For grieving people, processing loss through creativity can open doors to healing. In this episode, Trudy and Lisa engage in a lively and illuminating conversation with poet and biographer Molly Peacock about her new book of poems, The Widow’s Crayon Box. This book of poetry is a deeply personal and moving chronicle of Molly’s journey before, during and after the death of her beloved husband. Molly realized she was not living the perceived idea of a widow’s mauve existence, but was experiencing life in all colours. The Widow’s Crayon Box is published by WW Norton and is available wherever you buy books.

Molly has received awards from the Danforth Foundation, the Ingram Merrill Foundation, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. She is a president emerita of the Poetry Society of America and was one of the originators of Poetry in Motion, a popular program that places poems on placards in subways and buses.

Molly joins us from her home in Toronto, Ontario.

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--From This Episode--

-Poetry-

The Widow’s Crayon Box (W. W. Norton, 2024)

The Analyst (W. W. Norton, 2017)

The Second Blush: Poems (W. W. Norton, 2008)

Cornucopia: New and Selected Poems (W. W. Norton, 2002)

Original Love (W. W. Norton, 1995)

Take Heart (Random House, 1989)

Raw Heaven (Random House, 1984)

And Live Apart (University of Missouri Press, 1980).

-Prose-

A Friend Sails in on a Poem: Essays on Friendship, Freedom and Poetic Form (Palimpsest Press, 2022)

Flower Diary: In Which Mary Hiester Reid Paints, Travels, Marries & Opens a Door (ECW Press, 2021)

Alphabetique, 26 Characteristic Fictions (McClelland & Stewart, 2014)

The Paper Garden: An Artist Begins Her Life’s Work at 72 (Bloomsbury, 2011)

How to Read a Poem, and Start a Poetry Circle (Riverhead Books, 1999)

Paradise, Piece by Piece (Riverhead Books, 1998), a literary memoir

--Chapters--

• (01:13) - Molly Peacock's Biography and Upcoming Book
• (03:12) - Reading of "Touched"
• (05:19) - Touch, Loss & Meaning
• (10:25) - Imagery and Grief
• (13:26) - The Widow's Crayon Box and Its Metaphor
• (18:20) - The Contradictions of Grief
• (27:49) - The World Continues
• (33:00) - Sonnet Sequence
• (41:33) - Closing & What’s Next

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

The conversation centers on creativity for people of a certain age. Lisa is inspired by a writing workshop led by Krista Vernoff, so she and Trudy explore the challenges and obstacles to creativity, such as societal expectations and the publishing industry's youth-driven focus. If creativity is inherent, shouldn’t it be pursued regardless of age? Lisa shares her experience learning Italian and the importance of starting small. They highlight the need for "margins" in life to engage in creative activities and encourage listeners to embrace their creative potential without fear of being too late or questioning the point of the pursuit.

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Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:42) - Krista Vernoff's Expressive Writing Workshop
• (04:08) - Exploring Creativity at Different Life Stages
• (07:03) - The Importance of Purpose in Creativity
• (09:35) - Finding Margins for Creativity
• (13:34) - Inspiration and Overcoming Obstacles
• (22:03) - Reflecting on Childhood Interests
• (24:43) - Contributing Creatively to the World
• (26:07) - Encouraging Listeners to Be Creative

--Credits--

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

Trudy and Lisa discuss the positive feedback the episode about grief received from listeners of all ages and experiences. Trudy talks about the wonderful and unexpected engagement from diverse listeners. They also reflect on the importance of inclusive spaces and our evolving roles and identities as we age. A rousing debate about the necessity of having some women-only spaces versus only inclusive ones ensues, with Trudy emphasizing her desire to participate in spaces with all genders. Both hosts highlight the importance of adapting to new technologies while maintaining a sense of joy and adventure in life.

Read our blog: CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:34) - Intro
• (02:56) - Seeing Oneself in Stories
• (07:59) - Space to Be
• (14:33) - Networking
• (17:28) - Changing roles
• (21:14) - Explaining
• (24:53) - Pace
• (28:06) - Close

--Credits—

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

Trudy and Lisa turn their eyes to the ebb and flow of relationships as they navigate absent loved ones and changing friendships over time.

Read our blog: CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:00) - Intro
• (03:59) - Cycles
• (09:37) - Grace
• (15:01) - Reciprocity
• (17:14) - Ebbs + Flows
• (22:03) - Stages
• (24:44) - Shared Experiences
• (29:36) - Close

--References--

1. Franco, Marisa G. (2022) Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends. G. P. Putnam’s Sons. New York, US.

--Credits—

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

Our younger selves may have had more stamina, but they’ve got nothing on our experience. Trudy and Lisa explore the idea of competing with the younger self and finding strength in their cronage.

See the clip of Jodie Foster’s full quote: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AynbA4j99NE

Read the blog: CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:00) - Intro
• (04:01) - Younger Self
• (07:50) - Confidence
• (14:05) - Growth
• (21:08) - Stamina
• (23:53) - Refined Treasure
• (31:43) - Close

--Credits—

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

When words don’t feel right, we are left to action. Trudy shares what she learned from those who supported her through the loss of her husband in the best ways they knew how — comforting efforts, clumsy advice and all.

Read our blog:CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact.

We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:00) - Intro
• (02:21) - Words
• (08:08) - Funerals
• (12:38) - Hospital Staff
• (17:08) - Acts of Kindness
• (23:37) - Carrying Forward
• (27:38) - Get Over It
• (31:14) - Kinds of Grief
• (35:21) - Close

Hosted by Lisa Austin and Trudy Callaghan

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

A beautiful and deeply moving conversation, this episode is Trudy’s story of losing her husband. For those who are acquainted with grief and for those who’ve yet to face the death of someone they love, this is one crone’s vulnerable recounting of the days leading up to a life changing loss.

Read Trudy and Lisa's Bios: CroneCast.ca

Read this show's blog at CroneCast.ca for in-depth thoughts on topics covered in this episode.

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

Quote from Anne Lamott:

“If you haven’t already, you will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and you never get over the loss of a deeply beloved person. But this is the good news. The person lives forever, in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through, and you learn to dance with the banged-up heart. You dance to the absurdities of life; you dance to the minuet of old friendships.”

In the episode, Trudy mentions that this is the quote they read at a monument near Christchurch in New Zealand. The quote was printed on a temporary sign, which her husband took a picture of.

We found that this quote appears differently across various online posts. We were unable to determine the original text for the quote, and so have shared the one Trudy has come to know from her husband’s photograph.

--Chapters--

• (00:00) - Intro
• (02:03) - An Invisible Shawl
• (05:52) - Bearing Witness
• (19:32) - Record of Days
• (29:48) - Gathering
• (37:57) - Close

1. Hall, Emory. (2023). Metabolism. made of rivers. Three Rivers Publishing. Boulder, CO. USA.

Emory Hall and Trevor Hall created an audio version of select poems from the made of rivers anthology, and you can find that on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcZuTpv42I

--Credit--
Hosted by Lisa Austin and Trudy Callaghan

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen

“Purpose” is an audacious idea that purports to shape our lives. We’re not so sure about that. We put our thinking faces on and take a look at the purpose we decide for ourselves, the purpose others discover in us, and whether this whole “purpose” thing is as singular as we’ve been told.

Read our blog: CroneCast.ca

Share your questions and comments at https://cronecast.ca/contact. We want to hear from you about all things crone.

--Chapters--

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:53) - Flummoxed by Purpose
• (06:20) - One or Many
• (13:54) - Unique Contributions
• (20:22) - Stay Present
• (25:08) - Close

Hosted by Trudy Callaghan and Lisa Austin

Produced by Odvod Media

Audio Engineering by Steve Glen

Original music by Darrin Hagen