Worlds Within: The Art of Place-Based Storytelling

Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison
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Worlds Within is a podcast about the art of place-based storytelling, exploring the real and imagined landscapes that shape a story. In each episode, Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison sit down with storytellers to talk about how they make their worlds vivid and immersive on the page (and beyond.) adriennegarrison.substack.com

Episodes

  1. APR 15

    Episode 6: Landscapes Real and Imagined with Jonathan Rogers

    Worlds Within is a podcast miniseries about place-based storytelling. On each episode, we talk with creators about the landscapes that shape stories, and the stories that shape landscapes. In this episode, we talk with author and storyteller Jonathan Rogers about the landscapes that shape our imagination and the role of place in the creative life. Jonathan reflects on his upbringing in Georgia and his life in Nashville, sharing how swamps, caves, and creative community have influenced his storytelling. He invites us to consider how place is not only geography, but also the people and relationships that give it meaning. Throughout the conversation, Jonathan offers insight into the craft of writing place: how setting creates both limits and opportunities, how attention shapes originality, and how the visible world is shaped by deeper, often unseen forces. We hope this episode encourages you to notice more closely the places you inhabit and to discover the stories waiting there. Bio: Jonathan Rogers is the author of several acclaimed books of fiction and nonfiction. He calls his fiction “fantasy adventure stories told in an American accent.” His novels, including The Wilderking Trilogy and The Charlatan’s Boy, are fantasy adventure stories shaped more by American vernacular storytelling than by high fantasy, drawing on the humor and rhythms of Twain rather than Tolkien. His nonfiction works, The World According to Narnia, Saint Patrick, and The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O’Connor, also trace the themes of divine comedy and the redemptive power of joy. Hear more from Jonathan on The Habit Podcast, or connect with others and keep learning from him in his online writing community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    44 min

  2. APR 1

    Episode 5: The Particulars of Place with Jen Pollock Michel

    Worlds Within is a podcast miniseries about place-based storytelling. On each episode, we talk with creators about the landscapes that shape stories, and the stories that shape landscapes. In this episode, we talk with author Jen Pollock Michel about her experiences of home, as well as the practices keeping her grounded to her location and nurturing her creative life.  Jen shares about her move from Toronto to Cincinnati and describes how she connected to a new home through local history and a favorite bookstore. After experiencing many moves, Jen reminds us that home is not found in nostalgia for the past, but in the ground beneath our feet.  Together, we explore a passage from Annie Dillard’s Holy is the Firm and consider how Dillard illuminates the particulars of a single moment through immersive and vivid detail.  Jen also tells us about the habits nourishing her writing life, such as regular journaling and keeping a commonplace book. We hope you will be encouraged to keep noticing the particulars of the places around you.  Bio: Jen Pollock Michel is an author, speaker, and mentor in the MFA in creative writing at Whitworth University. She is the award-winning author of five books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox, Keeping Place, Teach Us to Want, and In Good Time. Her new book A Rule for the Rest of Us is forthcoming in fall 2026. Jen holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University, and an M.F.A from Seattle Pacific University. After eleven years of raising a family in Toronto, Jen now lives in Cincinnati with her husband in a near-empty nest. // Worlds Within: The Art of Place-Based Storytelling is a podcast miniseries exploring how writers bring landscapes to life on the page—and how attention to place helps us feel more at home in the world. Hosted by Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison, two writers drawn to art with a strong sense of place. Jenna Brack is the author of Pass-Through Place (Meadowlark Press, 2026), a collection of essays shaped by growing up in central Kansas. Her essays and poetry have been featured in Every Day Poems, Coffee + Crumbs, Fathom, The Sunlight Press, and others. A former educator and college instructor, Jenna now encourages other writers through editing and coaching. She holds an MA in English from Kansas State University and currently lives with her family in Germany. Pre-order Pass-Through Place. Follow Jenna on Substack: https://jennabrack.substack.com/ Adrienne Garrison is a writer, educator, and podcaster based in Bloomington, Indiana. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University and has published work in Coffee + Crumbs, Literary Mama, and LETTERS Journal. Adrienne co-hosts the Exhale Creativity podcast, mentors young writers, and is currently seeking representation for her first novel. Follow Adrienne: https://adriennegarrison.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    46 min

  3. MAR 18

    Episode 4: A Fresh Angle with Filmmaker David Whitaker

    Worlds Within is a podcast miniseries about place-based storytelling. On each episode, we talk with creators about the landscapes that shape stories, and the stories that shape landscapes. In this episode, we hear from filmmaker David Whitaker. David shares about his journey into film, as well as the influence of the faith community and Appalachian landscape around him. He cites C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as literary influences, and we consider how these authors create immersive, cinematic worlds in their fiction. We also discuss David’s film Quest for Beauty, a documentary exploring the life and work of William Schickel, a twentieth-century Catholic artist. David reminds us that art is often found in a simple “turn” or shift that illuminates something true. Quest for Beauty is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. Bio: David is a professor of film at Asbury University. He holds an MFA in Film and TV Production from Asbury University and a Masters in Creative Enterprise from the University of Reading (red-ing) in England. Before that, he worked in Hollywood in both production and digital rights management, serving clients from major studios like 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, MGM, and others. And in his free time, he continues to work on everything from feature films to commercials. Keep the conversation going in the comments section below! What are some films that made you feel as though you were truly immersed in the setting of the film? // Worlds Within: The Art of Place-Based Storytelling is a podcast miniseries exploring how writers bring landscapes to life on the page—and how attention to place helps us feel more at home in the world. Hosted by Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison, two writers drawn to art with a strong sense of place. Jenna Brack is the author of Pass-Through Place (Meadowlark Press, 2026), a collection of essays shaped by growing up in central Kansas. Her essays and poetry have been featured in Every Day Poems, Coffee + Crumbs, Fathom, The Sunlight Press, and others. A former educator and college instructor, Jenna now encourages other writers through editing and coaching. She holds an MA in English from Kansas State University and currently lives with her family in Germany. Pre-order Pass-Through Place. Follow Jenna on Substack: https://jennabrack.substack.com/ Adrienne Garrison is a writer, educator, and podcaster based in Bloomington, Indiana. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University and has published work in Coffee + Crumbs, Literary Mama, and LETTERS Journal. Adrienne co-hosts the Exhale Creativity podcast, mentors young writers, and is currently seeking representation for her first novel. Follow Adrienne: https://adriennegarrison.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    44 min

  4. MAR 4

    Episode 3: The Generosity of Small Places

    On Worlds Within, we explore the landscapes that shape stories and the stories that shape landscapes, discovering how creators bring these worlds to life in ways both intimate and expansive.  In this episode, we talk with guest Angela Correll. Our conversation focuses on how tending to the seemingly small—whether small places or small details—can create a large impact.  Angela shares a selection from Wendell Berry’s book Remembering, and we explore how Berry’s rhythm, word choice, and reflections influence the reading experience. We later read a passage from Angela’s fiction that shows how writing an inventory of “things” can slow us down and bring us more deeply into time and place.  We enjoyed hearing about the inspiration behind Angela’s small-town revitalization efforts in Kentucky, and what she has learned about community from a  Tuscan village in Italy. We hope this episode will inspire you to pursue hospitality both on the page and beyond. Bio: Angela Correll is a writer and storyteller whose work spans fiction, nonfiction, and the stage. She’s the author of Village Life: Discover Tuscan Inspired Hospitality and Intentional Living and Restored in Tuscany, as well as the Amazon bestselling trilogy Grounded, Guarded, and Granted, which has been adapted for the stage at Kentucky’s Pioneer Playhouse. Grounded will also be released as a film in September 2025 on the Great American Family network and Great American Pureflix. Beyond writing, Angela and her husband Jess are the founders of The Stanford Experience, a collection of hospitality ventures on Main Street in Stanford, Kentucky, creating spaces that celebrate community, history, and a strong sense of place. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    47 min

  5. FEB 18

    Episode 2: Cultivating Attention with Christie Purifoy

    Worlds Within is a podcast about the art of place-based storytelling—conversations about the real and imagined settings that shape a story. In each episode, we explore how landscapes shape stories, and how attention to place can open up deeper ways of seeing and being in the world. In this episode, we’re joined by author and gardener Christie Purifoy. Our conversation centers on writing and placemaking, and on cultivating habits of attention in our everyday life. Christie shares how themes of home and place have shaped her writing over time, and how seasonal rhythms have influenced her work. We also discuss some of the writers whose worlds she loves stepping into, including her fondness for stories where houses are a character. Christie shares a short section from A Private History of Awe by Scott Russell Sanders that illustrates the art of paying attention to the smallest detail. We also loved hearing Christie talk about her garden and gardening practice, and how it connects to the writing life. We hope you experience this conversation as an invitation to cultivate attention to place, language, and the quiet work of caring for stories. Bio: Christie Purifoy is a writer and gardener who loves to grow flowers and community. She is the author of two memoirs, Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons and Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace. She has also published a trilogy of books celebrating the garden: Garden Maker (2022), A Home in Bloom (2023), and Seedtime and Harvest: How Gardens Grow Roots, Connection, Wholeness and Hope (2024). Her latest book, A House to Call Home: Creating Places That Will Comfort and Care For Us released on February 3rd. Christie holds a PhD in English Literature but eventually traded the classroom for an old Pennsylvania farmhouse called Maplehurst where she lives with her husband and four children. She teaches workshops and cultivates conversations at the Maplehurst Black Barn. Follow Christie on Substack to enjoy more of her writing. Keep the conversation going in the comments section below! Christie talks about gardening as a way of paying attention and cultivating care. How do you think tending to a garden (or any creative practice) shapes the way you notice the world? What does “placemaking” mean to you in your own life? How do you create spaces—physical or mental—that feel comforting, beautiful, or full of possibility? // Worlds Within: The Art of Place-Based Storytelling is a podcast miniseries exploring how writers bring landscapes to life on the page—and how attention to place helps us feel more at home in the world. Hosted by Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison, two writers drawn to art with a strong sense of place. Jenna Brack is the author of Pass-Through Place (Meadowlark Press, 2026), a collection of essays shaped by growing up in central Kansas. Her essays and poetry have been featured in Every Day Poems, Coffee + Crumbs, Fathom, The Sunlight Press, and others. A former educator and college instructor, Jenna now encourages other writers through editing and coaching. She holds an MA in English from Kansas State University and currently lives with her family in Germany. Pre-order Pass-Through Place. Follow Jenna on Substack: https://jennabrack.substack.com/ Adrienne Garrison is a writer, educator, and podcaster based in Bloomington, Indiana. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University and has published work in Coffee + Crumbs, Literary Mama, and LETTERS Journal. Adrienne co-hosts the Exhale Creativity podcast, mentors young writers, and is currently seeking representation for her first novel. Follow Adrienne: https://adriennegarrison.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    46 min

  6. FEB 4

    Episode 1: Passing Through with Jenna Brack

    Stories can transport us, make us feel seen, and reveal something universal in the smallest details. Worlds Within is a podcast about the art of place-based storytelling, exploring the real and imagined landscapes that shape a story. In each episode, Jenna and I sit down with storytellers to talk about how they make their worlds vivid and immersive on the page (and beyond).  In Episode 1, Jenna Brack joins the conversation as both co-host and guest as we celebrate the launch of her forthcoming book, Pass-Through Place, releasing in April 2026 from Meadowlark Press. Together, we’ll explore a passage from Marilynne Robinson's book Gilead, and we discuss how attention to detail, emotional presence, and restraint shape a reader’s sense of belonging. Jenna’s writing is marked by a vivid sense of place and emotional resonance. We also discuss the development of Jenna’s  essay collection, Pass-Through Place, and the experiences, locations, and ideas that shaped the book.  The episode closes with a reading from the essay “Farm Road” in Pass-Through Place, which beautifully conveys the warmth and familiarity of home, and reminds us that so much of good writing lives in what is felt rather than stated.This episode marks the beginning of Worlds Within. We hope you’ll join us for a journey of paying attention to the details around us, and cultivating the worlds and words within us. Keep the conversation going in the comments section on Substack! We love to meet storytellers whose work captures a strong sense of place, or who are exploring themes of home and place. Who are some writers, essayists, or artists you would love to hear from? If you could step into the world of any book, which one would you choose—and why?Leave a comment Worlds Within: The Art of Place-Based Storytelling is a podcast miniseries exploring how writers bring landscapes to life on the page—and how attention to place helps us feel more at home in the world. Hosted by Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison, two writers drawn to art with a strong sense of place. Jenna Brack is the author of Pass-Through Place (Meadowlark Press, 2026), a collection of essays shaped by growing up in central Kansas. Her essays and poetry have been featured in Every Day Poems, Coffee + Crumbs, Fathom, The Sunlight Press, and others. A former educator and college instructor, Jenna now encourages other writers through editing and coaching. She holds an MA in English from Kansas State University and currently lives with her family in Germany.  Pre-order Pass-Through Place.Follow Jenna: https://jennabrack.substack.com/ Adrienne Garrison is a writer, educator, and podcaster based in Bloomington, Indiana. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University and has published work in Coffee + Crumbs, Literary Mama, and LETTERS Journal. Adrienne co-hosts the Exhale Creativity podcast, mentors young writers, and is currently seeking representation for her first novel. Follow Adrienne: https://adriennegarrison.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennegarrison.substack.com

    38 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Worlds Within is a podcast about the art of place-based storytelling, exploring the real and imagined landscapes that shape a story. In each episode, Jenna Brack and Adrienne Garrison sit down with storytellers to talk about how they make their worlds vivid and immersive on the page (and beyond.) adriennegarrison.substack.com

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