PODCAST SHOW NOTES
Episode Title:
A Blessing for Uncertain Times by Kate Bowler: A Poem for Anxious Days | Midweek Pause for Peace
Episode Description:
When the future feels unreadable and the news won’t let up, where can we find our footing? In this Midweek Pause for Peace, author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares Kate Bowler’s poem “A Blessing for Uncertain Times,” a piece that meets anxiety with honesty rather than easy reassurance. Paired with calming imagery, this short episode invites listeners to slow down, breathe, and rediscover what remains within reach when so much feels out of their hands.
Laura also extends a warm invitation: food is never just food. She shares details about Explore the Flavors of Your Life, a free Zoom writing workshop she is co-leading with three-time cookbook author Myra Goodman on Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to noon Pacific.
What Laura Covers in This Episode:
How Kate Bowler’s poem offers comfort for anxious times without pretending the future is certain or the worry unfounded
Why turning attention toward what is close and manageable can ease overwhelm and help calm the nervous system
The blessing as a literary form: how writers can borrow its structure of direct address and gentle invocation in their own poems and prose
An invitation to Explore the Flavors of Your Life, a free food writing workshop with Laura Davis and cookbook author Myra Goodman
About Host Laura Davis:
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir “The Burning Light of Two Stars,” which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book “The Courage to Heal.”
Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners’ emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.
Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.
Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis’ signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.
CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS
Join Laura’s Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis’ Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system’s need for calm.
The Writer’s Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You’ll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.
Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Learn about Laura’s writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/
Resources
Explore the Flavors of Your Life: Free Zoom Writing WorkshopSaturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to noon Pacific, with Laura Davis and Myra GoodmanRegister here: https://questforeternalsunshine.com/exploring-the-flavors-of-your-life
Listen: Kate Bowler on Hidden Brain, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”Hear more from Kate Bowler in this conversation on the Hidden Brain podcast.Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000793303400
About the Featured Poet:
Kate Bowler is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and an Associate Professor of American Religious History at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. Her books include “Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved” and “No Cure for Being Human,” and she hosts the podcast “Everything Happens,” where she explores how people find meaning when life doesn’t go as planned.
Website: https://katebowler.com/
