In this episode of Chronically Candid, host Morgan Barrett talks with Book of the Month author Thea Weiss about writing her debut novel The Second Chance Cinema amid the grief of losing both of her parents and early motherhood. Morgan and Thea talk about forging ahead and taking creative leaps even when you don't feel completely 'ready', the importance of celebrating small wins, accepting rejection as part of the process, and what 'one less Buble' means.

Throughout our conversation, we cover:

• The process of getting a debut novel published
• How to make it through writing the middle of a manuscript
• Continuing to make art even though the times we're living through feel heavy
• How love, memory, and identity show up on the page

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

You can follow Thea's work at writtenbythea.com and instagram.com/writtenbythea, and connect with Morgan at morganbarrett.co and instagram.com/morganbarrett__

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

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Morgan turns 34 today! In this Fireside Fridays episode, host Morgan Barrett pauses to reflect on where she is now—six years into taking Trikafta, three weeks into sobriety, and committed to therapy work that’s teaching her how to finally feel safe in her body.

Morgan reads a piece she wrote in 2021, about the times (pre-Trikafta) when every CF exacerbation put the brakes on whatever she had going on in her life at the moment, requiring her to cancel plans to attend to her health. The piece takes a moment to share gratitude for the version of herself post-Trikafta, acknowledging the things she now sometimes takes for granted in this healthier era of her life.

Support Morgan's work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Chronically Candid feels like a cozy, heartfelt conversation between two Millennial women who genuinely get each other. Host Morgan welcomes Elizabeth Su—author, creator, and the mind behind the Everyday Millennial Oracle—and together they gently unravel what it means to acknowledge and heal our inner teen in a world that seems to ask us to disregard our feelings and experiences from those formative years.

Elizabeth shares her winding path from Silicon Valley hustle to creative self-trust, opening up about burnout, perfectionism, and the deep emotional cost of staying in spaces that don’t feel aligned. Her story is one of listening to her body, honoring intuition, and bravely pivoting—even when it meant facing rejection, uncertainty, and fear. That honesty becomes a quiet throughline of the episode: healing doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from pausing, noticing, and choosing yourself.

The conversation naturally drifts into Millennial nostalgia—not as escapism (okay, maybe a little bit), but as reconnection. Butterfly clips, singing Christina Aguilera songs to yourself in your bedroom mirror, diaries filled with feelings, and the sting of not fitting in all become portals back to the versions of ourselves that still live inside us. Both Morgan and Elizabeth reflect on how teenage wounds—people-pleasing, rejection, jealousy, and the fear of being misunderstood—don’t simply disappear with age. Instead, they wait patiently to be acknowledged.

Elizabeth explains how this insight shaped the Everyday Millennial Oracle, a deck that offers the opportunity to give yourself compassion and clarity. When they pull cards together during the episode, the messages land with uncanny tenderness—about knowing your limits, letting discomfort pass, and trusting that pain is temporary. These moments mirror Morgan’s own experience navigating new motherhood and postpartum anxiety, grounding the conversation in real, lived vulnerability.

What makes the episode especially resonant is its gentleness. There’s no pressure to “fix” yourself or rush healing along. Instead, there’s an invitation to sit with your feelings, honor your inner teen’s voice, and reclaim joy without apology. By the end, the episode feels like a reminder that growth isn’t about erasing who you were—it’s about finally welcoming them home.

You can follow Elizbeth on Instagram and TikTok, and find Morgan on Instagram.

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

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In this Fireside Fridays episode, host Morgan Barrett reflects on returning to the podcast after a long hiatus and marks a deeply personal turning point in her life. Looking back on the past three years, Morgan shares how her relationship with alcohol gradually became something she could no longer ignore—and how, after years of fear and hesitation, she attended her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Morgan opens up about the vulnerability of asking for help, the stigma she wrestled with, and the relief and inspiration she felt hearing others’ stories. With honesty and compassion, she reframes seeking support not as a failure, but as a proactive choice made before alcohol could turn her life into something she no longer recognized.

The episode closes with Morgan reading a powerful letter she wrote to her future self in April 2025—a reflection on living in the gray area of “functional” drinking, the fear of giving alcohol up, generational patterns, and the reminder that worth is not defined by sobriety. Though she’s only at the beginning of this journey, Morgan shares this moment with hope, humility, and a desire to help destigmatize conversations around drinking and recovery.

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Chronically Candid, host Morgan Barrett returns after a year-long break to explore her long-held dream of becoming a published author through a heartfelt conversation with literary agent Jessica Berg of Rosecliff Literary. Morgan reflects on how chronic illness—especially her lifelong experience with cystic fibrosis—has shaped her creative voice and inspired her mission to build a space where people with chronic illness feel seen and validated. She shares how stepping into writing publicly, including through her Substack, has been a vulnerable but transformative part of embracing her calling.

Chronically Candid is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Jessica brings warmth and “big sister energy” as she breaks down the myths and opaque systems of the publishing world. She explains her own unconventional path into agenting, her commitment to making the industry more equitable, and why storytelling should never be limited by privilege or pedigree. Together, Morgan and Jessica discuss the confusion built into traditional publishing, the slow evolution toward amplifying marginalized voices, and the realities of querying, platform-building, and treating authorship as both creative passion and business. The episode ultimately serves as both encouragement and roadmap for anyone dreaming of writing but unsure where to begin.

Jessica Berg is a literary agent, author, and the founder of Rosecliff Literary, where she champions bold, emotionally resonant fiction with unforgettable characters, strong stakes, and a sense of urgency. She is currently closed to fiction. She is especially drawn to upmarket, historical, and supernatural suspense, with a soft spot for haunting atmosphere, richly layered relationships, and characters who carry deep emotional wounds. Give her a protagonist standing at the edge of reinvention, a world on the brink of change, or a past that refuses to stay buried. She loves stories that explore grief, longing, ambition, and survival and the complicated ways they intersect. If your book feels like it belongs in a candlelit room with a storm raging outside, she wants to see it. She earned her MFA from Spalding University and contributes regularly to Writer’s Digest. Jessica serves on the boards of the Women’s National Book Association and the Historical Novel Society, and teaches nationally on querying, comp titles, and the business of authorship, with a focus on building sustainable, long-term writing careers. Her client list includes Vincent Zandri, Lisa Roe, Arizona Bell, and others.

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Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

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Welcome to the Chronically Candid podcast! I haven’t recorded anything for a year, but I’m back with a solo episode!

• Life updates: Our kids are back at school full time & I’m back at work full time
• An Instagram post I chickened out of sharing
• WRITING MY FIRST BOOK: How it’s going & answering the question, “What’s it about?”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support my work by reading & subscribing to Chronically Candid on Substack at morgannbarrett.substack.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.