1 Sealed Letter

In this companion to last week’s episode on the future of letter writing, artist and host Kathryn Hastings turns her attention to the luminous world of wax seals—objects that bridge the sacred and the everyday. From their ancient origins in Mesopotamia to their elevation as fine art in our time, Kathryn explores how wax seals have evolved from tools of authentication to talismans of beauty, symbolism, and personal ritual.

This episode traces the trajectory of seals across history while imagining a future shaped by innovation, sustainability, and deeper artistic expression. Kathryn shares her vision for a world where wax seals are not only collected and traded like heirlooms (idea from @at_thefurnace https://www.instagram.com/at_thefurnace ) but used as instruments of ceremony, storytelling, and creative awakening. She highlights the rise of a global community of seal artists and engravers, including names like Detelina Cameo and Olithica, and reflects on the democratization of what was once reserved for aristocracy.

Whether you’re a lifelong collector or just wax-curious, this episode is a meditation on what it means to create something that might outlast us—and to pass it on with intention.

We’ve reached 100 episodes of One Sealed Letter, and rather than looking back, I’m looking ahead—to the future of letter writing.

In this special milestone episode, I explore why letter writing matters now more than ever: as a ritual of leisure, an act of emotional courage, and a refuge in a world that rarely pauses. I share my vision for what’s ahead—from reclaiming our inner wilderness to transforming the inbox into a sanctuary of beauty.

In the second half, I answer listener questions on everything from “ugly letters” and emotional inheritance to what I’d say to my 13-year-old self.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a letter can change a life—or how to explain the magic you feel when you write one—this episode is for you.

In this episode of One Sealed Letter, Kathryn Hastings reads from four deeply personal letters written by Audrey Hepburn—offering a rare glimpse into the woman behind the legend. Spanning from her early days in Monte Carlo to her reflections as a mother and collaborator, these letters reveal Audrey’s generosity, humor, vulnerability, and artistic insight.

Alongside the readings, Kathryn explores the relationships that shaped Audrey’s life—mentors, lovers, friends—and reflects on how letter writing allowed her to express what the camera could not. The episode also touches on her final illness and what we now understand about rare appendix cancers.

For a beautifully curated portrait of Audrey’s life, we recommend the documentary AUDREY (2020), streaming on Netflix. It’s an elegant companion to this episode—both full of heart.

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📚 Sources & References:

• Bonhams Auction House: Audrey Hepburn letters to Sir Felix Aylmer

• Audrey Hepburn’s letter to Henry Mancini (publicly archived)

• AUDREY (2020), directed by Helena Coan – Netflix

• Mayo Clinic & NIH literature on pseudomyxoma peritonei and appendix cancer

• UNICEF archives and public speeches by Audrey Hepburn

In this episode of One Sealed Letter, we trace the extraordinary life of Robert Smalls through three of his letters—each one a window into a different chapter of his transformation from enslaved pilot to Civil War hero to U.S. Congressman.

We begin with his 1862 public letter, written just months after he commandeered a Confederate warship and delivered his family—and his crewmates—to freedom. In it, he rebukes false rumors and asserts his unwavering commitment to the Union cause and the fight to end slavery.

Next, we explore a deeply personal letter sent to the widow of his former enslaver—inviting her, in an astonishing act of grace, to live in the very house where he and his mother had once been held in bondage.

Finally, we read his 1890 article published in the North American Review, where Smalls—now a seasoned statesman—exposes the rampant voter suppression and racial terror dismantling Reconstruction.

Together, these letters form a powerful arc of resistance, reconciliation, and resolve. Smalls was not only a man of action—he was a man of words. And those words still carry.

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Primary and Secondary Sources:

• Smalls, Robert. Letter to the Lowell Daily Citizen, September 1862; reprinted in The Liberator (Boston), September 26, 1862, under the title “A Colored Man’s Reply to Senator Pomeroy.”

• Smalls, Robert. “Election Methods in the South.” North American Review, vol. 151, no. 405, November 1890, pp. 589–597.

Read here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25102082?seq=1

• Historical summary and correspondence references from:

– Smithsonian Magazine: “The Daring Civil War Escape of Robert Smalls”

– Gale Library Blog: “From Slave to Senator”

– House of Representatives History Archive: Biography and political record of Robert Smalls

– Cricket Media: “The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls” (incl. account of the McKee letter and train fare)

– Slideplayer Archives: Selected quotes from Smalls’s 1890 article and Reconstruction context

– New York Tribune, May 1862: Early coverage of Smalls’s escape and Northern public reaction

– The Liberator and abolitionist press: Archival commentary on Smalls’s letters and influence

In this delightfully puzzling episode, I dive into the whimsical, artful world of rebus letters—those clever messages made from pictures and symbols rather than words. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to 18th-century valentines, rebuses have long offered a way to say something meaningful without spelling it out. You’ll hear stories of love notes disguised as riddles, flirtations hidden in etchings, and how rebuses helped children (and adults) learn to read. Plus, I’ll share tips on how to write your own rebus letter, and tell you where to find my free Rebus Letter Guide, filled with 300+ ideas to get you started.

You can download the rebus guide here:

https://tremendous-founder-4461.kit.com/68a83f40ea

In this special episode of One Sealed Letter, we step into the private world of Princess Diana through the letters she wrote to friends, strangers, and loved ones. Read aloud in full and placed in historical context, these intimate notes reveal Diana’s deep compassion, fierce vulnerability, and remarkable grace under pressure. From the turmoil of her divorce to the tenderness of her final summer, each letter offers a glimpse of the woman behind the public persona.

This episode is both a tribute and an investigation—into who Diana was, how she endured, and what her own words can teach us today.

What transforms an everyday action into something sacred? In this episode of 1 Sealed Letter, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Norton—Harvard Business School professor and author of The Ritual Effect—for a fascinating conversation on how rituals shape our emotions, relationships, and sense of meaning.

We explore the subtle yet powerful differences between habits and rituals, the psychology behind why effort increases value, and how letter writing—with its deliberate slowness, candlelit wax, and quiet reverence—beautifully embodies the ritual instinct.

Michael shares insights from his research on everything from cake mix and IKEA furniture to grief, bedtime routines, and the unexpected ways ritual brings order to chaos and depth to the everyday.

To learn more about Michael’s work, visit: michaelnorton.com

In this episode, I unravel the deeper questions behind “happy mail”—from consumerism and toxic positivity to the quiet devaluation of women’s creative work. What happens when joy becomes performative, or art is dismissed as trivial? A thoughtful look at the materials we use, the messages we send, and the meaning we assign to what seems small.

Cat London’s creative life defies categories—and that’s exactly why this conversation is such a joy. In this episode, we explore how humor, music, poetry, and handwritten letters all point to something deeper: the courage to create without apology.

From the influence of her grandmother’s nurturing letters to her reflections on improvisation and self-expression, Cat shares how she navigates the world as an artist who refuses to be boxed in. Together, we reflect on the beauty of imperfection, the gift of non-transactional connection, and how staying playful can keep your creative spirit alive.

If you’ve ever found yourself torn between too many creative paths—or felt unsure of how to begin—this episode is a warm, encouraging place to start.

Follow Cat London:

Explore more of Cat’s work, including her music, poetry, comedy, and upcoming projects:

• Linktree

• Instagram @catlondonmusic

Inspired by Mark Twain’s 1891 Harper’s article and a modern podcast on telepathy, we dive into the unseen, deeply felt connections that exist between people—those uncanny moments when a letter crosses paths with one written by the very person you were thinking of. Have you ever thought of someone just before they called or texted? Or felt the urge to write, only to discover they were doing the same?

We’ll also explore a guided energetic practice I use before writing letters—something that draws on my background in Reiki and years of tuning into intuitive communication. Whether you’re curious about the ether, intrigued by letter-writing rituals, or simply want to feel more connected in your creative process, this episode offers a unique perspective on what it means to truly tune in.