Been There: Lessons From A Shared Experience

Crystal Joyce's son — her youngest child — is in his senior year of high school, headed to college in the fall. Joyce (left) gets advice on the transition to being an empty nester from Ana Machado, whose children have all left home. Courtesy of Stephen Joyce and Wilmar Machado hide caption

Kam Franklin (left) is lead singer of The Suffers, a band from Houston that started touring three years ago. Amber Daniel is lead singer and bassist of Blame the Youth from North Carolina. They're preparing for their first tour. Courtesy of Jay Bee Zay and Allison Slade hide caption

Audrey Degraaf (left) found out this summer that she's pregnant with triplets. Lorie Shelley gave birth to triplets — two boys and a girl — nearly 20 years ago. Courtesy of Audrey Degraaf; Lorie Shelley hide caption

James Carmody has Asperger's syndrome and is a freshman at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He sat down with Elizabeth Boresow, who graduated from the University of Kansas and also has autism. Courtesy of James Carmody; Allison Marcus hide caption

Camille Miller (left) is still trying to adjust to her new life in a retirement community. She gets advice from Morris Gordon, who made a similar move earlier this year. Patti English; Nicole Acevedo hide caption

Before anorexia, Maddy Rich (left) says she never thought she was the kind of person who would struggle with an eating disorder. She gets advice on recovery from Julia Sinn. Image Courtesy of Samantha Hackett; Elizabeth Birnbaum hide caption

After 23 years, Cameron Cook (left) is leaving the service. Jarrad Turner (right) left in 2010. Courtesy of Cameron Cook/Courtesy of Jarrad Turner hide caption

Carmen Black (left) took over a farm in Iowa last year. Don Bustos has been farming in New Mexico for decades. Maja Black/Courtesy of Carmen Black; Courtesy of Don Bustos hide caption

K.T. Nicolaides' (left) husband died late last year, two days before their fifth wedding anniversary. Larry Treadwell was widowed in 2011, when his wife Amanda died suddenly. He's now remarried. Courtesy of K.T. Nicolaides/Courtesy of Larry Treadwell hide caption

Sara Leibold (left) at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in 2011. Rhys Hora is thru-hiking the trail this year. Courtesy of Sara Leibold/Courtesy of Rhys Hora hide caption

Julian Harris (left) tells Tor Des Roches what he can expect as he begins medically transitioning from female to male. Courtesy of Julian Harris; Andrew Jones/Courtesy of Tor Des Roches hide caption

Charles Johnson (left) is a new city councilman in Baytown, Texas. Ryan Coonerty (right) knows that feeling well; he served in city government in Santa Cruz, Calif., for nearly a decade as a councilman and mayor. Courtesy of Charles Johnson; Crystal Birns/Courtesy of Ryan Coonerty hide caption

Stephen Agyei (left) and Roy Wood Jr. talk about what it takes to make it in comedy. Jeffrey Nicholson/Courtesy of Stephen Agyei; Mindy Tucker/Courtesy of Roy Wood Jr. hide caption

Kristen Daniels (left) is considering becoming a Catholic nun. Sister Donna Del Santo faced the same situation when she was 38 and offers some advice for Kristen as she considers entering the discernment process. Courtesy of Kristen Daniels and Sister Donna Del Santo hide caption

Melissa Smith (left) offers some advice to Sarah Weeldreyer about amicable divorce. Jody Savage/Courtesy of Melissa Smith and Courtesy of Sarah Weeldreyer hide caption

Halley Katz (left) is the first person in her family to attend a four-year college. Tyler Lattimore is a first-generation college graduate. Courtesy of Halley Katz and Anh Bao Tran-Le/Courtesy of Tyler Lattimore hide caption

Pam Rector (left) with her daughter Grace became a single mother by choice when she was ready to have a child. Liv Aannestad is expecting her first child in March through the same process, and like all expecting parents she has some questions. Courtesy of Pam Rector/Courtesy of Liv Aannestad hide caption

Austin Beggin (left) and Tim Flynn. Both men suffered neck injuries that left them paralyzed. Courtesy of Shelly Beggin; Courtesy of Kerry Sheridan hide caption