Libsyn Directory

022 - Courage and Healing Through Memoir

Release Date: 11/02/2021

033 - Letting Go, Celebrating, and Moving On

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Welcome to the final episode of the Bowing to Elephants Podcast. It is with bittersweet feelings that I announce I'm discontinuing the podcast, just for the time being. Life is calling me to address different creative work right now. I appreciate all of you who have steadfastly listened to the show. Here today to help me reflect on the last six months and discuss my next adventure is my friend and cohort, Ben Gioia. What You Hear/Learn/Discover [1:40] Mag explains why she started the podcast in the first place. [03:08] Mag talks about her successes and disappointments with...

032 - Cultural Lens Shapeshifter

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Jill Mott is a “cultural lens shapeshifter,” photographer, and photojournalist who brings a unique, sparkling energy to everything she does. Armed with only her camera and imagination, she once traveled the world from England to Zimbabwe… with a stop in Italy for art school! Today, Jill teaches and shares her understanding of communication and storytelling — across a myriad of forms — particularly with the camera.

031 - A Gourmet Destination on the Northern California Coast

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Andrew and Liya Truong are stunningly talented chefs. They own and run Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant in the sleepy, small town of Bodega Bay, California. Their fantastic menu garnered them a Michelin Star in 2011. And they have the love and devotion of Bodega Bay citizens and all those traveling along the coast who happen to stop by for a bite.

030 - The Writer and Her Hammock

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

An author, a poet, and phenomenal woman, Bella Mahaya Carter is a writing teacher and coach who promotes self-awareness and mindfulness. Bella believes in the power of writing to heal and transform lives. She sees publishing one’s work as an opportunity to deepen self-awareness, nourish meaningful connections, and delight in peak experiences while being of service.

029 - Becoming a Scholar

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

A creative soul and lifelong scholar, Sands Hall is a blessing to everyone who meets her. She shares her brilliant spark in many ways: as a teacher, musician, actor, and writer. And today, she joins us to talk about her moving memoir, Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology. In her memoir, Sands shares what first led her to Scientology, the darker undercurrents of Ron L. Hubbard’s leadership, and how she eventually disentangled herself from the Church.

028 - In The Shadow of Poets

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Meet Author Gretchen Cherington, who, after many years of silence, chose to share her story of abuse. Sexually molested by her father, Richard Eberhardt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Gretchen broke decades of silence to share what life with him was really like. Her memoir, Poetic License, is an authentic, brave piece of work.

027 - The Seasons of Life

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Tania Casselle calls herself a book doctor, a spiritual follower, a therapist, and a teacher. This multi-talented woman emigrated from England to the United States, where she now lives in Taos, New Mexico. She’s received multiple awards for her writing.

026 - Burma & Bodhisattva Vows

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

To listen to Jack Kornfield is to be brought close to his heart and exquisite mind. Come hear him speak about his love for Burma. Listen to his thoughts on renunciation and the spiritual effects of the pandemic.

025 - The Art of Storytelling

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

Today, my honored guest is Michael Katz, a professional storyteller who performs and works with children in the Santa Barbara area and teaches mindfulness in elementary schools. Michael has worked as a storyteller since 1985 and was the host of a radio show dubbed The Katz Pajamas. He also performs at elementary schools, festivals, and illustrious events like the opening of the Disney Concert Hall.

024 - Feeding, Healing, & Loving The Soul

Bowing To Elephants Podcast

If anyone could light up a room or a person's heart, it’s Allison Post. An integrative health coach and somatic educator, Allison is a healer and a lover of all life. Over the last four decades, Allison taught courses in many massage modalities plus breath and bodywork.

More Episodes

Today, a master of memoir joins the show. Laura Davis is the author of seven groundbreaking books, including The Courage To Heal. In addition to her own writing, Laura helps people tell their stories and hone their craft. She loves creating communities where writers can inspire and support each other.

Laura’s brand new memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, explores her complicated relationship with her mother. I highly recommend you take a taste of this beautiful, moving book. The first five chapters are available on her website.

More than any other relationship, our relationship with our mothers defines us. Available on November 9th, Laura’s latest memoir chronicles Laura’s story of caring for her mother in the final years of her life.

What You Hear/Learn/Discover

[2:55] Laura shares how her writing helps her process, cope, and explore her innermost feelings.

[7:14] Learn how Laura worked through her feelings about her mother in her most recent book, The Burning Light of Two Stars.

[8:41] Mag and Laura discuss Laura’s journey as a childhood incest survivor.

[13:58] Laura talks about her work as a writing teacher.

[18:05] Mag and Laura discuss why writing helps us understand people on a deeper level.

[22:30] Laura explains tactics to help remember repressed memories.

[29:54] Laura identifies her relationship with her mother as one of the “core issues” in her life. She shares how it took ten years to complete her book chronicling their relationship.

[33:31] Laura gives tips for aspiring memoir writers.

[37:09] Mag explains why memoirs require complete honesty and openness.

Quotes

“I've always used writing as a tool for self-discovery, self-exploration, processing painful experiences, confronting people, or making decisions. Just in every way, it's my go-to tool.”

“[As a writing teacher,] I always feel incredibly honored to hold that kind of space where people are able to remember things that maybe they've never remembered before or reshape a story that's plagued them for a long time…[and] really tell the truth.”