The Only Child Diaries Podcast

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Homeownership can feel like navigating uncharted waters without a compass. That sinking feeling when you hear an unfamiliar noise in your house? It happened to me recently, and what followed was both educational and let's face it, expensive.  

When I moved into my parents' home, I quickly discovered that years of deferred maintenance meant something broke literally every day. It became a running jok...

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Tracy celebrates three years of podcasting with the Only Child Diaries, now reaching listeners in 54 countries and 593 cities worldwide. She shares personal updates including her recovery from a recent fall, exciting news about her first podcast interview appearance, and her early preparations for Halloween decorations.

• Recovery update from last week's fall with painful but healing rib injuries
• C...

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Ever wonder what happens when you try to support someone through a cremation ceremony and end up sprawled across cemetery steps instead? Life has a way of mixing profound moments with unexpected comedy.

Death remains one of our most challenging transitions – something many of us approach with hesitation, especially when supporting loved ones through the process. After losing my friend Neliya (who began as my ...

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Have you ever wondered what will happen to all your possessions when you're gone? After the recent loss of a friend, I found myself contemplating the mountain of stuff we accumulate throughout our lives and the burden it places on those left behind to sort through it all.

In this week's personal exploration, I introduce the concept of "Swedish Death Cleaning" – a practice with an unfortuna...

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What if the secret to happiness isn't complicated at all, but simply requires us to choose joy daily? After losing someone who was like a second mother to me, I've been reflecting deeply on how we navigate life's challenges while still maintaining our sense of purpose and happiness.

June has mysteriously become a month of pivotal moments in my life - when pets joined our family, jobs began and ...

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Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is step back and breathe. After releasing episodes consistently for almost three full years, I found myself at a crossroads when Neliya – my late friend Gina's mother and someone who had become like a second mom to me – entered the hospital with sudden liver failure.

The physical and emotional toll of hospital visits, coupled with the ordinary responsibilities of lif...

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Facing overwhelming challenges requires intentional self-care and perspective. This episode explores personal struggles with a broken washer, community concerns about ICE raids, and a family friend's health crisis, while offering reminders about maintaining healthy habits during difficult times.

• Broken washing machine leads to laundromat visits and unexpected complications with replacement
• Social...

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Amidst sensationalized headlines and political rhetoric claiming Los Angeles is "burning," I'm pulling back the curtain to reveal what's actually happening on the ground in my city. Having spent over two decades working in the heart of downtown LA, I offer perspective that goes beyond the dramatic footage you've seen on the news.

Let me take you on a journey through LA's complex ...

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Taking care of yourself is vital to both physical and mental health, yet it's often neglected during busy periods. After working 50-hour weeks for a major fundraising event, I share my experience with post-event exhaustion and the importance of intentional recovery.

• The challenges of being an overachiever/perfectionist when planning events
• How intense work periods cause basic self-care and househ...

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Coming off a lot of work, putting on a fundraising event, this week I'm reflecting on the importance of teamwork. I'm exploring how communication, relationship-building, and humor create stronger workplace connections and better outcomes despite the challenges faced by only children.

• Working on a major fundraising event t
• Recognizing that no single person, regardless of work ethic or perfect...

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Summer has officially arrived with Memorial Day weekend, bringing with it a mix of challenges and simple joys in Southern California's unpredictable weather patterns.

• Constantly postponing car washing due to intermittent rain cycles
• Questioning how people working outside the home manage to keep up with daily tasks
• Using delivery services for groceries and meals to save time
• Marveling ...

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A simple compliment from a stranger about my "nice energy" sparked this heartfelt exploration of how kindness shapes our world. When someone acknowledged the very quality I'm always cultivating, it validated a philosophy I've built my adult life around: the transformative power of approaching others with compassion and positivity.

My journey toward kindness wasn't innate – it develope...

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Motherhood comes in many forms, and for some of us, our furry companions become the children we nurture and protect with fierce devotion. This Mother's Day weekend took an unexpected turn when my diabetic cat Bubbie began experiencing concerning episodes of vomiting that sparked an all-night adventure at the emergency veterinary clinic. Again. We're regular visitors there.  

For pet parents with spe...

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Spoiler Alert!  Every now and then, our favorite forms of entertainment betray us in unexpected ways. After becoming emotionally invested in the TV show 9-1-1 during my recovery from knee surgery, my husband and I made it our weekly ritual. We loved the creative emergencies, the ensemble cast led by Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, and the camaraderie among the fictional firefighters of the 118. Then (spoiler alert!) ...

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In this episode, we're continuing on with some of the things I've learned about being married.  

People change. We evolve. I'm certainly not the same person who met my husband decades ago – I'm more confident for one.  I'm also more tired!  But yes, also carrying lessons from countless experiences that have shaped me. Marriage becomes an extraordinary adventure when we recognize this ...

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Spring has arrived with its characteristic light green foliage, flourishing plants, and yes—even weeds. This season of renewal offers the perfect backdrop for reflecting on transitions in both personal and professional life.

After four years of working on my garden, I've finally feel like I've accomplished something.  Like I'm maintaining more than I'm redoing and creating now.  It's ...

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Have you ever had that coworker whose energy completely threw you off balance? The one who talks non-stop, interrupts conversations, or - and imagine this in a professional setting - sings? Until you're ready to scream? You're not alone.

In this deeply relatable episode, I dive into the complex world of workplace triggers and how to navigate them with grace. Drawing from a recent personal experience...

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Have you ever felt that true friendships become more precious as you age? That's exactly what we explore in this heartfelt episode of Only Child Diaries. Friendships aren't passive connections—they're active relationships requiring cultivation, maintenance, and mutual investment. Unlike family relationships that come with built-in connections, friendships must be deliberately chosen and preserved throug...

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The uncomfortable and often frustrating truth about healthcare is that being heard by your doctor isn't guaranteed—it's something you must sometimes fight for. Through relatable personal stories about navigating my husband's chronic conditions, I explore why questioning medical authority isn't just acceptable, but necessary for proper care.  The bottom line is I care deeply for my husband, and I&ap...