In this episode, authors Caitlin Avery and Charlotte Dune discuss how Avery outed and publicly shamed her rapist. She explains why and how she did it, what happened, the public's reaction, social media activism, and her novel Life of Cyn, inspired by the experience.

She also reads from her latest book, The Last Con.

Finally, we discuss the aftermath of the #metoo movement.

Connect with Caitlin Avery: https://www.caitlinavery.com/

Connect with Charlotte Dune: https://linktr.ee/charlottedune

In today's episode of Charlotte Dune’s Lagoon, we're winding into the world of "ticking clocks" in literature and how they're not just gripping plot devices, but also mirrors to our real-life motivations. Counting down to my own book launch, I share thoughts on these suspense-building tools. I also reveal and tease about the literary devices and hidden clocks in my own books: Cactus Friends, Mushroom Honeymoon, and Acid Christmas.

But it's not just in books; we all have personal ticking clocks that nudge us to chase our goals. I talk about turning off the clock when life gets too overwhelming, offering a unique perspective on how we can use these literary insights in our daily lives. So, if you've ever felt the urgency of a ticking clock, whether in fiction or reality, this episode will have you nodding along and maybe even reconsidering the ticking clocks in your own life.

To read more, visit Charlotte Dune’s Lagoon’s What is a Ticking Clock on Substack.

In this episode, I speak with Lauren Richardson, Recovery Yoga Expert, Artist’s Way Creative Cluster Host, and founder of Source Recovery Yoga about her practices and philosophy. Recovery in this context means recovery from addiction, though Lauren is also a survivor of child sexual abuse.

Charlotte Dune's Lagoon is a reader-supported publication with text, audio, and video. To receive new episodes, please consider becoming a subscriber. I explore mind-expansion, big ideas, healing, storytelling, and love.

Clarifications:

We mention Russell Brand several times in this episode, which was recorded well before the sexual abuse accusations came out against Brand. He inspired both of us in our recovery from addiction to alcohol.

The recovery group where we met was Recovery Elevator.

Watch the Video Version with Captions:

Want More?

To get in touch with Lauren for recovery yoga, to join one of her creative clusters, or to join the Healing Hive, please email her at < the artist way with lauren @ gmail dot com. > (Writing it out so she doesn’t get spam bombed, but no spaces in the email.)

Now You

Do you have any questions? What did this episode bring up for you?

If you’d like to share your thoughts, and you’re listening to this episode on your preferred podcast platform, please jump over to Charlottte Dune’s Lagoon on Substack and drop a comment, or share a comment on the Youtube video.

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of Charlotte Dune’s Lagoon, I speak with American expat and trailing spouse, Melanie Duhon about her years living in Beijing, including her time during the Covid-19 pandemic and her experience of WeChat, and “The Brickening,” plus, a lot of amazing food, travel, and culture.

Listen here, on your favorite podcast platform, or watch the video version on Youtube, which offers captions for anyone hearing-impaired.

Prefer the written, edited version of this interview? Read Part 1 or look for it in your inbox if you’re already a subscriber.

These episodes always release first on Youtube, and you can take advantage of that by subscribing to my Youtube channel if you’re active on that platform.

A note from me:

This interview may contain something you find upsetting or controversial. I’m here to listen and learn from my guests. Take what you need and leave the rest—is my attitude.

China itself is a fraught topic in the US and the more we can listen and learn, the better.

I’m grateful I could speak with Melanie because many Americans currently in China aren’t allowed to talk about their experience or don’t feel safe doing so. The first person I wanted to interview wasn’t actually able to speak with me, as their employer forbid it.

I would love to visit Beijing myself, but I worry that my status as a former U.S. Diplomat would complicate my trip. However, I find the country and topic fascinating and I hope you do too. If there are experts on China-related topics that you’d like me to interview in the future, let me know in the comments or shoot me an email.

I obviously don’t support any form of genocide.

Enjoy!

Charlotte Dune's Lagoon is a listener-supported publication and podcast. I interview interesting people who refuse to niche. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Happy Bicycle Day folks!

Today is the day we celebrate the discovery of LSD, and I’ve got a brief message for you about the secret Black history of LSD and MK-Ultra, the torture of Black men by the CIA, and the value of civil disobedience.

For more on this topic, check out this article by journalist Kali Holloway: The Secret Black History of LSD.

Charlotte Dune's Lagoon is a psy-fi publication and podcast designed to explore, understand, and expand reality. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

It’s Labor Day in the U.S. today, and so, I offer you a poem and a writing prompt about work — creative, paid, unpaid, hard, easy, etc. This is also the first installment in a series I’ll present on what I call, la vie midi, AKA middle-age.

Remember that Bjork song — “Army of Me”? In the music video, young Bjork is madly driving a mega metal truck through the night, à la Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin. She can fly like a witch and has a snake body below the waist. We keep seeing her metal teeth. Then she goes to a gorilla dentist and blows up a modern art museum. Björk is angry and raging the whole time. The same lyrics repeat and repeat: “If you complain once more, you’ll meet an army of me.”

The song feels truer than ever in my middle age.

Is there a disorder where you want to do everything yourself? Learn everything? Be everything?

I Need an Army of Me.

I need an army of me to clean the house, to do the laundry, to categorize the pantry.

I need an army of me to homeschool my daughter in every subject she will ever need.

I need an army of me to grow my own food, free from pesticides and whatever else will give me cancer.

I need an army of me to plant flowers, brush the pets, drain the air conditioner, unclog the toilets.

I need an army of me to study nutrition, to cook my homegrown food, to purify my water.

I need an army of me to kiss me, to rub me, to squeeze my sore feet.

I need an army of me to be all my doctors, to research each new ailment and weird knot in my body.

I need an army of me to mend my clothes, to sew new things, to take me shopping.

I need an army of me to handle all my finances, call the bank, make the trades.

I need an army of me to look beautiful, do my nails, curl my bangs.

I need an army of me to post on social media, to read emails, to plan things.

I need an army of me.

Now You

How do you feel about an army of you? What would you use your army for?

Or, take this poem and use it as a writing prompt:

“I need an army of me…”

Share your poem or thoughts in the comments.