But Not All At Once

In April 2019, Meredith Jaggard was fearless enough to join But Not All At Once as our first-ever guest. The podcast was just a concept then, and by pouring out her heart and her story, Meredith started it with a bang. Now she's back for more. Today we talk about the lives her words changed, an obituary I had to write, pandemic weight gain, modern marriage, and uprooting your whole life a second time to build a new one. Learn how she moved (again!) and continued to battle MS during C...

Brooke Turner's story may be But Not All At Once's most downloaded episode ever - and for good reason. Describing herself as a "student of hope" despite young, unexpected widowhood and a terminal cancer diagnosis, Brooke chose her words carefully and meant every one of them. It's a conversation I revisit when I need a few hours with a friend, and one of the great privileges of my life. Today Brooke's sister, Liz, steps away from her very full plate to give us an update on the Turner/Fisher f...

In genuine irony, this episode was delayed a week after things did not in fact get easier. With both a new puppy and a new business, things felt flat-out wild. But we're back, and I'm reminding us all of what gets easier over time, just in case it's hard to imagine from deep in the trenches. If you saw my list on Instagram, you'll have a preview of what I mean. Parts of life, decision-making, body issues, communicating, self-care and even parenting do get easier over time. (Conversely, parts...

Meredith Puckett joins But Not All At Once to answer listener questions about grief, loss, and the seemingly easy task of "feeling your feelings." It's everyone's go-to advice for women facing divorce, life change, loss, or parenting in a pandemic, but how exactly how do we do it? (For reference and as a caution for anyone who may need it, this episode includes general themes of grief around separation, divorce, and pregnancy/infant loss.) Later this month, Meredith will be on the podcast'...

Mamie Morgan is a poet, educator and entrepreneur with an eye for design and a passion for accepting people as they are. Today she talks to But Not All At Once about finding grown-up love; the beauty of blooming late; grieving a parent; and building a life more beautiful (but quite different) than you imagined. You can read Mamie's poetry at mamiemorgan.com and visit Opal Bride in West Greenville or at opalbride.com. To support the work of But Not All At Once, hear bonus episodes, and watc...

Shakespeare wrote that "the course of true love never did run smooth." While they could apply to any facet of life, these words may encapsulate best the exhaustion and adventure of parenting. That's certainly the case for Tinsley Maness and her son, Hart. What started smoothly when her second child was born soon changed course, planting a desire to advocate not only for him, but also for others outside the "typical." You'll hear Tinsley speak of Hart's school, the Meyer Center, and Greenvi...

When I came across Laura's TikTok content earlier this month, I knew she'd make the perfect podcast guest. As @thatdarnchat on social media, she puts words to the epidemic of exhaustion I've seen in friends and strangers alike over the years. You see it too: wives, mothers, and working women crumbling under the weight of invisible labor, unrealistic expectations, and unspoken hopes for parenthood and marriage. In today's episode, you'll hear us praise the men in our lives, break down the pat...

One night can change everything. Abby Banks, this week's guest, put her healthy infant son to sleep, but the next morning, he was paralyzed. Without warning, a rare autoimmune disease attacked his spinal cord; there was no cure or road map for healing from his diagnosis, transverse myelitis, short of a miracle. Abby walks us through the life she envisioned for Wyatt, and the one her son has today. Rather than facing the unknown full of fear, the Banks family finds joy in every gift - includi...