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Cliffhangers and Cocktails

Cliffhangers and Cocktails

By: Amy Cissell & Shéa MacLeod
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Fantasy book discussions, author interviews, cocktail recipes (and drinking!), and witchy content. Hosted by Shéa MacCleod and Amy Cissell, USA Today Bestselling Authors of urban fantasy, cozy mysteries, paranormal women's fiction, and all things magical and wonderful.

© 2026 Cliffhangers and Cocktails Art Literary History & Criticism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 50: Fire Snakes & Wood Tigers celebrate our 50th EPISODE!

    Episode 50: Fire Snakes & Wood Tigers celebrate our 50th EPISODE!
    Jun 30 2026

    Got thoughts? Let us know!

    In today’s episode of Cliffhangers and Cocktails, Shéa and Amy are reminded that words come from fingers, not faces as they look back over their favorite moments of the last year and a half. And while Shéa was able to choose a single cocktail as her pod fave (a limoncello lemondrop), Amy couldn’t decide between a French 75 (she did her signature Cherry Portuguese 77) and a spicy pineapple margarita.

    Join us for a glimpse at some of our favorite moments over the last 49 episodes!


    Resources

    Find the Cracked Amethyst Tarot by Jessica Bott: https://www.thecrackedamethyst.com/


    Get the Murder of Crows Tarot by Corrado Roy: https://www.loscarabeo.com/products/murder-of-crows-tarot


    Recipes and complete notes at: https://www.cliffhangersandcocktails.com/the-pop-blog

    Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cliffhangersandcocktails

    Visit our sponsor, the Paranormal Women's Fiction Bookclub, for a free monthly book at https://pwfbookclub.com/.

    Follow the pod on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cliffhangersandcocktails/,

    Check out our website at https://www.cliffhangersandcocktails.com/ and sign up for our newsletter!

    Don't forget to like, rate, review, subscribe, and share!


    Thanks - the Caftan Coven
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    59 mins
  • Episode 29: “Paul and I Are Pirates,” Role Playing Levi-TEA, and an “Interview” with ISA MEDINA!

    Episode 29: “Paul and I Are Pirates,” Role Playing Levi-TEA, and an “Interview” with ISA MEDINA!
    Jun 25 2026

    Got thoughts? Let us know!

    In today’s episode of Cliffhangers and Cocktails, Shéa and Amy talk about inherent witchiness of tea and the magic of joy, make a play for a Harney & Sons sponsorship (call us!), and Amy pretends to be author ISA MEDINA.

    Isa's Links

    https://www.instagram.com/isamedina_author/

    https://www.isa-medina.com

    https://www.facebook.com/IsaMedinaAuthor


    Other Resources

    “Finding joy in the middle of a struggle should be considered a superpower. Especially now.” – Quote by Janelle Marie from https://janellmt.medium.com/23-affirmations-for-joy-happiness-d3042204007d


    Mythweaver Tarot: https://cosmicseedstudio.com/the-myth-weaver-tarot


    The scientific name Camellia Sinensis refers to the classic tea plant, tea bush, or tea tree. The evergreen tea plant can grow as a bush or tree and has white-yellow flowers. The plant is native to East, South, and Southeast Asia but is cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions. All teas, whether green, black, white, oolong, dark, yellow teas-are made of this extraordinary plant.

    https://teasenz.eu/blogs/tea-magazine/types-tea-plants


    Some herbal teas do naturally contain caffeine. The most popular caffeine-containing herbal teas are yerba mate and guayusa.

    https://erbology.co/herbal-tea-caffeine/


    https://www.chadotea.com/blogs/blog/magic-and-tea-tea-with-intention

    https://www.tumblr.com/iolitewitchcraft/159403749590/teas-for-witches-the-basics

    https://www.suttletea.com/

    https://www.harney.com/


    Shirley Temple (Energy: JOY! Cleansing. Manifestation.)

    Ingredients (1 servings)

    • 1 cup ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (8 ounces; 235ml)
    • 2-4 Tablespoons grenadine (1-2 ounces; 30-60ml)

    Garnish: Maraschino cherries

    Directions

    1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
    2. Pour soda over the ice.
    3. Using a spoon, gently stir grenadine into soda until combined.
    4. Top with as many maraschino cherries as your little heart desires.


    Watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cliffhangersandcocktails

    Visit our sponsor, the Paranormal Women's Fiction Bookclub, for a free monthly book at https://pwfbookclub.com/.

    Follow the pod on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cliffhangersandcocktails/,

    Check out our website at https://www.cliffhangersandcocktails.com/ and sign up for our newsletter!

    Don't forget to like, rate, review, subscribe, and share!


    Thanks - the Caftan Coven
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Minisode 19: Joyous Litha!

    Minisode 19: Joyous Litha!
    Jun 19 2026
    Got thoughts? Let us know!In today’s episode of Peach Pie and Lord of the Rings … err, we mean Cliffhangers and Cocktails, Shéa and Amy talk about Litha - the Summer Solstice. Make yourself a Solstice sip (strawberry margaritas anyone?) and settle in for some history, a ritual, and some divination. Litha Ritual - Sample power statements:“I am amazing. I am powerful. The work I have done is real and good. I do not need permission to take up space. I do not apologize for being myself. I will not be smaller. I am seen and I am exactly who I need to be.”Reflection Science: Tramacere A. Face yourself: The social neuroscience of mirror gazing. Front Psychol. 2022 Nov 10;13:949211. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.949211. PMID: 36438331; PMCID: PMC9691426.The name Litha, is found in Bede's The Reckoning of Time (De Temporum Ratione, eighth century), which preserves a list of the (then-obsolete) Anglo-Saxon names for the months of the early Germanic calendar. Ærra Liða (first or preceding Liða) roughly corresponds to June in the Gregorian calendar, and Æfterra Liða (following Liða) to July. Bede writes that "Litha means gentle or navigable, because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea".[34]Avebury (/ˈeɪvbəri/) is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, in south-west England. One of the best-known prehistoric sites in Britain, it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. The Maryhill Stonehenge is a replica of England's Stonehenge located in Maryhill, Washington, United States. It was commissioned in the early 20th century by the wealthy entrepreneur Sam Hill, and dedicated on July 4, 1918 as a memorial to the people who had died in World War I.Lavender information: Ramsey JT, Li Y, Arao Y, Naidu A, Coons LA, Diaz A, Korach KS. Lavender Products Associated With Premature Thelarche and Prepubertal Gynecomastia: Case Reports and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Activities. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Nov 1;104(11):5393-5405. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-01880. PMID: 31393563; PMCID: PMC6773459.St. Johns Wort: Moore LB, Goodwin B, Jones SA, Wisely GB, Serabjit-Singh CJ, Willson TM, Collins JL, Kliewer SA. St. John's wort induces hepatic drug metabolism through activation of the pregnane X receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jun 20;97(13):7500-2. doi: 10.1073/pnas.130155097. PMID: 10852961; PMCID: PMC16574.Midsummer Margarita Strawberry Thyme Cocktail Energy: Courage, Fire, and Divine Feminine EnergyStrawberry Basil Cocktail Energy: Prosperity, Creativity, Divine Feminine EnergyIngredients (1 servings)60 mL (2 oz) Strawberry & thyme simple syrup (see below) OR just strawberry simple syrup60 mL (2 oz) fresh lime juice120 mL (4 oz) Tequila (or vodka or gin)Garnish: Thyme & StrawberriesDirections(Basil Cocktail only) Bruise basil and put into a cocktail shaker with a couple strawberries yoinked from the simple syrup & muddle together.Add simple syrup, lime juice & tequila to shaker. Add iceShake until chilledStrain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with fresh slices of strawberry and sprigs of thyme or basilSimple Syrup Ingredients1 cup sugar1 cup water8 oz Fresh strawberries, hulled & quartered3-4 sprigs of thymeDirectionsCombine sugar, water, strawberries and thyme (if using) in a small saucepan Bring to a simmer over med-low heat and cook 10-15 minutes until sugar has dissolved & strawberries have softened. Remove from heat and cool for 20-30 minutesStrainSourceshttps://www.witchywellness.app/blog/litha-spellshttps://paulomara.com/litha/https://spells8.com/lessons/litha-symbols-midsummer-magic-celebration/#symbols-of-lithahttps://www.sui.org/litha/https://friendsoftheforestct.org/wheeloftheyearhttps://moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/litha/?srsltid=AfmBOoq2qkOw4Kg-9MYrYxvt8YvbEVoe13TwYW8pytI9FkQDAqsgy4DD#google_vignetteWatch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cliffhangersandcocktailsVisit our sponsor, the Paranormal Women's Fiction Bookclub, for a free monthly book at https://pwfbookclub.com/.Follow the pod on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cliffhangersandcocktails/, Check out our website at https://www.cliffhangersandcocktails.com/ and sign up for our newsletter!Don't forget to like, rate, review, subscribe, and share!Thanks - the Caftan Coven
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    56 mins
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