When the world told her she had ruined her life, HC Colder made one quiet, radical choice — she chose herself.
In this honest and emotional conversation, HC shares what it was like to be a teen mom living in a shelter, the shame she carried from her conservative upbringing, and the moment a writing class helped her remember who she was. We talk survival, motherhood, fractured identity, and the long road back to self.
This episode is a powerful reminder that choosing yourself doesn't require permission. It starts with one decision.
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ABOUT HC COLDER
HC Colder is a New England-based poet and hybrid memoirist exploring motherhood, survival, faith, and fractured identity through lyrical narrative. Writing under a penname, she honors beauty and breakdown in equal measure. Her debut collection, In-betweens and Broken Things, releases Fall 2025.
📚 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hccolder
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IN THIS EPISODE:
• What it felt like to be a teen mom in a shelter
• The shame that comes with breaking religious rules
• The community computer that changed her life
• How she rebuilt a life — with five kids and a published book
• Why choosing yourself can be the most radical act of all
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🎧 Listen to the podcast:
https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com
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Give it a thumbs up, subscribe for more honest conversations, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
🧡 Comment below:
What's one moment you chose yourself even when it felt impossible?
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⏱️ Timestamps (Optional):
0:00 Intro
2:30 The Shelter Experience
6:45 Carrying Shame from Religion
12:00 Taking the Writing Class
20:30 Choosing Yourself Amid Survival
28:00 Becoming a Bonus Mom of Five
36:10 Reclaiming Her Voice Through Writing
47:00 Final Reflections
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