Afleveringen
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In Part 2 of our conversation with counsellor and psychotherapist John Cuturilo, we go deeper into one of the most common questions people have about mental health: How do I know what kind of help I need — and how do I know if I'm getting the right kind?
Whether you've been in therapy for years or have never taken the first step, this episode will give you the tools, language, and confidence to approach mental health support differently.
In this episode, we cover:
Why you don't need a mental health diagnosis to justify seeking helpHow to assess what level of support is right for your situation — from counsellors and psychologists to social workers and psychiatristsThe "grey areas" of mental health — when something feels wrong but you can't quite name itHow long therapy typically takes, and what ongoing vs time-limited support looks likeWhy culture and personal background must be part of the therapeutic conversationHow to choose the right therapist — and the red flags that should make you walk awayWhat goal-oriented therapy actually looks like in practiceJohn also shares a personal reflection from his own history — a reminder that what we normalise isn't always what's 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🎙️ Miss Part 1? Start here:https://www.storiesandstanza.com/e/johncuturilo1
About John Cuturilo:John Cuturilo is a counsellor, writer, and podcast host based in Melbourne, Australia. He works with a diverse range of clients and specialises in complex trauma and relational matters. John integrates humanity and lived experience with evidence-based methods — seeking to be versatile, educative, empowering, and relatable. As a writer and host, he helps his audience understand how psychology applies to everyday life, encouraging more critical and constructive thinking.🔗 www.yourlistener.com.au
About Stories and Stanza:Stories and Stanza is a podcast charting 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.
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#MentalHealth #Therapy #Counselling #FailWithMe #StoriesAndStanza #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyTips #SelfCare #Wellness #Psychology #MentalHealthAwareness #HowToFindATherapist #TraumaRecovery #GoalOrientedTherapy #JohnCuturilo #AbhraPal #MelbournePodcast #ComplexTrauma
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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.
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 -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode of Stories and Stanzas, 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 & 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 -
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 -
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 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 -
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/
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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
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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 storytellingWhat "write what you know" really means: it's about emotions and internal truth, not just factsThe creative process behind writing fiction, nonfiction, and children's books — and why each demands a different mindsetHow Teri rode a tandem bicycle 3,102 miles across the United States in 2020 — and what it taught her about resilience and self-beliefWhy you should never quit on a bad day — and when quitting is actually the right choiceHow to reframe failure as information, not identityWhy everything you need to succeed is already inside youAbout 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 bookHer 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 Survival1:06 – About Stories and Stanza1:31 – Meet Teri M Brown6:17 – Write What You Know — On the Inside10:35 – The Creative Process & Finding Flow20:58 – The Tandem Bike Journey: 3,102 Miles of Healing28:59 – Reframing Failure & Resilience36:25 – "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.
Follow Us on Social Media:
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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/
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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/
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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/
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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 rubbleFor parents navigating addiction's heartbreakFor souls seeking authentic connection over surface-level comfortThis 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. -
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:
Author WebsiteInstagramBook Link -
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
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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.
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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-orderDoug's Website: https://forgingtruth.com/ Email: [email protected]
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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/Follow Us on Social Media:
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----
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