Stories and Stanza

Abhra Pal

Welcome to Stories and Stanza, a podcast where we uncover real stories that make life as beautiful as poetry. Join host Abhra as he shares his own experiences and welcomes guests to explore the depths of history, navigate through life, and celebrate the written word. Get ready to be inspired and moved by the vivid narratives that bring poetry to life. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Ghost Train : A Journey Through History and Fantasy of Japan
Dec 14 2024
Ghost Train : A Journey Through History and Fantasy of Japan
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
Overcome Mind Body Awareness with Mind Body Awareness
Nov 29 2024
Overcome Mind Body Awareness with Mind Body Awareness
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/
Finding Purpose Beyond Success: Life Coaching Insights with Dr Saloni
Nov 22 2024
Finding Purpose Beyond Success: Life Coaching Insights with Dr Saloni
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/
Vulnerability CHANGES Everything in Mental Health!
Nov 4 2024
Vulnerability CHANGES Everything in Mental Health!
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.
Two Lives ~ One Heart : Resilience Reimagined
Oct 11 2024
Two Lives ~ One Heart : Resilience Reimagined
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.
Love, Loss and Lessons : Healing Relationships with Forgiveness and Compassion
Sep 22 2024
Love, Loss and Lessons : Healing Relationships with Forgiveness and Compassion
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. 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.