Josh Gondelman talks with caller Sofija about turning her nightly journaling into a Lithuanian fairy tale, and using fiction to process grief and hope.

What You'll Hear

A Pug Among Angels: Josh recaps settling into his new apartment building and the strange relief of realizing his scrappy pug Maggie isn't the most chaotic dog on the block.

The Fairy Baby in the Journal: Caller Sofija describes how a nightly journaling habit — started while she and her husband navigate infertility — grew into a recurring story about a laumė, a chaotic Lithuanian fairy spirit.

Folklore as a Safe Distance: Josh and Sofija dig into Lithuanian, Celtic, and Native American folklore, and how a little fictional distance makes it easier to sit with grief, longing, and hope.

CHAPTERS
00:00 The joy of imperfect neighbors
04:55 Welcome caller Sofija!
06:59 A nightly journaling practice
08:04 Enter the laumė: a chaotic Lithuanian fairy baby
14:36 Celtic fae, Native lore, and finding comfort in folklore
17:49 A five-minute ritual that became a nightly habit

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