Inner Views Podcast

In this episode of Inner Views, host Jackee Holder sits down with Dal Kular—a creative facilitator, writer, mentor, and journal keeper who goes far beyond the traditional written word.Following a life-altering brain injury in 2022 that severely impacted her cognitive writing abilities, Dal discovered a brand new intuitive language: visual journaling, zines, and the ancient art of stitch. In this slow, deeply nourishing conversation, we explore how creative practices serve as a therapeutic "cooking pot"—unearthing transgenerational memories, processing trauma, and establishing a profound, reciprocal relationship with the land.Whether you consider yourself "creative" or are simply looking for a new way to heal and self-reflect, this episode is a beautiful reminder that our stories are carried in our bones and are wanting to be expressed.The "Stitchy" Language: How Dal used a needle, fabric, and textures to stay connected to her creative flow when traditional words became difficult to sequence.Zines as a Cooking Pot: Transforming personal narratives into physical, lo-fi, DIY artifacts that exist entirely outside the corporate publishing gaze.Ancestral & Land-cestral Archives: Following intuitive breadcrumbs to connect with lost family histories, including the profound impact of the 1947 Partition of India.Love Notes to Nature: Exploring Dal's award-winning film, what happens when we view nature as a reciprocal relationship, and the provocative question: What if women made maps without borders?00:00 – Welcome to Inner Views: Celebrating the power of the pen03:46 – Meeting Dalbinder Kaur Kular07:56 – Understanding autoethnography: Placing the personal into the political11:45 – The Wild Ink portal: Giving yourself permission to explore wildness through zines14:40 – Unearthing transgenerational trauma and the impact of the Partition of India18:53 – Channels of connection: An ancestor knocking in the bones20:59 – Writing to "Auntie Audre": Letter writing as a profound prompt27:31 – Why zines are like a cooking pot for our contradictory experiences33:52 – Deconstructing history: Creating visual letters and ancestral scrolls37:56 – Archival justice and the language of stitch44:08 – Moving to visual mixed-media journaling after a brain injury54:03 – Commonplace books and drawing trees to hold challenging experiences56:16 – Love Notes to Nature and walking the freedoms of our people01:00:42 – Redefining boundaries: What if women made maps?01:03:44 – Practices of erosion on Gometra: Dissolving what doesn't belong to you01:06:49 – Today's Journaling Prompt: "Dear Nature..."01:09:58 – Host Reflection: Coming full circle 25 years laterTake a piece of paper and write a letter starting with "Dear Nature...", "Dear Earth...", or focus on a granular element like "Dear Back Garden" or a specific tree. Write freely. When you are finished, quiet your mind and write a response back to yourself from the perspective of that land. What does it want to tell you?Connect with Dal Kular:Read her essays on Substack: A Wild ArchiveFollow her on Instagram: @DalKularWatch the award-winning short film: Love Notes to NatureSubscribe & Review: If this conversation touched your heart or inspired you to create, please subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Let's keep celebrating the power of the pen and hand together.In this episode, we explore:Episode Timestamps:Today’s Reflective Prompt:

In this episode of Inner Views, host Jackee Holder is joined by Laura Rubin, author of The Big Unlock: Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling. As a facilitator who brings the art of writing into both corporate boardrooms and community spaces, Laura shares how journaling serves as a vital practice for "coming home" to ourselves in an age of constant digital distraction.From her signature "4x4x4" method for busy minds to a deeply moving reflection on navigating an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis, Laura demonstrates how a simple pen and paper can unlock our deepest creativity and help us process life’s most profound transitions.In this episode, we explore:The Digital Antidote: How an "analog resurgence" is helping us combat information overload, screen addiction, and the environmental anxiety of the AI boom.The 4x4x4 Method: Laura’s foolproof framework (4 minutes, 4 times a week, for 4 weeks) designed to help anyone build a sustainable reflective practice.Journaling Through Trauma: A raw and honest look at Laura’s cancer diagnosis at age 31, dealing with brain fog, and how writing became a lifeline for navigating survivor's guilt post-treatment.Creative Prompts to Try Today: Practical exercises you can steal right now, including the "Like List," the attention-training Object Prompt, and the nightly "Done List" victory lap.Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome and Introducing Laura Rubin03:33 – Why The Big Unlock is a different kind of journaling book10:24 – Training your focus: The Object Prompt exercise15:44 – The 4x4x4 framework for beginners20:21 – Cultivating joy with the "Like List" practice36:14 – Navigating a life-altering cancer diagnosis at 3142:04 – Processing survivor's guilt and integrating the "after"51:19 – Overcoming the fear of boredom in a smartphone world01:03:08 – The Analog Rebellion: Why paper beats AI01:07:30 – Celebration over stress: The "Done List" victory lapSubscribe & Review:If this conversation inspired you to pick up a pen, please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or YouTube!

In this inaugural episode of Inner Views, host Jackee Holder sits down with the visionary Jenny Garrett OBE. As the CEO of an award-winning leadership consultancy and a pioneer in the EDI space, Jenny explores the profound intersection of leadership, technology, and the personal practice of journaling.From the nostalgia of "smelly pens" and childhood stickers to the cutting-edge world of AI for equity, this conversation is a deep dive into how we can use reflection to empower ourselves and our communities.In this episode, we explore:The Evolution of a Practice: How Jenny’s journaling moved from childhood play to a transformative "Angel Journal" in her 20s that redefined her creative output.AI vs. The Human Heart: A candid look at Jenny’s AI For Equity podcast and the delicate balance between using AI as a "thinking partner" without losing the soul of human connection.The Reflective Toolkit: Practical ways to journal on the go, using nature metaphors, art, and poetry as entry points for self-discovery.Paper vs. Digital: Why the physical act of pen-on-paper still holds a unique power for emotional processing.Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to the Premiere of Inner Views03:43 – Jenny’s mission of empowerment and leadership07:53 – Reflections on the younger self and childhood ambition11:39 – The "Angel Journal" turning point18:48 – AI for Equity: Navigating the digital journaling landscape31:34 – Using AI as a thinking partner (not a replacement)46:02 – Using art and poetry as prompts for deeper reflection53:40 – Final takeaways and host outroConnect with Jenny Garrett OBE:[Link to Website/Social]Subscribe & Review:If this conversation sparked an "inner view" for you, please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!