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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
Domestic Violence
Adoption
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes263Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Family Secrets

Latest Episodes

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.

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For most of her life, Darcy’s identity is a mystery. Who’s her mother? Who’s her father? And who, in the end, is she?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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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

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
Belle Burden
Attorney and author of Strangers, A Memoir of a Marriage
Author, Strangers; attorney
Episode: Strangers

Host

Dani Shapiro
Host of Family Secrets

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 6.8k ratings
  • Guest names

    Interesting show. I wish that the guest names would be included in the episode description.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jhgshhshs
    United States19 days ago
  • Great concept, great interviewer

    As someone who had read most of Dani Shapiro’s books, I rushed out hatless to get hold of Inheritance. This spinoff podcast platforms other memoirists who have grappled with family secrets. Dani’s questions and reflections as she talks to her guests are insightful and make for rich conversations. I gobble up the episodes and then wait eagerly for the next season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PipBrennan
    Australia22 days ago
  • Fantastic but for the ads

    One of my fave podcasts. The ads have gotten loud and obnoxious; I may have to part with the pod for that reason.l sadly. But the guests and their stories are wonderful.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    CUBS###
    Canada25 days ago
  • Poor Little Rich Girl

    Do you bother to research your guests, or do you just believe every bs story? You should be embarrassed. Belle B is a joke, and so are you!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DeeMean212
    United Statesa month ago
  • I Used To Love This Podcast

    …and now it’s so completely boring I can hardly get through each episode and each season this phenomenon seems to get worse. Please go back to what you were doing in earlier seasons when you had more normal/regular people’s stories. Another listener said it best, get some people on to tell their stories, not just read the cliff note version of their “bestsellers”.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kimber L
    United Statesa 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.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Making Yourself Up
Q: What role did literature and academic study play in your healing and understanding?
Textual engagement with her father's work became a bridge to her own history, and later, a professional focus on Black studies that helped her to contextualize her identity within a broader Canadian and Caribbean diaspora.
Mrs. America
Q: What was it like to speak about this on stage during Mrs. America, and why did you choose to share?
She chose to share to normalize intersex experiences, reduce stigma, and empower others to seek education and support, even at the risk of personal discomfort, because visibility can drive understanding and change.

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. This Is Actually Happening
4. Betrayal Weekly
5. DNA Surprises

How many episodes of Family Secrets are there?

Family Secrets launched 8 years ago and published 263 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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What guests have appeared on Family Secrets?

Recent guests on Family Secrets include:

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

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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