Alone At Lunch

This week we are joined by Dr. Sara Glass! Sara Glass, PhD, LCSW is a therapist, writer, and speaker who helps members of the queer community and individuals who have survived trauma to live bold, honest, and proud lives. She lives in Manhattan, New York. Make sure to follow @drsaraglass on social platforms! This week, Sarah Glass discusses her journey of navigating multiple roles as a therapist, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate. She shares her experiences growing up in a strict Hasidic community, her struggles with identity, and the impact of her coming out on her family and children. The discussion delves into the complexities of living authentically while managing societal and familial expectations, as well as the importance of creating safe spaces for others in similar situations. In this conversation, Dr. Sarah Glass discusses her experiences navigating identity within Orthodox Jewish communities, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the impact of family history on personal growth. She shares insights on feeling alone in relationships, the dynamics with her ex-partners, and the joy of newfound freedom in her life. The discussion highlights the complexities of self-discovery and the importance of community support. Make sure to give this episode a listen! Recommendations From This Episode:  Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman Unorthodox - Netflix My Unorthodox Life Escape by Carolyn Jessop  Follow Dr. Sara Glass: @drsaraglass  Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends!  Email us: [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Ashley Herring Blake! Ashley Herring Blake is an award-winning author and teacher. She loves coffee, cats, melancholy songs, and happy books. She is the author of six novels for young adult and middle grade readers, as well as the Bright Falls adults romance novels and the holiday romance, Make the Season Bright. She lives on a very tiny island off the coast of Georgia with her family. In this conversation, Ashley Herring Blake shares her journey from a musical background to becoming a successful author. She discusses her daily writing routine, the tools she uses, and how her commitment to writing for queer youth. The conversation also touches on family dynamics and the importance of representation in literature. In this conversation, Ashley shares her journey of navigating faith, identity, and the complexities of being a queer woman in a conservative environment. She discusses her experiences with religious trauma, the impact of personal loss on her beliefs, and the challenges of coming out. Ashley emphasizes the importance of representation in literature, particularly for queer individuals, and her desire to write stories that reflect both struggles and joys. Give this episode a listen! Recommendations From This Episode:  Happiest Season Enigma Variations Follow Ashley Herring Blake: @ashleyhblake Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends!  Email us: [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Ruth Chan! Ruth Chan is an illustrator/author of comics and children’s books. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Cup of Jo, and with publishers HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Disney-Hyperion, and Abrams. Prior to illustrating full time, she spent a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. UPROOTED is her first graphic novel. She is a proud Canadian and lives and works in NYC. In this engaging conversation, Ruth discusses her experiences as a new mother, the challenges of balancing work and parenting, and the journey of creating her graphic novel 'Uprooted.' She reflects on family dynamics, cultural identity, and the importance of storytelling in understanding one's heritage. She discusses her journey moving from Canada to China, the challenges of finding a sense of belonging, and her career in education and illustration. You don’t want to miss our discussion about the impact of AI on the illustration industry. Give this episode a listen!. Recommendations From This Episode: Where the Sidewalk Ends Running With Scissors  Follow Ruth Chan: @ohtruth Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends!  Email us: [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we bring you part II of our special episode of Alone at Lunch. Normally, we bring you discussions of feeling like the odd one out with comedians, authors, content creators, and more individuals of whom you’ve heard and can follow their careers. This episode, we decided to switch things up and present an anonymous crazy story told first hand by the person who lived it.  The individual in this episode, who chose to be known as “Trip,” continues where he left off, discussing getting home tohis sick mother, going to Burning Man, having social anxiety, being passionate about helping others, and so much more.  It is important that we provide several trigger warnings including discussions of suicide and illegal immigration. This podcast and podcast network do not condone or support the actions discussed in this episode. However, we believe that stories deserve to be told, especially when they ring so true to that “Alone at Lunch” feeling.  We will be continuing the anonymous stories special episodes, so if you have a story to tell or know someone who does, please email us!  Recommendations From This Episode: Life As A House Therapy - Psychology Today Volunteering  Drive-Away Dolls Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends!  Email us: [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Katie Novotny! Katie Novotny is a standup comedian who has been an official artist at Limestone Comedy Festival, Vail Comedy Festival, Amsterdam’s Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, HBO’s Women in Comedy Festival, and many more. She’s currently a co-host of Good Follow, a women’s sports show on the DraftKings network where she gets to bring her love of sports and comedy to one place. She trained at Second City and iO in improv and sketch comedy, produced two award-winning web series (Guilty and Wellness Check), and her pilot scripts have landed her as a semi-finalist in Slamdance and Screencraft. She's performed at Hollywood Fringe Festival and is commercially repped by BBR. She dreams of using her arthritic knees to become an influencer for Bengay. In this conversation, Katie shares her journey through freelancing and comedy, physical injuries while performing comedy, her first paid feature, and the dynamics of adjusting her comedy set for different audiences. The conversation also touches on themes of anxiety regarding the future and reflections on relationships, both personal and professional, as well as growing up in Naperville, Chicago. In this engaging conversation, the speakers explore the nuances of creativity in comedy, the journey of finding acceptance within the comedy community, and the personal experience of dining alone. The discussion highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the joy of enjoying one's own company while navigating the complexities of life and comedy. Recommendations From This Episode:  Waiting For Guffman Little Giants Follow Katie: @kathnovotny Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends!  Email us: [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.