What happens when a transit strike cab ride turns into a lifelong friendship… and that friend grows up to write a Mormon musical, reunite with her birth parents, launch a songwriting podcast, and casually sing about having a nervous breakdown in IKEA? This week on Put Your Books Down hosted by Natalie Sanderson Jones and Angela Bingham, we sit down with pianist, singer-songwriter, and human beam of light Deidre Struck — and let's just say… we laugh, we cry, we overshare. From writing lullabies through Carnegie Hall's Lullaby Project to interviewing musicians on her podcast The Song Inside, to creating a bold Mormon musical called Fun Spot, Deidre shares how art isn't frivolous — it's survival. We talk: Finding your voice in your 40s & 50s Growing up in high-control religion Reuniting with birth parents (bring tissues) Why teenagers are actually awesome And yes… the IKEA panic-attack song you didn't know you needed If the world feels heavy, this is your 45-minute pop culture meditation. Take a breath. Laugh with us. Then put your books down. 👉 Subscribe to Put Your Books Down 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube 👉 Follow us on social @putyourbooksdown Check out our website here: https://putyourbooksdown.com/ Watch the show on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb18ywHqVOG_d2BKfy_-XS3MaDi6dz6s7 Follow Put Your Books Down on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/putyourbooksdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putyourbooksdown/ Natalie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nataliesanderson/ Angela on IG: https://www.instagram.com/angelabinghamofficial/ Podcast produced by http://clantoncreative.com