Episodios
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Authenticity has never been more critical in a world that celebrates fleeting trends. In an industry like fashion, and for entrepreneur Mason Spector, discerning design is just a small part of creating long-term impact and connection. As the co-founder of the Los Angeles-based clothing brand Madhappy, Spector and his team are committed to "using apparel, events, and experimental retail spaces to explore a personal expression as a means to an improved state of mind."
Words like "optimism" and "community" are often associated with the brandâand for Mason, in particular, that's no happy accident. His personal experiences have culminated in building an intentional business that confronts one of the most pressing issues of our time: mental health.
In this interview, Mason shared more about his dynamic upbringing, his relationship with pace, and what he's learned about the mental health journey. This episode also opens with a story from writer and podcast host Sam Cohen.âEpisode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/mason-spector Follow Slow Stories on Substack: https://slowstories.substack.com/ Learn more about Madhappy: https://madhappy.com/ Follow Madhappy: https://instagram.com/madhappy/ Follow Mason: https://instagram.com/masonspec/Follow Sam: https://instagram.com/samcohenwriting/Follow Rachel: https://instagram.com/rachelschwartzmann/ Pre-order SLOWING: https://bookshop.org/p/books/slowing-discover-wonder-beauty-and-creativity-through-slow-living-rachel-schwartzmann/21201888?ean=9781797223759
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An essay, Chelsea Hodson tells us, should be an attempt at clarity. That may be true for a writer, but clarity is the last thing that comes to mind when reading Chelsea's words. Instead, we are swept away by her striking prose, repetition, digressions. Chelsea's words pulse with desire, fear, and hope. Readers walk away from the page, not always knowing what to think but feeling something primal just the same.
The words, in this case, are from Chelsea's debut essay collection, Tonight I'm Someone Else, which was published in 2018 and received widespread praise. Aside from gifting us her own prose, Chelsea has made it her business to help others write their truth. Through projects like her Morning Writing Club and private coaching and editing services, community has slowly become a part of Chelsea's world. Most recently, this culminated in the launch of her latest literary endeavor. Enter Rose Books, her new press.
In this interview, Chelsea shared more about the inception of Rose Books, her process as a writer and editor, and the questions on her mind. This episode also opens with a story from musician (and Rose Books author) Geoff Rickly.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/chelsea-hodson/
Learn more about Chelsea's work: https://chelseahodson.com/
Follow Chelsea: https://www.instagram.com/chelseahodson_
Purchase Chelsea's book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tonight-i-m-someone-else-essays-chelsea-hodson/9844494
Learn more about Rose Books: https://www.rosebooks.co/
Follow Rose Books: https://www.instagram.com/rosebooks.co
Follow Geoff: https://instagram.com/geoffrickly
Purchase Geoff's novel: https://www.rosebooks.co/store/p/someone-who-isnt-me-by-geoff-rickly-paperback-preorder
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How do we find and maintain a sense of wonder in a world that's become so unpredictable? Katherine May (author of Wintering and The Electricity of Every Living Thing) tackles this pressing question in her latest book, Enchantment, which is âan invitation to each of us to experience life in all its sensual complexity and to find the beauty waiting for us there.â
Calling upon the natural elementsâearth, water, fire, and airâKatherine launches a personal and collective investigation into how we can restore ourselves and restoke imagination. Far from prescriptive, Katherine's work always invites readers to follow their curiosities. To slow down and open themselves up to a process of reflection. As she writes in Enchantment: âWhen we look for enchantment to give us direct, concrete revelations, we miss the point. It is too big for us to swallow all at once. It teaches us in constellations, and invites us to undertake the slow, lifelong work of assimilating a moment.â
In this interview, Katherine shared more about the process of finding Enchantment, musings on motherhood, and what she's learned about living, working, and creatingâboth online and off. This episode also opens with a story from Jess Dekker.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/katherine-may/
Learn more about Katherine's work: https://katherine-may.co.uk/
Follow Katherine: https://www.instagram.com/katherinemay_/
Purchase Katherine's books: https://bookshop.org/contributors/katherine-may
Follow Jess: https://www.instagram.com/jessdekkerreads/
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The world can learn a lot from Tembe Denton-Hurstâlike how to tell a story and, perhaps more importantly, how to tell the truth. She does this and more in her stunning debut novel, Homebodies, which âis a testament to those trying to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space.â
In this electric story, readers follow Mickey Hayward, a writer in New York navigating the crossroads of personal, professional, and romantic tumult. After an unjust, devastating job loss, Mickey takes the reigns by crafting a letter detailing the racism and sexism she's faced as a Black woman in media. But when the letter goes unanswered, in tandem with rising tensions in her relationship, Mickey finds herself paralyzed with doubt and uncertainty. Seeking reprieve, the mounting pressure culminates in Mickey's return to her hometown.
Page after page, Tembe takes us through Mickey's past and present milestones, and as we get to know Mickey's world, readers can't help but wonder: What does it mean to truly feel at home in our livesâand ourselves?
In this interview, Tembe shared more about her life as a writer, her evolving definition of ambition, and the idea of legacy on and off the page. This episode also opens with a story by Emma Leokadia of Girls on the Page.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/tembe-denton-hurst
Learn more about Tembe's work: https://tembedentonhurst.com/
Follow Tembe: https://instagram.com/tembae/
Purchase Homebodies: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homebodies-tembe-denton-hurst/19218543?ean=9780063274280/
Learn more about Emma's work: https://www.girlsonthepage.com/
Follow Emma: https://www.instagram.com/girlsonthepage/
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Who are you when no one is looking? This question came to mind when reading Allie Rowbottom's incisive debut novel, Aesthetica.
The story follows Anna, a former Instagram celebrity, on her path of reflection and redemption as she seeks to undergo a high-risk elective surgery called Aestheticaâą, which is said to âreverse all her past plastic surgery procedures, returning her, she hopes, to a truer self.â
As readers bounce between Anna's past and present, Allie paints a nuanced portrait of a woman stepping into herself while considering her relationship with fame, family, and the trappings of a landscape predicated on image and youth. In this interview, Allie shared more about why Aesthetica is a continued conversation from her memoir JELL-O Girls, her thoughts on privacy and pace, and embracing womanhood. This episode also opens with a story by Dakota Bossard.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/allie-rowbottom
Learn more about Allie's work: https://allierowbottom.com/
Follow Allie: https://www.instagram.com/allierowbottom/
Purchase Aesthetica: https://bookshop.org/p/books/aesthetica-allie-rowbottom/18180848?ean=9781641294003
Follow Dakota: https://tiktok.com/@dakotabossard
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To hold joy in your hand means to honor sadness in your heart, for the two are inextricable. This sentiment is one that many of us will recognize after a prolonged period of chaos and transformation. But for poet and author Ross Gay, studying these modes has paved the way for art that will stand the test of time. Enter Inciting Joy, Ross's latest essay collection, which âconsiders the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life's inevitable hardships.â
Through lenses like gardening and grief, Ross charts a loving exploration into what it means to connect in a world that challenges our time, attention, and hope. In this interview, Ross shared more about writing and re-encountering his life, the joys and lessons of aging, and the importance of change and curiosity. This episode also opens with a story from Caro, a multidisciplinary craft artist based in Los Angeles, California.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/ross-gay
Learn more about Ross's work: https://www.rossgay.net/
Purchase Ross's books: https://bookshop.org/contributors/ross-gay
Learn more about Caro's work: http://carolinerosoff.com/
Follow Caro: https://www.instagram.com/carolinerosoff
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From Chopped to Top Chef to restaurant dreams, Fatima Ali's star was on the rise. But after a devastating cancer diagnosis upended her plans, the young chef vowed to experience all she could with the time she had left. Yet as her illness suddenly worsened, Fatima pivoted once again, this time turning to the page as a place to reflect on her identity, food, family, and life. The result is Savor, a collection of intimate vignettes from Fatima and her mother guided by collaborator Tarajia Morrell, whose editorial prowess and shared values helped bring Fatima's story to book form.
Like Fatima, Tarajia's appreciation for gathering around a table has informed how she moves through the world. And her own story of creativity, resilience, and love reaffirms a universal truth: There is so much to savor when we pay attention to the things that connect us most.
In this interview, Tarajia shared more about her time with Fatima, telling stories in the digital age, and what she's learned about motherhood, love, and loss. This episode also opens with a story by Jenna Matecki.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/tarajia-morrell
Learn more about Tarajia's work: https://www.tarajiamorrell.com/
Follow Tarajia: http://www.instagram.com/tarajiamorrell
Purchase SAVOR: https://bookshop.org/p/books/savor-a-chef-s-hunger-for-more-fatima-ali/18069623
Learn more about Jenna's work: http://jennamatecki.com/
Follow Jenna: https://www.instagram.com/jennamatecki/
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How do you define beauty? Where does beauty come from? Why is beauty important? For Ella Frances Sanders, these questions take center stage in her latest book, Everything, Beautiful, an artful guide that encourages readers to âfind hidden beauty in the world.â
With elegant prose and calming illustrations, Everything, Beautiful provokes deeper inquiry into how we've come to understand beauty and our potential to see it anew. But off the page, Ella also understands that it can be difficult to envision where beauty fits into our demanding schedules, grief, and longing. Ultimately, Everything, Beautiful makes the case to pay attention to and embrace the little thingsâeven when it seems impossible.
In this interview, Ella shared more about her path to making Everything, Beautiful, how beauty manifests for her online and offline, and the importance of reflecting on questions and answers. This episode also opens with a story by Tree Abraham.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/ella-frances-sanders
Learn more about Ella's work: https://www.ellafrancessanders.com/
Purchase EVERYTHING, BEAUTIFUL: https://bookshop.org/p/books/everything-beautiful-a-guide-to-finding-hidden-beauty-in-the-world-ella-frances-sanders/17776858?ean=9780143137061
Follow Ella: https://www.instagram.com/ellafsanders/
Learn more Tree's work: https://www.treeabraham.com/
Purchase CYCLETTES: https://bookshop.org/p/books/cyclettes-tree-abraham/18365484?ean=9781951213626
Follow Tree: https://www.instagram.com/treexthree/
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Think about the places you frequent most. Whatâs the experience like? How does it make you feel? How are you connecting? And who are you connecting with? Whether online or offline, Naj Austin has been exploring these questions through her visionary endeavors, which include Ethelâs Club and, most recently, Somewhere Good, an âaudio platform for intimate community conversations.â
With its distinct, design-driven app and a growing suite of partnerships and offline offerings, Somewhere Good is poised to become a leader in how we can authentically connect in our complex digital age. For Naj, shifting away from scrolling our feed and moving towards feeding our relationships remains a through-line. And with that mission comes recalibrating how we pay attention to ourselvesâand each other.
In this interview, Naj shared more about the role of slowness and solitude in her work, her relationship with listening, and the importance of community participation. This episode also opens with a story from Amy Snook.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/naj-austin
Learn more about Naj's work: https://najaustin.com/
Follow Naj: https://www.instagram.com/najaustin/?hl=en
Learn more Amy's work: https://www.pareastudios.com/parea-books
Follow Amy: https://www.instagram.com/asnooks/?hl=en
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What we leave behind can still shape what moves us forward. This idea is at the core of Kayla Maiuri's poignant debut novel, Mother in the Dark.
In this quietly captivating story, readers follow Anna, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads as her complicated past converges with the present. As Anna's family life unfurls, we meet various characters who inspire deeper reflection about what it means to be a daughter, sister, and friend.
For Kayla, fiction is a lens to understand reality, and her book is a powerful reminder not to turn away from the people we love. In this interview, Kayla shared more about the origins of this story, her relationship with nature, and what she's learned about family, leaving, and time. This episode also opens with a story by Kate Litterer.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/kayla-maiuri
Learn more about Kayla's work: https://www.kaylamaiuri.com/
Purchase MOTHER IN THE DARK: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mother-in-the-dark-kayla-maiuri/20078457?ean=9780593083291
Follow Kayla: https://www.instagram.com/kaylajosefine/
Learn more Kate's work: https://katehenry.com/
Purchase TEND TO IT: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tend-to-it-a-holistic-guide-to-intentional-productivity-kate-litterer/16072031?ean=9781735802206
Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/thetendingyear/
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This is your sign to take a break. Step outside, and feel the delicate earth beneath your feet. Stretch your arms towards the sky, and put your phone in your pocket. Whether you're a city dweller or beach-goer, the great outdoors is closer than you thinkâbut no matter where you are, one idea endures: when we disconnect from our devices, the world opens itself up to us in magical ways. For Getaway Founder and CEO Jon Staff, this idea has gradually become second nature.
Founded with the belief that "free time should be a right and a ritual for everyone," Getaway cabins offer visitors the chance to escape, replenish, and slow down. But as the leader of a business whose mission is to help others ultimately do nothing, Jon is putting everything into creating a brand that embodies its valuesâinside and out, online and off.
In this interview, Jon shared more about redefining escape, his relationship with writing, what technology gives and takes from us, and the magic of doing nothing. This episode also opens with a story by today's partner (Pablo Carrascal of) Ostrichpillow.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/jon-staff
Learn more about Getaway: https://getaway.house/
Purchase Jon's book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/getting-away-75-everyday-practices-for-finding-balance-in-our-always-on-world-jon-staff/13584980
Follow Getaway: https://www.instagram.com/getawayhouse/
Learn more about Ostrichpillow: https://ostrichpillow.com/
Follow Ostrichpillow: https://www.instagram.com/ostrichpillowofficial/
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Let's start with a simple truth: Lisa Taddeo's work is anything but slow. Time and time again, her readers are pulled into honestâdevastatingâexaminations of rage, grief, and what it means to be a person in the world. From her acclaimed work of nonfiction, Three Women, to her unforgettable debut novel Animal, Lisa's writing is not merely an invitation into a story but a rallying cry to recognize the full scope of the human experience. The same can be said for her latest book, Ghost Lover, a collection of stories that âbrings to life the fever of obsession, the blindness of love, and the mania of grief.â
For Lisa, life moves quickly, especially now. But her enduring exploration of grief creates space to talk about the (often) slow process of overcoming heartbreak or pain. And because of this, her stories stay with you long after the last page. In this interview, Lisa shared more about the pace that drives her practice, why she's drawn to short stories, and what she's learned from writing about people. This episode also opens with a reading by Francesca Giacco.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/lisa-taddeo
Learn more about Lisa's work: https://www.lisataddeo.com/
Purchase Lisa's books: https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=lisa+taddeo
Follow Lisa: https://www.instagram.com/lisadtaddeo/
Learn more about Francesca's work: https://francescagiacco.com/
Purchase SIX DAYS IN ROME: https://bookshop.org/p/books/six-days-in-rome-francesca-giacco/18785655
Follow Francesca: https://www.instagram.com/fegiacco/
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As hours pass, pay attention to the way the light shifts. Notice how the afternoon sun fades into dusk. Another night has arrived: How was your day? How do you feel? And perhaps more importantly, how will you rest and replenish?
These questions drive the work of creative entrepreneur Ashley Merrill. Over the years, her company, Lunya, has grown into a category-defining sleepwear brand at the intersection of wellness, design, and, as Ashley puts it, âcreative problem-solving.â But for Ashley, achieving success means nothing without building a businessâand living a lifeâfueled by intention.
In this interview, Ashley shared more about the relationship between creativity and pace, the complicated notion of balance, how she views slow storytelling, and how dreams show up in her daily life. This episode also opens with a story by Bryn Taylor.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/ashley-merrill
Learn more about Lunya: https://lunya.co/
Follow Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ashley__merrill/
Follow Lunya: https://www.instagram.com/lunya/
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âWhen the darkest part of you meets the darkest part of me, it creates light.â This is one of the many incredible lines readers will find in Coco Mellors' luminous debut novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
In this riveting story, readers meet Cleo and Frank, two disparate characters whose chance encounter brings them closer in ways they couldn't have expected. Throughout the book, readers also meet Cleo and Frank's closest friends and family members, whose own stories add texture to Cleo and Frank's relationship and provide a nuanced portrait of what it means to come together, grow up, and in some cases, grow apart.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein may be a work of literary fiction, but for Coco, it also calls upon what she deems "emotional nonfiction." And her own story of transformation and curiosity is a reminder that slowing downâand looking inwardâis often the only way forward.
In this interview, Coco shared more about what led her to write Cleopatra and Frankenstein, her thoughts on gratitude and faith, and the importance of spending time doing what you love most. This episode also opens with a story by Alyssa Natoci.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/coco-mellors
Learn more about Coco's work: https://cocomellors.com/
Follow Coco: https://www.instagram.com/cocomellors
Purchase CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN: https://bookshop.org/p/books/cleopatra-and-frankenstein-coco-mellors/16786593
Learn more about Alyssa's work: https://alyssanatoci.com/
Follow Alyssa: https://www.instagram.com/lyssssssie/
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Slow down and look around. Observe the art on the walls. Take in the colors, textures, and scents. What memories come to mind? How does it make you feel? And, perhaps more importantly, why?
Ask Hannah Traore, and she'll tell you that these questions are integral to how we collectively engage with art. The New York-based gallerist originally got her start in the industry at renowned institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and Fotografiska. Today, she's bringing her experiences into focus with the introduction of her namesake gallery, which in her words, is âdedicated to broadening the notion of what is deemed appropriate for the gallery setting.â
While Hannah's fast-paced, high-energy nature is part of her daily life, pace plays an essential role in the gallery itself. Nestled in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhood, the space offers a welcoming, immersive environment that allows visitors to peruse the work at their leisure. For Hannah, art is something to be witnessed and experiencedâto do so fully means slowing down.
In this interview, Hannah shared more about the implications of curation and consumption in the digital age, the responsibility of viewing art, and the practices that have changed her relationship with pace year after year.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/hannah-traore
Learn more about Hannah Traore Gallery: https://hannahtraoregallery.com/
Follow Hannah: https://www.instagram.com/hannahtraore/
Follow Hannah Traore Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/hannahtraoregallery/
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Picture this: a vast expanse of Texas road and sky, two best friends, and a world of possibility. It was here that Laura Cramer and Starr Hout came together and conceived Apiece Apartâa brand revered for design-forward staples that, in their words, âact as witnesses to our lives... and never go out of style.â
While the duo's shared love for beauty has culminated in timeless clothing, style is just one part of their story. For Laura and Starr, community-building anchors everything at Apiece Apart, and this notion has become even more vital as the world continues to change at warp speed. And though they may not always know what's ahead, Laura and Starr are still looking forward, moving slower, and are sure of one thing: Their best work is yet to come.
In this interview, Laura and Starr shared more about their enduring friendship, what it means to tell slow stories, and what they've learned about building support systems in businessâand life. This episode also opens with a story by Arlena Armstrong-Petock of Marvin Ruby.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/laura-cramer-and-starr-hout
Learn more about Apiece Apart: https://www.apieceapart.com/
Follow Apiece Apart: https://www.instagram.com/apieceapart
Follow Marvin Ruby: https://www.instagram.com/shopmarvinruby/?hl=en
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What does it mean to belong? And what responsibilities come with belonging? These questions were top of mind while reading Katie Kitamura's stunning novel, Intimacies.
In Intimacies, readers are presented with a rich examination of language, power, and identity seen through the lens of an unnamed narrator who has arrived in The Hague to interpret at the international court. As the narrator's story unfolds, readers witness the manipulation of languageâand selfâas the narrator tries to reconcile her role as an interpreterâand participantâin the stories shaping the spaces around her.
For Katie, distance and perspective are often top of mind in her writing process. But in the case of Intimacies, Katie's work also provokes deeper reflection about the relationship between time and choicesâand how the decisions we make ultimately inform how we interpret and navigate the complicated landscapes of our personal, professional, and romantic lives.
In this interview, Katie shared more about the research and writing process behind Intimacies, her thoughts on the relationship between grief and power, and how pace has evolved in her creative practice. This episode also opens with a story by Sara Harowitz.
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The art of life requires empathy, resilience, and a laugh or twoâespecially now. But after all that we've been through over the last few years, one question endures: How do we deal? This idea is at the core of artist Grace Miceli's book, How to Deal.
Billed as âa weird but honest roadmap from a friend who wants to make it just that much easier for us to navigate our own journey,â How to Deal provides a creative respite from the "daily dreads" that pervade modern life. With thoughtful prose and a collection of original comic strips, illustrated lists, and diary entries, Grace renders a compassionate exploration of what it means to deal withâand embraceâthe messier parts of life, both online and off.
In this interview, Grace shared more about the evolution of her creative practice, the process of working on How to Deal in a period of isolation, and what she's learned about slowing downâand trusting herself. This episode also opens with a story by Emily Freidenrich.
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Rituals transform how we live, work, and createâbut closer to home, they can do something much greater: encourage self-love. For conscious creators like Matthew Herman, this idea is especially prevalent. Enter Boy Smells.
Co-founded in late 2015 with his partner David Kien, Matthew and the team have worked diligently to create a gender-inclusive lifestyle brand that, in their words, encourages people to âmake loving your identity a daily ritual.â With products ranging from candles to fragrances to intimates, Boy Smells aptly puts the personal back in personal care routine.
While much of Boy Smellsâ journey is reminiscent of Matthewâs personal experiences, the brand has embraced its community every step of the way. In this interview, Matthew shared more about his journey from fashion to fragrance, the ins and outs of building a genderful brand, and what heâs learned about slowing downâand living an abundant life. This episode also opens with a story by Julianne Fraser.
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What do we remember about our stories? In her stunning debut novel, The Shimmering State, Meredith Westgate explores the convergence of memory, art, and grief through the lens of two artists: Lucien, a grieving photographer who moves to Los Angeles to care for his grandmother, and Sophie, a dancer with the Los Angeles Ballet Company who has landed a coveted lead role in an upcoming production. On the periphery of their stories is an experimental drug called Memoroxin that "targets and delivers patients' own memories" and is intended for medical treatment. But when Lucien and Sophie meet as patients at the Centerâa Memoroxin rehabilitation clinic founded by the mysterious Dr. Sloaneâreaders are taken on a journey between past and present to understand Lucien and Sophie's connection to one anotherâand the world around them.
The consumption and curation of memory fuels so much of how we live, work, and create in our digital age. Yet as The Shimmering State comes out during a time of recalibrationâboth online and offâMeredith's work reminds us of the delicate threshold between the memories that make us who we are and the stories we tell ourselves.
In this interview, Meredith shared more about the origins of The Shimmering State, her thoughts on the curation and commodification of memory, and why writing fiction slows her down. This episode also opens with a reading by Kayla Maiuri.
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