Echoes: a FATHOMS DEEP PODCAST

Episode 2: Walking in Magical Footsteps – Show Notes

Description:

Join Cassandra as she explores the surprising power of fantasy literature to develop empathy and compassion. This episode examines how stepping into fantastical worlds helps us better understand our own reality and the people who share it with us. From the psychological mechanisms behind perspective-shifting to the research showing fantasy readers’ heightened empathy, discover why invented worlds might be our most powerful tools for connecting across real-world divides.

Release Schedule:

New episodes on the 8th and 22nd of each month, complementing written articles published on the 1st and 15th at Fathoms Deep on Substack.

Links:

Written article: Walking in Magical Footsteps

Author website: morganadrake.com

Morgan’s Fantasy fiction: Dimidium Tales

About the Voices:

Oliver and Cassandra are AI-generated voices representing different aspects of the author’s approach to these subjects. They are not real people but narrative devices created to present distinct perspectives: Oliver focuses on historical precision and documentation, while Cassandra explores patterns and connections across stories and cultures. This dual approach allows for a balanced examination of both factual and interpretive dimensions.

Sound credits:

Pirate Ship at Bay.wav by CGEffex — https://freesound.org/s/93678/ — License: Attribution 4.0

SHIP SOUND REQUEST!.wav by hello_flowers — https://freesound.org/s/31006/ — License: Creative Commons 0

References:

– Bal, P. M., & Veltkamp, M. (2013). How does fiction reading influence empathy? An experimental investigation on the role of emotional transportation. PLoS ONE, 8(1).

– Gabriel, S., & Young, A. F. (2011). Becoming a vampire without being bitten: The narrative collective-assimilation hypothesis. Psychological Science, 22(8), 990-994.

– Johnson, D. R. (2012). Transportation into a story increases empathy, prosocial behavior, and perceptual bias toward fearful expressions. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(2), 150-155.

– Kidd, D. C., & Castano, E. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind. Science, 342(6156), 377-380.

– Le Guin, U. K. (1968). A Wizard of Earthsea. Parnassus Press.

– Mar, R. A., & Oatley, K. (2008). The function of fiction is the abstraction and simulation of social experience. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(3), 173-192.

– Nussbaum, M. C. (1997). Poetic Justice: The Literary Imagination and Public Life. Beacon Press.

Coming Next:

– Episode 3 (June 8): “The Kraken: From Norse Legend to Scientific Discovery” with Oliver

– Episode 4 (June 22): “Monsters as Metaphor: The Psychology Behind Fantasy Creatures” with Cassandra

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Thank you for listening,

Morgan A. Drake

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fathomsdeepbeyond.substack.com