It's a Lot

About It's a Lot

It's a Lot is a podcast about things that are a lot. We dive deep on social media, parenthood, and beyond—things that can be maddening, all-consuming, and also weird and wonderful. Tune in for honest conversations with parents, social media experts, authors, content creators, and more. We aim to explore hard topics with openness and nuance, while also finding the humor along the way. New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Hosted by Emily Hessney Lynch; find her at @servemethesky on Instagram or at www.servemethesky.com. Our logo was created by Tim Lynch of Tenderchomps Art. We are a proud member of the Lunchador Podcast Network in Rochester, NY. Interested in sponsoring It's a Lot? Our media kit is available upon request! Reach out via our contact form at www.servemethesky.com/contact.

Publisher

Emily Hessney Lynch

Category

arts · health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

22 May 2025

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   The Shirley Jackson Episode (book chat with Sarah McGrath)

   Physical therapist, mom, avid reader, and bookstagrammer Sarah McGrath of Sarah Reads in Roc joins host Emily Hessney Lynch for a deep dive book chat on all things Shirley Jackson! We read her gothic horror masterpiece We Have Always Lived in the Castle and her first memoir Life Among the Savages to get to know both sides of Jackson and her work. In the first half of our book chat, we get into some Shirley Jackson lore, exploring her relationship with her mother, how she always felt like an outsider growing up, and how she despised going to the University of Rochester for a hot second. Then we jump into We Have Always Lived in the Castle and discuss Merricat's voice, her relationship with Constance, Jackson's signature humor and common themes, and the horrifying way things unfold at the end. Sarah also shares about her own experiences with OCD and we discuss whether or not Merricat might have some magical thinking OCD going on (among other things!). In the second half of the show, we talk about Life Among the Savages, sharing our favorite anecdotes about Jackson's 4 imaginative children, how her classic humor shows up again, our amazement at how she managed not to lose herself in motherhood despite how little her useless husband did, and how astonishingly cheap everything was back in 1953. We also go on a fun tangent about our own experiences learning that Santa wasn't real! Note: Our discussion is spoiler free until about 23:16. If you'd like to skip the spoilers, fast forward to the second half of the episode. Links: Read along with us! Grab your own copies of We Have Always Lived in the Castle (https://bookshop.org/a/315/9780143039976) and Life Among the Savages (https://bookshop.org/a/315/9780143128045). Check out Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life (https://bookshop.org/a/315/9781631493416) by Ruth Franklin for even more about Jackson's life. Read Jackson's first published short story from the U of R's literary magazine here (https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/years-top-books-share-roots-in-university-archives-206242/), her famous essay, "Garlic in Fiction," here (https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/garlic-in-fiction), and The New Republic article we mentioned here (https://newrepublic.com/article/137128/shirley-jacksons-disappearing-act). To learn more about OCD, visit the International OCD Foundation (https://iocdf.org/). For more of Sarah, check out her bookstagram (https://www.instagram.com/sarahreadsinroc)! Follow Emily on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/servemethesky/) and check out her business, Serve Me the Sky Digital (https://www.servemethesky.com/), if you need a digital content strategist or writer! Interested in sponsoring It's a Lot? Our media kit is available upon request! Reach out here (https://www.servemethesky.com/contact) to start the conversation. You can also support the show (https://itsalot.captivate.fm/support) by leaving us a one-time (or recurring!) tip. We'll send you a sticker to say thanks! We're a proud member of the Lunchador Podcast Network (https://lunchador.org/). Our logo is by Tenderchomps Art (https://www.tenderchomps.com/). Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Headstone Cleaning, Storytelling, & the Social Media Comparison Trap (with Katie DeRaddo of A Grave Attraction)

   After cleaning headstones in cemeteries for fun for a few years, Katie DeRaddo started A Grave Attraction (https://agraveattraction.com/) to share the stories of the dead through social media, honoring their lives and ensuring they are not forgotten. In this conversation with host Emily Hessney Lynch, we discuss proper techniques and ethics for cleaning headstones, some of Katie's favorite cemeteries in Rochester, Buffalo, and beyond, and how she pieces together people's stories using printed records from centuries ago. In the second half of the show, we dive into Katie's experiences as a content creator, from the highs of getting started on YouTube with a video that reached 13 million views to lows like dealing with conflict in the comments section, people taking things out of context, fighting with the algorithm, and the painful trap of comparing ourselves to others on social media—something we can all relate to! Links: For more of Katie's work, check out her website (https://agraveattraction.com/) or follow her on: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/agraveattraction) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@agraveattraction) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@agraveattraction) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/agraveattraction/). Follow Emily on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/servemethesky/) and check out her business, Serve Me the Sky Digital (https://www.servemethesky.com/), if you need a digital content strategist or writer! Interested in sponsoring It's a Lot? Our media kit is available upon request! Reach out here (https://www.servemethesky.com/contact) to start the conversation. You can also support the show (https://itsalot.captivate.fm/support) by leaving us a one-time (or recurring!) tip. We'll send you a sticker to say thanks! We're a proud member of the Lunchador Podcast Network (https://lunchador.org/). Our logo is by Tenderchomps Art (https://www.tenderchomps.com/). Mentioned in this episode: Behind the Glass Behind the Glass Gallery podcast is a monthly talk with the current month's BTG Roster. Artists are interviewed about their submissions and we dive deep into their process, inspiration and thought process centralized around their artwork in the Behind the Glass Gallery located in the heart of Downtown Rochester NY. Hosted by Richard B Colón, Quajay Donnell and Rob Bell Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/ Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Female Rage Gets Shit Done (with Molly Darling)

   Content warning: This episode contains brief mentions of suicidal ideation; they are not discussed at length or in detail. Please take care while listening. Artist, imagination doula, and mom Molly Darling joins host Emily Hessney Lynch for a wide-ranging conversation about evolving identity and how to take the leap and cross the threshold into something new. In the first half of the episode, we discuss the many lives Molly has lived before 40, faith deconstruction, divorce, and discovering she was a lesbian in her 30s. During the second half of the show, we discuss how important it is to let kids have different experiences than you, learning how to say "I fucked up and I'm sorry" to your kids, the value of female rage, and figuring out how to listen to your body and trust your own intuition rather than operating from a place of fear. Links: Molly's podcast, Behind the Studio Door, will be returning soon! Explore the back catalog here (https://open.spotify.com/show/26yILduWWIkZ6XDW7QB4Nu?si=64e30ae9aada4aae). The book Molly mentioned that discusses fear at length is Big Magic: Creating Living Beyond Fear (https://bookshop.org/a/315/9781594634727) by Elizabeth Gilbert. If you are struggling with postpartum depression or psychosis, here are some resources to explore: Postpartum Support International (https://postpartum.net/get-help/postpartum-psychosis-help/); National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline); 988 Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/). For more of Molly, follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thedarlingrage/). You can also book an energy portrait or imagination doula session here (https://bio.site/thedarlingrevolution?). Follow Emily on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/servemethesky/) and check out her business, Serve Me the Sky Digital (https://www.servemethesky.com/), if you need a social media strategist, speaker, or writer! Interested in sponsoring It's a Lot? Our media kit is available upon request! Reach out here (https://www.servemethesky.com/contact) to start the conversation. You can also support the show (https://itsalot.captivate.fm/support) by leaving us a one-time (or recurring!) tip. We'll send you a sticker to say thanks! We're a proud member of the Lunchador Podcast Network (https://lunchador.org/). Our logo is by Tenderchomps Art (https://www.tenderchomps.com/). Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Mind of Magnus The Mind is an An Amazing Space Dive into the Mind of Magnus Champlin. A creative brain cursed with endless curiosity. The show focuses on learning about everything and anything, from factoids to deep dives into theories. Magnus interviews guests sharing their stories and life adventures all with the goal of expanding our minds. We are always on the lookout for the next awesome thing to learn! Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/

Who has been a guest on It's a Lot

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jackie Ortiz
• Christy Roushey
• Kristen Felicetti
• Alaina Brubaker

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

36

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32