Tales Unearthed

MICHAEL P. BELFIORE is a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop. He has published three nonfiction books—two about space travel, and one about mad science projects funded by the US government. He writes about technology for a living, lives in the Hudson Valley, and has two daughters.Sign up for his newsletter on his website linked here.Audio version of book can be found here.If you would like to pick up the anthology Tea or Coffee Stars and Gravity head over here: Air and Nothingness Press.Thank you:Theme music:Pixabay”Space”Astronaut Child freesoundEditing:My podcast is now edited entirely by Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer.Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful. Would you like to pre-order the first book I’ve ever released?My spring poems from 2026 will be in magical, real live, book form, and available to ship on, or before, July 7th, 2026. Creating the cover was very moving for me, and the image is also available as an archival print in three sizes.If you would like to pre-order this book click here:The Banquet and Bat FangsIf you would like a print too, here is the link:(You have the choice of 3 sizes)PrintIf you could share this wherever you think it would resonate, I would greatly appreciate it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

Ana Sun is a science-fiction and fantasy writer whose work has been featured on awards shortlists and in Year’s Best anthologies. She spent her childhood in Malaysian Borneo and grew up living on islands in various parts of the world. In an alternate universe, she might have been a musician, an anthropologist — or a botanist obsessed with edible flowers. Website: https://singingtotigers.com/Newsletter/blog: Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/singingtotigers.bsky.socialMy short story collection: https://www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.asp?id=264If you would like to pick up the anthology Tea or Coffee Stars and Gravity head over here: Air and Nothingness Press.Thank you:Theme music:Pixabay”Space”Astronaut Child freesoundEditing:My podcast is now edited entirely by my friend Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer.Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful.Would you like to pre-order the first book I’ve ever released?My spring poems from 2026 will be in magical, real live, book form, and available to ship on, or before, July 7th, 2026. Creating the cover was very moving for me, and the image is also available as an archival print in three sizes.If you would like to pre-order this book click here:The Banquet and Bat FangsIf you would like a print too, here is the link:(You have the choice of 3 sizes)PrintIf you could share this wherever you think it would resonate, I would greatly appreciate it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

Bio: Geoff Holder is the author of more than 30 non-fiction books on the strange and the supernatural, including Zombies From History, Poltergeist Over Scotland, 101 Things to do with a Stone Circle, and Scottish Bodysnatchers. His fantasy, sci-fi, horror and mystery fiction has appeared in getting on for twenty anthologies, online publications and magazines such as Bourbon and Lead, Mad Science, When Vampires Save the Night, Creature Feature and Gauges and Ghouls, as well as in collections devoted to Sherlock Holmes, Solar Pons and H.P. Lovecraft. He is also a produced genre screenwriter, a judge for the British Fantasy Awards, and a frequent public speaker on, perhaps not surprisingly, the strange and the supernatural. He is Welsh, lived for many years in Scotland, and now resides in an allegedly-haunted 300-year-old house in deepest France. He likes dogs and tea.Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Geoff+Holder&qid=3BZwjiiyGqAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Geoff-Holder/author/B0034Q502U?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_33&qid=1776773689&sr=8-33&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueWebsite: www.geoffholder.comThank you:Theme music:Pixabay”Space”Astronaut Child freesoundEditing:My podcast is now edited entirely by my friend Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer.Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful.Would you like to pre-order the first book I’ve ever released?My spring poems from 2026 will be in magical, real live, book form, and available to ship on, or before, July 7th, 2026. Creating the cover was very moving for me, and the image is also available as an archival print in three sizes.If you would like to pre-order this book click here:The Banquet and Bat FangsIf you would like a print too, here is the link:(You have the choice of 3 sizes)PrintIf you could share this wherever you think it would resonate, I would greatly appreciate it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

Why hello,Welcome back to Tales Unearthed as it takes a side quest into outer space and beyond.For the next few episodes, you will be hearing from writers all around the world as they read us their science fiction short stories that have been accepted as a part of an anthology- Tea or Coffee, Stars and Gravity. I am one of those writers!To begin our launch, we are joined today by the guy who started it all- Todd Sanders of Air and Nothingness Press. A local author, graphic designer and creative located in Pittsburgh PA, Todd has been creating fascinating books that are art forms in themselves.It has been my intention for awhile to have him on my podcast, and now seemed like the perfect time as this book gets sent to the press and released into the world.I encourage you to check out Todds many magical projects- he always has something in the works that will surprise and enchant you. There may still be some books available-order here.Web - http://www.aanpress.comPress Social Media -Bluesky - @aanpress.bsky.socialMastodon - @[email protected] - https://www.facebook.com/aanpress/Thank you:Theme music:Pixabay”Space”Astronaut Child freesoundEditing:My podcast is now edited entirely by Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer.Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

DISCLAIMER:This episode deals with mental health disorders, suicide, cancer/illness, and drug use. Olivia and I do not condone, endorse, or recommend anything shared in this recording. It is simply a story; an experience shared with our listeners. If any of this should be too challenging in any way, skip this one, or wait until the time is right.This story isn’t what you think it is.You won’t be sure of anything. You get to decide what you think and the things you want to take with you. Below are artifacts; photos and poetry from Olivia’s life the past few months.Written January 25th, 2026When the sky turns redInseams of the next world stretchTo thread in the chanceWhere endless springs of Her soul returnMother Earth’s bounty will below,knowinglyWhen thirst for the innocents’ bloodshedis not enough to become God,the war dogs will lose their heads,biting them off cleanly themselvesclamped by their sharp teeth.The sky’s softer flame burns bright and free,smoldering away that which isnot truth.Many choices are then made in Good clarity,a clearing in the meadow to start anew.Thank you:Theme music:Acoustic Folk Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Folk on PixabayMy podcast is now edited entirely by my friend Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer.Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

WARNING:This episode is about death and losing pets and people we love- if you are feeling extra senstive lately, save this for another time when you are ready.Join us as Lisa tells some stories about death.Yes, death. That thing we are all so very afraid of. And grief, something else we try to actively avoid. But on this day, we made some tea and DID NOT avoid it!We considered sadness in all its forms and in my view alchemized the experience. Because the only way we get to be here is by experiencing love, and the loss of who we love. A sacred contract with the universe that honestly sucks, but is the absolute soul of being alive. Lisa was such a delight to have on Tales Unearthed, her insights and raw honesty were an inspiration to all of us struggling with these same things.I hope you enjoy our conversation as well as Lisa’s beautiful photography linked below. If you should need someone to take photos, OR a delicious recipe (she also bakes!) Check her out!Links:Lisa's ArtworkThank you:Theme music:Acoustic Folk Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Folk on PixabayMy podcast is now edited entirely by my friend Alejandro Bernard, my dear friend from Ithaca NY. Please check out his other work as a piano teacher and composer. Ale’s YouTube ChannelAle’s PatreonThank you so much Ale, for giving your talents to this project. I am forever grateful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

Surprise! A new episode has arrived just for you.Meet Benjamin Liar, writer, musician, and right now, cross country traveler. So many little stories that I am sure will inspire your imagination, and maybe some courage.I hope you enjoy this latest collection of tales. Links for you to explore: Follow along as Benjamin travels across the land on his substack!The Failures- Benjamins Book on goodreads Website- Astra Publishing Houseon instagram: Benjamin Liar This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

What do you do when a fight breaks out in the nursing home?My friend Alejandro is here for episode 2 and brings a series of small stories- mini snapshots from life.The question here really is, if you feel stuck, what can you do in the meantime?What will the nursing home be like for our generation?And finally, how does a decade change a man?All this and more, on Tales Unearthed. Links to Alejandro’s work!Patreon-PianoPerfectYouTube Video Lessons!And of course- evidence of Boondoggle.Thank you:Theme music:Acoustic Folk Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Folk on Pixabayuntil next time..pixie This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

A tale about the creative process, pixie style.Thank you:Theme music:Acoustic Folk Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Folk on Pixabay This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com

So nice to meet you.Thank you:Theme music: Acoustic Folk Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Folk on PixabayThank you to KD for helping me with layers and pausesLinks:Rudos new podcast Catching FirefliesOur old project which we may work on from time to time: The Magic Hour Dreamcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicapixietales.substack.com