Stories Cafe Podcast

In this episode of the Stories Cafe podcast, we discuss the classic elements of Gothic literature and explore the enigmatic figure of the Byronic hero. The Gothic motifs -faraway castles, hidden hallways, and dark brooding characters - can be seen to reflect the innermost labyrinths of the human mind. Therefore iconic Gothic works like Wuthering Heights , Frankenstein , The Picture of Dorian Gray...

In this episode of the Stories Cafe podcast, we explore the Gothic tradition, from its origins in architecture to its influence on literature and cinema. Join us for an enriching look at how the Gothic principle reflects the darkness within us and the mysteries of the subconscious. * Gothic Architecture : How the term Gothic was first used to describe architecture associated with cathedrals and me...

September offers a natural invitation for us to pause and prepare for a new season of more rest and reflection. In this episode, Annette explores some symbolic meanings of autumn: the falling leaves, the harvest, the fading light - and what these ancient rhythms can teach us about letting go, reflection, and renewal. Key Takeaways * How the falling leaves can inspire us to let go of what we no lon...

In this episode, Annette explores how the choices we make - the everyday decisions as well as the defining moments of our lives - are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and the philosophies we choose to live by. Inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken , this episode brings together literature, philosophy, and the art of living deliberately to explore som...

In this reflective episode, Annette explores the healing power of beauty and the extraordinary way in which places, art, nature, and simple daily rituals can quietly restore us after difficult seasons of life. Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1924 essay How to Live on Practically Nothing a Year , she reflects on the unique atmosphere of the French Riviera, the profound beauty of Nice and its surr...

In this episode, we explore one of the most central concepts in psychology, literature, and storytelling: archetypes. This episode is an excerpt from my 60-minute workshop, Archetype Activator , in which we explore how these timeless patterns can become practical guides for living with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose. If you would like to explore the complete workshop, you are warmly welc...

Having recently passed the Summer Solstice , this seems a fitting time to stop and explore some of the oldest and most enduring archetypal symbols we have. In this episode, we reflect on how the sun and the cycles of moon, and seasons have shaped our experience of time throughout the history of humanity, and why the archetypal numbers 12 , 4 , and 3 continue to resonate so deeply in literature, my...

Over the last three episodes, we have exploring the genius of Ernest Hemingway and why I consider him the greatest writer that ever lived. In this final episode, we conclude the mini-course by reading Cat in the Rain and briefly discussing Big Two-Hearted River . Together, these stories reveal the extraordinary depth beneath Hemingway’s deceptively simple prose and demonstrate why what remains uns...

In this episode, we reflect on what it means to live a deliberate life, and how that concept plays out in both everyday decisions and larger lifestyle choices. In connection with my work trip to my beloved Nice, I share how intentional living isn’t about freedom to do anything that comes to your mind, but freedom to truly choose what you want your life to be. We will continue our exploration of th...

Over these episodes, we are exploring the genius of Ernest Hemingway and why I consider him the greatest writer that ever lived. In this episode go through his short story Hills Like White Elephants. Next month we will conclude the mini course by reading Cat in the Rain. You can download the story Hills Like Elephants here You can find the 3 episodes of the mini course Understanding the Genius of...

Over these episodes, we are exploring the nature of literature more deeply; what it is, how it differs from other art forms, and how we might begin to recognize what true artistic greatness consists of. We will be gradually moving towards a larger question: why, to me, Ernest Hemingway could easily be considered the greatest writer that ever lived. In this episode, we continue our exploration of l...

Over the next episodes, we will be exploring the nature of literature more deeply: what it is, how it differs from other art forms, and how we might begin to read with greater clarity and sensitivity. Along the way, we will gradually move towards a larger question: what it is that makes an artist truly great, and why, to me, Ernest Hemingway stands at the very centre of that conversation. In this...

In this episode of the Stories Café podcast, we explore the deeply transformative potential of fairy tales in our lives, both as children and adults. Using the beloved characters of Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, we delve into the deeper meanings of these stories and their impact on our personal growth, relationships, and emotional development. Key Takeaways * Fairy Tales Reflect...

New Beginnings Welcome to Season Two of the Stories Café podcast. The Spring Equinox is such a lovely turning point in the year, the true new year, I always think. It is a time that invites renewal, clarity, and a gentle return to what matters most. And so, this is the natural time to begin Season Two of our podcast. In this episode we delve into the power of aligning your goals with how you want...

Child: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead only try to realize the truth. Neo: What truth? Child: There is no spoon. Neo: There is no spoon? Child: Then you'll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.—The Matrix This episode marks the end of Season 1 of the Stories Cafe Podcast . We will be taking a break through August but will return in September with t...

May you always do for others And let others do for you—Bob Dylan: “Forever Young” In this episode, Annette explores how the choices we make—both everyday choices and bigger existential choices—are determined by the stories we tell ourselves and the philosophies we live by. Inspired by Thoreau’s Walden and Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken , this episode blends literature, lifestyle philosophy, and...

In this soulful and sensuous episode, Annette invites you to the heart of the French Riviera—where beauty doesn’t have to be expensive, and where simplicity can feel like luxury. Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1924 article How to Live on Practically Nothing , Annette reflects on how a life lived slowly—filled with good produce, healthy cooking, salty air, and the pastel glow of the twilight—can...

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the masculine archetypal principle and how it can guide us through healing, courage, and transformation. I examine the responses you gave me to the prompt in the previous episode: What are the three words you associate with the masculine principle? Drawing from myth, cinema, and literature, we consider how masculine archetypes like the warrior, the p...

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the masculine archetypal principle —not in terms of gender, but as one of the primary archetypal forces present in all of us. This is not a discussion about gender identity, but about engaging with deeper symbolic structures that shape our inner world and outward life. You'll be invited to reflect on your personal associations with the masculine prin...

This month in the Stories Cafe Podcast , we will be exploring masculine archetypes as deep inner figures that can help us heal, energize, and live in tune with the seasons of both the year and our own lives. Annette introduces the concept of seasonal living (not about vegetables!) and explains why spring and summer are the “yang season” (outward, active, masculine in energy), making this the ideal...

This is the final episode in our Paris series. To get the full benefit, you can go back and listen to the previous episodes . In this episode, we visit the evocative Place Furstemberg on the 6th arrondisement of Paris—a setting rich with symbolic resonance and proximity to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area that we talked about in previous episode. We explore why Martin Scorsese chose this quiet, alm...

I would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, ‘Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.’ So finally I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there. It was easy then because there was always one true sentence that I knew or had seen or had heard someone say...

In this episode, we travel to the Left Bank of Paris—to the atmospheric, history-rich streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés . Join me as we explore the origins and symbolism of this iconic quartier from its early days as a religious center in the 6th century to its transformation into a bohemian hub for writers, artists, and philosophers. This episode uncovers how Saint-Germain-des-Prés shaped—and was...

Why can a simple mention of James Joyce eating sauerkraut and frankfurters at Brasserie Lipp on the Left Bank of Paris feel like a revelation? In this episode, Annette explores the iconic brasserie, its connection to literary giants, and how a seemingly trivial anecdote from Midnight in Paris captures an entire worldview. 📚 About James Joyce James Joyce (1882–1941) was an Irish novelist and moder...

Join me on this little journey to Paris where we uncover the remarkable story of Sainte Geneviève, and how she came to be the city’s patron saint. This is a tale of faith, resilience, and an unshakable spirit, and the legacy of Sainte Geneviève still echoes through the streets of Paris to this day. Resources Mentioned * Bois de Boulogne – The forested park outside Paris where the people wanted to...