Where she is now: Brinda van den Berg

Have you ever wondered how a woman can raise her voice for advocacy, while being soft-spoken? Today we sit down with feminist icon, Letty Cottin Pogrebin. From being a founding editor of the revolutionary Ms. Magazine, a renowned author, to a fervent social activist, this is an intimate interview. Her recount of her public speaking experiences, in the face of complex and controversial topics, is a masterclass in itself!

In this week's episode of "If You Knew Me," host Jamie Yuenger presents a captivating interview with Tonje Thoresen, a multi-talented woman whose life took unexpected turns. The show is transitioning to an interview style, and this episode provides a glimpse into Tonje's extraordinary journey. Tonje, originally from Norway, went on a global exploration in her early 20s. From studying art and fashion in Berlin to immersing herself in the fashion scene of Paris, she eventually launched her own ready-to-wear fashion line. Despite the boutique's closure, Tonje seamlessly transitioned to photography, capturing political debates, sporting events, and haute couture fashion shows. However, in 2018, Tonje's world took a dark turn. Mysterious symptoms, including migraines, heart issues, and leg pains, plagued her. By 2020, an abrupt and life-altering event unfolded in her brain, leading to the permanent loss of her eyesight. The subsequent life-saving operation marked the beginning of a challenging journey, during which Tonje spent one and a half years learning to navigate life without vision

Welcome to a special rebroadcast of "If You Knew Me". Today we have a treat—a rerun of one of our favorite episodes, featuring Claudette Powell, a.k.a. Sister Monica Clare. Originally aired in March 2022, this episode combines narration with Sister Monica's own voice. Sister Monica Clare, an Episcopal nun from Mendham, New Jersey, embraced her authentic self later in life and gained recognition from Oprah. With a TikTok following of nearly 180,000, she has inspired many. Claudette Powell's journey is pretty intriguing. Once married and working at Paramount Pictures, she felt drawn to the nun's life. In the episode "Nicey Nicey" we unravel Claudette's unusual path, combining her voice with intermittent narration. Tune in for Claudette's inspiring story, and mark your calendars for our upcoming season, starting in September. We'll feature remarkable first-person stories, beginning with Tonje—a courageous woman who unexpectedly lost her eyesight after a successful career as a fashion model and photographer.

Join us in this special episode of "If You Knew Me" as we reconnect with Kerry Jones, who bravely shared her story on the show a year ago. Kerry opens up about her life since her previous appearance and provides an update on her journey. In the original episode titled "Living with Lipedema," Kerry discussed her diagnosis of lipedema, a condition that causes abnormal fat buildup and can lead to pain and difficulties in daily activities. Although there is no cure for lipedema, Kerry explored various treatments, including plastic surgery.

Beth grew up like all of us, thinking that what was happening in her home with her parents was normal. Her dad’s behavior seemed fine, because she didn’t know anything different. But as she grew old, she felt something was off. Her dad was cruel. He was hard to predict. Because, sometimes he was really nice, too. It took Beth a long time to unravel the story of her dad. This episode is about how to deal with your own parent when they struggling and their struggle negatively affects you. It’s about what happens when a parent has a mental illness, but doesn’t seek support. Beth found her way. She decided to tell her story on the show in the hope that by sharing it, she might help a listener recognize her own experience. Beth’s story is entitled “I thought the whole Problem was Me”