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Artwork for Stories and Stanza

Stories and Stanza

Abhra Pal
Emotional Intelligence
Mental Health
Trauma
Failure
Mindfulness
Healing
Self-Awareness
Grief
Writing
Cultural Identity
Resilience
Burnout
Gajarah
Relationships
Mind-Body Connection
Journaling
Writing Process
Weight Loss
Poetry
Vulnerability

Stories and Stanza is a podcast for curious minds hosted by Abhra Pal, charting in the top mental health podcasts across the US, UK, and Canada. Through two distinct series, the show explores the human experience with honesty, depth, and literary intention.

Between The Lines brings intimate conversations with writers and creators — uncovering the vulnerability behind their craft, the stories that... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes127Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Mental HealthArtsHealth & FitnessBooks

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Artwork for Stories and Stanza

Latest Episodes

What is mindfulness, really? And what happens when we confuse achieving with living?

In this episode of Fail With Me — Stories and Stanza's series on mental health, resilience, and the messy, beautiful work of becoming — host Abhra Pal sits down wit... more

What if the hardest part of getting help isn't the therapy itself — it's knowing where to start?

In Part 2 of our conversation with counsellor and psychotherapist John Cuturilo, we go deeper into one of the most common questions people carry about m... more

What if violence could be predicted — and stopped — before it ever happens? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Mahoney, founder of TVTP Solutions, who argues that there is no such thing as a random act of violence. Every attack follows a recogn... more

In this episode of Stories and Stanza, host Abhra sits down with Robert Rickelmann for an unflinching conversation about a life shaped by mental illness and addiction. Robert grew up with crippling anxiety — and discovered early on that alcohol made ... more

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Recent Guests

Robert Mahoney
CEO and founder of TVTP Solutions (Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention)
TVTP Solutions
Episode: The Warning Signs We Miss: Robert Mahoney on Behavioral Threat Assessment
Robert Rickelmann
Author of a memoir focusing on mental illness and alcoholism
Author, memoir writer
Episode: The Dark Humor That Saved My Life in the Psych Ward
Mia Mason
Writer and illustrator of Worry's Whispers
Episode: This Artist Illustrates What OCD Actually Feels Like
David Allen Brown
Guest speaker, author and writing/mental health educator
Episode: Manifestation Isn't About Wanting More—It's About This
Teri Brown
Author, podcast host, public speaker; focuses on writing, empowerment, and resilience
Episode: Writing After Trauma: How Lived Experience Fuels Creative Writing
Marissa Germain
Writer
Episode: Haiti Never Left Her: Marissa Germain's Writing Journey
Kendall Concini Moore
Mental health advocate and author
Cloudy Day Chronicles
Episode: Mom's Depression Looks Nothing Like You Think | Podcast ft. Kendall Concini Moore
Zolal Habibi
Activist, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
Episode: Iran's Fight for Freedom Beyond War and Appeasement ft. Zolal Habibi
Katie Rizzo
Author and grief writer who documents her daughter's death and coping with addiction in her memoir
Independent writer/author
Episode: I Never Expected Grief to Feel Like This | A Mother's Story | Katie Rizzo

Host

Abhra Pal
Host of Stories and Stanza; engages guests in intimate conversations across mental health, writing, and personal growth.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 282 ratings
  • This is a very raw, but brutally honest conversation. Abhra Pal poses many thought-provoking questions, and he gives the guest, Robert Rickelman, plenty of time to develop his answers. This is a captivating discussion concerning mental illness and alcoholism.

    Podchaser
    5
    Robert Rickelman
    a month ago
  • I think Stories and Stanza brings some real conversations - the authenticity of speakers are wonderful. There is always something to take away from the episodes. The Fail With Me series is very close to my hear.

    Podchaser
    5
    coffeehouseraddablog
    a month ago
  • Insightful and light!

    Love the fact that this show is both insightful and light. Subjects are cut down into understandable pieces and all discussed with the seriousness it deserves without being heavy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarolinaBMB
    Mexicoa month ago
  • Passion and Compassion

    Stories and Stanza is a platform where Abhra explores his passions for creativity, healing and history. Driven by sensitivity and an enquiring mind, he has assembled a wealth of knowledge and information about the creative process, mental wellbeing, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, motivation and new perspectives in history. My wife, Diane Clarke, was lucky enough to be interviewed about her two novels (In the Author’s Chair segment) but has since become a regular listener of his other p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bugsnapper22
    Australiaa month ago
  • So REAL

    I love this podcast because the guests are interesting and the conversation takes you into wonderful and unexpected places. I especially love how willing the host is to be vulnerable himself. Feels like you’re a part of the conversation whether you’re the guest or the listener.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stacy Rocklein
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's vulnerability and warm curiosity.
Episodes offer fresh insights and practical takeaways for writers and caregivers.
The show weaves personal growth with craft in a way that's uplifting and thoughtful.
Guests are consistently engaging and the conversations feel authentic.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Dark Humor That Saved My Life in the Psych Ward
Q: Would you like to share about when you found out about your challenges and how that affected your battle with alcoholism?
The guest explains that the realization came after a hospitalization and a diagnosis of serious mental illness, which reframed his struggle with alcohol as a co-occurring condition and motivated him to pursue ongoing psychiatric care and therapy.
Between the Lines with Áine : Migration, Belonging, and the Courage to Write
Q: What have been pivotal moments in your publishing journey, particularly moving from Ireland to the U.S., and the courage it took to publish personal stories?
Áine shares the shock and validation of a publishing acceptance in Ireland, and later in the U.S. the realization that her experiences could resonate with a broader audience. She highlights a key turning point when an editor/readers engaged with her work across cultural lines, giving her confidence that personal, place-based stories could travel and impact readers beyond their origin—reinforcing the value of authentic storytelling.
Iran's Fight for Freedom Beyond War and Appeasement ft. Zolal Habibi
Q: How has the international community historically interacted with the resistance, and what changes are urged now?
The guest argues that appeasement and silence have empowered the regime, calls for Western governments to stand by the people, recognize their rights to resist, and apply public pressure and support through awareness and parliamentary action.
Iran's Fight for Freedom Beyond War and Appeasement ft. Zolal Habibi
Q: What is the core vision of the resistance for Iran's future?
The guest outlines a secular democratic republic as the goal, with a non-nuclear Iran, separation of religion and state, gender and minority rights, and an independent judiciary, all under a framework that transfers sovereignty to the people rather than a theocratic or monarchical rule.
Nothing Lasts: Mindfulness, Failure & Self-Care | Stories & Stanza | Podcast ft Saw Myint
Q: What do you feel are the main challenges of mental health in today's age?
She highlights the erosion of face-to-face connection due to technology, the importance of awareness, and the need for accessible, universal self-care practices.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stories and Stanza

What is Stories and Stanza about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on intimate conversations with writers and creatives, often weaving in mental health, resilience, and personal reinvention. Across episodes, listeners hear how memoir, fiction, and poetry intersect with authentic self-expression, trauma, and healing, with practical storytelling craft and mindfulness takeaways. A distinctive thread is pairing candid, vulnerable dialogue with actionable guidance—whether navigating publishing, caregiving, or navigating life's upheavals—making it a strong fit for audiences that value human-scaled growth, emotional intelligence, and craft.

Where can I find podcast stats for Stories and Stanza?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Stories and Stanza. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Stories and Stanza and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Stories and Stanza get?

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What are the audience demographics for Stories and Stanza?

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How many subscribers and views does Stories and Stanza have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Stories and Stanza has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Stories and Stanza?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Stories and Stanza:

1. The Wealth Effect

How many episodes of Stories and Stanza are there?

Stories and Stanza launched 2 years ago and published 127 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Stories and Stanza?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Stories and Stanza?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Stories and Stanza from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Stories and Stanza?

Recent guests on Stories and Stanza include:

1. Robert Mahoney
2. Robert Rickelmann
3. Mia Mason
4. David Allen Brown
5. Teri Brown
6. Marissa Germain
7. Kendall Concini Moore
8. Zolal Habibi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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