Season 4 of Tend Her Wild opens with a refusal to play small.
In this episode, we bear witness to what is unfolding in Minneapolis—and across our country—through the lens of the Wild Woman archetype. This conversation is about courage in real time, love under pressure, and what it looks like when women choose presence over paralysis.
We ask the question Clarissa Pinkola Estés reminds us of how a culture heals, and we explore what happens when a community becomes “a family within a family,” tending one another through fear, grief, and fierce love.
This episode holds pain and power, heartbreak and humanity, and a deep reminder that the wild woman rises precisely in times like these.
What the Wild Woman Is Teaching Us Right Now
- What it means to not play small in moments of cultural rupture
- How the wild woman archetype shows up as truth-telling, action, and solidarity
- Why these times are calling women to step forward—even when scared
Guest 1: A Minnesota Neighbor & Artist — Bearing Witness Through Action
Our first guest is a local neighbor and artist from Minnesota who shares what it is like to live inside the unfolding events in Minneapolis.
She reminds us that this is not the time to be quiet, even when fear is present—and that fear is not a reason to disengage.
Key reflections from her story:
- The unique strength and resilience of Minnesotans
- The truth that we are all immigrants—and how civil liberties are being threatened
- What it means to live where you cannot step outside without witnessing history
- How COVID quietly prepared communities by strengthening relationships
- Neighbors delivering food, showing up, and caring for one another
- Using personal gifts—art, presence, nourishment—as acts of resistance
- The power of art as a kind of spell cast outward, carrying love and truth
She speaks honestly about the emotional roller coaster of these days, while holding faith that this community is modeling something vital for the rest of the country.
Guest 2: An Immigrant’s Perspective from Downtown Minneapolis
Our second guest is an immigrant who has lived in the United States for nearly 30 years and currently resides in downtown Minneapolis.
She shares the disorientation of desolate streets, the fear of leaving home, and the haunting familiarity of carrying papers—echoing memories of wartime survival.
Her reflections include:
- Living with heightened vigilance and fear
- Recognizing that acts of oppression often stem from fear
- How community connection becomes harder when people are afraid to be seen
- The grief of reliving the past
- Why generosity cannot be taught—but must be practiced
- “Stay safe” becoming the new greeting
She reminds us that anything rooted in fear, greed, or selfishness cannot last—and that when justice is destroyed, it will be reborn.
We hold deep gratitude for these two women who chose to bear witness, sharing their stories with honesty and heart. They embody both courage and pain, reminding us that the wild woman does not numb—she stays present, rooted in love, and committed to life.
Follow Tend Her Wild https://www.instagram.com/tendherwild/?hl=en
If this episode moved you:
Share it with someone who needs to remember they are not alone.
Leave a review to help these stories reach further.
And ask yourself: How am I being called to show up, with what I have, right now?
How to help Minnesotans
Rent and utilities are a priority right now, as many people cannot leave their homes to go to work.
Phillips neighborhood has been hardest hit in the whole city of Minneapolis
venmo @SouthsideNeeds directly to support buying and delivering food and basic needs items to families in Powderhorn and Phillips
Childhood Families in Columbia Heights MN
Past Episodes You Might Like with Kate & Betsy:
Episode 163: Rage As Teacher Episode 131: Life Quakes Episode 124: Shadow WorkEpisode 98: Shake if Off: Facing the Criticism and Embracing Your Light Episode 76: Women Finding Their Voice
Today’s Episode sponsored by:
Want to go on retreat?
Want to join Betsy in Costa Rica in May 2026 at her favorite retreat center to help you reorganize your inner space using yoga, meditation, energy medicine, and hypnosis? All the details here!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download