Forests, Folklore & Fantasy

Whether you’re a fanatic enthusiast or meagerly interested in putting a seed in a pot, you will reap benefits you may not have even realized by gardening. In the final episode of season 1, we explore how the caretaking of plants not only roots us in the cycle of the seasons, but also maintains a connection with our ancestors and is a boon to our health. Thank you so very much for your support for...

Despite efforts to erase it from cultural memory, the Irish language is still often spoken in corners of the Emerald Isle. Join me and Rónán O Conchubhair, a native speaker, for a conversation about the Irish (Gaelic) language, growing up in rural Éire, a local folktale, and of course, an abiding love of Fantasy. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https...

What are the roots of “slow living” and how can you incorporate this lifestyle into your daily life? From mindfulness to intentional food preparation, the Romantics and smartphone use, we will explore the benefits of taking our time and how these changes, while small, are subversive. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other li...

What makes a game cozy and what role do such games play in our lives? From relaxation to reflection on life choices, such quiet games, while easy to overlook, can have a big impact. In this episode, I share a bit about my experience as a cozy gamer, my favorite titles to date, and what I am looking forward to. Hint: It’s called Tales of the Shire! Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my...

Two girls, one dream: to be in their favorite movie franchise, The Lord of the Rings. Meet Lindsey Crummett, who, along with her sister, not only achieved that dream, but so much more. Hear about her journey as an artist, the tenacity it takes to get work in the film industry, and, of course, her abiding love for Fantasy. Lindsey’s Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsey_crums_art/ Please...

The ancient Celtic fire festival of Beltane is still thriving and reviving! Get an introduction to the holiday along with why this time of year was viewed with a mixture of joy and fear. After all, the Otherworld is near… Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Beltane course: https://www.kmrice.com/offerings.html Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other links: http...

Our predominant culture relies upon the message that none of us is inherently “enough” but that we will be if we only look a certain way, have a certain job, and marry the right person. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this episode, I share a late-night journal entry in which I explored my own feelings of inadequacy and the realizations I came to in the hopes that they may enrich your l...

Like most women, the sexism and predation I experienced as a child has held sway over my life, informing everything from how I go for a hike to how I write. Included is a reading of more writing I am sharing for the first time. Sisters, you are far from alone. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Be Thou A Witch?: https://youtu.be/RUesVMxLbOk?si=R6WjccB8e724Yuru W...

What is “nature” and how does our categorization of the external world affect our outlooks, both as individuals and as societies? Hopefully, you will find a greater sense of peace and belonging by engaging in this discussion and being able to answer these questions for yourself. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other links:...

What is cosplay and how does one of the most recognized practitioners of the craft find her inspiration? Join me and my friend Lauren for a discussion about her inspiration, the role of fantasy, and the sexism she has faced as a female content creator. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other links: https://lnk.bio/KMRiceAutho...

Get a taste of what rural mountain life is like in California, and how my upbringing in the forest has shaped my identity and informs my perspectives. Vicariously, you may also take on these experiences and knowledge! Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other links: https://lnk.bio/KMRiceAuthor Happy Hobbit: https://www.youtube...

Many know that the word “Easter” comes from an ancient Germanic goddess named “Ēostre,” but the survival of this age-old holiday and its customs don’t stop there. In this episode, we explore how the symbology of rebirth and the spring have led to our modern Easter celebrations. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Offerings: https://www.kmrice.com/offerings.html W...

We know him as the saint responsible for the peaceful conversion of Ireland to Christianity, but there are accounts of bloodshed that Patrick may have omitted from his story. Also, why do we pinch people for not wearing green and say things like “Kiss me, I’m Irish” on this day? Get the answers along with a crash course in Irish history. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other hau...

On paper, one would think that a childfree witchy woman and a devout Catholic mother may not have much in common. In this episode, join me and my friend Kaitlyn from Tea with Tolkien to find out just how wrong that assumption is, for we share more than a love of an author and his works. Thank you so much Kaitlyn for being my first-ever guest! Tea with Tolkien: https://www.teawithtolkien.com/ Pleas...

If you find yourself yearning to connect with your heritage, expand your identity, and deepen your connection with nature, then you are not alone. Let us give names to bone-deep feelings and find our voices as we begin a conversation about belonging to a place while standing at the crossroads of spirituality and history. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Websit...

While on the surface Valentine’s Day may seem like a modern commercialized gimmick, its roots may go all the way to the third millennium BCE. Join me on this exploration of Mediterranean festivals and customs meant to promote purification, vitality, and fertility. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.co...

At its heart, the Fantasy genre represents our modern form of mythmaking. Dismiss these tales at your peril, for within these strange landscapes and symbolic stories of heroism lie the truth of our inner struggles and the depth of our understanding of the world. Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KMRice “The Walkers in Darkness”: https://mailchi.mp/kmrice.com/walkers...

Learn an overview of the ancient Celtic fire festival known as Imbolc, its link to the goddess and the saint Brigid, and what it represents. Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ Visit the "Offerings" section to view what is in season. My other links: https://lnk.bio/KMRiceAuthor Music from The Lands Beyond by Layne Thomas: https://laynethomas.com/portfolio/the-lands-beyond-2022/

Many of us find winter to be challenging for a variety of reasons. In this episode, I provide some context for the dark and the cold in the hopes of helping you reconnect with this season that can be full of rejuvenation if we let it.

Meet your host Kellie (K.M.) Rice! In this episode, she shares her background, some anecdotes, and an introduction to what you can expect from this podcast. Please follow this podcast, share it, and visit my other haunts below! Website: https://www.kmrice.com/ My other links: https://lnk.bio/KMRiceAuthor Music from The Lands Beyond by Layne Thomas: https://laynethomas.com/portfolio/the-lands-beyon...