The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis Podcast

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

Episode Title: What's On Your Bedside Table? Using Objects to Reveal Character and Truth in MemoirEpisode Description: In this candid and insightful episode, acclaimed memoirist Laura Davis shares a deeply personal meditation on aging while demonstrating one of the most powerful tools in a writer's toolkit: using objects to reveal character. Laura explores how the items on her bedside table—from CPAP machines to vaginal suppositories—tell the story of a changing body and a life fully lived. She then shows writers how to harness the power of objects to create vivid, revealing memoir scenes that resonate with readers. This episode offers both vulnerable personal storytelling and practical craft instruction for memoirists at any stage.What Laura Covers in This Episode:How the objects on her bedside table have changed dramatically from her twenties to her late sixtiesThe honest reality of aging bodies and the daily care they requireWhy writing about "embarrassing" objects can be liberating and create connection with readersHow objects function as character reveals in film, television, and literaturePractical techniques for integrating objects into memoir to demonstrate relationship dynamics and character developmentA specific example from her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars using a deck of cards to chart her mother's dementiaA powerful writing prompt students can use immediately: cataloging their own bedside table itemsEpisode Highlights:From Sex Toys to CPAP Machines: Laura opens with a striking contrast between her bedside table at 22 and at 69, demonstrating how honest object-based writing immediately engages readers and establishes voice.The Vocabulary of Aging: Laura shares her visceral reaction to the medical term "atrophied vagina" and her journey through various treatments, modeling how writers can tackle difficult subjects with both humor and honesty.The Insurance Company Plot Twist: When Medicare refused to cover her $500 E-string, Laura's health narrative intersected with economics—showing how objects reveal larger systemic issues in our lives.Liberation Through Truth-Telling: Laura describes how her writing students responded to the bedside table prompt, discovering that sharing "embarrassing" items created unexpected community and connection.Objects as Film Language: Laura teaches writers to watch for how directors use objects to reveal character, offering a masterclass in visual storytelling that translates directly to the page.The Deck of Cards: Laura shares how she used one object—a deck of playing cards—throughout her memoir to show both connection and loss across 50+ years with her mother.The Assignment for Listeners: Laura issues a direct writing challenge to catalog bedside table objects, explaining why this specific prompt generates such rich, revealing material.Objects Change, Characters Change: Laura demonstrates how tracking a character's relationship to an object over time creates a powerful through-line in longer memoir narratives.About Host Laura Davis:Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding memoirists and personal narrative writers. Her memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the 2021 BookLife Prize and has been celebrated for its unflinching honesty and masterful craft. Laura is known for her ability to create safe, generative spaces where writers can explore difficult material with courage and skill. She teaches regular writing classes, leads international writing retreats, and publishes The Writer's Journey, a reader-supported publication offering craft essays, writing prompts, and inspiration for memoirists. Her teaching emphasizes the power of specific details, honest storytelling, and the courage to write what's true.Resources Laura Mentions:Book: The Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)Publication: The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack (https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/)Website: Laura Davis's official site for classes, workshops, and retreats (https://lauradavis.net/)Writing Prompt: The Bedside Table Exercise—cataloging objects that reveal your current life stage and prioritiesKey Takeaways from This Episode:Use objects as character shorthand: The items people surround themselves with—especially intimate spaces like bedside tables—instantly reveal priorities, struggles, age, health, relationships, and values without requiring exposition.Embrace "embarrassing" details: Writing honestly about medications, bodily changes, and health challenges creates unexpected connection with readers who recognize their own experiences and feel less alone.Track objects across time: Following one meaningful object throughout a longer narrative (like Laura's deck of cards) provides structure and demonstrates character change more powerfully than direct statement.Study objects in visual media: Train your writer's eye by noticing how films and television shows use objects t

Midweek Pause for Peace: Finding Hope in Brokenness Through Donna Ashworth's Powerful VerseEpisode Description: In this Midweek Pause for Peace, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares "Perhaps, this world is broken," a deeply moving poem by Sunday Times bestselling Scottish poet Donna Ashworth. Laura explores how human connection becomes our most essential resource during challenging times, offering listeners a brief but profound respite that nourishes both heart and nervous system. This weekly practice pairs meaningful poetry with thoughtful reflection, creating moments of healing and hope when we need them most.Episode Highlights: Laura introduces featured poet Donna Ashworth. Her poem "Perhaps, this world is broken" beautifully balances acknowledgment of global difficulties with celebration of human resilienceCentral message: "being there for each other makes all the difference in dark times"Vivid imagery of care: flowers in hair bringing light, staying awake all night to hold someone's hand, running miles in silly suitsPowerful metaphor reveals that while "this world is shattered everywhere," human beings serve as the glue, "picking up pieces of each other to get through"Episode dedicated "to all the people helping"—honoring caregivers, helpers, and those who show upLaura's signature pairing of poetry with beautiful imagery creates dual nourishment for heart and nervous systemBrief, accessible format fits busy lives while delivering meaningful impact and moments of peaceResources Laura Mentions: Donna Ashworth's poetry collections including "To the Women," "Wild Hope," and "Growing Brave." You can find her on her website: donnaashworth.comAbout Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers find their voices and craft compelling stories. Her memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, won the BookLife Prize for best memoir/autobiography of 2021. Laura's groundbreaking books, including The Courage to Heal, have been translated into 11 languages and sold more than 1.8 million copies worldwide.Laura teaches weekly writing workshops online and leads transformative writing retreats in the US and internationally, creating safe, intimate communities where writers experience breakthroughs both on the page and in their lives. Her Midweek Pause for Peace series provides writers and readers with weekly poetry, nature photography, and thoughtful reflection—creating sacred spaces for rest, healing, and creative renewal.Follow Laura: Subscribe for daily inspiration, writing wisdom, poetry, and community connectionThe 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: News Anxiety Relief: Stop Doomscrolling and Listen to the BirdsEpisode Description: In this essential midweek episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis addresses one of the most pressing challenges writers face today: news anxiety and information overload. Media fatigue and information overload have become widespread problems, causing psychological exhaustion, decision paralysis, and creative burnout.Part of Laura's weekly Midweek Pause for Peace series, Laura shares Alastair Muirhead's profound poem "Listen to the Birds, Not the News," which offers permission to step back from the constant flood of distressing headlines that depletes creative energy. As one therapist wisely notes, "We are wired for a village's worth of problems, not a planet's worth of problems." What Laura Covers in This EpisodeThe biological truth: humans evolved to handle local concerns, not global disasters 24/7How constant news consumption damages the creative writing process and mental well-beingThe healing power of returning to immediate, tangible observations in natureAbout 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:Alastair Muirhead - Collector of stories, seeker of meaning, poet, and Trustee of libraries, museums, and art galleriesFollow Alastair Muirhead's work on Substack: https://tairmuir.substack.com/Perfect For:Writers struggling with news anxiety and creative blocks, anyone experiencing information overload and doomscrolling addiction, memoirists protecting their creative energy from media fatigue, people dealing with compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion, mindfulness seekers looking for practical stress relief, and listeners drawn to Laura Davis' thoughtful approach to writer wellbeing and nervous system regulation during overwhelming 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 amid information overload. Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering writers and creatives essential respite from news anxiety, media fatigue, and the constant pressure to consume distressing headlines. Protect your creative practice and mental health with these weekly pauses.Connect with Laura DavisSubscribe to The Writer's Journey: laurasaridavis.substack.comExplore Laura's classes, books, workshops, and retreats: lauradavis.netEngage with the community by liking, commenting, and sharing postsThe 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: When Your Body Speaks and You Have to Listen: Navigating Aging, Illness, and Uncertain FuturesEpisode Description: In this deeply personal and reflective episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares her meditation on aging, physical limitations, and the courage required to face an uncertain future. While recovering from diverticulitis, Laura examines what it means when a lifetime of manifesting, creating, and teaching collides with a body that insists on rest. Through a pivotal conversation with her friend Colleen about retirement and the profound realization that "I couldn't commit to feeling good in the future," Laura explores the shift from doing to being, from planning to presence, and from certainty to embracing the unknown.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The physical and emotional challenges of recovering from diverticulitis while preparing to teach an upcoming memoir retreatA transformative conversation with her friend Colleen about retirement, aging, and listening to your body's wisdomThe profound shift from a lifetime of saying "yes" and showing up no matter what, to acknowledging physical limitationsHow four decades of teaching, creating, and manifesting has given way to a new relationship with uncertaintyThe parallel between personal health challenges and collective uncertainty in our current political momentFinding meaning and connection in the present moment when the future becomes unplannableSending "love songs" to both a broken body and a broken world as an act of resilience and compassionEpisode HighlightsThe Maestro of Manifestation: Laura reflects on decades of community building, teaching, and creating—describing herself as someone who has brought together "hearts, bodies, souls, words, stories, community" with both effort and ease, making things happen simply by breathing in and out.Colleen's Retirement Journey: Laura shares how she's witnessed her friend Colleen, a gifted IFS therapist and trainer, navigate four years of retirement—watching fear transform into freedom and doing give way to spaciousness as Colleen let go of her "big-S self."The Sentence That Changed Everything: During a FaceTime conversation about gut problems and teaching anxieties, Colleen reveals a truth she'd never shared before: "That was a big part of why I retired. I couldn't commit to feeling good in the future."A Lifetime of Showing Up: Laura chronicles forty years of never hesitating to say yes to commitments, teaching through bronchitis, COVID, exhaustion, anxiety, jetlag, and family crises—always counting on herself to perform and be present.The Road of Uncertainty: Edging toward seventy, Laura describes envisioning "a scant calendar" and "a different kind of journey"—one that is unplanned, unpromised, unscheduled, and deeply rooted in the unknown.Present Moment Politics: Laura draws a parallel between her personal health journey and the collective experience since Trump's return to power, noting how daily conversations now focus on being okay "at this moment" and "right now."Simple Pleasures as Anchors: In the face of an unplannable future—both personally and for her new grandson entering the world—Laura finds grounding in sun, trees, friendship, walks in the woods, and her dog's wagging tail.Love Songs to Brokenness: Laura concludes with a commitment to send love songs to both her belly "that can no longer digest the things of this world" and to "this broken world"—an act of compassion she can still offer from where she is.About Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through the transformative process of memoir and personal narrative. Her award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021. As a master teacher, Laura has helped thousands of writers find their voice and tell their stories with courage and authenticity. She leads writing workshops, classes, and international retreats, creating sacred spaces where writers can explore their deepest truths. Laura's work focuses on the intersection of craft, healing, and personal transformation, making her a trusted guide for writers navigating both the page and their lives.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeHonor Your Body's Wisdom - When your body insists you stop and listen, there is profound wisdom in surrendering to its messages rather than pushing through with willpower alone.Redefine Success Beyond Doing - A lifetime of manifesting, creating, and teaching can evolve into a new relationship with being present, allowing spaciousness to replace constant doing.Accept the Unplannable Future - Acknowledging "I can't commit to feeling good in the future" is not defeat—it's an honest reckoning with aging, health, and the uncertainty inherent in being human.Find Anchors in Simple Pleasures - When the future becomes uncertain, grounding yourself in present-moment joys—sun, trees, friendship, connection—beco

Episode Title: Ancestral Wisdom for Writers: We Were Made for These TimesEpisode Description: Award-winning author and writing teacher Laura Davis offers a midweek meditation for writers and creatives seeking peace during uncertain times. In this brief but powerful episode, Laura shares the empowering song "We Were Made for These Times" by Jewish musicians Arielle Rivera Korman and R'Noam Lerman.Drawing on ancestral wisdom, community strength, and the resilience of those who came before us, this episode provides a moment of grounding for writers navigating life's challenges. Part of Laura's weekly Midweek Pause for Peace series, each episode pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry and music to nourish both heart and nervous system.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The weekly Midweek Pause for Peace series: combining images, poetry, and music for nervous system regulation:Connecting with ancestral wisdom during challenging times for writers and creativesThemes of resilience, community strength, and drawing courage from previous generationsHow creative expression and sacred music support emotional wellbeing during uncertaintyThe power of remembering we carry wisdom and courage passed down through generationsIntroduction to Jewish liturgical music and restorative justice practicesAbout 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.Resources Laura MentionsMusicians Featured:Arielle Rivera Korman - Executive Director of Ammud: the Jews of Color Torah AcademyRabbi Noam Lerman (they/them) - Ordained at Hebrew College, restorative justice circle keeperSong: "We Were Made for These Times" by Arielle Rivera Korman and R'Noam LermanYou can listen to their song here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/publish/post/175020854Connect with the Artists:Arielle's music: soundcloud.com/user-227382512Ammud programs: eventbrite.com (search Ammud: the Jews of Color Torah Academy)R' Noam's music: soundcloud.com/user-614157782Key Takeaways from This EpisodeCreate regular pauses for peace - Build moments of contemplation into your writing routine to support your nervous system during challenging creative periodsDraw on ancestral wisdom - Remember that you carry the strength, courage, and resilience of storytellers and writers who came before youStay rooted in community - Connect with other writers and lean on communal wisdom when facing uncertainty in your creative journeyHonor the creative process - Recognize how music, poetry, and art can provide grounding and perspective during turbulent periods in life and writingRemember your purpose - Trust that you have the resources within you to meet the challenges of this moment in history and in your writing journeyEpisode Call-to-ActionTake a moment this week to pause and reflect on the ancestral wisdom you carry as a writer. Consider what stories, songs, or teachings from your lineage support you during difficult periods.Share this episode with a fellow writer who might need a moment of peace and encouragement.Join Laura's community by subscribing to receive regular inspiration, poems, nature photography, and essays on writing and life.Perfect For:Writers seeking peace and inspiration, memoirists managing creative anxiety, anyone drawn to Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and meditation, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content for nervous system regulation.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 listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system.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 laurasa

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 experienc

Episode Title: "Poetry for Peace: Embracing Light and Dark with Linda Pastan"Episode Description: Join host Laura Davis for this week's Midweek Pause for Peace, featuring Linda Pastan's profound poem "Why Are Your Poems So Dark?" Laura reflects on living between light and shadow, especially when darkness feels frightening, yet remains essential to our human experience. This calming episode pairs meaningful poetry with peaceful imagery to offer your heart and nervous system a midweek respite.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Why darkness is essential - Understanding the balance between light and shadow in lifeLinda Pastan's poetic wisdom - How the poem reframes our relationship with difficult emotionsThe moon metaphor - What lunar cycles teach us about witnessing and accepting life's fullnessFinding beauty in contrast - How dark stains on white pages create meaningPoetry as healing practice - Using verse to find comfort during challenging timesAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over three decades of experience. She is the author of the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and specializes in helping writers access their most authentic stories. Through her Midweek Pause for Peace series, Laura pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration.Featured Poet: Linda Pastan Linda Pastan (1932-2023) was an American poet known for her concise, autobiographical verse exploring themes of family, aging, and mortality. She served as Poet Laureate of Maryland from 1991 to 1995 and published eleven collections of poetry. Pastan's work earned numerous awards, including a Pushcart Prize, the Dylan Thomas Award, and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeDarkness isn't something to banish but an essential part of life's wholenessBeing "dark most of the time" like the moon is natural and necessaryBeauty emerges from contrast - dark alphabets give meaning to white pagesDivine creation includes both light and shadow, ebony and illuminationWhen we feel sadness, we connect to the moon's witnessing of all human experienceResources Laura MentionsLinda Pastan's poetry collections: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_PastanThe Writer's Journey newsletter: https://lauradavis.net/Laura's writing retreats and workshops: https://lauradavis.net/Episode Call-to-ActionTake a moment this week to notice both light and dark in your life without judgment. Consider what the moon has witnessed in your experience and allow yourself the full spectrum of human emotion.Subscribe to Midweek Pause for Peace for weekly poetry and peace: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Follow Laura's work for writing prompts and memoir techniquesJoin her intimate writing retreats worldwidePerfect 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 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 listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.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 Title: REFUGE Anthology Open for Submissions: Writers and Artists Respond to Turbulent TimesEpisode Description: In this episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a compelling submission opportunity from her student Cathy Krizik, an award-winning magazine designer and graphic artist. Laura discusses the REFUGE anthology—a full-color, beautifully designed collection seeking creative responses about courage and resilience in today's world—and reveals submission guidelines for writers, poets, essayists, and visual artists. Laura also introduces her transformative 14-day Write, Travel, Transform retreat in Cuba (April 2026), where writers experience cultural immersion in a society that celebrates storytellers as national treasures.Episode Highlights & Submission Guidelines for Refuge:Laura introduces Cathy Krizik, her long-time student and accomplished magazine designer, graphic artist, and writer who is currently workshopping her third book in Laura's evening feedback classREFUGE: Voices of Courage and Resilience in a World Gone Mad will be a full-color, beautifully designed anthology featuring essays, poetry, interviews, laments, prayers, paintings, drawings, printmaking, sculptures, and collages responding to today's turbulent timesCathy's goal is for readers to open the anthology and find comfort, community, solace, rejuvenation, hope, and inspiration during these challenging times.Writers can submit pieces up to 1,500 words or a maximum of three poems; previously published Substack pieces are welcome with proper attribution noted.Artists should submit PDF images for initial review, with final accepted work requiring high-resolution, 300dpi, CMYK print-ready formats in .jpg, .tif, or PDF.The submission deadline is November 30, 2025, with all work sent to [email protected] Cathy welcomes questions at the same email address.If you are not sure what to submit:Here are some prompts that might spark your imagination. How does it feel to be alive right now? What is breaking your heart today? What is mending your heart? What are you doing to stay sane and grounded? What do you reach for when the world overwhelms you?Where do you find solace? What does resistance look like to you? What worries you the most? Who inspires you and why? Is there a prayer you'd like to offer? What does the world you want to see look like? If you like to see some samples of the artwork in Refuge, you can see the Substack post here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/f05b7b6a-451f-4ce0-a0d2-891fda5d6cd0About 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 BookLife Prize in 2021, cementing her reputation as both a masterful storyteller and expert writing instructor. Laura leads transformative writing workshops, classes, and international retreats, helping writers of all levels find their authentic voices and bring their stories to the page. Through her Substack publication "The Writer's Journey," Laura shares essays on craft, curated poetry, nature photography, and insights on living a creative life. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes community, courage, and the power of personal narrative to create connection and meaning.You can sign up for the info session for her trip to Cuba here: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/#signupYou can learn about the trip here: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/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 Title: “Finding Light in Dark Times: Chelan Harkin's Call to Rise"Episode Description: Join host Laura Davis for this week's Midweek Pause for Peace, featuring mystic poet Chelan Harkin's powerful untitled poem about finding inner light during crisis. After a difficult week in America, Laura shares this reminder of the indomitable strength we carry within, regardless of external circumstances. This healing episode pairs meaningful poetry with peaceful imagery to offer your heart and nervous system strength during challenging times.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeInner light during crisis - How difficult times summon our deepest strengthRising through collapse - Why foundations crumbling calls our light to emergeCommunity in division - The importance of holding each other tighterTransforming devastation - Making pain into fuel for growthIndomitable spirit - Accessing the strength that cannot be brokenAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over three decades of experience. She is the author of the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and specializes in helping writers access their most authentic stories. Through her Midweek Pause for Peace series, Laura pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration during challenging times.Featured Poet: Chelan HarkinChelan Harkin is a mystic poet whose work draws deep influence from mystical poets including Hafiz and Rumi. Growing up in the Columbia River Gorge, she first fell in love with creative writing surrounded by natural beauty. After writing poetry for over a decade, she published her first collection "Susceptible to Light" in 2020, featuring her best poems from her teens and twenties. You can find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/chani.harkin/Key Takeaways from This EpisodeCrisis and shaking foundations call our inner light to rise upWhen everything falls away, we discover previously hidden strengthDivision requires us to reach for each other and hold tighterOur integrity is tested during dark times so it can stand tallerDevastation can become fuel when we choose to burn through itResources Laura Mentions"Susceptible to Light" by Chelan HarkinChelan Harkin's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chani.harkin/The Writer's Journey newsletter: https://lauradavis.net/Laura's writing retreats and workshops: https://lauradavis.net/Episode Call-to-ActionNotice where your light is being summoned this week. When you feel the earth shaking, remember the indomitable strength within. Reach out to hold someone tighter, and let your devastation become fuel for rising.Follow Laura's work for writing prompts and memoir techniquesJoin her intimate writing retreats worldwide: https://lauradavis.net/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 during difficult times.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.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.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: Writing Prompts: 3 Time-Travel Exercises to Discover Your Past, Present & Future SelfEpisode Description: In this transformative episode, acclaimed memoir teacher Laura Davis reveals three life-changing writing prompts that unlock profound self-discovery. With over 35 years of teaching experience and as the award-winning author of "The Burning Light of Two Stars," Laura guides listeners through a powerful exercise that explores identity across time. Learn how to write your way through personal transformation using techniques that have changed thousands of writers' lives.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Three specific writing prompts for exploring different versions of yourself across time periodsThe transformative power of third-person writing practice for gaining new perspective on your lifeHow to access deep unconscious material through continuous, unedited writingLaura's vulnerable personal responses to each prompt, including her struggles with envisioning the futureThe breakthrough technique of letting your future self speak to present worries and fearsStep-by-step instructions for implementing these life-changing exercises at homeWhy writing without stopping, planning, or editing creates the most powerful insightsEpisode Highlights:The Magic of Flow Writing: How 20 minutes of continuous writing without editing accesses rivers of creativity and self-knowledge hidden in your unconscious mindThird Person Breakthrough: Why referring to yourself by name creates psychological distance that reveals patterns and insights impossible to see otherwiseFrom Trauma to Triumph: Laura's raw journey from feeling like "a little leaf fluttering in the wind" to becoming an internationally acclaimed author and teacherFuture Self Wisdom: The powerful moment when Laura hands the pen to her future self, who offers comfort and perspective to present-day anxietiesPresent-Day Vulnerability: Laura's honest reflections on health challenges, aging fears, and the transition from intense productivity to rest and beingPractical Implementation: Exact instructions for using these prompts, including timing, technique, and what to expect from the writing processCreative Problem-Solving: How to work with difficult prompts when you feel stuck or unable to imagine certain life phasesHealing Through Writing: How these exercises facilitate emotional processing and personal growth through storytellingAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is a master writing teacher and 7-time author with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through transformative creative processes. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021. As co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal," Laura has influenced millions of lives through her fearless approach to truth-telling and healing through writing. She teaches ongoing Zoom classes to students worldwide and leads transformative international writing retreats. Laura specializes in helping writers excavate their deepest stories, develop authentic voice, and find profound healing through the written word.Opportunities to Work with Laura Mentioned in this EpisodeWednesday writing practice class on Zoom: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/#writingThursday feedback classes with Laura: https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/#feedbackWrite, Travel, Transform: Cuba: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/Key Takeaways from This EpisodeWrite in third person using your name to create psychological distance that reveals new insights about your life patterns, growth, and authentic selfSet a timer for 20 minutes per prompt and write continuously without stopping, planning, or editing to bypass your inner critic and access deeper truthEmbrace discomfort with difficult prompts like imagining your future self - resistance often signals where the most important breakthroughs awaitUse the "hand over the pen" technique when stuck by letting different aspects of yourself (especially your future self) speak directly to your current concernsTrust the writing process completely to reveal what you need to know, even when you believe you have nothing meaningful to say about a particular life phaseConnect with Laura DavisWebsite & Class Information: https://lauradavis.net/Newsletter & Writing Resources: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Weekly Writing Classes: Detailed information and applications available at lauradavis.netInternational Writing Retreats: Current offerings and upcoming destinations listed on her websiteThe 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 internatio

PODCAST SHOW NOTESEpisode Title: Going Home the Longest Way Around: Finding Peace Through Pat Schneider's PoetryEpisode Description:In this moving episode of her Midweek Pause for Peace series, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares Pat Schneider's profound poem "Going Home the Longest Way Around." Laura reflects on Schneider's dedication to making writing accessible outside traditional academic institutions and explores how stories become maps that guide us to each other. This peaceful interlude combines beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a moment of reflection and healing.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Pat Schneider's revolutionary approach to accessible writing and writing groupsThe power of storytelling to create connections between peopleHow fragments of our lives become maps for understandingThe relationship between memory, fear, and love in our personal narrativesPat Schneider's gentle method of responding to shared writingThe metaphor of taking "the long way home" through our storiesEpisode Highlights & Timestamps[0:00] Laura introduces Pat Schneider and her mission to democratize writing[1:15] Reading of "Going Home the Longest Way Around"[2:45] Reflection on how stories become maps that guide us to each other[4:20] Exploring the poem's imagery of children in a dark canoe[5:30] Understanding how love and fear intertwine in our narratives[6:45] Pat Schneider's three gentle questions for responding to writing[7:20] The metaphor of "rocking in a dark boat on the water"About Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through their creative journeys. A seven-time author, her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura specializes in helping writers craft meaningful memoirs and personal narratives. Through her writing classes, workshops, and international retreats, Laura has helped thousands of writers find their authentic voice and share their stories with the world.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeStories as Maps: Our personal narratives serve as guides that help us connect with others and understand our shared human experienceAccessible Writing: Writing and storytelling should be available to everyone, not just those in academic institutionsMemory and Truth: We can create meaningful narratives from fragments, even when our memories aren't perfectFear and Love Connection: What we love most can also make us most afraid, revealing our vulnerability and humanityGentle Response Method: Pat Schneider's three questions offer a supportive way to respond to shared writing that encourages rather than critiquesEpisode Call-to-ActionFollow Laura's work for regular doses of poetry, nature photography, and writing wisdomEach 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.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 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 TitleHow to Connect with Your Writing Muse: A Journey into Creative SurrenderIn this transformative episode of The Writer's Journey, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares her mystical encounter with her creative muse. Following profound advice from writing teacher Carolyn Brigit Flynn about protecting her soul, Laura guides listeners through a powerful meditation-inspired writing session that reveals the path to authentic creative connection.What Laura Covers in This Episode· Why protecting your creative soul matters more than productivity and busyness· How meditation and writing practice can create a portal to your muse· The journey of surrendering control to access deeper creative truth· Moving beyond questions like "Am I doing this right?" to authentic expression· Understanding that your soul naturally shows through your creative work· Using writing as a tool to step above daily drama and connect with essence· Practical guidance for writers seeking to deepen their creative practiceAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis brings over 35 years of experience as an acclaimed author and writing teacher, specializing in memoir and transformative storytelling. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura has guided thousands of writers through her innovative approach that combines practical craft instruction with personal exploration, helping writers access their authentic voice and transform life experiences into powerful narrative. Her teaching philosophy centers on the belief that writing is both a craft to be mastered and a spiritual practice that connects us to our deepest truths.Resources Laura Mentions· Carolyn Brigit Flynn - Writing teacher and mentor· The Art of Memoir: Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories retreat, Villa Maria del Mar retreat center, Santa Cruz, California, November 3-7, 2025· The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis newsletter and community· Laura's comprehensive website: https://lauradavis.net/· Substack publication: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Key Takeaways from This Episode1. Prioritize soul protection over productivity by recognizing when external busyness threatens your creative essence and consciously creating sacred space for your artistic practice.2. Practice creative surrender to access your muse by approaching your creative source with vulnerability, humility, and willingness to release the trappings of daily concerns.3. Release self-limiting questions that ask whether you're "doing creativity right" - these concerns often dissolve when you connect with your deeper creative truth and natural expression.4. Trust your authentic creative expression by understanding that showing your soul through your work isn't something to achieve but something that naturally occurs when you write from truth.5. Use writing as a spiritual portal that allows you to step both into and out of life's drama, accessing higher perspective and creative freedom through regular practice.Episode Call-to-Action· Connect with your own creative muse by practicing Laura's powerful writing prompt: "What does your muse have to say to you?"· Dedicate time for quiet meditation and open writing, allowing whatever emerges to flow onto the page.· Ready to deepen your memoir writing practice? Join Laura for "The Art of Memoir" retreat in Santa Cruz, California, November 3-7, 2025, where you'll learn to craft compelling, vivid life stories under expert guidance in an intimate oceanside setting.The Art of Memoir: Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life StoriesVilla Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CAMonday, November 3 - Friday, November 7, 2025If you’d like to experience five unforgettable days writing to powerful and effective memoir prompts under the guidance of a master teacher, join me in Santa Cruz, California the first week in November for an intimate, unforgettable retreat at a gorgeous retreat center perched right on the Pacific Ocean. Many of us hold a deep dream of writing the story of our lives—so we can understand ourselves better, pass down family stories, or help others benefit from the lessons we’ve learned. By giving our experiences shape, texture, and beauty, we hope to create a lasting legacy that will inspire and inform.The Art of Memoir will teach you how to take life stories and craft them into memoir.In this transformative five-day workshop, you’ll connect with your inner voice, discover the healing power of language, and birth powerful true stories onto the page. Evocative prompts will lead you deeply into the world of memoir and story. Discover how to “find the story beneath the story,” why writers need to “slow down where it hurts,” and the secret of crafting tales rooted in the immediacy and physicality of the moment.Join Laura this November in Santa Cruz.https://lauradavis.net/memoir-retreat/ABOUT THE WRITER'S JOURNEY:The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication and podcast. T

IEpisode Title: Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace: It Is EnoughEpisode Description: Join Laura Davis for this week's Midweek Pause for Peace, where she pairs beautiful imagery with soul-nourishing poetry. In this episode, Laura shares Danna Faulds' gentle poem "It Is Enough," offering a moment of stillness for your heart and nervous system during life's overwhelming moments.What Laura Shares:· A heartfelt reading of Danna Faulds' "It Is Enough" from "From Root to Bloom"· Personal reflections on finding peace through conscious breathing· How one breath at a time can anchor us amid personal and global uncertainty· Weekly poetry curation designed to calm and center your spiritAbout Your Host: Laura Davis creates weekly content that combines meaningful poetry with calming visuals, offering busy hearts a midweek moment of peace and restoration.Episode Highlights:· Laura's curated selection of healing poetry and imagery· Guided moments for releasing control and embracing present-moment awareness· Simple practices for stress relief through mindful breathing· Weekly consistency for building a sustainable mindfulness practicePerfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.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.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.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support Laura's 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/ You can find Dana Faulds at: http://dannafaulds.com/ 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: Nothing You Cannot Meet: Laura Davis' Memoir WisdomDescription: Join Laura Davis for an intimate look at how poetry becomes a pathway to personal strength. In this episode, Laura shares a transformative moment from her Wednesday writing class where Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer's poem "Sitting in a Quiet Room" sparked profound self-discovery—then demonstrates the power of the writing prompt with her own vulnerable memoir excerpt.What You'll Experience:Complete reading of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer's powerful poem "Sitting in a Quiet Room"Laura's writing prompt: "Tell me about something you were afraid of that you were able to deal with in the end"Laura's own courageous response—a deeply personal story about calling her mother to reveal childhood trauma at age 28Insights from Laura's award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars"How revisiting difficult moments through writing reveals our hidden resilienceFeatured Poetry:"Sitting in a Quiet Room" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer - exploring worry, curiosity, and the profound truth that "there is nothing here you cannot meet."About Laura Davis:Award-winning memoirist and writing teacher, author of "The Burning Light of Two Stars." Laura guides writers in crafting compelling true life stories through transformative memoir workshops.Key Themes:Memoir writing through personal exampleFinding strength through vulnerabilityMother-daughter relationships and healingChildhood trauma recovery and disclosureWriting as a tool for self-discoveryTeaching through authentic storytellingPerfect for: Memoir writers, personal development seekers, anyone healing from family trauma, writing students who learn best through example, and those who believe in the power of authentic storytelling.Try This Prompt:"Tell me about something you were afraid of that you were able to deal with in the end."Learn More:Laura's upcoming retreat "The Art of Memoir" at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, November 3-7, 2025.The Art of Memoir: Craft compelling, true life stories and discover the healing power of language at this transformative 5-day in-person workshop in beautiful Santa Cruz, California. November 3-7, 2025. https://lauradavis.net/memoir-workshop/Special Offer for Laura's Online Writing Class:https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/More About Laura:You can find information about Laura’s writing classes, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive beautifully curated poems, essays about life and writing, writing tips, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com 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 TitleMidweek Pause for Peace: "Detached From Outcome" by James CrewsEpisode DescriptionJoin Laura Davis for another nurturing episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, where she pairs images from nature with poetry to offer moments of restoration for both heart and nervous system.This week, Laura features a beautifully contemplative poem by James Crews that explores the profound wisdom of acting without attachment to results. "Detached From Outcome" uses the metaphor of planting a tree you may never see mature to illuminate how we can find peace and purpose in the doing itself, rather than in guaranteed outcomes.Featured Poem"Detached From Outcome" by James CrewsKey Themes ExploredMindful action without attachment to resultsFinding meaning in the process rather than outcomesThe wisdom of planting seeds for future generationsSilencing the inner critic that demands certaintyLiving authentically and doing what makes you feel aliveThe patience required for long-term thinkingEnvironmental stewardship and legacyLetting go of control while maintaining purposeAbout the PoetJames Crews is a celebrated contemporary poet and anthologist whose work focuses on kindness, connection, and mindful living. His impressive body of work includes:Bestselling Anthologies:The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and JoyHow to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope (over 100,000 copies in print)Poetry Collections:The Book of What StaysTelling My FatherBluebirdEvery Waking MomentEssays:Kindness Will Save the World: Stories of Compassion and ConnectionCrews has been featured in major publications including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Christian Science Monitor, and on NPR's Morning Edition. He speaks and leads workshops on kindness, mindfulness, and writing for self-compassion from his home on forty rocky acres in the woods of Southern Vermont, where he lives with his husband.You can find his work at: https://www.jamescrews.net/ and read him on Substack: https://jamescrews.substack.com/Episode HighlightsLaura's reflection on the challenge of acting without knowing outcomesHow nature teaches us about patience and long-term thinkingThe freedom that comes from detaching from resultsFinding peace in uncertainty and impermanenceThe metaphor of tree planting as a spiritual practiceSilencing the "what if" voices that paralyze actionPerfect ForThose struggling with perfectionism and need for controlPeople interested in mindfulness and present-moment awarenessReaders drawn to environmental and nature poetryAnyone seeking wisdom about purposeful actionThose exploring Buddhist concepts of non-attachmentPeople interested in legacy and generational thinkingMindfulness ConnectionThis poem beautifully illustrates core mindfulness principles—being present, accepting uncertainty, and finding peace in the process rather than demanding specific outcomes. It offers a gentle guide for living with greater ease and authenticity.About Midweek Pause for PeaceMidweek Pause for Peace is Laura Davis's regular series designed to provide listeners with a moment of calm and reflection in the middle of busy weeks. Each episode combines the healing power of nature imagery with carefully selected poetry, creating space for both emotional processing and nervous system regulation.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comSubscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive beautifully curated poems, essays about life and writing, writing tips, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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 TitleHow to Create Tension Between Characters in Your Memoir: The Push-Pull Technique That Transforms Relationships on the PageEpisode DescriptionAward-winning memoir author Laura Davis shares the breakthrough storytelling technique that transformed her relationship with her mother on the page. In this practical episode, Laura reveals how a theatre director's unique assignment helped her create authentic tension in "The Burning Light of Two Stars" by mapping specific moments that connected and divided her family relationships. Writers will discover how to move beyond flat character dynamics to create emotionally compelling narratives that engage readers from start to finish.What Laura Covers in This EpisodeWhy Laura hired a theatre director instead of an editor for her memoir coachingThe specific "push-pull" exercise that creates authentic character tensionTwenty detailed examples of moments that brought Laura and her mother togetherNineteen concrete instances that drove them apart throughout their relationshipHow juxtaposing connecting and dividing moments creates visceral reality for readersThe ten-year journey of writing her BookLife Prize-winning memoirWhy this technique works for any complicated relationship in memoir writingPractical applications writers can use immediately in their own memoirsEpisode HighlightsLaura explains her decision to hire Joshua Townshend-Zellner, a theatre director, as her memoir coachThe breakthrough assignment: creating two lists of twenty moments that pushed characters together and apartLaura shares intimate examples from her "brought us together" list, including Torah ceremonies and family traditionsRevealing moments from the "drove us apart" list, including body image issues and generational conflictsHow inserting these specific moments helped Laura understand complex family dynamicsWhy the push-pull technique creates the "visceral reality" readers need to connect with memoirLaura discusses her ten-year writing process and the challenges of first-time story structureHow this exercise applies to other difficult relationships in memoir beyond parent-child dynamicsAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed memoir author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers to craft compelling personal narratives. Her memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the BookLife Prize for best memoir in 2021 and received half a dozen additional prestigious awards. The book examines the endurance of mother-daughter love, how memory both protects and betrays us, and the determination required to fulfill difficult promises while confronting family ghosts.Before writing her memoir, Laura established herself as a bestselling author with six nonfiction books and became a recognized master teacher of writing craft. She has spent decades helping writers discover their authentic voices and transform raw life experiences into powerful stories. Laura regularly leads workshops and international retreats, specializing in writing techniques that create both healing for the writer and compelling reading for audiences.Her work has been praised by readers and critics alike, with testimonials noting her ability to create "eloquent and compelling" narratives that "feed the soul" and keep readers engaged from "the first page" to a powerful, gripping conclusion. Laura's teaching approach combines practical craft techniques with deep understanding of the emotional journey inherent in memoir writing.Resources Laura Mentions"The Burning Light of Two Stars" - Laura's BookLife Prize-winning memoir exploring mother-daughter relationshipsJoshua Townshend-Zellner - Theatre director who coached Laura through story structure and narrative tension"The Courage to Heal" - Laura's first published bestseller about healing from child sexual abuse (HarperCollins, 1989) referenced in the push-pull examplesStoryCorps Interview Project - National storytelling initiative where Laura recorded her mother's storiesThe Art of Memoir Workshop - Laura's upcoming five-day intensive retreat (November 3-7, 2025) at Villa Maria del Mar - Oceanside retreat center in Santa Cruz, California hosting Laura's memoir workshopThe Writer's Journey Substack Newsletter - Laura's regular publication for writers and memoir enthusiastsLaura Davis Official Website - Complete resource for writing classes, published books, and international retreat informationKey Takeaways from This EpisodeMap your relationship's push-pull dynamics - Create two detailed lists of twenty moments each: specific instances that brought you closer and concrete events that drove you apart throughout your shared historyFocus on concrete, sensory details - Include physical memories like sounds ("clink of ice cubes"), locations, and visceral experiences that ground readers in authentic moments rather than general statementsEmbrace relationship complexity - Show how we simultaneously love and resent the same people by strategically juxtaposing c

Episode DescriptionJoin host Laura Davis as she dives deep into the art of crafting powerful writing prompts that unlock forgotten memories and generate compelling memoir material. In this episode, Laura shares 35 years of experience creating personalized writing exercises that help writers excavate their deepest stories and reveals the techniques behind her most effective prompts.What Laura Covers in This Episode:The anatomy of effective writing prompts - What makes a prompt evocative vs. genericThe "burr in your side" principle - Why good prompts should feel provocative and edgySpecificity over generality - How "My father's hands" beats "Tell me about your father"Laura's famous "mother's legs" prompt - A detailed breakdown with real examples from her teachingMemory recovery through writing - How targeted prompts help writers reclaim forgotten experiencesThe ruthless editing process - When good writing doesn't make the final cut and why that's okayEpisode Highlights & Timestamps[05:30] Why generic prompts fail to generate powerful writing[12:15] Breaking down the "mother's legs" prompt and why it works so well[18:40] Laura reads aloud her own powerful response to the mother's legs prompt[25:20] How physical details unlock deeper emotional revelations[31:10] Laura's process for developing targeted writing prompts for students[38:45] The art of cutting beautiful material that doesn't serve your storyAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over three decades of experience perfecting the art of memoir instruction and prompt creation. She is the author of the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and 7 other best selling books. She specializes in helping writers access their most authentic stories through carefully crafted exercises. Laura leads intimate writing retreats worldwide and has helped thousands of writers discover their voices.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeReplace generic prompts with specific, visceral details that create immediate imagesLook for prompts that feel like a "burr in your side" - slightly provocative and compellingUse physical characteristics to access deeper emotional truths about relationshipsTrust that targeted prompts will reveal more than direct, broad questionsRemember that even beautiful writing might not serve your larger story arc - and that's okayEpisode Call-to-ActionReady to unlock your own powerful stories? Try Laura's "mother's legs" prompt for yourself, or join her for an intimate 5-day memoir writing retreat, The Art of Memoir, right on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Cruz, California this November.The Art of Memoir: Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life StoriesVilla Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CAMonday, November 3 - Friday, November 7, 2025If you’d like to experience five unforgettable days writing to powerful and effective memoir prompts under the guidance of a master teacher, join me in Santa Cruz, California the first week in November for an intimate, unforgettable retreat at a gorgeous retreat center perched right on the Pacific Ocean. The Art of Memoir will lead you deep into your story and the craft of memoir.In this transformative five-day workshop, you’ll connect with your inner voice, discover the healing power of language, and birth powerful true stories onto the page. Evocative prompts will lead you deeply into the world of memoir and story. Discover how to “find the story beneath the story,” why writers need to “slow down where it hurts,” and the secret of crafting tales rooted in the immediacy and physicality of the moment.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 episode is designed for writers, memoirists, and anyone interested in personal storytelling techniques. Laura shares practical, immediately applicable methods while demonstrating the emotional power of well-crafted writing prompts. 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

Poetry Medicine for Self-Criticism: When You're Hard on Yourself This Midweek Pause for Peace, curated by Laura Davis, features Colorado Poet Laureate Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer's healing poem "For When I Am Hard on Yourself." Laura Davis shares how this poetry became medicine during a difficult re-entry from Bali, offering gentle wisdom for anyone struggling with self-criticism, shame, or perfectionism.Key Questions This Episode Answers· How can poetry help with self-criticism and negative self-talk?· What are practical ways to practice self-compassion during difficult times?· How do you handle re-entry challenges after transformative travel?· What does it mean to "soften toward yourself" when experiencing shame?· How can mindfulness practices support nervous system regulation?Featured ContentPoem: "For When I Am Hard on Myself" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer Host/Curator: Laura Davis Theme: Self-compassion, healing shame, poetry as medicine Location Context: Post-Bali retreat re-entry experience Cultural Insight: Contrast between Balinese values (beauty, creativity, spirituality, community) and Western productivity cultureAbout Rosemerry Wahtola TrommerColorado Poet Laureate (San Miguel County 2006-2010, Western Slope 2015-2017). Known for daily poetry practice and healing-focused work. Dedicated to helping others explore creative practice as medicine.You can subscribe to her daily poetry feed here. https://www.wordwoman.com/a-daily-dose-of-poetry/Episode Highlights & Actionable Insights· Body-Heart-Mind Connection: "If you can soften your body, your heart can settle, and if your heart can settle your mind can listen" - Augusta Kantra· Memory as Medicine: Plant seeds of peaceful memories to recall during shame spirals· Nature Metaphors for Healing: Float like water, soften like milkweed down, become gentle without thorns· Self-Talk Transformation: Shift from self-regret to self-remembrance· Travel Integration: How to process cultural contrasts and difficult re-entryPractical Applications1. When Experiencing Self-Criticism: Remember moments of floating, peace, gentleness2. Body Softening Practice: Physical relaxation as pathway to emotional healing3. Shame Response: Use poetry and gentle metaphors instead of harsh self-judgment4. Cultural Re-integration: Honor both transformative experiences and present reality5. Daily Practice: Subscribe to healing poetry for consistent emotional supportPerfect For Listeners Who Experience:· Self-criticism or harsh inner dialogue· Perfectionism and shame cycles· Difficulty with life transitions· Travel re-entry challenges· Interest in poetry as healing practice· Need for midweek emotional support· Nervous system overwhelm· Cultural contrast processingSeries Information: Pause for PeaceEach 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.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 my 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

Writing About Silence: Memoir Prompts That Transform Your StoryIn this episode, Laura Davis explores the profound types of silence we experience in life through creative writing and poetry. Inspired by Ada Limón's "The Quiet Machine," Laura shares a personal memoir about her relationship to different kinds of silence. This episode includes a transformative writing prompt: "Tell me about the kinds of silence you have known." Perfect for writers, poets, memoirists, and anyone using storytelling for healing and self-discovery.Key Topics & Timestamps:00:00-03:00 - Introduction: Why silence matters in memoir writing03:00-08:00 - Ada Limón's "The Quiet Machine" analysis and writing techniques08:00-15:00 - The silence writing prompt: step-by-step guide15:00-20:00 - Real examples: Types of silence in personal narrative20:00-25:00 - Creating safe writing spaces for vulnerable content25:00-28:00 - Building sustainable writing practicesFeatured Writing Exercise:Core Prompt: "Tell me about the ways you seek silence. Times you've been silent—or silenced. Tell me about the kinds of silence you have known."Host Bio:Laura Davis is a six-time HarperCollins author. Her books, including The Courage to Heal and I Thought We’d Never Speak Again have been translated into 11 languages and sold 1.8 million copies. Laura leads writing workshops in the U.S. and internationally that focus on writing as a tool for healing and transformation. She is currently completing a memoir about the dramatic twists and turns of mother-daughter love, The Burning Light of Two Stars www.LauraDavis.net.Call to Action:Join Laura's weekly writing classes at https://lauradavis.net/writing-classes/ There are current openings.You can find information about Laura’s other classes, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems, essays, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com 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 TitleMidweek Pause for Peace: "Let Them Not Say" by Jane HirshfieldEpisode DescriptionWelcome to another episode of Midweek Pause for Peace with Laura Davis. In this weekly series, Laura pairs stunning images from nature with carefully chosen poetry to offer listeners a moment of reflection and restoration for both heart and nervous system.This week, Laura features the profound and urgent poem "Let Them Not Say" by award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield. This powerful piece explores themes of witnessing, collective responsibility, and the courage required to face difficult truths rather than turning away.Featured Poem"Let Them Not Say" by Jane HirshfieldFrom the collection "Ledger: Poems" (2020)Key Themes ExploredThe importance of bearing witness to difficult realitiesOvercoming the impulse to look away from pain and sufferingCollective responsibility and shared experienceThe tension between beauty and destructionFinding light and warmth even in challenging circumstancesAbout the PoetJane Hirshfield is a celebrated American poet, essayist, and translator with an impressive literary career spanning decades. Her accolades include:Author of ten poetry collections, including the National Book Award-longlisted "The Beauty" (2015)Finalist for the PEN USA Poetry Award for "Come, Thief" (2011)National Book Critics Award finalist for "Given Sugar, Given Salt" (2001)Author of influential essay collections including "Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry" and "Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World"Translator and editor of significant works featuring historical poets, including "The Ink Dark Moon" and "The Heart of Haiku"Episode HighlightsLaura's reflection on why this poem resonates in our current momentThe power of poetry to help process difficult emotions and experiencesHow nature imagery can provide grounding during challenging timesThe role of witness and testimony in creating meaning from struggleAbout Midweek Pause for PeaceMidweek Pause for Peace is Laura Davis's regular series designed to provide listeners with a moment of calm and reflection in the middle of busy weeks. Each episode combines the healing power of nature imagery with carefully selected poetry, creating space for both emotional processing and nervous system regulation.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comSubscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive beautifully curated poems, essays about life and writing, writing tips, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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 TitleMidweek Pause for Peace: "Womanifesto" by Libba Bray - A Call to ActionEpisode DescriptionJoin Laura Davis for a special edition of Midweek Pause for Peace that breaks from the usual gentle reflections to deliver something designed to rouse and awaken. This week, Laura features "Womanifesto," a fierce and unapologetic poem written by bestselling novelist Libba Bray in 2017.Unlike the typical pairing of nature imagery with contemplative poetry, this episode presents a powerful call for activism - a rallying cry that demands we not look away, but instead channel our anger into action and authentic voice.Featured Poem"Womanifesto" by Libba BrayWritten in 2017Key Themes ExploredReclaiming authentic voice and powerRejecting societal expectations and constraintsTransforming rage into purposeful actionThe cost of silence and performative femininityCollective awakening and sisterhoodBreaking free from internalized oppressionThe power of "unladylike" expressionWhy This Poem Matters NowLaura explains her choice to feature this provocative piece as part of her typically gentle series, emphasizing how sometimes we need to be stirred rather than soothed. The poem serves as a manifesto for women who are ready to shed the "good girl" persona and embrace their full, messy, powerful selves.About the PoetLibba Bray is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her bold, uncompromising voice in both young adult and adult literature. Her acclaimed works include:The Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing)Going Bovine (Michael L. Printz Award winner)Beauty Queens (L.A. Times Book Prize finalist)The Diviners seriesUnder the Same StarsOriginally from Texas, Bray now divides her time between New York City and Paris. Her writing consistently explores themes of female empowerment, social justice, and breaking free from restrictive social norms.Episode HighlightsLaura's reflection on we need fierce words right nowThe difference between destructive anger and transformative rageHow poetry can serve as a catalyst for social changeThe importance of authentic expression over social acceptabilityCreating space for the "messy, expansive, unraveled" parts of ourselvesAbout Midweek Pause for PeaceMidweek Pause for Peace is Laura Davis's regular series designed to provide listeners with a moment of calm and reflection in the middle of busy weeks. Each episode combines the healing power of nature imagery with carefully selected poetry, creating space for both emotional processing and nervous system regulation.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comSubscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive beautifully curated poems, essays about life and writing, writing tips, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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

I hope you enjoy this Midweek Pause for Peace. Each week, I pair a beautiful image with a poem—a little something for your heart and your nervous system.—Laura DavisEpisode OverviewIn this transformative episode of "Pause for Peace," host Laura Davis explores Chelan Harkin's profound poem "November 6" - a rallying cry for finding our inner strength when everything seems to be falling apart. Laura reflects on how this poem reminds us of the inner strength that lives in all of us, and how we just need to find a way to tap it. This midweek pause reminds us that our deepest challenges often awaken our most powerful potential, calling us to rise and find the indomitable light within.Featured ContentPoem: "November 6" by Chelan HarkinTheme: Rising from collapse and finding inner strengthFormat: Poetry reading with inspirational commentaryDuration: Midweek pause episodeKey Themes ExploredInner Resilience: Discovering strength we didn't know we possessedRising from Devastation: Transforming collapse into fuel for growthCollective Support: The importance of reaching for each other in difficult timesLight in Darkness: Embracing our luminous nature during challenging periodsIntegrity Under Pressure: How trials test and strengthen our characterIndomitable Spirit: Finding that which cannot be defeated within usEpisode HighlightsOpening reflection by Laura Davis on the inner strength that lives within all of usFull reading of Chelan Harkin's stirring poem "November 6"Exploration of how foundations crumbling can awaken our lightDiscussion of burning through devastation to make it fuelMessage about not being afraid of the dark but bringing forth our lightCall to action: "Rise, and find the strength in your heart"Guest Spotlight: Chelan HarkinChelan Harkin is a celebrated poet and inspirational speaker who explores the mystical connections among "the family of things." Her work focuses on:Published Works:Susceptible to LightLet Us Dance: The Stumble and Whirl with The BelovedWild GraceThe Prophetess: The Return of The Prophet from The Voice of The Divine Feminine (newest work)Expertise Areas:Healing from trauma through poetrySelf-realization and personal growthCultivating wholeness and unityDismantling barriers that divide usMystical spirituality and connectionSpeaking & Impact:Chelan has shared her unique, inspired voice across the country, encouraging others to open their hearts and break down divisive barriers. She lives in Washington State with her children, Amari and Nahanni.Connect with Chelan HarkinInstagram: @chelanharkinFind her published works and speaking engagementsAbout This Episode's MessageThis poem serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges often reveal our greatest strengths. When everything external falls away, we're invited to dig deeper and discover the indomitable force that lives within us - our capacity to rise, to love, and to shine light in the darkness.Reflection QuestionsWhat hidden strengths have you discovered during difficult times?How can you use your current challenges as fuel for growth?In what ways can you reach out and support others during collective struggles?What does it mean to you to "not be afraid of the dark"?About "Pause for Peace"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.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems, essays, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comYou can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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 OverviewIn this deeply moving episode of "Pause for Peace," host Laura presents Dorothy Oger's stirring poem "For Love" - a powerful meditation on choosing love and compassion even in the midst of personal and global turmoil. This midweek pause offers listeners a moment of reflection, healing, and hope through the transformative power of poetry.Featured ContentPoem: "For Love" by Dorothy OgerTheme: Standing for love in troubled timesFormat: Poetry reading with reflective commentaryDuration: Midweek pause episodeKey Themes ExploredResilience Through Love: How to maintain compassion despite personal strugglesGlobal Consciousness: Expanding our circle of care beyond our immediate surroundingsHope in Dark Times: Finding light amid worldwide challengesPresence as Power: The transformative impact of witnessing and open-hearted presencePeace Through Poetry: Using art as a tool for nervous system regulation and healingEpisode HighlightsOpening reflection on offering presence and love in uncertain timesFull reading of Dorothy Oger's poem "For Love"Discussion of standing for love "even with a broken soul"Exploration of choosing light over darkness, love over fearMessage of hope for children's safety and open bordersGuest Spotlight: Dorothy OgerDorothy Oger is a trilingual coach, facilitator, speaker, artistic harvester, songwriter and poet. She is a deep listener who reflects complex experiences through poetry and intuitive drawing. She is skilled at creating a sense of safety and trust while encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone. You can learn more about Dorothy’s coaching, poetry and artistic work on her website.About "Pause for Peace"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.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems, essays, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comYou can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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 NotesEach week, Laura pairs a beautiful image with a poem—a little something for your heart and nervous system every Wednesday.Episode Title: Hope as Resistance: Poetry & Peace with David Joseph JuniorEpisode Description: Welcome to another episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, where host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with powerful poetry to nourish your heart and nervous system. This week, we explore "Hope is a Form of Resistance" by poet David Joseph Junior—a moving piece that reframes hope not as passive wishing, but as an active, embodied practice of courage and defiance.Key Themes Explored:Hope as active resistance rather than passive waitingThe intersection of faith, justice, and healingPoetry as a tool for processing grief and building resilienceThe sacred nature of hope in difficult timesHow hope becomes a weapon against oppressionFeatured Poem"Hope is a Form of Resistance" by David Joseph JuniorKey Quotes from the Episode"Hope is not passive. It does not whisper only when the storm subsides. It roars in the middle of the flood.""Hope wears work boots, not wings.""Hope is not for the untested. Hope is for the bold.""Hope is how we resist without becoming what we resist."About the Featured Poet: David Joseph Junior is a writer, poet, and storyteller who explores faith, identity, and the quiet places where God still speaks. He writes for "the wilderness-walkers, the midnight wrestlers, and anyone learning to breathe again." Find his work on Substack at Whispers & Wildfires, where "quiet words ignite bold faith, healing community, and justice."Episode Highlights:Laura's reflection on hope as embodied practice vs. wishful thinkingAnalysis of the poem's powerful imagery and metaphorsDiscussion of hope's role in social justice movementsThe sacred responsibility of carrying hope forwardHow poetry can serve as both comfort and call to actionResources Mentioned:David Joseph Junior's Substack: Whispers & WildfiresMidweek Pause for Peace series archiveConnect with the Show: About "Pause for Peace"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.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems, essays, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.comYou can find information about Laura’s writing classes, 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