Popcorn Therapy with Julie Peters

Fellow witch Natalie Rousseau joins Julie Peters to discuss Julie's new book, Secret Tales of the Tarot, which explores the mythology and folklore that is at the root of the Tarot decks we know today. Julie reads a few sample chapters and the pair discuss storytelling, divination, and the history of the Tarot. The Minor Arcana cards come through the Arthurian tale of Tristan and Isolde. Be warned, the chapter read contains some of the darker themes of the Tarot, including death and despair. Find Natalie and her courses at https://www.natalierousseau.com/ or @natalierousseau Get Julie's book Secret Tales of the Tarot wherever you get your books and see more on her Tarot courses at https://www.juliepeters.ca/

Obsession: Masculinity, Mental Health, and the Horror of Wanting ControlJulie Peters and Dr. Jett Stone unpack Obsession, the horror film that sparked plenty of conversation. Through a men’s mental health lens, they explore coercive control, vulnerability, and the difference between being a “nice guy” and being genuinely good. They also dig into the movie’s folkloric roots, the fantasy of bypassing the risks of dating, and why its ending feels both absurd and painfully real. Dr. Jett Stone: Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/jett-stone-phdhttps://www.jettstonephd.com/@menstherapyhubThe Odyssey podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/31o8pEGmnFx9FjD2fK2xKgMore about Julie Peters: https://www.juliepeters.ca/her book on recovering from sexual assault is called Want: 8 Steps to Recovering Desire, Passion, and Pleasure After Sexual Assault Key topicsDr. Jett Stone’s work as a clinical psychologist, including his focus on men, masculinity, and men who may be reluctant to try therapy.A spoiler-filled recap of Obsession: Bear wishes that Nikki Freeman loves him more than anyone else, and the wish spirals into horror.The “nice guy” dynamic: the unspoken bargain that performing niceness should earn someone love in return.Coercive control, sexual violence, and how abuse can be quiet, pressured, and confusing—not always obviously violent.Julie’s personal connection to the film and her experience of sexual assault by a “nice guy” type.The “cool girl” archetype and how people may perform a version of themselves to secure connection.The film’s links to online dating culture, the manosphere, AI girlfriends, and the desire to avoid rejection and relational risk.The difference between healthy vulnerability and manipulation, beginning with Bear’s rehearsal of what he might say to Nikki.The ending, Nikki’s survival, and the aftermath of trauma, obsession, and relationship loss.The Hansel and Gretel poem, Baba Yaga, and the fairy-tale themes of desire, control, and consequences.KeywordsObsession, Inde Navarette, Michael Johnston, mental health, men’s therapist, therapy, movies, film, horror, masculinity, coercive control, relationships, intimacy, vulnerability, folklore

Fellow Verbena author Charlie Creed joins mythologist, therapist, witch, and Tarot reader Julie Peters for a discussion on Practical Magic, both the first and the second film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. We talk about the plot and the rules of magic, the history of witchcraft, the genuine thoughtfulness and true silliness of the two movies, and whether we both liked it. What did you think? Charlie Creed wrote Faery Rules and The Cat's Tales. Find him at @charliecreedwriter Julie's Secrets of Reading the Tarot course begins Oct 22. Email for waitilist and more information at https://www.juliepeters.ca/tarot-courseSecret Tales of the Tarot is available for preorder wherever you get books.

This podcast discusses addiction and suicidality. Mild spoilers for Nolan’s film The Odyssey. Julie Peters is joined by clinical psychologist Jett Stone for a conversation about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and what it reveals about men, vulnerability, and trauma. They connect the film’s myths and set pieces to real therapeutic themes like performance pressure, addiction, belonging, and moral injury.In this episode, Julie and Jett discuss how the story functions as both a literary epic and a psychological map of manhood, especially for boys and men trying to earn and keep their sense of worth.Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is not meant to replace any mental health treatment.Notes and references: See more and book counseling or Tarot at https://www.juliepeters.ca/ or @juliepeterswellnessDr. Jett Stone’s website: https://www.jettstonephd.com/Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/jett-stone-phdMen’s Therapy Hub: https://menstherapyhub.co.uk/ The course I took with Jett on PESI: https://www.pesicanada.ca/item/mens-mental-health-specialist-training-166925?srsltid=AfmBOoom3GGtAMMNLILQ8BRQYTpclECCY-AEK6HJKcVdkgzOFe_r8xp-Julie’s book on trauma recovery is called WantBell hooks’ book is called The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love Many statistics can be found in the book BoyMom by Ruth Whippman and elsewhere David Hatfield was featured on the podcast in an episode called F1: The Tragedy Jonathan Shay’s books are called Achilles in Vietnam and Odysseus in America

We explore the themes of horror, anxiety, and societal fears through the lens of the series 'Something Very Bad Is Gonna Happen.' This episode delves into the symbolism, character analysis, and social commentary embedded in the show. In this episode, Julie and Mel explore the complex themes of anxiety, gender dynamics, and the symbolism of horror in relationships and motherhood. They discuss how horror films reflect societal fears and personal traumas, offering insights into emotional safety and intergenerational curses.Mel Zee talks about death and dark pop culture stuff at @sorryibroughtitup. She also helps people with their social media at @wearerahrah (she does mine and I would never let her go). You can find more about Julie at juliepeters.ca or follow her at @juliepeterswellness.

Material Girls' co-host Marcelle Kosman joins therapist Julie Peters to talk about Emerald Fennell's adaptation, "Wuthering Heights." We talk about adaptation theory, race, attachment, intergenerational trauma, and the weird, wild visual choices made in this film. Did you love it or hate it? Leave us a comment! Check out the Material Girls episodes on Wuthering Heights and Goblin Mode for more. Witch, Please productions, which has a few other wonderful podcasts, is here: https://www.materialgirlspod.com/We also reference the book My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem. Please note there is a bit of commentary from Julie's baby in this episode that I couldn't edit out! More on Julie, her books, and to book counseling or Tarot at juliepeters.ca. Follow her and the podcast at @juliepeterswellness wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to like and subscribe!

In this special episode, fellow Verbena author and herbal storyteller Amanda Edmiston shares her version of a fairy story known throughout the world, often called something like Six Swans or Wild Swans. At the heart of this story is the humble nettle, and Amanda and Julie discuss the powerful themes and meanings of this folktale and how it resonates for us in terms of loss, grief, motherhood, and more. Amanda's books are The Time Traveller's Herbal and Collected Curiosities. Her website is here: https://www.botanicafabula.co.uk/ Follow her @botanicafabulaJulie's books include Maiden, Warrior, Mother, Crone; Witch, Healer, Priestess, Outcast and The Full Moon Yearbook. Learn more and book Tarot or counselling here: https://www.juliepeters.ca/ Follow Julie at @juliepeterswellness. We reference Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass, the Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani, the Gospel of Thomas, and the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, who wrote A Curious Herbal in 1735.

In the second half of our conversation about Lindy West's Adult Braces, intimacy coach and educator Tanille Geib joins Julie to discuss abuse dynamics in relationships, codependency and its usefulness (or not) as a way to think about relational trauma, and the layers of colonial and other meanings that come in in this story about polyamory (or polygamy?), love, self discovery, trauma, and more. Tanille's website: https://www.tanillegeib.ca/Here is the piece that got me interested in this conversation in the first place: https://leighstein.substack.com/p/i-escaped-bluebeards-castle-lindyLearn more about julie and book counseling or Tarot at juliepeters.ca Follow along at @juliepeterswellness on Substack, Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook

Intimacy coach and educator Tanille Geib joins Julie for a discussion about Lindy West's memoir Adult Braces and all of its connections to polyamory, colonialism, relationship styles, and much more. In this first part of the conversation, we talk a lot about monogamy, polyamory, and different relationship styles and how that is reflected in Lindy's book as well as the larger conversation about this book. Tanille's website: https://www.tanillegeib.ca/The Dating Intentionally podcast episode with Claire Perelman is linked to this episode or here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jeWE9C4vZ1Ic0gqiIFTSv?si=03def1c9d1094c3dThere Are No Girls On The Internet episode about Lindy West is also linked here or: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IhLWLfHV9DC2EHcBCzxvr?si=d0f263318418451bAnd the ICYMI Slate podcast where Scaachi Koul talks about Aham's email: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zRqxAuXxEr97q6AvNBunW?si=6879bc7051f745e5Learn more about Julie or book counseling or Tarot at juliepeters.ca

In this special edition of Popcorn Therapy, herbalist an storyteller (and fellow Verbena author) Amanda Edmiston joins Julie to listen to "Airmed: Goddess of Herbalism" from Julie's book Witch, Healer, Priestess, Outcast. We discuss the magic and secrets of herbalism, the possible real truths behind folktales, and the power of a story. Airmed, also spelled Airmid, is a healer from the great Tuatha de Danann of Irish mythology. Stay tuned for this series where you'll get to hear a tale and some discussion around it with other writers and storytellers like Julie and Amanda! More on Amanda at @botanicafabula and https://www.botanicafabula.co.uk/More on Julie at @juliepeterswellness and juliepeters.ca.