Podcasts and The Grumpy Cactus

Waaaay back in July, I learned that Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody were going to start a podcast called "Don't Listen To Us" with their son Gideon. I emailed a listener question into the show, got the standard "thanks" back, and kind of forgot about it. Yesterday, I was checking emails and saw that not only did I have the proof to approve for my new little book The Grumpy Cactus, I also had an email from the Grody-Patinkin team! They'd accepted my submission! 

I watched Mandy, Kathryn, and Gideon reply to my question with thoughtful answers. You can click the Youtube video below to watch the longer podcast episode. Here's what I submitted: 

 My dad was diagnosed with cancer right before Christmas in 2024. At the time of his diagnosis I was five months pregnant. He kept wanting to know if I’d had dreams or premonitions. He felt like maybe I was more sensitive during that time. The week he died, in March of 2025, when I was eight months pregnant I had a dream about his mother. She died in 2003. In my dream, she didn’t say anything to me. She just was there, waiting. I had the feeling she was waiting for her baby (my dad) like I was waiting for mine - and that both of our children were in this in-between space: hers exiting this world and mine about to come into it. I told him about my dream and he said nothing, just listened. He declined days later. I cried a lot in the week following that dream - and as my fathered entered ICU, then palliative care, then hospice I was not surprised. Because I had seen my grandmother, and I knew that she was waiting and that when he did end his journey here he would not go to that next place alone. What do you think happens when we die? 

I hope that you give the podcast a listen. 

It was a great email day to read about the acceptance of that submission and to look at the proof for Grumpy Cactus. My son actually inspired this little book - he loves Grumpy Cacti. I'm looking forward to seeing it in print - and you can keep up with what's happening with this little story on my books page!