Joanne Harris author of bestselling novel Chocolate. A conversation on the significance of folklore, fairy tales, & food in culture and storytelling. It explores the therapeutic role of folklore, the impact of AI on storytelling and creativity, and the emotional significance of folklore and food in modern society. We discuss the emotional disintegration of society, the disconnection with the body, the repackaging of Catholicism for a new generation, the role of stories in processing difficult experiences, the upcoming novel 'Sleepers in the Snow', and the theme of travelers and nomadic lifestyle in stories. Key takeaways include the significance of food as culture and connection, as well as the power of storytelling and its impact on processing difficult experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the Meaning Behind 'Bone and Bloom'

00:28 Joanne Harris's Prolific Writing Career and New Book Release

01:40 The Inspiration for Writing a Prequel in the Chocolat Series

02:51 Midlife, Motherhood, and Reassessing Identity

04:01 The Urgency of Exploring Vianne’s Origin Story

05:04 The Unanswered Mysteries of Vianne’s Birth and Heritage

06:23 The Deep Educational Value of Harris’s Books on Humanity

07:19 Grief, Loss, and the Human Condition in Harris’s Work

08:54 Story as a Safe Space for Exploring Difficult Ideas

09:28 Folklore as the Language of the Subconscious

10:55 The Reinterpretation and Reworking of Fairy Tales

11:54 The Relevance of Fairy Tales in the Modern World

13:14 The Role of Fairy Tales in Processing Modern Fears and Monsters

14:12 AI and the Threat to Human Creativity and Connection

15:26 The Power of Stories to Reclaim and Rework Cultural Inheritance

16:21 The Freedom to Adapt and Reimagine Fairy Tales

17:10 The Evolution of Folk Ballads and Oral Traditions

18:40 The Significance of Child Ballads and Their Modern Reinterpretation

19:56 Maiden Mother Crone: Exploring Myth and Archetypes

21:05 The Myth of the Selkie and Its Universal Themes

22:49 Joanne Harris’s Upcoming Novel 'Sleepers in the Snow'

47:11 A Folk Horror Ghost Story Set in North Yorkshire

48:29 The Connection Between Food, Culture, and Storytelling

50:35 The Nomadic Spirit and the Desire for Home

52:04 The Power of Disruption and the Trickster Archetype

54:26 Closing Remarks and Connecting with Joanne Harris

Resources

Joanne Harris Official Website - https://joanneharris.co.uk/

Sleepers in the Snow (Upcoming Book) - https://joanneharris.co.uk/books/sleepers-in-the-snow/

Maiden Mother Crone (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Mother-Crone-Fairy-Tales/dp/1785039274

Rising Appalachia (Music Group) - https://risingappalachia.com/

Joanne Harris and the Storytime Band (Music & Stories) - https://joanneharris.co.uk/music/

 guest links

Website - https://joanneharris.co.uk/

The conversation delves into the concept of soma and somatics, exploring its meaning and significance. It also provides a historical context of the mind-body split and its impact on modern society.

Takeaways

• Understanding the concept of soma and somatics
• The historical context of the mind-body split

Chapters

• 00:00 Exploring the Concept of Soma and Somatics

Abbey Galvin and Selena Garefino discuss the practice of Katonah Yoga, its impact on flexibility and boundaries, the importance of home practice, and the exploration of self cultivation. They delve into the differences between traditional Vedic practices and the material of Taoism and Chinese Medicine as it is applied in the Katonah Yoga material, the concept of reflection and safety, and the idea of internal safety and being versus doing in the practice of yoga. The conversation delves into the importance of self-cultivation techniques, the pleasure of doing things for their own sake, and the power of deep reading and intellectual development. It also explores the role of archetypes, mythology, and the mind-body connection in personal growth. Additionally, it addresses the significance of yoga practice in troubling times, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and community building.

Takeaways

• Katonah Yoga is a way to mediate the polarities of practice, life, nervous system, interior, and exterior.
• The practice of yoga is a self-cultivation technique that allows individuals to navigate their own lives and develop their character. Self-cultivation techniques for personal growth
• The importance of deep reading and intellectual development

Chapters

• 00:00 Internal Safety and Being vs. Doing
• 32:50 The Pleasure of Doing Things for Their Own Sake
• 52:10 Yoga Practice in Troubling Times

In this episode, Selena Garefino, oral storyteller, anthropologist, and comparative mythologist, is joined by Sarah Mouhyddine, the FIRST woman storyteller to stand at the famous Marrakech International Storytelling Festival. In this episode, Sara and Selena discuss the origins of storytelling and its power for making meaning and holding community together as well as sharing culture. Emphasizing the therapeutic and cultural exchange present in oral story. Don't miss the film about Sara: A Marrakech Tale.

For more oral story, visit Selena's substack Tracing the Golden Thread.

To book your cultural experience in Marrakech, reach out to Cultural Caravans and be sure to mention this episode.

I'm thrilled to introduce Michael McRay a dear friend, storyteller, podcast host, coach, speaker, and author. In this episode we're discussing narrative intelligence (the stories that shape our lives), restorying (owning and shaping our stories), and rekindling our relationship with our wild selves.

Michael McRay is a nationally recognized storytelling expert, experiential coach, and keynote speaker who helps people and organizations become better stories. He’s founder of Becoming Restoried, a life-story coaching practice rooted in experiential healing and conflict transformation, and the host of Tenx9 Nashville (“ten by nine”), the city’s longest-running monthly storytelling event with over 1,000 stories told across nearly 12 years. 

He currently heads up the Istoria Institute, a global hub for narrative intelligence, where’s pioneered two new narrative certification programs, including in Experiential Narrative Practice. 

Michael is the award-winning author of I Am Not Your Enemy and the forthcoming book The Wild Way: Navigating the Space Between the Old Story and the New (October 2025). 

Michael's storywork has been sought after from the likes of NASA, TEDx, Cisco, Accenture, and more. He lives in Nashville with his son and a deep love for wonder, words, and the wild.

I'm joined by my friend and colleague Dages Keates for a discussion around practice, being a true believer, our personal evolution, breath, embracing the fullness of our humanity and living fully. 

You can learn more about Dages at https://www.dagesjuvelierkeates.com/

For information regarding my teacher trainings, coaching and mentorship programs, and global retreats visit 

https://www.selenagarefino.com/

If you're enjoying the show please share with your friends and leave a review your support means so much. 

In this Episode I am joined by Dr. Paula Sauer. A physical therapist, movement and yoga teacher. As always this conversation is like joining us for a coffee so grab your favorite beverage and cozy up. We're discussing everything from healthy aging and perminopause to the gifts of dedicating ourselves to lifelong studentship, managing chronic pain, the power of the breath, and so much more. 

Dr. Paula Sauer is the co-facilitator of Mapping the Breath® my 50 hour breath education coures. You can follow pollow on social media @doctorpaulasauer on all platforms

To learn more about our upcoming courses visit

https://www.selenagarefino.com/breathwork

I am back for another short solo episode on personal expression, your genius, and self expression. 

The book referenced in this episode is Fashion under Fascism: Beyond the Black Shirt by Eugenia Paulicelli 

You can learn about my upcoming group coaching, retreats, and yoga trainings at 

https://www.selenagarefino.com/

Join me on substack 

https://selenagarefino.substack.com/

It's my first solo episode. Cozy up with your favorite beverage and let's chat personal growth, healing, and living your purpose. 

There is a written, different version of this discussion on my substack The Alchemy of Being

https://selenagarefino.substack.com/p/your-purpose-isnt-to-heal-uncovering?r=17er5u

To learn more about how to work with me or to retreat with me around the world visit

https://www.selenagarefino.com/

This episode contains sensitive topis such as abortion, domestic violence, and sexuality. There is also use of an occasional bit of colorful language. It's also an episdoe of pure delight, honest conversations, and nurturance. 

In this episode I am joined by Symone Tucker, a fellow coach, creator, and life artist. This is an honest conversation about the challenges women face in perimenopause and menopause, our reproductive years, finding our joys, owning our gifts and curating a life that is your own. 

Whatever your gender or stage of life there is a lot of wisdom here and you are welcome. 

Symone Tucker, also known as The Female Freedom Coach, is a transformational guide and the visionary behind 'THE PLEASURE PARTY' With a deep understanding of the power of pleasure in creating rapid, sustainable transformation and healing, Symone empowers women to reconnect with their authenticity and reclaim their freedom. Through her coaching and 'Pleasure Parties'—a unique blend a daytime rave with somatic games, healing, feasting and empowerment—she creates safe and inspiring spaces for women to explore their desires, shed limiting beliefs, and embrace their truest selves. Symone's work is a celebration of the transformative magic that happens when women prioritise their joy, connection, and self-expression.

Instagram & TikTok
@the.pleasureparty
@thefemalefreedomcoach
Podcast - A Fancy Bag Full off F*cks