Stories and Stanza

You Are Not Your Thoughts: Mindfulness, Leadership & Radical Acceptance | Dalida Turkovic | Fail With Me

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT

What is mindfulness, really? And what happens when we confuse achieving with living?

In this episode of Fail With Me — Stories and Stanza's series on mental health, resilience, and the messy, beautiful work of becoming — host Abhra Pal sits down with Dalida Turkovic, an ICF-certified leadership coach and certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher with 30+ years of experience guiding executives and communities across Asia, Europe, and beyond.

Dalida Turkovic's story is anything but theoretical. She fled the Yugoslav War in her early 20s, landed in China with almost nothing, spent 30 years building a career and a practice from scratch — and learned, through depression, burnout, and the quiet discipline of embodied awareness, how mindfulness becomes the skill that carries us through life's relentless changes.

In this conversation, we explore:

→ Why mindfulness is not about silencing your mind — and what it actually means to "let thoughts flow"

→ The "frog in the well" — why self-awareness is the first real act of leadership

→ Why mindfulness without compassion is incomplete

→ The three phases of practice: striving, disillusionment, and radical acceptance

→ What the "hyper-achiever trap" costs leaders — in their body, their relationships, and their teams

→ How to begin a mindfulness practice in just 10 seconds

→ Why redefining success as the quality of human connection might be the most radical leadership move of our time

A moment from this episode:

"Sometimes we think we are in a space where we got it all — but we are actually stuck in a well. What mindfulness offers us is to begin to see different scenarios, that there is more to what we can perceive." — Dalida Turkovic

Connect with Dalida Turkovic: Website & Coaching Inquiry → https://www.dalidaturkovic.com/contact

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do I Know What Kind of Help I Need?

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:03:58 GMT

What if the hardest part of getting help isn't the therapy itself — it's knowing where to start?

In Part 2 of our conversation with counsellor and psychotherapist John Cuturilo, we go deeper into one of the most common questions people carry about mental health: How do I know what kind of support is right for me — and how do I know if it's actually working?

Whether you've been in therapy for years or haven't taken that first step yet, this episode gives you the tools, language, and confidence to approach mental health support differently.

In this episode:

Why you don't need a diagnosis to justify seeking help
How to assess the right level of support — from counsellors and psychologists to social workers and psychiatrists
The "grey areas" of mental health — when something feels wrong but you can't name it
How long therapy typically takes, and what ongoing vs time-limited support looks like
Why culture and personal background must be part of the therapeutic conversation
How to choose the right therapist — and the red flags that should make you walk away
What goal-oriented therapy actually looks like in practice

John also shares a personal reflection — a reminder that what we normalise isn't always healthy, and that recognising that can be the beginning of real change.

"Don't think that you're weak or of less value because you need help. We're all human. It's okay to seek help." — John Cuturilo

🎙️ Missed Part 1? Start here

About John Cuturilo John is a counsellor, writer, and podcast host based in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in complex trauma and relational matters. He integrates lived experience with evidence-based practice — aiming to be versatile, educative, empowering, and relatable. 🔗 www.yourlistener.com.au

About Stories and Stanza Stories and Stanza charts in the Mental Health top charts across the US, UK, and Canada. We run two series: Between the Lines — conversations with writers and creators — and Fail With Me — honest dialogues about mental health, resilience, and life's challenges. Hosted by Abhra Pal.

📌 Follow us: YouTube · Facebook · Instagram · X · WhatsApp

🎧 Listen: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · Substack

☕ Support the show: Buy me a coffee

🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

#MentalHealth #Therapy #Counselling #FailWithMe #StoriesAndStanza #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyTips #HowToFindATherapist #ComplexTrauma #GoalOrientedTherapy #TraumaRecovery #Psychology #Wellness #SelfCare #MentalHealthAwareness #JohnCuturilo #AbhraPal #MelbournePodcast

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Warning Signs We Miss: Robert Mahoney on Behavioral Threat Assessment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:05:33 GMT

What if violence could be predicted — and stopped — before it ever happens? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Mahoney, founder of TVTP Solutions, who argues that there is no such thing as a random act of violence. Every attack follows a recognisable, interruptible pathway — if you know what to look for.

Robert walks us through behavioral threat assessment, the "three buckets" of identity, purpose, and community, and why our defensive approach to security is leaving us more vulnerable. He also shares real-world examples of individuals who were pulled back from the edge — including one whose life was transformed by a pottery class.

A vital listen for anyone working in education, community services, public health, or anyone who simply wants to understand how safer communities are built.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dark Humor That Saved My Life in the Psych Ward

Mon, 18 May 2026 08:16:35 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra sits down with Robert Rickelmann for an unflinching conversation about a life shaped by mental illness and addiction. Robert grew up with crippling anxiety — and discovered early on that alcohol made him feel fearless, confident, and finally comfortable in his own skin. That relief came at a devastating cost.

What began as a coping mechanism consumed his law school career, his sense of self, and nearly his life. In 1996, Robert made a major suicide attempt that landed him in a psychiatric hospital for a month, where he was diagnosed as Seriously Mentally Ill — carrying diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder, severe depression, OCD, and borderline personality disorder. The years that followed brought repeated hospitalizations, a long and grueling journey through medications, and immeasurable strain on his marriage.

Through it all, Robert scribbled notes on scraps of paper — in psych wards, in dark moments, in the margins of a life he was trying to hold together. Those fragments became a memoir. After years of rejections from agents and publishers, he signed with Apprentice House Publishing, releasing Jumping Off the End on May 5, 2025 — timed deliberately with Mental Health Awareness Month.

This conversation covers the seductive lie of alcohol as self-medication, the stigma men face when seeking help, dark humor as a survival tool, the invisible weight carried by caregivers, and what it means to be sober since January 10, 2013.

Robert's book is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jumping-End-Lifetime-Struggle-Alcoholism/dp/1627206604/

Stories & Stanza A podcast for curious minds Follow Us Facebook Instagram YouTube X WhatsApp Channel

Listen & Read ▶ Spotify ▶ Apple Podcasts ✎ Read on Substack

Tools We Love ↗ Grow on YouTube with vidIQ 🎤 Edit Podcasts with Descript ☕ Buy me a coffee

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Artist Illustrates What OCD Actually Feels Like

Sun, 17 May 2026 01:26:12 GMT

In this episode, host sits down with writer, illustrator, and mental health advocate Mia Mason to explore her book Worry's Whispers — a collection of illustrated poems woven together with a graphic-novel section that follows Drew's journey through OCD and anxiety, from isolation all the way to seeking help, diagnosis, and resilience.

Mia shares her personal journey, including her own lived experience of OCD as "sticky" intrusive thoughts, morality fears, and reassurance-seeking compulsions, and discusses how therapy-inspired drawings grew into the book's unique format. She reads a poem depicting health anxiety and the spiralling "why" of intrusive thoughts, and describes OCD as a ghost named Worry whose whispers can fade to background noise with the right treatment. The conversation also touches on values-based action — doing meaningful things despite fear — and why the book resonates not just for people with OCD, but for anyone who loves or supports them.

Watch the video version of this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TeU0uxR1gP8

About Mia Mason : Artist, actress, author, and mental health advocate. Mia uses storytelling and illustration to build compassion and connection around anxiety and OCD — blending emotional honesty with advocacy so others feel understood, supported, and less alone.

Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worrys_whispers/ Worry's Whispers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1BQWW63

Stories & StanzaA podcast for curious minds Follow UsFacebook Instagram YouTube X WhatsApp Channel Listen & Read▶ Spotify ▶ Apple Podcasts ✎ Read on Substack Tools We Love↗ Grow on YouTube with vidIQ 🎤 Edit Podcasts with Descript ☕ Buy me a coffee © 2025 Stories & Stanza · All rights reserved

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manifestation Isn't About Wanting More—It's About This

Sun, 10 May 2026 12:40:18 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra and guest David Allen Brown discuss reframing a “midlife crisis” as a midlife renaissance, exploring how depression can feel like numbness that can turn to despair. Brown shares his background as a teacher, speaker, and writer, his divorce and move from Indianapolis to New York City, and how finding a good therapist after COVID and committing to honesty became a turning point. They examine authenticity as both a personal and creative necessity, including Brown’s decision to write an unflinching memoir and his view that being oneself attracts the right people. Brown also explains his approach to writing through intentional pre-writing, theme, and structure, reads an excerpt about caregiving stress, and outlines a model of self-talk integrating higher power, action, and emotions, culminating in a manifestation framework focused on cultivating general aligned energy rather than specific outcomes.

David Alan Brown has been teaching personal empowerment, leadership, organizational development, self discovery and spirituality to audiences across the country for more than thirty years. He is the author of many books, including Answer the Call: What to do when Spirit arrives to transform your life! and The Self-Help Paradox. He frequently leads classes and services at progressive congregations, including more than a decade of service at New Thought Unity Center of Cincinnati and churches from Florida to Minnesota, Arizona to New York. He also facilitates and consults for corporations and nonprofit organizations, leading programs on leadership, culture, authenticity, presentation skills and staff development. David holds a BFA from New York University, is a fan of auto racing, writes and evaluates live theater, and coaches writers and storytellers. His most recent publication is an online course, Convergence, which teaches people how to recognize and regulate their inner voices to live intentionally each day and manifest their goals. He's here to talk with us about how this became his life's work, how he integrates it into his daily life and what makes it special.

His website: https://davidalanbrown.com/convergence/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between the Lines with Áine : Migration, Belonging, and the Courage to Write

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:44:50 GMT

In this Stories and Stanza “Between the Lines” episode, host Abhra interviews writer Áine , an Irish immigrant living on the U.S. East Coast, about how journaling from age 14 evolved into publishing fiction and nonfiction. Áine describes feeling “immigrant shell shock,” finding courage through immigrant literature, and being accepted into a university fiction workshop that revealed how others perceive a writer’s narrative voice. She recounts the shock of her first short story and later nonfiction acceptance, and how her work began moving between Ireland, the U.K., and the U.S., including a first book published in Dublin and partnered with Simon & Schuster. She shares questions she asks before writing memoir, reads a piece from a hybrid poetry/essay collection, discusses inspiration versus discipline, and reflects on migration, identity, listening, and the challenge of writing in a world that values shorter, more entertaining content, ending with encouragement that everyone deserves time to write.

Please find her website here: https://www.ainegreaney.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail Without Shame

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:28:16 GMT

Host Abhra speaks with Melbourne-based counselor and media creator John of Your Listener Counseling about reframing failure and reducing mental health stigma. John argues that society overemphasizes success, causing people to mislabel learning experiences as crippling failures and to shame themselves, and he links stigma around mental illness to a broader stigma against “failing” to meet societal expectations. He critiques both shaming and denial-based “positivity,” using autism as an example of how calling challenges a “superpower” can avoid acknowledging real difficulties, and emphasizes accepting flaws, working on change when possible, and accommodating what cannot be changed. They discuss shallow mental-health messaging, emotional exploitation and misinformation in media, the need for critical thinking, and core self-care pillars such as introspection, deliberate decision-making, meaningful activity, and valuing human connections.

John Cuturilo is a counsellor, writer, and podcast host in Melbourne, Australia. He conducts therapy with a diverse range of clients and specialises in working with complex trauma and relational matters. His seeks to address shortcomings in common practice by being versatile, educative, empowering, and relatable, integrating humanity and lived experience with evidence-based methods. As a writer and host, he educates his audience about how psychology applies to their lives, encouraging them to be more critical, constructive thinkers. He eschews politics and popular rhetoric for a pursuit of objective reality and nuanced analysis.

Find him at: www.yourlistener.com.au

--------------------
Follow Us on Social Media:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/storiesandstanza/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/storiesandstanza/
YouTube @storiesandstanza
Join Our WhatsApp Channel https://wa.openinapp.link/wjcwe
X https://x.com/storiesnstanza

Follow Us on Audio Podcast:
Listen on Spotify https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza
Listen on Apple Podcast https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2
Read on Substack https://openinapp.link/ion0e
--------------------

Want to grow on YouTube? Try vidIQ: https://vidiq.com/storiesandstanza
Want to edit your Podcasts in a breeze? try Descript: https://get.descript.com/stories-and-stanza
Buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/storiesandstanza
----------------

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing After Trauma: How Lived Experience Fuels Creative Writing

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:13:11 GMT

In this intimate conversation on Stories and Stanza, Teri shares how lived experience with trauma — including surviving a 14-year emotionally abusive marriage — became the foundation for her most authentic and powerful creative writing. If you're a writer, a reader, or anyone who has ever wondered whether your hardest seasons have a purpose, this episode is for you. This episode explores the impact of a toxic relationship and the healing journey that can follow, emphasizing how true stories can fuel powerful writing.

Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat and now calling the North Carolina coast home, Teri M Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. In this intimate Between The Lines conversation on Stories and Stanza, Teri shares how lived experience — including surviving a 14-year emotionally abusive marriage — became the foundation for her most authentic and powerful creative writing. If you're a writer, a reader, or anyone who has ever wondered whether your hardest seasons have a purpose, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

How lived experience — even painful ones — fuels authentic character development and storytelling
What "write what you know" really means: it's about emotions and internal truth, not just facts
The creative process behind writing fiction, nonfiction, and children's books — and why each demands a different mindset
How Teri rode a tandem bicycle 3,102 miles across the United States in 2020 — and what it taught her about resilience and self-belief
Why you should never quit on a bad day — and when quitting is actually the right choice
How to reframe failure as information, not identity
Why everything you need to succeed is already inside you

About Teri M Brown:

Teri M Brown is a multi-award-winning author, podcast host, and public speaker based on the North Carolina coast. A UNC Greensboro graduate with degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology, she began her writing career creating content for small businesses while homeschooling her four children.

Her published works span an impressive range:

📚 Sunflowers Beneath the Snow (2022) — historical fiction set in Ukraine
📚 An Enemy Like Me (2023) — historical fiction set during WWII
📚 Daughters of Green Mountain Gap (2024) — a generational story about Appalachian healers
📚 The Youngest Lighthouse Keeper (2024) — featured in the anthology Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women
📚 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure (Feb 2025) — memoir about life lessons from a cross-country tandem bicycle journey
📚 Little Lola and Her Big Dream (April 2025) — her debut children's book
Her nonfiction work has earned First Runner Up at the Eric Hoffman Book Awards, finalist recognition at the USA Best Books Awards, and an Honorable Mention at Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award. In 2017, after leaving an emotionally abusive marriage, she turned to fiction — and won the First Annual Anita Bloom Ornoff Award for Inspirational Short Story for a piece about her grandfather.

Beyond writing, Teri is a passionate mentor to women and young girls who are working to discover their own worth and potential.

🌐 Learn more: www.terimbrown.com

Episode Chapters:

0:00 – Writing After Survival
1:06 – About Stories and Stanza
1:31 – Meet Teri M Brown
6:17 – Write What You Know — On the Inside
10:35 – The Creative Process & Finding Flow
20:58 – The Tandem Bike Journey: 3,102 Miles of Healing
28:59 – Reframing Failure & Resilience
36:25 – "You're Already Enough"
56:11 – Closing

--------------------
About Stories and Stanza:

Stories and Stanza is a podcast exploring creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of human stories. Through two series — Between The Lines (intimate craft conversations with writers and creators) and Fail With Me (unfiltered mental health and wellness discussions) — we bring you authentic voices from around the world.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haiti Never Left Her: Marissa Germain's Writing Journey

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:51:41 GMT

Marissa Germain, who lives in the DC area and whose family ties to Haiti shaped her work and writing. Germaine discusses her debut novel, It’s Always Mango Season, begun in early 2020 during COVID after leaving her job, and inspired by her time working in Haiti and her parents’ immigration story. She explores themes of who gets to claim Haitian identity, the frictions between those who leave and those who stay, and how places and people evolve over time, including diaspora perceptions after decades away. She describes writing a romance between Saskia, returning after career failure, and Paul, who stayed, and uses the Haiti earthquake to examine responsibility, grief, and connection. Germaine reads an excerpt and explains how writing short stories helped her build tension for the novel; she also previews a second book focusing more on Paul and post-disaster Haiti.

Biography:
Originally from Orlando, Florida, Marissa Germain spent her time reading and trying every after-school activity in the catalogue. She has always had a bit of a travel bug which led her into a career dedicated to addressing global poverty.

She’s traveled to Australia, France, England, Afghanistan, Turkey, Chile, Peru, Montserrat West Indies, Dominican Republic, and naturally, Haiti.

She is now growing her work as an independent author and lives in Northern Virginia with her dog.

Website:
https://marissagermain.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mom's Depression Looks Nothing Like You Think | Podcast ft. Kendall Concini Moore

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:31:45 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza (Fail With Me), the host Abhra speaks with Kendall, a mental health advocate, mom, and author, about reframing failure, the limits of self-help, and the importance of community support. Kendall describes how depression can look different than stereotypes, shares strategies for communicating needs to friends and caregivers (including asking for comfort vs solutions), and discusses diagnosis, stigma, and building person-centered support. She explains her children’s picture book, “Mom’s Cloud and the Beach Adventure,” which uses a cloud metaphor to help kids understand a parent’s depression and emphasizes that “clouds don’t last forever.” Kendall also shares experiences with miscarriage, pregnancy, postpartum challenges, and the need for more honest conversations among mothers, while the host reflects on caregiver support and generational shifts in mental health awareness.

Kendall’s greatest adventures began at home, as a mother. Her stories are inspired by the curiosity, humor, and boundless imagination of her children, who often help shape the characters and moments that appear on the page. Alongside her family, including her husband, Matt, and their dog, Kiaora, she fills her days with laughter, exploration, and just the right amount of playful weirdness. When she’s not creating stories, Kendall can usually be found where the wild things are.

Kendal's Website: https://cloudydaychronicles.org/books/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran's Fight for Freedom Beyond War and Appeasement ft. Zolal Habibi

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:10:46 GMT

Iran’s Organized Resistance, 1988 Massacre Warnings & the Call to End Appeasement | Zolal Habibi

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host interviews Zolal Habibi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s Foreign Affairs Committee about Iran’s ongoing struggle for freedom, the heavy toll of repression, and the risk of renewed mass executions reminiscent of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, which she says remains largely unacknowledged internationally. Habibi argues real change is possible through an organized resistance, rejecting both war and appeasement, and calls on governments to recognize Iranians’ right to resist, condemn executions, and stop enabling the regime through technology and trade. She shares her personal history, including her father’s killing, addresses misconceptions about the NCRI/PMOI, rejects a return to monarchy, and outlines Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for a secular, democratic republic, urging listeners to raise awareness and contact lawmakers.

Zolal Habibi is an Iranian human rights activist and a prominent voice for justice, democracy, and women's rights in Iran. She serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI @NCRIRAN ) where she advocates globally for a free, secular, and democratic republic in Iran. With over two decades of dedicated activism, she has become a fierce advocate on behalf of the voiceless inside Iran, regularly appearing in international forums, human rights conferences, and live broadcasts across major media platforms.
Zolal's activism began in her teens, profoundly shaped by the loss of her father—a respected Iranian writer and political dissident—who was killed by the regime during the 1988 massacre. This personal tragedy ignited a lifelong commitment to ensuring that no other family suffers such loss, and that the voices of Iran's political prisoners, dissidents, and freedom-seekers are heard on the world stage.
Her work has directly contributed to securing international recognition of the 1988 massacre as a crime against humanity and the safe relocation of 3,000 at-risk dissidents from Iraq, demonstrating her ability to translate advocacy into tangible, life-saving outcomes.

https://maryamrajavi4change.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Never Expected Grief to Feel Like This | A Mother's Story | Katie Rizzo

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:44:18 GMT

In this poignant Stories and Stanza episode, we sit down with Katie Rizzo as she shares her deeply personal journey following her son's passing from a drug overdose. She bravely discusses the profound impact of addiction on her family and her coping mechanisms for grief. Discover how she navigated this challenging period, ultimately finding peace and embarking on a path of healing.

Katie Rizzo’s memoir, The Trimesters of Grief, will be released on October 6 by Koehler Books, with Blackstone Publishing handling audio licensing. None of Them Are You - A book of Poems is being published by Extra Extra Publishing on Dia de los Muertos, October 31st.

For the last fifteen years, Katie Rizzo taught Anatomy and Biology at her local community college and public high school. She holds two masters, one from Yale University and another from University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her short stories have been published in literary journals such as Prosetrics, The Literary Magazine and in anthologies such as the HG Wells Short Story Competition. She has earned spots in the juried Aspen Words Conferences. She lives in Arizona with two dogs and her husband. Details about her book signings and speaking calendar can be found at her website.

Sometimes you don't need solutions. You need a soothing voice. What makes this conversation so healing isn't just her story—it's how she found peace by inviting grief to "sit beside her" rather than carrying it alone. Katie discovered that grief isn't love with nowhere to go—it's something we can befriend. Through poetry, journaling, and connecting with nature (especially stargazing under the Milky Way), she learned to find meaning in the midst of unimaginable loss.

For anyone feeling lost in grief's rubble
For parents navigating addiction's heartbreak
For souls seeking authentic connection over surface-level comfort

This episode reminds us that healing isn't about "moving on"—it's about finding peace with what will always be. Sometimes the most profound comfort comes from knowing you're not alone in the darkness.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your Words Have Power | Podcast ft. Jo Worsfold

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:47:41 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, Abhra speaks with healer, chanel, and author Jo Worsfold. They discuss how writing can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing, especially when navigating hardship. Discover the magic in pain and suffering, and the importance of mindfulness in this journey.

Jo Worsfold talks about creativity, wellness, and emotional intelligence, exploring why many writers create from pain and how writing can help move through hardship rather than staying stuck in it. Jo shares practical ways to ease writer’s block and perfectionism through play, curiosity, and stepping away so ideas can “drop in,” emphasizing that stories arrive when they’re ready and writers are conduits. They discuss structure versus flow in writing, and Jo reads a poem, “Dear Human with Love,” from her 2019 spiritual self-help book Equilibrium. The conversation also connects “failures” to energetics, reclaiming personal power, intuition, change, and support, concluding with journaling as a flexible, intentional tool for reflection and healing.

Please find Jo's details below:

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing Lasts: Mindfulness, Failure & Self-Care | Stories & Stanza | Podcast ft Saw Myint

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:43:59 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza (Fail With Me), host Abhra speaks with Saw Myint, a Burmese Australian based in Sydney, about mental health challenges in a technology-driven world with reduced human connection. They discuss the importance of awareness, opening up to trusted people or seeking professional help, and using journaling or simply being listened to as ways to release emotions before they build up. Saw shares personal experiences of childhood hardship, lessons from failures in business, parenting, and relationships, and how Buddhist practice shaped her approach to mental self-care. Her core idea is that both satisfaction and dissatisfaction are temporary—good and bad experiences pass—so people should relax, live in the moment, avoid attachment, and practice brief daily mindfulness to observe worries as imagination. She also emphasizes taking action and helping others as a path to healing.

Saw Myint is the founder of Wake Up Ltd, an Australian charity dedicated to mental wellbeing. For over a decade, Buddhist practice has transformed her own mental health journey—and she now shares these science-backed insights with others. Whether through mindfulness coaching or mortgage brokering, Saw helps people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, and major life decisions with clarity and confidence. Her approach is simple: recognize that feelings are fleeting, and cultivate resilience in the present moment. Available for speaking engagements, interviews & workshops on practical, Buddhist-inspired mental health practices.

Reach Out / Support Her work: https://www.facebook.com/likesawkmyint

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop Psychology vs Real Psychology: Gaslighting, Triggers, Narcissism, Trauma & Trauma Bonds Explained

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:44:10 GMT

In this Stories and Stanza episode, host Abhra and psychologist Silvia Russen discuss why pop psychology and viral mental-health advice can distort clinical terms, turning descriptive tools into moral judgments, pathologizing normal discomfort, and turning relationships into battlegrounds of labels. They highlight risks of unqualified advice, privacy and research-ethics issues, and the need for evidence-based, individualized care since psychology is not one size fits all. Russin clarifies commonly misused terms: gaslighting as a repeated pattern of manipulative psychological abuse that undermines a person’s reality, not simple lying or disagreement; “triggered” as a stimulus causing sudden symptom spikes in conditions like PTSD or OCD, not everyday irritation; narcissistic personality disorder as a persistent, pervasive diagnosis causing dysfunction, not a synonym for selfishness; trauma as lasting adverse effects after harmful events; and trauma bonding as attachment formed through cycles of abuse and intermittent reinforcement, not bonding over shared hardship.

Silvia Russen is a Business Psychologist, Neuroscience Coach, and PhD Researcher specialising in emotional well-being, resilience, and recovery in the workplace. Integrating psychology and neuroscience, Silvia applies evidence-based practices - including Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) - to empower leaders and teams in navigating stress, decision-making, conflict resolution, and workplace relationships. Silvia has collaborated with organisations worldwide, providing tailored interventions and workshops on transformational leader hological safety, emotional intelligence, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Her engaging speaking style and ability to translate complex neuroscience research into actionable insights have made her a popular keynote speaker at international conferences, industry events, and leadership summits. Alongside her client work, Silvia serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, organisational psychology, and advanced research methods. Her current PhD research focuses on the neuroscience behind emotional regulation strategies, investigating how these can enhance cardiovascular health, emotional resilience, and overall well-being in professional settings. Passionate about giving back, Silvia also regularly volunteers her expertise to first responders, charities, and frontline aid organisations, providing workshops and strategies on managing stress, building resilience, and improving mental health. Silvia’s ultimate aim is simple yet powerful: to help individuals and organisations leverage psychological insights, enhance their emotional well-being, and thrive both personally and professionally.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Failure, Emotional Availability and Healing | Podcast with Doug Belkofer

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:16:51 GMT

In this Stories in Stanza episode, host Abhra welcomes guest Doug Belkofer to discuss how childhood-formed beliefs like “I don’t matter” or “people always leave” become subconscious filters that shape perception, relationships, work, and repeated “failures.” Doug explains how these emotion-based beliefs can drive negative manifestation, emotional withdrawal, and lowered investment in relationships, and why self-improvement efforts can feel ineffective when filtered through the same core beliefs. He describes revisiting formative events in a calm, meditative process to create conflicting adult perspectives that lead to memory reconsolidation and new neural pathways. The conversation also explores men’s emotional unavailability, learned modeling from parents, and practical ways to practice emotional expression. Doug shares a poetic excerpt from his book-in-progress and previews his upcoming ebook Finding the Path back to You and a live course, The Pass Back to You, emphasizing that feeling stuck is normal.

Doug Belkofer is a U.S. Army veteran, tech leader, and founder of Forging Truth, where he helps people uncover the hidden beliefs shaping how they experience life, relationships, and faith. His work is grounded in lived experience and shared to encourage others that hope and clarity are possible when we’re willing to face what’s real.

Book link:
https://intro.forgingtruth.com/the-phoenix-quest/finding-the-path-back-to-you-e-book-order
Doug's Website: https://forgingtruth.com/
Email: dougbelkofer@forgingtruth.com

---------------------
Follow Us on Social Media:

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inner Peace, Trauma & Forgiveness | Podcast ft. Somia Sadik

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:17:17 GMT

In this Stories in Stanza conversation, host Abhra welcomes back Somia Sadik to explore how creativity is linked to healing, resilience, and inner peace. They discuss peace as balance, healing as reframing, and how trauma can erode trust and connection, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness. This insightful podcast offers valuable perspectives on self improvement and navigating life's challenges with curiosity.

Drawing from Somia’s novel Gajrah, they unpack the protagonist Iman’s journey of meeting grief with curiosity, and connect this to reframing failure without tying it to human worth. The episode also examines intergenerational trauma and resilience, the teaching and perpetuation of hate, and the individual responsibility to choose compassionate responses. They close with lines from Sufi poet Baba Farid about seeking answers in the “ocean” rather than “small ponds.”

#peace #trauma #forgiveness #resilience #podcast #motivationalpodcast #storiesandstanza #failwithme

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

365 Days of Nervous System Care: Somatic Intelligence | Podcast with best selling writer Tracy Whitton

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:33:47 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host speaks with Tracy Whitton about her book 365 Days of Nervous System Care, a practical response to widespread post-COVID nervous system dysregulation and limited attention and time for long-form reading. Whitton shares her background in meditation, yoga, yoga therapeutics, retreats, and studio work, and reads from her “Nervous System Repair Model,” outlining four pillars—safety, surrender and compassion, uninterrupted pauses, and space—and six regulating qualities: dark, quiet, warm, slow, soft, and still. They discuss hyper- vs hypo-arousal, why brief daily check-ins matter, and how stress hormones cause inflammation, digestive issues, anxiety, and depression when not discharged. Whitton shares a personal story about guilt and hypervigilance after two daughters’ life-threatening illnesses and explains a three-step somatic approach: meet the state, build safety, and integrate.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reimagining Relationships: Conscious Uncoupling & Somatic Healing with Eman Alves

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:21:05 GMT

In this episode, we explore the nuances of healthy relationships, focusing on how embracing change in love can lead to profound personal growth. We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating dating and relationships, highlighting that the process of coupling and uncoupling can both be beautiful journeys. Tune into our podcast for insights on fostering a deeper understanding of love and connection.

We dive deep into the transformative power of conscious uncoupling and somatic healing with coach and writer Eman Alves. Eman shares insights from her book 'Uncoupling Reimagined', which draws from her personal experiences of seven marriages and breakups. Discover how the process of being present and understanding our trauma can help us heal and prepare for new relationships. Explore the importance of emotional awareness, resilience, and practical steps to navigate through life's challenges. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their journey of self-awareness and personal growth.

Eman Alves is the author of Uncoupling Reimagined and a Love, Sex, and Relationship Coach. She works with men and people in male bodies after breakups or relational crises, helping them rebuild emotional presence, sexual integrity, and maturity so they do not repeat the same relationship again.
Uncoupling Reimagined supports people going through breakups, divorce, or emotional collapse who want to choose a conscious uncoupling and find a grounded path back to stability, self trust, and wholeness.

https://www.eman.coach/uncouplingreimagined

----------------------
Follow Us on Social Media:

Follow Us on Audio Podcast:
Listen on Spotify https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza
Listen on Apple Podcast https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2
Read on Substack https://openinapp.link/ion0e

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating Narcissism and Self-Discovery with Tina Djuretic

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:41:17 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, we explore the journey of healing from a "toxic relationship" and the profound impact of "narcissistic abuse." Discover the importance of "setting boundaries" for well-being and the path to cultivating "self-compassion." Tune in to learn how to foster "emotional resilience" and navigate life's challenges with greater strength.

Tina shares her personal journey of healing from toxic relationships and narcissistic patterns, rooted in her childhood trauma. Her first book, 'Finding My Sovereignty,' is a memoir detailing this journey. With the onset of COVID-19, Tina found herself isolated but turned towards self-guided healing practices and took extensive notes, which eventually formed the basis of her practical workbook, 'Lost in the Overwhelm.' The conversation delves into generational trauma, the identification and healing of narcissistic relationships, the importance of setting boundaries, and the ongoing nature of healing. The host also shares personal anecdotes, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and self-compassion in the healing process. Both agree that healing is a continuous journey that requires self-awareness and willingness to change.

----more----

About Tina Djuretic:

Tina Djuretic is a Canadian author living in Vancouver. She was raised by strict, religious parents who isolated her from the rest of the world. What followed were three toxic relationships that nearly destroyed her.

While writing her memoir she was able to find forgiveness; for herself and her abusers. This taught her a lot about generational trauma, healing, and putting up healthy boundaries.

It's Tina's goal to share her story with anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, and to educate people on the subject of toxic relationships, healing, spirituality, and not just surviving...but CREATING.

Author’s website https://www.sovereignandsage.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tinadjuretic/

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/storiesandstanza/
Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/storiesandstanza/
YouTube / https://youtube.com/@storiesandstanza
Join Our WhatsApp Channel / https://wa.openinapp.link/wjcwe
X / https://x.com/storiesnstanza

----more----

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unveiling the Power in Your Voice: An Intimate Talk with Voice Coach Sam Malone

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 05:17:02 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza', host Abhra chats with Sam Malone, a distinguished spoken voice coach at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Delving into the nuances of the power of the spoken voice, Sam shares stories about his work ranging from coaching West End actors to helping corporate leaders improve communication. The conversation explores how our voices are tied to our identities and discusses practical ways to overcome the fear of speaking. They also touch on Sam’s upcoming book, 'Why They Can't Hear You,' which aims to empower individuals to be heard and to find their natural power and presence. Tune in to learn how connecting with your voice can transform your personal and professional life.

Follow Sam's Work here:
https://www.elevatevoice.co.uk/
https://www.elevatevoice.co.uk/book

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Essence of Poetry: Moonlit Mess

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:21:05 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra speaks with poet Priyanzel, about her journey into writing and the emotional depth that poetry brings to life.

Priyanzel is a poet who writes from the quiet edges of becoming. Through her debut collection, Moonlit Mess: The Beautiful Ruins of Becoming, she explores the tender chaos of healing—where pain softens into light and silence learns to speak. Her words dwell in the in-between—shadow and self, ache and awakening—offering comfort to anyone learning to start again.

They discuss the personal and therapeutic nature of poetry, the limitations of AI in capturing human emotion, and the challenges and rewards of being a writer. Priyanka shares her inspiration and the process behind her book 'Moonlit Mess,' emphasizing the importance of rawness, vulnerability, and inner light in creative expression. Tune in to explore the intimate world of poetry and creativity, and be inspired by Priyanka's heartfelt words and experiences.

Book Link: Amazon

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing Self-Love and Healing with Denise Michelle

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 14:53:38 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra talks with Denise Michelle, a self-love alchemist, coach, writer, and hypnotherapist. They discuss the journey of healing from borderline personality disorder, the power of self-love, and how failure can be a tool for growth. Denise shares her personal experiences and insights on various healing modalities, including yoga, hypnotherapy, and self-acceptance practices. Tune in to learn about the importance of intention in self-care, the transformative power of kind self-talk, and how to cultivate authenticity in your life.

About Denise:

Denise Michelle is The SelfLove Alchemist®, an Award-Winning Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Trainer with Tony Robbins. She empowers soulful leaders through SelfLove Mastery, drawing from her 25-year healing journey overcoming trauma and addiction. Denise believes living a vision-driven life is the ultimate expression of SelfLove, where transformation ignites.

Social Media Links:

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unlocking the Power of Shadow Work: A Deep Dive with Oliver Mann

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 10:02:47 GMT

In this insightful episode of 'Stories and Stanza', host Abhra dives deep into the transformative practice of shadow journaling with Oliver Mann, a renowned journaling coach. They explore the importance of self-awareness, the impact of triggers, and the process of integrating shadow aspects into the psyche. Through practical examples, prompts, and personal anecdotes, they uncover how shadow work can help rewrite one's story, embrace vulnerability, and achieve wholesome growth. By examining regret, joy, and even resistance, they illustrate how to navigate emotional complexities and live authentically.

About Oliver

Oliver Mann is a journaling mentor and teacher, with a passion for Shadow Journaling. Diving into Shadow work was a pivotal moment in Oliver’s life, after which writing and journaling took on completely new powers. By opening up to the process of delving into the psyche through writing, he discovered the power of curiosity and acceptance of the complete self. Through his work, Oliver is now inviting others to take gentle steps into the shadow. With the bright lights we shine, we can soon become friends with what once scared us. Oliver is also the co-founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival, an annual writing event attracting a global audience. He is a council member of the International Association of Journal Writers, and is a certified JTTS instructor.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring Generational Trauma, Perfectionism, and Self-Awareness

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 11:17:15 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra is joined by psychologist Patty from Chicago to dive into the complexities of generational trauma, perfectionism, and self-awareness. They discuss how cultural expectations can shape behaviors, the importance of unlearning harmful patterns, and the impact of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) on daily life. Throughout their intimate conversation, Patty shares her personal experiences with immigration and identity while offering insights into how trauma and perfectionism are interconnected. Tune in to learn more about the significance of self-awareness and strategies to foster a lifestyle of calm and well-being.

Patty Johnson is a psychologist who specializes in trauma healing and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also creates art related to culture, justice and the bizarre and beautiful intricacies of life. She is the author of Essays of Night and Daylight, on movement through life as she explores kaleidoscopes of identity, pondering comments such as, "Oh, you speak such good English!" She wonders about the shame behind her grandmother's tribal tattoo after being visited by Christian missionaries. She revels in the making of chai, this earthy elixir that reminds her of the power of each brown-skinned woman. Patty’s work can be found in The Broken Spine, Write City Magazine, Riksha Magazine and elsewhere. She gave a TEDx talk on changing the narrative of inequity. She is also a guitar goddess but only in the eyes of her dog, Marley.

Links:
website:
IG/threads: @pjtemple7
Tik Tok: pjtemple7

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brooke Bounce Reveals Secrets to Overcoming Self-Sabotage

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:05:42 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes back Brooke Bounce, a breakthrough coach known for simplifying complex concepts. Together, they dive into the intricate topics of inner child healing and reparenting. Brooke shares her personal journey with a narcissistic mother and how it shaped her beliefs. She explains how anxiety, self-sabotage, self-doubt, procrastination, and perfectionism are linked to unmet inner child needs. The discussion covers the importance of acknowledging and addressing these fears, how generational trauma impacts behavior, and practical strategies for reprogramming the inner child for a more fulfilling life. Brooke also introduces her book, 'You Can Have It: How to Break Through the Self-Sabotage Cycle,' which offers step-by-step guidance for overcoming these deep-seated issues.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the secret to Mind and Body Connection for Weight Loss?

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:31:15 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra engages in an intimate conversation with health coach Megan Gaul on the mind-body connection in weight loss. They discuss Megan's personal journey of losing 100 pounds, the importance of understanding the deeper motivations behind weight loss goals, and strategies for fostering a healthy relationship with food. The discussion also touches upon the benefits of walking as a mindfulness exercise, the value of journaling, and the concept of failure and resilience in achieving long-term health objectives. Tune in to gain insights into how emotional and physical well-being are interconnected and discover practical tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Weight Loss Journey
01:04 Welcome to Stories and Stanza
01:15 Introducing Megan and Our Relationship with Food Series
02:24 Mind-Body Connection and Weight Loss
02:40 Megan's Personal and Professional Journey
04:17 The Importance of Failures in Success
04:40 Exploring Mind-Body Awareness
09:55 Strategies for Effective Weight Loss
13:59 The Role of Journaling in Weight Loss
27:32 Walking as a Mindfulness Exercise
39:25 Final Thoughts and Program Information

Link to our previous episodes

Here is the offer for our listeners:

"If you are ready to lose weight, and you know that the things we talked about in this interview are standing in your way, I created this free call specifically as a resource for you. During this call, we'll accomplish 3 outcomes:
Uncover the 1-2 specific habits or beliefs that are specifically holding YOU back from your weight-loss right now
Outline 2-3 super-clear Next Steps, making sure they fit within your lifestyle and schedule
Send you off with a piece of Mind Body and Weight-Loss homework so easy and doable, you can start on your journey today
If you are not one of the first 2 listeners to enter, message me STORIES2025 anyway! https://ig.me/m/partake_foodie . I'll say hi, and make sure you receive news about the next free call I have available"

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Puya Delavar's Secret to Making Relationships Successful

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:39 GMT

Discover the surprising secret to making relationships successful with Puya Delavar! In this video, Puya shares his top tips and strategies for building strong, healthy, and long-lasting relationships. Whether you're looking to improve your romantic partnership, strengthen your friendships, or even boost your professional relationships, Puya's expert advice will give you the tools you need to succeed. From effective communication techniques to conflict resolution strategies, Puya covers it all. So, what's the secret to making relationships successful? Watch to find out!

Puya Delavar is a leading Men’s Relationship Coach and founder of Puya Delavar Coaching, where he helps high-performing men in senior leadership roles protect what matters most: their relationship, their family, and their legacy.
In a world where professional success often overshadows personal connection, Puya offers a different path: one where you don’t have to choose between thriving in your career and having a meaningful relationship at home. His work centres on helping men turn a cold, disconnected relationship into one of respect and intimacy without stepping away from their responsibilities as leaders.
With over a decade of research, lived experience, and a deep understanding of behavioural psychology, Puya has developed a structured and highly practical approach. His proven method uncovers the hidden patterns and blind spots that quietly erode connection, identifies the true root causes of recurring conflict, and equips his clients with science-backed tools for sustainable change.
At the core of his philosophy is Holistic Success — the belief that fulfilment and high performance come from balance across three key areas: personal wellbeing, personal growth, and personal relationships. His work is continuously informed by real-world case studies and one-to-one coaching insights, ensuring his programmes stay grounded, effective, and relevant to the fast-paced lives of his clients.
His flagship 12-week programme - Crisis to Connection - is designed specifically for men who want to repair, strengthen, and future-proof their relationship while continuing to operate at the top of their game.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring Cultural Identity, Trauma, and Healing with Somia Sadiq

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:19:04 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, we welcome author and peace builder Somia Sadiq as she discusses her debut novel 'Gajarah.' Somia explores the cultural significance of Gajarah, a traditional flower assembly, and delves into its representation of beauty, tradition, and spiritual resonance. Throughout this heartfelt conversation, Somia shares her insights on language, identity, trauma, and the complexities of healing. Join us as we uncover the layers of her book, understand the nuances of cultural identities, and reflect on the responsibilities of writers in today's world. Somia also reads a poignant excerpt from her book, beautifully weaving poetry and prose to illustrate the journey of her protagonist, Iman.

00:00 Introduction to Gajarah
01:27 Welcome to Stories and Stanza
01:43 Meet Somia Sadik
04:34 Discussing the Book
09:51 Reading from the Book
14:14 Writing Style and Inspirations
21:20 Cultural Identity and Language
28:01 Themes of Trauma and Healing
39:05 Peacebuilding and Inclusivity
50:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Somia Sadiq is an award-winning Pakistani Canadian entrepreneur, peace negotiator, and conflict
transformation strategist. Rooted in the work of impact assessment, Somia founded Narratives, a
planning and design firm that emphasizes human-centric, trauma-informed story work, lived experience, and creating space for celebration of ancestral identity. Somia is also the founder of Kahanee, a nonprofit organization that works nationally and internationally amplifying storytelling and facilitated dialogue for peacebuilding.
Somia is a published author and a highly sought after keynote speaker, offering insights on women in
trauma-informed leadership, and fostering resilience in a rapidly changing environment. Recognized for her contributions to the Planning practice in Canada and internationally, Somia was recently inducted into the Canadian Institute of Planners' esteemed College of Fellows, the highest honor for a planner in Canada. Gajarah, her debut novel, comes out in September 2025.

https://www.instagram.com/somiasadiq/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/somiasadiq/
Somiasadiq.com
https://www.somiasadiq.com/gajarah

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Do So Many People Cheat?

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 15:15:40 GMT

Join relationship coach, Jeanell Greene, as we dive into the unexpected confessions that emerged at a Coldplay concert! From shocking infidelity revelations to surprising relationship breakthroughs, we explore the emotional rollercoaster that unfolded at the iconic band's live show. What secrets did the music uncover? Watch to find out!

Jeanell is a Relationship Coach and Marriage Expert well-known for saving countless marriages from loneliness and divorce while addressing generational trauma. Her passion lies in rekindling the 'best friend' dynamic for couples, allowing them to rediscover profound love, peace, and fun again. Jeanell firmly believes that self-love and forgiveness are necessary for a happy and healthy relationship and that couples can attain the marriage they've always desired by embracing healing, growth, and change. She's here to guide you on a beautiful, transformative journey full of compassion, love, and wisdom, empowering you to be not only the best partners for each other but also inspiring role models for your family.

Link to previous episode: https://youtu.be/5vzeCUKqBA0

In this compelling episode of 'Stories in Stanza,' host Abhra and relationship coach Janelle from Ontario dive deep into the complexities of infidelity in relationships. They explore cultural norms, personal experiences, and the broader societal implications of cheating. Through thoughtful discussion, Janelle shares her professional insights and personal stories, highlighting the importance of communication, self-awareness, and self-love. They discuss how generational traumas, personal insecurities, and societal expectations influence our relationships and actions. This episode offers a sensitive and nuanced perspective on a topic often shrouded in judgment and taboo, aiming to foster understanding and compassion.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do You Know If You Need a Therapist?

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:41:02 GMT

Jamie Hughes is a passionate advocate for mental well-being and the author of insightful works on resilience and self-care. Drawing from a Master's Degree in Psychology with a specialization in trauma, resilience, and self-care, Jamie brings a wealth of academic knowledge and practical experience to his coaching and writing. His expertise is further solidified by years of dedicated service in non-profit program development and management, where he honed his skills in victim advocacy, as well as social and forensic psychology. Jamie's commitment to empowering individuals to navigate life's challenges shines through in his writing, offering readers a blend of compassionate guidance and evidence-based strategies for cultivating inner strength. Bachelor's Degree in Applied Psychology, Master's Degree in Social Psychology with a specialization in trauma, Member of the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology, Certified Professional Life Coach, Member of the National Association for Poetry Therapy, and Certified Therapeutic Writing Instructor.

His website: http://managingmentalhealth.net/

In this episode, we delve into the critical question of when to seek therapy, addressing issues from past trauma to persistent mental illness symptoms. Our guest, Jamie, shares insights on recognizing the need for professional help, the differences between therapists and psychiatrists, and the importance of finding a therapist whose style matches your personal needs. We discuss how mental health symptoms often manifest physically and the role of diet and exercise in mental health. This discussion also covers the journey of healing, dealing with unresolved parental relationships, and coping mechanisms. Tune in for a heartfelt and educational conversation that aims to guide you towards growth and healing.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healing Through Science and Ancient Wisdom - Secrets of Vagus Nerve with Melanie Weller

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 03:20:59 GMT

In this enlightening episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra welcomes special guest Melanie Weller, an expert in athletic training and physical therapy. Melanie shares her journey of discovering the profound connection between the vagus nerve, modern neuroscience, and ancient wisdom like astrology. They delve into topics such as the mind-body connection, breathing exercises, failure, trauma, and the importance of aligning physical and mental well-being. Melanie also provides practical advice on how to activate and maintain the health of the vagus nerve for overall wellness. This episode is a part of the 'Fail with Me' series, offering listeners insight into overcoming life's adversities and rediscovering balance. Don't miss this deep and informative discussion on how to bring harmony to your mind and body.

Melanie Weller, known as "The Body Whisperer," is a physical therapist and athletic trainer with thirty years of experience specializing in complex cases. Through her study of astrology and celestial patterns, Melanie discovered that our bodies function as biological clocks mirroring the zodiac's architecture, with wellness dependent on synchronizing our nervous systems with cosmic rhythms.
Now leading the Resilience Revolution, Melanie advocates for "Time Stamps," a transformative methodology that unites ancient wisdom with modern science to build spiritual resilience. She teaches, speaks, and practices this approach as the foundation for all forms of human resilience.

Website: https://www.melanieweller.com

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eustress vs. Distress: Harnessing Stress for a Healthier Mind

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 11:53:10 GMT

This video explores the concept of "eustress," or positive short-term stress, presenting it as a "healthy workout" for your brain. Learn how the right amount of stress can boost performance and mental growth, and how to implement effective "stress management" techniques. Dive into "self improvement" and "mental health" strategies to maximize your "coping ability"!

Join us on this episode of 'Stories and Stanza' as we dive deep into the concept of eustress—the positive, short-term stress that acts like a healthy workout for your brain. Our guest, Sylvia Rusan, a psychologist from London, discusses how eustress can motivate us, improve our resilience, and even boost our immune system. Learn practical techniques to reframe stress, understand the differences between eustress and distress, and discover how to manage stress effectively in professional settings. This episode is packed with fascinating insights and practical advice to help you transform stress into a tool for personal growth and success.

Silvia Russen is a Business Psychologist, Neuroscience Coach, and PhD Researcher specialising in emotional well-being, resilience, and recovery in the workplace. Integrating psychology and neuroscience, Silvia applies evidence-based practices - including Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) - to empower leaders and teams in navigating stress, decision-making, conflict resolution, and workplace relationships. Silvia has collaborated with organisations worldwide, providing tailored interventions and workshops on transformational leader hological safety, emotional intelligence, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Her engaging speaking style and ability to translate complex neuroscience research into actionable insights have made her a popular keynote speaker at international conferences, industry events, and leadership summits.
Alongside her client work, Silvia serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, organisational psychology, and advanced research methods. Her current PhD research focuses on the neuroscience behind emotional regulation strategies, investigating how these can enhance cardiovascular health, emotional resilience, and overall well-being in professional settings.
Passionate about giving back, Silvia also regularly volunteers her expertise to first responders, charities, and frontline aid organisations, providing workshops and strategies on managing stress, building resilience, and improving mental health.
Silvia’s ultimate aim is simple yet powerful: to help individuals and organisations leverage psychological insights, enhance their emotional well-being, and thrive both personally and professionally.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking the Stigma: Conversations on Mental Health with Jamie Hughes

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:48:05 GMT

His website is linked here.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza's 'Fail With Me' series, host Abhra delves into the concept of failure and its often misunderstood impact on our lives, joined by social psychologist and author Jamie Hughes, the discussion covers the importance of accepting failure as a learning opportunity, the profound impact of trauma on mental health, and practical tools for healing and self-care. Jamie shares his personal journey of overcoming trauma and how writing and journaling have played a crucial role in his healing process. This enlightening conversation underscores the significance of understanding and addressing mental health issues, both for individuals and their loved ones. Tune in to explore these topics and gain insights from Jamie's extensive expertise and personal experiences.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you trapped in imposter syndrome?

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:15:00 GMT

In this episode of "Stories and Stanza," the host, Abhra discusses the origins and impact of imposter syndrome with guest Manicaa, a self-development coach and mind and body practitioner. They explore how acknowledging and embracing failures can lead to significant personal growth. The discussion delves into the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the need for a balanced life. They also touch on the difference between coaching and therapy, and strategies like mindfulness and journaling to address imposter syndrome. The conversation highlights the unique challenges faced by diverse communities and emphasizes the power of authentic living.

Connect with Manikaa here:

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Mind-Body Awareness

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 13:42:13 GMT

In this episode of Stories in Stanza, we dive into the realm of failure and resilience with Trent Miles, a former ESL teacher turned health advocate from Melbourne, Australia. We discuss his Brain and Body Warrior Project, designed to aid individuals in navigating personal issues through a better understanding of brain function, body wellness, and the 'warrior mindset.' Join us as we explore emotional intelligence, failure, nutrition, mindfulness, and the powerful connection between the brain and body. Don't miss this insightful conversation aimed at transforming your approach to mental and physical well-being.

Follow Trent's Work on Mind and Body Warrior Project here: https://substack.com/@thebrainandbodywarrior

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secret to Healing and Self Awareness | Letters from You to You

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 09:56:41 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' we dive deep into the healing journey of Ellie Laliberté from Ontario, Canada, who shares her experiences and insights about using writing as a primary modality for self-healing. Ellie discusses her unique book, 'Letters From You to You,' and how it helps readers awaken their power through conversations with their higher selves. Explore topics like emotional intelligence, mindfulness, self-awareness, and the art of intuitive writing. Ellie also reads an evocative excerpt from her book, showcasing the transformative power of letting go and finding peace within. Join us for this enriching conversation that seamlessly blends creative expression and profound spiritual insights.

Ellie Laliberté is an award winning author, entrepreneur and book coach. Having gone through years of doing much inner work, she has dissolve more and more the false identity on her ever evolving jouney to inner peace. Her book "Letters From You to You : Awaken your power through conversations with your higher self", is the result of much deep surrender and rediscovering of authentic truth she channeled back in late 2023. You can find it on amazon and audible.

Connect with Ellie: https://linktr.ee/ellie.laliberte

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Truth About Failure, Burnout, and Healing

Fri, 30 May 2025 14:26:37 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' we welcome Jen who shares her profound insights on how emotional states filter our perception of reality. From her personal battle with seasonal depression and professional struggles as a dentist, to understanding vulnerability, shame, and the fear of failure, Jen provides a rich narrative of self-discovery and growth. We also delve into her framework for managing burnout called 'Ground, Heal, Thrive,' the significance of boundary management, and the power of saying no. This episode offers valuable perspectives on how to navigate life's challenges, regulate the nervous system, and find joy and fulfillment. Join us for an enlightening conversation that touches upon parenting, mindfulness, and the journey to self-worth.

Jen is a coach, speaker, and formerly burnt out dentist who helps high-achieving but burned-out individuals find their way back to clarity, wholeness, and a life that actually feels good. Through her signature framework—Ground, Heal, Thrive—she supports clients in regulating their nervous systems, setting healthier boundaries, and reconnecting with a deep sense of inner sturdiness. Her work is rooted in lived experience: after years of functional burnout and misalignment, she rebuilt her life and business around time, financial, and emotional freedom. In this episode, Jen shares practical starting points for anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Whether you’re navigating career shifts, unclear next steps, or just craving more peace in your daily life, her insights offer both grounded tools and a lot of hope. Find her work at :

Links/ handles: @grounded.with.jen
https://grounded-now.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Realities of Acting & Modeling | Insights from Aaron Marcus

Tue, 27 May 2025 06:13:52 GMT

Join us in this episode of Stories and Stanza as we talk to Aaron Marcus, a writer, actor, and acting coach. Aaron shares invaluable insights on pursuing a career in acting and modeling, addressing common misconceptions, handling rejection, and the importance of self-awareness. He also discusses his books, workshops, and the significance of giving back to the community. Don't miss this enriching conversation filled with practical advice and encouraging words for aspiring artists.

Link to Aaron's Website

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Shadow Work and Journaling

Fri, 09 May 2025 08:11:38 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra is joined by Oliver to explore the transformative power of shadow work and journaling in addressing mental health concerns, particularly among men. The conversation delves into the significance of being vulnerable, understanding one's emotions, and using deep journaling techniques for personal growth. Oliver shares his journey from casual journaling to teaching shadow journaling, providing insights into how embracing and integrating all emotions can lead to healing. The episode also discusses the importance of community in journaling and how shared experiences can validate and support individuals on their mental health journey.

About Oliver
Oliver Mann is a journaling mentor and teacher, with a passion for Shadow Journaling. Diving into Shadow work was a pivotal moment in Oliver’s life, after which writing and journaling took on completely new powers. By opening up to the process of delving into the psyche through writing, he discovered the power of curiosity and acceptance of the complete self.

Through his work, Oliver is now inviting others to take gentle steps into the shadow. With the bright lights we shine, we can soon become friends with what once scared us.

Oliver is also the co-founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival, an annual writing event attracting a global audience.

He is a council member of the International Association of Journal Writers, and is a certified JTTS instructor.

Get 50% off on Oliver's Course

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Conversation with Sreya Sarkar on 'Beneath the Veneer'

Sun, 04 May 2025 09:20:16 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Sreya Sarkar, a public policy analyst turned fiction writer. Sreya shares her journey from writing non-fiction articles and white papers to publishing her debut novel, 'Beneath the Veneer.' They discuss the importance of short stories, the intricacies of writing a novel, and the profound impact of women's camaraderie. Sreya also reads an excerpt from her book and delves into the layers of her narrative, focusing on contemporary social and gender issues in India. Tune in to explore the world of storytelling and the craft of writing with Sreya.

Book Link:

US: https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Veneer-Sreya-Sarkar-ebook/dp/B0CVSFVR9X
Canada: https://a.co/d/1onGC1O
India: https://amzn.in/d/8HpIGUM

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unlocking Secrets: Diane Clarke on 'The Bracelet'—Mystery, Twists & Thrills!

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 14:49:07 GMT

Join us for an insightful conversation with author Diane Clarke as we discuss her book, The Bracelet. Get to know the inspiration behind the story and the creative process of this talented author.

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra from Melbourne interviews author Diane about her second book, 'The Bracelet.' They discuss the book's plot, centered around Monica's quest to build a relationship with her estranged father. Diane shares insights into the themes of family sagas, the impact of dementia, and the challenges of writing and editing her novels. The episode highlights the significance of emotional connections, mystery elements, and the personal inspiration behind Diane's writing. Tune in for an engaging discussion on family, identity, and the art of storytelling.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Smith Reveals the Secret to Crafting Fantasy Worlds

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:17:50 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra interviews Bruce, a writer based in Melbourne, about his creative process and journey with his book 'Devil's Delight.' Bruce shares the inspirations behind his work, the challenges he faced, and his transition from writing books to screenplays. He discusses the themes of human blame, the reclamation of glory by Lucifer, and the emotional complexities involved in writing compelling characters. Bruce also reads an excerpt from his book, providing a glimpse into the intriguing narrative. Tune in to discover insights on writing, creativity, and the importance of sharing your work.

00:00 The Devil Made Me Do It: Exploring Lucifer's Perspective

01:25 The Power of Stories: An Introduction to Stories and Stanza

03:11 Bruce's Writing Journey: From Inspiration to Creation

04:35 Devil's Delight: A Unique Take on Lucifer's Story

08:03 Reading from Devil's Delight: A Glimpse into the Book

18:56 Challenges and Emotions in Writing

31:05 From Book to Screenplay: The Transition Process

34:07 Future Projects and Screenplay Festivals

38:08 Final Thoughts and Advice for Writers

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing Failure and Healing from Trauma and Burnout with Rosemary

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:16:06 GMT

Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza with your host Abhra. In this episode, Abhra speaks with special guest Rosemary, a poet, novelist, and doctor. Together, they delve into the importance of embracing failure as a path to success and how our relationship with failure can impact our growth. Rosemary shares her personal journey of healing from trauma, the significance of acknowledging past experiences, and the practical strategies she employed to overcome them, such as play and social support. They also discuss burnout, its effects, and coping mechanisms. Rosemary reads a poignant poem from her upcoming memoir, 'Out of the Cocoon, the Journey to Becoming,' offering a glimpse into her intimate reflections. Join us for an insightful conversation on resilience, self-love, and the power of storytelling.

Rosemary Esehagu is a Nigerian-American writer and poet. Her works have been featured in different media, both print and electronic. Her writing focuses on intersections of gender, identity formation, society’s roles, trauma, and healing. Her latest book, a memoir, is called Out of the Cocoon: The Journey to Becoming, and it is about how she healed from trauma and used it as a stepping stone to a stronger and more mature self.

Ways to connect:

Website: www.rosemaryesehagu.com
FB: facebook.com/rosemaryesehagu
IG: instagram.com/rosemaryesehagu

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overcoming Workplace Trauma and Burnout with Carolina Bakker

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:15:00 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra sits down with Carolina Bakker, the Rat Race recovery coach, to discuss the impacts of workplace trauma, burnout, and how to reclaim control over your professional life. The conversation delves into the concept of 'Fail With Me', strategies for setting boundaries, and methods of mindfulness and community for overcoming repetitive negative cycles. Carolina shares her personal experiences in toxic work environments and valuable insights on healing and moving forward. Tune in for an empowering discussion on transforming workplace struggles into personal growth and resilience.

00:00 Introduction to Workplace Wellness

02:43 Meet Carolina Bucker: The Rat Race Recovery Coach

03:33 The Birth of 'Fail With Me'

06:01 Carolina's Personal Journey Through Corporate Struggles

08:55 Understanding Workplace Trauma and Taking Back Power

23:22 Strategies for Handling Workplace Fear and Pressure

37:27 Healing from Past Workplace Trauma

49:09 Breaking the Cycle of Burnout and Addiction

57:10 Conclusion and How to Connect with Carolina

Carolina helps people break free from the stress and burnout of toxic work environments. She knows that leaving a job isn’t enough - many people still feel trapped in fear, self-doubt, and exhaustion long after they quit. They left physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually they are still connected.

Through her coaching, she helps her clients stop this cycle, heal deeply and find clarity for the road ahead. Her approach is holistic, empowering, and solution-oriented. She combines her spiritual abilities with down-to-earth practical tools to help her clients to make real, lasting change towards balance, joy, and real success - on their own terms.

Connect with Carolina:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rat_Race_Recovery?sub_confirmation=1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinabakker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rat_race_recovery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByCarolinaBakker

A gift for your audience:

90 days access to my Imposter Syndrome Success Kit!
hppts://courses.coachingbycarolina.com

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Saroj Dubey's Secrets to Building RESILIENCE!

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 08:14:30 GMT

Dr. Saroj Dubey shares his wisdom to building resilience and overcoming failure. Learn how to transform yourself and develop emotional intelligence with mindfulness.

In this insightful episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra sits down with Dr. Saroj Dube, an esteemed gastroenterologist and author, to discuss the profound lessons we can learn from failure. Dr. Dube shares her personal journey of overcoming a professional setback, which led to an exploration of mindfulness and emotional well-being. The episode delves into practical tips for processing negative emotions, the importance of mindfulness in daily life, and the transformative power of meditation. Through heartfelt dialogue, we explore how acknowledging and accepting our emotions can lead to personal growth and resilience. Tune in to discover the power of being present and turning life's challenges into opportunities for profound self-awareness and healing.

00:00 Embracing Failure: A Path to Growth

01:50 Introduction to Stories and Stanza

02:34 Guest Introduction: Dr. Saroj Dube

03:35 The Concept of 'Fail With Me'

07:02 A Personal Story of Failure and Transformation

16:44 Processing Negative Emotions

23:25 The Neuroscience of Emotional Healing

30:02 The Hidden Sugar in Our Diets

30:56 Emotional Intelligence and Awareness

31:34 The RAIN Method for Emotional Healing

32:45 Mindfulness and Physical Health

34:12 Personal Journey with Meditation

36:53 Practical Tips for Meditation

45:53 Building Self-Awareness in a Busy World

51:28 The Importance of Taking Time for Yourself

57:44 Embracing Life's Challenges

Please find the details of Dr Saroj's book here:

Rx for Resilience (International Edition) : https://www.amazon.com/Resilience-Physicians-Perspective-Embracing-Discovering/dp/8119554361
Rx for Resilience (India Edition) : https://amzn.in/d/flFmmgq
Ted X Talk: https://youtu.be/R9cwcFe8Jps?si=-o4I8NbwpgX2joB0

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Purpose Again After Experiencing Profound Grief

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:24:21 GMT

If you're struggling to find purpose after experiencing profound grief, this video offers guidance on healing and finding meaning again.

In this heartfelt episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Ruth Hephzibah, founder of Grift of Grace International and Echoes of Life. Ruth shares her journey as a grief coach and fresh start advocate, offering profound insights on understanding and navigating grief. She discusses the various forms of grief beyond the loss of a loved one, societal misconceptions, and her unique three-step model to move from being stuck to starting afresh. Ruth also highlights the importance of self-care, community, and small achievable goals in the healing process. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes, practical strategies, and offers a message of hope and resilience for anyone dealing with grief.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irina Shehovtsov's ASTONISHING Journey to HEALING and EMPOWERMENT!

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 10:17:29 GMT

Join Irina Shehovsov on her astonishing journey to heal and empowerment. In this podcast, she shares her story of overcoming trauma and personal growth to inspire women empowerment.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Irina Shehovsov , founder of Reclaim Your Life and an international best-selling author. They dive deep into Irina's upcoming book, The Gift Inside, which outlines 12 steps to heal from unworthiness, brokenness, and victim mentality. Irina shares her personal journey of overcoming life's difficulties, finding happiness within, and the transformative power of forgiveness and gratitude. She also discusses the importance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness, and provides practical tools for achieving a balanced life. Tune in to hear touching personal stories, insightful advice, and understand why healing starts from within.

Connect with Irina: https://www.instagram.com/re.claimyourlife/

Link to her book: https://www.irinashehovsov.com/thegiftinside1

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Authenticity in Life Coaching: An Honest Conversation | Podcast with Gregory Halpen

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:16:08 GMT

Gregory Halpen's inspiring podcast on authenticity in life coaching is a must-listen for anyone in the coaching industry. Learn from one of the best in the business!

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra sits down with Gregory Halpin, also known as The Sarcastic Marketer. Gregory shares his unique perspective on the world of life coaching, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and helping new coaches embrace their true selves. They delve into topics such as the pitfalls of the 'seven-figure mentality,' the distinction between coaching and therapy, and the societal stigma surrounding failure. Gregory also discusses his personal journey through trauma, mental health challenges, and his dual life as a performer and coach. Join them for an insightful conversation on how to navigate the coaching world with honesty, empathy, and resilience.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Break Free from Anger and Resentment

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 06:03:32 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra is joined by Anumeha Gupta, an Ayurvedic wellness counselor and theta healer, who helps mothers manage and release anger. Anumeha shares her personal journey with anger, the importance of understanding its roots, and offers practical tools for listeners to use in their own lives. The conversation covers topics like body and mind triggers, ancestral trauma, the impact of patriarchy, and more. An effective meditation exercise to release resentment is also included, providing immediate value to anyone dealing with anger.

Connect with Anu on her website: https://www.ayuwise.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HEALING After Divorce, Now What For MEN?

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 12:32:46 GMT

In this powerful episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' Abhra interviews Jeff, a tech veteran and founder of 'Divorce Daddy,' about his journey through a painful divorce and how it transformed his life. Jeff discusses the importance of embracing failure as a step towards success, the profound impact of divorce on fathers, and the emotional journey towards self-discovery and inner strength. He shares practical advice on building emotional intelligence, finding wisdom, and staying grounded through awareness, movement, and presence. Join us for an inspiring conversation on resilience, personal growth, and the transformative power of life’s challenges.

00:00 Introduction: Embracing Failures
01:27 The Power of Stories
02:06 Guest Introduction: Meet Jeff
02:26 Jeff's Journey Through Divorce
03:36 Creating a Better Life Post-Divorce
04:18 The Concept of 'Fail With Me'
08:38 Navigating Emotional Challenges
15:39 Building Emotional Intelligence
28:38 The Role of Writing in Healing
38:06 Conclusion: Be the Sky

About Jeff:

For a long time, he lived in a fog, struggling through dark days. A toxic marriage led to an even worse divorce, throwing him into a battle he wasn’t prepared for. He lost a lot, faced slander, and left his home with nothing but the clothes on his back. Now, he feels he is fully awake. Trying to face a heart problem with his head, life didn’t make sense to him. Once he understood that, Jeff had a choice: either become a victim or learn how to win. He chose to win. Today, Jeff has a great relationship, a strong bond with his kids, and he’s living his purpose. He’s building a legacy and embracing the grand adventure of life. Jeff created Divorce Daddy to help others follow the same path.

Find his website here: https://divorce-daddy.com/

#podcast #motivation #divorce #mensmentalhealth #divorceddad #sepratation #storiesandstanza #failwithme

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Your Brain Secretly Working Against You?

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:08:33 GMT

Unlock the secrets of your mind and discover how to break your mental resistance to achieve personal growth and development. In this motivational video, we explore the mind-brain connection and how it can either hinder or help you in unlocking your potential. By cultivating mental strength and resilience, you can develop a growth mindset that allows you to unleash your full potential and become mentally strong. This video is designed to inspire and motivate you to take control of your thoughts and emotions, and to overcome mental toughness and resistance that may be holding you back. Through a powerful motivational speech, you will learn how to tap into your inner strength and achieve self improvement, leading to a more fulfilling life. By embracing the concept of personal development and self improvement motivation, you can unlock the doors to a brighter future and become the best version of yourself. So, watch this best motivational video and start your journey to mental toughness and resilience today.

Join host Abhra in a captivating episode of 'Stories and Stanza' as he sits down with Kam Knight, an acclaimed author and international speaker. In this enlightening conversation, Kam delves deep into the intricacies of concentration, detailing its paramount importance and offering practical techniques to enhance it.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are You Caught in the IMPOSTER SYNDROME Trap?

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:51:08 GMT

Do you often feel like you're just pretending to be something you're not? Like you're just one mistake away from being exposed as a fraud? You're not alone. Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon where high-achievers feel like they don't deserve their success and are just waiting for someone to reveal their "true" incompetence. But here's the thing: it's all in your head. In this video, we'll explore the signs and symptoms of imposter syndrome, why it's so prevalent, and most importantly, how to overcome it. Learn how to break free from the cycle of self-doubt and start owning your accomplishments.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, Abhra welcomes back Melissa, an award-winning presentation coach, to discuss imposter syndrome and how to build genuine confidence. The conversation covers various strategies, including visualization, power poses, and mindset shifts, to help you conquer your fears and achieve your goals. Melissa shares her journey from struggling with imposter syndrome to becoming a successful communication consultant and coach. Whether you're an entrepreneur or working professional, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you step into your confidence. Melissa also introduces her free ebook filled with strategies to overcome self-doubt and live out your purpose. Tune in to learn how to replace 'I'll be ready when' with 'I'm ready now' and start making strides toward your dreams.

00:00 Understanding Imposter Syndrome
01:05 Introduction to Stories and Stanza
01:43 Welcoming Melissa Back
02:40 Melissa's Journey with Imposter Syndrome
04:36 Defining Imposter Syndrome
06:00 Strategies to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
16:43 Visualization Techniques for Confidence
26:41 Power Up Rituals and Body Language
30:04 Handling Negative Feedback
38:10 Final Thoughts and Resources

Links to Melissa's books:
https://takingyourstage.myflodesk.com/uxmri1sq3d
https://takingyourstage.myflodesk.com/confidenceonline

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Health: Awareness, Misconceptions, and Self-Care

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 08:35:08 GMT

Could mental health awareness be holding you back? In this video, we'll explore the impact of mental health awareness on your personal growth and success. We will navigate Anxiety, Depression, and Self-Care.

In this episode of Stories Stanza, host Abhra, a writer based in Melbourne, interviews Debanjali, a counseling psychologist, about the complexities of mental health. They discuss the importance of addressing mental health struggles with courage, the role of self-care, and the misconceptions around mental illness. Debanjali shares her journey into psychology, provides insights on how to identify mental health issues, and offers practical advice on self-care routines. They also touch upon the impact of social media on mental health and the importance of seeking professional help. Join them as they shed light on creating a supportive space for discussing failure and mental health openly.

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Awareness
01:44 Meet the Guest: Debanjali, Counseling Psychologist
03:15 The Concept of 'Fail with Me'
06:39 Understanding Mental Health: Definitions and Misconceptions
24:00 Common Mental Health Issues and Their Manifestations
29:17 Self-Care Practices for Mental Well-being
36:42 The Role of Social Media in Mental Health
41:30 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

As a dedicated Counseling Psychologist, Debanjali Roy Choudhury passionate about promoting mental health, education, and research. With a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from BHU and experience working with over 1,000 clients, my expertise includes addressing anxiety, depression, OCD, self-esteem, and relationship conflicts. I also provide support in life coaching, grief management, and workplace stress management through an integrative, client-centered approach. As a writer and research enthusiast, I contribute to mental health awareness through articles, workshops, and webinars, aiming to create a safe environment for individuals to heal and grow.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking FREE from Societal Expectation for Holistic Wellness

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:51:47 GMT

Finding Light in Darkness: Embracing Failure and Transformation with Rhonda Linn

Join Abhra, a writer based in Melbourne, on 'Stories and Stanza' as he converses with Rhonda Linn, an author and entrepreneur who focuses on amplifying spiritual and holistic wellness voices. In this episode, Rhonda shares her journey from feeling a disconnect in her successful outward career to embracing her true calling as a writer. The discussion delves into the importance of understanding and transforming failure into resilience, the spiritual connection with nature, and practical steps for personal healing and growth. Rhonda also highlights the significance of following one's heart, even amidst cultural pressures for perfection. Tune in for heartfelt poems, insights on wellness and spirituality, and inspiration for embracing your authentic path.

Rhonda Linn is a writer and multi-passionate entrepreneur who has spent the last 11 years (slowly) planting a food forest on her 36 acres in Michigan. Her Substack community, Earthen Jar; Stars, empowers members to envision a different world through seasonal living-- a world where we are cradled by nature through the beauty (and muck) of our daily lives.

Her first book, The Chapel of Small Breath which has been called “a work of art” by reviewers was published by Bell Publishing House in Fall 2024.

In addition to homesteading and writing, Rhonda runs a business that provides full-stack organic marketing services to holistic wellness, spiritual, and heart-centered entrepreneurs. Please find her details below.

Earthen Jar; Stars https://rhondalinn.substack.com/
Book: https://www.rhondalinn.com/chapel-of-small-breath
Website: https://rhondalinn.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.linn.3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonda.m.linn/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondalinnvirtualsolutions/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discovering the SECRET to Self-Awareness

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:43:25 GMT

Understanding Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence with Preeta

In this enlightening episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' host Abhra from Melbourne talks with Preeta, a wholeness coach from India, about the crucial role self-awareness and emotional intelligence play in our lives. They delve into how emotions are just energy, the importance of validating ourselves, and strategies for building emotional intelligence. Preeta shares her personal journey from the corporate world to becoming a coach and the radical life choices she has made, such as moving to Goa at the age of 62. The discussion also highlights the concept of failure, self-validation, and why gratitude is essential for healing. Preeta concludes by sharing how her spiritual practices, especially Advaita Vedanta, aid in her coaching and personal growth. This episode is packed with wisdom on managing relationships, emotional health, and self-awareness.

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Intelligence
01:59 Meet the Guest: Preeta's Journey
07:57 The Concept of 'Fail with Me'
09:59 Exploring Failure and Success
15:14 Self-Worth and Relationships
30:33 Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness
31:17 Understanding Heavier and Lighter Emotions
31:42 Dealing with Heavy Emotions
32:21 Emotional Intelligence and Patterns
33:22 Processing Emotions in the Body
33:51 Techniques for Emotional Release
35:23 Choosing Your Response
41:10 Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System
48:34 Gratitude and the Healing Journey
53:14 Spiritual Awareness and Self-Understanding
59:05 Conclusion and Contact Information

If you wish to work with Preeta, feel free to reach her on social media or whatsapp.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing Failure: The Key to Success in Health and Fitness

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:56:51 GMT

In this enlightening episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Kristen Carter, an experienced exercise physiologist and wellness coach, to discuss the importance of embracing failure and the realistic strategies for achieving long-term health and fitness goals. Drawing on years of experience and extensive certifications, Kristen sheds light on why most diets fail and how shifting focus from blaming oneself to improving strategies can lead to better outcomes. The discussion also covers crucial topics like emotional eating, the impact of processed foods, the significance of self-compassion, and practical tips for setting realistic health goals. Whether you're on a weight loss journey or simply seeking a healthier lifestyle, this episode provides valuable insights and resources, including Kristen's books and coaching services. Tune in to discover how small, mindful changes can make a big difference in your overall wellbeing.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering Mindful Weight Loss: Beyond Diets and Exercise

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Learn how to master mindful weight loss beyond diets and exercise in this video. Discover the key to sustainable weight loss through mindful eating and healthy habits. Say goodbye to crash diets and hello to lasting results!

In this episode of 'Stories in Stanza,' host Abhra chats with health coach and meal planner Megan about the holistic approach to weight loss. They discuss how realistic goals, self-awareness, and incremental objectives are essential for sustainable weight loss. Megan shares valuable insights on managing daily calorie intake, understanding basal metabolic rate (BMR), and navigating the challenges posed by unhealthy food environments. Viewers will also learn useful tips on meal planning, portion control, and the mental and emotional aspects of the weight loss journey. Tune in to gain practical strategies for improving your relationship with food while setting achievable health goals.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story Behind 'Ocean Song'

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 03:43:07 GMT

Join us on CW Rose's author journey as she discusses her debut fantasy novel 'Ocean Song' in this exclusive author interview. Get inspired by her story and learn more about the process behind creating a captivating fantasy book!

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Christine, known by her pen name C W Rose, a fantasy and romance author who shares her journey of writing her debut novel 'Ocean Song.' Christine, also a healthcare professional, discusses the inspiration behind her book, her writing process, research, and the themes of feminism, environmentalism, and sustainability that are woven into her tale. The conversation delves into the challenges of publishing, the importance of persistence, and how her experiences as a certified scuba diver influenced her storytelling. Join us for an engaging discussion on creativity, determination, and the power of storytelling.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me: Mastering Emotional Intelligence and Overcoming Failure

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:52:11 GMT

Fail With Me: Mastering Emotional Intelligence and Overcoming Failure

Unlock the secret to a happier, healthier you! Emotional intelligence is the ultimate superpower that can transform your life. In this video, we'll dive into the world of emotional intelligence, exploring what it means to be emotionally aware, and how it can be the key to healing and personal development. From understanding the feeling wheel to mastering your emotions, we'll show you how to tap into your emotional intelligence and unlock your full potential. Get ready to discover the incredible benefits of emotional intelligence and start your journey to a more balanced, fulfilling life.

In this episode of 'Fail With Me' from the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast, host Abhra introduces the concept of emotional intelligence (EQ) and its role in handling failures. Joined by guest Sara, they explore how EQ helps in identifying and managing emotions effectively, leading to better self-awareness and understanding. They discuss tools like the Feeling Wheel and the difference between reacting and responding to emotions. The episode also touches on the importance of mindfulness, coping versus healing, and the pivotal role of EQ in enhancing professional and personal life. This video is a recap of their previous discussions and aims to provide valuable insights for those new to the series.

Access the Fail With Me resources here.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost Train : A Journey Through History and Fantasy of Japan

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 08:14:57 GMT

Embark on a journey through history and fantasy with the Ghost Train in Japan. Explore the eerie world of Japanese Folk Horror in this immersive experience!

Join host Abhra on Stories and Stanza as he interviews Natalie Jacobsen, an award-winning writer, journalist, and marketer in nonprofit/government. She published her first article at age 13, and has been writing ever since. After growing up in Oregon and spending years in Japan and Virginia as a reporter, she now lives in Washington, DC, and shares her Japan knowledge on weekly Folklore Friday episodes. In this episode, Natalie discusses her new historical fantasy novel 'Ghost Train,' which intertwines Japanese folklore with paranormal elements. Learn about her 14-year writing journey, her detailed research process, and the challenges she faced. Natalie also shares insights into her dual role as a writer and photojournalist and the importance of untold stories. Don't miss this in-depth conversation about the art of world-building and the rich history of Japan.

You can find the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-Natalie-Jacobsen/dp/1590795644

00:00 Introduction: Untold Stories

01:03 Welcome to Stories and Stanza

01:45 Meet Natalie Jacobson

03:12 Natalie's Writing Journey

05:41 Exploring Japanese Culture

09:28 About the Book: Ghost Train

12:02 Reading from Ghost Train

13:41 Historical Context and Research

23:30 Challenges and Language Barriers

30:55 Publication Journey

34:31 Early Reviews and Testimonials

36:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Find her across social media as @natalieannaj and here are the links:

https://najacobsen.com

https://instagram.com/natalieannaj

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206295789-ghost-train

https://a.co/d/eJX9tfl

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Living with Hemiplegic Migraine

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 23:40:28 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra converses with Natasha, who shares her profound journey of living with hemiplegic migraine, a rare and debilitating condition. Natasha discusses the invisible and excruciating pain of her migraines, the symptoms that mimic strokes, and the struggles of raising awareness for this often misunderstood disorder. They delve into the emotional and psychological challenges faced, the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, and the support she receives from her family. Natasha's resilience and dedication to spreading awareness are highlighted as she reads an excerpt from her memoir, 'The Silent Paralyzer.' This episode sheds light on the battles faced by those with invisible disabilities and the strength required to overcome them.

Link to Natasha's Memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Paralyzer-decade-life-disrupted/dp/B0CW1HL2B8/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea Barton on her book The Killer Among Friends

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 01:30:00 GMT

Stories and Stanza Podcast In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes back author and editor Andrea Barton to discuss her new mystery novel, A Killer Among Friends, the sequel to her debut, The Godfather of Dance. They delve into the themes of grief, family, and personal growth woven into Barton's stories, as well as the unique challenges of writing mystery in today's information-rich world. Barton shares her practical experiences, such as firing a gun in Texas, to bring authenticity to her work. Tune in to hear excerpts from her latest book, insights into her writing process, and the emotional depth she brings to her characters.

Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/aw/d/B0DNB1CCL8/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Fear to Friendship: Danielle and Teida's Adventure

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:06:53 GMT

Overcoming Fears and Finding Connection: Danielle's Journey with Teida — Stories and Stanza In this heartfelt episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Danielle, the author of 'Teida's Story: Lost in the Eyes of a Dog'. Together, they delve into Danielle's transformation from a person with a phobia of dogs to a dog lover inspired to write a book from her dog Teida's perspective. The conversation touches on the emotional journey of pet ownership, overcoming fears, and the joys and challenges of the writing process. Watch as Danielle reads from her book, shares anecdotes, and offers advice for aspiring writers. Tune in for an engaging discussion about the deep connections we form with our pets and how they inspire us to tell our most heartfelt stories.

Connect with Danielle here: https://linktr.ee/daniellecorrie

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overcome Mind Body Awareness with Mind Body Awareness

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:10:49 GMT

Listen to this podcast with Eva Angvert to learn how to overcome anger and anxiety. As a somatic coach, Eva shares valuable insights on managing emotions for a healthier and happier life.

She started her journey in Self-Awareness and Integrative Healing in 1990 after having to turn off her daughter Kristina's life support. She has now been in personal development and coaching for 33+ years. She is certified as an Integrative Coach, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and EmRes Practitioner. Her training and personal experiences have created a wonderful mixture of awareness and expertise to support clients who suffer from early childhood trauma, rage, anger, psycho-somatic body pain, anxiety and internal stress, and addictive behaviours of all kinds.

In this enlightening episode of the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast, host Abhra delves deep into understanding the roots of anger and the path to healing with special guest Eva Angert, a somatic coach. The discussion covers the concept of anger as a body sensation, mindfulness practices, boundary management, and the profound impact of recognizing and addressing inner wounds. Abhra also shares personal transformative experiences from Eva's workshop, highlighting how separating reaction from response and practising mindfulness can lead to emotional freedom. Tune in to explore these concepts that not only apply to anger but also fear, sadness, depression, relationships, and grief.

00:00 Understanding the Root of Anger
01:12 Introduction to Stories and Stanza
02:07 Welcoming Today's Guest: Eva Angert
03:14 Eva's Background and Workshop Overview
06:13 Exploring the Mind-Body Connection
17:38 Recognizing and Addressing Inner Wounds
26:27 Personal Stories and Reflections
38:54 Understanding Anger and Physicality
40:36 The Impact of Childhood Belief
45:18 The Emotional Cocktail Concept
50:10 Boundary Management and Emotional Health
01:04:35 Mindfulness in Daily Life
01:10:50 Conclusion and Reflections

Listen to our audio episode here: https://www.storiesandstanza.com/e/somatic-awareness/

If you would like to work with Eva, please get in touch through her website.
https://www.evaangvert.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Purpose Beyond Success: Life Coaching Insights with Dr Saloni

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:08:30 GMT

Join Dr. Saloni as she dives into finding purpose beyond success in this enlightening life coaching session. Discover the power of healing and self-awareness in your journey towards a fulfilling life.

Dr. Saloni Singh is a leading Life Coach for CEOs and leaders globally and a Mentor for coaches. She is a former Gynaecologist who changed her career to follow her purpose and calling in spirituality and life coaching. She’s passionate about enabling deep shifts in people's life through her work. Her mission is to simplify spirituality and make it implementable to help leaders live a life of Ease, Joy and peace. She helps people connect with their inner wisdom and lead with higher purpose in life. Stop the hustling, grinding and falling in the trap of rat race and overthinking. She’s the Author of the Hand Book ‘How to stop overthinking’ and Podcast Host at “Quantum Shift: Elevating Leadership consciousness” through which she intends to break myths around spirituality and success and bridge the gap between knowledge and execution in daily life.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra welcomes Saloni, a former gynaecologist turned life coach, to explore the transformative power of life coaching. They discuss the societal conditioning surrounding success and failure, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the evolving gender roles in relationships. Saloni shares her journey, the challenges of switching careers, and the profound impact of self-awareness and mindfulness. Together, they unpack the layers of failure and highlight the journey of self-discovery and growth.

Know more about Dr Saloni here - www.salonisingh.com
You can Connect with Saloni on social media:
YouTube.com/salonisinghlifecoach
Instagram.com/coachsalonisingh/
Linkedin.com/in/lifecoachdrsalonisingh
Her podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/quantum-shift-with-saloni
Download her Hand Book and Stop Overthinking - https://salonisingh.com/stop-overthinking-ebook-free/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unveiling Sensuality : Z M Alcock about her books on sensuality

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 23:51:02 GMT

Explore the fascinating world of intimacy and creativity as we delve into the mind of a talented writer, Z M Alcock. Host Abhra, poet and creator of the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast engages in an enriching conversation with writer Z M Alcock. She writes on sensuality as it is a topic many people dodge. She believes it interwebs into who we are, how we act, and why we do things, all subconsciously. It never ends; right up until our deathbed, we can have a sexual drive, urges or thoughts. Sexuality has no expiry date. We, as humans, are sexual beings. We are one of the only creatures on the planet blessed enough to have sex for the pure enjoyment of it, not just for the sake of breeding. Not all of us are capable of having orgasms, but the act of sex, the closeness, and the connectivity we can achieve with another person through the act can be pleasurable as well. They delve into Alcock's writing journey, inspirations, and the influence of teachers and family. The discussion covers Alcock’s books, strategies to bring out hidden desires through sensual writing, and the importance of open conversations on intimacy. The episode also highlights Alcock’s approach to writing, including overcoming personal challenges and learning through feedback. Tune in to explore the intertwining of sensuality, beauty, and motivation in Alcock’s literary works.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Tell A Great Story : Tips from a book coach

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 23:04:47 GMT

Discover the secrets of storytelling in this thrilling podcast episode with a book coach! Uncover writing tips and tricks that will elevate your narrative game. Join host Katrina Schroder, an expert editor and book coach, as she reveals powerful insights into the art of writing and character creation. Explore her unique methods that take writers from the spark of an idea to finished novels, the significance of knowing your 'why', and storytelling techniques that resonate. Katrina shares her fascinating transition from astrophysics to literature, offers gems on balancing plot and style, and details how she empowers writers in both fiction and non-fiction. This episode is ideal for budding authors, with practical advice and personal stories. Tune in for an exciting dive into narrative mastery!

katrinaeditorial.com

thefictionlab.com

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vulnerability CHANGES Everything in Mental Health!

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 04:40:37 GMT

In this powerful video, we're exploring the game-changing concept of vulnerability in mental health. By embracing vulnerability, we can break free from the shackles of stigma and shame and embark on a journey of resilience, personal growth, and healing. We'll dive into how vulnerability in relationships can be a catalyst for emotional well-being, and how it can help us develop coping strategies to overcome anxiety and other mental health challenges. Join us as we discuss the importance of mental health awareness and how embracing our vulnerability can be a crucial step towards a more mindful, compassionate, and supportive community. Whether you're on a journey of self-discovery or seeking to support a loved one, this video is for anyone who wants to prioritize their mental wellness and take the first step towards a more authentic, wholehearted life.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, we welcome Trys, who shares his personal journey with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, and OCD. Trys recounts his transformational experience from being reclusive to inspiring many through his mental health radio station in Australia. We discuss the importance of openly talking about mental health, especially men's mental health, the impact of COVID-19 on mental well-being, and the often overlooked issue of domestic violence against men. Trys emphasizes the power of failing, learning from mistakes, and finding personal healing through various methods such as volunteering, music, and nature. Join us for an enlightening conversation aimed at breaking stigmas and empowering individuals to seek help and grow.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raising Women - Pathways of Interactive Fiction

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:32:02 GMT

Unlock the secrets to captivate your audience with interactive fiction! Learn from this author interview on how to create engaging and immersive stories. Join us on Stories and Stanza for an in-depth discussion with Shannon Waite, the author of the interactive fiction novel 'Raising Women.' Based in Detroit, Michigan, Shannon draws inspiration from the Choose Your Own Adventure series to create a narrative targeting millennial women. The story follows a teenage girl and her friend Roman, exploring themes of reality, identity, and womanhood. We delve into Shannon's creative process, from planning and outlining to crafting multiple plot paths and endings. Featuring insights into the challenges of independent publishing, the importance of understanding one's audience, and a review by fellow author Rebecca Jones Howe, this episode offers a comprehensive look at literary innovation and the resilience required to bring a story to life. Don't miss an intriguing excerpt from the novel and exclusive information on upcoming projects and how to pre-order the book.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief, Hope & Personal Growth

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Join us in this episode of 'Stories and Stanza' as we welcome Shirley, a family therapist with a unique perspective on failure and grief.

Shirly has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University and is certified in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a PhD candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University.

Shirley’s approach to therapy is both compassionate and empowering. She views every client as a superhero and herself as a sidekick, helping to uncover and amplify their strengths. She works with individuals, couples, and families in Georgia, addressing grief from both death-related and non-death-related losses, offering services virtually and in person.

Shirley unpacks the social constructs of failure and emphasizes learning from all experiences. The discussion delves into societal expectations, personal stories, and the journey towards achievements. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Shirley shares her therapeutic approach to envisioning the best versions of ourselves amidst challenges. Discover the differences between genuine hope and toxic positivity, and learn how small steps and community support can guide us towards healing and wholeness.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Lives ~ One Heart : Resilience Reimagined

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 22:00:00 GMT

In this inspiring episode of Stories in Stanza, we dive deep into the life story of Jessica Renfelt, founder of Resilience Coaching by Jessica Ann. Jessica shares her remarkable journey of overcoming numerous health challenges, including battling cardiac AL amyloidosis, cancer, a stroke, and a heart transplant. She talks about the role of gratitude and joy in building resilience and how these experiences led her to leave her corporate job to help others find their path to healing. Through her personal story, she emphasizes the importance of joy, small wins, and flexibility in overcoming life's struggles. Tune in to learn about her upcoming book 'Dancing in the Shower' and her passion for connecting with others through resilience coaching.Jessica Anne Renfeldt is a resilience coach, founder of Resilience Coaching by Jessica Anne, author, and speaker who helps women discover their inner strength by weaving gratitude, joy, and radical resilience into everyday life. Drawing on her own life’s journey—surviving a terminal illness, stoke, a heart transplant, and profound loss—Jessica brings an authentic, deeply compassionate perspective to her work. She guides others to cultivate resilience not as a shield but as a soft, flexible strength rooted in gratitude and the quiet moments that can transform us all.Raised on a farm and still a farm girl at heart, Jessica has a profound connection to nature, drawing inspiration from its rhythms in her personal life and her coaching. Whether she’s fishing for healing in a mountain stream or whipping up a new recipe, she finds wisdom in slowing down and tuning into life’s simple joys. As the mother of three remarkable daughters, she understands the delicate balance of juggling careers, families, and self-care, and she passionately believes that everyone can live the life they truly love—if they’re willing to uncover the resilience that’s been within them all along.Her upcoming book, Dancing in the Shower: Uncovering Radical Resilience to Live a Life You Love, is set for release in early 2025. It’s a heartfelt exploration of her personal stories, from childhood lessons of strength and loss to surviving life-threatening challenges, offering readers a roadmap to find hope, gratitude, and resilience in their own lives.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creativity, Community and Healing : A creator's journey from corporate to content creation

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! Join Abhra and Neha (from Creative Space 😊) as they discuss the journey of creating meaningful content on YouTube amidst challenges.

Neha shares insights on launching her channel 'Creative Space,' which aims to connect industry experts with the public. She explores the balance of motherhood, content creation, and learning from failure.

This episode delves into the importance of sustainable content, the satisfaction of helping others, and the personal fulfilment found through creative endeavours. Watch this episode of 'Stories and Stanzas' for tips on starting and succeeding as a YouTuber.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life, Inspiration & Writing: An Interview with Leilena Durrette

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Join us on the Stories in Stanza podcast as we delve into the creative journey of Leilena Durrette, an independent author of the Kira Raymond trilogy.

Lelina Durrette was born in New York City and raised in Guinea, West Africa, by globe-trotting parents. After pinballing around Europe as an accidental tourist in her teens via boarding school, she landed briefly in Virginia, where she earned a degree in Psychology and became a wife and mother. These days, she lives in Texas, rediscovering herself and embracing a renaissance in her creative life. She enjoys cooking, reading, travelling, and supporting fellow independent authors in the writing community. She is an author across multiple genres, including Young Adult, Romance, and Horror. The Girl Who Saved Them All is her second Young Adult novel in the Kierra Rieman Trilogy.

Website link: https://lelinad.wixsite.com/lelinadurrettewrites
TikTok link: https://www.tiktok.com/@lelinadurrettewrites

In this episode, Leilena shares her experiences growing up abroad, how these have influenced her writing, and her path from childhood stories to becoming a published author. Learn about her writing process the challenges of indie publishing, and get a sneak peek into her dystopian young adult novels. Leilena's story is inspirational for all aspiring writers looking to find their voice and place in literature.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love, Loss and Lessons : Healing Relationships with Forgiveness and Compassion

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Love, Loss and Lessons - Healing Relationships through Compassion and Forgiveness: A Conversation with Relationship Coach Jeanell Greene

Welcome, Jeanell Greene! In this inspiring episode of the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast, host Abhra converses with Janelle, a relationship coach from Vancouver, Canada. They explore themes of personal growth, healing from past traumas, and the true meaning of happiness and love. Janelle shares her journey from a traumatic childhood and a corporate career to becoming a relationship coach. They discuss the importance of vulnerability, compassion, communication, and self-awareness in building healthy relationships. Janelle emphasizes the need for self-healing and taking ownership of one's life experiences to pave the way for future generations. Join this heartfelt discussion to understand how failure can be a profound teacher and how to cultivate love and connection in a fear-filled world.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me: Embracing Vulnerability and Healing Through Stories

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra converses with a special guest about embracing vulnerability and redefining failure.

They discuss personal experiences with isolation, trauma, and the journey to inner success through neuroscience and ancestral spirituality. The guest shares their insights on building supportive communities, healing practices, and the role of spirituality in overcoming trauma. This heartfelt discussion aims to provide a compassionate space for listeners to connect and find solace in shared human experiences.

Giselle Baumet is a Hypnotherapist, Breathworker and Neuroscience Grad Candidate who helps people discover how majestic they are using neuroscience and ancestral spirituality. https://www.skool.com/manifestation-blueprint-4368/about

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creative writing tips with book coach Sue Toth

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 07:41:47 GMT

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra, a poet and writer, introduces the podcast, which features real-life stories as beautiful as poetry. The guest, Sue Toth, shares her journey as a book coach and editor, describing how she supports writers at different stages of their creative process. Sue discusses common challenges writers face, the various editing stages, and offers valuable advice for writers experiencing a block. She details her experiences working with different genres, including fiction and nonfiction, and encourages aspiring writers to never give up on their dreams.

Sue has dedicated most of her professional life to honouring the English language through writing, editing, and teaching. For the past 25 years, Sue’s speciality is coaching authors who have stuck anywhere in the writing process. She also collaborates with authors on editing their manuscripts and getting them ready for readers to stay up all night reading!

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healing and Empowerment: A Journey Through LGBTQ+ Narratives with Jennifer Cox

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' Abhra sits down with Jennifer, author of the debut novel 'Getting to Know You.' Jennifer shares an excerpt from her book, which revolves around love, healing, and personal growth in the LGBTQ+ community. She delves into her inspiration for writing, her professional background as a licensed mental health counsellor, and her publication journey. Topics discussed include the intricacies of healing from unhealthy relationships, debunking misconceptions about domestic violence, and the importance of representation in storytelling. Please tune in to learn more about Jennifer's insights and her mission to bring awareness and support to survivors of domestic violence within the LGBTQ+ community.

Jennifer earned her minor in creative writing from Alfred University in 2016. As a pansexual genderflux individual and a trauma-informed mental health counsellor, they’re passionate about representation in fiction. Each story she tells is an opportunity to explore the beauty in nonconformity, healing, and diversity. After a lifetime of putting imagination to paper, Jennifer’s debut novel, Getting to Know You, came into being as a promise kept to a friend. Jennifer lives in the Finger Lakes with her family, enjoying tabletop roleplaying games, sewing, and cuddling their cat.

Order the book from here if you are interested:

https://ninestarpress.com/product/getting-to-know-you/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merging Mythology and Modernity : Author Talk with Arietta Knežević

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 11:43:57 GMT

Exploring the world of 'Whispers of the Unveiled' with Author Arietta Knežević In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhro welcomes guest author Arietta, who discusses her debut fiction book 'Whispers of the Unveiled.' Arietta shares her journey from childhood passion for writing to the challenges of self-publishing and marketing. They delve into the book's theme, which blends ancient mythology with contemporary issues such as climate change and LGBTQ+ representation. Arietta also reads an intriguing excerpt from her book, adds insights about the writing process, and offers tips for aspiring authors. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation about creativity, perseverance, and storytelling.

Arietta Hecate Knežević was born in 1994 in Dundee, Scotland, and now lives in Zagreb, Croatia with her husband and child. She has been writing since early childhood, and has recently published her debut novel, Whispers of the Unveiled, which is heavily inspired by her spiritual beliefs, Pagan practice and love of the natural world.

Links:

It is also available on Amazon in all other locations.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Decades of Secrets: Diane Clarke on 'The Photograph'

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Join host Abhra on 'Stories and Stanza' as he delves into the captivating journey of Diane Clarke and her debut novel, 'The Photograph.' Listen as Diane shares the inspiration and extensive research behind her compelling historical fiction, which spans from World War II to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncover the intricacies of her characters, family secrets, and the emotional search for a lost brother. This episode is rich with insights for aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts alike.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Mental Hellness to Wellness with David

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with David, a man who has battled depression for over 50 years. In this episode. Davis is a 2-time TEDx speaker and credentialed international mental health presenter.

He shares his raw and honest journey, including a harrowing attempt to end his life and the transformative power of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

He opens up about the misconceptions surrounding depression, the importance of finding support, and the incredible strength it takes to break the cycle of despair.
This episode is a powerful testament to the human spirit and the importance of seeking help when facing mental health challenges.

How David redefined his understanding of depression, recognizing it as something distinct from sadness.
The crucial role of hope in suicide prevention and how David found hope amidst his darkest moments.
The transformative power of sharing stories and the importance of finding support systems.
David's personal experience with ECT and its impact on his recovery.
This episode is for anyone who has ever struggled with depression, felt alone in their pain, or wants to understand the journey of healing. It's a reminder that hope is possible and recovery is achievable.

This episode is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of seeking help when facing mental health challenges. David's insights offer a nuanced and personal perspective on depression, highlighting its complex nature and the importance of understanding and supporting those who struggle with it.

Listen now and be inspired by David's story!

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To the Heart of it with Michael Preston

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Hello everyone, welcome to Stories and Stanza. Please join me in welcoming today's guest speaker, Michael Preston.

In this episode, Mike shares a deeply personal story about his experience with a heart attack and the journey to recovery.

Mike talks about his background in athletics, his health leading up to the heart attack, and the warning signs he experienced before the life-changing event.

Tune in to hear the captivating and inspiring journey of resilience and overcoming obstacles in the face of health challenges.

Thank you.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stage fright to spotlight with Melissa Entzminger

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Hello everyone, welcome to Stories and Stanza. Please join me in welcoming today's guest speaker, Melissa Entzminger.

She is an acclaimed public speaker and dedicated the last 15 years to guiding professionals in crafting and delivering powerful, unforgettable presentations. With a Master's in Communication and 5 years as a college professor, she infuses her workshops and coaching sessions with a mix of proven strategies and engaging, interactive learning. Many of her clients initially feel daunted by assembling their speeches, terrified of freezing up and being judged or rejected in those moments of silence. Her offers are designed to fast-track your success, equipping you with the confidence to conquer your fear of public speaking, mesmerize your audience, and significantly boost your influence as a communicator. She works with an incredible roster of clients, ranging from executives to Senators and State Representatives. Her celebrated e-book is “7 Easy Steps to Kick Your Public Speaking Nerves to the Curb”, sharing the actionable strategies she used to overcome her speaking anxiety and now helps thousands of others. After all, mastery in public speaking offers a competitive edge in any scenario.

Sharing her details if you wish to reach out to her.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaentzminger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075493194228
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takingyourstage/
Link to E-book: https://beautiful-art-42260.myflodesk.com/uxmri1sq3d
Link to book a free 20-minute assessment on speech: https://tidycal.com/takingyourstagee

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing True Stories By Patti Miller

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Patti Miller for today's episode. She is joining us today to discuss her book "Writing True Stories".

She is the author of ten books, including the award-winning The Mind of a Thief, the critically acclaimed Ransacking Paris, The Joy of High Places, and True Friends. The Mind of a Thief was longlisted for the Stella Prize and the Nita Kibble Prize, shortlisted for the WA Premier's Prize for Non-Fiction, winner of the NSW Premier's Prize for History and on the syllabus for English for the VCE in Victoria. She is widely published in literary magazines and national newspapers. She is also a teacher of memoir and nonfiction and has offered workshops for over 30 years in Australia, Paris, Bali, Fiji, and London. Over 65 of Patti Miller's writing students have been commercially published. She currently teaches at the Faber Academy, Sydney and London.

Writing True Stories is essential for anyone wanting to write a memoir or explore the wider territory of creative nonfiction. It provides practical guidance and inspiration on a vast array of writing topics, including how to access memories, find a narrative voice, build a vivid world on the page, create structure, use research and face the difficulties and pitfalls of truth-telling. This book introduces and develops key writing skills and strategies and then challenges more experienced writers to extend their knowledge and practice of the genre into literary nonfiction, true crime, biography, personal essay, and travel and sojourn writing. Whether you want to write your own autobiography, investigate a wide-ranging political issue or bring to life an intriguing history, this book will be your guide.
This second edition encompasses over five years of updated study in the field of life writing with entirely new material on journal and diary writing, the ethics of writing true stories and extended material on creative nonfiction, including
biography and new journalism, plus brand new extracts from key writers such as Joan Didion, Janet Malcolm, Zadie Smith and many others.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Defeating Failure

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:15:00 GMT

Stories and Stanza is a montage of inspiring real-life stories.

I started this series, 'Fail With Me,' on my podcast to talk about failure in life and building resilience. So far in this series, I have spoken with therapists, behaviourists, writers, and educators and have felt enriched by their lives, knowledge, and attitudes. However, I must say that speaking with today's guest had such a strong impact on me. As someone who has experienced the loss of her son, faced homelessness for a period of time, underwent the angst of separation and then lost sense and control of the dominant side of her body because of a stroke, her story told me that life didn't fail her but her undeniable spirit defeated failure.

Before we start today's episode, I want to say a few words about our guest. Her journey is a testament to how strong a person can truly be. I started this series, 'Fail With Me', to talk about failure in life and building resilience. So far in this series, I have spoken with therapists, behaviourists, writers and educators - to be enriched by their life, knowledge and attitude towards life. However, I must say that speaking with Alma had such a strong impact on me. As someone who has experienced the loss of her son, faced homelessness for a period of time, underwent the angst of separation and then lost sense and control of the dominant side of her body because of a stroke, her story told me that life didn't fail her but her undeniable spirit defeated failure. Please join me in welcoming Alma Thomas for today's episode.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Your Secret Superpower

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:25:30 GMT

Today, we have Alice Rizzi, a psychologist and mindfulness coach from New York, as our guest.

She creates courses and programs that help people experience more joy, peace, and freedom in their everyday lives. Alice believes mindfulness is a superpower and is on a mission to educate as many people as possible about the benefits they can experience when they make it a daily practice. She believes that more mindful individuals will contribute to more peaceful and loving communities where we can all thrive.

Today's episode is very special, as I do not host this one. I requested my long-time friend Ananya to take over as co-chair to have this chat with Alice. Ananya has promised to come back from time to time to help me accommodate guests from the US, especially from the East, as the time overlap with Australia is a little challenging.

Feel free to reach out to Alice through social media:

Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/DrAliceRizzi/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dralicerizzi

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Great to Fail - Brooke Bownes

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:43:36 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Brooke Bownes for today's episode. She is an accredited trauma coach, therapist and global No.1 bestselling author. She works with ambitious women who struggle with feeling stuck and want to get unstuck and heal those inner child wounds, find their power and confidence and release their trauma so they can go for their goals.

She is passionate about this as she once felt powerless and scared to show up in the world as herself. She then started working on her mindset, discovered who she was and loved the feeling of inner contentment and confidence. She went from being scared to speaking on stage. She had an abusive relationship growing up with a narcissistic mother and moved on to two abusive relationships. She has been homeless, I brought up 4 children single-handedly, and she has a unique way of understanding people where they are and helping them to find their power. She discovered how to rewire her mind and regulate her nervous system, release her trauma so I could achieve the dreams she wanted to achieve, and now I help people do the same by helping them. She now lives in a beautiful house with her husband and runs a successful business whilst having fun on adventures in her campervan.

Please find her details below:

UK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DX7PB11
US Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DX7PB11
Email: brooke@brookebownes.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-bownes-the-breakthrough-queen-b17815116/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Lisa Darcy

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 03:06:39 GMT

Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza. Please join me in welcoming Lisa Darcy, 'In Author's Chair', for today's episode.

Born in Melbourne, Lisa spent her youth moving around due to her father’s role in the Royal Australian Air Force, including four years living in Malaysia. The family moved back to Brisbane, Australia, where Lisa finished high school and
studied journalism at university. After completing her degree, she relocated to Sydney, where she worked as an Acquisitions Editor at publishing house Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ) and then as a journalist with Australian Consolidated Press, writing for Practical Parenting and Bride to Be. Lisa published several novels with Allen & Unwin, Australia, and her seventh novel, Lily’s Little Flower Shop, was published by Bloodhound Books UK in 2021,
followed by My Big Greek Holiday and Should You Keep A Secret? in 2022. A creative writing teacher, Lisa also presents workshops and has been on panels and facilitated workshops at RWA conferences, GenreCon, Sydney Writers’ Festival and many regional and international writers’ festivals, including Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad, India. The Pact is Lisa’s eighth book.

I hope you like the episode. If you are interested in 'The Pact' please find the link below.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Pact-Lisa-Darcy/dp/B0CZM6FT7D/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Zeenat Ahmed-Peto

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 03:36:57 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Zeenat Ahmed-Peto as the guest for today's episode.

Zeenat Ahmed-Peto is a cognitive hypnotherapist who supports sensitive mid-life professionals to heal from burnout and helps them improve their boundaries. Her clients are often overwhelmed with responsibilities and have habits of people-pleasing, leaving their needs last on the list. They work together on building self-esteem and self-love, creating healthy boundaries so they can be kinder to themselves, and creating positive relationships at work and home.

Zeenat helps her clients identify how they experience stress and the core reasons for it, which can range from fear of public speaking to imposter syndrome and anxiety in all areas of life.
She works in partnership with her clients to make their dreams an attainable reality and, each day, more joyful.

Zeenat is the author of ‘Too Kind: A Survival Guide for Sensitive Souls’ which is available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Too-Kind-Survival-Guide-Sensitive/dp/B0D2B4KDZ5/
https://zeenatahmedpeto.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Jaime Stanford

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:07:59 GMT

Today, we have the privilege of welcoming Jaime Stanford as our guest speaker.

She was raised in the picturesque Warwickshire county in the UK, where she enjoyed a simple rural life of homegrown produce and collecting fresh eggs every morning. She pursued education in Media Studies and Film Studies and transitioned into a career in Social Media. In 2019, she relocated from the countryside to the Shakespeare town of Stratford Upon Avon with her three daughters. Here, she discovered a passion for writing, particularly in the realm of erotic and sensual poetry, which led to the publication of her first book, "Meet Me at the Crossroads" in 2021. Subsequently, in 2023, she released a second book, "The Monoku Collection," which showcases a captivating array of micro poetry from various poets. S

She is actively engaged in the writing community on Twitter, providing numerous poetry prompts and hosting learn & write podcasts.

Meet Me at the Crossroads: A collection of Sensual and Erotic Micro poetry https://amzn.eu/d/3CZYiiZ
Erotic Fantasies The Monoku Collection: A Collection of Erotic and Sensual Monoku Poetry https://amzn.eu/d/cpm2v3L

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Healing Power of Somatics

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 12:10:41 GMT

Today, we have the privilege of welcoming Abbie Westgate as our guest speaker. Abbie is a former UK police sergeant who served for six years.

She was incredibly passionate about her work and was promoted within three years, but fell seriously ill a year later from stress, burnout and trauma caused by events in her personal and professional life.

On her road to recovery, she discovered a completely different approach to healing than the one we were taught in the police - working with the body/somatics and the nervous system.

This became her new passion, and two years later, she walked away from what was once her dream job to run her own coaching business - guiding frontline workers to become more resilient to stress and burnout using the same modalities that supported her.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can failure be celebrated in the end - A therapists story of wisdom and waiting

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:25:26 GMT

Hello everyone, please welcome Kimberly Christian as guest speak for today's episode.

Kimberly Christian is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Faith-Based Clinical Counselor committed to helping Christians learn how to practically have a Biblical Worldview using the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her work focuses on the relationship between thoughts and feelings and aligning them with God’s word to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. She believes in the transformation that comes from bringing mental health and faith together. She is passionate about empowering others who struggle with mental health to feel confident in managing their symptoms by knowing their faith as a Christian supports the best that therapy has to offer. She has founded a signature online program titled “The Christian Method”. She is interested in participating in workshops, speaking engagements, webinars, and podcasts to allow this message to reach as many lives as possible.

kimberly@replies.kimberlychristianlcsw.com
FB group: Belief Based Healing Hub
IG: @kimberlychristianlcsw
YT channel: @kimberlychristianlcsw

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Julie Dammer

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:30:12 GMT

I am a poet, and I created this podcast to bring you inspiring stories that make life as beautiful poetry. Some stories are my own, and some are from wonderful people who have chosen to be my guest.

For the 'In Author's Chair' series, please join me in welcoming Jule Dammer to today's episode.

She is here to discuss her book, 'Sink Full of Dishes'. She hosts the Selective Hearing Podcast and a health and wellness Blog.

I am leaving her link below so you can find her.

https://selectivehearingshow.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Rethinking Failure From Beginning

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:19:36 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

Today, in another enlightening episode of the 'Fail With Me' series, we are privileged to welcome Amy Herzog as our guest speaker. Our world is messy and imperfect—let us take a moment to understand our failures and explore their subtle messages. Amy, an educator turned private tutor, shares her unique insights on rethinking failure since childhood, adding depth to our ongoing series.

Amy Herzog is a seasoned elementary educator and creative private tutor from Santa Barbara, California, with 25 years of experience teaching children aged 3-12. Coach Amy infuses fun and creativity into education, promoting joy and learning through the power of play. Her innovative methods enhance knowledge and personal growth and inspire confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills in young learners. Amy now dedicates her expertise to homeschooling moms and educators, ensuring that children love learning for life.

I hope you like this episode; feel free to share your thoughts. Thank you. I will leave details of Amy's website for your reference.

www.sparkjoywithamy.com
www.instagram.com/sparkjoywithamy
Link to free 5-min tutorial about hopscotch with email opt-in (free pdf of Game Guidebook follows)
https://sparkjoywithamy.myflodesk.com/hopscotch

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Modeling Imperfections with Christina Rodrigues

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:05:42 GMT

Today, in another episode of the 'Fail With Me' series, please welcome Christina Rodrigues as the guest speaker. Our world is messy and imperfect—let us take a moment to understand our failures and explore their subtle messages.

Cristina Rodrigues is a Certified Positive Discipline Educator focused on Early Childhood. She helps parents of preschoolers (aged 3 to 6) who want to be gentle parents but often feel judged and unsupported by reassuring them that they don't have to be perfect and giving them the tools to raise their children with kindness instead of fear. She simultaneously focuses on self-compassion and the knowledge that being a good parent 51% of the time is already incredible.

Please find her coordinates below.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Defeating Learning Disability

Mon, 27 May 2024 14:26:49 GMT

Hello! Welcome to Stories and Stanza.

Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, where we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space. In a messy, imperfect world where we celebrate success and look down upon failure, "Fail with Me" flips the script.

Please join me in welcoming Michelle Steiner as a guest speaker. She is a disability writer, advocate, and paraeducator for students with disabilities. She lives in The United States with her husband and two cats. She has published articles on The Mighty, Non-Verbal Learning Project, Dyscalculia Blog, The Reluctant Spoonie, Imagine the World as One Magazine, and Word Gathering. Recently, she began a blog called Michelle's Mission. Her photographs were featured in Word Gathering, Independent, and Work Ready.

In this episode, we will discuss Michelle's fantastic journey on overcoming learning disability and why awareness of disability is more important than ever. I hope you like this episode. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Michelle's website can be found here.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Kaleidoscope Of Grief

Sat, 25 May 2024 03:11:08 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! We're thrilled to have you here.

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Zink as a guest speaker. This episode is a recording of the livestream Sarah and I did on May 25, 2024. We started this series a while back, and if you join us for the first time, we encourage you to listen to the previous 'Fail With Me' episodes.

Today, we will discuss grief—what it is, how we grieve, and how we heal. I hope you like our episode, and I look forward to see you in the next one.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning Self-love with Karishma Gautam

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:34:13 GMT

Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, in which we discuss failure and self-awareness in relationships.

Please join me in welcoming Karshima Gautam as a guest speaker. Karishma is a fierce feminine leader, deeply committed to women's empowerment. Through her unique and impactful courses based on modalities like Neuro Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy, Karishma is on a mission to help one million women worldwide by 2025 fall in love with themselves. With the help of her courses, free training and hypnosis audios, she encourages women to improve their self-worth, grow their self-esteem and unapologetically put themselves first.

She hopes to create a world in which not even one woman is in a violent marriage with no voice and no one to turn to for help, believing she is worthless. Her passion and purpose in life are to support and uplift women, helping them realise their strength, courage, and resilience.

Karishma can be contacted on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/karishma.gautam80/ or her email Karishma@elevateselflove.com
Grab a free e-book on 10 Secrets To Give Yourself The Love You Deserve from Karishma's website - www.ElevateSelfLove.com

Contact Karishma on Facebook if you would like to take part in a FREE 1:1 5-day self-love challenge, during which she will personally assist you with your self-love challenges. Mention that you listened to her interview on Abhra's podcast so she can prioritize her response to you.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Broken Bonds

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:22:16 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here. Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, where we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space.

Please join me in welcoming my friend Tanny as a guest speaker. She was my colleague a long time ago, and we became good friends when we conversed about unconventional philosophies of life. When I invited her to be a guest on my show, she immediately agreed and decided to share her views on failure and unlearning life.

I hope you like this episode. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - AKAGIRL

Sun, 19 May 2024 13:26:19 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here. This is another episode of the 'In Author's Chair' segment, where we talk to writers about their work, motivation and challenges.

Today, we have a guest who chooses to remain anonymous and please join me in welcoming Akagirl in today's episode.

Let's hear about her musicality, her poetry and her books.

I hope you enjoy the episode.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing Failure with Amanda Wakefield

Sun, 12 May 2024 13:28:50 GMT

This episode of Stories and Stanza delves into the personal journey of renowned life coach Amanda Wakefield as she navigates life's challenges and transforms them into stepping stones to success. Despite obstacles such as failed marriages and battling cancer, she proves that it is possible to emerge stronger, wiser, and more resilient. A conversation about the concept of failure, Amanda's story provides encouraging narratives about normalising failure and shifting the societal perspective that negatively tags it.

As she shares tales of hardships and triumphs, Amanda underscores the importance of emotional support, community, and cultivating a tribe of people to stand with you. This episode also showcases her journey in becoming a life coach, where she found her calling in helping others manage their mental turmoil through her varied life experiences and perspectives.

One of the focal points of this episode is the discussion on emotional intelligence and mindfulness. Underscoring practical tips on understanding emotions, improving self-awareness, and developing reflective skills. Amanda shares mindfulness practices aimed at helping listeners mute external and internal noise.

Concluding the episode on a hopeful note, Amanda advocates the importance of aligning life with core values, the power of curiosity, and the need for self-forgiveness. Join us in exploring potent narratives about harnessing resilience and the relentless drive to evolve and improve.

About Amanda: Amanda, a former corporate executive, is a resilient life coach who has triumphed over significant life hurdles. From overcoming orphanhood to navigating divorce, battling cancer, and thriving in expat life, Amanda’s journey fuels her passion for resilience and embraces strength in adversity, stress management, and personal growth. Amanda shares practical wisdom on building mental fortitude and thriving through life’s storms.
Inspiring & Empowering
Cultivating Inner Resilience
Mind Harmony Management
Transform Your Life
Every day is a new opportunity

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Dr Bella Ellwood-Clayton

Sun, 12 May 2024 13:04:45 GMT

This is another episode of the 'In Author's Chair' segment, where we interview writers about their work, motivation, and challenges. Please join me in welcoming Dr Bella Elwood Clayton for today's episode.

About the author:

Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton is an award-winning author. She has a BA from Concordia University in Montréal and a PhD from the University of Melbourne in sexual anthropology—and, yes, that makes for interesting dinner party conversations. Bella's nonfiction book, Sex Drive: In Pursuit of Female Desire, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2012. Bella has published short-stories and poetry and written for publications such as Huffington Post and Daily Life. She frequently appears on TV and gives talks, including a TEDx talk. Her work has been featured in a National Geographic documentary.

Married to a real-life superhero, she lives in Melbourne and has two spirited—eek—teens and a mini Maltese who truly believes he’s a pit bull. When she’s not on her laptop, you can find her downward dogging, pleading with her offspring to go outside, randomly blurting out, “Oh, that’s a good story idea,” and consuming too many vegetarian dumplings.

Book Summary:

Food photographer Rebecca, and her tween daughter, Willow, move from Alaska to Boca Raton, leaving behind their terrible secret about the death of Rebecca’s husband. They’re ready to start anew in the warmth of the sunshine state, hoping it will help vanquish Willow’s night terrors.
As her daughter becomes controlled and bullied by the popular group, Rebecca is drawn closer to the charismatic head of the school, Mr. Brady. A hot and steamy—though uncertain—relationship begins. Soon, lies, deception, and secrets cause everything to spiral out of control, and both mother and daughter find themselves on the wrong side of their gated community with devastating repercussions.
Full of dark twists and turns, Weekend Friends makes you grateful you’re no longer a tween…or the parent of one.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Our Relationship With Food

Sat, 04 May 2024 17:05:29 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

Please join me in welcoming Megan Gaul as a guest speaker. She is a health coach and facilitator from Staten Island, New York. In this lively discussion, she has shared her incredible journey of weight loss, failing and then turning around, but most importantly, unpacking our relationship with food. She is such a fun and experienced person to talk to. Learn about her journey and how she is helping people in the weight loss space.

I hope you will like this episode. Megan has offered a free 1-1 strategy session till 15th of July.

Application for 1 Free Strategy Session (Outcome: An Action Plan to Get You Unstuck and Moving Towards Your Goal):https://forms.gle/gDxACWCRsCdLDDxV7

Megan's Website

Thank you.

Abhra

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring Men's Mental Wellness with Mindful Men

Sat, 04 May 2024 16:18:54 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

As a writer, I have always leaned towards poetry. I started this podcast to share honest, heartfelt, and evoking stories that make us see the beauty of life - which is where the show gets its name. In every episode, I will take you on a journey of human experience to uplift your spirit. Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, where we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space. In a messy and imperfect world where we celebrate success and whisper about failure hushedly, "Fail with Me" flips the script.

Please join me in welcoming Simon Rinne as a guest speaker. Simon has lived with mental illness for a very long time, and he started Mindful Men in 2021 to share his story and help normalise discussions about mental health. He aims to encourage boys and men to open up, get vulnerable and deal with the issues troubling them.

In this episode, we look back at some of his failures, his realisations, and the turning point to wellness. Simon shares some valuable insights on Australia's mental health treatment landscape.

I hope you will like this episode. Feel free to share your comments.

Thank you.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Aimee Eddy

Sat, 04 May 2024 15:29:13 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

This is another episode of the 'In Author's Chair' segment, where we interview writers about their work, motivation, and challenges.

Please join me in welcoming Aimee Aidee for today's episode. Aimee Eddy is an insightful overcomer who advocates for other strugglers. After conquering mental illness, bullying, cancer, and more, she has the life experience to encourage others through her writing. Her memoir Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying details her experiences with bullying. Her stories are in Change Your Life by Alexander Kovarovic. She serves as assistant to the director for the One Life Project. Aimee loves to woodburn, write, and spend time with her family.

Her journey is nothing short of a miracle - I am sure you will find her words deeply inspiring.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melting our ice blocks with Eva Angvert

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:18:46 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

She started her journey in Self-Awareness and Integrative Healing in 1990 after having to turn off her daughter Kristina's life support. She has now been in personal development and coaching for 33+ years. She is certified as an Integrative Coach, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and EmRes Practitioner. Her training and personal experiences have created a wonderful mixture of awareness and expertise to support clients who suffer from early childhood trauma, domestic violence, rage, anger, psycho-somatic body pain, anxiety and internal stress, and addictive behaviours of all kinds.

I recently attended one of her workshops, which I previously discussed in an episode here. In this episode, she agreed to join as a guest and share more details about Body-Mind connectedness and wisdom. She introduced me to the fascinating concept of melting the inner ice blocks - and I am sure you will find this helpful.

I will leave Eva's coordinates here for anyone wanting to know more about it.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life story of a therapist - Brandy Patterson

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:36:06 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, where we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space. In a messy and imperfect world where we celebrate success and whisper about failure in a hushed tone, "Fail with Me" flips the script.

Please join me in welcoming Brandy Patterson Walker as a guest speaker. She is a therapist and an intuitive who has just started her own private practice (a long-time dream!). She has a big personal mission to help raise the frequency and consciousness of the planet (starting with her own). As a therapist, She takes a “psychodynamic, solution-focused” approach. She also teaches workshops to make concepts like inner child, shadow work, and past lives more accessible and digestible. Many therapies focus on helping people get from survival mode to a baseline of getting through the day. That’s very valid and important. Brandy believes there is this whole other side of the wellness spectrum—from baseline to THRIVAL—and she is interested in meeting people wherever they are and helping them remember their unique strengths and abilities so they might absolutely thrive.

This episode will discuss her struggles, turning things around, and her approach to helping people reach their survival goals. I hope you will like this episode. Feel free to share your comments.

Here are her contact details.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Penny Bingham

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:55:33 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here. Please join me in welcoming Penny Bingham for today's episode.

Penny Bingham is an emerging writer, currently working on a hybrid memoir chronicling her seven years as a carer for her husband, who lived with Lewy body dementia. It is a warts-and-all account of the devastation a dementia diagnosis presents for the person with the disease, the carer and the family. Arising from her comprehensive journal of her husband's illness, the book leads the reader through the pain of watching the decline of a once proud, dignified, vibrant person as toxic proteins attack the brain, unravelling neural connections and giving rise to confusion, agitation, delusions, hallucinations and paranoia that are the hallmarks of this disease.

The book's title, A Gift of Grace, hints at how love flourished in an exquisitely painful experience and how dementia's profound lessons in patience, tolerance, and humility transcended resentment and despair to embrace grace and peace. It encapsulates the confluence of her experience as a carer, knowledge acquired through formal academic study, and stories shared by others she has been privileged to meet through her role as a dementia advocate.

Based on the belief the message is more significant than the narrative and grounded by her academic qualification, the work encompasses theoretical perspectives to inform others navigating the dementia labyrinth of the challenges and frustrations they are destined to encounter. It aims to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia. It challenges readers to re-think their perceptions of what Sally Magnusson, in her memoir, Where Memories Go, describes as 'one of the greatest social, medical, economic, scientific, philosophical and moral challenges of our times'.

Penny's entry, The Other Jenny, was short-listed in the Ada Awards 2021

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - Healing Vs Coping

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:33:58 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here.

I am a writer, and I created this podcast to bring out the real stories that make life as beautiful as poetry. I'll take you on a journey through the human experience, sharing stories and conversations to uplift your spirit. Whether you're a lover of literature, a writer, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, "Stories and Stanza" is the place for you.

Today is another episode of the 'Fail With Me' segment, where we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space. In a messy and imperfect world where we celebrate success and whisper about failure in a hushed tone, "Fail with Me" flips the script. Once again, please join me in welcoming Sarah Zink as a guest speaker. I will leave the links to our previous episodes if you are interested. Sarah and I are on a course to discuss many aspects of emotional intelligence. Today, we will talk about "Healing vs. Coping."

I hope you will like this episode. We have prepared a chart for your reference. Feel free to download, print and share with someone who might need it. Thank you. See you in the next one.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Ky Garvie

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:40:21 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am excited to have you here. My podcast explores prose, poetry, and history. I'll take you on a journey through the human experience, sharing stories and conversations to uplift your spirit. Whether you're a lover of literature, a writer, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, "Stories and Stanza" is the place for you. Today is another episode of the 'In Author's Chair' segment, where we talk to writers about their work, publication, motivation and challenges.

Please join me in welcoming Ky Garvey for today's episode. She is a published writer and literary podcaster from Australia who is here to talk about her work in children's literature and share her experience in the podcasting space. I was lucky to find her time during her holidays, and I truly enjoyed talking to her and listening to her stories, especially "Easy Peasy," which is about a young girl, Ruby - who gets a new pair of roller skates but soon realises it is not as easy she thought. I loved how she used the sounds in her story and embedded a subtle message for the young readers.

I am sure you will find her work inspiring, as she works on many projects to give back to the community. I will leave the links to her podcast, book, and the 'Books in Homes' program.

Totally Lit! on Apple Podcasts

Easy Peasy - EK Books

Booksinhomes.com.au| Booksinhomes.com.au

Let me know what you think. See you in the next episode.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Godfather of Dance - Andrea Barton

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:24:06 GMT

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am excited to have you here. My podcast explores prose, poetry, and history. Every week, I'll take you on a journey through the human experience, sharing inspiring stories and conversations to uplift your spirit and inspire you.

Please join me in welcoming Andrea Barton in the author's chair for today's episode. She is here to talk about her new book - The Godfather of Dance, and share her experience as a writer and editor. I am sure the new writers will be enriched by her journey and valuable advice. If you want to publish and understand different aspects of editing, you might find today's episode really valuable.

If you are interested in her book or wish to connect with her as an editor, please find her coordinates below.

Amazon Australia link: The Godfather of Dance
My author website: https://andreabartonauthor.com/
Brightside Story Studio website (my editing business): https://brightsidestorystudio.com/

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Matthew D Albertson

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:31:47 GMT

I stood, brushing off some of the mud that was beginning to cake on—effort in vain. “Since when did this jaded old curmudgeon care to drink the poison of nostalgia?” I remember saying to myself. As you can see, I’m in my late thirties, but the rest of the self-reflection was accurate. I breathed in the muck of the lake once again, tears dried, heart resolute, knowing it could be the last. “Well, Sisyphus,” thankfully, my parents were not so cruel as to name me such, “you know the insanity of the world. Perhaps it is time to embrace the absurd.”

Matthew D Albertson

Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza! We're excited to have you here. Please join me in welcoming Matthew as a guest. He started writing not long ago but writes beautiful prose and poetry. We will hear him talk about his creative journey, how he believes rejections strengthen him as a writer, and some of his wonderful prose and poetry that he has shared in this discussion.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am you and more - Poetry Writing Month

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:17:34 GMT

"I am as powerful as my unspoken
I'll walk with you if you take my hand
show you the kind of magic
that make sorrows light up the night
or love showering in the rain,
I am all of you and more."

Poetry Writing Month (April) is a very up close and personal time for me as a writer. Today, when I join this community event with poets worldwide, all I can have is powerful and overflowing emotions. I hope you will like my journey. Here is to poetry and more.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Conversation With Team "Hello New Horizons"

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 02:27:58 GMT

Hello everyone, and welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza, where the filmmakers from Chicago will join us as guests to talk about their upcoming project - Hello New Horizons, written, produced, and directed by Chundria Brownlow. Starring Camille Wiggins, Andre Ramseur, Jaclyn Jensen, and Hanah Chang.

In "Hello New Horizons," a couple on the verge of divorce, Landon and Courtney, navigate a divorce settlement conference with their attorneys. As they review shared possessions and relive the highs and lows of their relationship, unexpected nostalgia prompts them to reconsider the inevitability of divorce, leading to a delicate exploration of vulnerability, rediscovery, and the possibility of a renewed commitment.
This film is a great example of how we plan our lives and how our choices can derail them. The team discusses mindfulness, relationships, and navigating challenges.

You can watch the film on their website here.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are you REALLY feeling - with Sarah Zink

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:14:07 GMT

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Stories and Stanza. This is episode 3 of the Fail with Me series. In a world where success is celebrated, and failure is often whispered about in hushed tones, "Fail with Me" flips the script. Here, we shed light on the shadows of defeat, recognizing them as fertile ground where seeds of growth are sown.

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Zink as a guest speaker. Sarah is a retired consultant and behaviourist living in Central America in the beautiful mountains of Boquete, Panama. She is passionate about emotional intelligence and mindful living. Sarah has authored several books, hosted radio and TV shows, and built and sold several businesses.

Today, we are discussing the feeling wheel created by Gloria Wilcox: “You cannot heal what you cannot feel”.

You can download the feeling wheel here.

In relation to failure, we explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space to embrace the messy, imperfect, and ultimately enriching process of failure.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me : Unpacking Anger and Controlling Emotions

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:03:11 GMT

Welcome to the latest episode of 'Stories and Stanza.' Today, I want to discuss a problem that has troubled me for a long time — anger.

I recently attended a somatic workshop by Eva Angvert that helped me understand this better. Anger is a defence mechanism activated through triggers. It can be a natural human emotion that signals something is wrong, unfair, or threatening. However, social and emotional threats can trigger anger in modern life despite no material danger. It's time to unpack anger, to control our emotions and not let them control us. I hope this episode helps you better understand anger and how it can affect your life. It is possible to rewire our brain, and our healing journey starts here.

I will leave Eva's coordinates here for anyone wanting to know more about it.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A voice from the outback

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:39:51 GMT

Hey everyone, welcome back to 'Stories and Stanza', a podcast that explores poetry and the stories behind them. On today's episode, we will share a powerful poem that reflects on the cultural footprint of time and the lasting impact of our actions on the environment.

History has always fascinated me, and today's story is about the often-overlooked role of Australia's first cameleers. These skilled camel handlers, many from regions like Baloch and Sindh, were crucial in building infrastructure across the harsh outback in the 1860s. But what happened to them? We'll explore the challenges they faced and the surprising bond they formed with Indigenous Australians. We'll also discuss the legacy of these cameleers - the feral camel population that now thrives in Australia, and the environmental issues it presents.

Much like the one about rabbits in Australia, this story highlights the unintended consequences of introduced species. To wrap it up, I'll share a touching poem titled "Our Footprints Remain" by Elyas Alavi.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair – The Inspiring Journey of Natasha Chai

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:53:54 GMT

"For a long time, I had thought that because of my lack of presence, this story would not be worthy - and for many, it still might not be. But perhaps for the few in this world who, like me, have also been chosen to carry this burden, they will, if nothing else, find comfort knowing they are not alone. Though most names and characters of my recount have been changed, the story I share is real. The voice that tells this story is real. It has been real not only for me but for my closest family and friends, who have watched helplessly on the sidelines. It certainly has been real for many others who have been struggling to find their sense of self in the face of this cruel fate.

Call this whatever you deem fit – a memoir, personal essay, a work of nonfiction, or a blend of everything in between. There will be things unresolved and events likely remembered wrong. But in the end, labels, and categories aside, this is a recount of just one person’s journey. It is the retelling of my story, a long-awaited attempt to pick up the scattered pieces of whatever that has been left in a tattered memory bank in hopes that there is still a future for me to live in."

Please joining me in welcoming Natasha Chai, a public servant working in Learning and Development from Canada, and listen to her inspiring journey from experiencing a life-threatening migraine attack to finding therapy and solace in writing. This episode of Stories and Stanza takes you along Natasha's path of numerous health trials and triumphs, unveiling her strength and resilience expressed through her stories. Natasha shares her journey of dealing with hemiplegic migraines and relearning life skills narrated in her memoir aiming to spread awareness about the condition. Discover how writing evolved to be her sanctuary, offering her a medium to articulate her emotions and reclaim the control lost due to her health conditions.

Natasha relives her fond memories of her mother fostering her love for writing and the creation of her first children's book, 'The Little Lost Cat'. You'll hear about her journey from winning her first Golden Pen Award to being recognized as one of the youngest writers by her local newspaper. Explore her unique, unstructured writing process and her views on the essence of writing deriving from personal satisfaction and not merely monetary goals. Be inspired by her story of balancing her professional life with her passion for writing, battling writer's block, and the lovely coincidence of her son sharing the same name with her book's protagonist.

Dive deep into the notion of self-promotion and the role it plays in the journey of modern authors, especially for those who identify as introverts. Natasha discusses the importance of writing as a tool for mental health, providing a snippet from her memoir exemplifying the transformative power of words. Moving away from the competitive aspect of writing, Natasha shares her belief in the benefit of collaboration among writers. Find encouragement in her advice for budding writers on the joy of writing for oneself and the importance of relishing the journey more than the outcome. Immerse yourself in this intimate dialogue with Natasha, where writing, resilience, and recovery walk hand in hand.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Stephen Gyde

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 12:10:17 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Stephen Gyde to the show today. Stephen is 44 years old and lives in London where he works in the corporate business sector. He is a passionate advocate for equality and enjoys writing. His interests include sports and the arts. He is a keen runner and plays golf. Stephen's love for writing began after his father read him The Hobbit.

During our conversation, we will discuss Stephen's creative journey, his struggles with Dyslexia, his inspiration from grief, his impromptu writing, and his learning path to becoming a writer. I hope you enjoy listening to our discussion.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fail With Me - The Introduction with Sarah Zink

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 00:58:30 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Zink to the show today. In a series of episodes, titled Fail with me, we will navigate many aspects of failure and healing.

Sarah is a retired consultant and behaviourist living in Central America in the beautiful mountains of Boquete, Panama. She is passionate about emotional intelligence and mindful living. Sarah has authored several books, hosted radio and TV shows, and built and sold several businesses. An avid learner of all things spiritual, she spent an entire year studying the nature of forgiveness and has developed a theory on how everyone can learn to forgive and move forward. It is essential to know that Sarah doesn’t just *theorize* about the power of changing your life; she has lived it. She grew up in an impoverished home and was the victim of both sexual abuse as a child and domestic abuse as an adult. She has known grief, loss, and despair. And yet – she prevailed to live a full and passionate life.

Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the episode. See you in the next one.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Arc of Waiting

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 09:06:53 GMT

The episode is named after a poem, in my last book - "Language of Water"

In the creative world, a lot of pepole go through a period of void - from fear of failure to perfectionism and everything in between. This episode tackles the dreaded writer's block, that nemesis of storytellers everywhere.

Is life a constant state of "waiting?" In this episode, we unpack the pressure to be perpetually happy and explore a different perspective.

As usual, the episode includes a poem.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Author's Chair - Steven Ross

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 01:30:01 GMT

Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza - where we will discuss the writing process. I welcome our guest, Steven Ross.

Steven Ross is a Canadian Author and Poet from outside the Nation’s Capital. A weaver of dark words with a penchant for penning tales both visceral and disturbing, you will often find him lurking in the bloodstained shadows of the horror genre. Never one to be satisfied with being cast in a single mould, he also enjoys writing poetry focused on all aspects of life: from pain, loss and suffering to tales of romance and erotic desire to good old-fashioned humour. So come, gentle reader, he has something behind the curtain just for you. But a word of caution: it may have teeth… or bite.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Long Shadow of the Rabbit

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:24:14 GMT

Welcome to the latest episode of Stories and Stanzas! In this episode, we delve into a topic that many outside of Australia may not be familiar with - the rabbit troubles. We explore the history and impact of rabbits in Australia, a species that, despite their cute appearance, are considered pests in the country due to their detrimental effect on native wildlife and vegetation.

In our fascinating narrative, we take you through the journey of how the first domesticated rabbits arrived in Australia, how their population exploded, and the attempts made in controlling the burgeoning rabbit population. We also shed light on the negative effects that these creatures have on agriculture and native plant and animal species, thus illustrating the devastatingly broad impact that one invasive species can have in its adopted environment.

What makes this story more gripping is the various attempts made to curb rabbit population growth that ranged from constructing a rabbit-proof fence, spreading a disease targeting rabbits, to releasing another virus. With each new measure introduced, rabbits developed resistance, thereby making it extremely challenging to control their population growth.

Beyond Australia's bunny issue, the ripple effects caused by invasive species in other parts of the world are briefly highlighted, setting a potential stage for our future episodes. This episode's conclusion features a poignant poem reflecting on our relationship with the environment, stirring some deep, introspective thoughts on our interactions with the natural world.

This episode offers a unique perspective on Australia's wildlife story and serves as a hard-hitting reminder on the importance of maintaining ecological balance, and the consequences we face when it's disrupted. To know more about the environment and various intriguing aspects of life, join us on our next episode of Stories and Stanzas!

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories of the night

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:36:41 GMT

What is your favourite time of the day? For some of us creatives, being nocturnal is part of our existence. Here is an episode with some stories of the night, along with two short poems I have written this week from a poetry prompt. Hope you will like it - let me know if you have any thoughts. See you in the next one.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A World of Words: Exploring the Histories of Languages in India & Australia

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:43:15 GMT

Join me on a linguistic journey across continents as we celebrate International Mother Language Day! Today, we'll explore the rich tapestry of languages spoken in India and Australia, their fascinating histories, unique characteristics, and the challenges they face.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Me and The Podcast

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 12:47:58 GMT

Hello! I am doing this to introduce myself and share the ideas behind my podcast. My podcast is Stories and Stanza. To find my podcast on any platform, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon, search with the title 'Stories and Stanza'. My website also has links to respective platforms.

My name is Abhra - the 'A's in my name sounds like an 'O' in traditional Indian pronunciation. I live in Melbourne with my family and work as a technology architect in the financial services industry. I was born in India and emigrated to Australia sometime back. I am a published poet, and I have published two poetry collections so far - Words from Isolation and Language of Water. I created this podcast to bring you real stories that make life as beautiful as poetry. Some stories are my own, and some are from wonderful people who have chosen to be my guests. I have three different segments where I invite guests to join me:

In author's chair
Fail With Me
Oh, Past! Speak out.

"In Author's Chair" segment, I talk to writers about their published or upcoming work, motivation, and challenges. I request the author to share something from their book to create interest for the readers. I have interviewed many writers from Australia and overseas. My idea in this space is to create a platform to amplify the voices of the writers. I have also interviewed artists and filmmakers in this space.

The second segment, "Fail with Me", is my version of creating a motivational series. We live in a world where we celebrate success and assign the stigma of failure to anything that does not fit that cutout. In this series, I explore what failure truly is and link it with emotional intelligence in a supportive space. Many self-help articles are preachy and assume the reader is doing something wrong. So, the rebel inside me flips the script. I have discussed this idea with therapists, psychologists, behaviourists, educators, speakers, writers, and social workers, and now, "Fail With Me" has become much more significant than just my own story. It involves mental health awareness, healing, self-awareness, relationships, disability, and depression, and the possibilities are endless. I had a few bad years of struggling, and this is my attempt to give something back to society and extend a helping hand to anyone struggling. You can find this series in the category on my website and by the "Fail with Me" prefix in the episode title and artwork.

In the "Oh, Past! Speak out" segment, I explore unfamiliar chapters of history that have left us with some unique perspectives. History in books is very directional, while if we look back with a lens of awareness, there is so much to explore. History has always been my area of interest, and I intend to share it to the best of my ability.

If you would like to be a guest to share your story on my podcast and are okay working with the Australian timezone, feel free to reach out on social media or email me, and I will connect with you about the next steps. Thank you so much for all the love and support. This is my Amazon author page if you want my poetry books.

Thank you.

Hosted by Abhra Pal — poet, storyteller & public speaker. Charting in the Top 100 Mental Health podcasts across the US, UK & Canada.

📖 Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators on craft, vulnerability & transformation.

🎙️ Fail With Me — Raw conversations with doctors, psychologists & mental health advocates on resilience & rebuilding.

🌐 Website: storiesandstanza.com

📩Connect & Collaborate: storiesandstanza@gmail.com

📱Follow the show: Instagram | Facebook | X

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.