In this soul-nourishing episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, host Melissa Crook welcomes Marjorie Burns, retired English professor, Tolkien scholar, and author of The New Cadets, to explore what it truly means to live a layered, healthy, and whole-hearted life.
Marjorie speaks to the art of accepting every piece of who we are—not just the polished or expected parts, but the contradictions, the curiosities, and the rule-breakers, too. With wisdom forged through years of scholarship and personal discovery, she reminds us that healthy living isn't just about habits—it's about embracing our full humanity.
This episode is a powerful reminder that our complexity is not a flaw—it’s our magic.
How to honor your inner rule-breaker
Why embracing contradictions can be healing
The importance of discovering and defining your own traits
How self-reflection leads to authentic living
The layered nature of identity and wellness
Start small: jot down a few character traits you identify with—funny, smart, thoughtful. Then dig deeper: what do you believe about yourself beyond what others have said? Even if your traits feel contradictory, let them coexist. You are not a puzzle to be solved, but a story to be told.
Author of The New Cadets
Ph.D. in English Literature, UC Berkeley
Renowned Tolkien scholar
Retired professor from Portland State University
Resides in the Cascade Mountains
Learn more: The New Cadets on Amazon
Embrace your layers
Healthy living and self-acceptance
Rule-breaking for authenticity
Women redefining identity
J.R.R. Tolkien scholar
Complex female identity
Personal growth in later life
Character trait self-discovery
Wholeness over perfection
Literary inspiration for healing
Accepting contradictions
Uncovering your true self
Identity beyond labels
Self-empowerment journey
The F.E.E.L. Framework
#TheFEELPodcast
#LivingYourLayers
#RuleBreakerWisdom
#HealthyLivingWomen
#MarjorieBurns
#TheNewCadets
#SelfAcceptanceJourney
#ComplexWoman
#IdentityUnfolding
#HolisticWellbeing
#HealingThroughLiterature
#FeminineWholeness
#WomenOfWisdom
#FeelFueledLife
#BreakTheRulesLiveFully
Blog Excerpt: "If I had to pick a favorite part of the episode, it would probably be towards the end, listening to Marjorie discuss accepting the layered aspects of herself and living out F.E.E.L. Accepting your layers isn’t as simple as it sounds because there isn’t just one thing to accept. There are many different parts to us, and we don’t know about some of them until we start to do the work to uncover the layers."
Ways to Engage: Think of some character traits for yourself, starting small if you prefer. Funny, smart, kind, etc. Then, dig a little deeper into your layers and what your thoughts are, rather than traits someone else has maybe given to you. Even if they seem like an oxymoron, stay true to yourself and get creative. Take the first step of your journey to accept the layered aspects of yourself and embrace all of your beautiful, complex layers.
Timestamps:
Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:03 )
Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 7:48 )
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 12:12 )
Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 19:13 )
Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 24:25 )
Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 31:39 )
Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 39:31 )
5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 41:29 )
5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 42:53 )
Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis
Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021 or complete our contact form here: https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact
