Anya and Alan talk about a mutual favorite book, “Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed. CONTENT WARNING We talk about physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in this episode. We discuss heartbreak, homelessness, and the religion of radical empathy. This book makes us want to be better people- and we want to share it with everyone.

The book comes from the blog Dear Sugar that ran on The Rumpus for over a decade

Cheryl Strayed announced that her newsletter will revive the advice blog

Steve Almond is an American author and co-hosted the Dear Sugars podcast with Cheryl.

The Tao te Ching is a thing

The Taoist Sage Zhuangzi said "The Perfect Man uses his mind like a mirror - going after nothing, welcoming nothing, responding but not storing.”

Tarot is a thing

“There’s a Bundle on Your Head” AKA Scared and Confused

“The Truth That Lives There” AKA Playing It Safe

“Write Like A Motherfucker”

“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King is better understood in spirit than in words.

“We Are All Savages Inside” AKA Awful Jealous Person

“The Future Has an Ancient Heart” AKA Commencement Speech

Cheryl Strayed’s memoir is “Wild” which was also adapted into a film.

Check out our podcast about His Dark Materials- Measures of Truth

Check out our podcast about American Gods- Shadows and Shamblers

Our theme song is Background Blues Guitar by Blowball Music.

Please visit our website to find out what we will be talking about in the future. If you would like to give us feedback, please email us: [email protected]

Follow the podcast on Twitter @HGStoryCast, follow Anya @StrangelyLiterl