Episode Summary

Adam Mardero is a queer, neurodivergent author who lives and writes in Ontario. His first book, "Uncommon Sense: An Autistic Journey" chronicled what it was like to grow up Autistic and ADHD in the 90s and early 2000s, while his latest project is a young adult science fiction series about overcoming trauma and hate through found family. He lives with his pet cat Shelby.

Holly B. and Rogan chat with Adam about his journey as a writer, the importance of pets in providing emotional support, and the challenges of self-publishing. They explore themes of mental health, authenticity, and the role of hope in navigating life's difficulties. Adam shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the significance of community and creativity in personal growth. The discussion flows from light-hearted banter about pets to deeper reflections on overcoming imposter syndrome and the power of storytelling.

• The importance of pets in providing emotional support.
• Navigating mental health challenges through creative outlets.
• The journey of self-publishing and its challenges.
• Finding hope in difficult times through writing.
• The significance of authenticity in personal and professional life.
• Dealing with criticism and developing a thicker skin.
• The role of community and support in creative endeavours.
• Using personal experiences to shape writing and storytelling.
• The impact of past experiences on current perspectives.
• The joy of sharing creative work with others.

• From Pets to Publishing: A Journey of Hope
• Navigating Life's Challenges Through Creativity

Sound Bites Chapters

01:45 Exploring Adam's Podcast Journey

04:50 The Bond with Pets: Adam's Cat Shelby

08:41 The Emotional Support of Pets

10:04 Writing and Creativity: Incorporating Pets into Stories

12:33 The Long Journey of Writing a Sci-Fi Series

15:13 Self-Publishing Experience and Challenges

17:40 The Joy of Promotion and Community Engagement

22:27 Handling Feedback and Criticism

24:11 The Cat Chronicles: Life with Shelby

26:16 The Writing Journey: Crafting a Fantasy Series

27:52 Balancing Work and Passion: The Author's Life

29:52 Embracing Authenticity: Overcoming Self-Doubt

32:40 The Power of Resilience: Learning from Adversity

35:17 Finding Hope: The Role of Positivity in Writing

39:24 Inner Critics: Naming Our Doubts

41:52 The Importance of Connection

49:32 Beverage Preferences and Brand Loyalty

52:19 The Stanley Cup Phenomenon

55:23 TMJ and Jaw Health

58:32 Childhood Injuries and Lessons Learned

Check out our guest's socials!

Adam Mardero - Author

The Neurodivergent Polyamorist Podcast

Instagram: @adammerdy123

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.

Connect

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast. Share it with anyone who might benefit from a different perspective on grief, creativity, and the human-animal bond.

Indie author Cindy Ojczyk shares her self-publishing journey, writing process, and how foster fail pets inspired her books about teen mental health and animal rescue. Learn book marketing strategies, overcome pet loss grief, and discover the realities of independent publishing.Episode Summary

Cindy Ojczyk joins Holly and Rogan for an intimate conversation about her unexpected path to writing and the profound ways her pets have shaped both her creativity and her stories. Cindy opens up about the emotional complexities of being a pet foster parent, explaining the bittersweet concept of "foster fails" and processing the loss of beloved animals.

The discussion explores her unique writing approach, the realities of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the considerable effort required to market independently published books.

Cindy also shares how she weaves themes of mental health and animal rescue into her storytelling, with a particular focus on creating conversations around teen mental health issues. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the critical role of community support for self-published authors and advocates for greater awareness of the challenges young people face.

• 01:24 Cindy's Journey as a Writer
• 03:46 The Influence of Pets on Creativity
• 05:42 Understanding Foster Fails
• 08:04 The Impact of Poet the dog: A Foster Fail Story
• 11:40 The Challenge of Fostering Multiple Pets
• 13:50 Cindy's Writing Process and Book Promotion
• 18:57 Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing
• 25:48 Diversity in Publishing and Self-Publishing Freedom
• 30:07 Navigating Themes in Writing: Mental Health and Animal Welfare
• 32:33 Awareness and Leadership in Community Conversations
• 35:45 Embracing the Present: The Journey of an Author

cindyowrites.com

Instagram @cindyocheck

Facebook Cindy Ojczyk - writer

Book Mom Loves the Dogs More

Anke Hermann is the creator and host of Soul Touched byDogs - an award-winning podcast , virtual event, and community platform to celebrate the human-canine connection. She is also an advocate for holistic approaches to canine health and education, with a focus on the specific needs of rescue dogs. When she's not talking about dogs, she is a multi-passionate coach and online tech expert helping dog professionals, coaches, experts, and authors turn their expertise into online income, without tech stress.

On Her Philosophy About Dogs

Anke views dogs as our wisest teachers who deserve far more respect and understanding than society typically gives them. She stands firmly against treating dogs as status symbols, toys, or emotional outlets, emphasizing that her core value of fairness drives everything she does in the animal welfare space. Her mission is to help people become better advocates for their dogs' needs.

Her Work with Dog Professionals

Anke specializes in helping dog coaches, trainers, and experts navigate the business side of their practice. She works with people who have deep expertise in their craft but struggle with marketing, technology, and business development. Her key insight: being excellent at what you do isn't enough—youneed to understand business fundamentals to build a sustainable career helping dogs and their people.

Published Work

Taming the Tech Monster (2020) - This book helps people overcome their fear of technology by reframingit from a threatening obstacle into a friendly challenge. Instead of letting tech intimidate you, Anke shows how to approach it with curiosity and confidence.

Upcoming Book (working title includes "The Dog at My Feet") - Her current project addresses the gap between professional certification and business success. Why do so many qualified, passionate dog professionals struggle to build thriving practices? This book aims to bridge that divide.

Creative Process

Dog walks are a sacred, creative time for Anke. She takes solo walks with her dogs (one at a time) as dedicated thinking sessions away from screens and distractions. Many of her best ideas for podcasts, books, and business concepts emerge during these mindful moments with her canine companions.

Business Philosophy

Anke is critical of "proven formula" programs that oversimplifythe complex process of building a business. She emphasizes that creating a successful practice typically takes years, not weeks or months. The key to success is understanding your target audience deeply and presenting your offerings in ways that genuinely resonate with their needs and values.

Find more on Anke at the following links:

The Website soultouchedbydogs.com

The podcast Soul Touched by Dogs

The Fur Baby Book Candid comments from a pet's POV - Love stories from their owners

For Dog Professionals Turning your real-world brilliance into online traction: The Business-Savvy Dog Pro

Holly and Rogan recorded a casual holiday episode of "Ramblings from the Little Shed," touching on several fun topics:

Main Highlights:

• They had a disappointing encounter with an unenthusiastic Santa on a streetcar
• The hosts picked up adorably tiny pottery pieces they made in a class—so small they could barely fit a single blueberry
• Rogan shared stories from his solo trip to Utah and Nevada, which included attending the Dragon Steel Nexus convention (a Brandon Sanderson fantasy convention) and hiking through five national parks, including Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon
• Holly experienced some FOMO while Rogan was away on his adventure
• They enjoyed Toronto's festive holiday decorations and visited a beautifully lit outdoor skating path complete with heated seating areas, twinkling lights, and Christmas music
• The episode wrapped with gratitude for family and each other, plus a preview of upcoming episodes in the new year featuring guests discussing how their pets influence their creativity

Episode Overview - Episode 5

In this episode, hosts Holly and Rogan sit down with author A-M Mawhiney to discuss her journey from academic writing to fiction, her three-book series of speculative fiction novels, and the creative process behind her work. Anne-Marie shares insights into her writing style, the influence of her editor, and how her beloved dog, Charlie, inspired her creative life.

A-M Mawhiney has lived in Northern Ontario most of her life, with brief times in Powassan, Montreal, and Toronto. At the young age of eight, she was already writing poetry and short stories. She retired from Laurentian University in 2018. She began writing again during the first Covid lockdown in 2020 with her first novel, Spindrifts, which was short-listed for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writing Literary Prize (2022). Spelldrifts was published in 2023, and Fugitive Rifts in 2025.

Threads @ammawhiney

IG @ammawhiney

X https://x.com/ammawhiney

Timestamps

[26:28] - The dramatic climactic scene in her second book ,and the editor'sfeedback

[26:41] - Writing process as a "panster" and developing the chaoticscene

[27:22] - Editor's suggestions about world-building and the theme of inclusion

[27:33] - The collective world with full inclusion and respect in the first twobooks

[28:25] - Discussion about not describing character appearances in the books

[28:42] - Anne-Marie's hope to meet with readers to discuss their charactervisualizations

[29:32] - Journey from academic to creative writing with help from friends

[31:25] - The editing process and catching academic writing patterns

[32:02] - Cutting 40 pages from the third book through cold-hearted editing

[33:48] - Beautiful book cover designs

[34:28] - The backstory about a dragon egg near an imaginary volcano

[35:11] - Difference between science fiction and fantasy elements in the books

[35:48] - Introduction to the character Alice from Fugitive Rifts

[36:33] - Exploration of Alice's dark backstory

[36:47] - Six pages written as a potential opening for Alice's story

[38:00] - Alice's experience of being unhoused and her hard life

[38:24] - Charlie's influence on Anne-Marie's intuition and creative life

[38:49] - Wrap-up and information about A-M Mawhiney’s novels

Post-Interview Discussion

[40:49] - Discussion about writing retreats

[41:02] - The flannel segment begins

[42:09] - Rogan's instant coffee vs. French press preference

[44:00] - Holly's discovery of mini pottery in Toronto

[44:18] - Realizing it was couples’ night at the pottery studio

[45:25] - The Stanley Cup pottery incident

[46:24] - Final thoughts and sign-off

Episode Overview

In this engaging conversation, Holly and Rogan welcomeEmily De Angelis to discuss the profound impact of pets, particularly cats, on creativity and writing. They explore the joy of running and community, the emotional connections we form with our pets, and how these relationships influence artistic expression. Emily shares insights into her writing process, upcoming projects, and the unique roles that animals play in our lives. The discussion culminates in a reading of Emily's cat poetry, highlighting the deep bond between humans and their furry companions.

Emily De Angelis is a writer of fiction and poetry. Her young adult novel, The Stones of Burren Bay (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2024), won two 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for YA fiction. A chapbook of poetry and art entitled In the Space Between: The ‘New Woman’ in the Writing of Florence Carlyle was also released in 2024 (Woodstock Art Gallery). De Angelis has known and loved eight cats in her lifetime—despite allergies and severe asthma.

IG www.instagram.com/emilyjdeangelis

FB ⁠facebook.ca/emilyjdeangelis⁠

website ⁠www.emilydeangelisauthor.ca

Ramblings from the Little Shed - Episode 3

Guest: Liisa Kovala - Author, Book Coach, and Podcaster

Episode Overview

Join hosts Holly and Rogan as they welcome special guest Liisa Kovala, a Finnish Canadian author, book coach, and podcaster. She is the author of Like Water for Weary Souls (House of Karhu, 2025), Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017).

Liisa shares her journey from teaching to full-time writing, the creative influence of her mini golden doodle Emmy, and her exciting new project, Hygge House Nordic Cozy Mystery series she writes under the pen name A. L. Jensen.

Meet Emmy: The Canine Companion

• Emmy: a 2.5-year-old mini golden doodle who reminds Liisa to rest, play, and take walks

• The 40-year wait for a dog and convincing her husband (spoiler: he's now in love with Emmy!)

• How pets keep us young, vibrant, and creatively inspired

• Walking as a tool for creative thinking and slowing down

Liisa's Writing Journey

From Historical Fiction to Cozy Mysteries

• Recently published "Water for Weary Souls " (historical fiction, November 2025)

• Transitioning to writing a cozy mystery series

• How a beautiful house (the Rowley House) sparked an entire series concept

• Ideas "downloaded" during the drive home

The New Cozy Mystery Series:

• Features protagonist Minna with her mini golden doodle Hugo Dogberg (named after Finnish artist Hugo Simberg)

• Set in a Nordic-inspired town with rich character details

• Includes two Norwegian cats: Freya and Astrid

• A resident ghost named Fanny

The Creative Process

• Recording voice notes while driving to capture ideas

• The contrast between writing historical fiction and cozy mysteries

• Balancing multiple projects across different genres

Writing Wisdom & Advice

On Creativity

• Creative people need to be moving and active

• Walking in nature is magical for the creative process

• Even 15-20 minutes of creative time daily fills the well

On Reading

• Writers should be readers, and readers become writers

• Reading widely across genres enriches the creative mind

Liisa's Recent Reads

• "The Wake" by Linden MacIntyre

• "Jenny Cooper Has a Secret" by Joy Fielding

Current Reads

• Holly: "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman and "The Eyes and the Impossible" by Dave Eggers

• Rogan: Planning to start Terry Pratchett's Discworld series with friends after finishing The Wheel of Time

Connect with Lisa Kovala

• Substack: liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com

• Website: liisakovalabookcoach.com

Subscribe, rate, and review Ramblings from the Little Shed wherever you get your podcasts.