Episode 28: Finding The Beginning Of Your Story With Claire Bidwell Smith

This week’s guest is writer, author, and grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith. Claire and I discuss losing both of her parents by the age of 25, the memoir (The Rules Of Inheritance) that followed, her take on that book becoming a movie, and what happened when she started examining what happens after we die for her new book, After This.
Oh! And listen to the outro after the interview. I have a little idea of something I want to do together…
Here’s Claire:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS
Listen and subscribe in iTunes
Listen and subscribe in Stitcher
Show Notes:
Claire Bidwell Smith’s Website + Instagram
The Rules Of Inheritance
After This
Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Recipe
Leave a comment, tweet it, share it on Instagram, and make sure to tag @jessicamurnane or #onepartpodcast.
Want more?
Head over to iTunes to subscribe and leave a review. The more reviews, the greater chance someone else will hear Claire’s story. And please share this episode with someone who might need it!
12 Comments
Richard Kennedy
April 2, 2015Jessica,
I loved your Podcast#28 with Claire Bidwell Smith. We’ve been fans of Claire’s since ‘The Rules of Inheritance’ debuted. Claire is not only a great writer but such an enormously well grounded person. Her daughters are of almost identical age to two of our grandchildren. Their adventures and interactions offer incites into the lives of our daughter, son and our grandchildren. She seems such an extraordinary parent.
Thank you for bringing Claire to life on your podcast. We’ve signed up to be part of your site. All the best with your venture and Cheers.
Jessica
April 7, 2015Thank you so much, Richard! So glad you enjoyed the episode. Claire is a pretty incredible woman.
Libby
April 3, 2015Really great podcast. Can’t wait to read both books, and I’m so down to read the new one together!
Jessica
April 7, 2015Libby, awesome! We’ll be starting soon. I can’t wait!
Christy
April 7, 2015So grateful for your introduction to Claire! I can’t wait to pick up The Rules of Inheritance and would love to be a part of the non-book club book club 🙂
Jessica
April 7, 2015Christy, yes! Excited to have you join in. We gotta come up a name for the club/not club.
Kali ///
April 9, 2015Jessica!
I loved this episode! I love that it touched on what happens after we die. I just think everyone has had some experience or thought on the subject, and I love hearing everyone’s perspective.
I also can totally relate to your fear of your hubby dying. This PLAGUES me. My biggest hurdle is when he is on a flight (which he is right now…!). I have even tracked his flight and watched the little plane-shaped dot cross over the digital map. It makes me feel CA-RAZY.
Thanks for putting together such a great episode, as always! 🙂
Jessica
April 9, 2015Kali, so glad you liked this episode. Thank you for sharing your anxiety too. Getting it out there helps, a little, right? Sorta. I just did that plane tracking thing on Sunday. It’s comforting to know other people do it too. Thanks for listening and sharing!
Crista
May 5, 2015you talked me in to reading the book – bring on the tears! (i’m going to lock myself in my bedroom to read it)
also, i can hardly wait for the second book!
Jessica
May 6, 2015Crista! Get ready. Excited to hear what you think!
Anne Stevens
June 5, 2015I just have to say I’m so happy to have been introduced to Claire Bidwell Smith via your excellent podcast. I am an only child myself and one of my greatest fears is losing my parents. It’s so wonderful to hear her soothing voice so well translated to paper in her new book which I am close to finishing. Very much looking forward to discussion in the non-book club book club in an upcoming episode.
Thanks again and keep doing what you’re doing!
xoxo
Jessica
June 6, 2015Thanks for your sweet note, Anne! So glad you are enjoying the book and I’m excited to talk about the new book in a month or two (I still need to finish!). Thanks so much for listening.