S2E5: Motherhood as a Shared Story: Rebecca Thompson’s Path to Healing, Connection, and Family Life

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In this episode of I’ll Meet You There, host Paige Nolan engages with Rebecca Thompson, MD, author of "Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love." They discuss Rebecca's journey through medicine, motherhood, and writing, emphasizing the power of intuition and listening.

The conversation highlights the book's unique structure, intertwining Rebecca's life-threatening experiences with 21 other stories from patients, friends, and colleagues. Themes of resilience, vulnerability, and the universal nature of family life are explored. Rebecca shares insights on balancing professional and personal life, the importance of storytelling, and how shared narratives foster healing and connection.

This episode offers a heartfelt exploration of how stories can unite us and the profound impact of listening and compassion in both medicine and personal relationships.

What We Explored This Episode

05:04 Rebecca's path to medicine and writing

10:45 Beginning of Rebecca's motherhood journey

16:50 Crafting stories for the shared memoir

23:40 Resilience as persistence, not just "rising above"

29:25 The power of listening in doctor-patient relationships

35:05 Intuition comes from cumulative experience and listening

41:26 Finding common ground through shared stories

48:36 The meaning behind the book title "Held Together"

Memorable Quotes

"That is such a huge issue in our society comparing ourselves and finding ourselves unworthy and inadequate and I want these stories to be an antidote to that because.... this is how we compare to find what we have in common and that is what stories can do for us"

"In family life, it’s the same idea – we’re digging holes – we’re breaking, disrupting, knowing and trusting we will come there and plant something different... give something up in the name of becoming something else and something bigger"

"Stories are the most compelling thing in life, truly. They can capture experiences in a way that no data can. Held Together captures..... watch them grow and see ourselves grow"

Resources Mentioned

Rebecca Thompson’s book “Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love.”

Connect with Rebecca

Website:https://www.rebeccanthompson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-thompson-md-msc-99458a65/

Connect with Paige

Website - https://paigenolan.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paigenolanwrite

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/paigenolanwriter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-nolan-0932751/

🎙️

Music by Boyd McDonnell

Cover art photography by Innis Casey

Podcast production & marketing by North Node Podcast Network

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