Podcasts about Love Story

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Sonnets Of The Portuguese - Plus A Great Love Story!   Hi, I'm Christy Shriver, and we're here to discuss books that have changed the world and have changed us.    And I'm Garry Shriver, and this is the How to Love Lit Podcast.  This is our second week in a two part series discussing one of English Language literature's most romantic couples- the poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  Last week, we introduced Robert Browning and his notable dramatic monologue My Last Duchess which gives voice to a twisted psychopath.  We talked a little bit about Robert Browning's life, but not too much.  This week we'll return to his story as well as introduce his remarkable wife and her poetry, Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  Christy, am I correct when I say that during their lifetimes, she was famous and he was the Mr. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, so to speak?  Also, am I also correct that the man who wrote about the most twisted love relationship in British poetry also arguably had one of the most famous personal love stories!      You are correct on both accounts- although, in his defense, in regard to the second fiddle Robert played to Elizabeth during her life, history has elevated him over the years.      And been less kind to her, am I right about that?      For a while-you're right- the world turned on  Elizabeth, or EBB, as she signed her things.      Wait= stop there- EBB for Elizabeth Barrett Browning?  She went by that?      Well, she had a family nickname BA, but in her professional life-Yes- she signed everything EBB but there is a story.  When she was single she was Elizabeth Barrett Barrett- so, she started that before she got married.  When she got married, she kept up the EBB- it avoided all the normal name confusion women deal with when they marry later in life and have the hassle of changing identities.  In her case, sticking with thethe initials  just made it easy.    That worked out.      I agree- Anyway- back to your point that history was RUDE to her.  There was a period of about 100 years where people really criticized put her down.  Virginia Wolfe, specifically, wrote what to me is a cruel essay about EBB's most accomplished piece of poetry, a long epic novel in poem form called Aurora Leigh.  Wolfe is very condescending for many reasons, but from my perspective, Wolfe just didn't like poetry very much, and Aurora leigh is an epic poem.   So, EBB, for about a 100 years drifted along on the coat tails of her husband, ironically, whose reputation gained ground over that same period of time.  It was this giant reversal after death.      Huh- I guess it's a good thing they were both gone- that could have brought some marital complications!      So true, but maybe they would have laughed.  When they were alive, Robert Browning once said that the only way he could get a publisher to look at his work was if he promised he'd get Elizabeth to print something with them.   Today, though, over two hundred years later, we can all be relieved to know, history has decided to let them rest together in peace. They are both viewed in high regard in their own rights.  The Wolfe crowd has settled down, and we can see EBB with a more balanced perspective, especially her work Aurora Leigh- something notable but more than we can really handle in one episode-  I did want to mention because it was EBB's masterpiece- and something that is quite original- if you like her stuff or if you like epic poetry, you should check it out.  No one has really done an epic poem about a female hero like her either before or since, at least that I know anything about. When it came out It was extremely popular, as well as quite scandalous. It's a plot driven story, and Marian Erle, a heroine in the stories, gets raped, has a child, refuses to hide the fact that it was a product of rape and does not take a proposal in marriage that would redeem her reputation as a fallen woman, so to speak.  It has been said that women read it secretly under their sheets so as not to be discovered, and EBB loved that.      Let me just tell you, that might scandalize readers even todayOh my, I'd say that's a very different hero than Odysseus or Gilgamesh, and I can see why Aurora Leigh was so popular so quickly not just in Britain but in America- in fact,. I read it hadsomewhere that they printed over 20 editions before the end of the 19th century.  But, let's back up and get a little of the back story on this scandalous Victorian celebrity.      Okay- boring stuff first.  EBB was born on March 6, 1806, the eldest of TWELVE children to very prominent people.  Her father's family, the Barrett's owned thousands of acres of sugar plantation in Jamaica plus all the slaves that went with that.  The Barrett's had gobs of money.  Her early years were happy, and for a while she lived in a fairy land.  Her father built this incredibly lavish estate, and she had free reign to roam at will, and that's exactly what she did.  In one sense, her family was progressive.  They encouraged and even supported her studying, and she did and loved it.  She had an excellent private tutor and she worked hard- even though at the time for a woman there wasn't much point in it.  She received a very good classical education becoming proficient in both Greek and Latin.  She read all of the time and anything she could get her hands on- which was a lot.  She also got into poetry writing pretty early on. She wrote for everyone and all the time.  Her father called her the Poet Laureate of Hope End (that was the name of their estate).  He even sponsored the publication of her first epic poem she was only 13.      Can you imagine a proud father publishing his teenage daughter's epic poem- that's definitely a rich kid thing to do.    Well, it certainly was and an indication that her life was all just dreamy…until it wasn't.  First, The Barrett's, as in the extended family, had some sort of squabble about the sugar plantation money and somehow, I'm not sure how, Elizabeth's dad, lost a big chunk of it.  They lost the big fancy estate and had to move into some sort of temporary housing.     Then, and this is even worse although, it seems what I'm about to describe happened to a lot of women during this time period, at age 15, she started getting really sick with no commensurate explanation.  To this day, her illness is undiagnosed, but she had all kinds of symptoms that left her weak to the point of literally being physically disabled.      What did they say it was at the time?  And as historians have looked back through the record is there an idea today about what made her sick?    Two good questions.  Well, of course, her family tried everything, including moving to live by the seaside- which we've seen in a lot of British literature- that came up even in Emma.  But in her case her health never really improved. By the time she was 25, her family was living in London,but that place wasn't really known at the time for its fresh air- think the chimney sweeper or Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.  What happened to poor Elizabeth is that she ended up spending all of her time confined in a bedroom in that famous address associated with her today- 50 Wimpole Street.       Well, I'm not sure about 50 Wimpole street, but isn't 57 Wimpole street the famous home of Paul McCartney- the place where he and John Lennon wrote “I want to Hold your Hand” and then later “Yesterday”.      Yes- that's a little bit after EBB's time there, though.  HA.  But actually, they did make a fairly famous movie called The Barretts at Wimpole Street about Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  So, there's that too.    Anyway, back to EBB's health-  Victorian London, in general,  was dirty and smoggy, and so Elizabeth ended up basically being locked up in her room theoretically for her own good.  There is a school of thought that suggests that Some of her problems were connected to an issue with her spine from an injury she got from falling off a horse.  We also know for a fact she  had a lot of trouble with her lungs.  I think the most trustworthy sources say she probably had spinal tuberculosis. Honestly, I really don't really know what was wrong with her except to say that by the time she was twenty-five, it seems she was pretty much disabled.  And, if that wasn't enough, she has another issue- again fairly common for the time period.   Her doctors- proscribed to her meds- and you can probably guess where I'm going with this- that were addictive- and like so many back then as well as today- she became an opium addict, of course, all under her doctor's care.  This seems a little horrifying to me, partly because we just finished watching the Netflix series The Pharmacist which was an expose on the opium problem in the United States connected to Oxycotin and the ensuing 400,000 overdoses directedly related to that drug.  But Garry, clearly, opium addiction is not a 21st century phenomenon, we talked about it a little bit with Frankenstein because it surfaced a little in that book, and even though this is a little tangential, it's interesting to me, so tell us about what opium addiction looked like in the 19th century and why would a little doted on homeschool girl wind up addicted to it?     Sure, wellFirst let's establish what it was she was taking.  It was a common drug called laudanum is what Elizabeth Barrett Browning was addicted to..  She wasn't popping pills or shooting up. anything.   Laudanum was an alcoholic herbal preparation thatand was 10% opium.  It was prescribed pretty much for everything: it was used as a pain reliever, a cough suppressant, it was used to control depression, heart palpitations.  It was given as a sleeping pill, menstrual cramps were treated with laudanum.  Just likeEven worse than oxycotin in the early days of the opioid epidemic today, itlaudanum was an entirely uncontrolled substance. Almost no one took the side effects of the drug seriously- and there were a lot of them- But another point to understand, and again this is just like opioids today- there was that associated euphoria people experienced from taking the drug that encouraged it's people to use it.  Why not, right?  It's not hurting anything, and it makes me feel good.       .  However, as we all know, thatdrug euphoria comes at a cost and the cost was depression, the slurred speech, the restlessness, poor concentration, and of course, theif you ever wanted to get off, terrible withdrawal symptoms.  Here's one crazy fun fact that might blow your mind- Itlaudanum was even spoon fed to infants, if you can believe that.      No way!    But before we judge too quickly with the arrogance of the present, we have to remember, that it wasn't until 1899 that aspirin was invented.  These were days when there were no antibiotics,  no mild tranquiliers;  not much of anything and people needed help- not just pain relief, but with all kinds of things, and this is what they had.      Do you think Barrett's prolonged disabilities could be connected with her drug use?    I'm sure it's possible, but I really don't know.  Laudanum has no curative properties. After they got married, Robert Browning did help her reduce her drug use significantly,  and in fact, she reduced her dosage to where she was finally able to get pregnant after two miscarriages related to laudanum.  After marrying him, her entire health condition improved actually.  She even got to where she could walk again, but I'm not sure what all the factors were that contributed to her general improved health.  She was definitely in a better climate and presumably happy.   I do want to be clear, there was no stigma at that time in using laudanum, so we don't need to see her as dark or even unconventional because she was a laudanum user.  Lots and lots of people used it for all kinds of things and lots were addicted- including names we recognize like Charles Dickens.      Okay-moving on to the love story- so Elizabeth was pretty much locked up in her room, disabled but otherwise living a fairly engaging intellectual life.  She was writing poetry, writing letters and basically building a literary career out of that bedroom, even in her disabled state.  In 1838, she published a book of poetry called The Seraphim and Other Poems and that one was met with a lot of critical success- oh and let me note- Elizabeth Barrett Browning published her work under her own name!!!  That wasn't what a lot of women writers were doing.  But, because her work was well received and NOT anonymous, this led to her corresponding via the mail and making friends with important literary figures of her day- some we've even heard of today- famous people like William Wordsworth and Edgar Allan Poe.  In 1844, she published another book of poetry, and it met even more success- and it was the publication of this book that changed her personal life completely.  In one of the poems in this collection,  the poem's name, btw, was  “Lady Geraldine's Courtship”, If you're interested, but in this poem she references the poetry of another  fairly obscure British poet,  a man by the name of Robert Browning.  Well, this obscure poet, Robert, was highly flattered to be noticed by someone who was now quite famous, and wrote her a letter thanking her for the shout out.  However, this was not your run of the mill thank you note.  In his thank you letter he very forwardly and now famously said this, “I love your verses with all my heart, Miss Barrett”…”, I do, as I say, love these books with all my heart- and I love you too.”      Ha!  That is forward.  Robert Browning was very much a very bold suitor- no doubt.  He pursued Elizabeth and all throughvia the mail. I was amazed to read there are over 573 letters between these two, and these letters pretty much document the story of two people falling in love.  Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's email drama has nothing on these two!!  They wrote each other every day and seemingly pretty much about everything  in the world.  These were not check in texts.  These were not Joey Tribiani lines like “what's up!”- they were full on epistles.     So true, and these letters have been popular reading material ever since- for those of us who want to take stalking to the next level and stalk the love lives of the dead.  You really get an intimate look at two people falling in love.  Elizabeth said they were “talking upon paper”.   When you read the letters, you literally feel like you are injecting yourself into their private world.      Mostly because you are.      I guess that's true, but it is sweet.  Here's a clip for you to see what I mean.  “You've come to me as a dream comes, as the best of dreams comes.”  That's Elizabeth to Robert. And Robert Browning responds in the same sorts of ways, “I have loved you all my Life unawares- that is the idea of you.”         It's a very special back and forth that has been preserved, and they were clearly falling in love now before the eyes of the world and posterity- but we also see that Elizabeth was not totally sure marriage was the path for her.       No, she had a couple of serious hesitations.  Not the least of these was her father.  He absolutely did not believe in allowing his children to get married- especially Elizabeth, and by that I mean not ever.  They were a close family, and that put her in a terrible position.  To marry Robert would be to cut off her father.  Her relationship with her father otherwise was good- if you take out the tyrannical controlling thing- I know that kind of fails the say out loud test.       And of course we see in the letters that Robert, obviously was totally against this kind control over her.        That was one big problem, but she was also concerned about her disability and her age.  She was six years older.  Would this really work? By the time, they got married she was 40- today 40 is the new 20, but she didn't feel that way.   She felt past her prime.  These are some of the insecurities, we will see her write about in her love sonnets.  But, at the end of the day, Robert did love her.  He wanted the relationship to work.  And despite her father's objections, he visited her home 91 times unrelenting in wanting a relationship with Elizabeth.  Garry, do you have a theory as to what Mr. Barrett had against Robert or marriage in general?    Well, for one thing, he thought Robert might be trying to use Elizabeth's fame for his own career- and that would be understandable, I guess, although for a 40 year old, today that seems her problem not his.  But the bigger problem was sex in general.  From everything I've read he was a good father and loved his daughter.  Elizabeth, who they calledhis Ba- in many ways she his pride and joy.  He struggled with his daughter having her own sexual identity- he had idealized her.  It seems that as he got older, the sex piece was just more than he could handle.  This sort of thing happens even today.    Well, the locking the daughter up in the room plan failed.      I will say those plans usually do.    Robert and Elizabeth were in love, and on September 12 1846, with the help of her maid, Elizabeth sneaks out of the house and marries Robert.  One oddity is that after they get married, she had to sneak back into her father's house and live there secretly married for another week before they could work out their train tickets to Italy.  But they did ran away together and eventually settled in Florence and where they lived for the rest of Elizabeth's life.     One unfortunate fall out is that her father never got over the elopement.  He disowned her; cut her off financially and never spoke to her again.  He would die never to see his daughter again.  That's sad.     I suspect she knew that was a possibility, and the reason for her hesitation.  I'm also sure that really hurt, but she didn't seem to regret her decision.  Italy was her choice.  She'd loved it from her classical studies.  The doctors insisted it would significantly improve her health- which it did.   She also wanted Robert and a life with Robert, so Italy was the plan.  After three miscarriages, they had a son, she began walking again; she got involved with European politics, supported the the Unification of Italy, took stands on women's rights issues.  She was fully engaged in a life there.  In 1850, she would publish another collection of poetry- this one contained what she is most famous for- her “Sonnets from the Portuguese”.  Selections from this work is what we're going to read.  These were poems she had written to Robert during those days when she was living locked up in that room on Wimpole street.  She wrote 44 love sonnets to Robert,  but she didn't give them to Robert until after they were married.      What's the connection with the Portuguese?      Well, when they were dating, Elizabeth wrote a poem about a Portuguese girl named Catarina who was beloved.  Robert loved it and always connected Elizabeth to this fictional girl Catarina from the poem.  When Elizabeth published these love sonnets it was kind of an inside joke- the speaker is the Portuguese (her) and the poems are all love poems to her husband.  Sonnets from the Portuguese.    Also, you may remember from Robert's life- he had kind of a bad experience with writing personal confessional poems, so when it came to publishing truly personal poems, he wanted her to create some distance between the speaker of the poem.  So, they basically pretended she translated the sonnets. I like the idea- although, I will say, it's not super-well disguised.      So, why are these love sonnets so popular?    For one, there's just the idea that they are so so sweet.  And since their love life is so well documented with their letters, the personal story makes the sentiments in the sonnets charming.   Elizabeth was 39 years old.  She considers herself past her prime when they met.  She was disabled.  She expresses what to me seems like a disbelief someone she found to be as amazing as this man she admired really truly loved her.  On his part, it's kind of a female fantasy- it's sweet- against a lot of big obstacles,he made her believe he loved her because he did.  He really did.  He was equally enamoured with her.  He admired her.  He wondered how could a woman as brilliant as this woman love me?     And there we have something special- a mutual admiration- it is this mutual admiration that led to a real intellectual exchange.  In these letters we watch this intellectual exchange develop into a reciprocity of respect and from this respect we see trust and then intimacy. All of this, of course, is exactly the kind of thing Ibsen advocates for in A Doll's House.  The Browning's relationship is the exact opposite of the Helmer marriage.  The BrownsingsThe Brownings started  as intellectual equals but then emotionally connect.  After many months of back and forth, after many doubts, we finally land on those famous lines most of us recognize from grocery store valentine cards that young boys glue boxes of chocolates or put in the arms of teddy bears. “How do I love thee, let me count the ways?”      I really like Elizabeth; but I also like Robert.  He loved her for who she was.  He was bold; he took risks.  This is something young men aren't often encouraged to do. For whatever reason, Robert demonstrated leadership, and Elizabeth absolutely reciprocated this strength back to him.  Sonnets from the Portuguese take us on her journey. And because we know the true story of their real-life romance- the sonnets just seem sweet, romantic and precious.    You seem smitten, Christy, should I be concerned?  Or should I write sonnets?    Oh, you should definitely write sonnets, But let me say, there is more to appreciate about these love sonnets than just the love confession.  EBB was a rhetorician- and you know I love rhetoric- persuasion.  These poems don't just express emotion.  They are making an articulate argument- she's making a statement one I find interesting and relevant. Because Elizabeth was a product of the Victorian era, she had a very specific understanding of the view of the ideal woman of her day.  However, she was an intellectual, her father had done her the disservice of introducing her to Greek and Latin philosophy.  She was enamored with the female poet Sapphos- so as she sat in the confining room on Wimpole street, receiving letters from Robert- she found herself thinking- what does something like romantic love mean for someone like me?  I don't need a man for money?  I don't need a man for a career?  I don't even need a man for love- my father loves me.  What is romance?  What is love?  What is a relationship between a man and a roman?  She sat around her room a thought about those sort of things and she draws conclusions.     For one thing, she  defines female love in a different way- it doesn't have to be the same thing as masculine love- but it also doesn't have to be this frail Victorian helpless type she found typical of the age- she defines feminine love in a stronger way.  For EBB love comes from confidence and fills the lover with confidence. In the beginning we see a woman who was confident in her intelligence; confident in her work, confidenr in her family,  but not necessarily confident in any romantic sense.  And how many of us can relate to that?  This was exactly me as a high school and college student- if I'm being honest.       One thing that stands out to me is this idea the frail female.  This WAS the ideal female for a lot of men at this time period.  Of course, most men, even today, want to be strong for a significant lover or the love of women in general,  but this dramatic idea of the sickly and frail woman is very typical of the Victorian period.   I can see that a woman expressing powerful confidence was not something people expected from a female in a romantic relationship and certainly not in a female romantic figure.      Exactly, and EBB, who ironically was sickly, didn't want that to be the reason someone loved her.  She ran from that.  In fact, she even ran from being appreciated for being a woman in general.  When Wordsworth died, England needed a new poet Laureate, Elizabeth's name was recommended to succeed him.  The argument was that there should be a woman poet Laureate for the nation because there was a woman monarch.  Barrett took issue with this- she made the statement that she was not a poetess but a poet and she thought poetry should be judged by its merits not by the sex of its writers.    HA!!  19th century cross-sectional politics.    I know, right, but here's why I bring it up.  When it came to her poetry, she didn't want to be looked at as a woman-as in a hyphenated sub-group.  She saw this kind of thing as patronizing like how I heard boys talk about girl athletes when I was a kid- phrases like, “she's pretty fast- for a girl.” That was not Elizabeth's thing.  It's why didn't use a pseudonym like George Eliot or Emily Bronte who went by Ellis Bell.  Hiding your gender professionally  was totally acceptable.  But it seems to me that for EBB she wanted to say- I am a woman- know that-, I have the feelings and desires define me as a woman.   I will write about women and what women care about.  I will show how I as a woman see the world and I will stand confidently this.  This is an important thing to do.   Don't patronize me by qualifying me by gender; I define my femininity for myself.    But all of that only applies to outside relationships. n    So, how does it apply to personal relationships?     It seems crazy, and unljikely but somehow, she and Robert were on the same page in their understanding of how men and women should relate.  He was not intimated by her professional success at all, and he really should have been.  She was very well known; he was not.  Their personal relationship was all theirs.  She was a woman who wanted to be desired, to be cherished, to be loved and adored- and he wanted very much to do all those things for her.  That is a very traditional relationship, and maybe Victorian in nature- but I have to be honest, I love all those very same things.     As we read these poems, I see a powerful writer but also a dreamy love-struck woman.   “As the prisoners think of liberty, as the dying think of heaven so I think of you.”  That is another quote from one of her letters to Robert- but in this line we see a brave but smitten female voice.      So, you're saying, she's not writing as someone trying to be coy or silently waiting to be seduced.       Exactly, she does want to be seduced; she's just dropping the silent part.  Sonnets from the Portuguese are in sequence; they take us through her evolution of thinking and her emotions on this experience of falling in love.  In sonnets 1-2 we see the woman speaker as object of man- she is not the creator of her own poetic voice yet.  And this of course is what we think of when we think of traditional love poetry- man loves woman- man speaks- woman stays silent- just think about the convention of the sonnets in particular- especially Petrarchan sonnets.  That's what they were all about.    Now, we don't need to rehash our entire episode on Petrarch- although he's worth listening to if you haven't listened to that podcast- or at least not in a while- but, by way of reminder, Petrarch wrote sonnets to a woman named Laura who did not return his affection- the entire genre of the Petrarchan sonnet is about objectifying women.    In fact, I'm pretty sure Petrarch never really even refers to Laura as a whole human being- it's always her hair, or her breasts, her voice, her smile- even the name Laura- some people think just stands in for the word Laurel.      You're right.  Laura is distant- impersonal- an ideal.  The sonnets are mostly about Petrarch- the man- not the woman at all. Elizabeth is to not just going to reverse this- she's going to redefine the sonnet genre entirely.  She's going to say, I'm the object- yes- I want to be the object, but I'm also the speaker- I am not silent.  I am a recipient of a love that empowers, but I am also the giver of a love that emboldens.  The poetic relationship in these sonnets is reciprocal- His love calls for her poems- SHE writes them.  In a sense, he is a magic prince who kisses and restores her- she sees him like this- but she is not weak, she is not powerless- even in her physical fraility- even in her age- and she did see herself as kind of past her prime maybe physically but definitely not creatively or professionally.    SHE is the creator of the art here- she is creating this new idea that I can be a the muse for love and the creator of its art.      I also want to point out that their relationship, although it is intellectual,  it is not platonic.  It's very romantic and there is a lot that is physical here… and some of this is erotic to be honest… He was bold towards her, but now she reciprocates with boldness of her own….    Well, that could get interesting.      I think so, but we'll let you read those on your own, though.     Okay- so, we're going to read three of her sonnets?     Yes, I want to.   I think it's nice to try to see a little bit of the progression we've been talking about- how they kind of show her evolving into her own understanding of her relationship.  We won't overdo the analysis thing because there are three of them- and we'll just try to enjoy them more holistically.  We'll start with 14, move to 22 and then finish with the famous 43- the one most people know.        Sonnet 14    If thou must love me, let it be for nought  Except for love's sake only. Do not say,  "I love her for her smile—her look—her way  Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought  That falls in well with mine, and certes brought  A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"—  For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may  Be changed, or change for thee—and love, so wrought,  May be unwrought so. Neither love me for  Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry:  A creature might forget to weep, who bore  Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!  But love me for love's sake, that evermore  Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.      It seems very straightforward and easy to understand for me.      It really is.  Just to give a little introduction to the form, notice that it is in iambic pentamenter, that means there are five strong beats in every line- just like in most every other sonnet in the world. Also, just like Petrarch, there is a rhyme scheme abba abba cdcdcd. But, that's as far as she will follow Petrarch's model.  In fact, she's almost responding to Petrarch- don't love me like Petrarch loved Laura.   He loved her for stuff- for her smile, her look, her way… all that garbage… don't even love me for any cute thing I say, or even what you do for me and how it makes you feel to do stuff for me, like wipe tears from my cheeks- nonsense like that…I'm just not interested.  If we're going to do this love thing, we need to get past all that and figure out something much deeper …the smile and tears stuff isn't enough.    “Love me for love's sake, that evermore though mayst love, on, through love's eternity.”      Well, it's a very ornate style- and it's understandable in light of what we know about her own personal underconfidences that she would talk like this, but like I said before, I really enjoy seeing a mature woman experience a deep and intimate love- she's allowing herself to enjoy all the emotions of love like most people associate with you, but it's not immature love, it establishs reciprocal terms.       Another point I want to make before we read the next one, and this may be one of the reasons her poetry was so ill-received in the 20th century, EBB has no trouble exploring her doubts and underconfidences in her romantic relationship.  And we see that a little here, although the earlier ones had more of it.  She seems slightly concerned that if the love relies too much on the physical, it might be a bust.  Feminist critics of the 20th century didn't like that.  They said things like, she's lowering herself in the relationship when she should be promoting herself.  And there is a real sense that that is true- she clearly submits to Robert in these sonnets- on purpose- but here is the difference that I think has since redeemed her- it's a reciprocated submission- it's not something that Robert himself was not doing.  Today, as we read her poems, we aren't really offended by her vulnerability.  In fact, the honesty has been reinterpreted as confidence.  It takes quite a bit of sincerity and confidence to be openly underconfident and dependent- as paradoxical as it sounds.      Well, of course, I agree with that.  And I have to think, from a psychological point of view, that being in love and writing about how it makes you feel at age 39 as opposed to 19 is probably why she can be vulnerable about her self-doubts without coming across as weak and pitiful.  She's already been through the adolescent stuff as a totally separate issue, so as she tries to understand what about love is overwhelming her and making her feel so differently- she can separate what is unique about this particular love relationship from regular developmental issues of underconfidence or even the loving relationships she's already experienced from her family- which we have to remember- she'd been adored her entire life.      Let's read 22- we can see the tone has shifted.  There's been a progression from love me for love's sake to now WHEN we stand erect…the posture is very different.  Let's read it.        When our two souls stand up erect and strong,    Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,    Until the lengthening wings break into fire    At either curvèd point,—what bitter wrong    Can the earth do to us, that we should not long   Be here contented? Think. In mounting higher,    The angels would press on us and aspire    To drop some golden orb of perfect song    Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay    Rather on earth, Belovèd,—where the unfit   Contrarious moods of men recoil away    And isolate pure spirits, and permit    A place to stand and love in for a day,    With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.    Again, we have the same iambic pentameter- five strong beats in every line.  We have the rhyme scheme Abba Abba cdcdcd.  But what we notice more than the rhyme change is the tone change.  Traditionally in the Petrarchean sonnet the first eight lines set up a question and then the second six lines answer it.  There's a turn.  In this one, the first eight lines or the octave are going to define the status of their love as it is now.  The last six will argue- quite untraditionally that they need to stop time and just stay in the present moment.      HA!!  Wouldn't that be nice to be able to do.      Yeah- but I guess it's a nice sentiment even if a bit unrealistic.  I guess that's why she can enjoy it.  I want to point out how much religious imagery she throws in here.  It's not two bodies- it's two souls- they are not constrained by physical restraints anymore- something she was all too familiar with.   I also want to point at how equal the two people in this poem are.  They are two souls- erect and strong- face to face- with wings breaking into fire- that's pretty cool imagery.- kind of like some mythical phoenix full of power and energy.    And yet, as cool as they would be, I would prefer to just stay here in this moment with you.  It's sweet.  Okay, ready for the last one…the famous sonnet 43, the second to last poem in the series- in many ways the concluding one.  In this one, she is going to summarize some of the arguments she's made throughout the other sonnets.  She is going to catalogue the eight ways of loving that she's been making for the last 42.  Let's read it and then we'll see how this famous love story ends.      How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height  My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight  For the ends of being and ideal grace.  I love thee to the level of every day's  Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.  I love thee freely, as men strive for right.  I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.  I love thee with the passion put to use  In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.  I love thee with a love I seemed to lose  With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,  Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,  I shall but love thee better after death.    By the end of EBB's sonnet sequence she has reshaped her understanding of love.  She has allowed herself to express her initial insecurities, walked us through her doubts and developed before us a full and complete discovery of what her romantic relationship means.   Again, she is using the same iambic pentameter- and the same abba abba cdcdcd.  It's simple.  It's obvious.  It's confident. Where in the first one we read, there was a lot of insecurity, the second a very confident equality, here she is asserting her own leadership.  I think she's ready to elope!!!    HA!!  I guess she is.  Again there is a lot of religious and Christian imagery- it even alludes to the Bible.  The languages borrows from St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians where he describes Christ's love for humanity.      Exactly, she's expressing a completeness here- in every line she's showing us this cycle.  There's spiritual love, every day love, free and society love, virtuous love, passionate love, permanent love and finally eternal love- after death.    Well, how does their story end.      It's nice.  First of all, I forgot to tell you, they nicknamed their son, Pen.  That's cute.  After the elopement and the move to Italy, they had 15 years before Elizabeth's health finally gave out.  The story goes that on the day Elizabeth died, Robert lifted her up towards him and she kissed him repeatedly, even kissing the air after he put her back on her bed.  Robert was heard saying, “Beautiful, beautiful.”  After she breathed her last breath, he looked at her and said, “How she looks now, how perfectly beautiful.”  This was on June 29, 1861.  That autumn, Robert and Pen left Florence never to return.  He prepared and published her last works that he titled, “Last Poems”.  He was unselfishly pleased that even after her death, sales of her work exceeded his.      Browning stayed in England, gradually establishing a place in London society.  He did propose again to a woman named Louisa, Lady Ashburton, a rich and attractive widow in 1869.  However, he blew the proposal so badly that she turned him down.     You know bad proposals are some of the things America's Funniest Home Videos really taught us all to enjoy.  But how was his so bad.  I mean, he was a poet.  You'd think he could turn a line.       Oh, he turned a line for sure, but this stands out- even in a long list of bad proposals.   He literally told her that his heart lay buried with his wife in Florence and he really just wanted to marry her for the advantages it would give Pen.      Well, at least he was honest.      Yes, he was that- just honest and single.  He continued to write and to publish all the way until his death.  And he died in the same country as his wife.  He and his sister were vacationing in Venice, Italy.  He had bought a house there for Pen.  While in Venice, he caught a cold and died on December 12, 1878 there.  Today, EBB is buried in Florence, but ironically they did not ship Robert Brownings down to Florence to be buried with her.  He actually got a very prestigious placement.  Today Robert Browning's body rests in Westminster Abbey.    Wow, that's impressive and an interesting ending to this very famous romance.    Unless  it doesn't end the romance…according to Elizabeth, she was going to love him better after death.    Ha!!!  Well, there you go, perhaps she's set those wings on fire!!    Oh my, we've read way too many sonnets this week.  Next week, we are changing gears entirely.  If you're listening to this in real time, it's October 2021, Halloween season and we are starting The Haunting of Hill House by the American Shirley Jackson.  It's not my favorite sub-genre, but here we go…into the scary stuff!!!    Thanks for listening, please know we appreciate you spending time with us each week.  We hope you are enjoying exploring the classics with us.  If so, please help us by tweeting an episode, posting a link on Facebook or LinkedIn or simply texting an episode to a friend.  And if you're a teacher, Visit our website for teaching support.    Peace Out.     

In this episode we ask a FAQ of  "How we met", it wasn't love at first sight but it is true love!

Books help young people wrap their minds around who they are, how they fit into the world and give them the language to demand the world make space for them. Queer Young Adult books can guide young readers through the myriad of experiences of coming out in different contexts and cultures. And, love stories can help young gay kids imagine themselves into meaningful adult lives and into fulfilling relationships that validate, nourish, and sustain them. In this episode, three authors of queer YA books share their personal coming-out experiences, which they later translated into their character's coming-out journey, and share the impact reading queer YA books can have on generations of gay kids in developing their personal agency. To learn more about Becky Albertalli, Adbi Nazemian, or Jason June's books, visit harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/becky-albertalli harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/abdi-nazemian harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/jason-june Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. [1:00] In 2015, Becky Albertalli published the award-winning novel about a gay teen, Simon vs. The Homosapien Agenda. [5:02] Author of Like a Love Story, Abdi Nazemian describes how coming out today is different than in decades past. [9:00] Part of Abdi's personal coming-out story is similar to his character's experience in Like a Love Story. [10:40] In Jay's Gay Agenda, Jason June wanted to move the main character past his coming-out story. [12:03] Without a thriving gay community, love, romance, and sexual experiences can be out of reach for gay teens as Jason June explores in Jay's Gay Agenda. [16:18] After Simon vs. The Homosapien Agenda was published, a storm of criticism led Becky to come out publicly in an essay. [21:22] Becky, Abdi, and Jason discuss how being able to relate to queer characters in books matters. [22:28] Authors share their favorite reads in the Queer Young Adult book space. Continue Your Journey: Becky Albertalli Abdi Nazemian Hey Jason June HarperCollins @ReadingPod on Twitter Shareables: “Oftentimes when we're taught history, we're taught we learn history, so as not to repeat it. And as I was writing the book, I was like, but what if we flip that? And we teach the reverse of it, which is, let's study the history that we do want to repeat. Let's study ACT UP. How did they form, how did they actually create such a monumental change in the world? How did the queer community come together when everyone turned their backs on them?” — Abdi Nazemian, Author, Like a Love Story “We need to explore the magic and the complications and all the layers of getting to be queer and what that means.” — Jason June, Author, Jay's Gay Agenda “When you are trying to write about an experience that looks different for every person it's hard to definitely say something is right or wrong but I wanted it to feel authentic.” — Becky Albertalli, Author, Simon vs. The Homosapien Agenda

The world needs more asexual love stories, because the first asexual love story we ever saw was our own. From a disastrous first date to a life-threatening car crash, learn how our chance encounter online ended up fulfilling a mysterious fortune and lead to our happily ever after.

IN THIS EPISODE:   I am the weirdest person I know! Why? Because I spent this entire day writing. Instead of working out, cleaning, organizing, eating healthy, packing up my stuff, or doing any number of other productive things, I felt inspired to start writing our love story, which Gunner and I fondly call "The Painted Line." And I gripe about some taxes I owe to the IRS, as well as calculate how many pounds I need to lose to fit into the dress I want to wear when I visit Gunner on his parole hearing in two weeks.Drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you. Email me at mlindbloom989@gmail.com or hit me up on Instagram:  @the_mrs_lindbloomI appreciate everyone who helps support my show! Your donation helps Gunner and I upgrade software and hardware and create better content for our friends and fans. God bless you all! Support the show (http://paypal.me/mlindbloom989)

How I fell in (and out)  of love with running. I hope you enjoy this bonus episode! Catch new full-length episodes on Mondays and Fridays.  Connect:Healthy Mama BlogInstagramHealthy Balanced Mamas Community

Episode 98 “Resident Evil: The World's Greatest Love Story” 0:00 Introduction: Ben's jobless & buying gundams 2:10 The Stuff We Done Had Watched 7:50 Dumb Dudes News 15:40 The Question Times With the addition of the multiverse, which MCU character would you like to see a different version of? You may make up your own weird one if you want 18:30 The New New Trailers 18:48 House of the Dragon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNwwt25mheo 21:32 Hypnotic https://youtu.be/eHsWYmnXk1o 24:33 Cyrano https://youtu.be/YDkpsdilwY8 27:47 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City https://youtu.be/4q6UGCyHZCI 31:16 Blade Runner Black Lotus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUu3lK_Z8VM 33:40 The 355 https://youtu.be/rY18cSGAD18 37:40 Lost in Space final season https://youtu.be/NkV4k2rhulo 39:50 Peacemaker teaser https://youtu.be/8OycN5orq6g 41:20 Rocky IV director's cut https://youtu.be/tepcA-eINTE 43:30 Trailer Mailers 51:30 Contact Info 52:05 Quick Mickey 53:25 VidYOgames ¼ Portion 57:50 Choo-Choo Charles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDggNqg7Tko 59:05 Smash Bros x Kingdom Hearts - Sora Reveal Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rief4L3wqI4 Email us @ TrailerBlazersPod@gmail.com Instagram us @TrailerBlazersPodcast Twitter @Trailer_Blazers   Rate & Review us on Apple Podcasts please!

Carolina withdraws from opiates while her and Devin discuss the second to last Bachelor in Paradise episode, specifically the Noah/Abigail breakup and the Dale/Abigail rumors. Then, they dive into the Elizabeth Holmes Trial and all of its inherent romance. Carolina imagines what it would be like to have one's texts to an ex read aloud in a courtroom and Devin imagines what it would be like if a loved one was marrying Elizabeth Holmes. The moral of the story is - don't trust someone who says (in a fake voice) that they don't have time to watch TV! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In the Season 2 Premiere, Chelsea is joined by comedian Jo Koy to talk about indoor skiing, staying up ‘til 3AM, and two different versions of how their longstanding friendship turned into love. Then they answer listener questions: A newly-sober Texan wants to feel more confident at the gym. A sister is concerned when her little sis falls for a much-older man. And a straight man finds himself kissing his best guy friend. * Executive Producer Nick Stumpf Produced by Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brandon Dickert * * * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In the Season 2 Premiere, Chelsea is joined by comedian Jo Koy to talk about indoor skiing, staying up ‘til 3AM, and two different versions of how their longstanding friendship turned into love. Then they answer listener questions: A newly-sober Texan wants to feel more confident at the gym. A sister is concerned when her little sis falls for a much-older man. And a straight man finds himself kissing his best guy friend. * Executive Producer Nick Stumpf Produced by Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brandon Dickert * * * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Love Bites is exactly that. Bite-sized love stories.  A mini series where we share some of your rom-com worthy love stories! In this episode, listeners Phoebe and Sasha end up on a flight together that changes the rest of their summer.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is not your standard superhero action flick. With more human-on-goo romance and symbiote-on-symbiote violence, the sequel to 2018's Venom already posted the biggest box-office opening weekend of the pandemic. Tom Hardy returns as reporter Eddie Brock and voices Venom, and he's joined by Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris and Reid Scott in a film that makes up for lack of plot with plenty of action, passion and utter chaos.

Northanger Abbey Chapters 9-12These chapters include Catherine finally getting the chance to dance with her beloved Mr. Tilney once again. However, just before she is supposed to go walking with him and his sister, therefore solidifying their connection, she is kidnapped by the horrible Mr. Thorpe. Surely her chances with Tilney are over!  This week Catrina and Elle talk about the absolutely terrible John Thorpe. Seriously, this guy is literally the worst - and this is coming from two people who know all about Wickham, Willoughby, and Mr. Collins. Also, make sure to check out our friends at Smart Podcast, Trashy Books, another great podcast from the Frolic Podcast Network.  Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to atFrolic.media/podcasts     

Feel empowered to take a step into alcohol-free living and discover your bigger dreams! In this episode, Karolina shares exciting news about her new book, Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You. Available for pre-order now, Karolina breaks down the inspiration for how this book came to be and the motivation behind it.  She also shares what you'll learn inside the book, including an 8-week guide on kicking off your alcohol-free journey. Plus, several incredible bonuses are available to you when you pre-order, including a companion journal, a 31 day workbook, mindset shift training, and three e-books. Join this powerful self-love movement today to wake up to your greatest potential! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Pre-order your copy of Euphoric- Ditch Alcohol, and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and learn about the incredible BONUSES that go along with it! Drinking a Love Story by Caroline Knapp How To Take A Month Off and Feel Amazing - Free Guide Follow Euphoric Alcohol-Free on Instagram If you're ready to unlock a new level of amazing in your life, get curious and explore what incredible mindset shifts a break from alcohol can bring. Join the FREE 5 Day Restart to change your thinking around alcohol so you can uplevel your entire life. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.

In our Season Three Premiere (wow!!), Episode 43,  Don and I talked with the force that is Marianne Sciucco -a registered nurse who's cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20-year career.  Her novel, Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's Love Story, is based on a couple she met through her work and is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart wrenching disease. Marianne's tender work of fiction brings consolation and understanding to all who encounter Alzheimer's. Ironically, two years after her novel's publication, she started living her own story when her stepfather was diagnosed with mixed dementia: frontotemporal lobe, vascular, and Alzheimer's.  As his Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney, she became his medical, legal, and financial representative. At the same time, she became the same to her mother, who was suffering from heart failure and dementia caregiver PTSD.  With her novel in place, it eventually morphed into her current project which is Alzauthors, a global community of over 300 writers who are writing about all dementia from their personal experience. She also launched her own podcast “Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia: An AlzAuthors Podcast”Email  - mariannesciucco@gmail.comTwitterFacebookLinkedInSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/preview/3feccac8decf451cbee818066461f7c1)

From the overt racism of the left to the overt racism of the left, and how conservatives can fight the systemic racism of the left. Plus France realizing the dangers of staying silent for 50 years and comically blame us for wokeness.

Today I present to you a solo episode that touches on a very important topic in the Showgirl's Life. Community. Though we have shared some hilarious backstage stories in previous episodes, there was magic happening at a deeper level. I am sharing my views on what it was like in the dressing rooms and the beautiful relationships that developed from those naked times. I am also excited to announce my partnership with The Origin Company. Created by Kate Northrup, the author of Money, A Love Story and Do Less, she has created a community for women to change the way they work. If you are curious to learn about this community, take the free online workshop outlined below. The Productivity Myth: 3 Easy Tactics to Focus On The Right Things and Get Better Business Results Without Burning OutCurious what a real sisterhood looks like? Want to see how to smash the productivity myth? Register for a workshop and learn how you can change the way you work and experience more connection and joy in your life. Register now!  Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

We are one episode away from finding out who is leaving the beach with an Uncle Neil ring on her finger, thereby ensuring at least a few months of influencer fame, and who will be cashing in fifteen minutes of fame at a Las Vegas casino. The anticipation is killing Some Guy in Austin. He is so excited to see if Mari and Kenny make it out in the real world. I'm kidding, of course, but he does have very specific thoughts about week 7. For example: Do you prefer rollker skating over roller blading? And did you have a signature move at the roller skating rink?Have you ever handled a snake?Is Ed a knight in shining armor? Or is he rose hunting?Was Natasha sick or sick and tired of Paradise?Is Noah a villain?And finally, does anyone know who Alexa is? Hold on. I think I know someone who can answer this question: Alexa...who is Alexa? EPISODE NOTES: HERE is the week 7 recap of Bachelor in Paradise. Would you like to listen to the Spotify playlist? Interested in Bachelor Data? Check it out. It's fascinating! SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

Change Your Relationship with Pain with Dr. Serena Sterling    “When you're in pain you may wonder, Is this as good as it gets?”   Episode Summary:   Do you live with pain? Does pain keep you from living the life you truly want to be living? Is it even possible you have actually chosen your pain?   In this episode, we talk with Dr. Serena Sterling a well-known mind-body pain specialist who found a path to her own wellness via a journey through juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and an in depth educational journey. Dr Serena's new book “Pain, A Love Story” chronicles her experience and her clients' experiences being treating chronic pain.   Listen in to understand how Dr. Serena Sterling uses mind/body techniques to diagnose and identify repressed emotions, and shift negative beliefs and patterns to relieve experienced pain.     Topics We Discuss:   Dr. Serena Sterling's journey from her own chronic pain to wellness How the neuro-emotional technique works to uncover suppressed emotions via eastern medicine techniques. How the simple muscle test technique and tapping into the client's energy – even virtually online -- can uncover the root cause of chronic pain in the body. How the body and subconscious mind trap unresolved emotions, and how a combination of physical body work and talk therapy to process experienced can release these emotions, and ultimately address pain, typically over the course of a few months. Pain as an expression of emotional health. It's not always the “Big T” traumas. “Small T” traumas can compound to create pain and injury.       Get Your Copy of “Pain, A Love Story”   You can learn more about “Pain, A Love Story”, and purchase your copy at her website.   Follow Dr. Serena Sterling on: Facebook Instagram     Support Life, Death and the Space Between:   If you're enjoying the podcast and finding value in guest interviews, ghost stories, and the content I share, please consider supporting the show by becoming a Patreon member for as little as $5 a month at Patreon.com/DrAmyRobbins   As a member you'll get more say in the content we cover and exclusive access to behind-the-scenes goodness!     Stay Connected: Facebook Instagram YouTube Fireside

My husband, Jered Lizotte, is joining me for the first time on the Habits and Home Show in the first episode of our Monthly Marriage Mentorship series.   In this episode, we're sharing with you how we first met and the progression of our relationship. If you enjoy a good love story that has the potential to make you laugh and cry, you will probably enjoy our story.   What topics would you like for us to cover? Email us! hello@habitsandhome.com   GROUP WORKSHOPS: Be the first to know when my online workshops are available. Go to http://habitsandhome.com/workshops and join my first to know email list.   FREE DOWNLOAD: 3 Step Guide for Downsizing and Decluttering Any Room in Your Home http://habitsandhome.com/freebie   CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaelizotte Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaelizotte   WORK WITH ME: http://habitsandhome.com/organize

Married Black lesbian couple Martina and Tawanna join us to talk about their love story, nurturing your partners artistic endeavors, travel, luxury, Black Family values, religion, lesbian community in the 90s, the old Brooklyn, freedom and much more.  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fEP_elmexbE HASHTAGS Use #InnerHoeUprising and #Podin to keep up with this conversation on social media and let others know that you are listening.  RELEVANT LINKS AND NOTES Find Tawanna and her work on the Web: https://tawannasullivan.com/  Find Martina and her work on the Web: http://www.martinadowney.com/tinyvoice/?page_id=107 PAY A HOE  Paypal.me/innerhoe https://www.patreon.com/InnerHoeUprising  WRITE IN EMAIL ihupodcast@gmail.com MUSIC Love and light to the artists who have lent their music to the pod!  Our opening is a remix of “Queen S%!T” by SheReal (https://soundcloud.com/shereal/04-queen-s-t-produced-by) We also play “Everyday” “CosmicCat”and “Yeah Yeah” wavghxst (https://twitter.com/wavghxst) SOCIAL MEDIA Inner Hoe Uprising| IG: @InnerHoeUprising | Twitter: @InnerHoeUprisin  Akua | IG, CH & Twitter: @heyyakuagirl  Sam | IG, CH, & Twitter: @slamridd    #black #woman #sex #feminist #womanist #Comedy #raunchy #queer #pride #lesbian #lifepartners #dating #love #relationships #blackwomen #blackpeople #podcast 

Today, Sara and Chelsey share the backlist books they're putting on their To Be Read lists for the next few months. We speculate on which books will carry us through the early days of motherhood and which reading formats might work best in a totally unpredictable season. This episode is for anyone who wants to read more backlist, readers who have a hard time focusing right now, and bookworms eager to add overlooked titles to their book stacks.  For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk,  join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com. Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.   Books mentioned: Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links!  Caste by Isabel Wilkerson (Amazon) The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power (Amazon) Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin (Amazon)  Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke (Amazon) Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (Amazon) A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (Amazon) The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan (Amazon) A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey (Amazon) Poldark by Winston Graham (Amazon) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Amazon) A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (Amazon) Middlemarch by George Eliot (Amazon) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Amazon) The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (Amazon) Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner (Amazon) Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller (Amazon) Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper (Amazon)  The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor (Amazon) The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Amazon) Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel (Amazon) A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (Amazon) The Book of Night Women by Marlon James (Amazon) The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (Amazon) Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (Amazon) The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (Amazon) The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (Amazon) Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemain (Amazon) Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (Amazon) The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian (Amazon)   Also mentioned: Marlon and Jake Read Dead People

We make decisions everyday without thinking about how they impact generations. Here we have the benefit of knowing the entire story. Most of the time actually walking life out is hard, but reading about how Boaz and Ruth handled their courtship with so much class and grace is inspiring. God's divine destiny is being manifested.

On this segment of Fun Fridays, The Writers Refuge share the story about a marriage proposal and ring thing, that take more twist than a pretzel on a roller coaster. MooreSubstance@gmail.com

Happy Thursday! In this episode we have our good friend, Emily, on to tell us about the birth of her firstborn son. She also shares her and her husband's very unique love story (we're talking border closing and being forced to meet in the rain!) This episode was humorous and beautiful. We both really admire the way Emily prepared her body and mind for birth

We're getting down to the nitty-gritty, dear reader. There are only three weeks left to celebrate the pending proposals of those who found love on the beaches of Bachelor in Paradise, and for some reason, ABC thinks we need THREE HOURS to start wrapping this mother up next Tuesday.  There's absolutely nothing we can do about it. Like a looming tropical storm heading straight for us, we will have to hunker down and hang on until our pallet cleanse known as Michelle arrives in October. This is why I'm glad you have us to help you narrow down the important details of this episode. Some Guy in Austin and I are here for you as we ask the big questions: Is Ivan a villain?What is the liklihood that salsa dripped into Mari's nether regions?Does Kendall still love Grocery Store Joe? Or was she having a minor nervous breakdown?Why did the cast move like a herd of decript turtles when they were told they needed to evacuate immediately?And how many made a beeline for the bar to get a margarita to go? My guess is at least half. EPISODE NOTES: HERE is the week 6 recap of Bachelor in Paradise. Would you like to listen to the Spotify playlist? Interested in Bachelor Data? Check it out. It's fascinating! SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

Catherine Morland is an ordinary girl. She is pretty, but not remarkable. She is intelligent, but not a prodigy. She is well off, but not wealthy. Most importantly, she is our heroine. Why, because that is, literally, what Northanger Abbey tells us. Elle and Catrina start Northanger Abbey. Known as Austen's Gothic novel, this less popular book was actually the first complete novel she wrote. What's more, it is actually a parody of both the Gothic and sentimental romances of the time. Join us as we dive deep into this spooky book, just in time for fall!This episode is brought to you by Kensington's newest title from Shelly Laurenston, BREAKING BADGER. Find out more at Kensingtonbooks.comWit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to atFrolic.media/podcasts   

Catching up and talking about my love story

Elora's spell to keep her lovers out of the hospital results in all of the plus-size romance you can handle. The post Big Beautiful Love Story- Naughty Passions Abound appeared first on What The Smut.

In this popular replay, Wendy shares a love story. Three of them, actually. The Mistress of Longing Poem; words chanted over me during the Dreamtime and the bones of the book that came as a result. Sending postcards to ourselves. Having a love affair with yourself and your life exactly as it. “You are already the entire ocean.” Reminders to carry on with grace and hope, truth and trust. Falling in love with a numinous presence. Our deepest longings and values and how our lives depend upon them. Trusting the truth of this moment, impermanence, and letting longing lead the way to the life we want to live. The path to living my wildly, naked truth and what I value. Falling in love with a woman and our path of beauty. Intimacy, sensuality, creativity, and connection. Giving and receiving. Cultivating our love affair and some of the ways we tend our hearth-fire. Personal growth, healing, and the expansion available through relationship and co-creation. Tending the flame. Cultivating courage. Leaping into the great unknown—what can you hold onto? How do you wish to be more intimate with your life? Walking through the last 4 months of the year. Making contact with what you value and living in love. ”Longing brought you here—births you again and again.” ~The Mistress of Longing. Remember, you are sacred. This moment is ceremony. You get to live your wildly, naked truth.  

One-Eyed Leo is not the usual children's book. It takes children and their parents on a journey of discovery, love, life, play, learning, joy and heartbreak when it comes to dog ownership. But it is a story like no other, where, as Ciaran Walsh explains ‘the magic of everyday tasks appears in the detail and vanishes into the cold reality of responsibility'. Within the 38 pages of this powerful book, the idea of owning a dog is explored in an educational and realistic way. In fact, Ciaran is possibly the only author in the world who is happy that people don't like his book, because there is a much bigger play at stake. Ciaran Walsh is a humble Irishman, who makes clear that One Eyed Leo is definitely a team effort, with 50 experts contributing to the book and it is one he hopes will open eyes, change minds and give children and parents alike, a renewed appreciation about pet ownership. About Ciaran Walsh  Ciaran Walsh is the Founder at Dog Internet of Things, an internet platform that assists would be dog owners to consider all the responsibilities and all aspects of canine ownership. Ciaran is behind 'One-Eyed Leo', a book for children and parents and the latest innovation in pre-adoption welfare. Seeking partners to bring it global. Dog Internet of Things is an on-line business dedicated to changing dog welfare from pre-adoption to the end of the journey. It provides an on-line basic education in dog ownership. Ideal for anyone considering the idea of getting a dog, or for anyone seeking to improve their relationship with their pet.This venture has been supported by the Local Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland and won the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Academy Award 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-walsh-169a64150/ https://www.doginternetofthings.ie/ As heard in this episode: Rebound Dog https://reboundog.com/ About The Long Leash  Thank you for joining us. If you have enjoyed listening, please SUBSCRIBE so you'll never miss out!   Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows.  Follow us in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Let me just say that digesting two hours of Bachelor in Paradise is a treat. I appreciate that the producers have condensed the episode into edible chunks of drama. They packed so much into 120 minutes! People are leaving left and right. Newbies are showing up with their fresh faces. Ladies crying buckets of tears. Did I know Blake at the beginning? Nope.Was I sad for Tammy getting kicked off the island on her birthday? Sort of.Could I have done without whipped cream sucked off a dirty, sandy toe? Always. Some Guy in Austin and I are back, my friends. We've cut the fat. We've separated the wheat from the chaff. And we're here to discuss the important things you need to know. Of course, there are some random things, too. You get that for free! EPISODE NOTES: HERE is the week 5 recap of Bachelor in Paradise. Would you like to listen to the Spotify playlist? Interested in Bachelor Data? Check it out. It's fascinating! Click the link to give to Arise Africa! SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

In this unique combination of memoir and cultural history, we come to know one of the greatest stars the world has ever seen-Eartha Kitt-as revealed by the person who knew her best: her daughter. Eartha, who was a mix of Black, Cherokee, and white, is viewed by the world as Black. Kitt, her biological daughter, is blonde and light skinned. This is the story of a young girl being raised by her mother, who happened to be one of the most famous celebrities in the world. For three decades, they traveled the world together as mother and daughter. Even after Kitt got married and started a family of her own, she and Eartha were never far from each other's sides. Eartha had a very difficult childhood growing up in extreme poverty in South Carolina. She described herself as being "just a poor cotton picker from the South." She did not have her own familial ties to lean on after being abandoned by her own mother as a toddler and having never known who her father was. She and Kitt were each other's whole world. Eartha's legacy is still felt today. Not only do we still listen to "Santa Baby" every Christmas, but many of today's most influential artists consistently mention Eartha, paying tribute to her groundbreaking stances on social issues such as racial equality and women's and LGBTQ rights. And she is still widely remembered for her definitive portrayal of Catwoman in the classic Batman television series, voicing the character Yzma in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, and her many other movie and Broadway roles. In these pages, Kitt brings her mother to life so vividly, you will feel as if you'd met her. You'll embrace her love of nature, exercise, simple food, and independence, along with her lessons on the importance of treating people kindly and always being true to yourself. Filled with love, life lessons, and poignant laughter, Eartha & Kitt captures the passion and energy of two remarkable women.

In this unique combination of memoir and cultural history, we come to know one of the greatest stars the world has ever seen-Eartha Kitt-as revealed by the person who knew her best: her daughter. Eartha, who was a mix of Black, Cherokee, and white, is viewed by the world as Black. Kitt, her biological daughter, is blonde and light skinned. This is the story of a young girl being raised by her mother, who happened to be one of the most famous celebrities in the world. For three decades, they traveled the world together as mother and daughter. Even after Kitt got married and started a family of her own, she and Eartha were never far from each other's sides. Eartha had a very difficult childhood growing up in extreme poverty in South Carolina. She described herself as being "just a poor cotton picker from the South." She did not have her own familial ties to lean on after being abandoned by her own mother as a toddler and having never known who her father was. She and Kitt were each other's whole world. Eartha's legacy is still felt today. Not only do we still listen to "Santa Baby" every Christmas, but many of today's most influential artists consistently mention Eartha, paying tribute to her groundbreaking stances on social issues such as racial equality and women's and LGBTQ rights. And she is still widely remembered for her definitive portrayal of Catwoman in the classic Batman television series, voicing the character Yzma in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, and her many other movie and Broadway roles. In these pages, Kitt brings her mother to life so vividly, you will feel as if you'd met her. You'll embrace her love of nature, exercise, simple food, and independence, along with her lessons on the importance of treating people kindly and always being true to yourself. Filled with love, life lessons, and poignant laughter, Eartha & Kitt captures the passion and energy of two remarkable women.

This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate's Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses how Paul Schrader's most recent film, The Card Counter, replaces gambling and addiction with guilt and accountability. Next, the panel discusses the star-studded true crime satirical comedy, Only Murders in the Building. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate senior writer and ICYMI podcast host Madison Malone Kircher to discuss John Mulaney and parasocial relationships. In Slate Plus, the panel divulges more of their personal parasocial relationships. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Nora Ephron's great essay in The New Yorker “Moving On, A Love Story,” in which she struggles to move on from her apartment in the historical Apthorp building in the Upper West Side. Isaac: First, Scorcese's 1982 film The King of Comedy—the ultimate parasocial relationship film. Second, the app Relisten, which allows you to stream live-music recordings from the vast number of internet archives. Steve: The great writer Saul Bellow's 1956 novel, Seize the Day. Also: the 1984 collection of his short stories, Him with His Foot in His Mouth and Other Stories. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Self Made Woman" by Katharine Appleton Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate's Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses how Paul Schrader's most recent film, The Card Counter, replaces gambling and addiction with guilt and accountability. Next, the panel discusses the star-studded true crime satirical comedy, Only Murders in the Building. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate senior writer and ICYMI podcast host Madison Malone Kircher to discuss John Mulaney and parasocial relationships. In Slate Plus, the panel divulges more of their personal parasocial relationships. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Nora Ephron's great essay in The New Yorker “Moving On, A Love Story,” in which she struggles to move on from her apartment in the historical Apthorp building in the Upper West Side. Isaac: First, Scorcese's 1982 film The King of Comedy—the ultimate parasocial relationship film. Second, the app Relisten, which allows you to stream live-music recordings from the vast number of internet archives. Steve: The great writer Saul Bellow's 1956 novel, Seize the Day. Also: the 1984 collection of his short stories, Him with His Foot in His Mouth and Other Stories. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Self Made Woman" by Katharine Appleton Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Braden Herrington and Davie Portman talk about the beginning of a new era of NXT... "NXT 2.0" The BDE give their thoughts on the entire show featuring Pete Dunne vs LA Knight vs Tommaso Ciampa vs Von Wagner for the vacant NXT Championship... and finally the wedding of InDex! Plus Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne and a new-look Mandy Rose take on Kayden Carter, Kacy Catanzaro and Sarray in a tremendous Six-Woman Tag, Drake Maverick vs Ridge Holland, Imperium vs Josh Briggs & Brooks Jenson, B Fab vs Katrina Cortez, plus the Creed Brothers are in action, Bron Breaker makes his in ring debut and Carmello Hayes finds some muscle. The lads also talk about the new colourful look of NXT, Big E winning the WWE Championship, J'Lo, Ted Lasso, take your feedback...and more! You can now join in our LIVE POST Shows, WatchAlongs and watch us game at Twitch.tv/upNXTPodcast  Monday: Turning Heels - Ep 4 & 5 w/ John Siino & B Detroit (Free Show) Tuesday: upNXT - NXT Review (Free Show/Twitch) Wednesday: Shot In The Dark w/ John Siino (Free Show) Wednesday: BDElite - AEW Dynamite Review (Free Show/Twitch) But wait! There's more! On the upNXT Patreon, Braden and Davie do retro NXT reviews, Best Match Ever, Top 5, Reviews from the 6ix, and tons more. This week's schedule: Thursday 16th: wasNXT - WWE NXT May 22nd 2013 Review Sunday 19th: Best Match Ever - The Brain Busters Last week's shows included wasNXT: NXT May 22nd 2013, Back To The Future Part 2 and more! Only $5 for NA tier to access all these shows and everything in back catalogue!  Photo Courtesy: WWE You can also check out video versions of our reviews on YouTube at YouTube.com/upNXT upNXT Theme by: Warren-D, PXCH and Shaheen Abdi Subscribe: https://www.postwrestling.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/upNXT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/upNXT Twitch: https://twitch.tv/upNXTpodcast T-Shirts: https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/upnxt Discuss: https://forum.postwrestling.com  

This week Molly and Emese take a stroll down memory lane discussing old dating stories, boyfriends, and how far they would really go to help their BFF. Tune in to find out how Molly got proposed to, and how Emese “locked her sh*t down”… and FAST. They discuss how the expectation to get married in your twenties is unrealistic, the key to thriving in your 40's & why you should never compromise who you are to be in a relationship. Molly shares her #1 tip on setting boundaries, while Emese shares why communication is key.    You can find Molly @mollybsims and Emese @emesegormley   For products mentioned in this episode, head to https://www.mollysims.com/blog/category/lipstick-on-the-rim/   Right now, our listeners can get 30% off their Betabrand orders when you go to Betabrand.com/LIPSTICK.   Memore is giving my listeners 30% Off at checkout when they head to yourmemore.com/lipstick- so I recommend taking full advantage and trying them all!   You're going to love Native as much as I do. Right now you can save 20% on your first purchase! Go to NativeDeo.com/lipstick or use promo code lipstick at checkout.   Produced by Dear Media. 

It's time for another (delayed) on location episode. The Boldts were not only head over heels in love but, they were also  self-made millionaires in the late 1800s. George decided the best way to forever symbolize their mutual love, adoration and sacrifices would be to surprise his sweetheart with a custom designed castle for Valentine's Day. His only rule for his architects? Spare no expense! But Louise Boldt wouldn't live to see the castle's completion and George Boldt would never again return to the island. Find out why in today's episode. SOURCES: Literature that can be found on the Boldt Castle Pamphlet Boldtcastle.com Personal experience Wikipedia Most tours of the castle have poor production quality but this one is really great if you want a tour of the place https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU0CXH3cEQk&t=556s   SONGS: Melting Waltz & Ghost Waltz by Abel Korzeniowski The Swam by Camille Sait-Saens, Sebastian Comberti, Miriam Keogh  

Have you ever shied away from selling a bigger price point to a customer because you didn't think they could afford it? Or what about putting off investing in your business because you have a psychological issue with debt? Believe it or not, your thoughts on money can affect more than your business's bottom line.   Your personal beliefs about finances are what Kristen calls your money story, and this week she's going to explain how your own money story can keep you from showing up in your business. And (of course!) put you on a track to healing.   Here are a few highlights:   The 4 phases to work through in order to heal your relationship with money Kristen's personal book recommendations for anyone needing guidance in how to create their money story Explaining Appropriate vs Inappropriate vs Strategic debt Why you should never stop investing in your business How to know when you've healed your relationship with money   Without healing your personal money story, you put fear and anxiety in the driver's seat. This affects how you sell and serve your audience. Before you give someone else the keys to your success, try and heal the narrative and live your own money story.  You Are a  Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup Thanks for listening! Do you have a question about network marketing? Kristen can help! Drop your question here, and she just might answer it live on the podcast: https://Kristenboss.com/question   Connect with Kristen:   Do you have a business full of customers and almost no builders? You're in need of a reboot! Learn the three skills you can learn that will completely change your recruitment game. Check it out here.   If you're ready to learn the simple process of running your social selling business online, you have to check out Kristen's live group coaching program! The Social Selling Academy: www.thesocialsellingacademy.com Interested in Kristen's exclusive mastermind for six-figure earners in the network marketing industry? Get all the details and join the waitlist here.

— The best universal definition of a soulmate is feeling deeply connected to another person but not in a dependent or needy way. Your soulmate is your fellow traveler on the journey of life—you need one another to grow beyond the limitations of your individual selves. The guiding principle in a relationship between soulmates is that needs are equally met because a soulmate relationship should challenge you to move from selfishness to giving. The signs you've met your soulmate are kind of infinite and can overlap with the different kinds of soulmates you encounter in your lifetime. An important truth about relationships is that you have to create love and nurture soulmate connections. Love isn't delivered to us because we believe we deserve it. We must work at being loving and then we'll receive love in return. Valeria Teles interviews Dr. Michael Tobin  — the author of “Riding the Edge, A Love Song to Deborah.”  — The book chronicles a six-month transformative journey in 1980 when Deborah, an Arab American, and Michael, an American Jew, bicycled across Europe, Lebanon, and Israel where they confronted the challenges of love, war, and identity. Dr. Michael Tobin has been a marital and family psychologist for 45 years. He's been with his life partner, soulmate, and wife, Deborah, for 47 years. They are the parents of four and the grandparents of 14. He is the founder of the award-winning website, www.wholefamily.com where you can find numerous articles about relationships. He is also the author of a book on marital affairs. Dr. Michael has been an author and playwright since he was twelve when he wrote a monumental play about the Warsaw Ghetto uprising that had over 20,000 actors on stage at one time. For logistical reasons it was never produced. On his way to becoming a psychologist, he was a former US Army officer, glacier climber, marathon runner, and restauranteur. He also claims to be the first entrepreneur to introduce granola to Connecticut.  To learn more about Dr. Michael Tobin and his work, please visit:  https://www.drmichaeltobin.com & https://www.wholefamily.com   — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well. 

In this episode our hosts reflect on a magickal week and discuss the aspect of seeking the Spiritual Gold in all situations. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/knowthyselfpodcast?fan_landing=true)

It's been a hot minute since Todd and I recorded an episode on the movies we've seen. In fact, it's been over a year! The pandemic is no joke, people.  But since we are vaxed, we wasted no time heading to the big screen once again to enjoy some of the summer's biggest hits. Of course, all of Todd's reviews are for scary, or Oscar-nominated films. I lean a little more toward cartoons, comic books, and musicals.  And as a BONUS, I share a few reviews on two streaming romantic comedies that you should skip entirely. Here's a hint: He is NOT all that. EPISODE NOTES: Todd's PicksThe CourierA Quiet Place 2OldMinariThe Father Lincee's PicsCruellaIn the HeightsBlack WidowJungle Cruise The IHGB Jungle Cruise Podcast Review SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

Bachelor in Paradise Week 4 brought SO...MUCH...D-R-A-M-A. And I loved every second. Some Guy in Austin and I have thoughts upon thoughts. For example: When did Grocery Store Joe get so feisty?Will Tammy run out of tears by the end of the next episode?Why is Chris voted off the island, yet Brendan and Pieper are galvanting freely?Is Brendan a complete and total Chach? I'll give you a hint: The answer is yes. EPISODE NOTES: HERE is the week 4 recap of Bachelor in Paradise. Would you like to listen to the Spotify playlist? Interested in Bachelor Data? Check it out. It's fascinating! SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

Mary discovers she's pregnant and decides to write to Adam's estranged father and invite him to town, despite Adam's objections. No one is shocked when he turns out to be a douchebag. Doc Baker comes around, so of course there's a tragic fatality.  Laura has turned into Mary, Albert falls in love with his teacher, and a questioning kid saves the day. Jennie loves the movie Anaconda, and Amye remembers her obsession with the book Love Story in high school. Also- we wonder why you need a stunt double on the set of Jerry Macquire?Show Notes:To sign up for our Patreon feed, download the Patreon app or visit www.patreon.com/genxthisiswhyFollow Gen X, This is Why on Facebook: facebook.com/genxthisiswhy/Join our Facebook Group, The Me-Me B's for extra content, giveaways, and some fun Gen X introspection: facebook.com/groups/genxthisiswhy/And find us on Instagram at: @genxthisiswhyYou can find Amye at: @amyearcherwriterYou can find Jennie, but good luck with that.Questions? Comments? Email us at info@genxthisiswhy.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/genxthisiswhy)

Issac Humphries and Hannah chat dating rumors and the truth about how their friendship came to be.

Grandson joins Ralph Sutton and James Mattern and they discuss how Grandson came to be featured on the Suicide Squad soundtrack, coming from musician parents, other names he considered before settling on Grandson, being born in New Jersey and raised on Canada, his political involvements, writing songs with meaning about personal experiences, Grandson's first concert, first drug and first sexual experience and so much more!(Air Date: September 1st, 2021)Support our sponsors!RockAuto.com- Check out Rock Auto for the best prices on all auto parts!YoKratom.com - Check out Yo Kratom (home of the $60 kilo) for all your kratom needs!The SDR Show merchandise is available at https://podcastmerch.com/collections/the-sdr-showYou can watch The SDR Show LIVE for FREE every Wednesday and Saturday at 9pm ET at GaSDigitalNetwork.com/LIVEOnce you're there you can sign up at GaSDigitalNetwork.com with promo code: SDR for a 7-day FREE trial with access to every SDR show ever recorded! On top of that you'll also have the same access to ALL the shows that GaS Digital Network has to offer!Follow the whole show on social media!GrandsonTwitter: https://twitter.com/grandsonInstagram: https://instagram.com/grandsonJames L. MatternTwitter: https://twitter.com/jameslmatternInstagram: https://instagram.com/thejamesmatternRalph SuttonTwitter: https://twitter.com/iamralphsuttonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamralphsutton/The SDR ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/theSDRshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesdrshow/Shannon LeeTwitter: https://twitter.com/imshannonleeInstagram: https://instagram.com/shannonlee6982GaS Digital NetworkTwitter: https://twitter.com/gasdigitalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gasdigital/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The technical difficulties that plagued me during this podcast almost made me lose my Christianity. There's a dainty cloud of profanity that still hangs over the house as I write this sentence, but all I'm going to ask you to do is extend a heaping serving a grace to this episode. Do I own a microphone and professional equipment? Yes, I do. Does it sound like my first time podcasting? Indeed, it does. Was everyone and everything, including my migraine, against me while editing this bad boy? You bet. Did I have to start completely over after two hours of work because I could not hear the audio for some unknown reason? Of course, I did. But that doesn't stop me and Some Guy in Austin from trudging on, providing you with nothing but the answers to life-altering questions. For example: Is "smoke show" a compliment or does it have misogynistic undertones?Remember when Gwyneth Paltrow and the guy from Coldplay decided to consciously uncouple? I'd like to officially coin the phrase "conscious un-vibing" for this season.Will Demi actually murder Tia her sleep? My bet is yes. Demi has trouble hiding her crazy. EPISODE NOTES: HERE is the premiere recap of Bachelor in Paradise. Would you like to listen to the Spotify playlist? SHOW NOTES: Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes or Android Follow Me: Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter Buy My Books: It's a Love Story and Why I Hate Green Beans

We Discuss: Is Cheating A Part Of The Modern Day Love Story? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.