In this heartfelt episode of The Wandering Pen Podcast, Christine Musser sits down with writer Cynthia O’Neil. From the moss-covered hills of Western North Carolina, Cynthia shares her journey as a triracial writer, her deep bond with horses, and how land, resilience, and ancestral memory shape her voice.

Together, they explore Cynthia’s roots in Massachusetts, her experiences as a teenage mother, loss, her Native heritage, her journey living with lupus, and the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cynthia also opens up about her creative process, her writing on Substack, and the spiritual lessons she draws from nature and stillness.

Whether you’re a writer, an animal lover, or someone walking your own path of survival and healing, this conversation will resonate with your heart.

Read Cynthia’s work on Substack: https://coneilwriter.substack.com #writinglife #memoir #horsetherapy #indigenouswriters #spiritualresilience #lupuswarrior #northcarolinawriters #substackwriters #healingwithnature #thewanderingpen

In this heartfelt solo episode, host Christine Musser pauses to reflect on the growth, gratitude, and genuine connection that have defined the first 21 episodes of The Wandering Pen. What began as a podcast rooted in vulnerability and storytelling has blossomed into a meaningful space for authors, historians, artists, and everyday people to share their truths.

Christine opens up about her challenges with anxiety and finding her voice again—and shares exciting news about upcoming guests, including triracial writer Cynthia O’Neil, resilient real estate trailblazer Natalie Crawford, and literary scholar Nancy Jean Ross. She also announces her upcoming memoir writing class, inspired by Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir, which starts on June 23. Memoir Writing Course Information Subscribe/Follow The Wandering Pen Podcast Learn more about Christine Musser

If you’re a lover of true stories, raw reflections, and deep conversations, this is your invitation to keep wandering.

#TheWanderingPen #PodcastMilestone #MemoirWriting #StorytellingMatters #WomenPodcasters #RealTalkPodcast #WritersOfInstagram #AuthorLife #PersonalGrowth #CreativeJourney #PodcastAnnouncement #IndiePodcasts

Today’s episode tells the story of a trailblazing Pennsylvania family who challenged expectations and left a powerful legacy.

Based in the Harrisburg area during the early 1900s, this family defied societal norms: a mother who began a professional singing career at 50, a daughter who became one of the highest-earning women of her time and later led the National Girl Scouts, another daughter who became a doctor and suffragist, and a son who founded a theater—still active today—that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Join me for a fascinating conversation about family legacy, leadership, the women’s rights movement, and the power of the arts to shape culture across generations.

Anne's contact info - Grit & Gravitas Podcast Deeter Gallaher Group Women in High Gear: A Guide for Entrepreneurs, On-Rampers, and Aspiring Executives

Photo Credits: top to bottom Jane Deeter Rippin

Jasper Deeter

Dr. Ruth Deeter - (pictured 4th from the left) Evening News Archives

#FamilyLegacy #WomenInHistory #HistoricTheater #PennsylvaniaHistory #GirlScoutsLegacy #Suffragist #Nonconformists #HarrisburgHistory #TrailblazingWomen #LeadershipThroughGenerations #TheaterHistory #NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces #MemoirPodcast #InspiringStories #LegacyAndLeadership #CreativeLegacy