Return to the Fire with Wild Women

Dr. Nicole Dittmer - The Monstrous Feminine: From Victorian Gothic Literature to Modern Empowerment in the Wild Woman Archetype

In this interview, Dr. Nicole Dittmer explores the intersections of female monstrosity, ecofeminism, Gothic literature, and the wild woman archetype. She shares her academic journey, insights into Victorian and American literature, historical perspectives on women's biology and societal control (including neurobiological assumptions of womanhood and the creation of Victorian gender constructs), a brief analysis of the witch trials and the victimization of women, and the empowering potential of connecting women with nature.   Resources Salem Archives: https://www.danverslibrary.org/archive/ [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.danverslibrary.org_archive_&d=DwMFaQ&c=qgVugHHq3rzouXkEXdxBNQ&r=wyE3DKxP_oYu3xeh630a6_kbdCKyS5SN-A9W_tjxwAk&m=LbHK2uhOdRAz1bkVntLnOyiWdXF6K-7qXq4pp851Nriy8C7O38H3GeZ9ljq0Q3sD&s=8kc9S17Fo5dcYzsDHr_cGNvlFx_MaF1Qa7DTI2gioSY&e=] Nicole Dittmer, Monstrous Women and Ecofeminism in the Victorian Gothic: https://www.amazon.com/Monstrous-Ecofeminism-Victorian-1837-1871-Ecocritical/dp/1666900796 [https://www.amazon.com/Monstrous-Ecofeminism-Victorian-1837-1871-Ecocritical/dp/1666900796] Nicole Dittmer, “Mistress of the Broomstick: Biology, Ecosemiotics and Monstrous Women in Wizard’s The Wild Witch of the Heath” https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.18501146 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.18501146] Horror and Mother/hoods in Global Cultural Imaginaries: Representations Across Literature, Film, Television, and Art: https://demeterpress.org/books/horror-and-mother-hoods-in-global-cultural-imaginaries-representations-across-literature-film-television-and-art/ [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__demeterpress.org_books_horror-2Dand-2Dmother-2Dhoods-2Din-2Dglobal-2Dcultural-2Dimaginaries-2Drepresentations-2Dacross-2Dliterature-2Dfilm-2Dtelevision-2Dand-2Dart_&d=DwMFaQ&c=qgVugHHq3rzouXkEXdxBNQ&r=wyE3DKxP_oYu3xeh630a6_kbdCKyS5SN-A9W_tjxwAk&m=LbHK2uhOdRAz1bkVntLnOyiWdXF6K-7qXq4pp851Nriy8C7O38H3GeZ9ljq0Q3sD&s=3lRKWYbq3kmOhfWThOrSoDF1Nkhnt9Gmc0n7egwFLxI&e=] ETAP Series at Bloomsbury: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/series/ecocritical-theory-and-practice/ [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.bloomsbury.com_us_series_ecocritical-2Dtheory-2Dand-2Dpractice_&d=DwMFaQ&c=qgVugHHq3rzouXkEXdxBNQ&r=wyE3DKxP_oYu3xeh630a6_kbdCKyS5SN-A9W_tjxwAk&m=LbHK2uhOdRAz1bkVntLnOyiWdXF6K-7qXq4pp851Nriy8C7O38H3GeZ9ljq0Q3sD&s=IyuWWNy0n8Sgsnoj4KrND6oJrVBZ-0GALl0sUe9k2P8&e=] Clarissa Pinkola Estes: https://www.mavenproductions.com/about-dr-clarissa-estes [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.mavenproductions.com_about-2Ddr-2Dclarissa-2Destes&d=DwMFaQ&c=qgVugHHq3rzouXkEXdxBNQ&r=wyE3DKxP_oYu3xeh630a6_kbdCKyS5SN-A9W_tjxwAk&m=LbHK2uhOdRAz1bkVntLnOyiWdXF6K-7qXq4pp851Nriy8C7O38H3GeZ9ljq0Q3sD&s=wWa8YhEn1g0TAE_M7DY1PmTsmrpQlGgPoXHH6I7BDxw&e=]

Excavating the Divine Feminine: A Journey of Grief and Awakening

Erin Duffy-Burke is a midwife of the soul, movement minister and priestess of the Divine Mother. Her central life's call is in service to the reclamation and renewal of Sophia, the Feminine heart of Christ, in devotion to the liberation of all beings. She holds masters degrees in Catholic Education, Multicultural Ministry and Christian Spirituality and over two decades of experience teaching, facilitating and leading retreats. She is also an embodied soul care practitioner, facilitator of embodied transformation, birth doula, theAlogian and writer. In this conversation, Erin discusses how her own grief work led her to the path of excavating the Divine feminine in the Christian tradition. She went to the woods for answers for her grief and was resurrected by the dark, wild feminine. If you would like to continue connecting to, and conversing with Erin, please go to her website at https://www.interweaveministries.com/ [https://www.interweaveministries.com/] Please consider joining her Lent Retreat that starts Feb 24! Register HERE [https://www.interweaveministries.com/lent-2026-this-sacred-sorrow]

Chantal Noa Forbes, PhD - Towards a Multi-Species Ontology: Decolonial, Indigenous, and Post-Human Perspectives

In this episode of Return to the Fire, host Kim Carfore speaks with Chantel Noa Forbes, a transdisciplinary scholar, storyteller, and educator. They explore the intersections of ecology, spirituality, and culture, focusing on the environmental significance of decolonial and indigenous perspectives. Dr. Forbes shares her origin story, her research on the San Bushmen, and outlines a multi-species ontology. The conversation delves into the disconnect between academic theory and community needs, the concept of ontological fluidity in tracking practices, and the implications of post-humanism for future ecological relationships. They also discuss the role of indigenous sovereignty and ecological restoration in contemporary society. Check her out at: https://www.chantalnoa.com/ [https://www.chantalnoa.com/] Books referenced in the podcast:  Victor Steffensen. Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia [https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-us/books/fire-country-by-victor-steffensen/9781741177268]. Daryle Rigney, Damein Bell, Miriam Jorgensen, Alison Vivian, Larissa Behrendt. Indigenous Nation Building in Australia: Resistance, Resilience, Resurgence [https://www.booktopia.com.au/indigenous-nation-building-in-australia-professor-daryle-rigney/ebook/9781350441309.html?srsltid=AfmBOooVRzLK52SgkrlQIImUaA2FmnkDs_oRhyy0TzvttsekJs37wdb3].

Podcast Ground Rules and Vision

In this episode of 'Return to the Fire with Wild Women', host Kimberly Carfore discusses the foundational principles of her podcast, emphasizing feminist values, the importance of relationality, and the need for respectful dialogue. She outlines ground rules for the podcast, including lifting each other up, recognizing the personal as political, and fostering a sense of interconnectedness among women. Carfore also highlights the significance of feminist care ethics and the intention behind bridging academic discourse with public engagement.

Heather Eaton, PhD - Ecofeminism as Social Critique: Towards Awe and Wonder

Heather Eaton, PhD, is a Professor in the Conflict Studies Program at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Her work focuses on peace studies, gender, ecology, religion, animal studies, and nonviolence. Her PhD is in ecology, feminism, and theology. Dr. Eaton has written numerous books, including, but not limited to Ecofeminism and Globalization (2003) [https://www.amazon.com/Ecofeminism-Globalization-Exploring-Culture-Religion/dp/0742526976/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3ESGQG5TU1SYQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kIWGF63fTR9i2kYGvlAmwPtvcbiamv1oV3m7dHbBI6nFPH2mb99xfVBka60uRwP00VE_hbM6bmYmi8UVbAKj3gPNuvtDjOZdTCHhJQipAA8eInAyzLr3O_am1RU-ZobbXVSSEvTomYysNNqPeEypDutbPyQqz40kYfSU31R1lKVweFqaFy2cPakkp3P99tF4_wufNT5em18hjHSw20wuk5izme7qpVQe0jzrJWLmM54.FY-UJj5KZdVMK0P1ylfRH_u4lAmTRnACN7jDHaADTDk&dib_tag=se&keywords=ecofeminism+and+globalization&qid=1764430683&s=books&sprefix=ecofeminism+and+%2Cstripbooks%2C1162&sr=1-3] (co-edited with Lois Lorentzen), Advancing Nonviolence and Social Transformation (2016) [https://www.amazon.com/Advancing-Nonviolent-Social-Transformation-Perspectives/dp/1781794723] (co-edited with Lauren Michelle Levesque), and Introducing Ecofeminist Theologies (2005) [https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Ecofeminist-Theologies-Introductions-Feminist/dp/0567082075/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38JUT5H2L3MEV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AZM6WTmKl3WmRvvhIQk351BvZdR5LjRAhkJHuqCjleY.tAj0DTzY25M6DTcCLRelHttMReoCWiQ_vXlTKyn1FtM&dib_tag=se&keywords=introducing+ecofeminist+theologies&qid=1764430635&s=books&sprefix=introducing+ecofemnist+%2Cstripbooks%2C346&sr=1-1]. She grew up on Lake Huron and in her free time she likes to canoe, sail, travel, study elephants in Africa, birdwatch, garden, and cook. In this episode we explore ecofeminism’s past and present, considering its contextuality and relevancy for our current moment. As a social critique, it is often misinterpreted and misunderstood. But it still has traction, and we explore its application to politics, government, society, family, and especially how it, as an approach, transforms our relationship to the natural world.