Terrible, Thanks for Asking
“Terrible, Thanks For Asking” is a show by author Nora McInerny that lets real people get real honest about how they’re really doing. It’s sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and almost always both. A production of Feelings & Co.
Latest Episode
Happyish Holidays: The Worst Thanksgiving Ever?
Subscribe to TTFA Anthologies here. Two days after Nora’s husband Aaron died, she celebrated Thanksgiving with her family. Well… maybe not “celebrated.” Every year, millions of people do the same thing during the holidays. In this episode, we talk with some of those folks, including Dr. Lucy Kalanithi and comedian Amber Tozer. We also spend…
Featured Episodes
Your Favorite Obituaries
March 25, 2024 • Ep. 236 • 47 min 7 sec
Join us for a special bonus episode of TTFA where Nora reads obituaries submitted by listeners. Laugh, cry, and enjoy the stories in this exclusive episode.
Terrible, Thanks For Everything!!
March 4, 2024 • Ep. 234 • 10 min 20 sec
TTFA is taking a break, but new Patreon episodes will be available until Aug 2024. Join us for exclusive content and our full archive!
Still A Family
August 15, 2023 • Ep. 219 • 1 min 5 sec
When Anaya and Dave Lee fell in love, they saw a whole future with each other. Part of that future included being parents. But when they started trying, they learned creating a family was going to be much more challenging than they expected. They eventually had to ask the question, if a baby doesn’t happen,…
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Happyish Holidays: The Worst Thanksgiving Ever?
Subscribe to TTFA Anthologies here. Two days after Nora’s husband Aaron died, she celebrated Thanksgiving with her family. Well... maybe not “celebrated.” Every year, millions of people do the same thing during the holidays. In this episode, we talk with...
November 14, 2024
AITA: Happyish Holidays Edition
If the holidays make you want to tear your hair out or cry on the bathroom floor, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It's a hard time for a lot of people, and still we have to force a smile and say...
November 14, 2024
“Seahorse Dad” from Refamulating
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
November 12, 2024
You don’t talk about telescopes? And other questions to distract yourself from Election Day anxiety (with Kate Kennedy!)
Today is Election Day in the U.S. and for many of us that means…getting through the day is going to feel like watching water boil. So we have an idea: delete the news apps off your phone today, don’t check...
November 5, 2024
Forces Of Nature: A Conversation On Childhood Trauma with Gina Demillo Wagner
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 29, 2024
Forces Of Nature: A Conversation On Childhood Trauma with Gina Demillo Wagner
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 29, 2024
Interview: Making and keeping friends as a grown-up with Marisa Franco
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 15, 2024
Interview: Making and keeping friends as a grown-up with Marisa Franco
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 15, 2024
More (More, More!) Obituaries
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 1, 2024
More (More, More!) Obituaries
In case you didn't know, we're still making two episodes a month for our Patreon and Apple Plus subscribers. We wanted to give all of our listeners a little preview of our most recent episode! Consider joining our Patreon to...
October 1, 2024
TTFA Anthologies: Two Letters- A Widow Remembers Her Husband With Two Letters
This is an episode about two letters. One of those is the letter Jim left for his wife, Annie, before he died by suicide. The second is the letter Annie wrote to Jim after his death — and as she...
September 3, 2024
TTFA Anthologies: Two Letters- A Widow Remembers Her Husband With Two Letters
Subscribe to TTFA Anthologies here. This is an episode about two letters. One of those is the letter Jim left for his wife, Annie, before he died by suicide. The second is the letter Annie wrote to Jim after his...
September 3, 2024
TTFA Anthologies: Stories of Suicide & Loss
Terrible, Thanks for Asking tells the real stories of real people who have lived through the terrible things in life. TTFA Anthologies are a curated collection of some of our best stories; released in seasons that focus on a specific...
September 3, 2024
TTFA Anthologies: Stories of Suicide & Loss
Subscribe to TTFA Anthologies here. Terrible, Thanks for Asking tells the real stories of real people who have lived through the terrible things in life. TTFA Anthologies are a curated collection of some of our best stories; released in seasons...
September 3, 2024
The Resilience Myth with Soraya Chemaly
Years ago, when Nora was in the worst phase of her life (dead husband, dead dad, lost pregnancy) she heard a lot of people describe her as resilient. Those people meant it as a compliment, but to Nora it didn’t...
June 18, 2024
Now
When Nora was about to marry her first husband Aaron, they were in the thick of his cancer treatment. So the day before the wedding, she got a small tattoo to remind her to stay in the present moment. This...
June 18, 2024
Now
When Nora was about to marry her first husband Aaron, they were in the thick of his cancer treatment. So the day before the wedding, she got a small tattoo to remind her to stay in the present moment. This...
June 18, 2024
Becoming Fairy Godmother: Egg Donation and Creating A New Kind of Family
Two years ago Julia Winston was asked to help a gay couple start a family by donating her eggs. At the time, she was 38, single, and had no idea if she’d start her own family. Sometimes that made her...
Your Favorite Obituaries
Join us for a special bonus episode of TTFA where Nora reads obituaries submitted by listeners. Laugh, cry, and enjoy the stories in this exclusive episode.
March 25, 2024
More Than A Survivor: Rape, Activism and what comes next with Sarah Super
Discover Sarah Super's inspiring journey from survivor to advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Listen to her story on our podcast today. #SurvivorStory
Terrible, Thanks For Everything!!
TTFA is taking a break, but new Patreon episodes will be available until Aug 2024. Join us for exclusive content and our full archive!
March 4, 2024
Time Capsule: The Silver Chain – Episode 1: The Silver Chain
Newsletters from an abandoned safe deposit box set host Paul Ditty on an investigation to learn all he can about The Silver Chain – a suburban Minnesota swing club from the 1970s – and its members. Minnesota journalist Jack El-Hai...
February 29, 2024
The One That Got Away
For years, Nancy could picture her ideal partner. She wanted someone who would make her laugh, who would love her son, and who would make her feel confident and empowered. When she met Noa, he checked all the boxes. Everything...
February 19, 2024
Grudge Book is Back!
Greetings, loved ones. We’re back with one of our time honored Terrible traditions: The Grudge Book. Sit back, get cozy, bring your petties, and enjoy this selection of listener grudges featuring the wisdom of Nora and Marcel. THEE Bath and...
February 6, 2024
The First Stone: Cheating, shame and a series of unfortunate men
Jenni was raised Mormon, and for the first part of her life, was a dutiful follower. She got married young, attended church, and was a loyal wife. But life got messy and complicated for Jenni, and she eventually made a...