Stories and Stanza – Details, episodes & analysis

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Stories and Stanza

Abhra Pal

Health & Fitness

Arts

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 100

Stories and Stanza is a podcast by Abhra Pal featuring authentic storytelling through two distinct series — charting in the Mental Health category top charts across the US, UK & Canada. Between The Lines — Intimate conversations with writers and creators exploring the vulnerability behind their craft, the stories that shaped them, and the creative struggles that lead to transformation. Fail With Me — Raw, unfiltered conversations with doctors, psychologists, and mental health advocates unpacking emotional intelligence, resilience, and the courage it takes to rebuild. Because awareness builds bridges — and people suffer silently until someone speaks first.

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Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - mentalHealth
09/06/2026
#91
🇺🇸 USA - mentalHealth
08/06/2026
#95
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
05/06/2026
#67
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
03/06/2026
#60
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
02/06/2026
#46
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
01/06/2026
#47
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
31/05/2026
#41
🇨🇦 Canada - mentalHealth
30/05/2026
#38
🇺🇸 USA - mentalHealth
23/05/2026
#91
🇺🇸 USA - mentalHealth
16/05/2026
#81

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://wa.openinapp.link/wjcwe
7 shares
https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza
5 shares
https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2
5 shares

https://www.instagram.com/storiesandstanza
7 shares
https://www.instagram.com/re.claimyourlife
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 73%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

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Fail Without Shame: John on Mental Health Stigma, Misinformation, and Owning Your Flaws

Season 3 · Episode 12

Monday, April 27, 2026 • Duration 54:21

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

-------------------- Follow Us on Social Media:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/storiesandstanza/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/storiesandstanza/ YouTube @storiesandstanza Join Our WhatsApp Channel https://wa.openinapp.link/wjcwe X https://x.com/storiesnstanza

Follow Us on Audio Podcast: Listen on Spotify https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza Listen on Apple Podcast https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2 Read on Substack https://openinapp.link/ion0e --------------------

Want to grow on YouTube? Try vidIQ: https://vidiq.com/storiesandstanza Want to edit your Podcasts in a breeze? try Descript: https://get.descript.com/stories-and-stanza Buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/storiesandstanza ----------------

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Writing After Trauma: How Lived Experience Fuels Creative Writing

Season 3 · Episode 11

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 56:30

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 storytelling What "write what you know" really means: it's about emotions and internal truth, not just facts The creative process behind writing fiction, nonfiction, and children's books — and why each demands a different mindset How Teri rode a tandem bicycle 3,102 miles across the United States in 2020 — and what it taught her about resilience and self-belief Why you should never quit on a bad day — and when quitting is actually the right choice How to reframe failure as information, not identity Why everything you need to succeed is already inside you

About 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 book Her 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.

Inner Peace, Trauma & Forgiveness | Podcast ft. Somia Sadik

Season 3 · Episode 2

Monday, March 9, 2026 • Duration 53:46

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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365 Days of Nervous System Care: Somatic Intelligence | Podcast with best selling writer Tracy Whitton

Season 3 · Episode 1

Monday, March 2, 2026 • Duration 49:04

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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Reimagining Relationships: Conscious Uncoupling & Somatic Healing with Eman Alves

Season 2 · Episode 43

Sunday, February 8, 2026 • Duration 42:33

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

---------------------- Follow Us on Social Media:

Follow Us on Audio Podcast: Listen on Spotify https://spotify.openinapp.co/storiesandstanza Listen on Apple Podcast https://apple.openinapp.link/u3ui2 Read on Substack https://openinapp.link/ion0e

Navigating Narcissism and Self-Discovery with Tina Djuretic

Season 2 · Episode 41

Saturday, December 27, 2025 • Duration 57:18

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/

Unveiling the Power in Your Voice: An Intimate Talk with Voice Coach Sam Malone

Season 2 · Episode 40

Sunday, November 30, 2025 • Duration 52:31

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 identities and discusses practical ways to overcome the fear of speaking. They also touch on Sam’s upcoming book, 'Why They Can't Hear You,' which aims to empower individuals to be heard and to find their natural power and presence. Tune in to learn how connecting with your voice can transform your personal and professional life.

Follow Sam's Work here: https://www.elevatevoice.co.uk/ https://www.elevatevoice.co.uk/book

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The Essence of Poetry: Moonlit Mess

Season 2 · Episode 39

Saturday, November 15, 2025 • Duration 29:38

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra speaks with poet Priyanzel, about her journey into writing and the emotional depth that poetry brings to life.

Priyanzel is a poet who writes from the quiet edges of becoming. Through her debut collection, Moonlit Mess: The Beautiful Ruins of Becoming, she explores the tender chaos of healing—where pain softens into light and silence learns to speak. Her words dwell in the in-between—shadow and self, ache and awakening—offering comfort to anyone learning to start again.

They discuss the personal and therapeutic nature of poetry, the limitations of AI in capturing human emotion, and the challenges and rewards of being a writer. Priyanka shares her inspiration and the process behind her book 'Moonlit Mess,' emphasizing the importance of rawness, vulnerability, and inner light in creative expression. Tune in to explore the intimate world of poetry and creativity, and be inspired by Priyanka's heartfelt words and experiences.

Book Link: Amazon

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Embracing Self-Love and Healing with Denise Michelle

Season 2 · Episode 38

Saturday, November 1, 2025 • Duration 45:56

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra talks with Denise Michelle, a self-love alchemist, coach, writer, and hypnotherapist. They discuss the journey of healing from borderline personality disorder, the power of self-love, and how failure can be a tool for growth. Denise shares her personal experiences and insights on various healing modalities, including yoga, hypnotherapy, and self-acceptance practices. Tune in to learn about the importance of intention in self-care, the transformative power of kind self-talk, and how to cultivate authenticity in your life.

About Denise:

Denise Michelle is The SelfLove Alchemist®, an Award-Winning Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Trainer with Tony Robbins. She empowers soulful leaders through SelfLove Mastery, drawing from her 25-year healing journey overcoming trauma and addiction. Denise believes living a vision-driven life is the ultimate expression of SelfLove, where transformation ignites.

Social Media Links:

Unlocking the Power of Shadow Work: A Deep Dive with Oliver Mann

Season 2 · Episode 37

Sunday, October 19, 2025 • Duration 01:20:34

In this insightful episode of 'Stories and Stanza', host Abhra dives deep into the transformative practice of shadow journaling with Oliver Mann, a renowned journaling coach. They explore the importance of self-awareness, the impact of triggers, and the process of integrating shadow aspects into the psyche. Through practical examples, prompts, and personal anecdotes, they uncover how shadow work can help rewrite one's story, embrace vulnerability, and achieve wholesome growth. By examining regret, joy, and even resistance, they illustrate how to navigate emotional complexities and live authentically.

About Oliver

Oliver Mann is a journaling mentor and teacher, with a passion for Shadow Journaling. Diving into Shadow work was a pivotal moment in Oliver’s life, after which writing and journaling took on completely new powers. By opening up to the process of delving into the psyche through writing, he discovered the power of curiosity and acceptance of the complete self. Through his work, Oliver is now inviting others to take gentle steps into the shadow. With the bright lights we shine, we can soon become friends with what once scared us. Oliver is also the co-founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival, an annual writing event attracting a global audience. He is a council member of the International Association of Journal Writers, and is a certified JTTS instructor.

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