Finding Good Bones

Finding Good Bones

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Finding Good Bones is for anyone who wraps themselves in words to warm their heart, who turns to text for a guiding light through the dark. Each week, hosts Kate Caldwell and Amy Winters speak with a guest on a piece of writing that helps them acknowledge the sorrow in the world, and then find the hope to move through it. Join us as we work to uncover, understand, and share the ”Good Bones” that help us see that we can make this world beautiful.

Finding Good Bones


    • Nov 15, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 21 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Finding Good Bones

    Episode 20: Magic for Marigold by L. M. Montgomery with Calandra Lindstadt

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 51:17


    In this episode, Dear Listeners, Calandra Lindstadt takes us to Prince Edward Island and lost centuries with L.M. Montogmery's Magic for Marigold. It's a conversation with musings on the beauty and challenge of generations of family living close to one another, the joy of a sassy, judgey grandmother, the gift of independence, the power that can be found in surrendering to a good death. But please, don't mention any Anne of Green Gables adaptations other than the 1985 CBC and PBS version, and don't call us late for dinner.

    A Very Special “Day After the 2024 Election” Episode with Kate and Amy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 26:48


    Dear Listeners, the day after the 2024 Presidential Election many people were (are) feeling a WAY. So we decided to make a very special episode of Finding Good Bones, in case you need help sitting with the dark and looking towards the light. Kate and Amy bring some of the pieces speaking to them right now: “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” by Emily Dickinson, “Hope Is Not a Bird, Emily, It's a Sewer Rat” by Caitlin Seida, Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett. There's no political analysis, but there IS a free roaming three year old and at least one musical break. The discussion includes morality, mothering, niceness vs. kindness, an inevitable reckoning, and different ways hope can show up - a bird, a sewer rat, sometimes even a toddler.

    Episode 18: “Peter Pan” by Patty Griffin with Kim Caldwell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 48:03


    It's bangarang, Dear Listeners, as we leave Neverland with Patty Griffin's “Peter Pan,” brought by whole human woman and this episode's guest Kim Caldwell. A wistful but firm examination of lovingly leaving what we've outgrown, the discussion covers the art that gives us clear directions in life, the hard truth that believing isn't enough to make something real, and the feeling of deeply comforting melancholy. Also, we all agree that Peter Pan does not have an email address but Captain Hook does have an Only Fans.

    Episode 17: “Becoming, Part 1” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon with Kate Caldwell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 42:17


    Buckle up, Dear Listeners, we're headed to Sunnydale for our first (but certainly not last) official episode on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The conversation explores what the show means to Kate and Amy, living through big moments of change, working to offer others the grace we've received, and managing the oppositional truths that arise when something you love was written by a real asshole.

    Episode 16: The Overstory by Richard Powers with Melanie Haupt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 34:20


    Join us, Dear Listeners, as we fall under the thrall of The Overstory by Richard Power and teacher, writer, publisher and editor Melanie Haupt. It's a lengthy selection befitting a lengthy novel and the conversation covers man vs. nature, the devastation of loss, the nostalgia of Christmas, the longevity and patience of trees, and the writing that changes our lives.

    Episode 15: We May Be the Ones by Paul Westerberg with D.L. Nailling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 37:03


    Welcome back, Dear Listeners, as we revel in the gritty nostalgia of Paul Westerberg's “We May Be the Ones” with musician and 6th grade social studies teacher D.L. Nailing. You can practically feel the death trap playgrounds of the 1980s as we discuss the specificity and yet universality of the people in the lyrics, the power of a pocketknife, the intense calm of dissociating, and just a touch of David Lee Roth.

    Episode 14: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay with Sumina Bhatti

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 31:28


    Well, Dear Listeners, it feels like a great time to join our wildernesses and sorrows together with Ross Gay's Book of Delights, brought by burgeoning gardener, Gatherer of memes, and Tea Geek Sumina Bhatti. The conversation covers the immediate understanding of “March of 2020”, chaotic joy, sitting with pain, sharing burdens, and how rough we all are on our books!

    Episode 13: Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett with Amy Winters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 34:39


    Join us, Dear Listeners, as we delve into Terry Pratchett's Discworld through the novel Carpe Jugulum with podcast co-host and episode guest Amy Winters. The conversation covers the responsibility of choice, standing in between the light and the dark, the hilarious awkwardness of Death, and the subtle empathy of stern people who take on the weight of hard decisions. There's also just a touch of Bridgerton and the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries!

    Episode 12: Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw with Jeff Mount

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 49:12


    Join Finding Good Bones for a rewilding as storyteller and leadership coach Jeff Mount challenges us all to look deep within and around, and speak of what we find there. It's a ruminative discussion filled with ancient myths, challenging truths, sacred journeys, and secret names. Pour yourself a dram and start listening already!

    Episode 11: It's a Wonderful Life by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling with Nancy Guzman

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 40:18


    It's a Wonderful Life here on the Finding Good Bones podcast with our guest Nancy Guzman - fiber artist, witch, tarot reader, horror film fanatic, sci-fi enthusiast, and a Gemini with too many hobbies - as we take a look at this holiday classic from Frank Capra. We discuss the underplayed darkness in the film, the blinders depression can put on a person, and the joy we can all create without even knowing it. Did you hear that? A capitalist angel just got its wings!

    gemini wonderful life guzman frank capra albert hackett frances goodrich jo swerling
    Episode Ten: Anthem by Leonard Cohen with Lani Diane Rich

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 47:00


    Come get starstruck by this week's Finding Good Bones guest - New York Times bestselling author, writing coach, and podcast superstar Lani Diane Rich - and her selection, Anthem by Leonard Cohen. It's a vulnerable yet frolicking discussion on finding the beauty in destruction, honoring scars, and rebuilding foundations. Lani Diane Rich is totally our best friend now, and soon we'll have the T-shirts to prove it.

    Episode Nine: The Litany Against Fear by Frank Herbert with Kate Caldwell

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 27:42


    Dear Listeners, this week's episode takes in the mindkiller with The Litany Against Fear by Frank Herbert (from Dune) with guest (and host) Kate Caldwell. Secrets are revealed - it turns out Amy somehow hasn't read Dune (?!?) - and the conversation covers matriarchal orders in a patriarchal world, taking in fear, and letting it take what you don't need. And remember folx - no one is as scary as Mama.

    Episode Eight: Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller with Ladislao Loera

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 47:10


    Join us for an examination of hierarchies on this episode of Finding Good Bones, when artist, improviser, award winning storyteller, and animal lover Ladislao Loera brings Lulu Miller's book “Why Fish Don't Exist”. It's a joyful discussion on The Dandelion Principle, killing your darlings, understanding the ”should”, and finding grace for the people around us.

    Episode Seven: “Sonnet 65” by William Shakespeare with Liz Larson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 27:43


    This week's Finding Good Bones is an exploration of Sonnet 65 by William Shakespeare with Liz Larson - actor, writer, and occasional a-hole for hire (a/k/a trial attorney). The conversation covers the immutability of time, the enormity of grief, the immortality within stories, and the gleeful bawdiness of the Bard. With a few sad trombones scattered throughout.

    Episode Six: Hell's Half Acre by Will Christopher Baer with Kareem Badr

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 35:01


    This week on Finding Good Bones, actor, improviser, and musician Kareem Badr brings a hypnotic and vibrant neo-noir - Hell's Half Acre by author Will Christopher Baer. The discussion includes the wonder in terrible things expressed beautifully, the works we find that help us rebuild ourselves, and the fatalistic hope at the heart of noir. Come for the conversation, stay for Kareem's Actor Voice.

    Episode Five: Spring Break 1899 by Murder by Death with Amy Winters

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 31:37


    In this week's episode of the Finding Good Bones podcast, guest and host Amy Winters takes us back to “Spring Break 1899” by the band Murder By Death. The conversation covers waking up to empty whiskey bottles, second chances and clean slates, and doing all the good we can. With a side of buttery Johnny Cash.

    Episode Four: The Risk of Birth by Madeleine L'Engle with Genevieve Saenz

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 21:54


    This week, Amy and Kate take on "The Risk of Birth", a poem by Madeleine L'Engle, with guest  Genevieve Saenz. This includes physical human birth, metaphysical creative birth, the birth of this podcast, and dinosaurs. Don't worry, Dear Listeners - nature finds a way. So do poems.

    Episode Three: The Kookaburras by Mary Oliver with Wendell Kimper

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 26:08


    This one is for the procrastinators and cowards in all of our hearts as guest Wendell Kimper, Amy, and Kate discuss "The Kookaburras", a poem by Mary Oliver. The episode covers the multitudes of potential, the desire (if not always the ability) to unlock the cages of suffering, and figuring just exactly what (or who?) is a god of flowers. Annnnnd we're taking it back to Buffy. Of course.

    Episode Two: The Middle Place by Rupi Kaur with Morgan Anderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 20:21


    This week on the Finding Good Bones podcast, our guest Morgan Anderson takes Amy and Kate to "The Middle Place", a poem by Rupi Kaur. It's a dreamy discussion on turning people into gods, building ivory towers, taking off the mask, and figuring out how to be mortals together. Oh, and Morgan's murders of crows!

    Episode One: Good Bones by Maggie Smith with Kate Caldwell

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 23:30


    Join Amy and Kate for the very first official episode of the Finding Good Bones podcast - a discussion of the namesake of the podcast, the poem Good Bones by Maggie Smith (the poet, not the Dame).  This episode covers the power of sparseness and repetition, the importance of breaking and reforming, and the glory of fake footnotes - in between lots of cackling.

    Episode Zero: The Longest Teaser Ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 9:00


    Welcome to the longest teaser ever! Can you still call it a teaser when it's basically the length of the episode? Well we can and we did. Hear all about Finding Good Bones, a podcast digging into the writing that lifts us up, from hosts Amy and Kate. Get ready for raucous laughter, heavy sighs, lengthy descriptions, and a lot of fun. 

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