<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"><channel><title><![CDATA[All Stories Start in the Middle]]></title><description><![CDATA[This podcast is about sharing my personal experience with exploring storythinking.

Deep learning often comes from repetition with subtle variation. I have been writing to explore the use of Narrative Theory to enhance the unique capacities within us as humans. The writing gave me an awareness that I am in the middle of an unknown story. A story about searching for human potential. In order to learn the rest of this story I will continue to seek out the story’s beginning. Through re-reading the writing, I will be able to reflect on the origins of the threads of curiosity that have led me to writing, narrative theory, and the mysteries of  being human. This is an effort to engage in the capacity to use my imagination to rewind time and hypothesize my story’s beginning. Untangling and sorting through my observations and experience, to consider multiple possible interpretations will help me create meaning. With that meaning I will learn to see how this story may end. When I can create the middle of the story through writing, it allows me to understand the beginning through reflection and imagining the end. Through this vision I will find continued action. 
 <br/><br/><a href="https://cassandraritzen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">cassandraritzen.substack.com</a>]]></description><link>https://cassandraritzen.substack.com/podcast</link><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 23:57:42 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2583846.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><author><![CDATA[Cassandra Ritzen]]></author><copyright><![CDATA[Cassandra Ritzen]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[cassandraritzen@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:new-feed-url>https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2583846.rss</itunes:new-feed-url><itunes:author>Cassandra Ritzen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Exploring writing, words, and stories as tools for thinking and meaning making.  </itunes:subtitle><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Cassandra Ritzen</itunes:name><itunes:email>cassandraritzen@substack.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Education"/><itunes:category text="Business"/><itunes:image href="https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/2583846/f928778615871704988ed827dec56683.jpg"/><item><title><![CDATA[Convenience vs. Tension]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://cassandraritzen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">cassandraritzen.substack.com/subscribe</a>]]></description><link>https://cassandraritzen.substack.com/p/convenience-vs-tension-269</link><guid isPermaLink="false">substack:post:158204517</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Cassandra Ritzen]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/158204517/5968f66fdd93bc80c42bf47303a40301.mp3" length="10323532" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Cassandra Ritzen</itunes:author><itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>860</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/2583846/post/158204517/012a404257fffa86184961a3bb779ac6.jpg"/></item></channel></rss>