Jen V: Everything I Swore I’d Never Be

Jen V: Everything I Swore I’d Never Be

Author: Lemonada Media November 15, 2023 Duration: 56:03
Jen Varner grew up swearing she’d never end up like her parents, whose struggles with addiction led to her neglect. But right before her eyes, Jen’s own relationship with alcohol began to escalate. She spent years drinking in secret, hiding her addiction from her friends and even the person she loved the most. Jen shares with Stephanie her journey of running from the shadow of her parents, until she could no longer deny who she had become.  Follow Stephanie on Instagram at @wittelstephanie. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Have a story you want to share? Head to bit.ly/lastdaystories to fill out our confidential Google form.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. And if you want to continue the conversation with other listeners, join the My Lemonada community at https://lemonadamedia.com/mylemonada/ For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to www.lemonadamedia.com/show/lastday shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosted by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, a co-founder of Lemonada Media who has been aptly described as an award-winning queen of darkness and light, Last Day delves into the profound human experiences that redefine who we are. This podcast centers on conversations about survival, resilience, and personal transformation, often through stories that blend joy and sorrow. For its first three seasons, the focus was on examining the "last day" within the context of widespread societal epidemics, a heavy but crucial exploration. Now, Stephanie herself felt a shift was necessary, signaling an evolution in the show's direction. Each episode features a different guest, and through these intimate discussions, listeners are invited into raw, honest accounts of pivotal moments. The tone is conversational yet deeply thoughtful, avoiding simple answers in favor of nuanced understanding. It’s a Last Day podcast that sits comfortably at the intersection of society and culture, asking how we navigate life after everything changes. You’ll hear laughter, tears, and the quiet revelations that come from people recounting the events that shaped them, all framed by Stephanie’s empathetic and insightful guidance. The series doesn’t shy away from complexity, instead finding the universal threads in uniquely personal journeys.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Last Day
Podcast Episodes
Five Years of Last Day... Now What? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:03
We did it, y’all. We reached the end of our countdown, which leads us back to where it all began: the very first episode of Last Day, the first-ever Lemonada Media podcast launch. This week, we’re revisiting “Meet Stepha…
Staff Pick #2: “Was It Painful?” (Season 1, Episode 4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:24
Before we finish this countdown to Last Day’s fifth anniversary, we are resharing an episode from season one. This episode was chosen by Lizzie, our Senior Vice President of Growth and Marketing. Most of us have seen an…
Staff Pick #3: “Are You Feeling Suicidal?” (Season 2, Episode 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:37
To commemorate Last Day’s fifth anniversary, we are revisiting the season two finale. This episode was chosen by Jackie – one of the first people to work on the show, and a previous Last Day guest herself. Season 2 Final…
Staff Pick #4: “Everyone Out Here is Armed” (Season 3, Episode 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:17
To continue the countdown to Last Day’s fifth birthday, here’s our next pick: the first episode of our season on gun violence, chosen by our senior producer — and first-time gun wielder — Kegan. In episode 1, our team tr…
Listen Now: Love Letters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:11
This week, we’re sharing a story from another podcast near and dear to our hearts. Love Letters, from The Boston Globe, shares stories from real life people. Host Meredith Goldstein hears from people about dating, relati…
Steph’s Pick: “Carrie: How Could You?” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:43
Carrie and Joe were college sweethearts who made a picture-perfect family. They worked and saved to pay for their kids’ sports, vacations, and everything in between. Then, after over a decade of marriage, Carrie stumbled…
Steph’s Pick: “Tig: Hi, I Have Cancer” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:00
If comedian Tig Notaro hadn’t had cancer, her life might’ve actually been worse. In those sobering moments post-diagnosis, she got up on stage and told a room of people all about it. “The crowd went wild” is an understat…
Steph’s Pick: “Vinnie: The Worst Possible Sin” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:19
Vinnie grew up in a strict, insular environment that instilled a simple message in him from a young age: who you are is fundamentally wrong. After spending years praying to God to fix him, he finally hit his breaking poi…
Apple Books Pick: “Geena: Hiding In Plain Sight” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:25
Geena Rocero has yet to meet a stage she doesn’t like. As the reigning trans beauty queen in the Philippines, she was adored and envied with equal passion – all while being out and proud. But when she moved to America an…