What if the greatest battles we fight aren’t against monsters, but ourselves?

That idea sits at the core of my conversation with author, artist, educator, and award-winning poet Darlene Franklin Campbell in Episode 11 of Beyond the Page.

Darlene shares the story behind her science fantasy series, which began as handwritten manuscripts in the late 1990s before finally becoming published decades later. Rather than abandoning the stories that inspired her, she returned to them with fresh perspective and brought them to life.

Our conversation explores far more than writing.

We discuss:

• Building immersive fantasy worlds
• Carl Jung and the shadow self
• Identity and belonging
• Why mythology never grows old
• The importance of human storytelling
• Poetry and creative expression
• Teaching and lifelong learning
• Why authentic human experiences still matter in the age of AI

Darlene explained that stories allow us to hear truths we might otherwise resist, because they arrive through characters we build connection with. It’s a reminder of why books continue to connect people across generations.

If you love fantasy, mythology, thoughtful discussions about creativity, or simply hearing passionate authors talk about their craft, I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation.

🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.