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Sophia kicks off the second episode of “My First Year: The Anthology” series highlighting an episode from the upcoming show: “My First Year With My Dog.” Co-hosts Sophia and Samira interview Brian Berger, who shares his story of adopting a rescue dog with his wife, Amy, after years of wanting a dog. They initially sought a small dog but connected with a quiet blonde pit bull (later named Christie “Brinkley”) at a Brooklyn rescue. Brian describes bringing Brinkley home and early adjustments in a Brooklyn apartment, including crate training, consistent positive-reinforcement training, and milestones like learning stairs. He reflects on how Brinkley provided companionship, patience, emotional support during stressful finance work, strengthened relationships and community connections. A year after Brinkley’s death, Brian discusses grief, therapy, and complicated feelings about adopting again.

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In today’s episode, co-hosts Sophia and Rosabelle speak with Dagny, a Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter and NYU Gallatin graduate who created her own college major (“Language Curation and Ethics”). Dagny recounts growing up homeschooled in Connecticut, adjusting to public high school, and graduating in 2020 as COVID ended senior milestones. She chose NYU largely for the excitement of New York during the pandemic and moved into Brittany Hall as an athlete with online classes. Early freshman year she felt isolated, explored her sexuality through a crush on a teammate that ended painfully, and fell into depression, using journaling, songwriting, running, friends, family to cope. A supportive friend group and an influential professor helped her regain confidence, confront imposter syndrome, and reflect on slowing down, self-acceptance, and pursuing music and a grounded life

Be sure to check out other episodes in the My First Year series, wherever you get your podcasts.

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-first-year-the-anthology/id6783951127

🎵 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033E5eQCpjrdZn3fPJZfIh?si=9b0022150d0a4332

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Musician and Chinese medicine teacher Andrew Sterman recounts how he decided to have children with his wife Anne, an acupuncturist, marked by a ceremony inviting “universal creative forces.” He describes two successful home births in 2004 and 2007 with midwife and doula, using acupuncture during labor, and the mystical intensity of birth. Sterman emphasizes dads focusing on postpartum recovery, being responsive, avoiding toxic masculinity, and meeting children as distinct personalities from birth, following the child’s lead, limiting overstimulating toys, and finding the first year primarily joyous despite fatigue, co-sleeping challenges, jaundice, and work-life tradeoffs.

🎵 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033E5eQCpjrdZn3fPJZfIh?si=9b0022150d0a4332

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-first-year-the-anthology/id6783951127