Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon

Posted on by Wynne Leon

When my daughter, Miss O, had just turned six-years-old and my son, Mr. D was two-years-old, we were interviewed by a local Seattle tv station about how we were planning to survive a coming heat wave that week by eating lots of ice cream. The questions were about as soft ball as you can get although there was one gotcha moment when Miss O swiped a bit of Mr. D’s ice cream while on camera.

But that was my extent of being interviewed by a reporter – until this episode of the podcast where Vicki and I turn the microphone over to our colleague, Brian Hannon, and he interviews us. Brian, an accomplished writer and author, started his career as a newspaper reporter and he uses those skills to uncover how Vicki and I came to write family memoirs.

Brian digs in to how the two of us, started our projects to write personal narratives even though neither of had jobs as professional authors.

In talking about our impetus to write, we uncover the many similarities between our narratives. Both of us were writing to uncover secrets, Vicki to find what her mother was working so hard to hide, and I was trying to figure out what combination made my dad twinkle.

Brian asks us to expand on the difficult part about writing about families as we navigate the territory to put pen to paper about our individual experience and perspective amidst the interwoven stories of family.

We shed some tears talking about our dearly departed and recognizing that people want to be remembered. And how answering the call to write helps to not only make sure they are remembered but also pass along the best part of those that have gone before us.

Brian gets Vicki and me to expand on the trepidation that comes with showing others what we’ve written, especially others that have a part in the story. We circle back to knowing our motivation for writing to keep us steady through the process.

This is a great episode about how to approach writing a personal narrative when you are called to do it and navigating all that comes with it. I know you’ll love it. And another thing I know you’ll love is our catchy new podcast music composed for us by the exquisitely talented Jack Canfora and Rob Koenig. I hope you give it a listen!

Episode 64: Knowing a Person with Vicki and Wynne – Sharing the Heart of the Matter

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Vicki Atkinson, and we are talking about the latest book from author David Brooks, How to Know a Person. We talk about his great encouragement to be vulnerable enough to be seen and his image of each of us as a creative artist who has a unique way of seeing the world. And we dive into the methods that help us listen well. We have a great conversation around what it takes to tell our own stories. Vicki also shares with us the wisdom she learned listening to David Brooks give a commencement speech when she was a faculty member. She explains why his approach was so much more meaningful than many of the others she heard in her 40 years in academia. This is a great episode about how we can be intentional about getting to know others. We know you’ll love it. Links for this podcast: Episode 64 show notes Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
  1. Episode 64: Knowing a Person with Vicki and Wynne
  2. Episode 63: Keys to Collaborative Success with Vicki and Wynne
  3. Episode 62: The Loop Files with Rick Kaempfer
  4. Episode 61: The Writers Conference with Cheryl Oreglia
  5. Episode 60: The Perils of Prediction with Dr. Gerald Stein

Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to on Anchor Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon

Links for this Episode:

Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon on Anchor

Brian’s personal blog: Writing from the Heart with Brian

Brian’s post that we mention at the end: The farmer: A message of hope

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

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24 thoughts on “Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon”

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  2. I don’t know if it’s bad form to comment on one’s own podcast with friends…but I’ll keep doing it. You two are so much fun to chat with…and you bring out all the best in friendship — giggles, guffaws and bittersweet moments. xo to both of you! 🥰

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  3. I’m only part way into the podcast but something Vicki said struck a chord with me. Catching up with an old friend this summer, she’s heard me talk about my mother’s abusive treatment of me, yet my mom was there for her after her brothers death in a way that her own mentally ill mother never was. My friend was perplexed that my mother seemed to be two different people. My reply was that while Mom could be kind and loving (especially after she was finally medicated and especially to everyone but me), I got all sides of her. I got her loving side, her normal worried or impatient mom side, and her beyond intolerant and delusional abusive side. Healing has brought not only inner peace but a broader understanding and compassion for what my mom had to live with.

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    1. Thank you so much for listening, Susan. It means a lot and the fact that you understood that duality I tried to describe – my mom’s ability to be dimensional…good and bad. I think it’s hard for those who haven’t had complicated relationships with a parent to understand. I love this – “you got all sides of her…her loving side and her beyond intolerant” side. Thank you! 🥰

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      1. You’re very welcome. And like so many bloggers, writing is a creative outlet, a therapeutic outlet, and for me a way to connect within (a form of meditation). (Finished listening to the podcast).

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    2. I love that you write that “Healing has brought not only inner peace but a broader understanding and compassion for what my mom had to live with.” What a gift – hard work but also a gift. Thank you so much for listening!

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  4. I am enjoying these podcasts as they are a catalyst to a deeper connection with y’all! I now have a better understanding of each of you and the worlds you live in. You started with giggles and small talk and before I knew it you were exploring writing issues at a deeper level which we can all admire and learn from! Cheers to all three of you on this ‘conversation journey’!!!

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    1. Mary…you are so kind. Thank you for those lovely words. You’ve described exactly what we aim to do…start with the smiles and giggles and bring a little depth in whatever natural way it unfolds in our conversations. Appreciate you! xo! 🥰

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