That time I was a podcast guest. 😬😳

And found a kindred spirit. 😊

The podcast preview arrived in my inbox just hours after our conversation was recorded. Not wanting anyone else to hear how inarticulate I might be, I stuck my Airpods in my ears and hit Play. How would my voice sound? How many times had I fumbled? Would our conversation help anyone? Or would my rambling way with spoken words turn listeners away?

How I landed on a podcast.

This past spring, I received an unexpected message while attending the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The email was from writer/podcaster/speaker

Michelle Rayburn

. She was compiling stories for a book about empty nesting and had found one of my stories online that she thought would fit. She asked if I’d be interested in collaborating with her.

As a writer, blogger, and website host, I regularly receive unsolicited requests. Most appear to be scams, or at least spam.

“I was going through your website and I see a lot of potential in your business. I’d like to send you an Audit report of your website with prices showing you a few things to improve these search results for you.” No thanks.

“We think this story you wrote (about sending my kid to college) would be a great fit for our website on finding good health insurance.” Huh?

But the email from Michelle Rayburn seemed genuine. Personal. And intriguing.

I vetted Michelle’s work and noted several published books with good ratings on Amazon. I responded with some interest, we worked out the details, I signed the contract, and my story “Hitting Your Stride” was published in Michelle’s book. This Reimagined Empty Nest was released on July 24, 2024.

A kindred spirit.

The collaboration experience was very smooth and I was impressed with Michelle’s organizing strengths, book launch and marketing approach, and great communication skills.

Then I listened to her podcast. While I had seen her picture and read her words on the page, hearing her voice—gentle, kind, and bubbly—made her more real to me, and brought a familiarity I recognized. I connected with her on several topics and soon thought, “I’ve found a kindred spirit!”

Have you discovered kindred spirits in your life? How/When/Where did your paths cross?

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” —L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

That quote has stuck with me since I first read Anne of Green Gables in my (much) younger years. To me, a kindred spirit is more than “a person with similar interests or concerns” (as Merriam-Webster defines), but also someone with whom I feel a special, almost magical, connection. The number of kindred spirits in my life grows year after year. Now, with my subscriber community and the Substack writers I follow, there are even more possibilities.

But what about that podcast?

Ah, yes. (Or should I say “yep”? I discovered through the playback that I say “yep” a lot. 🤭😂) Shortly after releasing her book, Michelle sent me another unsolicited invitation: to be a guest on her Midlife Repurposed Podcast. I was surprised. Honored. Humbled.

And very nervous after I said yes.

But I did it!

Before we started recording, Michelle and I chatted about our similarities and I described her as a kindred spirit. When the interview started, I smiled as she also mentioned “randomly finding kindred spirits”. She went on to ask meaningful questions and true to her meticulous form, she did a great job editing—cutting out my “oopsies” and even some of my rambling.

So, what did we discuss? Here’s how she describes our conversation:

We covered all that in 25 minutes! I hope you’ll listen in.

If, after hearing my voice, I become more real to you or say something that touches your heart, OR if you find, in me, a kindred spirit, then I will consider my first podcast appearance a success!

Let me know you listened by hitting the 🖤! Even better, leave a comment so the conversation can continue.

One more thing. Can you share this post with a friend? Maybe there are more kindred spirits out there looking to connect!