Stories, Soul Work & Substack

John Rinaldo
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The Positive Pen Podcast—"Stories, Soul Work & Substack"—is a live weekly conversation exploring honest stories, inner work, and the courage it takes to write and become. Each episode brings real voices together to reflect on meaning, healing, spirituality, and why writing has become a lifeline. rinaldoj.substack.com

  1. 5d ago

    Typing It Real: Finding Your Way, Gen X Musings & What Really Matters With John Rinaldo

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

    Typing It Real: Finding Your Way, Gen X Musings & What Really Matters With John Rinaldo

  2. Sep 29

    The Leadership Frame — A Conversation with Chellie Grossman

    Thank you, Kanyin Abebi, rhonda doruiter, Karl Tame, Emma Steel and many others, for tuning into my live video! Join me on the next Stories, Soul Work & Substack for another conversation that matters. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chellie Grossman for a conversation about something that touches every part of our lives: leadership. But this wasn’t a conversation about titles, corner offices, or being the person in charge. It was about learning how to lead ourselves. Chellie reminded us that leadership begins long before anyone follows us. It begins with the choices we make when nobody is watching—with our values, our integrity, our willingness to listen, and our ability to take responsibility when we get something wrong. We talked about the difference between managing people and truly leading them. Good leadership isn’t built on control. It is built on trust. And trust isn’t something we can demand from another person. It is something we earn, slowly, through consistency, honesty, communication, and action. One of the themes that stayed with me was self-awareness. Before we can understand the people around us, we have to be willing to understand ourselves. That means recognizing our strengths, but also being willing to look at our weaknesses, our reactions, and the things we still need to work on. That takes courage. We also talked about communication and the importance of listening—not simply waiting for our turn to speak, but genuinely hearing what another person is trying to tell us. Sometimes leadership means having the answer. Other times, it means creating enough space for someone else to find theirs. And perhaps that is where leadership and soul work meet. We spend so much of our lives looking outward—at what other people should change, what organizations should do differently, or what the world needs to fix. Sometimes the harder question is: What do I need to change in myself? Thank you, Chellie, for joining me today and sharing your experience, perspective, and lessons with all of us. Five Lessons I Took Away From Our Conversation * Leadership starts with yourself. Before leading others, learn to understand and lead yourself. * Integrity is practiced. Our values mean little unless our daily actions reflect them. * Trust must be earned. Consistency, honesty, and accountability build trust over time. * Listening is part of leading. Great communication begins with genuinely hearing other people. * Leadership requires courage. Growth sometimes means admitting we were wrong, changing direction, and choosing what is right over what is comfortable. Leadership isn’t something we simply claim. It is something we practice every day. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Sep 22

    Is This It? — A Conversation with Natissa Sang

    Thank you Author Gold, A New Dawn Healing Arts, rhonda doruiter, Tom Janiak, Harriet Corvine, and many others for tuning into my live video with Nat Sang! Join me on the next Stories, Soul Work & Substack for another conversation that matters. Sometimes the most important question we can ask ourselves is also one of the simplest: Is this it? On this episode of The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with Natissa Sang, creator of The Midlife Reset, to talk about what happens when the life we’ve worked so hard to build no longer fits the person we’ve become. For more than 30 years, Nat built what many would consider a successful life. She earned her MBA, raised a family, and spent nearly two decades in senior healthcare leadership. From the outside, everything looked right. But something was missing. Nat described much of her thirties and forties as living on autopilot—work, family, responsibilities, commuting, deadlines, and constantly preparing for what came next. Eventually, the question became impossible to ignore: Is this it? One of the clearest warning signs was what Nat called the “Sunday scaries.” The anxiety about returning to work became so overwhelming that she once skipped the second night of a Metallica concert—even though they were her favorite band—because she couldn’t escape the dread of Monday morning. Then, at 52, her corporate position was eliminated. What could have been viewed only as a setback became an opportunity to rethink what she wanted from the next chapter of her life. Instead of immediately sending out résumés, Nat began asking deeper questions about purpose, identity, creativity, and what success actually meant to her. Writing became part of that transformation. Through journaling and sharing her experiences on Substack, Nat rediscovered the writer and creative person she had buried beneath decades of corporate responsibilities. She eventually developed her 7R Reset: Recognize, Release, Reframe, Reclaim, Redesign, Rebuild, and Reset. Perhaps the biggest change wasn’t simply leaving corporate life. It was redefining success. Today, success for Nat isn’t a title or promotion. It’s making every day count, appreciating small moments, creating something meaningful, helping someone, and having greater ownership over how she spends her time. And the question “Is this it?” hasn’t disappeared. It simply means something different now. Instead of “Is this all my life will ever be?” it has become: “What else is possible?” Five Lessons from My Conversation with Natissa Sang * Pay attention when something feels wrong. Discomfort can be an invitation to examine your life. * Your career isn’t your identity. A title describes your job, not your worth. * Reframe the setback. An ending can become the catalyst for an entirely different beginning. * Write the dream down. Change becomes more possible when we give ourselves permission to imagine it. * Your story isn’t finished because one chapter is. Sometimes questioning the life you’ve built doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re still growing. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Sep 15

    The People We Meet Along the Way — The Story of April and Gary

    Thank you Bonnie Bluewater 🐦, rhonda doruiter, Amar | Travel & Stories, and many others for tuning into my live video! On this episode of The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with my longtime TikTok friend Gary to talk about his wife, April—the woman he met online more than two decades ago, built a family with, laughed with, and ultimately had to say goodbye to. Their story began in 2003 in a Yahoo chat room. Two 18-year-olds started talking and stayed up until five in the morning. Soon there were nightly phone calls after 9 p.m., when cell phone minutes were free, followed by a 900-mile journey that brought them together in person. What began online became a life together. Gary described April as genuine, intentional, warm, funny, and someone who “never knew a stranger.” She loved bringing people together. Their home became the gathering place for holidays, Christmas celebrations, game nights, and pumpkin-carving parties for their children and friends. Then came the part of their story no family is ever truly prepared for. April became ill, and after enduring tremendous pain and treatment, she passed away. Gary spoke openly about those final moments, the numbness that followed, and the reality of returning home knowing the person who had been at the center of his life was no longer physically there. Perhaps the most powerful part of our conversation was Gary’s description of grief. He compared their relationship to two trees planted beside each other whose roots had grown together. Pull one tree away, and part of the other tree inevitably goes with it. The surviving tree may continue growing, but it needs time, nurturing, and care. That’s grief. We also talked about Gary’s children and how the family has learned to recognize when someone is struggling. Instead of trying to fix the pain, they sit together in it. As Gary beautifully put it, sometimes “you just need somebody to sit in the mud with you.” One comment from rhonda doruiter after hearing Gary’s story captured the heart of our conversation beautifully: “You are grieving the person you built your life with while somehow carrying life forward for your children. The love you have for your wife, and the father you are determined to remain for your children, speaks more powerfully about you than any definition of strength could.” I think Rhonda captured something important. Strength after loss isn’t pretending you’re okay. Sometimes strength is simply getting up, loving your children, carrying the memories, and finding a way through another day. And maybe that’s what the people we meet along the way ultimately teach us. We don’t necessarily “move on” from those we love. We learn how to carry them forward. Five Lessons from April and Gary’s Story * Love becomes part of who we are. Deep relationships leave roots that remain long after someone is gone. * Grief cannot be fixed. Sometimes the greatest gift is simply sitting beside someone in their pain. * Moving forward isn’t the same as moving on. We can continue living while carrying those we love with us. * Strength can be quiet. Sometimes strength is a grieving father continuing to show up for his children while carrying his own pain. * Never underestimate the people you meet along the way. A conversation between two strangers can become a love story that changes an entire lifetime. A Song for April Less than a month after April passed, Gary found himself awake at 2 a.m. Unable to sleep, he began writing. Those words became a song for the woman he loved. Sometimes we write for others to hear. Other times, we write because our heart needs somewhere to put the love that remains. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author John Rinaldo writes The Positive Pen, a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. He also hosts the live podcast Stories, Soul Work & Substack every Monday at 4 PM EST, where written ideas open into honest conversation. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Aug 11

    The Self-Led Life — A Conversation with Erin Gregory

    Thank you Sarah Oehler, rhonda doruiter, Tom Janiak, Deanne Ames Original Junior-Senior and many others for tuning into my live video! How authenticity, courage, community, and the willingness to pivot can help us build a life that actually fits who we are. What happens when the life you are supposed to live no longer feels like the life you want? On this episode of The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with writer, entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and creator of The Self-Led Life, Erin Gregory, for a conversation about work, family, creativity, and what it really takes to build a life around your values. Erin’s journey didn’t begin with a perfect business plan. It began with motherhood. After her first daughter was born with several health challenges, Erin found that the traditional working world no longer fit her family’s needs. She began freelancing, moved through journalism and nonprofit marketing, and eventually created a business that gave her something she had been searching for: ownership of her days. That idea became the heart of the Self-Led Life. A self-led life isn’t about abandoning responsibility or suddenly quitting your job. It’s about asking whether the path you’re following still reflects your values, interests, abilities, family, and the person you’re becoming. Throughout our conversation, one phrase kept returning: the messy middle. Life rarely moves in a straight line. Erin and I talked about experimenting, failing, adjusting, and trying again. Whether you’re building a business, writing on Substack, raising children, changing careers, or discovering your creative voice, sometimes you have to begin before you completely understand where you’re going. We also explored the growing importance of authentic storytelling. In a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content, Erin believes people still want the human being behind the words—the experiences, imperfections, lessons, and perspectives that technology cannot manufacture. Perhaps the biggest message from our conversation was simple: you are never a finished product. We continue learning. We pivot. We discover new interests. We find new communities. And sometimes we realize that something that once served us no longer does. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s alignment. 5 Lessons from Erin Gregory * Build around your values. Success means little if the life you’re creating doesn’t leave room for the people and experiences that matter. * Learn to pivot. A change in direction isn’t necessarily failure. Sometimes it means you’ve learned enough to recognize a better path. * Protect your authentic voice. Your experiences and perspective are what make your writing, business, and story uniquely yours. * Create a “third space.” Find something outside work and responsibility—gardening, running, writing, music, walking—where you can reconnect with yourself. * Community matters. Growth doesn’t have to happen alone. Collaboration, service, conversation, and helping others can become part of building a meaningful life. The Self-Led Life isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about becoming willing to listen to yourself, do the hard work, and keep moving toward a life that feels genuinely your own. Thank you for your support. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author John Rinaldo writes Soul & Stories, a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. He also hosts the live podcast Stories, Soul Work & Substack every Monday at 4 PM EST, where written ideas open into honest conversation. He is currently working on Ciao Bella: Forgotten in the Shadows, a documentary written and hosted by John Rinaldo and Hassan, telling the story of Italians who resisted and secretly helped smuggle Jews to safety during World War II. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Aug 4

    The Poetry of Showing Up — Chris B. Writes

    Thank you Sara da Encarnação, Deanne Ames, Johnmark Guzman, Harriet Corvine, Karl Tame, rhonda doruiter and many others for tuning into my live video! Some stories aren’t measured by dramatic moments but by the quiet, everyday decision to keep showing up. On this episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with Chris B. Writes, a poet, caregiver, father, and advocate whose writing has become a voice for families navigating disability, grief, hope, and unconditional love. What unfolded wasn’t simply a conversation about poetry—it was a deeply human discussion about resilience, caregiving, authenticity, and finding beauty in life’s hardest moments. Chris shared the story of his son, Brayden, who lives with a rare genetic disorder that has shaped every aspect of their family’s life. From long hospital stays and medical uncertainty to daily therapies, equipment, and countless unseen responsibilities, Chris offered an honest look at what caregiving truly means. Yet through every challenge, one message remained clear: love is measured not by ease but by presence. One of the most moving parts of our conversation centered on letting go of expectations. Chris spoke openly about grieving the future he once imagined for his son while learning to fully embrace the life Brayden has today. That emotional shift became the foundation of both his healing and his writing. We also explored the remarkable role that music has played in Brayden’s life. Through years of music therapy, Chris has witnessed moments of connection that words alone could never create. It became a reminder that healing often arrives through unexpected places and that joy can exist even in the middle of hardship. Support Brave for Bray Bray! A charity pickleball tournament is coming up to help cover Brayden’s critical care and improve his comfort, safety, and quality of life. Every donation makes a difference: Writing has become Chris’s way of processing trauma, sharing hope, and giving his son a voice. His poetry doesn’t hide pain or pretend life is easy. Instead, it invites readers to sit with both grief and gratitude at the same time. That honesty has resonated deeply across the Substack community, where authentic storytelling continues to create meaningful connections. Our conversation also touched on the importance of community, collaboration, and remaining authentic in a world increasingly focused on algorithms and technology. Chris reminded us that readers connect with real people, not perfect ones. Consistency, vulnerability, and compassion will always outlast trends. Perhaps the most powerful takeaway came from a single line Chris shared from one of his poems: “Choosing him ten times out of ten doesn’t erase the ache.” That sentence captures the heart of caregiving. Love doesn’t remove hardship, but it gives hardship meaning. This episode is ultimately about more than caregiving. It’s about fatherhood, marriage, resilience, poetry, and discovering that sometimes the greatest acts of courage are the quiet ones that happen behind closed doors every single day. Five Lessons from My Conversation with Chris B. Writes * Showing up every day is its own form of courage. Love is often demonstrated through consistency, not grand gestures. * You can hold grief and gratitude at the same time. Healing begins when we accept both realities. * Authenticity creates deeper connections than perfection. Honest stories resonate because they’re lived, not manufactured. * Writing can become a path toward healing. Giving words to pain helps transform trauma into understanding. * Community reminds us we’re never truly alone. Sharing our stories creates hope for those walking similar paths. 🟧Missed the Last Episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack? Thank you for your support. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author John Rinaldo writes Soul & Stories, a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. He also hosts the live podcast Stories, Soul Work & Substack every Monday at 4 PM EST, where written ideas open into honest conversation. He is currently working on The Hole: Forgotten in the Shadows, a documentary written and hosted by John Rinaldo and Hassan, telling the story of Italians who resisted and secretly helped smuggle Jews to safety during World War II. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Jul 28

    Luminous Touch with Ruth Urman

    Thank you Chellie Grossman, rhonda doruiter, Tom Janiak, Karl Tame, Bridget and many others for tuning into my live video with Ruth Urman! Finding the Beauty in Being Present: A Conversation with Ruth Urman and Luminous Touch Some conversations stay with you long after the recording ends. My conversation with Ruth Urman, creator of The Elegant Bohemian Life and author of the forthcoming memoir Luminous Touch, was one of those conversations. Rather than discussing writing techniques or publishing strategies, we explored something much deeper—the courage to become the person you’ve always been beneath expectations, fear, and the stories you’ve inherited. Ruth shared how Luminous Touch is more than a memoir. It is an invitation to reconnect with ourselves through presence, vulnerability, and the willingness to embrace every chapter of our lives. Her journey reminds us that healing rarely happens all at once. It unfolds one honest moment at a time. Throughout our conversation, we talked about how life has a way of asking us to slow down. Many of us spend years chasing success, approval, or certainty, only to discover that the answers we seek often come in the quiet moments we usually overlook. Writing became a central theme of our discussion. For Ruth, putting words on the page wasn’t simply about telling a story—it became a way of understanding herself. The process of writing transformed memories into meaning and difficult experiences into wisdom that could be shared with others. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was the reminder that authenticity isn’t something we achieve overnight. It is a daily practice of choosing honesty over perfection and presence over performance. Ruth’s story encourages all of us to stop hiding behind who we think we should be and begin embracing who we truly are. As host of Stories, Soul Work & Substack, these are the conversations I hope continue to inspire writers, creators, and anyone searching for a more meaningful life. Every guest brings a different story, but the common thread is always the same: our greatest growth often begins when we’re willing to tell the truth about ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered whether your own story matters, this episode is a beautiful reminder that it does. Every life carries wisdom, and every chapter—even the painful ones—has the potential to become light for someone else. Five Lessons from My Conversation with Ruth Urman * Authenticity is a daily choice. Living truthfully begins with small acts of honesty. * Writing is a path to self-discovery. Sometimes we don’t fully understand our lives until we write them. * Healing isn’t linear. Growth comes through patience, reflection, and compassion for ourselves. * Presence changes everything. The most meaningful moments are often found when we slow down and truly pay attention. * Your story has value. Sharing your experiences can encourage others to embrace their own journey with greater courage. A powerful ancient flood myth of survival, courage, and sacrifice. Follow Deghóm as she challenges sacred laws and fights to save others before catastrophe arrives. Here’s the link to Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/04u6qaRG 🟧Missed the Last Episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack? Thank you for your support. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author John Rinaldo writes Soul & Stories, a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. He also hosts the live podcast Stories, Soul Work & Substack every Monday at 4 PM EST, where written ideas open into honest conversation. He is currently working on The Hole: Forgotten in the Shadows, a documentary written and hosted by John Rinaldo and Hassan, telling the story of Italians who resisted and secretly helped smuggle Jews to safety during World War II. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Jul 21

    Before History Had a Name — A Conversation with Stephen Thomas

    Thank you Kathy Washburn, Sacred Storylines 🎨, rhonda doruiter, Karl Tame, Original Junior-Senior, Sue Rumack Life Debunked, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. What if the oldest stories humanity has ever told are still shaping the way we see the world today? On this episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I welcomed author, linguist, and translator Stephen Thomas for a fascinating conversation about history, language, archaeology, faith, and the inspiration behind his novel In the Day of the Flood, the first book in The Four Lights series. Stephen has spent more than thirty-five years translating European languages, but his passion reaches far beyond words. His research explores the ancient Proto-Indo-European language, reconstructed by linguists and believed to have been spoken thousands of years before Greek and Latin. That journey led him to ask a remarkable question: What did our ancestors believe before history had a written record? Our discussion explored the relationship between language and thought, how words evolve over centuries, and why understanding ancient cultures helps us better understand ourselves. Stephen explained how the earliest concepts of a “Sky Father” and “Mother Earth” may have influenced humanity’s spiritual development long before organized religion emerged. Rather than writing historical fiction alone, he has recreated an entire worldview built from archaeology, linguistics, mythology, and human imagination. We also explored the collapse of ancient civilizations, the rise and fall of languages, and how cultures are continually reshaped through migration, conflict, and adaptation. From the Roman Empire and Viking influence to modern globalization, our conversation revealed striking parallels between the ancient world and today’s society. One recurring theme was empathy—the idea that civilizations endure when people learn to understand one another rather than destroy what they fear. Beyond history, Stephen shared his experience as an independent author and how Substack has become more than a publishing platform. He described it as a place where writers build genuine friendships, exchange ideas, and support one another’s creative journeys. His story is a reminder that writing isn’t simply about selling books—it’s about finding readers who value curiosity, conversation, and community. This episode wasn’t just about an ancient flood or a forgotten language. It was about asking timeless questions: * Where do our beliefs begin? * How does language shape the way we think? * What can ancient civilizations teach us about today’s world? * And how can stories preserve ideas long after empires disappear? Whether you’re passionate about historical fiction, ancient civilizations, Proto-Indo-European language, Biblical history, archaeology, mythology, or the craft of writing itself, this conversation offers fresh perspectives that connect humanity’s earliest stories with our modern search for meaning. Stephen Thomas reminds us that before history had names, dates, and kingdoms, there were people asking the very same questions we ask today. Sometimes the oldest stories are the ones that still have the most to teach us. Stories. Soul Work. Creative Life. ✍️ A powerful ancient flood myth of survival, courage, and sacrifice. Follow Deghóm as she challenges sacred laws and fights to save others before catastrophe arrives. Here’s the link to Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/04u6qaRG 🟧Missed the Last Episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack? Thank you for your support. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. John is currently working on Ciao Bella: Forgotten in the Shadows, a documentary project telling the story of Italian families who, during World War II, risked everything to help Jewish families escape to safety across the Alps. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

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The Positive Pen Podcast—"Stories, Soul Work & Substack"—is a live weekly conversation exploring honest stories, inner work, and the courage it takes to write and become. Each episode brings real voices together to reflect on meaning, healing, spirituality, and why writing has become a lifeline. rinaldoj.substack.com

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