https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=140230006 <em>Tell Me More</em> discusses issues that people usually keep private. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sun, 22 Jun 2025 07:55:33 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 https://www.npr.org/series/140230006/behind-closed-doors The title of Jowita Bydlowska's memoir <em>Drunk Mom</em> pulls no punches. She tells Michel Martin about her struggles with motherhood and addiction. Mon, 02 Jun 2014 11:48:50 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2014/06/02/318209091/drunk-mom-tackles-new-motherhood-and-old-addictions https://www.npr.org/2014/06/02/318209091/drunk-mom-tackles-new-motherhood-and-old-addictions The title of Jowita Bydlowska's memoir Drunk Mom pulls no punches. She tells Michel Martin about her struggles with motherhood and addiction.

]]> Advice and etiquette columnist Steven Petrow has long helped readers navigate sticky situations, especially involving LGBT relations. But for years, he kept a troubling secret about his childhood. Tue, 06 May 2014 11:50:38 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2014/05/06/310099281/advice-columnist-couldnt-reveal-his-secret-until-now https://www.npr.org/2014/05/06/310099281/advice-columnist-couldnt-reveal-his-secret-until-now Advice and etiquette columnist Steven Petrow has long helped readers navigate sticky situations, especially involving LGBT relations. But for years, he kept a troubling secret about his childhood.

]]> Deborah Jiang Stein's adoptive parents didn't want her to know that she was born in prison to a heroin-addicted mother. She talks about how she struggled to overcome the damage of those secrets. Mon, 31 Mar 2014 11:09:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297152258/reconnecting-with-your-roots-and-the-cost-of-keeping-them-hidden https://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297152258/reconnecting-with-your-roots-and-the-cost-of-keeping-them-hidden Deborah Jiang Stein's adoptive parents didn't want her to know that she was born in prison to a heroin-addicted mother. She talks about how she struggled to overcome the damage of those secrets.

]]> Host Michel Martin speaks with Sarah Shemkus about the myths and secrecy around miscarriages. Shemkus recently shared her personal story in a Slate article titled "Losing the Baby: My Week of Gestational Limbo." Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:02:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2014/02/10/274687103/the-truth-about-miscarriage-being-in-gestational-limbo https://www.npr.org/2014/02/10/274687103/the-truth-about-miscarriage-being-in-gestational-limbo Host Michel Martin speaks with Sarah Shemkus about the myths and secrecy around miscarriages. Shemkus recently shared her personal story in a Slate article titled "Losing the Baby: My Week of Gestational Limbo."

]]> When Andy Marra came out as a transgendered woman, she got lots of support from her adoptive American parents. She wanted to move forward with hormones or surgery, but not until she found her birth family in South Korea. She shared that journey in an essay titled 'The Beautiful Daughter: How My Korean Mother Gave Me the Courage to Transition.' Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2012/12/10/166878499/transgender-woman-finds-acceptance-in-south-korea https://www.npr.org/2012/12/10/166878499/transgender-woman-finds-acceptance-in-south-korea When Andy Marra came out as a transgendered woman, she got lots of support from her adoptive American parents. She wanted to move forward with hormones or surgery, but not until she found her birth family in South Korea. She shared that journey in an essay titled 'The Beautiful Daughter: How My Korean Mother Gave Me the Courage to Transition.'

]]> Carla Franklin was cyberstalked and bullied for years by a man she briefly dated. She has now become an advocate and expert for online harassment. Host Michel Martin talks with Franklin about her experience and cyberstalking laws. <strong>*Advisory:</strong> This conversation may not be comfortable for all listeners. Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2012/12/03/166402533/busting-a-cyberstalker https://www.npr.org/2012/12/03/166402533/busting-a-cyberstalker Carla Franklin was cyberstalked and bullied for years by a man she briefly dated. She has now become an advocate and expert for online harassment. Host Michel Martin talks with Franklin about her experience and cyberstalking laws. *Advisory: This conversation may not be comfortable for all listeners.

]]> Sharon Love's daughter Yeardley was a college student and an athlete when she was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend in 2010. Since then, Love has started a foundation to speak out and raise awareness about dating violence. She speaks with host Michel Martin about her work and how she's coping with the loss of her daughter. Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2012/10/15/162941064/daughters-death-pushes-mom-to-fight-dating-abuse https://www.npr.org/2012/10/15/162941064/daughters-death-pushes-mom-to-fight-dating-abuse Sharon Love's daughter Yeardley was a college student and an athlete when she was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend in 2010. Since then, Love has started a foundation to speak out and raise awareness about dating violence. She speaks with host Michel Martin about her work and how she's coping with the loss of her daughter.

]]> Rushern Baker serves as County Executive for Prince George's County in Maryland. But two years ago, his role as a public official was transformed when his wife was diagnosed with early onset dementia. He speaks with host Michel Martin about caring for his wife and meeting his responsibilities as a public official. Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2012/09/17/161275533/weighing-politics-at-work-wifes-dementia-at-home https://www.npr.org/2012/09/17/161275533/weighing-politics-at-work-wifes-dementia-at-home Rushern Baker serves as County Executive for Prince George's County in Maryland. But two years ago, his role as a public official was transformed when his wife was diagnosed with early onset dementia. He speaks with host Michel Martin about caring for his wife and meeting his responsibilities as a public official.

]]> Military hazing is both a political and personal matter for U.S. Rep. Judy Chu. Her nephew killed himself last year, reportedly after being hazed by fellow Marines. She talks with host Michel Martin about her efforts to strengthen laws against hazing in the armed forces. <strong>Advisory:</strong> This conversation may not be comfortable for all listeners. Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2012/09/10/160879600/rep-chu-everyone-is-ignoring-military-hazing https://www.npr.org/2012/09/10/160879600/rep-chu-everyone-is-ignoring-military-hazing Military hazing is both a political and personal matter for U.S. Rep. Judy Chu. Her nephew killed himself last year, reportedly after being hazed by fellow Marines. She talks with host Michel Martin about her efforts to strengthen laws against hazing in the armed forces. Advisory: This conversation may not be comfortable for all listeners.

]]> Amid the excitement of the Olympic games, one former Olympic hopeful is speaking out on the darker side of youth sports. Kelley Currin says she was molested as a teen by Rick Curl, her former swim coach and founder of the prominent Curl-Burke Swim Club in the Washington, D.C., area. Currin tells Michel Martin how the abuse began and ended, why the family did not pursue criminal charges, and her advice for parents of young athletes to spot potential predators. <strong>This segment covers sensitive material and may not be comfortable for some listeners.</strong> Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2012/08/06/158199112/sex-abuse-haunts-former-olympic-swim-hopeful https://www.npr.org/2012/08/06/158199112/sex-abuse-haunts-former-olympic-swim-hopeful Amid the excitement of the Olympic games, one former Olympic hopeful is speaking out on the darker side of youth sports. Kelley Currin says she was molested as a teen by Rick Curl, her former swim coach and founder of the prominent Curl-Burke Swim Club in the Washington, D.C., area. Currin tells Michel Martin how the abuse began and ended, why the family did not pursue criminal charges, and her advice for parents of young athletes to spot potential predators. This segment covers sensitive material and may not be comfortable for some listeners.

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