For this episode I am joined by author, writer and dear friend Sophie Strand, who invited me into her home to have this wonderful conversation on romantasy as an antidote to doom - and so much more. In her work and life, Sophie focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology, but it would probably be more authentic to call her a troubadour animist with a propensity to spin yarns that inevitably turn into love stories. And love stories is exactly what we talk about in this conversation: from the early crushes we had as children, and our first memories of love stories, to romantasy being responsible for the honeymoon mind and how all of this brings us in relation to the world around us and activates an optimistic attitude in a time of despair and collapse. We weave together this idea of the erotic life force, what that’s being inspired by and how it is informing the way we move in the world.

We explore how crushes can force us to be our best self - and how that can help heal the world - as well as the expectations romantasy may have put on our relationships and the dating world. In this light, we talk about the power of the written narrative and how that often shapes our lived experience. We touch on the concept of species traitors and holding people accountable, as well as being apocoloptimists and holding hope in our bodies. Plus, we celebrate Sophie’s upcoming book ‘Make Me Good Soil’, from which she shares one of her ecological love poems with us.

Resources + Links

• Find Sophie Strand & her work here:
  • Pre-order her new book ‘Make Me Good Soil’
  • Read her Substack Make Me Good Soil
  • Her website https://sophiestrand.com
  • Her Instagram @cosmogyny
• Subscribe to my newsletter
• My book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self
• Connect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelli

Timestamps

[0:00] Introduction

[15:09] The Power of Story Telling and Shaping Society’s Narratives

[27:36] The Importance of Crush Energy

[33:45] Men Written by Women & Romantasy’s Effect on Expectations within Relationships

[43:12] Sophie’s New Book ‘Make Me Good Soil’ and the Power of Writing Practices

[54:03] The Ownership of Ideas and the Golden Thread That Keeps You Going

If this conversation stirs something about gathering people in your own life in a more sacred and held way, come to The Real Thing, my free virtual open house on November 5th at 1pm ET. ​[Save your spot →]