In this very special episode of Lucid Cafe, I celebrate the long-awaited release of my new book, Raven’s Daughter: The Story Keeper. After years of dreaming, writing, and behind-the-scenes work, publication day is finally here.

Joining me is my brilliant and hilarious friend Claire Wheeler, who helps me unpack the story, themes, and inspiration behind the book. This is the first time I’m speaking about Raven’s Daughter out loud in any real depth, so it’s part book talk, part soul share — with a few meandering moments along the way.

We explore some of the book’s deeper currents, including our complicated relationship with deception, the influence of artificial intelligence, and our growing disconnection from the natural world. Though it’s a work of fiction, Raven’s Daughter offers an imaginative lens for reflecting on the challenges of our time.

In this conversation, Claire and Wendy discuss:

• The inspiration for Raven's Daughter
• Deception
• How do you know what's true?
• Terror management theory
• The three realities described in the book
• The story's shamanic influence

For more information about Raven's Daughter or to purchase a copy, visit Three Worlds Press

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In this episode, I sit down with the passionate Alanna Kaivalya to explore the lost — yet ever-present — power of the feminine. While modern women have more freedom than ever to shape our lives and careers, many of us still measure success through a masculine lens, chasing goals and strategies that don’t reflect our deepest desires.

This conversation is not about rejecting the masculine, but about reclaiming the feminine — the intuitive, connective, and compassionate energy that too often gets sidelined. Alanna, a bestselling author and spiritual teacher, shares insights from her new book The Way of the Satisfied Woman, a powerful guide for anyone seeking an alternative path to fulfillment.

Together, we discuss how embracing the feminine can liberate us from burnout, invite greater ease, and reconnect us with what matters most: meaningful relationships, inner peace, and authentic expression.

Alanna Kaivalya, PhD is a bestselling author, educator, thought leader, and expert on mythology, spirituality, psychology, and women’s empowerment. The author of Sacred Sound and Myths of the Asanas, she earned a doctorate in mythological studies with an emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and is the host of The Satisfied Woman podcast.

In this conversation, Alanna discusses:

• What defines femininity
• Why connecting with the femininity is more important than ever
• What models of satisfaction look like for the modern woman
• How women don't realize how minimized and oppressed they are
• The definition of "satisfaction"
• Her run-in with facebook
• Masculinity and feminity
• Curating your life
• Four keys to a satisfied life
• Relearning how to interact
• Trust
• The habit of apologizing

Visit Alanna's website
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In this episode we explore the magic of writing and the power of telling your story. My guest Nancy Slonim Aronie wants you to know that writing is not an exclusive club, that everyone has a really good story to tell. And usually not just one. In her new book Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay she writes “Essay writing is personal. Sharing what you think about a certain topic is risky. Especially if what you think is not what everyone else thinks.”

Nancy Slonim Aronie is the founder of the Chilmark Writing Workshop on Martha’s Vineyard and the author of Memoir as Medicine and Writing from the Heart. A regular commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered, Aronie has taught at Harvard University and conducted writing workshops and lectures at Kripalu, Omega, Esalen, Rowe Conference Center, Wainwright House, and the Open Center in New York City.

In this episode, Nancy discusses:

• Creativity is its many forms
• The healing power of the personal essay
• The mystery and magic of writing
• How everyone is a writer
• Being vulnerable
• The importance of feeling safe when writing and sharing your writing
• Writing workshops

To learn more about Nancy and her workshops, please visit https://chilmarkwritingworkshop.com/

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