Stories and Stanza

Send us Fan Mail What happens to your sense of self when the job you gave years to suddenly no longer needs you? In this Fail With Me episode, Abhra sits down with Claire, a fellow writer, for an honest conversation about redundancy, job loss and the quiet grief that comes with it. Recorded at Sam Merrifield Library in Moonee Ponds, this is Stories and Stanza's first one-on-one in-person interview. Abhra and Claire have both recently been through redundancy. Instead of a neat success story, they talk about the parts people rarely share: the shame and isolation, the colleagues who disappear, and the unexpected people who show up. They explore why tying our worth to a title or organisation leaves us so exposed, how looming job cuts can turn a close team into a game of Survivor, and why grieving the future you thought you had is a natural response. The conversation also gets practical. They share the self-care routines that kept them centred: pocket journaling, a daily "five things" gratitude text with a friend, affirmations, and a simple mindfulness image of keeping two doors open. They finish with a timely look at how AI is reshaping job hunting, from AI-polished applications to AI-run interviews, and why real human connection matters more than ever. If you or someone you care about is facing redundancy, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone. As Claire puts it, "It's just a chapter. It's not your entire book." Chapters: 00:00 Opening moments 01:30 Welcome and our first in-person one-on-one 04:00 Why "Fail With Me" and redefining success 05:45 When your identity is tied to your job 08:45 Fear, freezing and advice that doesn't help 10:30 Hundreds of applications and the human cost of mass redundancies 12:00 Highlight reels versus the real story 15:30 Self-worth beyond titles and organisations 19:30 Strained relationships and Survivor dynamics 21:30 Journaling through uncertainty 22:30 Grieving the future you thought you had 25:00 Seeking validation and ripping off the band-aid 26:30 Five things of joy: a daily gratitude practice 29:30 Mindfulness, busyness and the two open doors 34:00 Control, grace and giving yourself time 37:00 AI, job applications and AI interviews 44:30 How to genuinely help someone going through redundancy Watch on YouTube: https://yt.openinapp.co/ii389 Listen on Spotify: https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2 Read episode reflections on Substack: https://storiesandstanza.substack.com/ Follow Stories and Stanza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesandstanza Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesandstanza/ X: https://x.com/storiesnstanza Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/storiesandstanza Guest, collaboration and sponsorship enquiries: storiesandstanza@gmail.com Stories and Stanza is a podcast exploring creativity, resilience and the transformative power of human stories through two series: Between the Lines, with writers and creators, and Fail With Me, on wellbeing and life's challenges. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail #StoriesAndStanza #Septemics #HumanBehaviour #SelfImprovement #EmotionalIntelligence "95% of the problems in industrialised society are because people don't understand people, including themselves." That conviction sits at the heart of Septemics, a system Jim Marshall spent decades building. In this episode, Abhra sits down with Jim to explore his book Septemics: Hierarchies of Human Phenomena. Jim describes Septemics as a philosophical science grounded in direct observation: many human phenomena unfold in sequences of seven levels. The book sets out 35 unique scales, 245 levels in all, covering the problems we face with people. Jim explains three ways to use it. First, as a yardstick for judging whether a group, individual or activity lifts people up or drags them down. Second, as a source of insight once you spot where someone sits on a scale. Third, as a set of gradients for helping yourself or others improve, one level at a time. He shares how the system grew out of his work with hundreds of clients as a human development engineer, why the seven-level structure only became clear to him in 1995, and why he chose to write for everyday readers rather than specialists. Along the way, he applies the scales to relationships, choosing who to go into business with, historical leaders from George Washington to Adolf Hitler, and the difference between criminals and truly destructive people. His argument: once you know someone's level, you can predict their behaviour and steer clear of downscale troublemakers. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Septemics Exists 04:00 Seven Levels and 35 Scales 21:08 Real World Uses and Reading People 44:33 Reading People by Gradients 50:12 Power and Danger Levels 54:04 Self Improvement and Who Changes ABOUT JIM MARSHALL Jim Marshall is a polymath who has devoted more than 50,000 hours to the study and practice of human potential and development. He received a classical education as an honour student at a Jesuit military prep school, was accepted into engineering school while still a junior, and attended college on an academic scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Science cum laude from City University of New York. As an undergraduate, he began studying "alternative" arts and sciences, what today might be called transformational and holistic practices, and went on to become a professional practitioner. After 28 years of formal education, he built a 40-year career as a Human Development Engineer, treating and training hundreds of clients. He has integrated some of the most advanced techniques available and extended them through his own research and discovery, and is the inventor of Septemics and several consciousness-expanding systems. His areas of expertise include psychology, philosophy, theology, parapsychology, science, engineering, mathematics, law, literature, history, music, organisation, metaphysics, military science, political science, physical culture and education. Learn more about Septemics: https://septemics.com If this conversation gave you something to think about, subscribe and follow Stories and Stanza on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform, and share it with someone who's curious about what makes people tick. https://storiesandstanza.com Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail GNiYQGXxQongx5BIPosv "This is what it feels like to be alive. Does anybody recognise it?" Dancer and choreographer Alexandra Beller believes that's the question at the heart of all art — and the answer is what makes us feel less alone. In this episode of Stories and Stanza, Alexandra shares 25 years of lived experience inside the creative process — from performing with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company to teaching artists how to trust themselves while creating. We explore why authenticity isn't something you can teach but something you facilitate, how the body holds feelings the mind can't access, why labels can be a form of violence, and what it means to separate who you are from what you make. Alexandra also reads from her upcoming book The Anatomy of Art (Bloomsbury, September 2025) — a field guide for artists blending poetic insight with practical tools for navigating the messy, thrilling terrain of making. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Art and Aloneness 02:00 Meet Alexandra Beller 05:30 Authenticity Through Movement 15:00 Healing Beyond Labels 27:00 The Body Remembers What the Mind Won't Say 34:00 Books and Creative Integrity 38:00 Reading from The Anatomy of Art 44:30 Protecting Authenticity in a Product-Driven World ✍️ ABOUT ALEXANDRA BELLER Alexandra Beller is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and author with 25 years inside the creative process. She performed with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and has since taught and mentored professional artists, first-time movers, and private clients across the United States. Her work sits at the intersection of creativity and healing — drawing on Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals, and somatic practices to help people find their authentic voice through the body. Her upcoming book The Anatomy of Art (Bloomsbury) is a field guide for artists and educators, blending poetic insight with practical tools for navigating creative process, doubt, burnout, and artistic pressure. 🔗 Connect with Alexandra: https://www.alexandrabellerdances.org/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IB7QHTnIpo0 GNiYQGXxQongx5BIPosv Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail #WritingAsHealing #PTSD #MentalHealth #StoriesAndStanza #Resilience "I decided I didn't want to be afraid all the time." That one decision changed everything for Nancy Jasin Ensley — and it might change something for you too. In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra sits down with Nancy — a writer, registered nurse, teacher, and grandmother of fourteen from rural Michigan — for a conversation that moves between the craft of writing and the work of healing. Nancy shares how a difficult childhood marked by PTSD and abandonment shaped her, and why it took her ten to twenty years before she could write her memoir, The Tire Swing. She talks about what it means to find stillness inside the tornado — her metaphor for those moments when life is chaos but you learn to breathe in the centre of it. The conversation explores why childhood PTSD was only recently recognised as distinct, how journaling sustained Nancy through years of caring for parents with dementia, and why she believes writing is for everyone — not just those who publish. Nancy brings her themes to life through her characters: "3B," a half-alien boy who overcomes bullying with nothing but a smile, and the Martians of Indigo 35, who gave up feelings entirely because they believed emotions caused war. She also shares hard-won lessons on writer's block, the realities of editing and self-publishing, and the moment a difficult colleague read her memoir and called her by name for the first time — because behind the name tag, he finally saw a person. The episode closes with Nancy reading "The Tire Swing" — a poem about the choice we all have to ride. 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Childhood PTSD Reality 01:10 Podcast Intro Trailer 01:34 Meet Nancy Jasin Ensley 03:24 Early Life and Reading 05:23 Writing as Healing 08:08 Publishing and Craft Lessons 10:56 Themes Across Genres 16:02 Beating Writer's Block 22:10 Resilience and Self-Care 24:33 Fail With Me — Healing 32:36 Authenticity in Storytelling 40:06 Empathy and Mental Health 49:06 The Tire Swing Poem Finale ✍️ ABOUT NANCY JASIN ENSLEY Nancy is an author, legal nurse consultant, hospice specialist, and teacher who has written across memoir, literary fiction, science fiction, mystery, thriller, action and adventure, and children's literature. Her career in nursing, hospice care, legal consulting, teaching, and supervision has given her deep insight into the human experience — and those experiences inform every story she tells. "I write because it is how I listen. I write because it is how I remember. And by grace, I will keep writing." 🔗 Connect with Nancy: https://nancyjasinensley.com/ Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rynjo6P_igI Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean when your life looks perfect on the outside but something feels deeply off inside? In this episode of Fail With Me, I sit down with Charu Moorjani — Australian author of The Happiness Pathway, mindset coach, and wellbeing storyteller — for a conversation about what happens when the version of happiness you've been chasing was never actually yours. Charu's turning point came during her honeymoon in Macau, when she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and spent a month in ICU on a mechanical ventilator. For the first time, everything went quiet. No expectations, no performance, no pretending. That stillness forced her to confront how disconnected she had become from herself. Later, navigating an emotionally abusive marriage and divorce, journaling became her lifeline — a nightly practice of sitting with her feelings, asking honest questions, and slowly rebuilding who she really was. What I love about this conversation is how practical Charu makes it. This isn't abstract self-help. She walks us through gratitude exercises, mindfulness prompts, the difference between pleasure and fulfilment, and why happiness isn't a destination — it's something you cultivate through daily micro habits and alignment with who you actually are. In this episode, we explore: → Why a life that looks good on paper can feel empty inside → How an ICU diagnosis became her turning point → Why journaling works — and what to do if you struggle with it → The one gratitude practice Charu swears by every night → Bringing awareness into mundane moments — the coffee exercise → Steps to heal after a difficult relationship: acknowledge, forgive yourself, forgive the other → The difference between pleasure and fulfilment → Why you're not broken if you feel disconnected "I want people to realize they're not broken if they feel disconnected. Maybe they've just been chasing the wrong version of happiness or someone else's version of happiness, and they really don't need permission to create their own." — Charu Moorjani Connect with Charu Moorjani: Website → thehappinesspathway.com Instagram → @thehappinesspathway Book (Amazon) → https://amzn.asia/d/0ibK94gU Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you pass a mic around a library table and ask four writers why they keep showing up? This is the first ever in-person episode of Stories and Stanza — recorded live at Sam Merrifield Library in Moonee Ponds with the Moonee Valley Writing Group. Frances McKay talks about her published nonfiction Pieces of China and reads from her humorous novel-in-progress Postcards from Paris, about a young Australian au pairing in 1970s Paris. Claire describes turning a redundancy diary into fiction. Katherine reflects on memoir writing, dyslexia, composing music, and finding community. And John shares his journey from retirement into science fiction, reads from his series Rogue Genesis, and talks openly about the path to self-publishing. Together they explore why meeting face-to-face still matters, how honest feedback helps you accept imperfect writing, and what keeps a small group of volunteers returning to the same table month after month. 📣 Join us for the first ever Stories and Stanza live event on 29 August — an in-person discussion with author and journal coach Sarah Rosse about her memoir So, Who Are You Anyway?, exploring identity, motherhood, caregiving, and healing through writing. 🎟️ Register: https://events.humanitix.com/stories-and-stanza-with-sarah-rosse The Moonee Valley Writing Group meets every month second Monday at Sam Merrifield Library, Moonee Ponds — 7:00 PM. Everyone is welcome. Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host speaks with writer Diana Gunn about her writing journey from starting at age eight and using NaNoWriMo to build discipline and finish projects to publishing five books, including her recent Gothic horror vampire novel Woman of Sorrow and Blood. Gunn discusses planning versus drafting fast, how challenges like NaNoWriMo can help writers start and develop confidence, and why she created the Weeknight Writers community to provide year-round support, especially for marginalized writers. She explains how fantasy and horror offer a safe container to explore trauma, healing, and real-world fears, notes world-building pitfalls, and reads an excerpt from her novel. The conversation also covers drafting-to-editing best practices, beta readers and proofreading, writer’s block as a symptom, and key differences between traditional and self-publishing. 00:00 NaNoWriMo Magic Hook 01:24 Podcast Intro and Guest 02:42 Diana Writing Origins 06:05 NaNoWriMo Planning Tips 09:53 Why Horror and Fantasy 13:07 Classic Horror Metaphors 15:43 Worldbuilding Pitfalls 17:16 Meet Woman of Sorrow 21:00 Cover Art to Draft 22:58 Weeknight Writers Programs 27:36 Why Writers Need Community 30:55 Start Writing When Overwhelmed 35:47 Editing and Beta Readers 41:11 Writer Block Workbook 43:11 Publishing Paths Compared 46:18 Final Thoughts and Goodbye Dianna Gunn decided she wanted to be an author when she was just eight years old. Since then, she's devoted her entire life to not just becoming an author - with six published fantasy and horror books to her name in 2026 - but helping other writers become authors through Weeknight Writers, an organization dedicated to creating virtual events and community spaces for authors. https://weeknightwriters.com/writers-block-buster/ This is where folks can sign up to receive the Writer's Block Buster, a free mini-workbook designed to help people find the root cause of their writer's block so they can get back to work on their stories. Signing up here also signs people up for the Weeknight Writers newsletter so they can learn more about the community. Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Stories and Stanza, I sit down with writer, musician, and cancer fighter Ray Hartjen to talk about his brand new novel, The Iranian Fiasco — a Tom Clancy-inspired espionage thriller published on April 7th and available wherever books are sold. Ray's story is unlike any I've heard on this show. After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma — an incurable but treatable blood cancer — in 2019, he didn't slow down. Instead, he grabbed life by the shoulders and asked himself one question: "If not now, when?" That question has since fuelled six published books, a shift from nonfiction to fiction, and a deeply fulfilling creative life built around storytelling and music. In our conversation, Ray reads the opening pages of The Iranian Fiasco and introduces us to Tiger Swanson — a CIA operative who is no princess waiting to be rescued. We talk about how he writes in the detailed, research-heavy style of Tom Clancy but for a modern publishing landscape, how he builds real-world locations into his fiction (right down to motorcycle shops in Western Iran you could find on a map), and why he writes without outlines, letting the story flow organically. We also get into the writing discipline that makes it all possible — 500 words a day, tracked in a spreadsheet — and Ray shares honest, practical advice for anyone who has a story inside them but hasn't started writing it yet. This episode spans both my Between the Lines segment, where we explore the craft behind the writing, and Fail With Me, where we go deeper into the human story — because with Ray, the two are inseparable. 📖 BOOKS BY RAY HARTJEN The Iranian Fiasco (2025) — https://rayhartjen.com Outflanked — Espionage Thriller Me, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma — Cancer Patient Memoir Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh The Indy 500: A Year-Long Quest to Win the Greatest Spectacle in Racing Revenue Orchestration & Today's New Era of B2B Sales and Marketing 🔗 CONNECT WITH RAY Website: https://rayhartjen.com Email: rayhartjen@gmail.com Social media: @rayhartjen (across platforms) If you are a cancer patient, caregiver, or ally — Ray personally invites you to reach out. He has connected with patients from Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Europe, and across the United States, and considers it the honour of his life. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 03:06 Ray's Writing Journey — From Marketing to Six Books 06:13 Cancer Diagnosis to Purpose — The "If Not Now, When?" Moment 19:44 Inside The Iranian Fiasco — Opening Pages Read Aloud 35:00 Writing Advice, Publishing Realities, and Wrap 🎙️ ABOUT STORIES AND STANZA I'm Abhra, and Stories and Stanza is where I amplify the voices of writers, poets, and people with authentic human stories. The show runs two series — Between the Lines (craft and writing) and Fail With Me (wellness, mindset, and emotional intelligence). New episodes drop regularly across YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail Relationship coach, YouTube creator, and author Stacy Rocklein joins Stories and Stanza to discuss her mission to eradicate loneliness by helping people feel seen, known, and understood in their relationships. A former math teacher turned coach and author, Stacy shares how finding her purpose led her to this deeply personal work. She reframes failure as a pathway to intimacy when it's felt and shared rather than avoided, and emphasizes emotional "fluency" — sitting with feelings, not just naming them. The conversation explores how unmet needs, childhood wounds, and defense mechanisms shape relationship patterns, why personal wholeness must come before seeking a partner to "fill holes," and how endings can offer painful but valuable growth. Stacy and the host discuss navigating busy lives through small daily moments of connection, the importance of emotional presence during mental health struggles, and how boundaries create safety for vulnerability, trust, and deeper intimacy. She also reads from her book "Forgive Without an Apology: How to Heal, Set Boundaries, and Create Deeper Connections," offering a powerful formula for making peace with your past and moving forward — even without closure from the other person. Whether you're healing from a difficult relationship, trying to deepen the one you're in, or learning to determine who in your life is truly capable of the emotional intimacy you desire, this conversation will meet you where you are. Connect with Stacy Rocklein: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StacyRocklein Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/jdiPiRk Substack: https://substack.com/@stacyrocklein Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SRocklein Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacyrocklein/ If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Stories and Stanza for more meaningful discussions on creativity, resilience, and the human experience. Follow us on YouTube or any podcast platform. Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail #dyslexia #neurodiversity #learningdisability Russell Van Brocklen, the Dyslexia Professor, reveals the writing-based method that helped students jump 8 grade levels in months — at less than 1% of the cost of private dyslexia schools. If your child struggles with reading and writing, this episode could change everything. Russell was flunked by SUNY Buffalo despite earning a recommended A-minus through the NY State Assembly Internship Program — all because of his dyslexia accommodations. Instead of giving up, he set out to solve dyslexia himself. He audited law school, learned to read in a month, and spent 25 years developing a method rooted in how the dyslexic brain actually works. In this conversation, Russell breaks down the brain science behind dyslexia, demonstrates his word analysis and articulation technique live, and shares real results — including a 10-year-old who jumped 8 grade levels in 6 months and a homeschooling mom who solved her son's dyslexia in under 9 months. He also covers why motivation and specialization matter for dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD, and how the craft of research connects directly to mastering AI tools in the workplace. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, resilience, and human stories. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Flunked Internship Sparks Mission 03:37 Law School Breakthrough and Research Program 06:11 Dyslexia Science and Fast Fix Method 19:44 Course Pricing & Access 24:15 Dyslexia Testing Myths 33:24 Advanced Writing Framework 🇦🇺 AUSTRALIAN LISTENERS If you are based in Australia and wish to get Russell's course priced in Australian dollars instead of USD, get in touch with us at Storiesandstanza@gmail.com and we will generate a discount code for you. 📩 Connect with Russell — grab his free ebook and join his newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook Stories and Stanza is a podcast exploring creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of human stories. Through our two series — Between the Lines (creators and craft) and Fail With Me (wellness and life's challenges) — we bring you authentic conversations with inspiring voices from around the world. #ADHD #readingintervention #dyslexiaawareness #specialeducation #parentingtips #homeschooling #writingskills #storiesandstanza Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail What if your political identity has less to do with facts and more to do with personality and conditioning? In this episode of Stories and Stanza's Fail With Me series, host Abhra sits down with psychologist Jennifer Cox to unpack the psychology behind political identity — without labeling any side as right or wrong. Using the Big Five (OCEAN) personality framework, they explore research linking higher openness to left-leaning tendencies and higher conscientiousness to right-leaning tendencies, along with how extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism shape political engagement, emotional reactivity, and our vulnerability to filter bubbles. Abhra also shares a personal story of perfectionism, anger, illness, and loss that became a turning point toward curiosity, mindfulness, and creative freedom — connecting emotional intelligence and openness in a very human way. The conversation moves into belonging, unpacking the real origins (and modern misuse) of "Maslow's hierarchy of needs," and how political movements weaponize in-group/out-group fear. The episode closes with a preview of future topics: immigration, intergenerational trauma, and gender fluidity. If you're interested in political psychology, emotional intelligence, personality theory, or how conditioning shapes belief systems, this episode is for you. 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. Find her books here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4BKKR3N https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXVRTG15 Timestamps 00:00 Failure Sparks Change 01:15 Podcast Intro 01:39 Meet Jennifer Cox 04:11 Episode Focus: Political Identity 06:51 EQ Measurement Challenges 11:29 Big Five (OCEAN) Overview 14:11 Host's Turning Point Story 20:37 From Rigidity to Politics 22:42 Openness and Left-Leaning Tendencies 24:12 Conscientiousness and Right-Leaning Tendencies 26:07 Extraversion, Agreeableness & Neuroticism 31:44 Filter Bubbles and Disengagement 34:16 Conditioning Limits Curiosity 38:58 Belonging and Maslow Reframed 45:52 Politics Weaponizes Belonging 49:58 Immigration and Generational Views 53:20 Intergenerational Trauma and Identity 58:05 Wrap-Up and Where to Follow Listen and Subscribe YouTube: https://yt.openinapp.co/ii389 Spotify: https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza Apple Podcasts: https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2 Substack (full write-up): storiesandstanza.substack.com #PoliticalPsychology #EmotionalIntelligence #BigFive #PersonalityTraits #FilterBubbles #MentalHealthPodcast #FailWithMe #StoriesAndStanza Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail We know our love languages. We've read about attachment styles. We've even set boundaries. So why do we still struggle to stay connected when conflict hits? In this episode of Stories and Stanza, Laziena Hodge — relational intelligence speaker and creator of the Relationship Repair Language framework — joins Abhra to unpack what actually happens inside us during conflict, and why knowing your patterns isn't the same as knowing how to repair. Laziena shares her deeply personal journey — from generational trauma and family separation to rebuilding her relationship with her children through curiosity, emotional honesty, and a willingness to get it wrong. What emerged from that lived experience is a practical framework that gives people a language for their emotional needs in the moments that matter most. Together, they explore why most relationship struggles aren't about a lack of love, but a lack of skill. Why emotional presence matters more than having the right answer. Why we carry unresolved wounds into every new relationship. And why sitting at the table with curiosity — instead of blame — can change everything. This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered why they keep repeating the same patterns, why their reactions feel bigger than the moment, or why repair feels so hard even when the love is still there. 🔗 CONNECT WITH LAZIENA Website: https://laziena.com 📖 WHAT WE EXPLORE 00:00 Trauma and Emotional Impact 02:30 Origins of Repair Language 14:19 Presence Without Burnout 43:22 Breaking Relationship Cycles 44:52 Healing Tools and Inner Child 50:41 Reading from the book: "The Breakdown Before the Breakthrough" 📌 If this conversation resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. #RelationshipRepair #EmotionalIntelligence #RelationalIntelligence #AttachmentStyles #InnerChildHealing #ConflictResolution #HealthyRelationships #MentalHealthPodcast #StoriesAndStanza #FailWithMe #LazienaHodge #EmotionalNeeds #HealingRelationships #SelfAwareness #GenerationalTrauma #RelationshipAdvice Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail What happens when men are told to toughen up, push through, and never ask for help? In this episode of Stories and Stanza — recorded in solidarity with Men's Mental Health Awareness Month — I sit down with Joelle Camille, somatic therapist, body-brain rewiring practitioner, men's coach, speaker, and facilitator, for one of the most honest conversations I've had on this podcast. This isn't a one-sided interview. Joelle turns the mic on me — asking about my own journey with anger, grief, ego, and the somatic workshop that changed my life. I share the story of losing my father without reconciliation, the belief I grew up with that my anger was permanent, and the moment I realised I'd been carrying weight I didn't even know was there. Together we explore why men tie their self-worth to work, why defence mechanisms built in childhood follow us into adulthood, how the body stores what the mind won't process, and why the journey toward emotional intelligence begins with one step. If you're a man who feels like you're carrying too much, or you love someone who is — this conversation is for you. This is Part 1. Part 2 coming soon. 🕐 Chapters 00:00 I Win or I Learn 08:02 Silent Struggles and Support 18:57 Somatic Healing and Nervous System 33:14 Childhood Defence Mechanisms 41:30 Ego, Perfectionism and Embodiment 56:36 Generational Patterns and Parenting 🎙️ About the Guest Joelle Camille is a somatic therapist, body-brain rewiring practitioner, men's coach, speaker, and facilitator. Her mission is to support men to clear the mental clutter and become everything they want to be. Joelle Website: https://presenceisyourpower.subscribepage.io/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelle.vadas Email: deeperconnectionsnow@gmail.com Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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 Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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 #MentalHealth #Therapy #Counselling #FailWithMe #StoriesAndStanza #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyTips #HowToFindATherapist #ComplexTrauma #GoalOrientedTherapy #TraumaRecovery #Psychology #Wellness #SelfCare #MentalHealthAwareness #JohnCuturilo #AbhraPal #MelbournePodcast Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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. Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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 Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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 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 © 2025 Stories & Stanza · All rights reserved Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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/ Stories & StanzaA 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 © 2025 Stories & Stanza · All rights reserved Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript

Send us Fan Mail 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/ Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: i nfo@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack . 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript