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

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

In this episode of The Wandering Pen, host Christine Musser welcomes historian and author Shannon D. Smith, President of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society, for a compelling conversation about the life, work, and enduring legacy of Mari Sandoz—one of the most powerful voices of the American High Plains.

Born in 1896 in a sod house in northwest Nebraska, Mari Sandoz faced relentless hardship, rejection, and personal sacrifice on her path to becoming a published author. With only an eighth-grade education and a fierce determination, she rose to literary prominence with books like Old Jules, Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglala, The Buffalo Hunters, and Miss Morissa. Sandoz was more than a writer—she was a truth-teller, a creative nonfiction pioneer, and a fierce advocate for authentic Plains history, especially Indigenous perspectives.

Together, Christine and Shannon explore:

• How Sandoz’s gritty upbringing shaped her voice and purpose

• Why her meticulous research and index card system became legendary

• What made her writing style controversial yet visionary

• Her legacy as an ally, educator, and story-catcher of the Plains

• Why her books remain relevant today, especially for writers, historians, and lovers of the American West

Whether you're a fan of historical fiction, biography, Western history, or women's stories of perseverance, this episode brings Mari Sandoz’s unique journey vividly to life.

🔗 Learn more at mariSandoz.org and thewanderingpen.net

#MariSandoz #AmericanWest #WomenWriters #HistoricalNonfiction #HighPlainsHistory #CrazyHorse #OldJules #NebraskaHistory #IndigenousHistory #StorycatcherofThePlains #WritingWithGrit #WomensVoices #LiteraryLegacy #TheWanderingPenPodcast #NebraskaSandhills

In this heartfelt episode, author Julie Burtinshaw joins host Christine Musser to explore the healing power of writing through personal loss and life’s most challenging moments. Julie opens up about her journey back to writing after deep grief, sharing how creativity can be both a refuge and a path to renewal. Together, Christine and Julie reflect on resilience, the challenges of staying motivated, and finding hope even when life feels overwhelming. This candid conversation blends laughter with honest emotions, offering inspiration for writers and anyone navigating grief or creative roadblocks.

If this episode moves you, please share it with others who might benefit—and don’t forget to follow The Wandering Pen Podcast on any podcast platform for more powerful conversations and stories that remind us: storytelling can heal. Julie’s contact is https://burtinshaw.wordpress.com/.

You can find her books on Amazon or by googling for her.

#WritingThroughGrief #JulieBurtinshaw #AuthorInterview #HealingThroughWriting #PodcastForWriters #CreativityAndResilience #GriefJourney #TheWanderingPenPodcast #StorytellingHeals