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Let’s Talk Memoir

Ronit Plank
Memoir Writing
Mental Health
Memoir
Writing Process
Grief
Family Dynamics
Motherhood
Creative Nonfiction
Mother-Daughter Relationships
Trauma
Creative Writing
Writing
Identity
Childhood Trauma
Trauma Recovery
Vulnerability
Therapy
Mental Illness
Race
Storytelling

Let’s Talk Memoir is a podcast for memoir lovers, readers, and writers, featuring interviews with memoirists about their writing process, their challenges, and what they’ve learned about sharing the most personal of narratives. Hosted by writer, editor, and teacher Ronit Plank, each episode highlights different aspects of the memoir-writing experience, and offers writing tips and inspiration. Roni... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes266Founded5 years ago
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BooksArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Let’s Talk Memoir

Latest Episodes

Jamie Leigh Lorente joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about not getting to know her biological father who emigrated from Cuba during the Cold War from Cuba as an unaccompanied minor until the end of his life, how we learn to understand and a... more

Deborah Derrickson Kossmann joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about how complicated family dynamics culminated in her mother’s severe hoarding disorder, grieving what you didn’t get as a child, going back to rescue the past, sharing family s... more

Deborah Sosin joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about writing 70 micro memoirs of 70 words each to mark her 70th birthday, her love of compression and concision, working in themes, sitting with the memory of a scene and understanding its emo... more

Kim Murphy joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about unburdening herself from decades of shame, her often absent and unpredictable mother, what we owe or don’t owe our parents at the end of their lives, gaining a level of remove from the chara... more

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Recent Guests

Deborah Derrickson Kossmann
clinical psychologist and memoirist
Private practice
Episode: 259. Going Back to Rescue the Past featuring Deborah Derrickson Kossmann
Deborah Sosin
Writer, editor, psychotherapist, GrubStreet instructor
Self-published author of Escape Velocity; contributor to major outlets
Episode: 258. Playing with Writing Constraints and Form featuring Deborah Sosin
Kim Murphy
Longtime writer and communication strategist; author of Unmothered
Kestrel House Press / author of Unmothered
Episode: 257. Unburdening Ourselves From Decades of Shame featuring Kim Murphy
Jason Allen
Author, novelist, memoirist, and writer who teaches at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Episode: 256. The Catharsis of Memoir: From Resentment to Understanding featuring Jason Allen
Kara Zivin
Health services and policy researcher and author of Persevered, A Maternal Health Memoir
University of Michigan; Department of Veterans Affairs; Mathematics, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Episode: 255. The Relief That Comes From Sharing the Toughest Thing featuring Dr. Kara Zivin
Nicole Walker
Author of Writing the Hard Stuff and How to Plant a Billion Trees; editor of Crux at University of Georgia Press; professor at Northern Arizona University
University of Georgia Press; Northern Arizona University
Episode: 254. Writing the Hard Stuff featuring Nicole Walker
DeAnne Liontas
transgender queer author of Sex with a Brain Injury, on Concussion and Recovery; associate professor at George Washington University
George Washington University
Episode: 253. Getting to the Story Beneath the Story featuring D/Annie Liontas
Rachel Weaver
Author of Dizzy; memoirist and novelist
Author of Dizzy; The Last Run (Lake Union Publishing)
Episode: 252. Pulling Readers Inside Our Experience with Specificity and Particularity featuring Rachel Weaver
Deborah K. Shepherd
Author of So Happy Together; memoirist and novelist
Heliotrope Books (publisher of An Old Man's Darling)
Episode: 251. Mining Opening Pages for Impact featuring Deborah K. Shepherd

Host

Ronit Plank
Host of Let's Talk Memoir

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 249 ratings
  • My “Go To” Podcast for Memoir

    I have been an avid listener for 3+ years, first as a memoir lover, then as a memoir writer myself. In that time, Ronit has introduced me to so many great stories, and pulled the curtain back on the writing process and the many important decisions related to voice, structure, pacing, narrative arc, and more. I can point to several episodes that influenced my own thinking and work. Also love Ronit’s sunny vibe and how it feels as if I’m eavesdropping on a conversation between writer friends. If y... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kim_Murphy
    United States2 months ago
  • THE best

    One of the best podcasts. Ronit is a skilled interviewer, asking guests rich questions and letting them answer. I look forward to every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lindsaybrookewebster
    United States3 months ago
  • One of my favorites

    As an author or a memior I love hearing the Johnny of other writers. And inevitably, I want their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    carmdurf
    United States4 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts

    I have learned so much from Let’s Talk Memoir, and I was delighted to be a guest on the show. Ronit has such a warm and inviting interview style, and she asks some of the most thoughtful questions. Her podcast is a gift to the writing community!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mallary T
    United States5 months ago
  • So helpful

    This podcast is so thorough and informative. As a writer and a reader, I’m riveted to these conversations. Thank you for inviting writers to reflect on their work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amy Halloran
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

- Community-focused with a strong emphasis on writing process and empathy.
- Host has warm, inviting interview style and asks thoughtful questions.
- Guests are diverse and bring fresh perspectives on craft and memoir.
- Content is thorough, practical, and inspiring for writers at all levels.
- High quality production and consistently valuable insights for memoir lovers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

259. Going Back to Rescue the Past featuring Deborah Derrickson Kossmann
Q: What advice would you like to share with writers working on their memoirs?
Think about your book as a reader, cut material that doesn't serve the story, and ensure the narrative moves with propulsion; consider trusted readers and professional editing as essential parts of shaping the manuscript.
259. Going Back to Rescue the Past featuring Deborah Derrickson Kossmann
Q: When did you know you would write this memoir and how did you arrive at the braided structure you described?
She realized the initial draft was missing the emotional core, especially around her mother, and through editing and a pivotal 2016 discovery, she braided the narrative with the hoarding as the through line to connect family dynamics.
258. Playing with Writing Constraints and Form featuring Deborah Sosin
Q: What advice would you give writers exploring micro-memoir or shorter forms in general?
The guest emphasizes knowing your story deeply, allowing flexibility in form, experimenting with rhythm and paragraph breaks, and recognizing that not every detail needs to be included to convey a strong, coherent truth.
256. The Catharsis of Memoir: From Resentment to Understanding featuring Jason Allen
Q: What advice would you give to writers working on their memoirs?
Prioritize self-care and honest, non-revengeful portrayals of others; use grounding moments or touchstones to guide memory, and trust your instincts while seeking supportive readers who truly understand your craft.
256. The Catharsis of Memoir: From Resentment to Understanding featuring Jason Allen
Q: How did you know the memoir was done and ready for publishing?
He describes a personal, self-trust-driven finish, limited external feedback, and the long process of revisions and genre-spanning work before feeling the manuscript had come into focus.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Let’s Talk Memoir

What is Let’s Talk Memoir about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on memoir craft, process, and the lived experiences behind personal storytelling. Conversations span memory, trauma, identity, and publishing, with practical guidance on structure, voice, scene-work, and ethical considerations when writing about real people. Across episodes, guests bring diverse backgrounds—writers, therapists, educators, and athletes—who share concrete tips for drafting with honesty, vulnerability, and resilience. The format blends craft-focused discussion with personal narrative, making it a useful resource for memoirists at any stage and for publishers or sponsors seeking insightful, human-centered storytelling.

Notable strengths include a warm, thoughtful interview style, a wide range of guest perspec... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Let’s Talk Memoir?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Let’s Talk Memoir:

1. Memoir Nation
2. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
3. Writers on Writing
4. The Memoir Method Podcast
5. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

How many episodes of Let’s Talk Memoir are there?

Let’s Talk Memoir launched 5 years ago and published 266 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Let’s Talk Memoir?

Recent guests on Let’s Talk Memoir include:

1. Deborah Derrickson Kossmann
2. Deborah Sosin
3. Kim Murphy
4. Jason Allen
5. Kara Zivin
6. Nicole Walker
7. DeAnne Liontas
8. Rachel Weaver

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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