In this episode, Theresa Lola, an accomplished poet and published author, shares her journey from growing up in Nigeria to becoming a published poet in the UK. She discusses her fascination with poetry, especially grief poetry, and how it helps in processing complex emotions. Theresa delves into her creative process, the power of language, and how her cultural heritage shapes her work. The conversation also covers her initiatives like creative writing workshops for mental health and her new stationary brand ‘Your Envoi,’ designed to foster self-reflection and connection. Engaging and insightful, this episode highlights the therapeutic potential of poetry and creative expression.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:42 Theresa’s Early Life and Writing Journey

01:16 The Power of Poetry in Expressing Emotions

02:05 Transition to the UK and Early Career

05:58 Balancing Two Cultural Identities

08:32 The Influence of Language on Expression

13:13 Exploring the Significance of Names

19:39 Grief and Poetry

23:42 Exploring the Physicality and Rhythm of Grief

25:37 The Therapeutic Intentions Behind Poetry

26:20 The Process of Self-Reflection in Writing

26:50 Using Poetry to Capture Emotions and Experiences

28:16 Cultural Significance and Metaphors in Poetry

30:43 Creative Writing and Mental Health Initiatives

35:09 Advice for Emerging Poets

39:14 Launching a Wellness Stationery Brand

42:58 The Impact of Literature on Life

46:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

You can follow Theresa’s work as well as get copies of her two books (poetry collections) on her website or at the following links:

W: https://www.theresalola.com/

B: https://www.theresalola.com/books

Theresa’s Stationery Brand, Your Envoi: https://weareyourenvoi.com/

Social Media Channels:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/theresa_lola

Threads: @theresa_lola

X: https://x.com/theresa_lola

I hope you enjoyed this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah and if you’d like to find out more about Bibliotherapy you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading and

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we sit down with Talya Bruck, a late-diagnosed neurodivergent drama therapist and the founder of Savanna Therapeutic Stories. Talia shares the inspiration behind her powerful therapeutic story series aimed at helping neurodivergent children navigate their experiences. 

We dive into various topics discussed in her books, such as ADHD, autism, and parental mental illness, and explore the impact these stories have had on young readers. Talia also talks about the creative process behind her work, her collaborative efforts with other professionals, and the future projects that are in the pipeline. 

Join us to learn more about how these therapeutic stories are making a meaningful difference in the lives of neurodivergent children and their families. Don't forget to check the links in the show notes for more information and to access Savanna Therapeutic Stories.

00:00 Introduction

02:26 How Savanna Therapeutic Stories Began

05:33 What Makes a Therapeutic Story

09:25 The Book Collection

13:30 Understanding Neurodiversity

17:35 Impact on Children and Families

24:47 The Writing Process

30:20 Drama Therapy Work

34:34 The Role of Books in Supporting Neurodiverse Children

37:40 Future Plans

You can follow Talya's work as well as get copies of the Savannah Therapeutic Stories on her website or amazon at the following links:

W: https://www.savanna-therapeutic.org.uk/ 

A: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Talya-Bruck/author/B0B89XGSCT

Social Media Channels:

IG: @savannatstories

Threads: @savannatstories

FB: https://www.facebook.com/talya.bruck

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talya-bruck-b1977a49/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savannatherapeuticstorie

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this episode, Daisy Fancourt joins me to discuss her new book, 'Art Cure,' that explores the profound impact of arts on mental and physical health. 

The conversation touches on various aspects of how engagement in creative activities, like music, literature, and even carnival arts, can serve as significant health pillars, much like diet, exercise, and sleep. 

Daisy, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London, shares insights from her journey from being a professional pianist to a scientist studying the arts' effects on health. 

She delves into scientific findings supporting the arts' ability to boost immune function, reduce inflammation, and even slow biological aging. The discussion covers the potential of social prescriptions for the arts, the importance of maintaining regular engagement, and the balance between passive and active participation in creative activities. 

Listeners will gain practical takeaways and a deeper understanding of how the arts can contribute to overall well-being.

00:00 Introduction and Book Launch

01:31 Daisy's Background and Journey

03:12 The Science Behind Art and Health

04:50 From Research to Popular Book

05:56 Practical Applications and Daily Engagement

12:02 Biological Impacts of Art

23:52 Social Prescribing and Global Impact

25:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

If you’d like to get in touch with Daisy or find out about her live events, you can do so here at: https://sbbresearch.org/projects/artcure/ 

If you enjoyed this conversation do subscribe to my Substack (https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/) where you can find similar episodes as well as copy of transcripts to all episodes if you are short of time. 

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Excited to share this reading - the foreward from my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading.

I hope you enjoy it, and if you'd like to get a copy of the book, you can do so at all good bookstores or at this link with details of translated versions too: https://linktr.ee/booktherapy_by_bijal

And do let me know your thoughts/reflections - I always write back!!

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this episode, we dive into the most buzzworthy and anticipated books shaping the literary landscape this year — a vibrant mix of fiction, nonfiction, history, philosophy, and genre-bending storytelling that reflects our cultural fascinations and anxieties.

Join us as we explore towering new releases from acclaimed authors like Mario Vargas Llosa, Amitav Ghosh, Kate Quinn, and Sara Stridsberg, alongside bold, conversation-starting works from emerging and innovative voices.

We highlight gripping narratives that confront identity, mental health, colonial legacies, and the mysteries of memory.

Across these books, we uncover the themes driving the year’s literary momentum: the quest for belonging, the retelling of overlooked histories, the interplay of science and the soul, and the balancing act between escapism and hard truth.

Whether you’re building your reading list, keeping up with literary trends, or searching for your next transformative book, this episode offers a curated, insightful journey through the stories everyone will be talking about.

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, listeners are invited into a warm, fireside exploration of meaningful literary and bibliotherapeutic gifts for the festive season. 

Grounded in the belief that stories can heal, soothe, and transform, this episode serves as a heartfelt guide for anyone seeking Christmas gifts that go beyond the material— literary gifts that hold space for growth, reflection, as well as those that honour reading for both pleasure and for bibliotherapeutic purposes.

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah I reflect on the most powerful, inspiring, and thought-provoking books of 2025 — the ones you’ll want to carry with you into 2026. From breakout literary fiction and moving memoirs to transformative nonfiction and hidden indie gems.

I explore how these books can both entertain, and inspire personal growth for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking for comfort reads, bold new voices, or stories that challenge and heal, this episode is your reading prescription for the months to come.

Tune in for an insightful, heartfelt conversation about why these books really stood out this year — and discover your next favorite book for 2026. If you'd prefer to read this, you can do so here: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/p/40-books-from-2025-you-need-to-read

Hope you enjoy the listen!

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this week’s episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we turn our attention to one of the most joyful yet underestimated genres in literature — the romantic comedy. So often dismissed as light or escapist, the rom-com is in fact one of the most powerful forms of emotional storytelling, offering laughter, tenderness, and deep psychological insight.

We’ll explore how romantic comedy functions as a form of bibliotherapy — a way of healing through reading and emotional reflection. From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to modern favourites like The Flatshare and Bridget Jones’s Diary, these stories trace the journey from chaos to clarity, self-doubt to self-acceptance, and loneliness to connection.

I’ll also be unpacking the role of the romantic hero — from the proud, emotionally guarded Mr. Darcy to today’s more vulnerable and emotionally intelligent figures — and how their transformation mirrors our own healing journeys. Along the way, we’ll discuss how humour, hope, and the rhythm of love stories can help us recover from stress, heartbreak, or burnout, teaching us that joy is not frivolous but restorative.

Join me as we rediscover the romantic comedy and the role of humour as a therapeutic intervention in bibliotherapy.

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, I explore how contemporary fiction and nonfiction depict love and relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. 

Blending utopian and dystopian perspectives, I examine novels such as Klara and the Sun, Machines Like Me, and Frankissstein, alongside nonfiction works by thinkers like Sherry Turkle and Susan Schneider. 

Utopian stories portray AI as capable of empathy and moral growth, offering new forms of connection, while dystopian visions warn of emotional automation and the commodification of intimacy. Nonfiction writers echo these tensions, questioning whether real affection is possible with machines and what our longing for digital companionship reveals about human loneliness. 

Is AI both our mirror and our muse? Join me as we explore all this and more!

Hope you enjoy the listen. 

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

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In this week’s episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we explore the quiet, transformative power of love stories — and how the romance genre can become a profound tool for emotional healing. From the classic worlds of Jane Austen to the modern intimacy of Sally Rooney, and from the wisdom of Bell Hooks and Erich Fromm to the poetic tenderness of Alain de Botton, we look at how stories of love — in all their beauty and heartbreak — help us understand ourselves and others.

Through the lens of bibliotherapy, I’ll unpack how reading about love can validate our experiences, repair our emotional wounds, and remind us that connection and hope are still possible - even in an age of disconnection.

I hope you enjoy the episode and as always, all thoughts/reflections welcome!

x

Email us at [email protected]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.

If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

******************************************************************************************

Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:

Online Bibliotherapy Courses

Personalised Book Prescriptions

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You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:

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