Withness Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/withness We started this project to tell stories about people who were with their people through the darkest days. These kinds of stories need to be told and heard. More than that, they need to be held up to a light and examined so that we can keep on multiplying them. Our hope is these conversations won’t just be about Withness, but they will be practice for talking about the shadows of life together. © 2025 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 1b5020a4-7d5c-56e0-932a-be1c771fe31c no en Wed, 01 May 2024 12:35:16 -0400 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:28:11 -0500 https://www.laurabuffington.com/podcasts https://img.transistor.fm/srP1uRUpB-U5i5zy9cMnWoBO4n62V6u1FWqO7Ne5AQY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQ0MjM3LzE2OTI2/Mjg0OTQtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg Withness https://www.laurabuffington.com/podcasts episodic Laura Buffington, Keaton Case We started this project to tell stories about people who were with their people through the darkest days. These kinds of stories need to be told and heard. More than that, they need to be held up to a light and examined so that we can keep on multiplying them. Our hope is these conversations won’t just be about Withness, but they will be practice for talking about the shadows of life together. We started this project to tell stories about people who were with their people through the darkest days. grief, community, emotional health, spirituality Laura Buffington pardonthisdust@gmail.com No No Awe of Each Other 18 18 Awe of Each Other full 71ad7f26-f902-4925-a362-97fe4d14d1ef https://share.transistor.fm/s/ddc4452f We finish up our second season with some conversation about the way we all impress each other, how much it matters for us to take note of each other, and how our love for each other can keep us going. 

We use Dacher Keltner's book, Awe, as our starting place. And maybe as a place to start next season. 

]]> We finish up our second season with some conversation about the way we all impress each other, how much it matters for us to take note of each other, and how our love for each other can keep us going. 

We use Dacher Keltner's book, Awe, as our starting place. And maybe as a place to start next season. 

]]> Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 878 We finish up our second season with some conversation about the way we all impress each other, how much it matters for us to take note of each other, and how our love for each other can keep us going. 

We use Dacher Keltner's book, Awe, as our starting place. And maybe as a place to start next season. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Jess Pt. 2 (The Birthday Episode) 17 17 Jess Pt. 2 (The Birthday Episode) full ce2892d5-5bdf-4bfc-a8a1-bde99d6b5112 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2c09a3d9 We talk again with Jess to see what life is like farther down the road with cancer as a part of her story. Hear about how her friends made her birthday one to remember and how she's finding and making meaning through these days. 

To learn more about her story or to support her, check out @TeamJessLFG on instagram or search for Jessica Carter on CaringBridge. 

]]> We talk again with Jess to see what life is like farther down the road with cancer as a part of her story. Hear about how her friends made her birthday one to remember and how she's finding and making meaning through these days. 

To learn more about her story or to support her, check out @TeamJessLFG on instagram or search for Jessica Carter on CaringBridge. 

]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2304 We talk again with Jess to see what life is like farther down the road with cancer as a part of her story. Hear about how her friends made her birthday one to remember and how she's finding and making meaning through these days. 

To learn more about her story or to support her, check out @TeamJessLFG on instagram or search for Jessica Carter on CaringBridge. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Johnny and Meredyth 16 16 Johnny and Meredyth full 552b929a-39d0-498b-84c6-907eafdb1392 https://share.transistor.fm/s/480ebc60 What's it like when the storm passes through town and you have to keep living with it? We talk with Johnny and Meredyth about the day their life together changed forever and how Withness kept them going. 

]]> What's it like when the storm passes through town and you have to keep living with it? We talk with Johnny and Meredyth about the day their life together changed forever and how Withness kept them going. 

]]> Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 3118 What's it like when the storm passes through town and you have to keep living with it? We talk with Johnny and Meredyth about the day their life together changed forever and how Withness kept them going. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Dr. Rachel 15 15 Dr. Rachel full 825fd854-359d-401f-b40a-c57ae2a7622e https://share.transistor.fm/s/10427a10 It's a college reunion! We interview Rachel the pediatrician about what it's like to be With patients through fear and sickness. To find Rachel on social media and ask her about your kid's runny nose, go to @honeybeepedsmd on instagram. 

]]> It's a college reunion! We interview Rachel the pediatrician about what it's like to be With patients through fear and sickness. To find Rachel on social media and ask her about your kid's runny nose, go to @honeybeepedsmd on instagram. 

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:13:41 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 3279 It's a college reunion! We interview Rachel the pediatrician about what it's like to be With patients through fear and sickness. To find Rachel on social media and ask her about your kid's runny nose, go to @honeybeepedsmd on instagram. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Joey 14 14 Joey full 9b23a74e-b31e-4e63-b150-aaf00e1fd10c https://share.transistor.fm/s/9437c277 We talked to my friend Joey about how to live with cancer, difference, and falcons. You can learn more about Joey's work in Cincinnati at Bespokenlive.org.

]]> We talked to my friend Joey about how to live with cancer, difference, and falcons. You can learn more about Joey's work in Cincinnati at Bespokenlive.org.

]]> Wed, 03 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2985 We talked to my friend Joey about how to live with cancer, difference, and falcons. You can learn more about Joey's work in Cincinnati at Bespokenlive.org.

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No A New Jason 13 13 A New Jason full 16aab0b2-969e-43f2-9e00-8182c3686acc https://share.transistor.fm/s/cae8afe3 We talk with our friend Jason about what it's like to create, to parent, and to grow with depression. We also talk about what it's like to be Super Churched People wrestling with sorrow. And Jason gives us one question we could all be asking each other more often.

]]> We talk with our friend Jason about what it's like to create, to parent, and to grow with depression. We also talk about what it's like to be Super Churched People wrestling with sorrow. And Jason gives us one question we could all be asking each other more often.

]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2757 We talk with our friend Jason about what it's like to create, to parent, and to grow with depression. We also talk about what it's like to be Super Churched People wrestling with sorrow. And Jason gives us one question we could all be asking each other more often.

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Jess 12 12 Jess full e007f3b1-1903-47a7-a70c-fecf329b04c5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8631e9b1 Jess is kind enough to let us in on what it's like to deal with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis crashing into your life. Hear how she invited others to show up for her and how they've gone above and beyond to be with her. 

]]> Jess is kind enough to let us in on what it's like to deal with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis crashing into your life. Hear how she invited others to show up for her and how they've gone above and beyond to be with her. 

]]> Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2858 Jess is kind enough to let us in on what it's like to deal with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis crashing into your life. Hear how she invited others to show up for her and how they've gone above and beyond to be with her. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Keaton's Without and With 11 11 Keaton's Without and With full b165e2bd-c8f7-4d7a-bfe1-fc8b375ad901 https://share.transistor.fm/s/defe3728 We're back! Now with giant life updates! Our own co-host Keaton had a significant off-season so we're catching up with her and previewing the season to come. 

]]> We're back! Now with giant life updates! Our own co-host Keaton had a significant off-season so we're catching up with her and previewing the season to come. 

]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 1213 We're back! Now with giant life updates! Our own co-host Keaton had a significant off-season so we're catching up with her and previewing the season to come. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Holiday Lows and Highs 10 10 Holiday Lows and Highs full a9731c96-32f2-48f7-a3b0-6e688855edbd https://share.transistor.fm/s/855f4f1d Since Withness is such a vital part of the holiday season, we take a look at some of our Lows and Highs of being with our people on these important days. We also consider the original Withnesser and what to do when we don't want to be with Mariah Carey for Christmas. Be sure to stay til the end to hear Laura's very first attempt at a Christmas podcast recorded on a Fisher Price tape deck. 

]]> Since Withness is such a vital part of the holiday season, we take a look at some of our Lows and Highs of being with our people on these important days. We also consider the original Withnesser and what to do when we don't want to be with Mariah Carey for Christmas. Be sure to stay til the end to hear Laura's very first attempt at a Christmas podcast recorded on a Fisher Price tape deck. 

]]> Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:34:12 -0500 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 1732 Since Withness is such a vital part of the holiday season, we take a look at some of our Lows and Highs of being with our people on these important days. We also consider the original Withnesser and what to do when we don't want to be with Mariah Carey for Christmas. Be sure to stay til the end to hear Laura's very first attempt at a Christmas podcast recorded on a Fisher Price tape deck. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Clueless, Shameless, Fearless 9 9 Clueless, Shameless, Fearless full 0d7dc1bb-b299-41bf-85d9-7c427a840354 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ccc123a To close out our first season, we talk through what our guests taught us. We also wonder about social media condolences, the danger of small talk, and the power of shame. Also, our friend Ben returns to talk about what it means to speak at a funeral. 

]]> To close out our first season, we talk through what our guests taught us. We also wonder about social media condolences, the danger of small talk, and the power of shame. Also, our friend Ben returns to talk about what it means to speak at a funeral. 

]]> Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2635 To close out our first season, we talk through what our guests taught us. We also wonder about social media condolences, the danger of small talk, and the power of shame. Also, our friend Ben returns to talk about what it means to speak at a funeral. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Johnny or John or Blum 8 8 Johnny or John or Blum full fccd26c4-05bf-444d-80f3-0af11bf2aea4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cadde026 "You're in the moment: You're left with do I completely detach or am I in it? I was just in it." We're calling in an expert Withness today. Blum showed up for Tom and Sheila for coffee on regular afternoon visits and in what became their last days. Hear him try to describe what came naturally to him. 

]]> "You're in the moment: You're left with do I completely detach or am I in it? I was just in it." We're calling in an expert Withness today. Blum showed up for Tom and Sheila for coffee on regular afternoon visits and in what became their last days. Hear him try to describe what came naturally to him. 

]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2951 "You're in the moment: You're left with do I completely detach or am I in it? I was just in it." We're calling in an expert Withness today. Blum showed up for Tom and Sheila for coffee on regular afternoon visits and in what became their last days. Hear him try to describe what came naturally to him. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Joyce 7 7 Joyce full 427cd3ae-b7d6-4b7c-91da-636c1cf21025 https://share.transistor.fm/s/014d6388 "I want to give people one last message of hope and love and that you don't have to fear." We interviewed Joyce right after she outlived the doctor's prognosis, after she felt like her bucket list was checked off, and as it turns out, right before she died. Listen in as we talk about her decision to host a living wake and what it's like to look back on a life well lived. 

]]> "I want to give people one last message of hope and love and that you don't have to fear." We interviewed Joyce right after she outlived the doctor's prognosis, after she felt like her bucket list was checked off, and as it turns out, right before she died. Listen in as we talk about her decision to host a living wake and what it's like to look back on a life well lived. 

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2297 "I want to give people one last message of hope and love and that you don't have to fear." We interviewed Joyce right after she outlived the doctor's prognosis, after she felt like her bucket list was checked off, and as it turns out, right before she died. Listen in as we talk about her decision to host a living wake and what it's like to look back on a life well lived. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Leslie 6 6 Leslie full 5eec2f87-fc51-4edf-b690-a4d934605a49 https://share.transistor.fm/s/577b0720 "We counted up. We didn't set an expiration date on how time we had with Benjamin. We just enjoyed every single day." Even though Leslie's son had a disease only 2 people in every million have, there are universal truths we all need from their story. 

]]> "We counted up. We didn't set an expiration date on how time we had with Benjamin. We just enjoyed every single day." Even though Leslie's son had a disease only 2 people in every million have, there are universal truths we all need from their story. 

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 3081 "We counted up. We didn't set an expiration date on how time we had with Benjamin. We just enjoyed every single day." Even though Leslie's son had a disease only 2 people in every million have, there are universal truths we all need from their story. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Jason 5 5 Jason full 03b16778-0f9c-4199-9daa-dc142aef90a6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/adf46ffd "I just wanted her to say something--i wanted her to be that cheerleader." What do you do when you lose the voice that's rooted for you your whole life? And what do you do when they're with you but not with you? Jason tells the story of grieving his mom while she was still living. 

]]> "I just wanted her to say something--i wanted her to be that cheerleader." What do you do when you lose the voice that's rooted for you your whole life? And what do you do when they're with you but not with you? Jason tells the story of grieving his mom while she was still living. 

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2942 "I just wanted her to say something--i wanted her to be that cheerleader." What do you do when you lose the voice that's rooted for you your whole life? And what do you do when they're with you but not with you? Jason tells the story of grieving his mom while she was still living. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Furaha 4 4 Furaha full 90d8dc6e-b970-43cf-b48c-37d2129f9e5b https://share.transistor.fm/s/94654112 "I was more worried for his friends than for myself. I wanted them to hold onto life." Furaha woke up in the middle of the night to the knock no parent wants at their door. We talk about the big life of her son Evan and how her care for his friends led to a group selfie at his funeral. 

]]> "I was more worried for his friends than for myself. I wanted them to hold onto life." Furaha woke up in the middle of the night to the knock no parent wants at their door. We talk about the big life of her son Evan and how her care for his friends led to a group selfie at his funeral. 

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 3001 "I was more worried for his friends than for myself. I wanted them to hold onto life." Furaha woke up in the middle of the night to the knock no parent wants at their door. We talk about the big life of her son Evan and how her care for his friends led to a group selfie at his funeral. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Ben 3 3 Ben full a191711e-d1a7-489c-ae68-8ed2ae740942 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f5b0e9f5 In exchange for coupons to mini-golf that may or may not be honored, Ben tells us the story of losing his parents at a young age and we wonder with him just how joy belongs in painful stories.

]]> In exchange for coupons to mini-golf that may or may not be honored, Ben tells us the story of losing his parents at a young age and we wonder with him just how joy belongs in painful stories.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2224 In exchange for coupons to mini-golf that may or may not be honored, Ben tells us the story of losing his parents at a young age and we wonder with him just how joy belongs in painful stories.

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Sarah 2 2 Sarah full c83512d4-ed77-4fd3-8c7a-243091335646 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2827b6c “I need my life to be a eulogy for him.” Sarah tells us the too-short story of her son Levi: how they laid him down and how they carry him still.

]]> “I need my life to be a eulogy for him.” Sarah tells us the too-short story of her son Levi: how they laid him down and how they carry him still.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2924 “I need my life to be a eulogy for him.” Sarah tells us the too-short story of her son Levi: how they laid him down and how they carry him still.

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No Origin Story 1 1 Origin Story full 29fb626d-c020-4253-9dc0-d7b6554ba253 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f84f1728 We make a case for Withness as a word and a reality. We talk about Laura’s own family story and how it made us hit Record on this project. 

]]> We make a case for Withness as a word and a reality. We talk about Laura’s own family story and how it made us hit Record on this project. 

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400 Laura Buffington, Keaton Case Laura Buffington, Keaton Case 2072 We make a case for Withness as a word and a reality. We talk about Laura’s own family story and how it made us hit Record on this project. 

]]> grief, community, emotional health, spirituality No