The Mind of Sai Marie

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we examine Heni Pore, analyzing her role at the Battle of Gate Pā, Māori anti-artillery earthwork engineering, and her enforcement of battlefield codes during the New Zealand Wars.

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we analyze Ching Shih, examining her rise from Canton, her brutal Red Flag legal code, her naval victories over Qing and European fleets, and her unprecedented amnesty deal.

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we examine Gabriela Silang, analyzing her leadership of the Ilocano revolt, mountain guerrilla logistics, and her defiance against Spanish colonial forces.

What helps an indie author turn one book into a lasting connection with readers? In this conversation, Sai Marie talks with contemporary romance author Maria Jane about the craft and business of building an independent publishing career.

Maria shares how her novel Perfect Secrets—the fifth book in her Perfect series—earned a bronze award at the Global Book Awards, alongside other recognition for her work.

Maria also explains how she keeps readers involved, from inviting newsletter subscribers to help shape character details to creating a series that can explore different romance tropes while staying true...

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we sit down with Edwina Perkins—award-winning author, speaker, and Co-Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Edwina shares insights behind her debut novel, The Colors of Home (published by Dressed In Love Press), which earned second place for Contemporary Novel of the Year at the 2026 Golden Scroll Awards by AWSA.

Tune in as we explore the intersection of literary quality and spiritual impact, the importance of inclusive and honest storytelling, and her vital leadership roles across the writing community.

Grab Your Co...

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we analyze Gesche Gottfried, examining her fifteen-year poisoning campaign in Bremen, the chemistry of arsenic-laced mouse butter, and how she used societal caretaking roles as the ultimate cover.

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In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, award-winning author Alison McBain joins us for a profound conversation spanning two very different yet equally captivating literary realms.

We dive into her gripping 3-Day Novel Contest winner, Between the North and Prior, exploring how a grieving mother deals with the ghostly return of her eleven-year-old daughter and a cross-border move to Harmony Lake, Alberta.

Then, we journey across the stars into her speculative short story co...

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we explore Queen Pōmare IV, examining her geopolitical resistance against French annexation, her guerrilla strongholds during the Franco-Tahitian War, and her 50-year reign in Polynesia.

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we explore Shajar al-Durr, examining her operational deception during the Seventh Crusade, her capture of King Louis IX, and her rise to Sultana of Egypt.

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we explore Empress Taitu Betul, examining her private intelligence networks, her mastery of diplomacy, and her brilliant military logistics against European expansion.

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, Sai explores the Vishakanyas, examining the historical texts, statecraft manuals, and dark legends behind the elite poison operatives of ancient India.

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, I examine Enriqueta Martí, also known as the Vampire of Barcelona, exploring the gaslit atmosphere of early 20th-century Barcelona, urban legend versus historical reality, and the macabre market operating in the city’s shadows.

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Continuing the Gothy History, Poisons, and Literature series!

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, I explore Madame Popova, the Samara poisoner who used covert powders to liberate roughly 300 women from violent marriages under Tsarist rule in Russia from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, host Sai Marie Johnson sits down with premier Licensing & IP Strategist Shadeed Eleazer.

Drawing from his background as a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate, former SCORE chapter President, and host of Conversational Currency, Shadeed breaks down how to transition from basic content creation to enterprise-level ownership.

Discover how to build sustainable marketing systems, extend the shelf life of media appearances, and boost leads, sales, and subscribers using strategic content licensing agreements.

In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we explore Kate Bender and the infamous Bloody Benders, looking at how atmospheric theater and frontier isolation allowed a family of killers to vanish without a trace.

Hot Topic Shop

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we explore Catalina de los Ríos y Lísperguer (La Quintrala), the Chilean aristocrat whose wealth shielded her from forty murder charges. This is episode 3, continuing the Gothy History, Poisons and Literature series.

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When a mother experiences an acute medical and mental health crisis, online spaces quickly turn hostile.

An analysis of the Lindsay Clancy mistrial, the physical evidence of trauma, and why discussing maternal healthcare routinely invites public vitriol.

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-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, Sai unpacks the political, historical, and cultural undercurrents driving the sudden comeback of the ultra-thin, “heroin chic” aesthetic in the era of Ozempic.

From tracing how extreme physical restriction and the fetishization of prepubescent smallness function as tools of control, to examining how rigid beauty standards align with authoritarian social structures, we dismantle the cultural pressure on women to constantly shrink.

Sai di...

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, Sai sits down with prolific author and podcast host Laura Vosika.

Laura takes us behind the scenes of her sweeping five-book epic, the Blue Bells Chronicles, which blends 14th-century Scottish history with modern time travel, high-stakes romance, and hard-earned spiritual redemption.

We explore how her background as a musician shapes the rhythm of her storytelling, the psychological impact of identity displacement across centuries, and why showing that no soul is ever beyond grace is so vital in today’s world. Plus, Laura reflects on raising a la...

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In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we examine the crucial difference between stripping voting rights and demanding conscientious participation. We break down how red-pill propaganda and patriarchal conditioning detach men from emotional connection, reframing true matriarchal models—like Themiscyra—as egalitarian frameworks that liberate everyone.

From curating safe spaces to preventing the real-world tragedies of toxic isolation, this conversation pushes past political noise to focus on collective accountability, empathy, and genuine cultural change.

In this companion piece to our Mind of Sai Marie dive into historical shadows, we explore Giulia Tofana, the architect of Aqua Tofana. Discover the masterclass in quiet subversion that freed 17th-century women from abusive bonds.

Welcome back to the dark side of history.

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we examine how power, control, and institutional cruelty intersect across our current socio-political landscape. Starting with the foundational dynamics of misogynoir—the specific, intersectional anti-Black misogyny conceptualized by scholar Moya Bailey—we trace how systemic violence against Black women acts as a baseline for broader authoritarian control.

Sai analyzes recent judicial precedents surrounding AI-generated CSAM, the bureaucratic erasure of sexual violence in the mi...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, we dismantle the myth of Jane Eyre as a cozy Victorian love story. We dive into the Gothic horror lurking at Thornfield Hall, examine Rochester’s gaslighting, and explore how Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea restored humanity to Antoinette Cosway.

Plus, we look at the powerful cinematic legacy of Karina Lombard—from playing the hidden West Indian wife to her iconic role as Isabel II in Legends of the F...

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In this episode of Mind of Sai Marie, we step into the shadow underbelly of Sun King-era France to uncover Catherine Monvoisin (La Voisin) and the Affair of the Poisons.

Plus, an intimate reflection on power dynamics in dark fiction and a live chapter reading from my latest release.

Experience the Darkness on the Page

If the tension of hidden desires, control, and irreversible choices calls to you:

* 📖 Pickup Of Masters and S...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

On August 20, 2026, the Mind of Sai Marie Podcast welcomed acclaimed author Annette Griffin. In this insightful episode, Annette discusses her journey, her writing process, and the inspiration behind the Finding God Series.

We explore the powerful message of her featured book, The God Hunter—co-authored with Franella Smith—which follows a young boy’s pursuit of spiritual truth. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand about her mission to create faith-base...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we sit down with Northern Ontario author Emily Andrews to discuss what it truly means to build a creative life outside the world’s literary capitals. Connected to the show through fellow author Jessie Hartnet, Emily shares her journey as an independent writer crafting stories rooted in grit, landscape, and resilience.

Channeling Oscar Wilde’s classic reminder—“I may be lying in the gutter...

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we sit down with former Big Tech insider, university recruiter, and author Heather Henderson to unpack how digital platforms shape human behavior from the inside out. Drawing from over a decade inside tech giants like Google and Uber, Heather shares why high achievers experience digital overwhelm—and why we were never the problem to begin with.

We explore her landmark book, Reclaim: How to Stop Scrolling Through Your Life and Start Living It, diving into her “Seven Digital Regulator Archetypes,” the reality of “Growth Theater,” and why presence has become...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We’ve all met the resident Ice Queen—the person who uses micro-invalidations and cold dismissals to maintain an artificial social hierarchy. For decades, women are conditioned to smooth over the awkwardness, offer appeasing smiles, and absorb passive-aggressive energy just to keep the peace.

In this episode, we break down what happens when you simply opt out of the script. From awkward corporate gatherings to the liberating shift of your “zero-fucks” era, we ex...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The Mind of Sai Marie podcast is honored to welcome back author and advocate Maria Gallucci for a deeper dive into her extraordinary debut book, Raised in Silence: Lessons on Listening, Love, and Loud Family Dinners From a Child of Deaf Adults.

Returning as a proud CODA who learned ASL before spoken English, Maria joins us to unpack the complex dynamics, early functional responsibilities, and emotional power shifts of growing up be...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Dive into the psychological playbooks we ignore—from narcissistic discards to emotional manipulation.

The Unvarnished Mirror cuts through the noise and charm to bring you clear-eyed analysis, real-talk boundary strategies, and the uncomfortable truths about why we stay attached to people who drain us.

In a world that often demands we carry our burdens in isolation, where do we go when the weight becomes too heavy?

In this powerful episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, I am honored to welcome back international best-selling author and mentoring pioneer, Doug Lawrence. Doug recently made history as the only mentor in the world to be awarded the prestigious Fellow – Certificate of Practice: Journey Mentor by the International Mentoring Community.

Together, we unpack the raw, quiet reality of grief, emotional healing, and mental health advocacy. Doug pulls back the curtain on his bo...

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Behind every breakout book, every bestseller list, and every author who breaks through the noise, there is often a dedicated advocate fighting for their story.

In today’s episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, Sai is joined by Mickey Mikkelson, the visionary founder of Creative Edge Publicity.

Mickey began his journey in the book industry in 2006, managing special events for Chapters/Indigo, Canada’s largest bookstore chain. A decade...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When an elder passes, they leave behind memories—and sometimes, a wall of generational secrets. In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, Sai digs deep into what happens when family members burn the paper trails, rewrite biological lineages, and rely on made-up double-speak like “blood by marriage” to avoid facing hard facts.

From mid-century shame, illegal abortions, and unwed motherhood to the subtle ways whitewashing and colonial...

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When crisis hits and boundaries are set, performative allies and fake friends reveal their true depth by running away.

In this episode, we break down how the block, delete, and flee response mirrors defensive culture, like not all men, the double burden of healing in silence, and why actions will always speak louder than empty words of support.

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Hosted by Sai Marie Johnson, this Substack digs into the stuff people are too polite or too cowardly to say out loud.

From unpacking the red flags of toxic men and main character syndrome to calling out passive enablers and systemic injustice, we clear out the noise and hold the line.

No fluff, no excuses, and zero tolerance for disrespect.

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

From Hollywood cult tactics to the trash-ass behavior of men on live streams, the blueprint of male entitlement is the same—it’s just a matter of scale.

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we dissect the high-profile allegations surrounding Jared Leto, his Echelon fanbase, and the mechanics of cult-like manipulation—from performative messiah imagery and manufactured isolation to weaponized NDAs. Then, we bring it straight back down to reali...

Basic human grace and the social contract didn't just fade—they were deliberately traded for a shock economy where disrespect is sport and sadism gets applause.

Here is a quick breakdown of why cruelty became the modern baseline, and why keeping your empathy intact is an act of resistance.

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Welcome to a space where cold, ticking machinery meets the whispering secrets of the ancient earth.

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, Sai sits down with enchanting fantasy author Debbie Bishop to dissect the stunning, dark industrial world of her newly released novel, Pillywiggin Awakening.

If you have ever felt like a mere cog in a massive machine, running on autopilot while losing your sense of childlike wonder, this conversation is your wa...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

At a time when modern life can feel like a passenger seat of endless uncertainty and division, how do we take back the reins?

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, I sit down with GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter, author, and transformational leader Glenda Benevides.

Together, we deconstruct the cozy, dangerous trap of modern complacency and discuss her powerful new anthem, “I Ride”—a defiant, soul-stirring call to action th...

Sai’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What does it take to rebuild your foundation when everything you know has been stripped away?

In this episode of The Mind of Sai Marie, we are stepping into a world of brass gears, steam-powered rebellion, and fierce, uncompromising autonomy. Joining the studio is Edmonton best-selling multi-genre author and writing community advocate, Mandy Eve-Barnett, to discuss her critically acclaimed steampunk novel, The Commodore’s Gift.

Together, we unpack the jour...