Casey Kahn
Brooklyn-based writer who was adopted and donor-conceived
Freelance writer
Episode: Have You Seen Her?
Tom Junot
Veteran journalist, author of the memoir referenced in the episode
Freelance journalist / Author
Episode: Have You Ever Seen a Body Like This?
Darcy Ballentine
Assistant Professor in the Departments of English and Black Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University
Episode: Making Yourself Up
Fatima Bhutto
Pakistani writer and columnist, author of Song of Blood and Sword and The Hour of the Wolf
Author, Journalist
Episode: We Heard Everything
Laurie Herzl
Journalist, book critic, and memoir author
Author of Ghosts of Fourth Street
Episode: Nobody Liked Their Nickname
Mimi Nickter
Cultural anthropologist, professor emerita at University of Arizona's School of Anthropology; author of Hostage
University of Arizona
Episode: Hijacked
Jackie Blankenship
Podcast host, marathon runner, Mrs. America, intersex LGBTQ+ advocate
Mrs. America/Intersex advocacy
Episode: Mrs. America

Host

Dani Shapiro
Host of Family Secrets

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 6.8k ratings
  • Not the same

    Like many other reviewers here, I’m so disappointed in how awful this podcast is now. I started listening in 2019, and it was absolutely amazing back then. Now, it’s just writers reading passages from their books and telling long boring stories about their childhood. I keep waiting for the big secret reveal in every episode, but it never appears. So long Family Secrets. I’m no longer a fan.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KristliJ
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fewer author stories

    This pod used to be GREAT!!! Until she pivoted to all authors. Just bc they write doesn’t mean they have the best, most interesting stories to tell. And TBH a lot of them are…whiny. I would love to hear from your average Joe again, who has the best story. Maybe Dani thinks their story telling is less artistic but I totally disagree.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ejohnson7
    United Statesa month ago
  • Healing

    This podcast has been very healing for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cxftygb
    United Statesa month ago
  • Have You Ever Seen A Body Like This

    I listened to most of this episode this afternoon and really don’t want to finish. I found Lou to be really repulsive, a man so hollow inside that he could only imitate the looks of others and intimidate his family to convince himself that he was important. Maybe the end of the story redeems him in some way, but I’m not willing to spend another minute hearing about this nothing of a person.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nicknameless player
    United Statesa month ago
  • Intriguing listening

    Beautifully, respectfully told stories that haven’t failed to keep me absorbed and intrigued.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    madamemango
    Australiaa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise intimate storytelling and strong host empathy, though some notice heavy ad breaks.
Critiques often target book-promo episodes and ad load, with some wishing for more diverse guest backgrounds.
Fans value the depth of personal revelations and guest expertise, rating production and guest variety highly.

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This American LifeThis American Life
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Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & MindsetShawn French | Adversity & Determination Expert
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike RoweThe Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Skirt Caught on Fire
Q: How did you arrive at the mobile clinic concept?
Seeing barriers to care in both rural and urban communities during the pandemic inspired me to create a mobile clinic that brings specialized obstetric and gynecologic services directly to patients where they are, prioritizing safety and accessibility.
A Skirt Caught on Fire
Q: What catalyzed your shift toward obstetrics and women's health?
A combination of personal family history and a desire to protect and empower women led me to pursue obstetrics, with a focus on healing through both medical care and compassionate, trauma-informed practice.
I Think You Should Stop Talking
Q: What was your sense of yourself during that period in London before and after the event?
She describes feeling fundamentally altered, distant from her former self, and wrestling with a sense of deadness and isolation that persisted long after the incident.
I Think You Should Stop Talking
Q: How old were you when you moved to London and started the masters?
She was 24 when she moved to London to pursue a master's in art history, which set the course for much of her later life.
Have You Ever Seen a Body Like This?
Q: What was it like to discover your father's secret life as a child?
It felt terrifying and thrilling at the same time; the fear was balanced by an urgent need to know who he really was, which ultimately reshaped the speaker's sense of family.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Secrets

What is Family Secrets about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on intimate, often family-based revelations and the process of truth-telling, featuring memoirists, journalists, academics, and activists who share personal histories of secrecy, trauma, and resilience. Episodes frequently explore how hidden pasts shape identities, relationships, and life choices, with a strong emphasis on healing through confession, storytelling, and public accountability. Notable traits include a steady stream of author guests discussing their work within memoir and trauma recovery, a calm, empathetic interview style, and a blend of high-profile investigations with deeply personal narratives. This combination makes it compelling for listeners who value thoughtful, emotionally anchored conversations about ... more

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How many listeners does Family Secrets get?

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What are the audience demographics for Family Secrets?

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How many subscribers and views does Family Secrets have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Family Secrets has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Family Secrets?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Family Secrets:

1. The Secret Room | True Stories
2. What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
3. DNA Surprises
4. This Is Actually Happening
5. This is Love

How many episodes of Family Secrets are there?

Family Secrets launched 8 years ago and published 264 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Family Secrets?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Family Secrets?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Family Secrets from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Family Secrets?

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What guests have appeared on Family Secrets?

Recent guests on Family Secrets include:

1. Mary Fariba Afsari
2. Emily Labarge
3. Casey Kahn
4. Tom Junot
5. Darcy Ballentine
6. Fatima Bhutto
7. Laurie Herzl
8. Mimi Nickter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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