Stories and Stanza

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 h...

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 patt...

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-si...

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...

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...

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, p...

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 consum...

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 experie...

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 ho...

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 perc...

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...

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 impac...

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 t...

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 solut...

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 p...

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 m...

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...

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 befor...

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 ev...

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...

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 challeng...

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,” outli...

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...

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...

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza', host Abhra chats with Sam Malone, a distinguished spoken voice coach at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Delving into the nuances of the power of the spoken voice, Sam shares stories about his work ranging from coaching West End actors to helping corporate leaders improve communication. The conversation explores how our voices are tied to our i...