Fresh Air Best Of: Writers Rachel Eliza Griffiths & Quiara Alegría Hudes
Jan 24, 2026
Justin Chang, film critic, offers crisp takes on the German film Sound of Falling. Quiara Alegría Hudes, Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and novelist, discusses her new novel about a mother who leaves to find herself. Rachel Eliza Griffiths, poet and memoirist, speaks about her memoir, trauma, dissociative identity, and caregiving after Salman Rushdie’s attack. Multiple short conversations span memory, art, and difficult choices.
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Wedding Joy Marred By Hidden Tragedy
- Rachel Eliza Griffiths learned of her friend's death shortly after her wedding portraits, which cast a shadow over the day.
- She later discovered friends and family had kept news private to protect the wedding's joy.
Dissociation As A Protector
- Rachel describes dissociative identity disorder as a protective mechanism formed from childhood trauma.
- She accepts DID as a part of her mind that helps her cope with overwhelming pain or memories.
Multiple Selves Called Altars
- Griffiths experiences distinct 'altars' or alters that correspond to different ages and roles in her life.
- One future altar, 'June,' helps her with humor and self-care when she needs steadiness.
