Welcome to The Free Ranger, a podcast about telling the stories that matter. On this podcast, we’ll be learning about storytelling from the people who turn important issues into stories: the writers, filmmakers, marketers, academics, and other professionals who weave together the facts to create compelling narratives that make a difference.

This season, we’ll be speaking with experts on Carl Jung—the Swiss psychiatrist who developed the concept of “archetypes.” Archetypes are patterns that pop up again and again in the stories of a given culture. In recent years, books like Margaret Mark and Carol S. Pearson’s The Hero and the Outlaw have popularized the idea that brands can use archetypes in their own marketing materials.

At the same time, Jung and his work have come under scrutiny, as critics have wrestled with the racism and sexism evident in his writings. Now more than ever, it’s important for us to know the man behind the concept—both his accomplishments and his shortcomings.

We’re happy to welcome Jungian analyst, psychoanalyst, and writer Dr. Andrew Samuels. Dr. Samuels is the author of Jung and the Post-Jungians, a collection of essays exploring how today’s psychoanalysts are grappling with Jung’s legacy.

Together, we talked about Jungian analysis, the dangers of essentialism, and the importance of difference, in and out of therapy . . .