Stories and Stanza

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! Join Abhra and Neha (from Creative Space 😊) as they discuss the journey of creating meaningful content on YouTube amidst challenges.
Neha shares insights on launching her channel 'Creative Space,' which aims to connect industry experts with the public. She explores the balance of motherhood, content creation, and learning from failure.
This episode delves into the importance of sustainable content, the satisfaction of helping others, and the personal fulfilment found through creative endeavours. Watch this episode of 'Stories and Stanzas' for tips on starting and succeeding as a YouTuber.

Join us on the Stories in Stanza podcast as we delve into the creative journey of Leilena Durrette, an independent author of the Kira Raymond trilogy.
Lelina Durrette was born in New York City and raised in Guinea, West Africa, by globe-trotting parents. After pinballing around Europe as an accidental tourist in her teens via boarding school, she landed briefly in Virginia, where she earned a degree in Psychology and became a wife and mother. These days, she lives in Texas, rediscovering herself and embracing a renaissance in her creative life. She enjoys cooking, reading, travelling, and supporting fellow independent authors in the writing community. She is an author across multiple genres, including Young Adult, Romance, and Horror. The Girl Who Saved Them All is her second Young Adult novel in the Kierra Rieman Trilogy.
Website link: https://lelinad.wixsite.com/lelinadurrettewrites
TikTok link: https://www.tiktok.com/@lelinadurrettewrites
In this episode, Leilena shares her experiences growing up abroad, how these have influenced her writing, and her path from childhood stories to becoming a published author. Learn about her writing process the challenges of indie publishing, and get a sneak peek into her dystopian young adult novels. Leilena's story is inspirational for all aspiring writers looking to find their voice and place in literature.

Love, Loss and Lessons - Healing Relationships through Compassion and Forgiveness: A Conversation with Relationship Coach Jeanell Greene
Welcome, Jeanell Greene! In this inspiring episode of the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast, host Abhra converses with Janelle, a relationship coach from Vancouver, Canada. They explore themes of personal growth, healing from past traumas, and the true meaning of happiness and love. Janelle shares her journey from a traumatic childhood and a corporate career to becoming a relationship coach. They discuss the importance of vulnerability, compassion, communication, and self-awareness in building healthy relationships. Janelle emphasizes the need for self-healing and taking ownership of one's life experiences to pave the way for future generations. Join this heartfelt discussion to understand how failure can be a profound teacher and how to cultivate love and connection in a fear-filled world.
Jeanell is a Relationship Coach and Marriage Expert well-known for saving countless marriages from loneliness and divorce while addressing generational trauma. Her passion lies in rekindling the 'best friend' dynamic for couples, allowing them to rediscover profound love, peace, and fun again. Jeanell firmly believes that self-love and forgiveness are necessary for a happy and healthy relationship and that couples can attain the marriage they've always desired by embracing healing, growth, and change. She's here to guide you on a beautiful, transformative journey full of compassion, love, and wisdom, empowering you to be not only the best partners for each other but also inspiring role models for your family.

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra converses with a special guest about embracing vulnerability and redefining failure.
They discuss personal experiences with isolation, trauma, and the journey to inner success through neuroscience and ancestral spirituality. The guest shares their insights on building supportive communities, healing practices, and the role of spirituality in overcoming trauma. This heartfelt discussion aims to provide a compassionate space for listeners to connect and find solace in shared human experiences.
Giselle Baumet is a Hypnotherapist, Breathworker and Neuroscience Grad Candidate who helps people discover how majestic they are using neuroscience and ancestral spirituality. 
https://www.skool.com/manifestation-blueprint-4368/about

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra, a poet and writer, introduces the podcast, which features real-life stories as beautiful as poetry. The guest, Sue Toth, shares her journey as a book coach and editor, describing how she supports writers at different stages of their creative process. Sue discusses common challenges writers face, the various editing stages, and offers valuable advice for writers experiencing a block. She details her experiences working with different genres, including fiction and nonfiction, and encourages aspiring writers to never give up on their dreams.
Sue has dedicated most of her professional life to honouring the English language through writing, editing, and teaching. For the past 25 years, Sue’s speciality is coaching authors who have stuck anywhere in the writing process. She also collaborates with authors on editing their manuscripts and getting them ready for readers to stay up all night reading!

In this episode of 'Stories and Stanza,' Abhra sits down with Jennifer, author of the debut novel 'Getting to Know You.' Jennifer shares an excerpt from her book, which revolves around love, healing, and personal growth in the LGBTQ+ community. She delves into her inspiration for writing, her professional background as a licensed mental health counsellor, and her publication journey. Topics discussed include the intricacies of healing from unhealthy relationships, debunking misconceptions about domestic violence, and the importance of representation in storytelling. Please tune in to learn more about Jennifer's insights and her mission to bring awareness and support to survivors of domestic violence within the LGBTQ+ community.
Jennifer earned her minor in creative writing from Alfred University in 2016. As a pansexual genderflux individual and a trauma-informed mental health counsellor, they’re passionate about representation in fiction. Each story she tells is an opportunity to explore the beauty in nonconformity, healing, and diversity. After a lifetime of putting imagination to paper, Jennifer’s debut novel, Getting to Know You, came into being as a promise kept to a friend. Jennifer lives in the Finger Lakes with her family, enjoying tabletop roleplaying games, sewing, and cuddling their cat.
Order the book from here if you are interested:
https://ninestarpress.com/product/getting-to-know-you/ 

Exploring the world of 'Whispers of the Unveiled' with Author Arietta Knežević In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhro welcomes guest author Arietta, who discusses her debut fiction book 'Whispers of the Unveiled.' Arietta shares her journey from childhood passion for writing to the challenges of self-publishing and marketing. They delve into the book's theme, which blends ancient mythology with contemporary issues such as climate change and LGBTQ+ representation. Arietta also reads an intriguing excerpt from her book, adds insights about the writing process, and offers tips for aspiring authors. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation about creativity, perseverance, and storytelling.
Arietta Hecate Knežević was born in 1994 in Dundee, Scotland, and now lives in Zagreb, Croatia with her husband and child. She has been writing since early childhood, and has recently published her debut novel, Whispers of the Unveiled, which is heavily inspired by her spiritual beliefs, Pagan practice and love of the natural world.
Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBGY61LZ
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DBGY61LZ
It is also available on Amazon in all other locations.

Join host Abhra on 'Stories and Stanza' as he delves into the captivating journey of Diane Clarke and her debut novel, 'The Photograph.' Listen as Diane shares the inspiration and extensive research behind her compelling historical fiction, which spans from World War II to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncover the intricacies of her characters, family secrets, and the emotional search for a lost brother. This episode is rich with insights for aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts alike.