Leslie Jamison has written two essay collections, The Empathy Exams and Make It Scream, Make It Burn. She also gained prominence for her critical memoir, The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath. She’s out now with a new book, Splinters, about raising a child during the end of a relationship and the beginning of the pandemic. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Leslie talk about motherhood and how it’s both a mad transformative mystery and a boring daily slog. It’s both the Cheerios ground into the carpet and the love etched into your heart.  Episode Sponsors: Greenlight Bookstore – Through knowledgeable staff, curated book selection, community partnerships, and a robust e-commerce website, Greenlight combines the best traditions of the neighborhood bookstore with a forward-looking sensibility, and welcomes readers of every kind to the heart of Brooklyn. Learn more and shop online at greenlightbookstore.com. Flourish After Forty – A women’s retreat cultivating growth and contentment in midlife. Join facilitators Dr. Shannon Sherfey and Holly Stencil for a weekend of nourishing your body, mind, and spirit. We’ll examine struggles, let go of narratives that do not serve us, and shift our mindset toward blooming in midlife. If you’re looking to step away from stagnation and move into joy and gratitude, check out the Flourish After 40 Women’s Retreat today. Go to tinyurl.com/FlourishAfterForty to learn more. Titles by Leslie Jamison: SPLINTERS: ANOTHER KIND OF LOVE STORY THE EMPATHY EXAMS MAKE IT SCREAM, MAKE IT BURN THE RECOVERING: INTOXICATION AND ITS AFTERMATH THE GIN CLOSET: A NOVEL Other Titles and Authors Discussed in this Episode: Easy Beauty, by Chloé Cooper Jones Flight, by Lynn Steger Strong Here’s a trailer for the latest season of Love Island. Follow Leslie Jamison: Twitter: @lsjamison www.lesliejamison.com Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices