What if you could reconnect with old friends—and see the past in a whole new light—just by sharing one memory at a time? In this heartwarming episode, Maddie, Kerry, and Jennifer explore how shared memories can bring unexpectedhealing, laughter, and even re-energize long lost friendships.

Maddie tells the touching story of reconnecting with her childhood best friend—not by catching up on the present, but by exchanging one memory at a time from their shared history. What began as a simple email experiment turned into a rediscovery of happiness long forgotten. Her story sparks a richconversation between the hosts about how our memories can be colored by time, loss, and pain—and how sharing them with others can bring surprising perspective and warmth.

You’ll leave this episode feeling inspired to shine a new light on your own memories—and maybe even reconnect with someone who once helped you feel like your best self.

What was the first book that made you fall in love with reading? In this nostalgic episode of The One Happy Thing Podcast, hosts Jennifer Moorman, Kerry Schafer, and Maddie Dawson share the childhood books that opened theirhearts, shaped their imaginations, and set them on the path to becoming authors themselves.

From flashlight-under-the-covers adventures to the life-changing gift of A Wrinkle in Time, the authors reflect on the stories that made them feel seen, sparked a lifelong love of reading, and still speak to them today. Along the way, they explore how early reading tastes echo in the books they now write—and how certain characters, like Jo March or Meg Murray—became lifelong companions.

Whether you were a fantasy lover, a realist, or a reader who came to books a little later, this episode will warm your heart and probably have you reaching for an old favorite.

☕ So grab something cozy (unless you’re driving!) and join us for a joy-filled conversation about the books that shaped us.

Welcome back to One Happy Thing! In today’s episode, we’re getting real about something that sneaks up on all of us—those pesky blame, complain, and shame loops. You know the ones.

Kerry Schafer gets vulnerable with a powerful personal epiphany: she realized she was resistant to taking full responsibility for her own happiness... because she was too busy being responsible for everything (and everyone) else. Ever been there? Yeah, us too.

This episode dives into:

• The sneaky ways we hand over our joy by blaming othersor ourselves
• Kerry’s tongue-in-cheek family motto: “I don’t knowwhat happened, but it sure wasn’t my fault”
• How automatic negative thoughts (ANTs!) can hijack yourmindset – and your joy
• Simple, practical ways to shift toward more empowering,positive thinking

Plus, we play a round of the Blame, Complain, and Shame Game—because sometimes laughter is the best way through our most humbling moments.

🎯 Takeaway: Your happiness? It’s yours. And reclaiming it starts with one small thought shift at a time.

We'd love to hear about one way you catch yourself giving away responsibility for your happiness -- and what you do (or plan to do) to take back your power.