If you had told me as a student at JMU that one day, decades later, I'd be waiting to go onstage for a conversation with Ani DiFranco, I would've LOST MY MIND. This live conversation prompted me to think about so much, and the powerful connection within the room was palpable. Many thanks to the Westport Library and Verso Studios who hosted this conversation as part of VersoFest 2026.

We spend so much time thinking about where we’re going, we rarely stop to ask if we’re already where we need to be. Ani DiFranco has spent decades doing exactly that, choosing presence over pressure, connection over convention.

In this conversation, Ani reflects on building a career rooted in independence, turning down the traditional music industry, and learning to trust her instincts from a young age.

What I loved most is how honest she is about the process. The exhaustion, the doubts, and the realization that fulfillment isn’t waiting somewhere ahead, it’s in the moment you’re in.

What You’ll Discover:

1. How vulnerability became Ani’s superpower (00:09:56)
2. Being on her own at 15 and finding her path (00:22:05)
3. Turning down record labels and choosing independence (00:25:29)
4. What success meant early in her career (00:30:36)
5. The moment Ani realized music connected people (00:31:03)
6. Why presence is everything (00:32:45)

This conversation is about more than music. It’s about identity, intuition, and the courage to choose your own way, even when it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

If you’re enjoying these conversations, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review, and share this episode with a friend. It helps us keep bringing these conversations to you.

This live event interview was recorded at Verso Studios in the Westport Library as part of VersoFest 2026.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3C6891Vpvf4

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/ani-difranco-42

Check out more from Ani DiFranco:

Follow Ani DiFranco on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/anidifranco/

Check out Ani DiFranco’s label Righteous Babe Records https://www.righteousbabe.com/

Discover Ani DiFranco’s last book The Spirit of Ani: Reflections on Spirituality, Feminism, Music, and Freedom https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/the-spirit-of-ani-reflections-on-spirituality-feminism-music-and-freedom/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

We’ve all been told that resilience is the key to getting through hard things. Keep going. Don’t break. Handle it all. But what if that’s only part of the story?

In this episode, I sit down with organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich, who shares why resilience, while helpful, isn’t the full solution. Through years of research and real-world coaching, she found that resilience keeps us from falling apart, but it doesn’t necessarily help us build a life that feels fulfilling.

We talk about the pressure so many of us feel to hold everything together, and the simple, science-backed shifts that can help us move beyond just coping. Tasha shares a different approach, one rooted in understanding our core needs and making small, intentional shifts that can change how we experience our daily lives.

What You’ll Discover:

1. Coaching leaders and building strong cultures (03:53)
2. Why resilience doesn’t predict growth (13:53)
3. The three core human needs we all share (21:27)
4. Micro “need crafting” in everyday life (24:45)
5. Letting go of perfection with the 10% buffer (27:56)

This conversation is a reminder that thriving isn’t about doing more. It’s about understanding what you actually need, and giving yourself permission to meet those needs.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Things No One Tells You. It helps more people find these conversations.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BWiL9ZnqEbc

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/dr-tasha-eurich-41

Check out more from Dr. Tasha Eurich:

Dr. Tasha Eurich is inviting our listeners to discover her tools to dive deeper into becoming shatterproof:

1. First, her Resilience Ceiling Quiz, a FREE, 5-minute assessment to see how close you are to your own resilience limits: https://www.resilience-quiz.com
2. And her Shatterproof Workbook, practical tools and exercises to move from barely getting by to thriving in chaos.: https://www.shatterproof-book.com/Workbook

Discover Dr. Tasha Eurich’s website: www.tashaeurich.com

You can follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashaeurich/

And on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashaeurich/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

YouTube ID code: Y0BYHHE5QW91KEA3

When you think about making it to the NFL, you probably picture success, stability, and being set for life. But what you don’t always see are the challenges that come with that journey.

In this episode, NFL former tight end Vernon Davis shares a side of his journey that most people never hear. Vernon opens up about the parts of success that don’t get talked about. The relationships you have to navigate when your life changes. The financial mistakes that can happen when no one teaches you how to manage what you’ve earned. And the way grief can cloud your judgment in ways you don’t expect.

There are so many take-aways from this conversation, but what stood out most to me is how Vernon reframes failure: he sees failure not as something to avoid, but as something necessary. Something that shapes you, sharpens you, and ultimately moves you forward.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The pressure of being the one everyone watches (12:53)
2. How grief can cloud your judgment (14:10)
3. What no one tells you about making the NFL (20:05)
4. The power of failure and growth (31:43)
5. Taking risks beyond football (35:02)

There’s something really powerful about hearing someone say the quiet parts out loud. That success can be fragile. That grief can shift everything. That failure might actually be the thing that moves you forward. What Vernon shares here isn’t just about football. It’s about paying attention, learning as you go, and giving yourself the space to grow through what you didn’t expect.

If this one stayed with you, make sure you’re following along. Subscribing, rating, and sharing the show with a friend helps our community grow.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XIZooQ1Atgk

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/vernon-davis-40

Check out more from Vernon Davis:

Discover The Next Role Show hosted by Vernon https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextRoleShow

Follow Vernon on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vernondavis85

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

For nearly two decades, Joan Lunden welcomed millions of viewers into their morning routines as the longest-running female host of Good Morning America. But behind that familiar presence is a story filled with unexpected turns, bold decisions, and a lot of learning on the fly.

I was honored to be asked to speak with Joan about her new book; a conversation recorded in front of a live audience at Verso Studios in the Westport Library. I am thrilled to share that talk with you now on this episode of Things No One Tells You. Joan reflects on how she stumbled into television at a time when women were barely represented in the newsroom and how what began as a chance opportunity quickly turned into a career that would help reshape the industry.

Joan shares the difficult lessons she learned breaking into a male-dominated field, the mindset that helped her grow into one of television’s most trusted voices, and why sometimes the best career advice is simply to say yes before you know how it will work out.

We also talk about the deeper moments that shaped her life beyond the studio, including motherhood, resilience, and how facing breast cancer changed her perspective.

What You’ll Discover

• Joan’s early career and unexpected start in TV (10:30)
• The challenges women faced in journalism in the 1970s (11:24)
• Why saying yes before you're ready can change everything (17:21)
• The power of having a co-host who is the right fit (29:34)
• Advocacy opportunities beyond the Good Morning America years (35:44)

From breaking barriers in television news to reflecting on the lessons that have made an impact along the way, Joan Lunden’s story is both inspiring and deeply human. Conversations like this are exactly what Things No One Tells You is all about. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show and take a moment to share it with a friend.

This live event interview was recorded at Verso Studios in the Westport Library.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HPbjx3kc1K8

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/joan-lunden-39

Check out more from Joan Lunden:

Follow Joan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therealjoanlunden/

Discover Joan’s books, including her new memoir https://joanlunden.com/books/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

We talk a lot about transformation. We don’t talk enough about what it takes to sustain it.

Michael Chernow thought he was going to die at 24. After years of addiction and a near-fatal overdose, he didn’t believe he could stop. He couldn’t imagine a different life. What changed everything was structure after hitting rock bottom. A mentor who gave him an hour-by-hour plan. Small wins he could control.

In this episode, Michael opens up about addiction as a disease, the fears and misconceptions of sobriety, and how fitness and nutrition became the tools that rebuilt his confidence. He shares the story behind Kreatures of Habit and why he created Sober Fit Dude to help other men find mission and community in recovery.

What You’ll Hear:

• The overdose and the turning point (15:43)
• Why asking for help felt impossible (22:57)
• The discipline that built confidence (27:00)
• Entrepreneurship after sobriety (33:14)
• The daily habits that matter (59:19)

This is a conversation about rebuilding from scratch, about turning chaos into structure, and about what’s possible when you commit to the long game.

If this episode spoke to you, be sure to follow the show and leave a rating so others can discover it, too.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/seEn8c-9COI

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/michael-chernow-38

Check out more from Michael Chernow:

Follow Michael Chernow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchernow/

Follow Kreatures of Habit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit/

Discover Kreatures of Habit’s website: https://kreaturesofhabit.com/

Check out SoberFitDude: https://www.soberfitdude.app/

Mentioned in this Episode:

Navigating the Impact of Addiction with Stable Recovery https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/stable-recovery-28

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

I’ve become increasingly curious about the actual “moments” when someone realizes a dream. In the case of an Olympian, from what I’ve been told, the moment you win gold is quickly followed by the realization of everything that got you there. In many cases, according to those who have been there, it’s like an actual floodgate opens… and the emotions just flow.

In this episode, I sit down with one of those Olympians - my friend Angela Ruggiero, four-time Olympic medalist (including gold in 1998) and Hockey Hall of Famer. We talk about what it really feels like when everything comes down to one final moment. We were together broadcasting women’s hockey during the winter Olympics, and being beside her as the United States women played Canada in the gold medal game was unforgettable. The biggest hockey rivalry and overtime? Forget it!

We talk about nerves that never fully go away, the weight of representing your country, and what it takes to help build a league and a future for the next generation. We also discuss how women’s hockey is entering its most powerful era yet - oh, and how Angela became the prolific athlete and leader she is today.

What You’ll Discover:

• Seeing the champions up close in Milan (03:18)
• Belief vs. self-defeat (16:29)
• Leaving home to chase a dream (24:28)
• From Olympian to entrepreneur (43:09)
• The inequities that still remain (53:23)

Angela’s story is about belief, not just in yourself, but in what’s possible when a community shows up around you. That’s what I love about these conversations. The part behind the highlight. The mindset inside the moment.

If this episode resonated with you, make sure you’re subscribed to Things No One Tells You so you don’t miss what’s next. And if you loved what you heard, share this episode with a friend.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u19KyvZjfqY

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/angela-ruggiero-37

Check out more from Angela Ruggiero on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/angela.m.ruggiero/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

I’m still pinching myself thinking about my experience over the past few weeks covering the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. I’ve been so grateful for every opportunity to cover the games but this time, I found myself with a unique window into some incredible, historic storylines that impacted Team USA; specifically hockey - both the men’s and women’s teams.

Watching both teams go for gold and doing so alongside analysts who have experience on that very stage really highlighted for me how the Olympics aren’t just about showing up every few years and trying to win a medal. The Games are about mindset and meeting the moment; about a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication culminating in an opportunity to achieve on the worlds biggest sporting stage.

In this special post-Olympics episode, I sit down with my producer Ashley to answer your questions and to reflect on what it felt like to step inside the Olympic world once again, this time covering live events throughout the games from the USA network studios in CT.

We talk about the pressure athletes face, the power of preparation and routine (including my own - with a few fun glam tips along the way), and what it’s like working to develop chemistry quickly - for both athletes and broadcasters - working as part of a larger team. I share what surprised me most, what moved me, and what I’m still processing now that the lights have dimmed.

What You’ll Discover:

A day in the life of broadcasting during the Games (05:20)

Staying grounded when adrenaline runs high (12:17)

The team dynamic that makes live TV work (15:31)

Learning from athletes under immense pressure (26:26)

The evolution of Olympic storytelling (20:40)

The lessons I’m taking home (01:03:25)

This episode isn’t just about sports. It’s about the human experience inside the once in a lifetime moments. It’s about what pressure reveals. What teamwork teaches. What happens when expectations collide with reality. And what we can learn from those athletes who beat the odds that seemed to make their dreams impossible.

If you’re walking through your own high-stakes season, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone. If it did, take a moment to subscribe and rate Things No One Tells You, and share this episode with a friend. That small act helps us keep these honest conversations going.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JquehuOP6xk

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/winter-olympics-36

Mentioned in episode:

Ralph Lauren Purple Label

Nars Blush - Thrill

Cashmere Hair Extensions

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

YouTube ID code: YCCEWADKSTUEFTBXY