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What makes you weird? Is it something that fills you with pride or something you try to hide, a secret you’re constantly working to cover up? In today’s episode, I’m beyond excited to sit down with the brilliant author, Allison Landa, whose memoir Bearded Lady takes us on a raw and transformative journey of self-acceptance, societal judgment, and the complex relationship we have with both our inner and outer weirdness. Whether you’re a writer or simply someone who wants to connect with a compelling story of resilience and identity, this conversation will inspire and resonate with you. 

Episode Highlights

• 1:00: The Challenges of Being Weird
• 3:17: How Weirdness Both Unites and Separates Us
• 5:11: Owning Your Story
• 9:36: Overworking Your Story Dough 
• 11:45: The Shame of Being Seen and Not Seen
• 17:50: Building Rounded Characters 
• 23:22: Navigating Time in Memoir
• 29:48: How Writing Changes Your Point of View 
• 32:50: Dealing with Reader Responses
• 38:58: Building Your Resilience 

Resources for this Episode: 

• Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz by Deckle Edge

• The Fact of a Body by Alex Marzano Lesnevich 
• “The Biggest Memoir Mistake: When Too Much Backstory Derails Your Narrative” by Lisa Cooper Ellison

• “3 Ways to Experiment with Memoir Structure to Improve Your Narrative Arc” by Lisa Cooper Ellison

Allison’s Bio: Allison Landa is the author of Bearded Lady, an exploration of what makes you feel weird in the world. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, Parents Magazine, HuffPost, The Guardian US, and The Washington Post, among other venues. She has been awarded artist residencies at MacDowell, WordSpace, Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow. 

Connect

• Facebook: @matzohbrei
• Instagram: @adlanda
• Threads: @ adlanda
• Website: www.allisonlanda.com 
• Personal Blog: www.allisonlanda.blogspot.com 

Connect with your host, Lisa:
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Produced by Espresso Podcast Production