Conversations with Laurel

Short Story 3 is about plastic surgery . . . a flash fiction piece, 1,000 words short!

Ride a mountain bike over 100 miles in tricky terrain over 10,200' elevation? And do it again and again . . . despite extreme physical adversity?

Ty and Roxanne Hall have eyebrow-raising stories about their experiences training for and participating in the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, and tips for anyone who might consider signing up for this challenging race series. Do it! Sign up!

Laurel McHargue, host of the podcast Alligator Preserves, visits with Annalisa Parent, writing coach and author of "Storytelling for Pantsers: How to Write and Revise Your Novel Without an Outline."

Annalisa discusses the benefits of planning and pantsing when it comes to writing a book, how neuroscience influences creativity, ways to work around writer's block, the evolution of language, and much more.

Ever wonder how writers are inspired, what their routines look like, how they make characters "real" and relatable? I have answers for aspiring writers of every age!

After my Skype session with a language arts class in Texas, the teacher compiled a list of insightful questions from her 7th grade students and sent them to me. In this episode, I answer them all!

Do you have what it takes to complete a 100-mile foot race through the Rocky Mountains? Ken Chlouber, founder of the Leadville Trail Race Series, believes in you--but you must make a commitment to yourself.

In the first episode of this special Alligator Preserves series, Laurel visits with Ken and learns what's special about Leadville and this unusual race series.

Just because you can see the mountaintop, that doesn't mean you should attempt to summit without studying the risks and preparing for the unexpected. In this episode, Laurel describes "losing her 14er virginity" on La Plata Peak with Dr. Seuss characters in her head; she offers a warning to those who do not respect the power of nature. Additionally, she gives a shout out to Search and Rescue (SAR) teams everywhere. She recorded this episode while her husband was on an active SAR mission.

You've heard the word Reiki, but what do you really know about this Japanese practice of using energy and light to heal? Are you a skeptic? Find out what these two Reiki practitioners (and sisters!) think about their experience giving and receiving Reiki.

What will you be doing when you're 85 years old?

In this episode, Laurel visits with her friend's 85-year-old father--Bill Olson--and tries to determine why he still works every . . . single . . . day. This is Laurel's first attempt at curating a story from a last-minute decision to record an unplanned visit.

Do you remember your first kiss? How about your second? In this episode of Alligator Preserves, Laurel will tell you about a most memorable kiss and how she knew she was going straight to hell.

Pearl and Frank are on the road home after visiting family. It's Pearl's turn to drive. What happens on the road challenges her in ways she'd never imagined.