Loading summary
Transcript17 lines
- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I just got back from a trip to Denver, Colorado, and I went mountain biking. And I'm going to be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The moment you stop pedaling and look up and realize you are literally in the mountains, there is nothing like it. I also ate my way through the city, which felt like a very fair reward. After all of that biking, right, Denver, I'm going to be back. So if you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be listing your space on Airbnb. It's a smart, practical way to make use of your place while you're away and earn some extra cash at the same time. And now with the co host network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything, like managing reservations, guest communication, and even styling your space. Find a co host@airbnb.com host hi, this is Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Today's episode is brought to you by cars.com Cars have a way of showing up right alongside the new chapters in our lives. A new job, a new home, a growing family, a fresh start. That's why this miniseries is all about navigating change and the tools we lean on when life shifts gears. Because finding the right car isn't just about the car. It's about what comes next. Luckily, Cars.com takes the second guessing out of car shopping. In this episode, I'm sitting down with writer, podcast host, and online icon Hunter Harris. Hunter has built a career out of paying close attention to culture. The stories we obsess over, the people we become fascinated by, and the moments that quietly shape us. Whether through her writing or her conversations, she has a way of making change feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. And today, we're talking about what it means to navigate transitions in real time. The uncertainty, the excitement, and the ways we figure ourselves out along the way. So let's buckle up and let's hit the road. Hi, Hunter. Thanks for joining me today.
- [02:07]
B
Hi. Thank you for having me. It's good to see you.
- [02:09]
A
I'm so happy to see you. You're one of my favorite people to talk to because you are a true reader. You're a huge reader and writer. And I'm thinking you must actually think in story. If your life or a book, what chapter are you living in this moment?
- [02:24]
B
Ooh, I think I met the. I think I'm at a big point of like. Like an inflection point. In my life, I have been Living in New York for 10 years, that feels like a big milestone. And being 10 years, like, as a writer and, like, reporter, critic, journalist, now I feel like I'm looking to, like, okay, what's, like, about to happen?
- [02:46]
A
That's interesting. What would we call it? It sounds like a breakthrough moment.
- [02:50]
B
I think I'm. I think I'm, like, approaching a breakthrough moment.
- [02:52]
A
I think we talk a lot about the excitement of new beginnings, but with that excitement is a lot of uncertainty. And with uncertainty comes usually some anxiety. So how do you motivate yourself to make changes, to move into a new era of your life, taking all that uncertainty with you?
- [03:13]
B
Okay, let me preface this. This might not work for everyone, but it has certainly worked for me. I remember when I first moved to New York, which was, like, two weeks after I finished college, and I was the most nervous, the most scared, had such crazy imposter syndrome. And I remember thinking, as sort of a mantra, like, this is the worst time of my life. Like, this is the worst period in my life, and it's gonna get so much better after this. I just have to, like, push through this period. And somehow making it feel finite in my mind was what made it easier, that I'm like, okay, of course this is hard because this is the worst time of my life. And at some point this time, I'll be done, and then I'll, like. I look back on this sort of, if not fondly, then, like, with a lot of respect for myself during that time. And that, honestly, is, like, kind of what happened, where even still, when I'm going through, like, a big transition or like, when I decided to even, like, quit my job and go freelance, like, six years ago.
- [04:09]
A
Oh, that must have been so scary.
- [04:11]
B
Oh, my gosh. Of course. And also, it was like, during the pandemic, I was, like, 25, and it felt like, okay, after you turn 25, it's like, no birthday really matters. Like, you're just an adult now for real. And I remember thinking, like, okay, this time is so uncertain and so scary. But I remember being 21 and having moved to New York knowing three people and nothing could compare to that. So that's sort of like a. Whenever I'm at, like, a transition, inflection point, whatever, breakthrough moment, that's what I'm thinking about. Like, I've already done this before, and it was harder. And maybe this time it won't be so bad.
- [04:48]
A
I love that you said that. I do the same thing in my mind. I think about all the tough things that I went through and pushed through in the past. I'm like, if I can get through that, I can get through this. And then it just sort of. There's, like, building blocks, and your capacity grows. So I don't know if you've had a dark Night of the Soul moment yet. I don't wish it on you. But when I had mine, or my first one, I should say I was 28, and I was just so sad. I was in such a low place. Nothing could help. I tried therapy. I tried training for a triathlon. Like, I was a proactive girl, and I just. Nothing could get me out of the sadness. And I started reading women's stories, and I started reading Virginia Woolf and Audre Lorde. And I saw myself in so much of their pain and their love stories and their words. And I'm curious if there's a book that you would press into somebody's hands who's on the edge of a new beginning or a book that you particularly turn to.
- [05:53]
B
Okay, Calling it My Dark Night of the Soul just shows you how unserious I am. But I was, I think, like, 23, and I was on, like, a vacation with my dad. And I was absolutely, like, heartbroken over this boy who I, like, really thought was, like, the great love of my life. But I just happened to be reading at that time, Carrie Fisher's the Princess Diarist. And reading Princess Diarist as I'm, like, going through this, like, just complete, like, tailspin over a man. And in her journals, a lot of it is about how she having the secret affair with Harrison Ford and how he didn't really care about her. And she sort of liked that he was so aloof. And there was a line that I think about all the time where she's. And, like, it's sort of cut between, like, present day Carrie Fisher talking about, like, the version of her who is, like, living through all these stories, whatever. And she says one of her friends had told her that who you choose to be in a relationship with is what you think of yourself. And then the line is so Harrison is what I think of myself. And it just, like, wrecked me because I'd never considered, like, oh, wow, this is not what I think of myself. Like, and I need to really wake up.
- [07:11]
A
We hinted at a breakthrough at a transition at the beginning of this conversation. What is it that you feel like you're on the precipice of?
- [07:20]
B
I mean, just to be totally honest, I got out of, like, a long relationship maybe a year ago, and I was really, really close to my great aunt, and she just passed away in February. And so, like, the combination of both of those, I mean, like, really monumental life changes happening, not, you know, sort of in quick succession has just, like, made me think about a lot of things differently and really think about, like, what's important to me, what I want and, and what is. Like, I'm not usually a list maker about, like, I want my life to look like this or that, but I think now I am making some decisions about, like, there's no time like the present. And so I really, I want to write a feature script. Like, I should do that. I want to learn how to, like, be a better photographer. I should, like, be pursuing that. I want to learn a new language. All of these things that I'm like, okay, there's no, I'm not getting any younger and my life is not getting any less busy. So I have, like, a better sense of urgency now than I think I have in the past few years when I've been just, like, so focused on, like, work stuff.
- [08:25]
A
Sounds like you're pouring into Hunter. The girl, the woman, the person, and not just Hunter the beautiful writer. Hunter. It's so fun to watch somebody so smart and talented turn the pages in their own book. So I'm so looking forward to your next chapter and grateful that I get to. To witness all your glory.
- [08:49]
B
Oh, my gosh. Well, thank you so much.
- [08:59]
A
Often change begins before we feel fully ready for it. Sometimes it's dramatic, and oftentimes it's quieter. Realizing you've outgrown in old routines, stepping into more responsibility, or imagining a different version of your future. A new era of life can be exciting, but the process of actually getting there can be anxiety inducing. That's what makes Cars.com such a useful companion during times of transition. It simplifies the process with expert reviews, side by side comparisons, flexible search tools, and financing resources that help you understand what works for your style and your budget. Because when you're entering a new chapter, having the right support system, whether it's a great book, a meaningful conversation, or the right car search tool can make the road ahead feel a little clearer. From Start to finish, Cars.com has everything you need to choose the right car confidently bookmarked as a production of hello Sunshine and Iheart podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me, Dean Danielle Robay, production by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our editor is Carmen Borca Carillo. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are executive producers for Acast Creative Studios Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are executive producers for hello Sunshine Olga Kaminwa, Kristin Perla, Ashley Rapaport, and Sarah Kernerman are associate producers for Reese's Book Club and Ali Perry is executive producer for iHeart podcasts. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort, and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something. Cotton not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more@thefabricofourlives.com this is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.