Jeannie Mai, host, style icon, mother, and one of the most recognizable voices in daytime television, opens up about her early Bay Area life that shaped her long before the spotlight. From leaving home at 14 and surviving sexual abuse, to learning how to reinvent, and soften without losing her edge, Jeannie reflects on the cost of becoming who the world sees + the courage it took to become who she actually is. Now in a new chapter she calls 'becoming', Jeannie talks honestly about divorce from her former husband Jeezy, motherhood, co-parenting, faith, healing, and what it really means to rise from the ashes. In this episode, Jeannie shares:
What she learned from navigating instability at a young age, and how it influenced her approach to love and healing
The community of women that rallied around her during her toughest moment.
How survival skills can quietly become limitations in adulthood
The difference between intensity vs. intimacy (and how chaos can masquerade as love)
How to recognize when you’re performing love instead of living it
Why being single can be “the most prized piece of land you’ll ever inherit”
Why divorce feels like “experiencing death alive”
Why the end of love often marks the beginning of real self-work
What “doing the work” actually looks like after divorce
Why healing requires time alone, but not isolation
The role of movement, strength, and progress in healing
Why not taking things personally is an emotional superpower
Jeannie opens up about the labels people love to slap on women (“divorced,” “single,” “46,” “mom”) + why they’ll never tell the full story
Why children don’t exist to heal us, but often reflect us
The tearful moment her daughter mirrored back words Jeannie had only ever prayed silently
How she loves to show up + surprise her friends
How to redefine healthy love without closing yourself off
How faith evolves when you stop asking and start listening

Follow Jeannie on Instagram @thejeanniemai and on her YouTube. 

Book recommendation: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Jeannie Mai, host, style icon, mother, and one of the most recognizable voices in daytime television, opens up about her early Bay Area life that shaped her long before the spotlight. From leaving home at 14 and surviving sexual abuse, to learning how to reinvent, and soften without losing her edge, Jeannie reflects on the cost of becoming who the world sees + the courage it took to become who she actually is. Now in a new chapter she calls 'becoming', Jeannie talks honestly about divorce from her former husband Jeezy, motherhood, co-parenting, faith, healing, and what it really means to rise from the ashes. In this episode, Jeannie shares:
<ul>
<li>What she learned from navigating instability at a young age, and how it influenced her approach to love and healing</li>
<li>The community of women that rallied around her during her toughest moment.</li>
<li>How survival skills can quietly become limitations in adulthood</li>
<li>The difference between intensity vs. intimacy (and how chaos can masquerade as love)</li>
<li>How to recognize when you&rsquo;re performing love instead of living it</li>
<li>Why being single can be &ldquo;the most prized piece of land you&rsquo;ll ever inherit&rdquo;</li>
<li>Why divorce feels like &ldquo;experiencing death alive&rdquo;</li>
<li>Why the end of love often marks the beginning of real self-work</li>
<li>What &ldquo;doing the work&rdquo; actually looks like after divorce</li>
<li>Why healing requires time alone, but not isolation</li>
<li>The role of movement, strength, and progress in healing Why not taking things personally is an emotional superpower</li>
<li>Jeannie opens up about the labels people love to slap on women (&ldquo;divorced,&rdquo; &ldquo;single,&rdquo; &ldquo;46,&rdquo; &ldquo;mom&rdquo;) + why they&rsquo;ll never tell the full story</li>
<li>Why children don&rsquo;t exist to heal us, but often reflect us</li>
<li>The tearful moment her daughter mirrored back words Jeannie had only ever prayed silently</li>
<li>How she loves to show up + surprise her friends</li>
<li>How to redefine healthy love without closing yourself off</li>
<li>How faith evolves when you stop asking and start listening</li>
</ul>
Follow Jeannie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thejeanniemai/?hl=en">@thejeanniemai</a> and on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloHunnaywithJeannieMai">YouTube</a>.&nbsp;
Book recommendation: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-body-keeps-the-score-brain-mind-and-body-in-the-healing-of-trauma-bessel-van-der-kolk-m-d/9e63236863805513?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&amp;utm_content=%7Badgroupname%7D&amp;utm_term=aud-2151538068632:dsa-19959388920&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=12440232635&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACfld4331xwUmYRn_8eNturPRM6Ny&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA6Y7KBhCkARIsAOxhqtMW3gaZdDsOInURGwYM5OYOJ0bA566AGJs6bRuog1v9yoOqM-pa-HwaAqWBEALw_wcB">The Body Keeps the Score</a> by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Behind every headline is a person + a deeper story. Question Everything with journalist Danielle Robay cuts through social media buzz to uncover the voices, ideas, and cultural moments that shape how we see the world. Each week, she asks bold questions that challenge assumptions and reveal the nuance behind the narratives, inviting you to look closer at the world, and at yourself. Because there's always more to the story.
——
Danielle is also the creator of the bestselling QUESTION EVERYTHING card game series, which has sparked connection and conversation in thousands of living rooms around the world. She's also the co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) and host of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. With her signature curiosity—dubbed "The Queen of Questions"—and a background in political science, Danielle brings both heart and rigor to every conversation. A Gloria Steinem Fellow and mentee of Larry King, she's carried forward a legacy of curiosity and connection, interviewing icons from Taylor Swift to Malala Yousafzai in more than 8,000 hours of elevated conversation.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

Mistaking Chaos for Love: Jeannie Mai on Healing + Becoming

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/030a89de-9235-4cb9-9386-b3e1001fa6a5/transcript