Episode Description

Season 1 Episode 9

In this heartfelt conversation, registered psychotherapist and author Ingrid Phaneuf joins us to discuss how animals influence creativity, the importance of normalizing death, and her upcoming novel that weaves together grief, humour, and magical realism.

Ingrid shares her unique journey from journalism to psychotherapy, and how her experiences with grief—both personal and professional—inspired her to write fiction that helps readers process loss in new ways. We explore theconcept of "fabulism," the special relationship between humans and animals, and how nature can provide comfort during difficult times.

Timestamps
01:26 - Ingrid introduces herself and her dog Cole
03:18 - How animals influence creativity and mood
04:24 - The inspiration behind George the Cat - Schrodinger the neighbour's cat
05:06 - The novel's premise: consciousness hijacking an animal
05:57 - Animals' healthier relationship with death
07:31 - How nature normalizes death and grief
08:40 - Holly's plan to become a tree / environmentally friendly burials
09:46 - Normalizing conversations about death
10:30 - Does Cole come to therapy sessions?
11:08 - Diving deeper into the novel idea
12:40 - The Tibetan Book of the Dead and reincarnation
17:08 - Balancing humour and truth in writing about death
22:04 - Ingrid's journey from journalism to psychotherapy
24:42 - Reclaiming creative writing during COVID
26:56 - Learning to tolerate boredom and see projects through
28:25 - The importance of grief counsellors
29:45 - "Your heart gets bigger" - understanding ongoing grief
31:00 - Traditional vs. self-publishing plans
32:12 - Holly's book: North of Broken and Furever Home
33:06 - Discovering "fabulism" as a genre
34:20 - Discussing their dogs' personalities
36:10 - Connecting at MFA residency
39:37 - Wrap-up and farewell to Ingrid
39:41 - Post-interview chat with Rogan about the episode
41:41 - Reflections on the conversation and upcoming plans
44:50 - Sign-off and New Year wishes

Holly's Book Announcement

Holly's debut novel, North of Broken and Furever Home releases February 14th! Available for pre-order on Amazon. The book features dual POVs—a woman and her dog companion—in what Holly describes as contemporary "fabulism" fiction.

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