When life delivers unthinkable loss, what happens next can change everything. Cancer survival, grief and healing, a mother-daughter business, resilience after loss, and turning pain into purpose and connection are all discussed on this episode of Call Me Friend, featuring Laura Stachler and her daughter Susan Stachler.

This is an inside-out story of grief, resilience, and purpose. After losing Laura’s sister Susan to Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the family later faced the same diagnosis again when daughter Susan was in college. What followed was cancer treatment, uncertainty, and an unexpected idea that started in a garage and grew into a nationally loved business built on comfort, connection, and saying “I’m thinking of you.”

Together, they share how baking became therapy, how a single ginger snap helped ease chemo nausea, and how Susan Snaps grew into a way to support people during life’s hardest moments. This episode explores what it means to move through trauma, redefine success, and build community when you feel like an outsider.

If you believe small gestures matter, this conversation will stay with you.

✅ How grief can become a catalyst for purpose

✅ What it means to build a business after cancer

✅ Why baking became a form of healing

✅ How Susansnaps grew from a garage to a national brand

✅ Why perspective changes everything after loss

✅ How small acts of kindness create real community

00:00 An inside-out story of loss and resilience

04:10 Losing a sister to Hodgkin’s lymphoma

07:40 A shocking cancer diagnosis repeats generations later

11:00 Baking as therapy during chemo

12:45 The ginger snap that changed everything

15:20 Turning comfort into a business

18:00 Mother-daughter business dynamics

21:00 Perspective after surviving cancer

23:45 “Asking for a Friend” advice on belonging

27:50 Being told “you can’t” and proving otherwise

34:00 Why kindness matters more than perfection

🔹 Trauma changes perspective forever

🔹 Healing can start in unexpected places

🔹 Purpose often grows out of pain

🔹 Community is built through small, consistent kindness

🔹 You don’t have to fit in to make an impact

Laura Stachler and her daughter Susan Stachler are the founders of Susansnaps, a cookie company born out of cancer treatment, love, and the need to bring comfort to others. What began as homemade ginger snaps shared at a cancer center has grown into a nationally recognized brand known for connection, compassion, and showing up when words fall short.

1. Susansnaps: https://susansnaps.com/
2. Angel Flight Soars https://www.angelflightsoars.org/
3. Jack Black Lip Balm https://amzn.to/4sl1ntV

Reinvention after 70 is not about starting over, it’s about evolving with clarity and courage. On Call Me Friend, Daryn Kagan calls bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews for a raw, honest conversation about aging boldly, personal loss, career pivots, and finally saying what matters most.

Mary Kay shares how she transitioned from newspaper journalism to writing more than 30 bestselling novels, why losing her daughter changed how she shows up in the world, and what pushed her to become outspoken on social media later in life. Together, they explore why evolution matters more than reinvention, how grief and purpose can coexist, and why having fewer filters can actually bring more connection.

This episode also touches on health after 70, finding meaning through advocacy, and why pivoting is one of the most important life skills as we age.

If you are navigating change, grief, or wondering what’s next in midlife or beyond, this conversation will remind you that growth doesn’t have an expiration date.

✅ Why evolution matters more than reinvention as we age

✅ How Mary Kay Andrews left journalism to become a bestselling author

✅ How grief reshaped her priorities and sense of purpose

✅ Why she decided to speak out politically later in life

✅ How to pivot without a safety net

✅ Why aging can bring freedom instead of fear

(00:00) Reinvention after 70 and evolving without apology

(04:10) Health, aging, and changing habits later in life

(08:00) Leaving journalism and secretly writing fiction

(13:20) Getting published by breaking the rules

(18:40) Creating the Mary Kay Andrews pen name

(24:10) Losing her daughter and navigating grief

(28:30) Advocacy, purpose, and speaking out

(33:40) Social media, backlash, and finding your voice

(37:30) Why pivoting is the ultimate life skill

🔹 Reinvention doesn’t always mean starting over

🔹 Grief and purpose can exist at the same time

🔹 Aging brings clarity and courage

🔹 Pivoting is a skill that grows with time

Mary Kay Andrews is a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels published. A former newspaper journalist, she built a second career writing beloved Southern fiction and mysteries. Today, she is also known for her outspoken advocacy, powerful storytelling, and fearless honesty about aging, loss, and purpose.

1. Mary Kay Andrews new book "Road Trip" https://amzn.to/3OebLVs
2. Friends and Fiction:https://friendsandfiction.com/
3. Helping Mamas: https://helpingmamas.org/
4. Department Q: https://www.netflix.com/title/81487660

CNN’s John King, famous for election night coverage at the Magic Wall, opens up about living with multiple sclerosis, how MS shapes his daily life, and why hope and healing keep him going.

CNN’s John King is known worldwide for guiding viewers through presidential elections on CNN with the Magic Wall. But behind the political maps and election coverage is a personal battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

In this powerful Call Me Friend episode, host Daryn Kagan reconnects with her longtime CNN colleague to explore John’s journey of resilience. He reveals how MS impacts his health and career, how he balances hope with hard days, and why empathy and healing matter more than ever.

This is more than politics. It’s about family, faith in conversation, and finding optimism in the face of challenge.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅How John King discovered his multiple sclerosis diagnosis and what it means day-to-day

✅What it takes to stay steady while covering CNN’s election nights with the Magic Wall

✅Why empathy, patience, and resilience became his greatest lessons from living with MS

✅How John still finds hope and purpose in journalism, family, and everyday conversations

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Key Timestamps

• (00:00) John King On Hope, Healing, And What Keeps Him Going Through MS
• (0:53) Intro to Call Me Friend and setup of John King’s story
• (2:36) John is living with multiple sclerosis, why this conversation matters
• (3:00) Sponsor message  Ms Lou’s Cabin
• (4:08) John joins, quick catch up and location chat
• (10:02) Optimism that the next generation will fix our mistakes
• (17:51) The “All Over the Map” project, listening to voters across America
• (20:28) Polarization, why conversation works better than combat
• (29:03) MS diagnosis story, symptoms building to the 2008 Republican Convention
• (33:01) MS symptoms, fatigue, meds, costs, and how he adapts his day
• (43:46) Magic Wall origin story, who used it first, how John took it on
• (44:09) Behind the scenes on election coverage and the tech that powers it

🔹 John King’s candid story of resilience while living with multiple sclerosis

🔹 The behind-the-scenes reality of CNN election night coverage

🔹 Why optimism and healing fuel his work in journalism and life as a father

🔹 A reminder that empathy and patience can shift how we see each other

John King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor, known for his groundbreaking use of the Magic Wall during U.S. election coverage. With nearly 30 years at CNN, he has reported on politics, presidents, and pivotal national moments. Today, he is also openly sharing his experience living with multiple sclerosis, offering a deeply human perspective on resilience, hope, and healing.

• John King https://www.instagram.com/johnkingcnn
• Firekeeper's Daughter https://amzn.to/4niDGiG
• Just One More Foundation: JustOneMoreFoundation.org 
• Daryn's book:

Bestselling author Kristin Harmel opens up about losing and rebuilding identity during breast cancer treatment, and the friendships that carried her through it. Daryn and Kristin chat about asking for help, receiving it without guilt, and letting friends hold your hope when you cannot. Kristin reflects on her comeback to writing, how community fuels creative recovery, and the small habits that kept her grounded as a parent and a writer. You will hear practical ways to support a friend in treatment, plus how to come back to yourself with patience and purpose. 

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ Practical ways to rebuild creative identity after a life shock like cancer

✅ Tiny habits to restart creativity post chemo brain

✅ How Friends and Fiction lifts authors, readers, and indie bookstores

✅ Why a vulnerable author’s note can hit harder than a plot twist

If you’re looking for inspiration, insight, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most trusted voices in journalism, this conversation delivers.

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• 00:00 Kristin Harmel on losing identity, finding her voice again, and the life behind her latest bestseller
• 02:17 Ms Lou’s Cabin on Georgia’s coast
• 07:02 Why her books make us cry and the twist this time. Author’s note that hit different
• 08:16 Diagnosis in October 2022, chemo brain is real, and the fear of not finding the words again
• 10:10 Colette’s identity crisis mirrors Kristin’s. Who are you if you are not the thing you do
• 11:26 Parenting through treatment and protecting a 6 year old from adult fear
• 17:02 How the writing faucet turned back on. Confidence, groove, and the next novel arriving easier
• 21:20 How Kristin made the leap from People magazine to published novelist
• 24:01 The Paris outline method. Studying structure by outlining successful novels
• 29:24 Friends and Fiction origin during early COVID, lifting indie bookstores, and building a 300k reader community
• 33:29 Collaboration over competition. Why author friendships grow everyone’s reach
• 43:19 Kristin’s book recommendations and why early reads feel magical
• 45:00 Call with sister Kallan Kagan
• 52:01 TikTok Shop wall anchors and renter friendly hacks

🔹 Friendship is a lifeline. Let people carry hope when you cannot

🔹 Identity is bigger than work. Build anchors in values, relationships, and daily rituals

🔹 Recovery is not linear. Track tiny wins and stack them until momentum returns

🔹 Structure unlocks flow. Simple outlines make room for surprise on the page

Kristin Harmel is a New York Times bestselling author of World War II historical fiction, including The Book of Lost Names, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Paris Daughter, and The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau She co founded Friends and Fiction and champions readers, bookstores, and resilient creativity.

• The Sea Stone Sisters https://amzn.to/46WWi1M
• Friends and Fiction Facebook Group:

Addiction recovery and second chances aren’t easy, but Scottie Bowman proves they’re possible. In this episode of Call Me Friend, Daryn Kagan calls her friend Scottie to share how she went from a 12-day drug and alcohol binge on the streets of Atlanta to 24 years of sobriety. Today, Scottie is not only a successful restaurant owner in Chattanooga, but also the founder of The Launchpad, a nonprofit creating sober living houses for women in recovery. Her journey shows the power of resilience, second chances, and what’s possible when recovery takes root.

Scottie opens up about her darkest moments, the turning point that led her to treatment, and the 24 years of sobriety that followed. Her journey shows how second chances can ripple outward, first saving yourself, then lifting others.

If you’re searching for real-life addiction recovery stories, insights into sobriety and second chances, or inspiration from women overcoming trauma and addiction, this conversation is packed with hope, honesty, and healing.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ How Scottie Bowman survived a 12-day drug and alcohol binge that nearly killed her

✅ The role of treatment, 12-step programs, and sober living in her long-term sobriety

✅ Why she chose to stay in the restaurant and bar business while maintaining recovery

✅ How she turned personal success into The Launchpad, a community of sober living houses serving 55 women at a time

If you’re looking for inspiration, insight, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most trusted voices in journalism, this conversation delivers.

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00 Sobriety & Second Chances: Scottie Bowman’s Amazing Secon Chance & Recovery Story
• 1:03 Introduction to Scottie Bowman’s addiction story
• 5:15 Early struggles and family trauma that fueled addiction
• 7:14  The New Year’s Eve binge that spiraled into 12 days of nonstop use
• 13:04  Moment of clarity: realizing she didn’t want to die
• 14:07  Treatment at Cornerstone and the start of sobriety
• 18:05  Building her first sober living house, The Launchpad
• 20:34  Growth into five houses serving women in recovery
• 24:02  Why work and accountability are key to sobriety
• 31:02  Coping with relapse and loss in the recovery community
• 36:10  The friend who changed everything: Jack Lupton and his life-changing support
• 40:50  Scottie’s message on boundaries, grace, and hope for those still struggling
• 41:40 Daryn calls sister Kallan Kagan to talk about the call with Scottie Bowman

Key Takeaways

🔹 Recovery is possible—even after decades of addiction and near-death experiences.

🔹 Community and structure matter—sober living, work, and accountability provide lasting stability.

🔹 Second chances multiply—when one person recovers, they create opportunities for others.

🔹 Boundaries are love—learning to say no is essential for both sobriety and relationships.

About Scottie Bowman

Scottie Bowman is a Chattanooga-based entrepreneur, restaurant owner, and founder of The Launchpad, a nonprofit creating sober living homes for women. With over 24 years of sobriety, Scottie’s mission is to break the stigma of addiction and help women rebuild their lives through accountability, community, and...

What does it take to rise from childhood bullying, Tourette syndrome, and the fear of never making it to national television, to becoming one of the most beloved Contributor in America? In this episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan sits down with CBS News contributor David Begnaud to explore his extraordinary journey of resilience, authenticity, and second chances.

David opens up about growing up in Louisiana with Tourette syndrome, navigating the challenges of being gay in a conservative environment, and the teachers, mentors, and friends who changed his life. From his career-defining coverage in Puerto Rico to creating “Beg Knows America”– segments that spotlight everyday heroes, David shares how he turned past pain into purpose and why storytelling remains his ultimate calling.

✅ How David Begnaud overcame bullying, Tourette syndrome, and self-doubt to build a national journalism career

✅ The pivotal role of friendship, mentorship, and second chances in shaping his life

✅ Why redefining success helped him shift from hard news to uplifting storytelling

✅ The surprising lessons he learned about resilience, authenticity, and living without attachment to past pain

If you’re looking for inspiration, insight, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most trusted voices in journalism, this conversation delivers.

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00  Childhood trauma, Tourette syndrome, bullying, and survival
• 05:02  How Daryn and David first connected: a DM that sparked friendship
• 08:04  The “news bug” story: how a 7-year-old became obsessed with TV news
• 11:11  Living with Tourette syndrome and learning to turn trauma into resilience
• 19:02  Facing doubt at CBS: from rejection to respect
• 23:31  Puerto Rico coverage: breaking point, burnout, and finding a new purpose
• 28:28  The dog trainer revealed as a convicted murderer, a lesson in second chances
• 34:11  The teacher who changed David’s life and launched his career
• 37:50  Book and documentary recommendations that inspire his work
• 39:11  A call for stories: how you can share everyday heroes with David

4 Key Takeaways

💎Resilience often comes from the deepest pain, we can turn trauma into testimony.

💎Authentic storytelling creates connection far beyond headlines.

💎Mentors and friends can change the course of a life forever.

💎Redefining success sometimes means stepping away from what once defined you.

Guest Bio: David Begnaud

David Begnaud is an Emmy-winning journalist and contributor for CBS News, known for his authentic storytelling and uplifting series “Beg Knows America”. From his acclaimed coverage of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico to his deeply human stories of resilience, Begnaud has become one of the most trusted voices in broadcast journalism. Living with Tourette syndrome and embracing his identity as a gay man, David’s journey is one of triumph over adversity, a celebration of authenticity, and proof that second chances can change everything.

Resource Links

• David's...

Two dads share raw stories of grief, single fatherhood, and healing while building friendship and hope after loss. In this episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan connects with David McClain and Jamal Jones, two fathers who each lost their wives to cancer and her husband Trent, who walked a similar path. Together, they open up about parenting through grief, rediscovering love, and starting their podcast Getting Back Up. Their conversation highlights resilience, fatherhood, and the importance of honest dialogue about loss and healing.

What You’ll Learn

• ✅ How two single dads turned tragedy into friendship and healing.
• ✅ The challenges of parenting after losing a spouse.
• ✅ Why men’s conversations about grief and mental health matter.
• ✅ How shared stories can inspire resilience and hope.

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Subscribe & Connect

Subscribe for more powerful, purpose-filled conversations on second chances and real-life impact

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Follow @CallMeFriendPodcast on all platforms

Email Daryn@DarynKagan.com 

Timestamps

• 00:00 Jamal introduces the journey of becoming a single dad
• 04:40 Jamal’s story of love, loss, and raising three kids
• 07:12 David shares his marriage, diagnosis, and raising two daughters
• 10:47 How their daughters brought them together at a bowling alley
• 16:21 The idea for their podcast Getting Back Up
• 22:31 Trent shares his own story of grief and fatherhood
• 26:19 Balancing fatherhood, dating, and honoring legacy
• 33:33 The realities of “dad-mom” parenting moments
• 38:44 A powerful connection through their daughters’ names
• 42:00 Final recommendations: vinegar, stretching, and credit health

Key Takeaways

• 💎 Grief can become a bridge that connects people in unexpected ways.
• 💎 Parenting after loss requires resilience, humor, and community.
• 💎 Men need more spaces to openly share feelings and struggles.
• 💎 Healing doesn’t erase the past, it honors it while building forward.

 Resources & Links

• Getting Back Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5se2NarmSX9wRPlMP2CgYc?si=244006d26a8f4394
• Getting Back Up Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getbackuppodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Ms Lou’s Cabin Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/h/mslouscabin

Jamal Jones is a father of three navigating life after the loss of his wife to cancer. He co-hosts Getting Back Up, a podcast helping men face grief with honesty and resilience.

David McClain is a devoted dad raising two daughters after losing his wife to uterine sarcoma. His mission is to create open conversations about fatherhood, loss, and rebuilding.

Trent Swanson is husband to host Daryn Kagan and father who also experienced...

From CNBC to Money Rehab, Nicole Lapin brings a powerful story of financial resilience, personal finance mastery, and rebuilding after loss. In this episode of the Call Me Friend podcast, host Daryn Kagan sits down with Nicole to explore her journey from becoming the youngest anchor at CNBC to privately battling debt, making financial literacy accessible to all, and starting over after the devastating Palisades fire destroyed her home just two weeks after becoming a mom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Nicole Lapin transitioned from CNBC anchor to Money Rehab host and financial educator

✅ The financial literacy mistakes even experts make and how to avoid them

✅ Disaster preparedness tips that can protect your personal finances and peace of mind

✅ The emotional and financial lessons of losing everything in the Palisades fire

✅ Why resilience, reinvention, and chosen family are just as important as money in recovery

Nicole shares how she used her financial literacy skills to navigate a crisis, what she wishes she had done differently, and why taking action before disaster strikes is key. Daryn Kagan guides this heartfelt Call Me Friend podcast conversation, filled with personal stories, actionable tips, and a reminder that even in the toughest seasons, personal finance knowledge and strong relationships can help you rebuild.

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📢 Subscribe & Connect

Subscribe for more powerful, purpose-filled conversations on second chances and real-life impact

Sign up for our newsletter: https://darynkagan.substack.com/

Follow @CallMeFriendPodcast on all platforms

Email Daryn@DarynKagan.com 

• 0:00 Daryn introduces Nicole’s journey: motherhood, partnership, and sudden loss in the Palisades fire
• 2:00 Nicole opens up about debt while being a CNBC financial anchor
• 7:02 How one email from Daryn changed Nicole’s career path
• 10:00 Early career struggles: layoffs at CNN’s digital network and pivoting to CNBC
• 13:30 Financial “imposter syndrome”  teaching money while in personal debt
• 15:03 Nicole’s journey to get out of credit card debt and build her own financial literacy system
• 16:00 Leaving CNBC mid-contract to build her own brand against traditional advice
• 19:00 Writing Rich Bitch and taking risks with bold branding
• 21:33 Launching The Money School and addressing the financial literacy gap
• 23:00 Reflecting on her career shift and what she truly wanted to be: a writer
• 24:00 The Palisades fire, losing everything two weeks after her daughter’s birth
• 28:00 What Nicole wishes she had done differently (insurance, documentation, preparedness)
• 31:00 Rebuilding life, turning her garage into a studio, finding stability
• 32:12 Friendship through crisis: who showed up and who didn’t
• 35:24 Motherhood through loss: how priorities shift to the basics
• 37:18 Rethinking her relationship with “stuff” after losing it all
• 39:36 Money, happiness, and the threshold where wealth stops increasing joy
• 43:00 Nicole’s interview with Ray Dalio and the reality that money can’t buy immunity from loss
• 44:18 Nicole’s recommendation to friends: therapy, even when life feels fine
• 45:06 Tribute to her chosen sister Tracy, a friend who showed up in life-changing ways
• 47:48 Closing thoughts: why financial self-care belongs alongside other forms of self-care

💎 Financial literacy is an essential life skill to start before you’re in...

Second chances, lightning strike survival, and overcoming adversity take center stage in this powerful episode of the Call Me Friend Podcast. Host Daryn Kagan welcomes Richard Rogers, a lightning strike survivor who faced death and lived to share his inspiring second chance story. Joined by Alberto, founder of West Texas Barber Academy, they share how second chances change lives and fuel missions of giving back. Just One More Foundation, founded by Richard Rogers, provides critical support to individuals like Alberto, helping him take his barber school to the next level through accreditation, barber school expansion.

Richard Rogers’ lightning strike survivor story is not just about survival. It is about transformation, service, and living with purpose. His second chance became the inspiration for Just One More Foundation, where he helps others like Alberto turn personal adversity into empowerment. Alberto’s Barber School offers affordable education, barber school accreditation, and training for aspiring barbers from underserved communities. Together, Richard and Alberto show how second chances ripple through lives and communities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How a lightning strike survivor turned adversity into a mission of giving back
• The journey of West Texas Barber Academy toward accreditation and community impact
• Why vocational education and trade school entrepreneurship are life-changing
• The power of nonprofit support and second chance stories in underserved communities

If you’re looking for second chance stories, lightning strike survivor interviews, giving back inspiration, or insights into barber school accreditation and overcoming adversity, this episode is for you. Join us on the Call Me Friend Podcast for a conversation filled with heart, hope, and the power of giving back.

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Key Timestamps:

• (00:00) Richard Rogers survival story: “It killed me. I was laying in the bed on fire dead.”
• (01:00) Daryn introduces the episode and her unforgettable on air blooper
• (05:18) Richard recounts the 1995 lightning strike that ended and restarted  his life
• (08:45) A 14 year-old boy performs CPR and brings Richard back from death
• (12:20) Richard’s hospital moment: “If I get another chance, I won’t live for me”
• (16:10) The birth of the Just One More Foundation: turning a second chance into service
• (20:30) Meet Alberto: raised without his father, finds purpose through barbering
• (25:01) Surprise grant moment: Alberto reacts as Just One More gifts $6,823
• (30:45) Alberto shares how the funds will help him get accredited and expand his school
• (35:40) Richard and Daryn reflect on what makes someone worth betting on

Key Takeaways:

• Second chances can transform lives far beyond the individual, as seen in Richard Rogers’ lightning strike survivor story.
• The Just One More Foundation helps individuals like Alberto pursue their dreams by supporting his barber school accreditation and make education accessible.
• Giving back creates a ripple effect that multiplies opportunities for entire communities.
• Overcoming adversity requires resilience, faith, and a commitment to helping others rise.

About the Guest:

Richard Rogers is a lightning strike survivor who turned his miraculous second chance into a lifelong mission of service. As founder of the Just One More Foundation, Richard helps others overcome adversity and strike launch careers, including supporting Alberto’s Barber School in Lubbock, Texas. His...

Deborah Norville reveals the real reason she left Inside Edition after 30 years and what sparked her most unexpected career transition yet. In her most in depth and revealing conversation to date, Deborah sits down with longtime friend and fellow broadcaster Daryn Kagan to share what really happened behind the scenes. Was it truly her choice? What condition did her bosses refuse to meet? And what joyful surprise came just days after she walked away from her dream job?

In this exclusive episode of Call Me Friend, Deborah opens up about what it means to truly start over, not from failure, but from strength. She reflects on the pressure of proving herself for nearly five decades, the emotional moment that brought her career full circle, and why it takes more courage to walk away from “good enough” than to rebuild after a setback. From being publicly let go during maternity leave at NBC’s Today Show to becoming the longest-running anchor in American television history, Deborah’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and self-trust.

Just days after announcing her departure from Inside Edition, Deborah received life changing personal news, she’s about to become a grandmother for the first time. Now, she’s turning to listeners for help: What should her grandma name be? She’s collecting suggestions, and yours could be the one that sticks.

1. The surprising reason Deborah Norville really left Inside Edition after 30 year
2. How to navigate a career transition with confidence, even when it’s unexpected
3. The mindset shift Deborah used to redefine her identity beyond a job title
4. What it takes to reinvent yourself at any stage of life or career
5. How gratitude became Deborah’s secret weapon for resilience and reinvention
6. Why walking away from “good enough” can be harder than recovering from failure
7. How her sudden departure led to the joyful surprise of becoming a first-time grandma
8. The behind-the-scenes truth about her Today Show exit and how it shaped everything after

Whether you’re navigating a career transition, redefining your identity, or wondering what’s next, this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and the kind of inspiration only a real conversation between friends can bring.

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1. (00:00) Deborah’s early moment of doubt: "You don’t belong here"
2. (01:00) The power of proving someone wrong
3. (02:00) Daryn’s story of being let go from CNN
4. (03:40) Different kinds of starting over: forced vs. chosen
5. (05:30) Why Deborah chose to leave Inside Edition
6. (08:00) Reflecting on her career in broadcast journalism
7. (11:30) How the Today Show exit...

Two American sisters. Their mother's plea from her deathbed to finish her memoir leads them shockingly to their Nazi-linked grandfather. A Gracie Award-winning podcast. In this unforgettable Call Me Friend episode, host Daryn Kagan talks with Suzanne and Stephanie Rico about their gripping podcast The Man Who Calculated Death, exploring family legacy, Nazi Germany, and the truth hidden in a dying mother’s memoir. If you’re into family secrets, WWII history, or award winning storytelling this one’s for you.

• How a dying mother’s memoir sparked a deep investigation into a Nazi-linked family history
• The process of turning personal trauma and family secrets into an award-winning podcast
• What it was like for two sisters to uncover their grandfather’s role in Hitler’s weapons program
• The emotional and ethical weight of confronting Holocaust history within your own lineage
• How science, journalism, and sisterhood came together to reveal uncomfortable truths
• The real story behind the V-1 vengeance weapon and its ties to Nazi concentration camps
• What the Rico sisters learned about legacy, generational trauma, and redemption
• Behind the scenes of creating The Man Who Calculated Death as a sister-led podcast team
• Why resilience, collaboration, and truth-telling are core to both their podcast and their healing journey

Discover how a journalist and a scientist used podcasting to unravel their grandfather’s role in Hitler’s weapons program and what they found at a concentration camp that changed everything.

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Timestamps :

• (00:00) A dying wish: Finish my memoir
• (01:00) Meet Suzanne Rico and her Emmy-worthy storytelling 
• (02:36) How Facebook connected two recovering journalists
• (05:28) Daryn discovers the powerful podcast The Man Who Calculated Death
• (07:00) The legacy of their grandfather’s weapon design for Hitler
• (08:36) Stephanie—voice memos, war stories, and Nazi archives
• (11:06) From memoir to podcast: how it evolved
• (13:12) Did their mom know they’d uncover Nazi secrets?
• (15:00) The weight of truth: family guilt and generational trauma
• (17:12) The V-1 vengeance weapon and ties to concentration camps
• (19:06) Sisters reflect on truth, teamwork, and emotional healing
• (21:42) The aunts: storytelling, survival, and sisterhood
• (24:00) What the Rico sisters learned about resilience
• (27:00) Legacy, redemption, and one powerful apology to a Holocaust survivor
• (30:12) Behind the scenes: How working with a sister shapes the project
• (34:36) Advice for sister teams launching podcasts

Key Takeaways:

• A dying mother’s memoir launched a multi-year investigation into a family’s Nazi-linked past
• Suzanne and Stephanie Rico used journalism, science, and family archives to create an award-winning podcast
• Their grandfather designed Hitler’s V-1 vengeance weapon and joined the Nazi party for career survival
• The sisters’ emotional journey included confronting Holocaust survivors and family myths
• Sisterhood, resilience, and truth-telling are at the heart of both their podcast and their lives

Guest Bios:

Suzanne Rico is a former TV journalist turned podcast creator. She’s the writer, narrator, and producer of The Man Who Calculated Death, a deeply personal and award-winning exploration of her family's past.

Stephanie Rico is a sustainability strategist with a background in science. Fluent in German and equally devoted to the investigation, she joined her sister on this podcast journey, helping...

From CNN anchors to lifelong friends, Daryn Kagan and Bill Hemmer reunite to toast decades of broadcast journalism, newsroom camaraderie, and life lessons.

What happens when your “arranged marriage” at work turns into a real friendship? In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan reconnects with her former CNN co-anchor, now Fox News host, Bill Hemmer. Their candid chat explores journalism careers, behind the scenes moments as TV co-anchors, and the surprising rituals (yes, banana toast!) that kept them grounded.

• What it’s really like to co-anchor a national newscast with someone you barely know and how it can spark a real-life friendship
• The banana toast ritual that brought levity and grounding to high-stakes newsroom life
• How Bill Hemmer and Daryn Kagan navigated grief, growth, and legacy as longtime broadcast journalists
• Why “work spouse” dynamics matter and how co-anchor chemistry affects the viewer experience
• Practical advice from Bill for young journalists entering media careers in today’s fast-paced environment
• Behind-the-scenes stories from CNN to Fox News and the evolution of journalism careers through decades of change
• What June 1st means to Bill Hemmer and why this date connects his past and present as a news anchor
• How travel, curiosity, and lifelong learning fuel the careers and friendships of veteran TV journalists

From covering breaking news to navigating personal loss, and from media industry stories to cross network friendship, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the real people behind the news anchor stories. Expect laughter, heart, and valuable insight into how two broadcast journalism pros built a lasting bond in the spotlight and beyond.

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• (0:00) Daryn and Bill reflect on their chemistry as CNN anchors and their unique “arranged” friendship at work
• (4:06) Daryn’s bold move from reporter to TV co-anchor and sports journalist
• (5:12)  How CNN paired them up and how this “work spouse” dynamic became iconic
• (6:42) The inside story of their banana toast ritual, a newsroom favorite
• (11:36)  Bill on grief, family, and the strength it takes in journalism careers
• (17:42) Why June 1st is Bill’s most meaningful date as both a CNN and Fox News host
• (21:30) His go to advice for young journalists building media industry stories
• (23:12) How TV co-anchors stay grounded amid politics, pressure, and public perception
• (27:42) Lessons from a long career in news: the human side of broadcast journalism
• (30:00) How classic, tactile prep keeps Bill grounded in today’s media
• (31:31) Bill on wanderlust, what's next, and friendship that’s built to last
• (35:00) Emirates flights, travel dreams, and more real-life stories from two newsroom pros

• Chemistry Can’t Be Faked: Real chemistry between TV co-anchors is built on true friendship at worK and shows up on screen.
• Mentorship That Matters: Bill shares timeless media industry stories and advice for journalism careers: ask questions, show up, play well.
• Grief, Gratitude, Legacy: Bill opens up about his father's passing, a moving moment from a veteran Fox News host.
• Curiosity Is a Career Fuel: From CNN anchors to global travelers, Bill and Daryn show how broadcast journalism evolves with purpose.

Dating after 40 and being single can feel exhausting in modern dating culture. On Call Me Friend, Daryn Kagan talks with dating coach Treva Brandon Scharf about dating burnout and finding love later in life without losing yourself.

Treva shares her late-bloomer love story, why being single does not mean something is wrong with you, and how releasing pressure can actually create space for real connection. Together, they unpack how modern dating apps have changed relationships, why conviction matters more than confidence, and how “settling on” someone can be a powerful and intentional choice.

This episode also introduces a new segment, Asking for a Friend, where a listener navigating dating after 40 asks how to stay hopeful when the future feels uncertain. Treva’s advice reframes dating burnout, self-worth, and timing in a way that feels grounding, realistic, and deeply reassuring.

If you are single, burned out from dating apps, or wondering whether finding love later in life is still possible, this conversation will remind you that where you are now is not where you will always be.

✅ Why being single is not a personal failure

✅ How releasing pressure can actually open the door to love

✅ What “settling on” someone really means and why it can be powerful

✅ Why conviction matters more than confidence or chemistry

✅ How dating apps are fueling burnout and how to date with intention

✅ Why love rarely looks the way we expect it to

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1. 00:00 Why being single does not mean you are broken
2. 06:30 The truth about timing, panic, and the biological clock
3. 10:00 Letting go of the death grip and meeting love unexpectedly
4. 17:40 Why desperation changes your picker
5. 23:20 Conviction versus confidence in dating
6. 28:00 Redefining “settling” as a decisive choice
7. 30:00 Asking for a Friend segment begins
8. 39:50 When love and family look different than you imagined

🔹 Being single is a season, not a verdict

🔹 You cannot force love, but you can create opportunity

🔹 Dating success starts with self-belief, not perfection

🔹 Surrender is not giving up, it is trusting the process

Treva Brandon Scharf is a certified dating, relationship, and life coach and the author of Done Being Single. A self-described late bloomer, Treva spent decades dating before finding lasting love and now helps others navigate modern dating with clarity, accountability, and self-trust.

1. Done Being Single: A Late Bloomer’s Guide to Love by Treva Brandon Scharf https://amzn.to/4tfyWP0

What do gay boyfriends, heartbreak, and funnel cake have in common? They led to a real-life love story about friendship, second chances, and finally finding a husband.

This friendship podcast and love story podcast dives into dating after heartbreak, single parent dating, and the surprising ways connection can show up when you least expect it.

In this episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan shares how her longtime friends Craig and Michael—her hilarious, devoted gay best friends—became unexpected matchmakers. Through heartfelt conversations about love, loss, and second chances, Daryn reveals how their wingman instincts set her up to meet Trent, the man who would become her husband.

What began as a tough weekend turned into a real love story when a funnel cake line at a local festival sparked a connection that changed everything. This heartwarming friendship podcast episode is about trusting your friends, embracing the unexpected, and believing in love again even if you thought you’d given up.

At its core, this is more than just a dating story—it’s about the connection between friends who see you clearly, the conversations that encourage you to keep going, and the moments that lead to a life you never imagined.

In This Episode You Will Learn

• How two gay best friends turned wingmen led to a real-life love story
• The power of friendship and timing when it comes to dating after heartbreak
• Why even the lowest moments can become the turning point for something beautiful
• What it’s like dating as a single parent and blending families with grace
• How Daryn’s husband Trent rebuilt his life after loss and found love again
• Why trusting your friends might be the best relationship advice you’ll ever follow
• How a funnel cake line at a local festival sparked a second chance at love
• Real talk on single parent dating, grief, adoption, and building a life full of joy

Whether you’re navigating single life, dating as a single parent, or trying to trust the timing of your own story, this heartwarming episode of Call Me Friend is a must listen.

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• (00:00) Daryn’s dating struggles and friendships
• (01:18) The “thank you” call that sparked the story
• (02:00) Craig and Michael’s matchmaking success
• (07:00) Why Daryn was feeling low that weekend
• (08:54) The funnel cake encounter that changed everything
• (13:12) Trent’s version of meeting Daryn
• (19:34) When Michael stepped in to follow up
• (25:01) Single dad dating dynamics and family blending
• (26:28) From coffee to marriage and adopting a daughter
• (34:22) How a travel points obsession became a shared lifestyle
• (43:05) Heidi’s marriage story from a wedding introduction
• (44:59) How to shout out your own friends on the show

• Trust your friends—they might spot the right person before you do.
• The right timing sometimes starts with heartbreak.
• Single parents deserve lasting, meaningful love too.
• Even a funnel cake line can change your life.

Craig Pigg and Michael Prudent

Daryn’s close friends who’ve been together for over 30 years. Their support, humor, and intuition helped Daryn meet her future husband, and their story shows the power of enduring friendships.

Trent (Daryn’s Husband)

A devoted single father raising his daughter after losing his first wife. Trent shares how he found love again and built a blended family—with miles, funnel cakes, and a whole lot of heart.

They were both widowed young, left to raise children alone, carry the weight of grief, and somehow start again. But through love and one selfless act, a butterfly effect of friendship and connection reshaped three families forever.

This friendship podcast and organ transplant story explores how kidney donation, grief recovery, and resilience brought people together in ways no one could predict. Through heartfelt conversations, host Daryn Kagan shares how Kim and Steve—both widowed young, navigating grief recovery as single parents—found love again after tragedy and built a new blended family rooted in connection.

Just as they were finding their rhythm, a letter arrived from Kim’s longtime Stanford friend Melinda, who was facing polycystic kidney disease and urgently needed a live donor transplant. Kim was ready to step forward, but in a twist that deepened their bond, it was Steve—her new husband—who turned out to be the perfect match. His decision to donate a kidney didn’t just save Melinda’s life, it gave her children more time with their mom and forever connected three families in gratitude.

In this friendship podcast episode, you’ll hear the real-life story of resilience, love, and the ripple effect of kindness. These powerful conversations show how true friendship often shows up in surprising, life-changing ways. At its heart, this is a story about connection—between college friends, between grieving families, and between strangers who became chosen family through an act of radical generosity

• How a college friendship, a heartfelt letter, and a selfless act led to a life-saving kidney transplant
• Why Steve, a widower and father, chose to donate his kidney to his wife’s best friend
• The emotional journey of navigating grief, single parenting, and new beginnings
• How love, loss, and legacy shaped a blended family bonded by gratitude
• What it's like to ask for a live organ donor and the unexpected way help arrived
• Why true friendship often shows up in the most surprising and life-changing ways
• The ripple effect of compassion: how one act of generosity transformed three families
• Insights into polycystic kidney disease, post-traumatic growth, and chosen family

Whether you are interested in stories of medical miracles, inspired by real life heroes, or navigating blended families after loss, this powerful conversation will stay with you long after it ends. It is proof that one act of compassion can echo for generations.

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• (00:00) Steve reflects on why he volunteered for a kidney donation that changed three families
• (01:20) Daryn sets the stage for this friendship podcast with a college reunion story
• (03:30) Introducing Melinda and her Stanford connection in this organ transplant story
• (05:21) Melinda opens up about her polycystic kidney disease diagnosis
• (07:12) Writing the letter to ask for a live kidney donor
• (09:30) Kim receives the letter and begins her journey of grief recovery and helping a friend
• (10:54) Kim and Melinda’s college roommate connection
• (13:00) Kim’s story of loss, single parenting, and building a blended family
• (15:06) Steve’s journey through grief after losing his first wife
• (17:00) How Steve and Kim met and became part of this real life heroes story
• (22:00) Deciding together who will be the kidney donor for Melinda
• (24:45) Friendly competition: whose kidney is the best match
• (26:30) The emotional night before the live...

Leon Harris on Addiction, Recovery & Redemption. In the powerful premiere of Call Me Friend, Emmy-winning anchor Leon Harris sits down with host and former CNN co-anchor Daryn Kagan for his first interview since the very public incident last November that ended his TV news career. This raw, redemptive conversation dives deep into what it means to fall hard, heal deeply, and be truly seen by a friend who doesn’t flinch.

From their days breaking national news together—including 9/11 coverage—to Leon’s spiral into alcoholism and his very public exit from the anchor desk, this episode is a powerful reminder of the strength found in friendship, the courage it takes to recover, and the power of a well-timed phone call.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What really happened during the incident that ended Leon Harris’ TV news career
• The hidden toll of addiction, even for a high-profile, Emmy-winning journalist
• Why rehab was more than detox, and the psychiatric support that helped him heal
• How friendship shows up in hard times, and the phone call that changed everything
• What it feels like to lose your public identity and slowly rebuild from the inside out
• The role of medications like Naltrexone in supporting recovery
• Why Leon believes true redemption starts with self-reflection and radical honesty
• A powerful message for anyone struggling with addiction or thinking about making a change

Whether you're facing a tough season, supporting someone in recovery, or just need hope that reinvention is possible, this conversation is for you.

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TIMESTAMPS:

• (00:00) Leon Harris describes the incident that ended his TV career
• (01:15) Daryn introduces the friendship behind the scenes at CNN
• (03:30) Leon's move to Washington and rising local fame
• (07:30) The on-air incident and aftermath
• (10:00) Struggles with alcoholism and losing self-awareness
• (13:42) Going to rehab and a pivotal ride to recovery
• (17:12) Costly commitment: paying out-of-pocket for healing
• (20:30) The medications that helped his recovery
• (23:00) When NBC said no: the moment he realized it was over
• (26:00) The difference this time: honest self-reflection
• (28:24) Making peace with his past and his father
• (32:45) A message to anyone afraid to make the call
• (33:00) What true friendship sounds like
• (37:22) Call from Joy

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Addiction is progressive—Leon lost his sense of self even as a seasoned anchor.
• Rehab is more than detox—it was deep psychiatric and emotional healing that made the difference.
• Friendship truly makes a difference—Daryn’s call to Leon is a masterclass in showing up when it counts.
• You can start over—Leon’s story shows that purpose can rise from public failure.

• Learn about SMART Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/
• More on Naltrexone: https://www.drugs.com/naltrexone.html
• Leon Harris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-harris-095b0214/
• Miss Lou’s Cabin:airbnb.com/h/mslouscabin
• Call Me Friend Hotline:...

Who do you call when life gets real? When the good news hits, the heartbreak lands, or you're just having one of those days—you call a friend. That’s the heartbeat of Call Me Friend—a feel-good weekly podcast that drops you into the kind of conversations that remind us who we are, where we belong, and why friendship matters.

Hosted by former network news anchor, wife, mom, and Airbnb host Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend is your weekly reminder of the joy, laughter, and healing that come with connection. Each week, Daryn picks up the phone from Ms. Lou’s Cabin—a 50-year-old log home she and her husband lovingly restored and turned into an Airbnb—to chat with someone in her world, whether it’s a celebrity, her childhood bestie, or someone she just met along the way or maybe even YOU. No matter who she’s calling, the focus is always the same: celebrating the power of friendship and connection.

Every episode kicks off with a ring-ring and drops you into a real-life conversations between friends. These aren’t interviews with hot takes or polished soundbites—just raw, funny, heartfelt, deeply human chats between people who genuinely know and care about each other. From lifelong friendships to surprise connections, everyday legends to familiar names, Call Me Friend is a front-row seat to how beautiful, messy, and meaningful friendships can be.

This show is for anyone craving more depth, more heart, and more of the good stuff that makes life not just bearable—but beautiful. It’s a cozy corner of the podcast world where emotional wellness, storytelling, and humor live in harmony. Whether you’re looking for comfort, relatable stories, or a pick-me-up on a hard day, this podcast is for you, yes YOU. Expect wild stories, sweet memories, laugh-out-loud moments, and those quiet “Yeah… me too” pauses that make you feel truly seen.

Fun segments like “You Gotta Meet My Friend” spotlight special guests introducing someone they love, while “Call Me, Friend” invites listeners to write in with questions and stories. And the “Friend Questionnaire” keeps things surprising, uncovering the quirks and connections that make every friendship unique.

What makes Call Me Friend stand out? This show isn’t about networking or hustle. It’s not self-help. It’s heart-help. Because friendship isn’t just background noise—it’s the main character. If you’ve ever found joy, comfort, or healing through a friend—or just needed someone to say, “I get it”—this is your space.

Call Me Friend is more than a podcast. It’s a weekly call you can count on. A soft place to land. A reminder that even when life feels messy, everything gets better when you talk to a friend. If you love heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and a little laughter with your life lessons, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

So whether you're commuting, folding laundry, walking the dog, or just trying to quiet your mind—remember this: you’re not alone. Someone out there gets it. Someone out there would totally take your call.

Go ahead, pick up the phone.

Let’s laugh. Let’s cry. Let’s Call a Friend.

About the Host:

Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor turned full-time storyteller. After leaving the fast-paced world of network news, she built a life rooted in purpose, connection, and authenticity. Now living on the quiet Georgia coast, Daryn records Call Me Friend from Ms. Lou’s Cabin, a restored 50-year-old log home turned Airbnb. From there she runs the nationwide Just One More Foundation giving grants for second chances. A wife, mom, dog mama, and connection junkie, Daryn’s superpower is bringing people together—and her gift for real conversation is what makes this podcast feel like catching up with your favorite friend.

Just One More Foundation :

What happens when life knocks you down and you choose service instead of fear?

Host Daryn Kagan sits down with hospice singer Kevin Dunn, a man whose life changed forever after losing his job, hearing a calling to serve, and spending over 23 years singing for patients at a hospice in West Georgia. What started as a moment of uncertainty became a lifelong mission of compassion, faith, and human connection.

Kevin shares how volunteering in hospice taught him that end-of-life care is not just about dying, but about dignity, peace, healing, and presence. He opens up about singing acapella at patients’ bedsides, the emotional moments families experience during final goodbyes, and how music creates comfort when words fall short.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Kevin reveals how his own wife Deborah eventually entered the same hospice where he volunteered for years. Through grief, love, legacy, and resilience, Kevin continued to serve even after her passing, honoring her memory through service and a scholarship program in her name.

This episode explores how service helps you get out of a life slump, how volunteering transforms mental health, and why helping others can restore hope, purpose, and joy. If you’re searching for inspiration, personal growth, spiritual encouragement, or meaningful stories about hospice care and human connection, this one will hit different.

In This Episode You Will Learn

✅ How volunteering can pull you out of emotional burnout and life slumps

✅ Why hospice care is about comfort, dignity, and connection, not just death

✅ How music heals patients and families during end-of-life care

✅ What it means to live a life of service and faith

✅ How grief can deepen purpose instead of ending it

✅ Why modeling compassion impacts future generations

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Timestamps:

• 00:00 He Lost His Job and His Wife. Singing for Hospice Families Helped Him Rebuild His Life
• 05:50 Losing a job and hearing a life-changing calling
• 07:36 The moment Kevin heard the word “hospice”
• 09:06 Starting hospice volunteer training and committing to service
• 10:51 Why Kevin shifted to pure acapella singing
• 13:52 Deborah’s cancer journey and the road to hospice care
• 16:15 Singing to Deborah and the power of hearing at end of life
• 17:28 Returning to hospice after grief and honoring Deborah’s legacy
• 19:57 A powerful bedside moment during “Amazing Grace”
• 31:18 Service as the secret to escaping a slump

💎 Service creates healing for both the giver and the receiver

💎 Hospice care focuses on peace, dignity, and comfort

💎 Music creates emotional connection when words cannot

💎 Grief can transform into legacy and purpose

💎 Helping others breaks the cycle of personal burnout

💎 Small acts of compassion ripple across generations

Kevin Dunn is a hospice volunteer and singer who has dedicated more than two decades to bringing comfort, peace, and hope to patients and families through music. After losing his job, Kevin followed a calling to serve in hospice care, where he sings weekly at patients’ bedsides. His story blends faith, resilience, grief, love, and the transformational power of service.

Resources & Mentions

• Website:

Second chances change lives. In this deeply moving episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan pulls back the curtain on a moment few people ever see: a surprise grant award that changes everything.

What begins as a routine follow-up interview turns into a life-altering moment for Jimmy Erickson, a father, student, and recovering addict doing everything he can to build a better future for his family. From past struggles with addiction and DUIs to earning a 4.0 GPA while working 60-hour weeks and raising a nonverbal autistic son, Jimmy’s story is a raw example of resilience, responsibility, and real growth.

This episode is a reminder that redemption is not about perfection. It is about showing up, doing the work, and choosing love over quitting. If you believe in second chances, meaningful friendships, and stories that restore faith in humanity, this one hits different.

In This Episode You Will Learn

✅Why second chances matter more after the hard work is already done

✅How fatherhood can become the ultimate motivation for change

✅What real resilience looks like behind the scenes

✅How nonprofit grants can create generational impact

✅Why imperfect stories are often the most powerful ones

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Timestamps

1. 00:00 Second Chances, Fatherhood, and the Power of Showing Up with Jimmy Erickson
2. 02:58 Why this grant moment matters so much to the foundation
3. 03:38 Sponsor spotlight: Ms Lou’s Cabin on the Georgia Coast
4. 04:46 Meet Jimmy Erickson
5. 05:18 Why Jimmy was selected from over 250 applications
6. 06:14 Jimmy opens up about addiction and hitting rock bottom
7. 07:49 Balancing school, work, and caring for an autistic child
8. 14:49 The moment Jimmy learns he is receiving the grant
9. 16:13 Why this story defines the mission of Just One More Foundation
10. 18:35 Post-interview reflection with Richard Rogers
11. 19:07 Parenting through challenges and shared experiences
12. 20:11 Why love and work ethic stand out
13. 21:07 Climbing out of the well and not going back
14. 22:10 Why Just One More focuses on people who’ve done the work
15. 22:59 Following recipients beyond the grant

Who do you call when life gets real? When the good news hits, the heartbreak lands, or you're just having one of those days—you call a friend. That’s the heartbeat of Call Me Friend—a feel good bi-weekly podcast that drops you into the kind of conversations that remind us who we are, where we belong, and why friendship matters.

Hosted by former network news anchor, wife, mom, and Airbnb host Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend is your weekly reminder of the joy, laughter, and healing that come with connection. Each week, Daryn picks up the phone from Ms. Lou’s Cabin—a 50-year-old log home she and her husband lovingly restored and turned into an Airbnb—to chat with someone in her world, whether it’s a celebrity, her childhood bestie, or someone she just met along the way or maybe even YOU. No matter who she’s calling, the focus is always the same: celebrating the power of friendship and connection.

Every episode kicks off with a ring-ring and drops you into a real-life conversations between friends. These aren’t interviews with hot takes or polished soundbites—just raw, funny, heartfelt, deeply human chats between people who genuinely know and care about each other. From lifelong friendships to surprise connections, everyday legends to familiar names, Call Me Friend is a front-row seat to how beautiful, messy, and meaningful friendships can be.

This show is for anyone craving more depth, more heart, and more of the good stuff that makes life not just bearable—but beautiful. It’s a cozy corner of the podcast world where emotional wellness, storytelling, and humor live in harmony. Whether you’re looking for comfort, relatable stories, or a pick-me-up on a hard day, this podcast is for you, yes YOU. Expect wild stories, sweet memories, laugh-out-loud moments, and those quiet “Yeah… me too” pauses that make you feel truly seen.

Fun segments like “You Gotta Meet My Friend” spotlight special guests introducing someone they love, while “Call Me, Friend” invites listeners to write in with questions and stories. And the “Friend Questionnaire” keeps things surprising, uncovering the quirks and connections that make every friendship unique.

What makes Call Me Friend stand out? This show isn’t about networking or hustle. It’s not self-help. It’s heart-help. Because friendship isn’t just background noise—it’s the main character. If you’ve ever found joy, comfort, or healing through a friend—or just needed someone to say, “I get it”—this is your space.

Call Me Friend is more than a podcast. It’s a weekly call you can count on. A soft place to land. A reminder that even when life feels messy, everything gets better when you talk to a friend. If you love heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and a little laughter with your life lessons, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

So whether you're commuting, folding laundry, walking the dog, or just trying to quiet your mind—remember this: you’re not alone. Someone out there gets it. Someone out there would totally take your call.

Go ahead, pick up the phone.

Let’s laugh. Let’s cry. Let’s Call a Friend.

About the Host:

Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor turned full-time storyteller. After leaving the fast-paced world of network news, she built a life rooted in purpose, connection, and authenticity. Now living on the quiet Georgia coast, Daryn records Call Me Friend from Ms. Lou’s Cabin, a restored 50-year-old log home turned Airbnb. From there she runs the nationwide Just One More Foundation giving grants for second chances. A wife, mom, dog mama, and connection junkie, Daryn’s superpower is bringing people together—and her gift for real conversation is what makes this podcast feel like catching up with your favorite friend.

Just One More Foundation :

What if the most heart hitting story connected to the Savannah Bananas had nothing to do with baseball, trick plays, or viral hijinks, but everything to do with family and purpose? In this friendship podcast conversation, Daryn sits down with co-owner Emily Cole to uncover the behind the scenes truth that shaped the Savannah Bananas brand from the inside out.

This episode pulls you straight into the real life story of how Emily and Jesse Cole built an entertainment empire while quietly growing their family through bio, foster, and adoption and why that journey inspired Bananas Foster, the foundation at the heart of their mission. Packed with emotion, connection, and pure Savannah Bananas energy, this is the conversation that shows the world what the Savannah Bananas stand for when the cameras aren’t rolling.

This is a conversation about family, community, and the powerful ways one act of love can ripple into something bigger than you ever imagined.

✅How Emily and Jesse built the Savannah Bananas brand on joy, connection, and conversation

✅ Why foster care became the unexpected doorway to their family growing in the most beautiful way

✅ The mission behind Bananas Foster and how they use their platform to celebrate foster families

✅What it means to parent through uncertainty and still choose love anyway

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Key Timestamps

• (00:00) Emily talks about family, growth, and using their platform for good
• (02:06) The Savannah Bananas phenomenon and inviting Emily onto the podcast
•  (06:00) Emily and Jesse Coles meeting story and their early days in baseball
• (10:25) Launching the Savannah Bananas the same week they married
• (11:05) Their first child and the conversation that led them toward foster care
• (12:23) Emily’s deep research into adoption and discovering foster care
• (13:53) Getting licensed during COVID and welcoming their first placement
• (15:31) A weekend placement that became their second adopted daughter
• (17:01) The book that shifted Emily’s mindset: Everything Is Figureoutable
• (21:00) Why kids, not parents, deserve the biggest celebration
• (24:21) The reality of modern families and shifting norms
• (27:01) Creating Bananas Foster and celebrating foster families publicly
• (29:04) The powerful third-inning moment at Bananas games
• (31:23) Navigating identity protection and diverse family storie
• (32:47) Their audacious goal: turn a 400k-kid waitlist into a waitlist of foster families
• (35:00) Emily Cole shares why Jesse Cole is the friend who changed her life.
• (36:10) Emily Cole reflects on the qualities Jesse Cole saw in her early on.
• (37:10) Daryn asks what Emily is loving right now; she talks homeschooling.
• (38:56) Emily shares her favorite kids’ learning tool, the Yoto.
• (39:12) They talk about screen-free learning and how kids absorb so much through listening.
• (40:12) Emily expresses gratitude and they reflect on how meaningful it is when someone gives back to her for a change.
• (42:10) Daryn shares her personal takeaway about how connection, support, and perspective can shift everything and introduces her daughter Nicole “Ro” Felton
• (42:25) She reflects on how Emily’s story mirrors her own family journey and why these conversations matter so much.
• (44:37) Ro jokes about the Bananas Foster dessert, adding fun Savannah Bananas energy.
• (47:29) Ro...

When the world stopped on 9/11, millions saw Carol Lin on their screens… but no one saw what she was surviving off camera. In this gripping Call Me Friend conversation, Daryn reconnects with her former CNN colleague to uncover the truth behind Carol’s marriage, motherhood, identity, grief, and the hidden story behind her memoir, When News Breaks.

Carol Lin opens up about the pressure of broadcast news, the unraveling of her marriage, the devastating loss of her husband shortly after their daughter was born, and how motherhood, identity, and grief collided during the most public chapter of her career. This emotional episode explores love, personal loss, friendship, and the resilience it takes to rebuild your life when everything breaks at once.

What You Will Learn In This Episode

✅ How Carol Lin navigated CNN, motherhood, and grief

✅ What viewers never saw during 9/11 coverage

✅ Why writing a memoir helped her reclaim her identity

✅ How personal loss transforms love, friendship, and purpose

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Timestamps

• 00:00 The untold truth behind Carol Lin’s story of love and loss
• 00:35 Daryn introduces Carol and their shared CNN history 
• 01:24 Being on air together during 9/11
• 02:40 The unraveling of Carol’s marriage in the midst of her rising career
• 03:23 Losing her husband and navigating early motherhood
• 04:02 Why she wrote her memoir When News Breaks
• 06:03 Growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrants
• 07:47 Misconceptions about Carol during her CNN years
• 09:02 The ethics of telling stories that involve the people we love
• 11:33 Motherhood, grief, and redefining her identity 
• 13:10 What love required inside a pressured broadcast career
• 16:00 The newsroom culture viewers never see
• 18:45 Carol’s unforgettable Mommy and Me moment
• 25:40 Reconnecting and finally understanding each other
• 29:56 The universal question: how did we not know?
• 34:18 Reconnecting with old colleagues through writing
• 36:00 “How did I not know?” Themes from the memoir
• 42:30 Carol and Daryn talk about love, timing, and meeting their partners
• 43:31 Getting ready for love and doing the inner work
• 48:55 The Mommy and Me class moment that broke the room
• 49:59 The silence after she told them her husband died
• 50:24 Carol grabs the diaper bag and escapes the room

🔹 Grief transforms identity, shaping the way we love and show up in the world.

🔹 Behind every CNN anchor is a deeply human story full of resilience and contradiction.

🔹 Memoirs help reveal the truth behind public personas and private pain.

🔹 Friendship becomes essential when life, career, and identity collide.

• "When News Breaks": https://amzn.to/4piqQlX
• Ep 1 From TV Fame to Rock Bottom https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Ks8ad3T3BtPBawna9OfwU?si=d2e163bf997847cd
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What if the friend who transforms your entire life does not show up until your sixties?

Two women share a life changing friendship that leads to an 80 day trip at 81. In this inspiring episode of Call Me Friend, Daryn sits down with Ellie Hamby and Dr. Sandy Hazelip, the viral duo known as The Traveling Nanas, to explore how their friendship transformed grief into adventure and joy.

After losing their husbands, Ellie and Sandy found comfort, strength, and purpose in each other. What started as a simple connection turned into a life changing best friend bond that carried them across seven continents in 80 days at age 81. From the Drake Shake in Antarctica to the Trans Siberian KGB incident to escaping Syria as war began, their friendship is the heartbeat that pulled them through every wild chapter.

This episode is packed with friendship wisdom, emotional storytelling, and real talk about grief, courage, and saying yes to life. It is perfect for anyone looking for hope, connection, and proof that the right friendship can change your story forever.

What You Will Learn In This Episode

✅ How a late in life friendship helped two women heal after losing their husbands

✅ Why the right friend can pull you into joy, courage, and adventure again

✅ The simple moment that sparked their 80 day global journey at 81

✅ How trusting each other helped them navigate danger, fear, and big unknowns

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Timestamps

• (0:00) Sandy shares how the idea for the 80 day world trip began
• (1:07) Daryn introduces The Traveling Nanas and their powerful friendship
• (3:33) The moment Ellie and Sandy first crossed paths
• (5:29) How a missions workshop pulled them closer
• (8:10) Ellie loses her husband and Sandy reaches out
• (11:19) Who started their tradition of saying yes to adventure
• (13:04) The idea for Around the World in 80 Days at 80
• (14:39) Surviving the Drake Shake in Antarctica
• (17:00) Heading straight to the Arctic Circle
• (21:18) Becoming witnesses in a KGB investigation
• (24:58) Leaving Syria as war begins 
• (27:03) Breaking down the money myth around world travel
• (29:02) Why second class travel helps them build deeper friendships
• (35:29) How they give each other space in their friendship
• (43:29) Sandy shares why Ellie changed her life

Key Takeaways

🔹 Friendship can restart your life at any age

They became close in their sixties, and that bond created a whole new chapter filled with purpose and joy.

🔹 You do not heal grief alone

Their friendship gave them strength to move through loss with hope instead of fear.

🔹 Different personalities can create the strongest bond

They fit together like puzzle pieces, giving each other room to grow.

🔹 Stay open to connection and the world gets bigger

Second class trains, mission trips, and saying yes to strangers brought them friendships across the globe.

Resources:

• TikTok:

A 70-year-old humanitarian, a 1953 Chevy truck, and Route 66 unite for ShelterBox. Don Crost drives 2,500 miles to spotlight disaster relief, friendship, and doing good, proving it is never too late to chase a purpose.

Join Daryn as Don shares why he set a $25,000 goal for ShelterBox’s 25th anniversary, how that vintage truck handled the journey from Evanston to Santa Barbara, and what ShelterBox delivers for families after hurricanes, earthquakes, and conflict, from tents and solar lights to shelter repair kits and mosquito nets. You will also hear from former CNN correspondent Paul Vercammen on pivoting to purpose and how ShelterBox assesses needs before deploying aid.

Along the road there were clever fixes, surprising generosity from strangers, and a travel partner who kept going after a rib injury, fueling a story about courage, community, and second-chance friendships.

What You Will Find in This Episode:

✅ The story behind Don Crost’s 2,500-mile drive in a vintage Chevy for ShelterBox’s 25th anniversary

✅ How a simple idea turned into a movement to help disaster survivors worldwide

✅ The inspiring friendship that reignited between Daryn and fellow journalist Paul Vercammen

✅ How ShelterBox provides real relief after hurricanes, earthquakes, and crises around the world

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Timestamps

• 00:00 From Route 66 to Hope: How Don Crost, a Vintage Chevy, and ShelterBox Are Changing Lives
• 00:23 The risk of listening: this story might push you to chase your dream
• 01:24 Daryn’s early news days and friendship origins with Paul Vercammen
• 06:02 Meet Don Crost: driving a 1953 chevy across Route 66 for ShelterBox
• 08:44 What is ShelterBox and how it brings dignity to disaster survivors
• 11:54 How a 70-year-old truck, driver, and partner survived the road
• 12:31 Bubblegum fixes: diy gas cap, carb cover, window cranks
• 14:55 Roadside kindness: strangers donate cash on the journey
• 17:24 Why Don says “just do it” and how it changed his life
• 19:21 Shout-out to friendship: Bonnie’s unstoppable positivity
• 23:41 ShelterBox’s response to hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas
• 26:01 Paul Vercammen’s pivot from CNN to purpose-driven humanitarian work
• 29:22 Life after the newsroom: friendship, second chances, purpose

 Key Takeaways

💎 Purpose and passion don’t expire with age, it’s never too late to make a difference.

💎 ShelterBox brings dignity and relief to families displaced by disasters around the globe.

💎 Sometimes the craziest ideas, like driving a vintage truck across America,  inspire the biggest change.

💎 Friendships, both old and new, can spark extraordinary acts of good in the world.

• ShelterBox https://shelterboxusa.org/
• First Woman of Television: https://northlight.org/series/first-lady-of-television/
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