All The Wiser Podcast Opens Season Four With Amanda Knox Interview

 The other day, I complained to my partner Linda about my seasonal allergies. Then I listened to an episode of the All The Wiser podcast and cursed myself for being such a whiner.

In its three seasons, All The Wiser has talked with people who have experienced life's most challenging events and come out stronger for it. The podcast's episodes unleash that existential question we all ask ourselves when hearing or reading about someone's misfortune. How would I handle that?

In the opening episode of season four, Amanda Knox, who spent four years in an Italian prison wrongfully accused of murdering a fellow student, is interviewed by host Kimi Culp. The season opener was just released on September 7.

Here is a brief list of some of the guests over three seasons on All The Wiser. An NFL player suffering from ALS, a man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived, a woman who had a brain stem stroke and lost the ability to talk and hear, a woman who lost both her legs due to a bout of bacterial meningitis, an ESPN reporter who suffered locked-in syndrome for four years, and a man who was burned over 75 percent of his body. 

During the three seasons of the podcast, host Kimi Culp has talked to people about addiction, mental illness, transphobia, sex trafficking, school shootings, and suicide. You'd think these episodes would be downers. But the opposite is true. These episodes are life-affirming, inspirational, motivational, and uplifting. 

All The Wiser has an "if they can do it, so can I" vibe. In addition to the inspiring stories, credit for the show goes to host and creator Kimi Culp. Her experience includes work as a producer for NBC, ABC, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Here's her story about beginning the All The Wiser podcast: "After two decades of working in production and being behind the camera, I felt it was time to share what I had learned.

"First and foremost, I wanted people to know that they are not alone in the world because that is how I feel at times. As a producer, I would travel around the country talking to complete strangers, and they would tell me their hard truths, often for the first time. From penthouses in New York to trailer parks in the middle of the country, I realized that there is something deep within us that connects us all.

"When I sat down with real people, asking them to share real truths, what started off as conversations with perfect strangers ended with real connection between human beings. And what I came to realize is that I was asking people to do something that I was, in fact, not willing to do myself."

Kimi Culp

Culp began the podcast in April 2019 with a former NYC firefighter who survived 9/11 only to be struck by a 20-ton bus when running as a triathlete. Her fourth season just began with a fascinating interview with Amanda Knox, who spent four years in an Italian prison before being exonerated. 

Perhaps the All The Wiser episode that best displays a person with incredible courage and grit is the July 10, 2019, episode where Kimi Culp turns over hosting duties to former Good Morning America colleague Holly Gordon. In the hour-long episode, Gordon interviews Culp, who reveals her battle with bipolar disorder. For those hiding their mental illness diagnosis, it's a powerful scene.

While the structure of the podcast is relatively straightforward, it's obvious that Culp has put a lot of thought into what she wanted this podcast to be. To do.

First, Culp calls All The Wiser a "one-for-one charitable podcast." there is a $2,000 donation made to a non-profit based on the guest after every episode. For example, with the Amanda Knox episode, $2,000 was donated to The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice. Hey, Joe Rogan, you hear that?

Second, Culp sweetens the sonic pot for her listeners with A Little Wiser mini episodes. On these twenty-minute shows, Culp talks with Christy Peterson about key themes in life. For example, on A Little Wiser episode about "What Makes Belonging So Important" Christy and Kimi discuss belonging and why it matters. They touch on loneliness, connectedness, and what we can do to feel like we belong. In a heartbreaking and relatable text message, Christy reads a message her daughter sent that described feeling alone while eating lunch surrounded by people. They discuss how COVID has contributed to social isolation and loneliness, and how we can do our best to feel more connected. Also in the episode is a "failed name-drop," scientific data on loneliness, and a reminder that Instagram ain't your friend when you're lonely.

Third, production values on the podcast are superb, including sound clarity. The intro / outro music possesses an appropriate crescendo that fits with the inspirational nature of the show. Much credit to producer Erica Gerard, who is the owner of Podkit Productions, a Los Angeles-based podcast launch and production consultancy that helps clients navigate the ins and outs of creating and releasing a successful podcast. Gerard is also a writer/performer and The Moth StorySlam champion, which is a notable achievement.

 Fourth, Culp seems to be a master of detail. The podcast's website is carefully curated, with seamless navigation and graphics that match the show's core mission. Culp announced advertising in her last episode of season three, but promised advertising that was carefully chosen to meet the needs of her listeners. That's admirable, and ultimately, a more viable monetization strategy. Subjecting loyal listeners to ads for products or services that are either hold no value or would not be applicable to the listener base is psychological torture. Most people still suffer PTSD from Hulu ads. 

There is so much to commend with this podcast. But listening is not an act of mercy. Instead, through empathetic interviewing and compelling storytelling, listeners can draw psychic energy from tales of people who have taken the worst life can throw at them, and still manage to adapt and overcome. 

Culp is a terrific host with a satiny voice that is equal parts smart, sassy, supportive, and sapient.

Check out All The Wiser. It's one of those podcasts that can help you overcome the barriers that life builds in your path. 

As Oprah Winfrey once said, "When you meet obstacles with gratitude, your perception starts to shift, resistance loses its power, and grace finds a home within you."