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PODCAST

Slow Stories

Rachel Schwartzmann

Hear from leading writers, artists, and innovators who share slow stories—and big ideas—about living, working, and creating more intentionally. Hosted by Rachel Schwartzmann Subscribe at slowstories.substack.com/

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

56:00

Kayla Maiuri — ”Fiction teaches us so much about...

Slow Stories ·

2022/08/09

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

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36:40

Jon Staff — ”Our words matter, and our lack of words...

Slow Stories ·

2022/07/12

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 think—but 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

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30:42

Lisa Taddeo — ”I’ve been there, and you’re not alone.”

Slow Stories ·

2022/06/14

Let's start with a simple truth: Lisa Taddeo's work is anything but slow. Time and time again, her readers are pulled into honest—devastating—examinations 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

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41:32

Ashley Merrill — ”Design is in service of your rest.”

Slow Stories ·

2022/05/31

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, “creative problem-solving.” But for Ashley,

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50:06

Coco Mellors — ”If you create something and no one...

Slow Stories ·

2022/05/10

“When the darkest part of you meets the darkest part of me, it creates light.” 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

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44:20

Hannah Traore — ”The context is always important.”

Slow Stories ·

2022/04/06

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

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34:15

Laura Cramer and Starr Hout — ”We’re so capable of...

Slow Stories ·

2022/02/04

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 Apart—a brand revered for design-forward staples that, in their words, “act as witnesses to our lives... and never go out of style.” 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,

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43:36

Katie Kitamura — ”There’s also incredible power in...

Slow Stories ·

2021/11/22

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 language—and self—as the narrator tries to reconcile her

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36:54

Grace Miceli — ”Slowing down is about trusting myself...

Slow Stories ·

2021/10/18

The art of life requires empathy, resilience, and a laugh or two—especially 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 “a weird but honest roadmap from a friend who wants to make it just that much easier for us to navigate our own journey,” How to Deal provides a creative respite from the "daily dreads" that pervade modern life. With thoughtful prose and a

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40:00

Matthew Herman — ”I hope we’re all realizing that we...

Slow Stories ·

2021/09/30

Rituals transform how we live, work, and create—but 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 “make loving your identity a daily ritual.” With products ranging from candles to fragrances to

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46:38

Meredith Westgate — ”Being a writer can often be...

Slow Stories ·

2021/08/23

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

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42:35

Larissa Pham — ”I think everyone woke up to just how...

Slow Stories ·

2021/07/15

Art creates space for understanding, introspection, and intimacy. These themes are especially at play in the work of artist and writer Larissa Pham. You may recognize Larissa’s work from her bylines in esteemed publications, including The Paris Review Daily, or in the case of this episode, from her brilliant work of creative nonfiction, Pop Song, which is described as “a book about distances, near and far. The miles we travel to get away from ourselves, or those who hurt us, and the impossible gaps

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36:58

Jen Spyra — ”How much doubt attends every stage of...

Slow Stories ·

2021/06/30

While some stories remain in your heart, others simply make you laugh out loud. Jen Spyra's storytelling oscillates between the two. You may recognize Jen's work from her roles at revered comedic havens like The Onion and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert or from her bylines in publications like The New Yorker and McSweeney's. Most recently, Jen has channeled her editorial expertise into her debut book. Enter Big Time, Jen's comedic story collection, which has received praise from industry giants

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49:27

Melissa Febos and Forsyth Harmon — ”Writing is the...

Slow Stories ·

2021/06/15

“A lasting, conscientious change in the self is similar to one in society: it requires consistent tending. It is sometimes painful and often tedious. We must choose it over and over.” This is one of the many resonant passages readers will come across from writer Melissa Febos in her latest book, Girlhood. In this stunning essay collection, Melissa deftly examines (and interrogates) the stories we're told as girls, how these narratives inform who we become as adults, and the ways we can transcend

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34:51

Jen Batchelor — ”I take it very seriously when a word...

Slow Stories ·

2021/05/31

Conscious connection with others has taken on a whole new level of importance after a year of isolation and recalibration. But if you ask changemakers like Jen Batchelor, lasting connection comes from within—and begins with fueling the body and mind, the heart and soul. Enter Kin, co-founded in 2018 by Jen as “the first packaged Euphoric beverage—a non-alcoholic spirit made of adaptogens, nootropics, and Botanics—designed to give you that unique alcohol-fueled buzz, but without any of the negative

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39:46

Suzanne Koven — ”Literature opens the conversation.”

Slow Stories ·

2021/05/17

“Tell me the whole story from the beginning.” This line has impacted Dr. Suzanne Koven in more ways than one. The revered doctor and writer in residence at Massachusetts General Hospital has cultivated a career that uniquely rests at the intersection of medicine and storytelling. She recently illuminated these experiences in her debut essay collection, Letter to a Young Female Physician. In Letter to a Young Female Physician, Suzanne reflects on her expansive medical life through lenses including

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34:20

Courtney Marie Andrews — ”Poetry is asking you to get...

Slow Stories ·

2021/04/29

What is poetry asking of us? This question was top of mind when speaking with artist Courtney Marie Andrews. The critically acclaimed musician (and self-proclaimed “student of experience”) has translated her wisdom and storytelling prowess into her debut poetry collection, Old Monarch, which “centers around themes of longing and a desire to belong while excavating scenes from her childhood in the American Southwest.” In Old Monarch, Courtney's lyrical poetry is reminiscent of not only earthen

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39:34

Lesley Thornton — ”My self-care is preparation for...

Slow Stories ·

2021/04/16

Industry luminaries like Lesley Thornton prove that with a little extra care, beauty can offer something much greater than aesthetics—it can leave an imprint on someone's heart. Lesley's work in the cosmetics industry is far-reaching, and her past roles have ranged from [retired] esthetician to makeup for The Estée Lauder Companies to on-air beauty and skincare expert for Discovery Networks. But most recently, Lesley has channeled her passion and expertise into building Klur—an eco-inclusive

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35:06

Dina Nur Satti — ”Art is really asking people to...

Slow Stories ·

2021/03/26

Design impacts every aspect of modern life, but it can also serve as a vessel for us to reconnect with time-honored traditions and stories. This duality is often at play in the work of ceramic artist Dina Nur Satti. Dina's practice rests at the intersection of academia, artistry, and aesthetics, and these elements have informed her namesake brand, Nur Ceramics, which in Dina's words, has helped her to “explore ideas of personal purpose and growth, as well as our collective transitions, cultural

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35:56

Jessica Manning — ”Your vision for your future changes.”

Slow Stories ·

2021/03/09

Time and time again, we've witnessed how storytelling can transcend barriers and ignite our senses. The latter has become especially important in our interconnected age. Artists like Jessica Manning are living proof of how the digital landscape can be a powerful vehicle for people to create—and tell stories—that remain in our hearts. For Jessica, this has notably come to life through music. The singer-songwriter's rich vocals and poignant lyrics are just a few details that have shaped her thoughtful

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65 results

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