What happens when your childhood is shaped by two worlds—one Native, one assimilated—and neither quite fits?

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Jackson Taffa, Quechan and Laguna Pueblo author of the powerful memoir Whiskey Tender.

Part coming-of-age story, part cultural excavation, Deborah’s book is a lyrical and unflinching look at growing up in 1980s New Mexico, navigating family secrets, displacement, and the long shadow of U.S. policy on Native identity.

We talk about the dualities that shaped her story—the rebel and the student, the silence and the truth—and how writing her memoir became an act of reclamation. Deborah also shares insights into how her upbringing, her ancestors, and her children all helped shape the story she tells on the page.

Whether you’re a memoir writer, a lover of untold history, or simply someone trying to make peace with where you come from, this one's for you!

Follow Deborah here:

https://deborahtaffa.com

Find us here:

https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, I sit down with Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, to talk about hiking solo, navigating grief, and learning to trust yourself when the path ahead is unclear.

Christine shares her story of leaving behind a life that no longer fit, walking into the wilderness with a heavy pack and an open heart. We talk about what it means to rewrite the stories we’ve inherited, how nature can be a mirror, and why solitude can be the most honest company.

Whether you’ve ever dreamed of thru-hiking or you’re on your own journey of reinvention—this conversation is one to carry with you.

Watch the show on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HPF1k0i-i6I

Find us here: https: //linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir

Learn more about Christine here: Ruggedoutdoorswoman.com

Instagram: @Ruggedoutdooswoman

email: ruggedoutdoorswoman@gmail.com

Hospice nurse and TikTok storyteller Penny Hawkins Smith joins me to talk about her memoir, Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living.In this powerful conversation, Penny shares what it's like to sit at the bedside of the dying—and how witnessing death has helped her live more fully. We talk about her journey from addiction to caregiving, her viral presence on TikTok, and how telling the truth about death can transform how we show up in life.

This episode is raw, hopeful, and filled with hard-won wisdom.

Watch full episode on youtube:

https://youtu.be/Ibul77zMTtk

📚 Learn more about Penny: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/ @hospicenursepenny

🔗My Linktree:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir