Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah

In this bibliotherapy podcast interview, I interview author-illustrator Eliza Fricker (Missing the Mark) on neurodiversity, mental health, and how her daughter’s school breakdown led her to begin illustrating their experiences to process feelings of overwhelm, rage, disappointment, guilt, and isolation, later sharing the work online under a pseudonym and publishing the Sunday Times bestselling book Can’t Not Won’t. 
She explains how giving children labels can imply choice and describes the judgment and shame parents face, while advocating for more education, connection, and meaningful, flexible, interest-based learning rather than a target-driven curriculum and SEND categorisation. Fricker shares her own neurodiversity exploration through her latest memoir Could Try Harder (out on Thursday 14 May 2027, and available at all good bookstores). 
She references polyvagal theory and masking in school meetings, outlines PDA (also called pervasive drive for autonomy) strategies, and recommends Letters to My Weird Sisters by Joanne Limburg and How to Be Autistic by Charlotte Amelia Poe.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:19 From Textiles to Illustration
04:43 Can't Not Won't Explained
08:03 Self Discovery and Memoir
11:09 Could Try Harder Preview
12:51 Why School Needs Change
14:41 Rethinking SEND Support
17:06 Meaningful Learning 
19:48 Power of Visual Narratives
22:21 Illustration Process and Space
24:08 Understanding PDA Strategies
27:33 Self Care for Parents
28:17 Books That Changed Eliza
31:34 Book Launch Plans and Closing
You can explore all of Eliza's other books on autism and PDA here.

Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
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Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:
Online Bibliotherapy Courses
Personalised Book Prescriptions
Bibliotherapy Sessions

You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:
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Today I’m exploring something that feels especially important right now: financial literacy, and more specifically, our relationship with money, value and financial wellbeing.

I’m joined by author and financial expert Sarah Bennett-Nash, @@sarahbennettnash whose debut book More Money, More Life opens up a much-needed conversation about the beliefs, stories and inherited patterns that shape the way we think about money.

After nearly two decades in financial services and global capital markets, including her time at Goldman Sachs, Sarah began asking why even smart, successful people can feel anxious, avoidant or stuck around money.

In our conversation, we discuss:

- Sarah’s journey from corporate finance to authorship
- Why money is never just about numbers
- The family stories and beliefs we inherit around wealth
- Her AAA framework: Awareness, Alignment and Action
- Small, practical steps towards greater financial confidence and freedom

I really enjoyed our conversation which focused on understanding the deeper emotional, psychological and practical layers of money, in order to make choices that feel more conscious, aligned and empowering around money.

You can also read the full conversation on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/bibliotherapywithbijal/p/one-womans-journey-to-rethinking

And you can get a copy of Sarah's book wherever you get books or here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/More-Money-More-Life-by-Sarah-Bennett-Nash/9781836810315

Disclaimer: This post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consider your own circumstances and seek advice from a qualified financial adviser where appropriate.
Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
******************************************************************************************
Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:
Online Bibliotherapy Courses
Personalised Book Prescriptions
Bibliotherapy Sessions

You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:
Instagram
Facebook

Hi everyone, excited to share my conversation with award-winning audio documentary maker and author Catherine Carr about how sibling relationships shape identity, drawing on Carr’s podcast Relatively and her new book 'Who’s the Favourite?' 
Carr explains that her fascination wtih sibling dynamics began during the 2020 pandemic when people began to reach out to and reconnect with their siblings, highlighting that sibling bonds can be some of the longest relationships in life. 
We discuss birth order, family “roles,” and how siblings influence development, including Carr’s experience as a middle child whose parents divorced and split the children between England and the Netherlands. 
Carr also describes shifting sibling relationships from vertical to horizontal (equal adult friendship), the complications of contested memories and shared narratives, and how aging parents can be a flashpoint. 
The conversation covers sibling estrangement and the stigma of it as well as glass siblings and Carr's favourite books!
Listen to the episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1452949/episodes/18891567 or wherever you get your podcasts, by simply searching for 'Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah'.
I hope you enjoy it! And if you'd like to get a copy of her book 'Who's Your Favourite?" you can do so anywhere you get books or here: https://www.waterstones.com/books/reviews/isbn/9781836431282#review-455525

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:35 Why the Focus on Sibling Relationships and Catherine's New Book
04:26 Catherine's Childhood and Own Sibling Relationships
06:13 Siblings in Literature
08:39 Family Roles and Labels
15:19 Birth Order and Influence
18:58 Shared Stories and Memory
23:43 Estrangement and Stigma
28:59 Glass Siblings Explained
35:21 Catherine's Favourite Book
37:29 Final Thoughts and Thanks

#bibliotherapy #bibliotherapypodcast #books #whosthefavourite? #catherinecar #newbook #podcasts #bookistpodcasts #newreleases #siblingpodcast #relatively
Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
******************************************************************************************
Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:
Online Bibliotherapy Courses
Personalised Book Prescriptions
Bibliotherapy Sessions

You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:
Instagram
Facebook

In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, I interview Sarah Fletcher, a British-American poet who grew up in the UK and later pursued poetry and a PhD researching physical pain and poetry. We discuss the power of poetry to heal through rhythm, sound, precision, memorability, and how physical pain is difficult to capture in language, often relying on metaphor, including militaristic framing and the limits of the 1–10 pain scale. 
We discuss how chronic pain is isolating, fragmentary, and hard to capture in narrative. Sarah also talks about some of the poetry and pain workshops she runs that build shared language and connection to capture the physical experience of pain in poetry, including reframing pain as an unwelcome guest at a house party. She notes a Canadian hospital’s “pain menus,” how expressive writing can improve healing, and the need to challenge mind–body dualism. 
Sarah also cites T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” as life-changing and we also announce an upcoming shared podcast, “The Bibliotherapy Room"  that we will be recording! Watch this space for more :)
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:49 Sarah’s Poetry Origins
04:55 Sound, Rhythm and Healing
06:58 Why Pain Resists Language
09:12 Metaphors We Use for Pain
11:51 Chronic Pain and Isolation
15:41 Living Alongside Pain
17:58 Creative Writing for Pain
22:20 Empathy, Doubt and Doctors
26:07 Workshops, Laughter and Relief
27:46 Pain Menus and Social Prescribing
31:51 The Mind-Body Connection and Creativity
33:51 Life-Changing Poem Pick
36:44 New Podcast Announcement
38:29 Closing Thanks and Farewell
Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
******************************************************************************************
Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:
Online Bibliotherapy Courses
Personalised Book Prescriptions
Bibliotherapy Sessions

You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:
Instagram
Facebook

In this episode, Theresa Lola, an accomplished poet and published author, shares her journey from growing up in Nigeria to becoming a published poet in the UK. She discusses her fascination with poetry, especially grief poetry, and how it helps in processing complex emotions. Theresa delves into her creative process, the power of language, and how her cultural heritage shapes her work. The conversation also covers her initiatives like creative writing workshops for mental health and her new stationary brand ‘Your Envoi,’ designed to foster self-reflection and connection. Engaging and insightful, this episode highlights the therapeutic potential of poetry and creative expression.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:42 Theresa’s Early Life and Writing Journey
01:16 The Power of Poetry in Expressing Emotions
02:05 Transition to the UK and Early Career
05:58 Balancing Two Cultural Identities
08:32 The Influence of Language on Expression
13:13 Exploring the Significance of Names
19:39 Grief and Poetry
23:42 Exploring the Physicality and Rhythm of Grief
25:37 The Therapeutic Intentions Behind Poetry
26:20 The Process of Self-Reflection in Writing
26:50 Using Poetry to Capture Emotions and Experiences
28:16 Cultural Significance and Metaphors in Poetry
30:43 Creative Writing and Mental Health Initiatives
35:09 Advice for Emerging Poets
39:14 Launching a Wellness Stationery Brand
42:58 The Impact of Literature on Life
46:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
You can follow Theresa’s work as well as get copies of her two books (poetry collections) on her website or at the following links:

W: https://www.theresalola.com/
B: https://www.theresalola.com/books

Theresa’s Stationery Brand, Your Envoi: https://weareyourenvoi.com/

Social Media Channels:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theresa_lola
Threads: @theresa_lola
X: https://x.com/theresa_lola
I hope you enjoyed this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah and if you’d like to find out more about Bibliotherapy you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading
Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack.
If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.
******************************************************************************************
Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following:
Online Bibliotherapy Courses
Personalised Book Prescriptions
Bibliotherapy Sessions

You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below:
Instagram
Facebook