The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis Podcast

Episode Title:Jack Gilbert's Defense: Poetry on Risking Delight, Accepting Gladness in the Ruthless Furnace, and Making Room for Joy Amid SufferingEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Jack Gilbert's profound poem that challenges us to embrace happiness and delight even as we remain aware of suffering everywhere. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this essential work, Laura explores Gilbert's argument that denying our own gladness actually diminishes rather than honors others' pain. This episode offers support for anyone struggling with guilt over experiencing joy, seeking poetry that gives permission for happiness amid sorrow, or looking for language that reconciles awareness of injustice with celebration of beauty.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Gilbert's unflinching catalog of suffering—babies starving with flies in their nostrils, slaughter everywhere—creates the context for his radical argument that we must still enjoy our lives because denying happiness lessens the importance of others' deprivationWhy the poem insists we cannot do without delight and enjoyment, arguing that "to make injustice the only measure of our attention is to praise the Devil" and that we dishonor both God's creation and human resilience if we refuse gladnessThe stubbornness required to accept our happiness in what Gilbert calls "the ruthless furnace of this world," and how this acceptance becomes an act of defiance rather than denial or privilegeHow the poem's final image—standing at the prow of a small ship, hearing faint oars in silence—demonstrates that moments of transcendent beauty are "truly worth all the years of sorrow that are to come," offering a framework for embracing both suffering and joy as essential parts of being fully humanAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Jack Gilbert (1925–2012) was an American poet known for his spare, emotionally direct verse that explored love, loss, and the search for meaning. Born in Pittsburgh, he gained early recognition when his first collection, Views of Jeopardy (1962), was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, but then largely withdrew from the American poetry scene, spending decades living in Greece and Italy in deliberate simplicity. His infrequent but powerful work, including The Great Fires (1994) and Refusing Heaven (2005), was characterized by its refusal of ornament and fierce commitment to emotional truth, often centering on his marriage to sculptor Michiko Nogami, whose early death haunted his later poetry.Connect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at:https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title: Hard Choices: How I Decided to Publish Another Book and Risk Losing my Family.Episode Description: In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares the essay she published in Publishers Weekly about her wrenching decision to publish her award-winning memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, nineteen years after publishing her last book. Laura takes listeners inside the private calculus every memoirist faces: What happens when telling the truth might cost you the people you love? And as an exclusive for her Substack readers, she shares the actual letter she wrote to her family before the book came out — a document of rare candor and courage.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeThe unexpected aftermath of publishing The Courage to Heal (co-authored with Ellen Bass in 1988) — and the family fracture it causedHow Laura spent two decades as a writing teacher, keeping her own most urgent stories unpublishedThe moment she realized she had a new book growing inside her — and why she kept telling herself she'd never publish itThe line she had to cross before she could seriously consider putting The Burning Light of Two Stars into the worldHow she weighed her obligations to her family against her identity as a writer and storytellerWhat actually happened when she told her family the book was coming — and the range of responses she receivedThe exclusive family letter she wrote before publication — shared here for the first timeEpisode HighlightsThe First Reckoning — Laura traces the seismic family rupture that followed the publication of The Courage to Heal, and how she and her mother spent years finding their way back to each other.The Silent Bargain — For two decades, Laura kept the peace by keeping her most personal stories out of print. She reflects on what that cost her as a writer — and why it couldn't last.Writing in Secret — Scrawling dialogue on scraps of paper in hospital rooms and doctor's offices, Laura describes writing the book she told herself she'd never publish.The Weight of the Question — Laura unpacks the central dilemma facing any memoirist writing about family: How do you honor your truth without destroying the relationships you've rebuilt?The Decision — After years of deliberation, Laura chose to become an author again — and what she did the day she signed the contract is something every memoir writer should hear.The Family Responses — From silence to direct confrontation, Laura shares what happened when her extended family found out the book was real.Joy Tempered — Laura reflects on what the lead-up to a book launch actually feels like when the stakes are this personal — and why she wouldn't make a different choice.The Letter — Exclusive to Substack readers: the full text of the letter Laura sent to her family before The Burning Light of Two Stars was published — an intimate, generous act of courage rarely seen in the memoir world.About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping writers find and tell their most important stories. She is the author of seven books, including The Burning Light of Two Stars, winner of the 2021 BookLife Prize, and co-author of The Courage to Heal with Ellen Bass — a landmark work that helped launch the incest survivor empowerment movement.Laura teaches all forms of writing through weekly online Zoom classes, writing retreats at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, and international programs including her Creative Camino pilgrimage in Spain. She publishes The Writer's Journey on Substack and hosts two podcast series: her main writing-focused show and Midweek Pause for Peace, which pairs poetry with peaceful imagery. Her teaching is known for its warmth, rigor, and deep belief that every writer's story matters.Resources Laura MentionsThe Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis — her award-winning 2021 memoir (BookLife Prize Winner) https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars/The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis — the landmark 1988 book on healing from childhood sexual abuseSoapbox, Publishers Weekly — where "Hard Choices" was originally published (August 9, 2021)Free Two-Hour Writing Workshop: Flourishing as We Age — Laura's upcoming online preview event. You can register here: https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/#onlineLaura's Substack, The Writer's Journey: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Laura's website: https://lauradavis.net/Key Takeaways from This EpisodeThe "safe container" is a legitimate writing strategy. Telling yourself "I'm just writing this for myself" isn't self-deception — it's a way to protect the process while the work finds its form. Many writers need this permission to begin.Publishing a memoir about family is rarely a one-time reckoning. Laura's story shows that the consequences of writing your truth can span decades — and that rebuilding relationships is possible, even after rupture.The decision to pu

Episode Title:Julia Fehrenbacher's Rays of Kindness: Poetry on Imagining Kindness as the Water We Drink, the Air We Breathe, and the River Through EverythingEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Julia Fehrenbacher's visionary poem that invites us to reimagine kindness not as occasional gesture but as the fundamental element of existence. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this transformative work, Laura explores how the poem challenges us to make kindness our north star, our measure of success, and the river flowing through everything. This episode offers support for anyone seeking hope for a kinder world, poetry that envisions radical transformation through simple acts, or language that reframes kindness as essential infrastructure rather than luxury.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Fehrenbacher's opening invitation—"Let's let ourselves imagine"—creates permission to envision a world where kindness becomes as fundamental as water, air, and ground, transforming it from occasional virtue into the essential medium of existenceThe poem's call to "pledge our allegiance to kindness, cast our vote for kindness, worship kindness" as a radical reorientation of values that positions human connection and care above all other measures of right and successWhy the image of kindness as "the river that flows through everything" and "rays of kindness that reach out and out and out" suggests that acts of care create expanding circles of influence, each compliment and warm smile and reaching hand generating more kindness downstreamHow the poem's closing vision of "sky that opens wide and waters every parched inch of this holy, hurting world" acknowledges both the world's wounds and its sacredness, offering kindness as the water that nourishes what is parched rather than what is already flourishingAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Julia Fehrenbacher is a poet, an author, a life coach, a teacher, a regular practicer of yoga, and a sometimes-painter. She is most at home by the ocean and in the forests.Connect with Julia Fehrenbacher: https://juliafehrenbacher.comConnect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

SHOW NOTES:Episode Title: The Stage I Never Planned to Take: Writing as a Path to Courage and ResistanceEpisode Description: In this timely and deeply personal episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis offers both a writing practice and a story of unexpected courage — one that reminds us we have more bravery inside us than we may realize. Recording on the morning of the third No Kings rally, Laura connects the urgency of this political moment to the power of looking back at our own histories to find the strength we need to act now.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Why the current political climate makes reclaiming our personal courage essentialA powerful writing prompt for excavating your own history of bravery and resistanceHow writing fleshes out memories and gives them visceral, usable powerThe story behind The Courage to Heal — and why Laura chose a different story to write about todayA raw, twenty-minute free write from Laura's own early years as an out lesbianWhat happened at a women's music festival forty-five years ago that Laura has never forgottenWhy revisiting past courage can fuel present action — and how to make that memory available to yourself right nowEpisode Highlights:Laura opens from Lexington, Massachusetts on the morning of the third No Kings rally — and reflects on the historical resonance of that placeShe shares the Margaret Mead quote that has guided her through moments of collective fear and uncertaintyLaura reflects briefly on The Courage to Heal — a landmark book that came at enormous personal cost — before turning to a less obvious storyA twenty-minute free write takes listeners into a vivid scene from Laura's early twenties: a women's music festival in northern California, a drunk woman, and a terrified little boyThe moment Laura steps between the woman and the child — and what she discovers about herself in that instantLaura organizes four other lesbians to take the stage with her, drafts a statement on the spot, and speaks out in an unwelcoming crowdShe closes by inviting readers and listeners to write their own courage stories and share them in the commentsAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping writers find their voices and tell their truest stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner, 2021), and co-author of The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, one of the most influential books ever written for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.Laura teaches weekly Zoom writing classes, leads national and international writing retreats — including Flourishing as We Age and the Camino de Santiago Creative Pilgrimage— and hosts a podcast: The Writer's Journey. Her Substack newsletter, The Writer's Journey, reaches readers and writers around the world.Resources Laura Mentions:The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse — co-authored with Ellen Bass (1988), a landmark book for survivorsThe Burning Light of Two Stars — Laura's BookLife Prize-winning memoirFlourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women — Laura's upcoming June retreat at an oceanfront retreat center in Santa Cruz, California https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/A free two-hour introductory workshop based on the concepts explored in the Flourishing as We Age retreat. Free and online: April 18th online. You can register at: https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/#onlineThe Writer's Journey Substack newsletter: www.laurasaridavis.substack.com Laura Davis official website: www.lauradavis.netKey Takeaways from This Episode:Writing activates courage — Putting a memory of bravery on the page doesn't just record it; it re-embodies it and makes it available as a resource in the present moment.Your courage history is real and retrievable — Most of us have moments of moral or physical bravery we haven't thought about in years. Writing brings them back into focus.Courage doesn't have to be grand — The moment that comes to mind may be quiet, private, or unexpected. All of it counts.Collective action starts with individual memory — Before we can show up fully in the resistance, it helps to remind ourselves that we have shown up before.The prompt works — Whether you write, speak it aloud, share it with a friend, or sit quietly with it, the act of recalling a time you stood up with courage can shift how you move through the world today.Episode Call-to-Action:Laura invites listeners to respond to the courage prompt in this episode — and to share their stories in the comments. She also encourages listeners to join her for a free two-hour writing workshop, Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women. April 18th, 10-12 Pacific time, 1-3 Eastern time. It will be recorded for those who can't attend live. You can register here:https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/#onlineA weeklong version of this worksh

Episode Title:Rob Brezsny's Blessing: Poetry for Sustaining Hope, Cooking Meals, and Building Community as Democracy CollapsesEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Rob Brezsny's powerful blessing that honors the everyday acts of resistance, care, and community-building that sustain us through political collapse. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this litany of affirmations, Laura explores how cooking meals, scattering seeds, and gathering kitchen table strategies become sacred acts when democracy crumbles. This episode offers support for anyone feeling exhausted by resistance work, seeking poetry that blesses ordinary acts of care, or looking for language that transforms daily choices into revolutionary practice.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Brezsny transforms mundane acts—cooking meals, tending healing hands, rising on quiet mornings—into blessed resistance when performed against the backdrop of collapsing democracy and empire's breakingThe poem's recognition of multiple forms of survival work: preserving stories others would erase, careful documentation of what must not be lost, protecting small and wild things, and building bridges between wounded communitiesWhy "strategic joy deployed against despair" and "kitchen table strategies where sly revolution simmers" reframe pleasure and community care as tactical choices rather than indulgences or distractions from "real" activismThe blessing on sacred rage that fuels redemptive justice, acknowledging that anger at injustice is holy when channeled toward healing rather than destruction, and that sustaining hope when vulgar bullies assault it is itself an act of defianceAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Rob Brezsny is an American astrologer, author, and musician. His weekly horoscope column "Free Will Astrology," formerly "Real Astrology," has been published since 1980, and by 2010 was syndicated in around 120 periodicals. You can find it here: https://freewillastrology.com/This poem "Blessing" was published on Facebook on March 5, 2025.Connect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast Show NotesEpisode Title:When Ambition Loosens Its Grip: On Aging, Endings, and the Change That Finally Found MeEpisode Description:What happens when the drive that has defined your entire creative life begins to shift — not through loss, but through something quieter and more surprising? In this deeply personal episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares an essay born from her own writing class, exploring endings, ambition, and the unexpected season of change that has arrived in her 70th year. This is essential listening for any writer — or human — navigating the tension between who they've always been and who they're becoming.What Laura Covers in This Episode:A stunning excerpt from writer Patti Digh that reframes endings as invitations rather than lossesA writing exercise on endings that Laura uses with her students — and writes herselfA candid look at the long list of endings Laura has lived through across her lifetimeThe surprising subject that didn't make her initial list — and why it matters most right nowWhat it means when lifelong ambition begins to transform from the inside outHow Laura's relationship to work, time, and creative output has quietly, profoundly changedThe difference between drive disappearing and drive evolvingWhat it looks like to let go of projects, plans, and "should-dos" — with relief instead of guiltWhy open space has become as essential to Laura as the writing and teaching that has shaped her work life for decadesEpisode Highlights:The Endings Exercise — Laura introduces a powerful classroom prompt inspired by Patti Digh's A Geography of Endings that invites writers to inventory the endings they've lived — and discover what wants to be written.A List That Spans a Lifetime — Laura reads from her own wide-ranging list of endings, moving from profound losses to quiet turning points, modeling the vulnerability she asks of her students.The Ending She Didn't See Coming — The subject Laura chose to write about in depth wasn't on her list at all — and it turns out to be the one that illuminates everything.Still Writing, Still Teaching — But Differently — Laura reflects on what she has and hasn't let go of during a period of deep health challenge, and why her two weekly Substack posts never fell away.The Loosening — Laura pinpoints exactly what has changed: not the love of writing or teaching, but something that was always tangled up with it — and the relief of finally setting it down.The New Architecture of a Day — Laura paints a vivid picture of how her mornings have changed, and why open, unscheduled time has become non-negotiable for her creative life.Crossing Things Off — Not Because They're Done — Laura describes a new and deeply satisfying relationship to her to-do list, and what it means to release a plan with grace instead of guilt.A Sea Change, Arriving on Its Own — Laura reflects on how the transformation she sensed coming for years finally arrived — not through effort, but through surrender.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience guiding writers of all levels toward their most meaningful work. She is the author of seven books, including her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner, 2021) and co-author of the groundbreaking The Courage to Heal.Laura hosts The Writer's Journey podcast and the Midweek Pause for Peace, teaches weekly writing classes on Zoom, leads international writing retreats, and publishes The Writer's Journey newsletter on Substack. Her Creative Camino pilgrimage brings writers together on the Camino de Santiago for transformative experiences at the intersection of walking, writing, and community.Resources Laura Mentions:"A Geography of Endings" by Patti Digh (December 2025 Substack post) — https://pattidigh.substack.com/p/a-geography-of-endingsThe Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis — award-winning memoir (BookLife Prize Winner, 2021) — https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-starsThe Courage to Heal by Laura Davis and Ellen Bass — available wherever books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Heal-Survivors-Sexual-Abuse/dp/0061284335Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women — oceanfront retreat in Santa Cruz, California, June 2026 — https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/A Creative Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago—September 2026 https://lauradavis.net/camino/The Writer's Journey — Laura's Substack newsletter: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comLaura Davis's website — writing classes, books, workshops, and retreats: https://lauradavis.netKey Takeaways from This Episode:Endings are not failures — they are, as Patti Digh writes, invitations that reshape us.The most revealing writing prompt is often the one you least expect. The subject that didn't make Laura's initial list turned out to hold the most truth.Drive and ambition can evolve without disappearing.Open, unstructure

Episode Title:Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" - A Celebration of Unbreakable ResilienceEpisode Description:In this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares one of Maya Angelou's most powerful poems, "Still I Rise." Laura pairs this triumphant piece with peaceful imagery to offer listeners a moment of inspiration and nervous system regulation. Drawing from her personal experience of hearing Angelou perform this poem, Laura celebrates this timeless work that honors resilience in the face of racism, misogyny, and cruelty.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The power of Maya Angelou's voice and performance style, drawing from Laura's personal experience hearing her performHow "Still I Rise" celebrates unbreakable resilience and determination in the face of systemic oppression and crueltyThe poem's masterful use of natural imagery—dust, tides, moons, suns, and ocean—to convey strength and inevitabilityMaya Angelou's remarkable legacy as a groundbreaking memoirist, poet, performer, and civil rights activistAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About Featured Poet Maya Angelou:A multitalented writer and performer, Maya Angelou is best known for her work as an author and poet. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Some of her famous poems include "Phenomenal Woman," "Still I Rise," and "On the Pulse of Morning," which she recited at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993 and which earned her a Grammy Award. Angelou enjoyed a career as a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor and singer in plays, musicals, and onscreen. In her work as a civil rights activist, she collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, among others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient died in May 2014 at age 86.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode Title: Embracing a Different Camino: Six Months of Illness, a Saturday Hike, and a September DreamEpisode Description: In this deeply personal episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed teacher and author Laura Davis shares her return to hiking after six months of illness during breast cancer treatment. Midway through radiation, Laura laced up her hiking boots and headed out to one of her favorite Santa Cruz County trails—and began to reimagine what her upcoming Camino de Santiago pilgrimage might look like. This episode is an honest, moving reflection on resilience, acceptance, and the art of meeting each day as it comes.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Her first hike in six months after breast cancer treatment limited her physical activityThe joy and significance of returning to Bryne-Milliron Preserve in Santa Cruz CountyThe origin story of the Creative Camino—how a chance meeting in Peru with artist and guide Brenda Porter sparked a dreamThe long road from idea to reality: how Covid twice derailed the Creative Camino before it finally launched in 2023What makes the Camino de Santiago unlike any other hiking experienceHow illness has fundamentally shifted Laura's relationship to physical goals and personal expectationsHer safety plan for the September 2026 pilgrimage and why she's no longer attached to walking every mileThe deeper lesson the Camino is already teaching her—before she's even stepped on the trailEpisode Highlights:Boots Back On — After six months of illness that reduced her to barely walking around the block, Laura describes the quiet triumph of lacing up her hiking boots and heading out with her wife Karyn, their friend Mary, and their yellow lab Luna for an afternoon hike.Feeling Strength Return — Laura reflects on what it felt like to stop and rest along the trail, yet still feel her body growing stronger beneath her—a powerful moment of embodied hope midway through radiation treatment.A Dream Is Born in Peru — Laura recounts the 2017 Sacred Valley retreat where she first met Brenda Porter, an artist and skilled guide whose on-the-go watercolor practice captivated her and sparked the idea for a writing and art pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.Covid and Cancellations — Laura describes the painful process of canceling the Creative Camino twice due to the pandemic, finally launching the first successful pilgrimage in 2023—and why the wait made it all the more meaningful.Walking Across a Country — Laura captures what sets the Camino apart from any other hike: the experience of walking through farmland, villages, and cities alongside pilgrims from around the world, all moving toward the same sacred destination.The Van Will Be There — Laura explains the logistical safety net built into the Creative Camino—luggage transport and support vans that meet pilgrims at key stops—and how this year, for the first time, she's genuinely grateful it exists.A Different Kind of Attachment — In one of the episode's most reflective moments, Laura shares the shift in her relationship to achievement: where she once insisted on walking every single mile, she now finds peace in meeting each day as it comes.In Training — Laura declares herself officially in training for the September 2026 Camino pilgrimage—not with bravado, but with quiet, hard-won determination.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping writers transform their lives into powerful, personal stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and co-author of the groundbreaking The Courage to Heal.Laura hosts The Writer's Journey podcast and teaches weekly writing classes via Zoom, leads international writing retreats. Her work sits at the intersection of craft, healing, and the courage to tell the truth on the page.Key Takeaways from This Episode:Resilience is built one small step at a time. After six months of illness, Laura's return to hiking began not with a grand gesture but with a single Saturday afternoon walk. Writers and pilgrims alike are reminded that the journey back to ourselves often starts smaller than we expect.Meeting each day as it comes is a practice, not a personality trait. Laura describes learning—by necessity—to assess her energy and capacity day by day rather than committing to fixed plans. This is as true for creative practice as it is for physical endurance.Dreams worth having are worth waiting for. The Creative Camino took six years from concept to reality, surviving two pandemic cancellations. Laura's story is a reminder that meaningful creative endeavors often require patience and persistence.Community transforms experience. Whether on the Camino trail or in a writing classroom, Laura consistently points to an intimate writing community at the heart of the experience.Letting go of attachment to outcomes opens new possibilities

Episode Title:Oksana Maksymchuk's Arguments for Peace: Poetry on Denial, Cognitive Dissonance, and Living Through WarEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Ukrainian poet Oksana Maksymchuk's haunting poem that captures the psychological reality of denial as ordinary life continues against a backdrop of impending war. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this powerful work, Laura explores how we navigate the cognitive dissonance between daily routines and rapid-fire cruelty in our world. This episode offers support for anyone processing the tension between normalcy and crisis, seeking poetry that names collective denial, or looking for language that holds the contradictions of living in uncertain times.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How denial functions as a psychological mechanism when we maintain normal routines—cobblestone streets, festive celebrations, children sledding—while ignoring warnings of imminent dangerThe cognitive dissonance of dipping noses in whipping cream while pretending not to notice phones lighting up with foreign leaders warning of invasionWhy we construct arguments against reality based on what we have to lose: our happy lives, our beloved children, our cherished homes, believing our love will protect us from what's comingThe universal human tendency to believe "it couldn't be" and "war wouldn't dare come" even as evidence mounts, and how this poem holds a mirror to our own denialsAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Oksana Maksymchuk is a bilingual Ukrainian American poet, scholar, and translator. She is the author of the poetry collections Xenia and Lovy, in Ukrainian. She coedited Words for War: New Poems from Ukraine, an anthology of contemporary poetry, and has published several single-author volumes of translations. Born and raised in Lviv, Ukraine, she has also lived in Chicago, Philadelphia, Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw, and Fayetteville, Arkansas. She currently teaches at the University of Chicago.Connect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:Fear Isn't a Stop Sign—It's a Doorway: Graseilah Coolidge on How Forest Immersion Could Build World PeaceEpisode Description:In this inspiring episode of The Writer's Journey, host Laura Davis highlights the groundbreaking work of Graseilah Coolidge, a former intelligence analyst turned forest immersion guide who believes that the path to world peace begins in the quiet embrace of nature.Laura shares how she discovered Graseilah's transformative practice of forest immersion and explores the powerful insights from Graseilah's TEDx talk, "How Forests Can Shape the Future of Peace."From her background in nuclear disarmament and international conflict resolution to her profound revelation in California's redwood forests, Graseilah's journey demonstrates how inner peace can ripple outward to create global change.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Laura met Graseilah Coolidge while co-leading writing retreats in Tuscany and developed a friendship through forest hikesGraseilah's fascinating background as a former intelligence analyst with expertise in nuclear disarmament and conflict resolutionThe definition and practice of forest immersion: spending multiple days and nights alone in the forest with minimal provisions, supported by communityGraseilah's transformative experience in California's ancient redwood forests that led her to discover that peace begins withinHow Graseilah moved from traditional diplomacy to forest immersion as a tool for personal growth and global peacebuildingKey insights from Graseilah's TEDx talk "How Forests Can Shape the Future of Peace"Graseilah's vision of guiding world leaders through forest immersions to foster reconciliation, trust, and collaborationHow forest immersion awakens presence, awe, compassion, and belonging—essential qualities for changemakersGraseilah's powerful teaching: "Fear isn't a stop sign—it's a doorway"Laura's personal decision to participate in her first forest immersion in California's redwood forestsEpisode Highlights:The Tuscany Connection: Laura describes meeting Graseilah Coolidge while co-designing writing retreats at a stunning Tuscan villa complete with peacocks, olive orchards, and gourmet meals, finding in Graseilah a work partner who is capable, dedicated, hard-working, committed, reliable, and fun.Discovering Forest Immersion: During one of their regular forest hikes with Laura's dog Luna, Graseilah introduces Laura to the concept of forest immersion—spending days and nights alone in the forest with just a sleeping bag and water, supported by community, for profound communion with self and nature.From Intelligence to Inner Peace: Graseilah's fascinating background as a former intelligence analyst with a master's degree in nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution, and how she discovered the limits of traditional diplomacy in creating lasting peace.The Redwood Revelation: Graseilah's transformative experience spending days alone in California's ancient redwood forests without food or shelter led her to a profound truth: peace begins within, not in negotiation rooms."Fear Isn't a Stop Sign—It's a Doorway": When Laura expresses her fear about trying forest immersion, Graseilah offers this powerful reframe that becomes the episode's central theme, demonstrating how we can transform resistance into opportunity.Forest Immersion as Peacebuilding: Graseilah's vision of using forest immersions with world leaders as a tool for fostering reconciliation, trust, and collaboration—moving beyond traditional diplomatic approaches to create lasting change.The Power of Presence and Awe: How Graseilah's forest immersion practice awakens presence, awe, compassion, and belonging—gifts that empower people to reclaim their agency as changemakers and heal themselves and their communities.A TEDx Talk Worth Watching: Laura enthusiastically recommends Graseilah's TEDx talk "How Forests Can Shape the Future of Peace," describing it as powerful, profound, and spirit-lifting during times when thinking about the world can feel depressing.You can watch Graseilah's TedX talk here:https://youtu.be/mvyG_URZEr8?feature=sharedAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through transformative creative journeys. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021, cementing her reputation as both a masterful storyteller and an expert in the craft of personal narrative.Throughout her distinguished career, Laura has led writing workshops and international retreats, helping countless writers find their authentic voices and tell their most important stories.Her approach combines deep compassion with practical expertise, creating safe spaces for exploration and emergence. Laura's teaching emphasizes the connection between personal transformation and creative expression, and she is deeply interested in contemplative practices and experiences th

Episode Title:James Crews' "Interwoven": A Meditation on Grief and JoyEpisode Description:In this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares acclaimed poet James Crews' "Interwoven," a profound meditation on how grief and joy arrive together in our lives. Through poetry paired with peaceful imagery, Laura offers listeners a moment of reflection for both heart and nervous system.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The essential truth that grief and joy cannot be separated—they arrive together like inseparable companions in our emotional livesUnderstanding why we cannot sort our emotions like picking stones from lentils, and what wisdom comes from accepting their simultaneous presenceHow poetry creates space for processing complex emotions and finding meaning in life's contradictionsThe practice of intentional midweek pauses that honor our need for beauty while supporting nervous system regulationAbout Featured Poet James Crews:James Crews is the editor of several bestselling anthologies, including The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy and How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, which has over 100,000 copies in print. He has been featured in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Christian Science Monitor, and on NPR's Morning Edition.James is the author of four prize-winning books of poetry—The Book of What Stays, Telling My Father, Bluebird, and Every Waking Moment—and a book of short essays, Kindness Will Save the World: Stories of Compassion and Connection. James speaks and leads workshops on kindness, mindfulness, and writing for self-compassion. He lives with his husband on forty rocky acres in the woods of Southern Vermont.Connect with James Crews: Read his work on Substack and learn more about his books and teaching: https://jamescrews.comAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Join Laura on the Camino de Santiago next September: https://lauradavis.net/camino/Subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:When Your Body Finally Speaks: A Story of Healing and Learning to Listen at 69Episode Description:In this deeply vulnerable episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoir writing teacher Laura Davis shares an extraordinary letter—written from her body to her mind. After months of health challenges including breast cancer and diverticulitis, Laura gave her body a voice, and what emerged was raw, honest, and illuminating. Her body speaks about being ignored for decades, about the breaking point that finally arrived, and about what true healing requires. This is Laura's personal story of confronting "mind over matter" patterns at age 69 and discovering that slowing down isn't weakness—it's wisdom. At the end, Laura invites listeners to try the same practice if it calls to them.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Laura's personal letter from her body addressing recent breast cancer and chronic diverticulitisHow her body has been "screaming" for attention through inflamed colon, emergency room visits, and surgeryThe decades-long pattern of pushing through pain and dissociating from physical needsWhy her body reframes health crises as "wake-up calls" rather than catastrophesThe frank acknowledgment that there are no quick fixes for deep healing workDrawing strength from healing childhood sexual abuse at 27 and co-authoring "The Courage to Heal"What her body sees as resources at 69: humor, community, self-care skills, and playfulnessThe radical practice of keeping her calendar empty and making decisions based on daily energyAn invitation for listeners to let their own bodies speak if they feel called to tryAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed memoir writing teacher and author with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful personal narratives. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and co-author of the international bestseller "The Courage to Heal", which has guided hundreds of thousands of sexual abuse survivors through their healing journeys. Laura teaches weekly Zoom memoir writing classes, leads international writing retreats at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and publishes The Writer's Journey newsletter on Substack. Her teaching emphasizes writing as a transformative tool for self-discovery, healing, and growth. At 69, Laura is navigating breast cancer treatment and chronic digestive issues while continuing to share her wisdom about aging, resilience, and the power of listening to our bodies.Resources Laura Mentions"The Courage to Heal" by Laura Davis and Ellen Bass - International bestseller supporting sexual abuse survivors, written after Laura's own healing journey beginning at age 27"The Burning Light of Two Stars" by Laura Davis - Award-winning memoir exploring mother-daughter relationships (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women - Seven-day immersive workshop at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California (June 1-7, 2026) focused on resilience, navigating change, and embracing life with four master teachersKey Takeaways from This EpisodeYour Body May Be Speaking Louder Than You Think: Physical symptoms—whether digestive issues, pain, exhaustion, or illness—may be your body's escalating attempts to get your attention about patterns that are no longer sustainable."Mind Over Matter" Has Limits: Pushing through, dissociating from physical needs, and ignoring exhaustion may work for years or decades, but eventually the body demands a different approach. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward change.Health Crises Can Be Wake-Up Calls, Not Just Catastrophes: Reframing illness or physical breakdown as an opportunity to heal deeper patterns—not just an inconvenience to fix—opens the door to more profound transformation and self-care.Quick Fixes Rarely Address Root Causes: The search for the perfect doctor, diet, supplement, or treatment often masks the need for fundamental lifestyle changes, rest, and addressing what you've never fully tended to.Your Healing History Is Your Foundation: If you've navigated difficult healing journeys before—whether from trauma, illness, or major life transitions—you've already developed the resilience, commitment, and tools you need for current challenges. Draw on what you know about yourself as a survivor.Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to The Writer's Journey Newsletter: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ (receive essays on writing and life, poetry, nature photography, and healing reflections)Explore Laura's Classes, Books, and Retreats: https://lauradavis.net/Join Laura's Weekly Zoom Memoir Writing Classes: Visit her website for current class offerings and schedulesRegister for Flourishing as We Age Retreat: June 1-7, 2026 at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California (a seven-day immersive experience for women navigating life's next chapters)Listen to The Writer's Journey P

Episode Title:Alison Luterman's "The Great Rift Valley, Kenya" – A Midweek Pause for PeaceEpisode Description:In this Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis pairs Alison Luterman's contemplative poem "The Great Rift Valley, Kenya" with breathtaking safari photography from Tanzania's Great Rift Valley. This episode offers listeners a moment of reflection on our human journey, our connection to ancestral origins, and the beauty of the natural world, creating space for both heart and nervous system to rest.You can see the images that go with this audio post here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/6a4b00e6-ae56-4a82-9290-9d9af86b648fWhat Laura Covers in This Episode:The intersection of tourism and ancestral connection in Africa's Great Rift Valley, where human origins meet modern travelHow poetry can transport us beyond the superficial aspects of experience to touch something deeper and more meaningfulThe theme of disconnection from our shared human origins and the natural world that nurtured our earliest ancestorsVisual poetry through the pairing of Luterman's reflective verse with stunning wildlife and landscape photography from East AfricaAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Alison Luterman is a poet, essayist and playwright. Her books include the poetry collections In the Time of Great Fires (Catamaran Press), Desire Zoo (Tia Chucha Press), The Largest Possible Life (Cleveland State University Press), See How We Almost Fly (Pearl Editions), and a collection of essays, Feral City (SheBooks). Luterman's plays include Saying Kaddish With My Sister, Hot Water, Glitter and Spew, Oasis, Touched, and the musicals The Chain (with composer Loren Linnard), The Shyest Witch (with composer Richard Jennings), and song cycle We Are Not Afraid of the Dark (with composer Sheela Ramesh).Connect with Alison Luterman: https://www.alisonluterman.com/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

A Photo a Day Keeps Despair at Bay: The Power of a 100-Day Creative ChallengeEpisode Description:In this episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares the story of her 100-day photography challenge—a daily creative practice that has become a surprising source of joy, presence, and connection. Laura explores how committing to one tiny beautiful thing each day, with the support of an accountability partner, can transform the way we see the world and sustain us through even the most demanding seasons of life.Whether looking for a sustainable creative habit, a way to deepen a friendship, or a daily reminder that beauty is everywhere, listeners will find a practical and inspiring model for showing up creatively every single day.NOTE: This post is definitely intended as a photo essay. You can see Laura and Kendra’s. photo conversation here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/14dc28d8-07ed-46a8-8e28-cbc5fea8166bWhat Laura Covers in This Episode:How Laura discovered the 100-Day Project (the100dayproject.org) through Suleika Jaouad's (suleikajaouad.com) creative community and its origins with designer Michael BierutWhy Laura chose photography instead of writing for her creative challengeThe value of having an accountability partner for sustained creative practiceHow Laura's photography skills developed through mentorship with her partner Kendra on the Camino de SantiagoThe three simple rules that make the daily practice sustainable and pressure-freeHow daily photography has shifted Laura's way of seeing the worldWhy creativity, friendship, and community matter more than ever in difficult timesEpisode Highlights:The spark of inspiration: Laura describes hearing about the 100-Day Project at one of Suleika Jaouad's (suleikajaouad.com) monthly creative hours and immediately knowing she wanted to participate.Choosing photography over writing: Despite being a lifelong writer and writing teacher, Laura felt drawn to photography as her creative medium.Finding the perfect partner: Laura reached out to friend Kendra Webster, whose photography talent she'd admired on the Camino de Santiago, to be her daily accountability partner.A lunchtime lesson on the Camino: Laura recounts how Kendra taught her a dozen iPhone camera features over tortilla de patatas at an outdoor café on the pilgrimage trail in Spain.Three simple rules: The challenge requires just one new photo per day with a number and title—and it doesn't have to be a good photo.The range of a daily practice: Some days Laura heads out on long hikes with her dog, carefully composing shots along the beaches and woods of Santa Cruz. Other days, the photo is a sunset from the back porch in pajamas or her dog splayed on the kitchen floor.A practice worth continuing: On Day 43, Laura asked Kendra if they should keep going after 100 days. Kendra's immediate answer was YES.Beauty as a daily choice: Laura reflects on how this practice provides a daily reminder that wonder, awe, and joy still exist—and that seeking them out is something we can't afford not to do.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping writers tell their most important stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and the groundbreaking bestseller The Courage to Heal. Laura hosts The Writer's Journey podcast, leads weekly writing classes via Zoom, and conducts international writing retreats, including her upcoming 2026 creative hiking retreat on the Camino de Santiago in Spain (lauradavis.net/camino). Her teaching integrates personal vulnerability with practical craft, drawing on her own lived experience to inspire writers at every stage of their journey.Resources Laura Mentions:The 100-Day Project (the100dayproject.org) – A free, global creative challenge originally created by Michael Bierut, international designer and Yale professor. The next round starts February 22, 2026.Suleika Jaouad (suleikajaouad.com) – New York Times bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and creator of The Isolation Journals (theisolationjournals.substack.com). Laura first learned about the 100-Day Project at one of Suleika's monthly creative hours.Design Observer (designobserver.com) – Publication featuring examples of past 100-Day ProjectsLaura's 2026 Camino de Santiago Creative Hiking Retreat(lauradavis.net/camino) Laura is returning to the Camino in 2026 with a new group of pilgrims for writing and watercolor on the pilgrimage trail.Laura's Substack: laurasaridavis.substack.comLaura's website: lauradavis.netKey Takeaways from This Episode:A daily creative practice doesn't have to be big or perfect—the 100-Day Project proves that committing to one tiny beautiful thing each day is enough to shift how you move through the world.An accountability partner adds joy and staying power—having someone to share your

Episode Title:Carolyn Forché's On Living in the Hour of Cities Under Siege: Poetry of Witness, Resistance, and Standing Against InjusticeEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Carolyn Forché's powerful and urgent poem that addresses immigration enforcement, state violence, and community resistance. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this essential work of witness poetry, Laura honors the role of artists in times of political crisis. This episode offers support for anyone processing current events, seeking poetry that speaks truth to power, or looking for language that fuels resistance while providing community and solidarity.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How artists and writers fulfill their essential role during political crisis by creating work that educates, inspires resistance, and refuses despairThe power of "poetry of witness" to document injustice, immigration raids, and state violence while affirming our shared humanity across borders and identitiesWhy communities create barricades of care—bringing food to front lines, offering shelter, and building networks of protection—as acts of resistance and solidarityThe practical preparations Forché names for cities facing authoritarian tactics: gas masks, emergency contacts, knowing who will search if you disappear, and the moral imperative to hide those who need protectionAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Carolyn Forché (born 1950) is an American poet, translator, and human rights advocate best known for coining the term "poetry of witness" and for work that addresses political trauma and human suffering. Her poetry collections include Gathering the Tribes (1976), winner of the Yale Younger Poets Prize; The Country Between Us (1981), drawing from her experiences as a journalist and human rights advocate in El Salvador during the civil war; The Angel of History (1994), which received the Los Angeles Times Book Award; and In the Lateness of the World (2020), a Pulitzer Prize finalist. A University Professor at Georgetown University, she directs the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. "On Living in the Hour of Cities Under Siege" is forthcoming from Otherwhere: New and Selected Poems, 1976-2026, to be published by Scribner Books in September 2026.Connect with Carolyn Forché: https://www.carolynforche.comConnect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:When Cancer Becomes the Easy Part: Notes from My Healing PathEpisode Description:In this candid episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoir writing teacher Laura Davis shares her experience with a second breast cancer diagnosis eighteen years after her first. Laura reflects on the relief of not needing chemotherapy this time, her complicated history with endocrine therapy, the recovery process seven weeks post-lumpectomy, and the contrast between her cancer treatment and ongoing gut health challenges. With characteristic vulnerability and wisdom, Laura offers insights into medical decision-making, energy allocation during illness, and preparing for radiation treatment.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Processing a second breast cancer diagnosis eighteen years after the firstWhy avoiding chemotherapy this time makes the experience feel "easier"The journey from diagnosis uncertainty to a clear treatment protocolLaura's previous negative experiences with endocrine therapy (Tamoxifen and Arimidex)Deciding whether to try a third endocrine therapy drug despite past difficultiesRecovery milestones seven weeks post-lumpectomyPreparing for nine days of radiation treatment starting mid-FebruaryThe contrast between straightforward cancer treatment and complex gut health issuesReturning to walking and preparing for the 2025 Camino de Santiago pilgrimageHow different health challenges require different levels of daily attentionAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft compelling life stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021, and co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Laura teaches weekly Zoom memoir writing classes and leads international writing retreats, including "The Art of Memoir" and "Flourishing as We Age" programs at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California. She hosts "The Writer's Journey" podcast, where she shares her expertise on the craft of writing alongside personal reflections on creativity, aging, and resilience. Laura also produces the "Midweek Pause for Peace" series, pairing poetry with peaceful imagery to support nervous system regulation.Known for combining professional expertise with personal vulnerability in her teaching approach, Laura demonstrates through her own writing and life experiences how authentic storytelling can transform both writer and reader. She lives in California with her wife and continues to travel internationally, leading writing workshops and creative pilgrimages around the world.Resources Laura MentionsBooks by Laura Davis:"The Burning Light of Two Stars" (memoir, BookLife Prize Winner 2021): https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars/"The Courage to Heal" (co-author): https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/book/9780061284335Upcoming Retreats and Programs:Creative Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (September 6-22, 2025) - 17-day trip combining eight days hiking the last 100 km of the French Camino with writing instruction and quick sketching/watercolor techniques led by Laura and hiking guide Brenda: https://lauradavis.net/camino/"Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women" at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz (June 1-7, 2026): https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/"The Art of Memoir" retreat at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz: https://lauradavis.net/writing-retreats-2/Laura's Platforms:The Writer's Journey podcastMidweek Pause for Peace seriesWeekly Zoom memoir writing classes: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/Laura's Substack: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Laura's main website: https://lauradavis.net/Key Takeaways from This Episode:Past treatment experience shapes current perspective: Knowing which aspects of cancer treatment were hardest for you provides valuable context for facing subsequent diagnoses. Laura's relief at avoiding chemotherapy this time fundamentally changed how she views this second cancer.Medical decision-making requires weighing benefits against lived experience: When considering treatments like endocrine therapy, balance statistical benefits (halving recurrence risk) against your personal history with side effects and quality of life, recognizing that stopping treatment early doesn't necessarily mean poor outcomes.Not all health challenges are equal in their daily impact: Some medical conditions require constant attention and lifestyle adjustment, while others follow clearer treatment protocols. Understanding this difference helps you allocate energy and set realistic expectations for different aspects of healing.The path from diagnosis to treatment clarity takes time: Moving from the uncertainty of discovering a tumor through testing, biopsy, and post-surgical analysis to a defined treatment protocol is a gradual process that requires patience with the unknown.Recovery and future planning

Episode Title:Ollie Schminkey's Land of 10,000 Lakes: Poetry on Minnesota, Police Violence, Immigration Enforcement, and Community ResistanceEpisode Description:In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Ollie Schminkey's powerful poem that weaves together images of Minnesota's natural beauty and neighborly warmth with the harsh realities of police brutality, ICE raids, and community resistance. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this moving work of witness poetry, Laura honors how love transforms from sentiment to action when communities face state violence. This episode offers support for anyone processing immigration enforcement, seeking poetry that documents resistance, or looking for language that holds both tenderness and fierce protection.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Schminkey transforms Minnesota's iconic imagery—tater tot hot dish, the loon's call, northern lights—into a framework for understanding what happens when wholesome community life collides with masked men demanding papers and kicking down doorsThe poem's documentation of state violence against immigrants and communities of color: blood on car headrests, people stolen from cars and jobs and homes, boots and camo and guns flooding familiar streetsWhy whistles shrieking morning, noon, and night become the sound of community resistance, alongside kicking teargas back under SUVs, sex-shop-turned-community-centers, grocery store drop-offs, and signal chats coordinating protectionHow the Minnesota goodbye—bad at letting go of those we love, shoes on in the entryway, refusing to open the door—becomes a metaphor for communities who will not abandon neighbors, proving that love is a verb through tater tot hot dish discreetly delivered and cabins offered as safe housesAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Ollie Schminkey (they/them) is a nonbinary transgender poet, musician, ceramist, and instructor based in St. Paul, Minnesota. They are the author of two full-length poetry collections, Where I Dry the Flowers (Button Poetry, 2024) and Dead Dad Jokes (Button Poetry, 2021), which was shortlisted for both the Midwest Independent Publishers Association and the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize, as well as four chapbooks. Schminkey has spent over a decade coaching, mentoring, and teaching poets, and they facilitate Well-Placed Commas, a free weekly writing workshop serving primarily queer and trans writers. They are the founder and director of Midwest Poetry Mash-Up, a national slam poetry tournament, and winner of the 2024-25 Palette Previously Published Poem Prize. Their work has been featured in Poets.org, Frontier Poetry, and numerous other publications, with their poetry performances garnering over 3 million views on YouTube. Schminkey's work has been supported by grants from the Minnesota Regional Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board.Connect with Laura Davis:Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:The Body That Chose Life: An Ode to My Faithful Companion of 69 YearsEpisode Description:In this deeply personal episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoir teacher Laura Davis shares a transformative writing prompt inspired by poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer's "Letter to Myself at Twenty-One." Laura guides listeners through the process of writing an ode—a love song—to their bodies as they are today and then she demonstrates the power of this practice by sharing her own vulnerable response. This episode offers both a practical memoir writing technique and a profound meditation on embodiment, aging, and gratitude.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeHow to use poetry as a springboard for memoir writing promptsThe transformative power of writing odes to your own bodyTechniques for writing with radical self-acceptance and honestyHow to honor your body's journey through all its stagesWays to hold gratitude and struggle simultaneously in your writingThe relationship between aging, wisdom, and creative expressionUsing personal vulnerability to deepen your memoir practiceEpisode HighlightsLaura shares Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer's powerful poem "Letter to Myself at Twenty-One" about body acceptance and agingLaura introduces the writing prompt: "Write an ode, a love song, to your body as it is today"Laura reads her own deeply personal response, addressing her body directly after 69 yearsLaura reflects on her premature birth at 2 pounds 12 ounces and her twin sister's deathLaura demonstrates how to write about current health challenges with grace and gratitudeLaura explores the body as "faithful companion" and source of all life experienceLaura shows how to weave sensory details and specific memories into body-centered writingLaura models writing about aging and mortality with acceptance rather than resistanceAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed memoir writing teacher and author with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to tell their most powerful stories. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also the co-author of the groundbreaking book The Courage to Heal. She teaches weekly Zoom memoir classes, leads international writing retreats including "The Art of Memoir" at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, and hosts both "The Writer's Journey" podcast and the "Midweek Pause for Peace" poetry series. Laura's teaching emphasizes vulnerability, authenticity, and the transformative power of putting personal truth on the page.Resources Laura MentionsPoem: "Letter to Myself at Twenty-One" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. You can find the poem and subscribe to Rosemerry’s daily poetry feed here: https://ahundredfallingveils.com/2025/06/05/letter-to-myself-at-twenty-one/Retreat: "Flourishing as We Age: A Women's Writing Workshop" - Weeklong oceanfront retreat in Santa Cruz, California, spring 2025 (https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/)Laura's memoir: The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)Laura's book: The Courage to Heal (co-authored)Episode Call-to-ActionTry this writing prompt yourself: Set aside 20-30 minutes and write an ode to your body as it is today. Address your body directly, thanking it for specific experiences it has enabled. Don't worry about making it perfect or profound—focus on honesty and specificity. Notice what emerges when you approach your body with curiosity and gratitude rather than judgment.Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to Laura's Substack for weekly writing inspiration: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Explore Laura's writing classes, books, and international retreats: https://lauradavis.net/Learn about the "Flourishing as We Age" spring retreat: https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/Listen to more episodes of The Writer's Journey podcastJoin Laura's weekly Zoom writing classes: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

EPISODE TITLEPause for Peace: How by Rosemerry Wahtola TrommerEPISODE DESCRIPTIONIn this Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares a powerful poem that arrived in her inbox and immediately touched her heart. "How" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer asks the essential question: What is the heart to do when facing brutality? The poem's haunting refrain, "How do we go on?" invites listeners into a space of reflection on resilience, compassion, and the human capacity to endure.WHAT LAURA COVERS IN THIS EPISODEThe immediate emotional impact of receiving this poem and knowing she had to share itThe central question the poem poses: What is the heart to do in the face of such brutality?The complexity of witnessing not only suffering but also those who cheer in responseWhy the question "How do we go on?" resonates so deeply in times of collective traumaThe role of poetry in creating pause, reflection, and space for our nervous systems to process difficult truthsABOUT LAURA DAVISLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ABOUT THE FEATURED POETRosemerry Wahtola Trommer is a poet whose work explores themes of resilience, compassion, and the human experience in the face of difficulty. Her poem "How" powerfully captures the visceral reality of violence while asking profound questions about how we continue forward when witnessing brutality and suffering.Learn more about Rosemerry and read her daily poetry at: https://www.wordwoman.com/a-daily-dose-of-poetry/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:A Different Kind of Anorexia: How Diverticulitis Changed My Relationship with FoodEpisode Description:In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoir teacher Laura Davis shares her unexpected health journey through recurring diverticulitis and the profound way it has transformed her lifelong love of food into fear and isolation. With characteristic honesty and vulnerability, Laura opens up about losing 30 pounds in four months, navigating a confusing medical system, and ultimately discovering that healing requires addressing not just physical symptoms but emotional and mental well-being. This episode offers hope and practical insights for anyone dealing with chronic health challenges while maintaining life's non-negotiable commitments.Episode HighlightsThe Shock of Diagnosis: Laura describes her first diverticulitis attack in September 2025 and the confusing lack of guidance from medical professionalsFood as Identity: How Laura's relationship with cooking, entertaining, and shared meals formed a core part of her identity and joyThe Isolation of Illness: The profound loneliness of eating alone while others enjoy shared meals, bringing her own food in bento boxes to dinner partiesMedical System Frustration: Laura's experience with the "you're old, what do you expect" dismissal from healthcare providersBreaking Point Realization: Discovering that "anorexia" is listed as a diverticulitis side effect—and recognizing she had become afraid to eatCancer vs. Diverticulitis: Laura's surprising revelation that her recurring diverticulitis affects her daily life far more than her breast cancer diagnosisThe Turning Point: Recognizing that healing requires more than physical treatment—she needed to address her emotional spiralEmbracing the Journey: Laura's shift from fighting her condition to exploring holistic approaches including hypnotherapy, guided meditation, and magnetic frequency healingAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping people craft powerful personal narratives. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura teaches weekly memoir writing classes via Zoom, leads international writing retreats at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and hosts "The Writer's Journey" podcast. She also creates the "Midweek Pause for Peace" series pairing poetry with peaceful imagery. Currently based in Sinai, Egypt, Laura continues to teach, write, and support memoirists worldwide while navigating her own profound life transitions and health challenges with the same honesty and courage she brings to her teaching.Resources Laura MentionsLaura's Award-Winning Memoir: "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)Villa Maria del Mar: Oceanfront retreat center in Santa Cruz, California, where Laura will teach her upcoming workshop: "Flourishing as We Age,” a seven-day writing workshop for women at Villa Maria del Mar. https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/Functional Medicine: Alternative approach to gut health and healingAcupuncture: Traditional Chinese medicine for digestive supportHolistic Healing Modalities: Hypnotherapy for gut health, guided meditation, magnetic frequency healing devicesKey Takeaways from This Episode:Chronic illness impacts identity: When a core aspect of life (like enjoying food) becomes compromised, it can trigger depression and require grieving what was lost while adapting to a new reality.The brain-gut connection is real: Anxiety, worry, and negative thought patterns can exacerbate digestive conditions, creating a cycle where physical symptoms worsen emotional state and vice versa.Healing requires holistic approach: Traditional medical treatment alone may not address chronic conditions—integrating emotional, mental, and alternative healing practices can be essential.Self-advocacy matters: When medical professionals dismiss concerns or offer inadequate guidance, seeking multiple opinions and exploring various treatment approaches is justified and necessary.Mindset shifts enable healing: Moving from fighting against illness to accepting the journey and focusing on what you can control (thoughts, emotions, self-care) creates space for genuine healing.Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to The Writer's Journey Newsletter: www.lauradavis.netExplore Laura's Writing Classes, Books, and International Retreats: https://lauradavis.net/Listen to More Episodes: The Writer's Journey podcast https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Follow Laura's Weekly Essays and "Midweek Pause for Peace" series: Poetry and peaceful imagery for reflection. https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writi

Episode Title:Naomi Shihab Nye's "Gate A-4" – A Poem About Human Connection Across CulturesEpisode Description:In this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares Naomi Shihab Nye's beloved poem "Gate A-4," a touching true story set in an airport terminal that demonstrates how simple acts of kindness can bridge cultural divides. Through this powerful narrative poem, Laura offers listeners a vision of the shared world we all long for—one where human connection transcends fear and differences.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How a moment of crisis at an airport gate became an opportunity for cross-cultural connection and understandingThe transformative power of small gestures—speaking a few words in someone's language, making phone calls, sharing homemade cookies—to create community among strangersWhy carrying traditions and staying "rooted to somewhere" matters, even when traveling through modern spacesThe poem's hopeful message that "this can still happen anywhere" and "not everything is lost" in our divided worldAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Naomi Shihab Nye was born to a Palestinian father and an American mother and grew up in Jerusalem and San Antonio. Her books of poetry include 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East; A Maze Me: Poems for Girls; Red Suitcase; Words Under the Words; and You and Yours. "Gate A-4" is from her collection Honeybee.Featured Music:This original post on Substack includes uplifting music by Alexandra Blakely that beautifully reinforces the poem's message of human connection and hope. Alexandra's song provides the perfect musical companion to Naomi Shihab Nye's vision of a shared world where compassion and understanding bridge our differences.You can listen to Alexandra Blakely's song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBhCFsatU0YCONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title: The Body Budget: When Rest Becomes the Most Important WorkEpisode Description:In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares her journey of learning to honor what her student calls "the body budget"—the finite amount of energy available each day and the necessity of respecting those limits. Drawing on her experiences with breast cancer recurrence and diverticulitis, Laura explores how chronic illness has transformed her relationship with productivity, rest, and what truly matters. This candid reflection offers wisdom for anyone navigating health challenges, energy limitations, or the cultural pressure to constantly "do."What Laura Covers in This Episode:How Laura's lifelong identity as a "doer" has been challenged by illnessThe profound shift that occurred during her first breast cancer treatment 18 years agoUnderstanding and respecting the "body budget"—your finite daily energy resourcesWhy "mind over matter" doesn't work when facing real physical limitationsThe difficult but necessary practice of canceling commitments to protect healingLearning to prioritize rest over productivity and plansThe Ayurvedic concept of Swapna—deep, healing sleep that supports recoveryHow to calculate daily energy capacity and make choices accordinglyThe spiritual clarity that emerges when life slows downEpisode Highlights:The Doer's Dilemma: Laura reflects on her lifelong pattern of creating, manifesting, and following through—and what happens when the body can no longer sustain that paceRemembering the First Time: How Laura's first breast cancer experience 18 years ago taught her about surrender, presence, and living without future plansThe Hard Math of Energy: Learning that you can only do one thing per day when recovering—not six things stacked in a rowSaying No to Mexico: The relief Laura felt canceling her sold-out workshops at the San Miguel Writer's Conference to honor her body's needsThe Body Budget Explained: Laura's friend Nancy Gertz introduces the concept that once your gas tank is empty, you must refill before doing anything elseTraining for the Camino—Later: How Laura postponed hiking preparation with her student Urmila to focus on healing nowWisdom from Urmila: The beautiful message about Ayurvedic healing, Swapna, and emerging from hibernation like a bear in springRest as the Real Work: Why guarding energy and rebuilding health must come first, even for natural doersAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers in the craft of memoir. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also the co-author of the groundbreaking book The Courage to Heal and has taught countless students through her international writing retreats, weekly Zoom classes, and her podcast The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis. Drawing from her extensive experience in both writing and life, Laura brings authenticity, wisdom, and practical guidance to every episode. She currently lives in Santa Cruz, California and continues to teach and inspire writers worldwide.Episode Call-to-Action:If you're facing health challenges, energy limitations, or burnout, take time this week to assess your own "body budget." What can you release? What truly matters most right now? Honor your answers without judgment. And if Laura's reflections resonated with you, share this episode with someone who might need permission to rest.Connect with Laura Davis:Subscribe to The Writer's Journey: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Explore Laura's classes and retreats: https://lauradavis.net/Join Laura on the Camino de Santiago: Writing and watercolor pilgrimage, September 2026 (three spots remain): https://lauradavis.net/camino/Leave a comment: Share your own experiences with energy limits and the body budgetSupport the podcast: Click the heart, comment, or share to help new listeners discover The Writer's JourneyThe Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode TitlePause for Peace: Carolyn Brigit Flynn's "My Pledge of Allegiance" – Honoring Our Deepest AllegiancesEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares writing teacher and poet Carolyn Brigit Flynn's profound poem "My Pledge of Allegiance," a beautiful meditation on pledging ourselves to Earth, sky, elements, and the sacred web connecting all life. Laura pairs this stirring poem with peaceful imagery to invite listeners to reflect on their own deepest allegiances.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeCarolyn Brigit Flynn's complete poem reimagining what we pledge ourselves toAllegiance to Earth and the great web in which it spins, with rootedness and belonging for allDevotion to the elements—air, fire, wind, and sea—and the eternal beauty in which they liveAn invitation to consider what you pledge your deepest allegiance to in your own lifeAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetCarolyn Brigit Flynn is a poet, essayist and teacher based in Santa Cruz, California. Her work is dedicated to using language as a pathway to deepening soul and spirit. Carolyn teaches Writing to Feed Your Soul workshops and often writes about Ireland and her perspective as an Irish American. Her memoir, The Light of Ordinary Days, will be published in spring of 2026.Learn more about Carolyn Brigit Flynn at her website: https://www.carolynbrigitflynn.com/ Follow Carolyn on Substack: https://carolynbrigitflynn.substack.com/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode TitleThe Face in the Mirror: On Aging, DNA, and Unexpected InheritancesEpisode DescriptionIn this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a letter to her late father written forty years after their correspondence ended. When Laura catches her reflection in the mirror after breast cancer surgery and recent health challenges, she discovers her father's face looking back at her—complete with his distinctive Einstein eyebrows and weathered features. Laura explores the shock of sudden aging, the power of DNA and family inheritance, and how loving acceptance can transform our relationship with our changing bodies. This episode offers both a tender meditation on mortality and practical wisdom for writers exploring themes of aging, family connection, and self-acceptance.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeWriting letters to deceased loved ones as a healing practiceThe unexpected physical manifestations of DNA and family resemblanceNavigating sudden physical changes after illness and surgeryAdapting body reclamation exercises from The Courage to Heal for agingThe gap between how we feel internally and how our bodies age externallyFinding love and acceptance for our changing faces and bodiesUsing memoir writing to process loss, aging, and transformationHer father's poignant realization at 81: "I still feel 13 on the inside"About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through the craft of memoir. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and co-author of the groundbreaking bestseller The Courage to Heal. Laura teaches weekly writing classes via Zoom, hosts transformative international writing retreats hiking the Camino de Santiago and at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and produces The Writer's Journey podcast along with her Midweek Pause for Peace series. Her work combines vulnerable personal storytelling with practical writing instruction, helping memoirists craft authentic, compelling narratives that honor their experiences while connecting deeply with readers.Resources Laura MentionsBook: The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis (published 38 years ago, featuring the "one-inch exercise" in the "Bodies" chapter)Book: The Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)Previous Essay: "The Hippie Dad Who Never Stopped Writing" (featuring examples of her father's artistic letters)This essay on Substack so you can see the images: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/7d44f8c3-38c7-4d8d-9b91-c8d4889def7dUpcoming Retreat: "Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Workshop for Women" at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California (Retreat details at https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/)Body Reclamation Technique: The "one-inch exercise" for self-acceptance and healingKey Takeaways from This Episode:Write letters to the dead as a powerful memoir practice—Epistolary writing can help you process grief, maintain connection, and discover new insights about relationships that transcend time and death.Honor the emotional journey of sudden physical change—Allow yourself to move through shock, dismay, curiosity, and acceptance without rushing to positivity or forcing premature acceptance.Adapt healing practices to new life stages—Techniques like the "one-inch exercise" originally designed for trauma recovery can be reimagined for challenges like aging, illness, or body changes.Recognize the gap between internal and external aging—Understanding that we "still feel 13 inside" while our bodies age can help us approach our reflections with compassion rather than judgment.Find love through connection—When we see our beloved family members reflected in our own aging faces, it can transform self-criticism into tenderness and acceptance.Episode Call-to-ActionSpend time with your own reflection this week. Look closely at the mirror and ask yourself: Who do you see looking back? Whose features have emerged in your face? Write a letter—to a parent, grandparent, or other ancestor whose DNA you carry—exploring what you've inherited and how those physical connections make you feel. Share your reflections in the comments, and if this episode resonated with you, click the heart and share it with other writers navigating the journey of aging and self-acceptance.Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to The Writer's Journey: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Explore Laura's Classes, Books & Retreats: https://lauradavis.net/Spring 2025 Retreat: Learn about "Flourishing: A Writing Workshop for Women Over Fifty" at https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/Support Laura's Work: Click the heart on posts, leave comments, and share episodes to help new readers discover The Writer's JourneyThe Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her

Episode TitlePause for Peace: Pat Schneider's "Is There an Angel in the House" – Finding Shelter in VulnerabilityEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares beloved poet and teacher Pat Schneider's heartfelt poem "Is There an Angel in the House," a tender exploration of vulnerability, the courage to ask for help, and the shelter we all need when we're bruised. Laura pairs this touching poem with peaceful imagery to offer listeners a moment of compassion and permission to rest.What Laura Covers in This EpisodePat Schneider's complete poem about asking for comfort when we're bruised and need shelterThe courage it takes to ask for help and admit we need the shelter of a wingThe promise to rise again, light the fire, and carry our corner of the world—after we've been heldA writing prompt Laura uses in her retreats: "Write a love song to your imperfections"About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetPat Schneider (1934–2020) was the founder and creator of the Amherst Writers & Artists method. She was a writer, poet, teacher and editor, playwright and librettist who lived and worked in Amherst, Massachusetts. She opened the door to writing to all kinds of people who might otherwise never have written.Writing PromptWrite a love song to your imperfections.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:The Hippie Dad Who Never Stopped Writing: How Letters Can Keep Love Alive After AbandonmentEpisode Description:In this deeply personal episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoirist Laura Davis shares a moving story from her own life about her father—the free-spirited man who left when she was 13 and never came back, but whose handwritten letters sustained their connection across decades and distance. Laura opens her heart to share how her father's quirky, artistic correspondence taught her that love can transcend physical presence. She also reads from a treasured 1975 letter that demonstrates his unconditional acceptance during her years in a guru's ashram—a stark contrast to her mother's reaction. This intimate storytelling offers a window into Laura's life and the power of sustained connection through the written word.To See the Letters:You can see incredible examples of Abe Davis’ letters by checking out the written version of the post: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/e0269b66-f7f6-44a5-b8be-219fb96ad4a4What Laura Covers in This Episode:How her father left the family when she was 13 and never returned to New JerseyThe transformative power of her father's first letter, received at summer campWhy she never felt abandoned despite her father's physical absenceThe artistic, quirky nature of her father's handwritten correspondence over decadesHow her parents had polar opposite reactions to her choices as a young adultThe contrast between conditional and unconditional parental loveWhy she kept every letter her father wrote and cherishes them todayThe writing practice prompt: "Tell me about a letter, written, read, sent, or received"An invitation to join Laura's ongoing writing classesEpisode Highlights:The 1967 Dodge Dart Departure - Laura describes the moment her father drove her brother to college in Boulder and never came back, marking the beginning of his journey to "find himself" at California's Esalen InstituteThe First Letter from Camp - How receiving her father's first handwritten letter at age 14 established the pattern that would sustain their relationship: "he wasn't coming back to New Jersey and that he still loved me"A Father's Unconditional Acceptance - Laura reads from a 1975 letter her father sent while she lived in a guru's ashram, demonstrating his complete acceptance of her choices even when he didn't share her beliefs—a stark contrast to her mother's threatened deprogrammingThe Art of Letter Writing - Laura describes her father's unique correspondence style: left-handed script, hand-drawn illustrations, watercolor decorations, made-up limericks, and even a ten-page illustrated odyssey on quitting smokingYellow Construction Paper Epistles - How her father crafted letters on bright yellow construction paper, folded accordion-style, and stuffed into hand-decorated envelopes—each one a creative work of artTwo Parents, Two Responses - Laura reflects on having "two more different parents": the free-spirited father who left versus the mother who stayed, paid bills, and held steady through her daughter's teenage rageThe Turquoise Box Under the Stairs - Laura shares how her father's letters live in a large turquoise plastic box in her office crawl space, and the joy of rereading them after twenty yearsForgiveness and Friendship - How Laura's parents eventually became friends again later in life, a transformation Laura credits to her mother's capacity to forgiveAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and memoir writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft authentic, powerful personal narratives. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the 2021 BookLife Prize and explores her complex relationship with her mother. She is also co-author of The Courage to Heal, along with six other books on writing and healing.Laura teaches ongoing weekly writing classes on Zoom, leads international writing retreats at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and hosts The Writer's Journey podcast. With decades of experience guiding writers through vulnerable storytelling, Laura has become a leading authority on memoir craft and writing for personal transformation.Key Takeaways from This Episode:Letters as lifelines - Consistent, authentic written communication can maintain deep connection even when someone is physically absent or has made painful choicesLove transcends physical presence - Laura's story demonstrates that feeling loved and feeling abandoned are not the same thing—her father left, but she never doubted his loveUnconditional acceptance matters - A parent's ability to accept their child's choices without judgment, even when they disagree, creates lasting emotional securityKeeping what matters - Saving meaningful artifacts like letters provides emotional connection that can be revisited and treasured decades laterComplex relationships deserve space - Laura's honest portrayal of both parents—the one who left and the

Episode Title:Pause for Peace: Julia Fehrenbacher's "The Most Important Thing" – Making a Home Inside YourselfEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares poet Julia Fehrenbacher's deeply moving poem "The Most Important Thing," an invitation to create a shelter of kindness within ourselves, where everything is forgiven and allowed. Laura pairs this nurturing poem with peaceful imagery to offer listeners a moment of self-compassion and gentle acceptance.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeJulia Fehrenbacher's complete poem "The Most Important Thing"Making a home inside yourself: a shelter of kindness where everything is forgivenWelcoming all that has been banished and buriedThe transformative power of radical self-acceptanceA peaceful visual meditation paired with meaningful poetryAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetJulia Fehrenbacher is a poet, an author, a life coach, a teacher, a regular practicer of yoga, and a sometimes-painter. She is most at home by the ocean and in the forests.Learn more about Julia Fehrenbacher at her website: https://juliafehrenbacher.com/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title:The Portal in the Wound: Finding Spaciousness When My Body Narrows the PathEpisode Description:In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a profound exploration of living and writing through her second breast cancer diagnosis, eighteen years after her first. Laura unpacks a single intuitive sentence that arrived unbidden—"My life feels rich and expansive in its diminishment"—revealing how physical limitations can open unexpected doors to creativity, connection, and spiritual depth. Drawing on 35+ years of teaching experience and her award-winning memoir work, Laura demonstrates the power of deep, intuitive writing while offering writers a masterclass in mining personal hardship for universal truths.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The moment of intuitive writing that produced an unexpected truth about her current realityNavigating a second breast cancer diagnosis and the uncertainties of treatment decisionsMemories of chemotherapy treatment from 1997 and the power of community supportHow physical diminishment naturally redirects life force into new creative channelsThe concept of neuroplasticity applied to adult adaptation and personal growthFinding richness through daily photography practice, deepened friendships, and meditationWriting as an accessible creative practice during physical limitationsEmbracing uncertainty, impermanence, and the aging body with graceThe intersection of spiritual practice and the writing lifeHow raw truth and vulnerability create the most powerful memoir writingEpisode Highlights:The Portal of Intuitive Writing Laura shares how a single sentence—"My life feels rich and expansive in its diminishment"—arrived through text message and immediately resonated through her bones, demonstrating the primal power of deep, intuitive writing that accesses truths the conscious mind hasn't yet understood.Cancer's Uncertain Return Eighteen years after her first breast cancer diagnosis, Laura faces the possibility of chemotherapy again. She describes the physical reality of post-surgical recovery and waiting for Oncotype DX test results that will determine her treatment path, showing how even "small" cancers remain unpredictable.The 1997 Chemotherapy Journey Laura vividly recalls her first cancer treatment: eight patients in cushy recliners facing each other, the IV drips of poison, the head-shaving ceremony surrounded by singing friends, chemical menopause, and the months when food tasted like rusty nails. She lost 40 pounds while strangers praised her "sexy" weight loss.The Village That Showed Up Laura remembers the incredible community support that sustained her family during treatment: parents driving her children to school, meals delivered multiple times weekly, free massage and bodywork, friends tracking insurance claims, and companions at chemotherapy appointments. She describes this as "the best part of having cancer."Neuroplasticity as Life Philosophy Drawing an analogy to infant brain development, Laura explains how physical diminishment naturally redirects her life force into new channels—more writing, daily photography exchanges, deeper conversations, expanded spiritual capacity, and meditation on death and impermanence.Writing From the Sickbed Laura reveals how writing has become her accessible creative practice during recovery, demonstrating that some of our most powerful work emerges when we're blocked from our usual activities and forced to channel energy differently.The In-Your-Face Cancer Patient Laura describes her choice to be visible during treatment—walking around town bald, wearing only a beanie when cold, refusing wigs, wanting people to see "what cancer looks like." She taught writing throughout her treatment year, creating circles where raw truth resonated.Gifts Hidden in Diminishment Laura explores the surprising joys emerging from limitation: quiet stillness, new sources of pleasure, deepened listening capacity, perspectives that tip into the vast, and the wisdom of accepting an aging body and winding-down productivity.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to craft powerful, transformative memoirs. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the 2021 BookLife Prize and has touched readers worldwide with its raw honesty and literary craft. As host of The Writer's Journey podcast, Laura shares the deep, intuitive writing practices she's dedicated her life to, helping writers access truths that resonate through their bones and souls.Laura teaches internationally and leads transformative writing retreats, including "The Art of Memoir" and "Flourishing as We Age" at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California. Her approach combines technical excellence with spiritual depth, encouraging writers to mine their most difficult experiences for universal wisdom. Laura is the author of seven books and brings both

Episode Title:Pause for Peace: Nikita Gill's "Reasons to Live Through the Apocalypse" – Celebrating What We Love and CherishEpisode Description:In this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares British-Indian poet Nikita Gill's heartfelt poem "Reasons to Live Through the Apocalypse," a beautiful invitation to name the things we still love, savor, and cherish in this world. Laura pairs this uplifting poem with peaceful imagery to offer listeners a moment of gratitude and grounding amid life's uncertainties.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Nikita Gill's complete poem "Reasons to Live Through the Apocalypse"The power of naming what we love: sunrises, people yet to meet, songs of love and revolutionFinding beauty in simple moments: walks in the woods, butterflies, the moon in all her formsA writing prompt inviting listeners to create their own lists of reasons to liveA peaceful visual meditation paired with meaningful poetry to calm the nervous system.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured Poet:Nikita Gill is a British-Indian poet, playwright, writer and illustrator living in the south of England. She writes poetry collections and novels in verse that explore themes of mythology, folklore, and female experience, and has a large online following, particularly on Instagram. Gill has published eight collections of poetry and is the editor of the poetry anthology SLAM!Connect with Nikita Gill on Substack: https://nikitagill.substack.com/about Follow Nikita on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikitagillwrites/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikita_gill/?hl=enWriting Prompt:Make your own list of reasons to live through the apocalypse.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

COMPLETE PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode Title: Things I Didn't Know I Loved: How Focusing on Small Pleasures Helps Writers Navigate Challenging TimesEpisode Description: In this episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis explores a transformative writing prompt that helps writers find grounding during times of fear and uncertainty. Drawing from master teacher Deena Metzger's book Writing for Your Life, Laura shares how the deceptively simple exercise "Things I Didn't Know I Loved" goes far beyond standard gratitude lists to reveal intimate truths about our lives. Through student examples and her own 50-item list, Laura demonstrates how attention to overlooked details can become a powerful antidote to today's chaos and a pathway to joy.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The origin of the "Things I Didn't Know I Loved" writing prompt from Deena Metzger's Writing for Your Life.How this prompt differs from traditional gratitude lists by focusing on overlooked rather than obvious blessings.A complete reading of student Shoshana Helman's creative and surprising response to the prompt.Laura's own extensive 50-item list, ranging from practical pleasures to profound life experiences.How the exercise helped Laura's writing students feel grounded and centered despite living with fear and uncertainty.The therapeutic power of focusing on small, specific details in our daily lives.Why list-making can serve as a powerful precursor to longer, more developed writing pieces.How this exercise reveals intimate truths about the writer and creates windows into their inner world.Episode Highlights:The Prompt That Goes Deeper: Laura introduces a writing exercise from Deena Metzger that asks writers to dig beyond obvious gratitudes and instead identify small, easily overlooked pleasures in their lives—things they didn't consciously know they loved until they stopped to notice.A Student's Surprising List: Laura shares student Shoshana Helman's beautifully crafted response, which includes unexpected items like "the ding that announces an incoming text," "showering in the dark," and the profound closing entries about readiness and living a good life.Laura's Personal Inventory: Laura reveals her own 50-item list, offering intimate glimpses into her life through details like her c-pap travel pillow, the white streak in her hair from chemotherapy, motion theatre practice, and the Spanish pronunciation of her name.The Universal Response: When Laura's students completed this exercise, they reported feeling grounded and centered, discovering that focusing on small pleasures provided relief from the fear and chaos of current events.Lists as Windows to Self: Laura explains how list-making exercises in her classes consistently reveal deep truths about the writers who create them, serving as both creative warm-ups and profound self-discovery tools.The Compulsion to Continue: Both Laura and her students found they couldn't stop writing once they started, with ideas continuing to flow even after the timed exercise ended—a sign of the prompt's power to unlock authentic expression.From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Laura's list demonstrates how the exercise transforms mundane details like paper towels as napkins, organized freezers, and heated toilet seats into meaningful acknowledgments of life's small luxuries and hard-won wisdom.Connection Through Specificity: When students shared their lists in small groups, the specific, intimate details created powerful connections and offered windows into each writer's unique experience of being alive.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to tell their most important stories. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021, cementing her reputation as both a masterful memoirist and an expert on the craft of personal narrative.As a writing instructor, Laura specializes in helping students access deep truths through carefully crafted prompts and exercises. She teaches regular writing classes, offers private coaching sessions, and leads transformative international writing retreats that combine creative practice with cultural immersion. Laura believes in the power of specific details, authentic voice, and the courage required to examine our lives with honesty and compassion.Resources Laura MentionsBooks:Writing for Your Life by Deena Metzger (source of the "Things I Didn't Know I Loved" prompt)The Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis (award-winning memoir, BookLife Prize Winner 2021)International Writing Retreat:Write, Travel, Transform: Cuba (April 13-26, 2026) - A 14-day writer's journey combining daily writing practice with cultural exploration in Cuba, featuring meetings with local historians, artists, and cultural practitioners.Learn more: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/Websites and Publications:Laura's Substack: The Writer's Journey wit

Episode TitlePause for Peace: Dawna Markova's "I Will Not Die an Unlived Life" – A Declaration of Living FullyEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares author and psychotherapist Dawna Markova's transformative poem "I Will Not Die an Unlived Life," a powerful declaration about choosing to inhabit our days fully and risk our significance. Laura pairs this inspiring poem with peaceful imagery to offer listeners a moment of courage and reflection on what it means to truly live.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeDawna Markova's complete poem "I Will Not Die an Unlived Life"The choice to not live in fear of falling or catching fireWhat it means to truly inhabit our days and allow living to open usBecoming less afraid and more accessible through intentional livingLoosening the heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promiseThe courage to risk our significance in the worldThe transformative power of choosing to live fully rather than merely existingA peaceful visual meditation paired with meaningful poetry for nervous system regulationAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetDawna Markova followed her precious grandmother's footsteps to become a midwife, but rather than babies, she helps birth possibilities within and between people. She has lived many incarnations in the past seven decades as an author, teacher, psychotherapist, researcher, executive advisor, and organizational fairy godmother. One of the creators of the best-selling Random Acts of Kindness series, Dawna is the author of many other inspirational books, including: I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion; Reconcilable Differences: Connecting In a Disconnected World; Collaborative Intelligence: Thinking With People Who Think Differently; A Spot of Grace: Remarkable Stories Of How You DO Make a Difference.Learn more about Dawna Markova at her website: https://dawnamarkova.com/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

EPISODE TITLE: Crossing the Border into Aging: When Identity Unravels and the Body Speaks UpEPISODE DESCRIPTION: In this episode, Laura Davis explores the transformative passage into aging as a border crossing—a threshold where long-held identities begin to unravel and the body demands attention in new ways. Inspired by a writing prompt from Pádraig Ó Tuama, Laura shares her own experience of watching familiar roles and definitions fall away like an old sweater that no longer fits. She examines how fear, uncertainty, curiosity, and discomfort accompany this natural process of molting into a different future, and why staying present without a clear map forward requires both courage and patience.WHAT LAURA COVERS IN THIS EPISODE:· Recognizing when habitual identities no longer fit who you're becoming· The physical and emotional experience of identity unraveling in later life· Navigating the borderlands between who you were and who you're becoming· Meeting fear and uncertainty as natural companions in life transitions· Learning to sit with the raw, open feeling of being without defining labels· Trusting the natural molting process that makes space for new ways of beingABOUT HOST LAURA DAVIS:Laura Davis is an acclaimed memoir writing teacher and author with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to craft compelling personal narratives. She is the author of seven books, including her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars, winner of the 2021 BookLife Prize. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking classic The Courage to Heal. Through her weekly Zoom classes, domestic and international retreats, and The Writer's Journey newsletter on Substack, Laura helps writers develop the skills and confidence to tell their most meaningful stories. Her teaching emphasizes authentic voice, embodied writing, and the courage to explore difficult territory with honesty and craft.KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:1. Aging involves crossing borders where familiar identities dissolve—what felt comfortable and defining can suddenly feel constricting and ill-fitting.2. The body often speaks up first, signaling when old ways of being no longer serve the person you're becoming.3. Uncertainty about the future isn't something to fix but rather a natural state to inhabit during profound life transitions.4. The discomfort of shedding identities creates raw, open space where new possibilities can eventually emerge.5. Staying present with the molting process, rather than rushing to define what comes next, honors the natural rhythm of transformation.RESOURCES LAURA DAVIS MENTIONED:· Pádraig Ó Tuama's writing prompt on borders from "The Borders We Cross" (Poetry Unbound) https://poetryunbound.substack.com/p/the-borders-we-cross· The Writer's Journey newsletter on Substack https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/· Laura's weekly writing Zoom classes: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/· The Art of Memoir retreat, November 3-7, 2025, Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/· Laura's memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars/New episodes of The Writer's Journey podcast release weekly. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform to receive memoir writing wisdom, reflections on the creative life, reflections on aging and life, and inspiration for telling your most important stories. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode TitlePause for Peace: Aftermath - A Poem of Hope and Collective HealingEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, Laura Davis shares "Aftermath" by Charleston poet Paula Gordon Lepp. This powerful poem invites listeners to imagine what comes after the crumbling of empires.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeHow shifting focus beyond daily crises can help us envision possibilities for renewal and restoration in difficult timesThe choice to respond to societal collapse through compassion and mutual aid rather than isolation or self-preservationWhy shared adversity reveals our common humanity and creates opportunities for genuine connection across all dividesThe transformative potential of collaborative reconstruction About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetPaula Gordon Lepp is a Charleston, West Virginia poet who is "just trying to do my part to make the world a tiny bit better."Connect with Paula Gordon Lepp: https://www.facebook.com/paulaglepp/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title: The Sanctuary of Three Empty Weeks: Facing Cancer, Solstice, and the Unfamiliar Territory of Doing NothingEpisode Description: In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a vulnerable winter solstice meditation written just days before her cancer surgery. Drawing from a writing prompt by her teacher Carolyn Brigit Flynn, Laura explores what it means to surrender all identities, face medical uncertainty, and discover the unexpected gift of three weeks with an empty calendar. With her characteristic honesty and lyrical prose, Laura transforms a cancer diagnosis into a profound teaching about rest, restoration, and the courage to simply be.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The experience of preparing for cancer surgery and surrendering all identitiesConfronting medical procedures and the vulnerability of becoming just a bodyHer second cancer surgery in eighteen years and what that meansThe unexpected gift of three weeks with no plans during the winter holidaysThe challenge of learning to rest when your mind craves productivityCreating a winter solstice prayer for healing and restorationEmbracing emptiness as sanctuary rather than voidThe spiritual practice of meeting each agenda-less day with curiosityAllowing recovery, integration, and spaciousness during the darkest time of yearEpisode Highlights:The Stripping Away: Laura describes the powerful ritual of surrendering everything—clothes, possessions, and all her identities as teacher, author, mother, grandmother, wife—to become simply a body preparing for surgeryFacing Cancer Again: Eighteen years after her first breast cancer surgery, Laura returns to Stanford Hospital for a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, confronting both medical reality and deeper questions about identityThe Gift You're Not Sure You Can Cherish: While others celebrate holidays with parties and gatherings, Laura faces three weeks of completely empty calendar—a gift she's learning to embraceThe Solstice Invitation: Laura frames her recovery time as a spiritual practice aligned with winter solstice, using darkness and stillness as teachersResisting the Siren Pull: With characteristic self-awareness, Laura acknowledges her mind's habits of "generating and creating and doing" and her commitment to resisting those familiar patternsThe Glory of Discovery: Laura reframes the discomfort of not knowing what to do as an opportunity for discovery, sanctuary, and the essential balm of healingA Prayer for Being: The episode culminates in Laura's beautiful invocation to rest, restore, sleep, nourish, taste emptiness, and embrace each unfolding momentWriting as Healing Practice: Laura demonstrates how responding to writing prompts can transform personal crisis into profound meditation and meaning-makingAbout Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed memoir writing teacher and author with over 35 years of experience helping writers find their authentic voice and transform personal experiences into compelling narratives.She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and co-author of the groundbreaking The Courage to Heal.Laura hosts The Writer's Journey podcast, leads weekly Zoom memoir writing classes, and offers international writing retreats. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating safe spaces for vulnerable sharing and using storytelling as a path to healing and self-discovery. Laura's work has touched thousands of writers worldwide, helping them craft honest, powerful stories from their lived experiences.Resources Laura MentionsCarolyn Brigit Flynn - Laura's writing teacher who provided the winter solstice writing prompt. https://www.carolynbrigitflynn.com/Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women - June 1-7, 2026, Santa Cruz, California - An oceanfront retreat using story, deep listening, and ritual to welcome change, build resilience, and hold grief and gratitude simultaneously. https://lauradavis.net/ https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/And if you're ready to begin your memoir writing journey, explore Laura's weekly Zoom classes and other offerings at lauradavis.net.Connect with Laura Davis:Website: https://lauradavis.net/Substack Newsletter: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Podcast: The Writer's Journey with Laura DavisMidweek Pause for Peace: Laura's poetry and peaceful imagery seriesWriting Classes: Weekly Zoom memoir writing classesRetreats: International writing retreats including The Art of Memoir https://lauradavis.net/The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to disc

Episode TitlePause for Peace: Elizabeth Carlson's "Imperfection" – A Love Song to Our Messy, Beautiful SelvesEpisode DescriptionIn this Midweek Pause for Peace episode, host Laura Davis shares poet Elizabeth Carlson's joyful poem "Imperfection," a celebration of all the ways we fall delightfully short of perfect—and why that's exactly as it should be. Laura pairs this lighthearted poem with peaceful imagery to offer listeners permission to embrace their beautifully imperfect selves.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeElizabeth Carlson's complete poem celebrating the art of being imperfectLearning to love our quirks, from forgetfulness to chipped nail polishChoosing to waste time listening to the rain or lying underneath a purring catThe shift from crossing things off lists to seeking an empty mind and formless shapesAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetElizabeth Carlson's poem "Imperfection" appears in Teaching with Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach.Writing PromptWrite a love song to your imperfections.CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasavisdavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode TitleThe Crawl Space Under the Stairs: A Multi-Generational Search for AnswersEpisode DescriptionIn this engaging episode, Laura Davis shares a story that begins with a simple need—tracking down old medical records—and transforms into a multi-generational detective story. Laura takes listeners on an adventure into the cramped crawl space beneath her home office stairs, where decades of correspondence, books, and professional materials are stored. What starts as a practical search becomes a reflection on the universal human impulse to investigate, discover, and make sense of our own histories—an impulse Laura now shares with her grandchildren, who are endlessly curious about how things work and where things come from.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeLaura shares the story of needing to track down old medical records from her breast cancer treatment years ago—doctors at Stanford are asking questions she can't remember the answers to. Her former oncologist's practice has closed and Laura finds herself out of luck. Unless she can find the records from that time buried somewhere in her house.Enter the crawl space: a dark, dusty repository beneath the stairs in Laura's home office where she's stored decades of professional materials, PR from her first book "The Courage to Heal," old photographs, and boxes of correspondence—including letters exchanged with her mother during their years of estrangement.Through vivid, sensory storytelling, Laura recounts the physical comedy and determination of crawling into this space, searching through boxes she hasn't opened in years, all in pursuit of information she needs now. Episode Highlights The multi-generational search for answers: connecting Laura's detective work with her grandchildren's endless curiosityThe physical comedy of entering the crawl space: shimming on your back in the darkThe practical challenge of tracking down medical records when practices closeVivid sensory storytelling: making cramped, dusty spaces come alive on the pageThe universal human impulse to investigate and piece together our storiesFinding humor and adventure in everyday challengesAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through the challenges and revelations of crafting memoir. She is the author of seven books, including her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also the co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."As a master teacher, Laura specializes in helping writers transform their most difficult life experiences into compelling narrative. She leads "The Art of Memoir" writing retreats in Santa Cruz, California, and hosts two podcast series: her main show focused on memoir writing craft and "Midweek Pause for Peace," a series designed to support emotional wellness through poetry and peaceful imagery. Laura publishes The Writer's Journey newsletter on Substack, where she shares writing wisdom, prompts, and encouragement with her community of writers.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeThe detective in all of us: From grandchildren asking "why?" to adults searching through crawl spaces, we're all driven by curiosity about our own stories and histories.Sensory detail brings any story alive: Whether you're writing about a dusty crawl space or any other setting, vivid sensory details transport readers directly into the experience.Everyday adventures make great memoir: You don't need dramatic events—the challenge of retrieving old documents can become a compelling narrative with the right approach.Find the humor: Even in frustrating situations (lost medical records, cramped spaces), there's often physical comedy and lightness to be found.Connect with Laura Davis:The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode DescriptionIn this moving Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares "V'ahavta," a stunning poem by author and activist Aurora Levins Morales that reimagines an ancient Jewish prayer for our current moment. Aurora's work reminds us that resistance isn't only about opposing what we hate—it's also about knowing and proclaiming what we love.The "V'ahavta" is a Jewish prayer that means "and you shall love," commanding believers to love God with all their heart, soul, and might. Aurora's version, penned in 2016, perfectly captures the moment we're living in—a call to inscribe love on our doorposts and our bodies, to teach it to our children and neighbors, and to recite it even in the cruel shadow of empire.Through the words of the prophet Roque Dalton, Aurora offers us this truth: while those in power have more death than we do, together we have more life than they do. Another world is possible.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeThe meaning and significance of the V'ahavta prayer in Jewish tradition and how Aurora Levins Morales transforms it for contemporary resistanceAurora Levins Morales' powerful voice as a writer and activist who has produced compelling work despite decades of struggles with disability and chronic illnessThe relationship between love and resistance and why knowing what we're for is as important as knowing what we're againstPractical ways to carry words of hope and love with us through difficult timesThe power of poetry and ritual to sustain us in our daily lives and social justice workBuilding another possible world through everyday acts of love and solidarityKey Takeaways from This EpisodeResistance requires knowing what we love – It's not enough to be against injustice; we must also be clear about what we're fighting for and carry those truths with us always.Ancient wisdom speaks to modern struggles – Traditional prayers and texts can be reimagined to address contemporary challenges while maintaining their spiritual power.Words are tools for survival and transformation – By inscribing words of love and hope on our doorposts, garments, and hearts, we create daily reminders of our values and commitments.Collective power exceeds individual suffering – Though we face powerful forces of destruction, together we hold more life, more possibility, and more creative energy than those who deal in death.Creative work persists through adversity – Aurora's continued productivity despite decades of disability and chronic illness demonstrates the resilience of the creative spirit and the importance of making space for marginalized voices.Poet Featured: Aurora Levins MoralesAuthor and activist Aurora Levins Morales is a Puerto Rican Jewish writer who has produced compelling, socially engaged work for decades. Despite ongoing struggles with disability and chronic illness, Aurora continues to create poetry and prose that speaks to justice, resistance, and the possibility of transformation.Aurora is community-supported writer, historian, artist and activist. It takes a village to keep her work coming. To become part of the village it takes, you can make a donation on her website. You can find this poem and support her powerful work here.About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through their creative journeys. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021.Throughout her distinguished career, Laura has become known for her compassionate approach to teaching memoir and personal essay writing, helping countless writers find their authentic voices.Laura leads writing classes, workshops, and international retreats, creating transformative spaces where writers can develop their craft while exploring profound personal truths. Her work emphasizes the healing power of storytelling and the importance of creating community among writers.Join Laura's CommunitySubscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering writers and creatives essential respite and inspiration for thoughtful engagement with our world. These weekly pauses nourish your creative practice and support sustainable activism rooted in peace rather than panic.Perfect For:Writers seeking guidance on how to engage with troubled times without burnout, anyone struggling with how to be a thoughtful citizen amid division and conflict, people looking for alternatives to reactive activism and online outrage, those who want to practice peace while staying engaged, memoirists and poets drawn to powerful, purposeful writing, and listeners drawn to Laura Davis' thoughtful approach to living and creating with intention during challenging times.Connect with Laura Davis:The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported

PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode TitleWaiting with Grace: Living Fully Through Cancer, Uncertainty & Life's UnknownsEpisode DescriptionIn this deeply personal episode of The Writer's Journey, Laura Davis shares a raw and beautifully crafted essay about waiting—for medical results, surgery dates, genetic testing outcomes, and answers that may never come. With her signature honesty and literary precision, Laura explores how she navigates a second breast cancer diagnosis alongside diverticulitis while refusing to put her life on hold. This episode offers a masterclass in holding uncertainty with grace while living each moment fully.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeThe profound practice of waiting through multiple medical uncertaintiesNavigating a second breast cancer diagnosis eighteen years after the firstLearning what genetic testing reveals about family inheritance and riskDistinguishing between what we wait for and what we refuse to postponeFinding grace and joy in the face of profound unknownsThe writing craft behind transforming personal crisis into meaningful memoirAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to tell their most meaningful stories. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the 2021 BookLife Prize and explores her complex relationship with her mother through unflinching honesty and literary grace. Laura is the author of seven books, including the groundbreaking co-authored work "The Courage to Heal," which has helped millions of survivors worldwide.As host of The Writer's Journey podcast, Laura combines memoir writing instruction with deeply personal essays that demonstrate the craft she teaches. She leads weekly Zoom classes and international retreats, including "Flourishing as We Age" at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California. https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/Through her Substack newsletter, Laura shares poetry, nature photography, and insights on both writing craft and living with intention. Her work has been featured in major publications and recognized with numerous awards for its contribution to the memoir genre.Resources Laura MentionsWriting Programs & Retreats:Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women (June 1-7, 2026, Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California) https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/Laura Davis's weekly writing classes: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/The Writer's Journey Substack newsletter: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Website:Laura Davis's official site: https://lauradavis.net/Key Takeaways from This EpisodeUse Specificity to Convey Universal Experience: Laura's detailed catalog of foods she can't eat transforms a medical restriction into an evocative meditation on longing and limitation that any reader can feel.Balance Waiting with Living: Distinguish clearly between what requires waiting (medical results, future plans) and what you can claim right now (love, joy, presence, breath)—this distinction offers agency amid uncertainty.Harness Repetition as Literary Device: The repeated phrase "I am waiting" creates rhythm and emotional accumulation, demonstrating how anaphora can build meaning and power in memoir writing.Find the Specific Truth Within Broad Statements: Rather than simply stating "life is precious," Laura shows us exactly what preciousness looks like through concrete choices, moments, and refusals.Write Through Crisis Without Resolution: Great memoir doesn't require tidy endings—Laura's essay demonstrates how writing from the middle of uncertainty can create profound connection with readers facing their own unknowns.Episode Call-to-ActionReady to deepen your practice? Subscribe to The Writer's Journey newsletter at https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ for weekly essays, memoir writing guidance, and beautifully curated poetry and nature photography.Want to write with Laura? Explore her weekly Zoom classes, international retreats, and the upcoming "Flourishing as We Age" retreat (June 1-7, 2026) at https://lauradavis.net/Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to The Writer's Journey:https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode Title: How to Be a Good Citizen: Practicing Magnetic Peace in Troubled TimesEpisode Description:In this midweek episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a poem that inspired her: "Nothing More, Nothing Less" by Kim Stafford, Oregon's ninth Poet Laureate and son of legendary poet William Stafford.Part of Laura's weekly Midweek Pause for Peace series, this episode offers a roadmap for citizenship in divided times.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeThe longing to be a good citizen when the country feels troubled and fragmentedWhy listening to "what wants to happen" is more powerful than reacting to what already happenedThe revolutionary concept of leading from below and waking from obedience into sovereigntyChoosing friends over allies, heart over belief, humor over stridency, thought before reactionHow to practice magnetic peace that naturally gathers others in rather than pushing them awayThe profound reminder that all this wisdom and power "was there all along"About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through their creative journeys. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021.Throughout her distinguished career, Laura has become known for her compassionate approach to teaching memoir and personal essay writing, helping countless writers find their authentic voices. Laura leads writing classes, workshops, and international retreats, creating transformative spaces where writers can develop their craft while exploring profound personal truths. Her work emphasizes the healing power of storytelling and the importance of creating community among writers.Poet Featured:Kim Stafford - Oregon's 9th Poet Laureate (2018-2020), son of beloved poet William Stafford, founder of the Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis & Clark College, and author of a dozen books of poetry and prose including "As the Sky Begins to Change" (2024) and "Singer Come from Afar" (2021).Explore Kim Stafford's work at: www.kimstaffordpoet.comPerfect For:Writers seeking guidance on how to engage with troubled times without burnout, anyone struggling with how to be a thoughtful citizen amid division and conflict, people looking for alternatives to reactive activism and online outrage, those who want to practice peace while staying engaged, memoirists and poets drawn to powerful, purposeful writing, and listeners drawn to Laura Davis' thoughtful approach to living and creating with intention during challenging times.Join Laura's CommunitySubscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering writers and creatives essential respite and inspiration for thoughtful engagement with our world. These weekly pauses nourish your creative practice and support sustainable activism rooted in peace rather than panic.Connect with Laura DavisThe Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at:https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title: Dear Cancer: A Letter of Appreciation - Finding Gratitude 19 Years LaterEpisode Description: In this deeply moving episode, Laura Davis shares a letter she wrote to cancer—not a letter of anger or defeat, but one of unexpected appreciation. Nineteen years after her initial diagnosis, Laura reflects on how cancer transformed her life and her understanding of what truly matters. Laura was 50 years old when her doctor first felt a lump during a routine exam, setting in motion a year that would test every fiber of her being. With two young children still at home—Eli, fourteen, and Lizzy, ten—and a thriving career as a writing teacher and self-employed entrepreneur, Laura's life was full of creation, purpose, and relentless doing.Then came the biopsy, the diagnosis, and the devastating realization that everything would change. Through biopsies, lymph node dissection, surgeries, radiation, and six months of nurses injecting chemotherapy into her veins while wearing lead-lined smocks, Laura navigated the cancer underworld with one singular prayer that kept her going. This episode explores the raw experience of facing mortality, the physical toll of treatment, and the profound shift in perspective that comes when life forces you to stop.Laura's story is not just about surviving cancer—it's about discovering what happens when you're given the gift of time you weren't sure you'd have. From the fear of not seeing her children graduate from high school to the joy of watching them grow into adults and parents themselves, Laura's journey spans nineteen years of reflection. This episode reveals how gratitude can emerge from the most unexpected places, and how looking back with appreciation can transform even the most devastating experiences.Episode Highlights:Key moments from Laura's cancer journey:Laura opens with a powerful statement that sets the tone for the entire episode, expressing gratitude to cancer for nineteen years of life since diagnosis. At age 50, during what she describes as a period when her life was "rife with creation, parenting, and doing," Laura’s doctor first felt a lump during a routine breast exam. Within days of that discovery, she walked into the Stanford Cancer Center for the first time, experiencing the surreal shock of entering what felt like a vast, unknown world dedicated to treating one disease.The episode captures the visceral memory of that first biopsy—the gentle-voiced doctor, the rushing in Laura's head and body, and the moment everything changed. Laura was bald within months, having lost 45 pounds, and found herself in a year-long battle that included surgeries, radiation, and half a year of chemotherapy treatments.Throughout the treatment, Laura maintained one simple prayer that became her lifeline: "Please just let me live till they graduate from high school." This mantra sustained her through the darkest moments when she questioned whether she would survive to see Eli and Lizzy reach this milestone.The episode takes listeners through the physical and emotional terrain of Laura's cancer year—from the fear and uncertainty to the forced pause in her normally relentless pace. Laura shares how she couldn't eat during treatment, how the weight fell off her body, and how nurses wore lead-lined smocks as they administered chemotherapy.Laura fast-forwards nineteen years to reveal the outcome of her prayer. Not only did she survive to see both children graduate from high school, but she also witnessed them graduate from college, watched them find partners, and experienced the profound joy of becoming a grandmother. She then reflects on gratitude—how looking back with appreciation has transformed her understanding of that devastating year and given her an unexpected gift of perspective. And looks ahead to the new challenges she is facing.About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers find and shape their authentic voices. Her award-winning memoir, "The Burning Light of Two Stars," won the prestigious BookLit Prize in 2021, cementing her reputation as a master storyteller who brings both technical skill and deep emotional honesty to her work.As a professional writing teacher, Laura has led retreats, taught workshops, and mentored countless writers through the vulnerable process of telling their stories. Her expertise spans memoir, creative nonfiction, and personal essay writing, with a particular gift for helping writers navigate difficult subject matter with grace and power. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the therapeutic power of writing and the importance of documenting our journeys for future generations.Through her books, teaching, and workshops, Laura has touched thousands of lives, helping people understand that their stories matter and that even the most painful experiences can be transformed through the act of writing. Her work demonstrates that memoir is not just about recording events—it

Episode Title: Poetry for Peace: I Can't Help But Love This World as I Know It Is DyingEpisode Description: Each week, in her midweek Pause for Peace, acclaimed writing teacher Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our dangerous, uncertain world.In this episode, Laura shares a deeply moving poem by her own writing teacher, Carolyn Brigit Flynn. Laura explores how this piece perfectly illustrates the power of objects in writing while addressing themes of love, loss, and survival in our chaotic world. This episode offers writers and listeners alike a moment of reflection through the pairing of meaningful poetry with thoughtful commentary.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The essential role of coming together as ethical people in a world of chaos and crueltyHow objects function as powerful literary devices in poetry and memoirThe tension between loving our material world and recognizing its impermanenceWhat we choose to carry forward and preserve for future generationsAbout Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through the complexities of memoir and personal narrative. Her award-winning memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura has built a reputation for creating heart-centered, accessible content that serves both the craft of writing and the emotional wellbeing of her students and readers.Through her Midweek Pause for Peace series, Laura pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering writers and seekers consistent moments of reflection, beauty, and nervous system regulation. Her teaching emphasizes practical craft techniques—like the use of objects in writing—while honoring the deeper purpose of storytelling in troubled times. Laura's work bridges the gap between technical skill and emotional resonance, making her an invaluable guide for memoirists and personal essayists navigating their creative journeys.About Carolyn Brigit Flynn: Poet, essayist, and teacher based in Santa Cruz, California. She teaches Writing to Feed Your Soul Workshops. Her forthcoming memoir, The Light of Ordinary Days, will be out this spring with Girl Friday Books. You can learn about Carolyn's work and subscribe to her Substack here: https://carolynbrigitflynn.substack.com/ About Laura Davis: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace to receive weekly moments of beauty, reflection, and nervous system care. Each Wednesday, Laura pairs stunning imagery with carefully selected poetry—creating a consistent practice of pause in your busy week. Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Explore Laura's classes, books, workshops, and international retreats: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe