Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

Send us Fan Mail

This episode introduces the “original storyteller,” my aunt, Pearl Donovan Cerny.

Have you ever wondered how the ripples of a historical event shape the lives of those who follow? Imagine the Eastland Disaster of 1915, one of the deadliest incidents in Chicago’s history, and the trajectory it set for my family.

Pearl’s family history document--which introduced me to the Eastland Disaster-- nearly died on the vine. It was initially met with silence by those she sent it to, and she was desperate. Desperate enough to send it to the person who was her last resort—that would be me! Neither of us knew how that decision would change both of our lives.

Now, how about you? Can you fathom the power of your own narrative? What if your story could touch someone else’s life profoundly? 

Please join me for Episode 18 of Flower in the River Podcast, where we’ll learn about the transformative power of storytelling.

Music from Artlist

Ardie Son 

• Sojourner
• Choral No 59 Bach
• Departures
•  Footprints
• The Art of Connection
• The New World
• Jūra

Christopher Galovan 

• Pentecost Reworked

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever been seized by the uncanny sensation of déjà vu? That's today's topic on Flower in the River Podcast, Episode 17,  Deja Vu and Genetic Recollections.

Your host, Natalie Zett, embarks on a personal journey tracing back to an unassuming road trip and a mysterious manuscript that drew connections far beyond the realm of the ordinary. Echoing the words of French philosopher, Émile Boirac, we explore the spellbinding world of déjà vu, a concept that whispers of knowledge beyond our typical grasp.

This episode isn't just about fascinating phenomena; it's also about beginning anew. Here, Zara stumbles upon a previously unknown home through an "insignificant" road trip, forever changing her life. Together, let's explore how intuition can light our path in the midst of uncertainty and how powerful it can be to claim a space wholly and unapologetically your own.

Music (Artlist)

• Farewell for Now - Boheme
• Homebound Journey - Rotem Moav

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Imagine finding yourself at an unexpected fork in the road, faced with a revelation that could change everything - your perception of yourself, your family, your history.

Zara continues grappling with her family's tragic past, her ensuing spiritual journey--and the scars of the Eastland disaster.  Zara eventually discovered there was  power in creating meaning from the tragedy.
 
A bit of my journey
In navigating life's stormy seas, there lies a ballet of bravery and resilience – a journey to confront the agonizing verities buried deep within our past. 

My time as a student at Ursuline College served as a poignant tableau of this transformative dance, indelibly marked by a tragedy that struck close to home.  One of the Ursuline nuns, Sister Dorothy Kazel,  along with three other women missionaries, met a violent end in El Salvador - a stark truth that reverberated through our campus among the sisters and students. During that time, we were reading Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning  for Philosophy class-- a profound coincidence that offered solace and strength in our own search for meaning amidst this horror.

What does this have to do with Eastland Disaster? I witnessed firsthand the response from the Ursuline community to this event. Their quest to seek meaning from this tragedy and then respond to it transformed my own thinking about injustice and tragedy. 

This episode marks a significant crossroad in Zara's journey, one that presents her with her family's mysterious history. How does she grapple with the shadows of a tragedy--a phantom from the distant past that seems to clutch her family lineage with an iron grip?


Music (Artlist)

• Lance Conrad - Summer in Paris
• Duffmusiq - Baker St

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Navigating through her tumultuous family life, Zara grounds herself in the sanctuary of her church. Simultaneously, in Episode 15 of  Flower in the River podcast, Zara's enchantment with her mysterious Aunt Magda continues to thrive. At first glance, her religious devotion and fascination with Aunt Magda, who is emblematic of magic, might appear contradictory. But is the contrast between these two elements as stark as it initially seems? 

We'll  delve into the magical abilities Zara inherited from her ancestors, all while keeping her family's tradition of magic a secret.

This is very much an episode of paradoxes, too.

The Eastland and Titanic disasters, both devastating maritime tragedies, often stand juxtaposed with the latter perpetually drawing more attention. The grandeur associated with the Titanic typically overshadows the Eastland calamity. However, despite seeming at odds due to their unequal limelight, should these two disasters be so discrepant in our historical consciousness?

This episode includes a passage from my book, "Flower in  the River."

Music from Artlist

• Amos Ever Hadani - Travelling Light
• Russo - Early Movement
• Alon Ohana - The Obscure Truth
• Jamie Rutherford - Solstice
• TURPAK - Keep Exploring

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide. Take care of yourself if you choose not to listen.

Welcome to Episode 14 of Flower in the River!
From childhood to adolescence, we possess unique wisdom that often fades with age. But fear not! In this episode, we uncover the truth that this wisdom is not lost forever.

Highlights:

• Recap: We're taking a break from Aunt Magda's occult adventures and delving into Zara's roller coaster teenage years in Chapter 2, "Annie's Granddaughter."
• Childhood wisdom: Young Zara, a pint-sized philosopher, possessed a thirst for knowledge and a unique ability to sense and question the world around her.
• Society's influence: Sadly, societal norms often suppress the wisdom of children and adolescents. Hypocrisy becomes harder to tolerate as adolescence brings forth a dragon-like fire and the ability to call out hypocrisy.
• The protective role of caretakers: While caretakers aim to shield children from society's dangers, they may inadvertently stifle their sparks of wisdom and unique identities.
• Discovering family history: Zara's journey into her long-lost family's past unravels hidden truths and reawakens forgotten memories, leading to self-discovery and a resurrection of her spirit.
• Lessons from personal experience: The author reflects on her own family history, uncovering a concealed suicide, and emphasizes that shared DNA doesn't guarantee shared values or resonance. However, redemption can be found within families.
• The impact of trauma: Zara's teenage years are filled with confusion, alienation, and questions that challenge her own identity and family dynamics. Traumas of the past can have lasting effects on future generations.
• Unexpected sunbeams: Zara finds solace and purpose in her home church, where her musical talents are appreciated and she feels accepted. However, she later learns that even churches have their hidden chambers and love may come with strings attached.
• Next episode: Aunt Magda returns to help tie up loose ends and provide Zara with a map for her future.

Join us next week for more revelations and wisdom on "Flower in the River: The Podcast." Stay tuned!

Music:

Solveig’s Song - Hawkins (Artlist)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Episode 13 of Flower in the River.
This episode focuses on Aunt Magda as she continues sharing insights and guidance with Zara—while trying to give Zara space to make her own discoveries.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

• Aunt Magda’s Principles & Personality: Magda, a powerful  clairvoyant, balances providing guidance without fostering dependence. She encourages Zara to consider moving from her current living situation, advising that it’s not truly her home.
• Zara’s journey: Magda hints at the hard choices Zara must make. The message from Magda is clear - there are some choices that are life-affirming and others that aren’t.
• The role of spirituality: We explore Zara's spiritual roots, profoundly shaped by her Eastern European kin, who consistently remind her that life encompasses more than just the visible world.
• Another lost Family Tale: I share a compelling story about my grandfather’s village, Oľšavica, in East Slovakia. The people of the village courageously hid 50 neighbors, including 35 Jews, from the Nazis during World War II. A link to a comic illustrating this story is shared in the notes below.
• Reading Passage: I’ll read another passage from “Annie’s Granddaughter,” the second chapter of Flower in the River. This passage is a conversation between Zara and Aunt Magda, revealing more about Zara’s family history and hinting at a tragic past.
• The power of stories: We reflect on the power of stories, how they can inspire and motivate, and how they can plant seeds of curiosity and strength. Aunt Magda employs this power to motivate Zara, sharing just enough information about a family tragedy to keep Zara engaged.

Links:
FEARLESSNESS | VALOR - OLSAVICA, SLOVAKIA

Music:

• i like it when you're here - idokay  (Artlist)
• Driving Home - Noam Zaguri  (Artlist)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

“You’ll always have more to fear from the living than the dead.” Magda Vrabel Velgyak.

Welcome back to Flower in the River podcast, Episode 12. Get ready to tiptoe deeper into the bewitching wilderness of the supernatural on this week’s episode. We’ll learn about a place where traditions come wrapped in the cloak of magic, and the air is laced with the allure of mystic herbs. The place? Slovakia. Formerly known as Czechoslovakia and even more formerly known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Did you follow that? Now, that’s a place that knows how to keep up with change!

Prepare to be charmed by the extraordinary Aunt Magda. Zara’s aunt and a maestro of the arcane. She’s got a knack for future-gazing and a talent for reading souls as if they were open books. It’s this magnetic aura that Zara finds irresistible, but that’s not all there is to this story.

Feel the tension in the air as we delve into the intriguing family drama. Zara is torn between her scientifically minded mother and the ethereal enigma that is Aunt Magda. Will the lure of the mystical prove too strong for our protagonist, or will science rule the day?

Get ready for some delectable gossip as I reveal the relatives who breathed life into the character of Magda. Spoiler alert: a real-life once Aunt Magda walked amongst us! Stick around for pearls of wisdom that could have only come from a life lived amidst the extraordinary.

And finally, ever wondered if Slovakia and Slovenia are twins separated at birth? Well, this directionally challenged author is about to crack the code. Hold on to your hats, folks; it’s about to get exhilarating!

Links:

Witches’ Days prepared by museum, hailing old traditions. Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská.  Slovak Spectator - 11. Dec 2015 

Music: 

• Scorched Earth - Maya Belsitzman (Artlist)
• The Day After Tomorrow-  Maya Belsitzman  (Artlist)
• Once Upon a Time - Maya Belsitzman & Matan Ephrat (Artlist)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Deep Dive into the Unknown

• Welcome to Episode 11! After 10 episodes, we're finally diving into the supernatural and paranormal elements of Flower in the River.  You’ll soon see why it’s better to slow-drip certain bits and pieces into these episodes. Too much, too soon would give you a psychic hangover and we don’t want that. 

A Haunting Connection

• Our main character, Zara, finds herself bewildered by the revelation of losing her great-aunt in the tragic Eastland Disaster. While engrossed in studying her aunt's photograph, an electrifying recollection jolts her memory—the haunting instance when her departed great-aunt made an ethereal visit to her childhood home, decades earlier

Catherine Marshall's and me!

• It's incredibly ironic how two seemingly disparate figures, Catherine Marshall, a renowned 20th-century inspirational writer, and Natalie Zett (me!) author of Flower in the River, share an intriguing connection. On the surface, one might question how these two individuals could have anything in common. However, beneath the surface lies an invisible thread that ties them together. Unveiling this intriguing twist, we discover that the author of Flower in the River once had the privilege of being mentored by none other than Catherine Marshall herself. The impact of this mentorship on the author's writing journey is profound, adding depth and significance to the narrative they have crafted. It's a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most unexpected connections can shape our creative paths in unimaginable ways.

Roots Run Deep

• Examining the intricate branches of our family history, we uncover a fascinating tapestry of stories and experiences. It is within this intricate web that we begin to understand the magnetic pull, the undeniable force that calls us back to our family's history and heritage. It's a captivating reminder that our roots run deep, intertwining with who we are and influencing the paths we choose to tread.

Links:

• Drawn by the Current, by Jocelyn Green
• Catherine Marshall

Songs:

Nobou - Silent Dreams (Artlist)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Dive into the magic of synchronicity and ancestral ties in Episode 10 of Flower in the River podcast "Synced & Serendipitous"! 

Some EXCITING News: The Eastland Disaster Historical Society (EDHS) began  promoting Flower in the River.  The feeling of excitement and honor is palpable on this end, considering the deep-rooted history shared between EDHS and me. Thank you, EDHS!

Now, join me as I  unravel a pivotal part of  Chapter 2 where our protagonist, Zara, sets out on a path of self-discovery and unknowingly steps  into a world brimming with synchronistic wonder. As she seeks solace away from her familiar family ties, she finds herself drawn to a new place—unaware that it holds profound ancestral connections.

But the synchronicities don't stop there. We'll explore the captivating series, One Step Beyond, and its episode titled "Legacy of Love," where the profound line, "The wild bird is drawn to a nest it has never seen. The part remembers the whole," leaves a lasting impact. Prepare to delve into the thought-provoking exploration of synchronicity within the realms of this old TV gem.

I also want to thank all the incredible individuals who have embarked on this journey with me. Whether you've purchased my book, tuned into this podcast, or both, your support is instrumental in keeping the memory of the Eastland Disaster alive. Together, we honor the past while embracing the magic of synchronicity in our present.

Links:

• Legacy of Love, YouTube
• The story of Borghild Amelia Aanstad, Eastland Disaster survivor 

Music: 

• One Step Beyond Theme, Harry Lubin 
• Ardie Son - Sleeper Valley - Piano Version (Artlist)
• Nsee - Bloom (Artlist)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 9 : Melancholy Manor - Tales from the Lavish Abyss

Trigger Warning: Addiction, Violence, Accidental Death, and Suicide

In this episode, I will discuss various topics that may trigger or be sensitive to some listeners. If you find these topics triggering, PLEASE SKIP THIS EPISODE and take care of yourself, OK?

Episode 9 dives deeper into the story of "Annie's Granddaughter" (Chapter 2)

In this chilling episode, I unravel the haunting aftermath of the Eastland Disaster as it continues casting dark shadows over the Pfeiffer family. Prepare to delve into a tale of tragedy and secrets hidden within the confines of an exquisite 22-room mansion, concealing a sinister past.

The story unfolds with the untimely demise of Annie Pfeiffer, leaving behind her grieving widower, Fritz, and their baby daughter, Helena. Little do they know that their new residence, seemingly opulent and majestic, holds a hidden darkness that belies its exterior charm.

Years later, as a grown woman, Helena brings her own daughter, Zara, to this foreboding house, only to discover that the past has left an indelible mark. Zara, sensitive to the lingering aura of violence that permeates the home's walls, stages a sit-down strike on the front porch, refusing to venture inside.

This haunting tale explores the intergenerational impact of tragedy as the horrors of the past manifest themselves in the present. Brace yourself for a gripping journey into a house of secrets, where the echoes of violence refuse to be silenced.

Please note that this episode contains sensitive content and themes. 

Music:

• Break of Reality - Drift Apart (Artlist)
• Opening to Murder Castle - Lights Out. Arch Oboler.  (1940. 

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist