Celeste and I published episode 31, Kitty Foyle (1940) on YouTube April 1, 2026. So many other tasks got in the way that I’m just now getting to publishing it here. This is one of those iconic Hollywood movies with an iconic star that plays often on TCM and is available on other streaming services. Celeste and I hope you’ll go check it out.
Here’s the short description: A hard-working white-collar girl from a middle-class family meets and falls in love with a young socialite, but she soon clashes with his family.
Kitty Foyle, stars Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan, and James Craig. It’s directed by Sam Wood.
The story seems to be a fairly simple one of a girl who is dazzled by the wealthy class in Philadelphia and dreams of marrying into it. When her dreams come true, she finds that the fairy tale life she thought she was going to live was an illusion. The man she’s in love with, Win Stratfford, dazzles her at first with gifts and trips. However she learns the hard way, when she and Win get married, that he is bound by the conditions of his trust fund. Though he continues to declare that he wants to be free, he doesn’t have the skills to deal with adversity.
Along the way, Kitty meets Mark, a young doctor who has dreams of helping poor children so they can hopefully grow into productive adults. Kitty discovers that she and Mark have very similar values. Their relationship is interrupted from time to time by Win’s reappearances. In the end Kitty must make a choice, completely changing herself to fit into Win’s world, or marry Mark and work with him to make a difference in the lives of those who need help.
To me Kitty Foyle is a great example of a strong woman who chooses to make a difference.
“Some places stay with you, not because you lived there long, but because something in you recognized them. I’ve always felt that landscapes hold memory, something older, deeper. That’s the terrain I keep returning to.”
I’ve moved across continents, carried languages, left and found homes again. Through all of it, I’ve learned that connection to place isn’t about PERMANENCE, it’s about RESONANCE. I’d love to share a conversation about what it means to feel rooted even when life moves you, how landscapes can reflect back who we are becoming, and how memory, belonging, and identity live in the spaces between.
There’s this stretch of coastline in Parksville, not particularly grand or dramatic. It’s quiet, mostly. The tide comes and goes without fuss. Driftwood rests where it lands. The sand holds the marks of birds, dogs, children. I walked there often, never with a plan. Just walking.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I was new to the area, still feeling like a visitor in my own life. I didn’t speak the landscape’s language yet. But little by little, I started noticing things. A crooked branch that looked like it was waving. A stone that never moved. Light that changed the shape of everything.
And then one day, I realized, without meaning to, that I had started to memorize the land. Like it was starting to memorize me back. I knew where the shadows would fall. I knew when the birds would come. I knew how the wind sounded just before it rained.
That was the moment I realized I was building a kind of home with familiarity, with presence, with noticing. I wasn’t looking for roots. But they found me anyway.
It made me think of all the places I’ve been, all the ways I’ve tried to belong. Sometimes it’s hard to say where “home” really is. But for me, it often begins with land, with walking, listening, paying attention.
Art Vancouver, Vancouver Art Foundation at the end of May 2026
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This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Silvina Lanusse, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here.
Prolific Writers Life
My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.
They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for.
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power Patreon Community so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. Patreon is $5 a month for content not found on the Story-Power podcast, or on my Sage Woman Blog. They have recently instituted a free tier so you can try it out before you buy. If you’re passionate about stories, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower. Let’s share what we’ve learned from the stories we love.
Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters
Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.
Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.
I’m a little behind on posting our Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters posts. I’ve been working on my memoir, Everything I Need to Know About Being Human I Learned From Movies.
The Apartment is an iconic movie about the changing mores in the U.S. that started in the 60s. It’s also about corporate hierarchy and the things that people do to get ahead. If you want to see a movie with examples of toxic masculinity, this movie is a perfect example. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are fantastic, but Fred MacMurray gives a chilling performance.
Diane is a second-time guest on Story-Power. Her first appearance was on December 6, 2023. Since then she’s been busy creating new stories one of them is a mystery/thriller, a genre she’s never written before. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Diane Merrill Wigginton, born in Riverside, California in 1963, grew up in the vibrant community of Mira Mesa, San Diego. From a young age, Diane developed a deep passion for storytelling, inspired by the adventures of her childhood in the 1970s and early 1980s. Spending summers on her grandparents’ ranch in Idaho, Diane learned the value of animals, nature, and storytelling that would shape her future writing career. After marrying her husband, David, in 1998, Diane and her family lived in Encinitas before moving to Herald, California in 2001. They embraced a rural lifestyle on a 5 ½-acre ranch, raising six children. Diane’s love for writing never waned, but raising a family and working full-time kept her literary ambitions on hold. However, in her 50s, Diane decided to pursue her dream of becoming a published author. It was then that she created Angelina’s Secret, the first book in her critically acclaimed Jeweled Dagger Series.
Since then, Diane has published five novels, including her first children’s book, The Secret of One-Eyed Cogburn, The Dreaded Pirate Captain. Diane’s work spans multiple genres, from historical romance and suspense to children’s fiction, and she has earned a prestigious collection of awards that reflect her remarkable storytelling ability. She has won accolades such as the Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Reader’s Favorite 1st Place Historical Fiction Award, and numerous awards for A Compromising Position. In 2017, after retiring from her “9 to 5” job, Diane and her husband moved to Kalispell, Montana, where they now enjoy a life filled with adventure, hiking, and exploration in the stunning wilderness around Glacier National Park. Diane continues to write full-time, bringing to life the rich characters and intricate stories that captivate her readers. Diane’s creative spirit is fueled by her deep appreciation for family and her love for storytelling. Now a proud grandmother to eleven grandchildren, Diane is living her dream and continues to inspire readers with her heartfelt and adventurous tales.
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power Patreon Community so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. Patreon is $5 a month for content not found on the Story-Power podcast, or on my Sage Woman Blog. They have recently instituted a free tier so you can try it out before you buy. If you’re passionate about stories, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower. Let’s share what we’ve learned from the stories we love.
PodMatch Affiliate Link.
This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Diane Merrill Wiggington in 2023, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our second conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here:
Prolific Writers Life
My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.
They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for.
Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters
Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.
Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.
Meet Bob Martin, a guest with a story that is as extraordinary as entertaining and fun. From a high-powered mob lawyer during Miami’s wild Cocaine Cowboy days to a Certified Meditation teacher with an MSW to go with his JD, he has helped hundreds redesign their thinking for the life they dream of. Bob’s journey is anything but ordinary.
Now a two-time published author and Professor of Wellness at Elon University, Bob blends Taoist wisdom, brain science, psychology, and humor to tackle everything from breaking free of limiting beliefs to finding clarity and resilience in life’s chaos.
With a knack for making big ideas relatable and plenty of stories to keep listeners hooked, Bob’s the kind of guest who inspires, challenges, and keeps the conversation lively. Want to hear more? Check out his over 50 five-star reviews.
Bob’s current books, I am the Way, Children of Abraham
Pratt Institute
I Ching, a Taoist practice
Tao of Pooh,Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff
Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu
PodMatch, a dating service for Podcasters
A Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman PhD
The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck
Bob’s blog, The Wise and Happy Life, on Substack
Affiliate link below.
PodMatch a Dating Service for Podcasters
This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Bob Martin, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here:
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power Patreon Community so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. Patreon is $5 a month for content not found on the Story-Power podcast, or on my Sage Woman Blog. They have recently instituted a free tier so you can try it out before you buy. If you’re passionate about stories, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower. Let’s share what we’ve learned from the stories we love.
Prolific Writers Life
My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.
They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for.
Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters
Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.
Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.
Sage Woman Chronicles 