What stories are we told, and which ones do we choose to tell? In this powerful conversation, Marcus Arredondo chats with Nicole Graev Lipson to explore the evolving shape of womanhood, identity, and the courage to speak truth. From parenting a gender non-conforming child to reclaiming creativity after motherhood, Nicole shares what it means to live honestly in a world that often prefers silence. Whether you’re a parent, a writer, or someone rethinking your place in the world, this episode will meet you where you are.

Nicole Graev Lipson is the author of the memoir in essays, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters, a USA Today national bestseller. Her writing has appeared in The Sun, Virginia Quarterly Review, LA Review of Books, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Marie Claire, among other venues. Her work has been awarded a Pushcart Prize, shortlisted for a National Magazine Award, and selected for The Best American Essays anthology. Originally from New York City, she lives outside of Boston with her husband and children.

Episode highlights:
[0:00] Intro
[3:46] Teaching gender through Shakespeare
[7:31] How identity evolves with time
[14:58] Parenting without projecting
[18:42] Labels, identity, and social comfort
[22:39] Misconceptions around gender resistance
[26:08] How motherhood reshaped her creativity
[31:00] Writing with urgency and purpose
[43:50] Why telling the truth is activism
[53:48] The freedom that comes with honesty
[56:52] Where feminism goes from here
[59:07] Writing truthfully with kindness
[1:01:55] Outro