Today I’m speaking with Lance Richardson about his new biography, True Nature: The Pilgrimage of Peter Matthiessen. The book is a massive undertaking — eight years in the making — that explores one of America’s most fascinating literary figures.

Matthiessen was a Renaissance man who defied easy categorization: an acclaimed novelist who resented being known for his nonfiction, a rigorous scientist who became a Zen master, and the author of The Snow Leopard, one of the most celebrated nature books of the twentieth century.

Lance’s biography reveals the contradictions and complications behind the literary legend. We discuss the question of separating art from artist, Lance’s creative journey of writing this book, and what it means to truly understand a writer’s life.

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Today I’m speaking with Aatish Taseer about his new collection of essays, A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile.

Aatish is a writer who found himself cut off from India after losing his citizenship following a critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But rather than just dwelling in loss, he explores in his book how exile can become a creative catalyst.

Aatish has crafted deep, literary pieces that use unexpected subjects—rice in Mexico, lotus flowers in Sri Lanka, the scent of oud—to interrogate what it means to belong, and what it means to be truly at home in the world.

We discuss the complex emotions of exile, the influence of his mentor V.S. Naipaul, and how approaching life from an oblique angle can often reveal more truth than facing it head-on.

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Pico Iyer is my guest today. In today’s episode, we discuss the need for silence and stillness in our distracted age, the metaphor of fire as both destruction and renewal, and writing as a process of discovery and attention. And we talk about his new book Aflame, which is about his thirty years visiting a Benedictine hermitage in Big Sur, California.

Just a note to mention that we recorded this conversation back in December, about a month before the current wildfires in and around Los Angeles County. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these events.

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The post Pico Iyer on Finding Stillness in What Remains appeared first on ARTIFACT INT'L.

Alastair Humphreys is my guest today. We discuss his journey from adventurer to author to “microadventurer.” Alastair shares his philosophy of “microadventures,” which is all about finding the potential for adventure in everyday life, and how small, local escapes can be just as enriching as grand, foreign expeditions. We also explore his creative process, highlighting the connection between physical exploration and storytelling. Oh, and we talk about his new book Local, which as the name suggests, charts his year-long quest to step foot in every corner of his local area. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation because it offers insight into turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

This podcast is supported by members of Artifact International. Members receive exclusive benefits and members-only content. Join now.

A podcast about the creative life.

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The post Alastair Humphreys on Finding Adventure Anywhere appeared first on ARTIFACT INT'L.