Slow Stories

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 perspective and presence. Most recently, Jessica showcased this musical prowess in her newly-released EP titled "You Are Here." Yet even with this milestone, Jessica is no stranger to the importance of slowing down. This has become even more apparent as she's navigated working in a space predicated on output and performance.

For Jessica, pivots have become part of her process, and the result has enabled her to broaden her creative approach so that she can tell stories in new and exciting ways. In this interview, Jessica shared more about her ongoing professional evolution, the origins of "You Are Here" and her musical journey as a whole, and what she's learned about changing her pace to cultivate a more considered creative practice. This episode also opens with a reading by Erika Veurink.

We can't always prepare for the unexpected, but we can pace ourselves when navigating tough moments. This is a lesson that Zak Williams has slowly learned through the years and is now translating to the masses as the co-founder of well-being brand, PYM, short for Prepare Your Mind. While PYM offers an invitation to those looking to take better care of their mental health, the brand's origins stem from Zak's personal experiences after tragically losing his father—renowned entertainer Robin Williams—to suicide in 2014.

Throughout his recovery, the redemptive power of storytelling ultimately catalyzed Zak to write a new chapter of his life. Through extensive research and an enduring commitment to bettering mental hygiene for all, PYM was born with a mission to, in their words, “support feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm with all-natural, safe, and super effective Mood Chews”

Products aside, Zak's pursuits in the mental health space have also reinforced the importance of slowing down to create brands and conversations with longevity. In this interview, Zak spoke more about these ideas and shared more about the development of PYM, the power of preparation and resilience, and what he's learned about storytelling as a tool to support the mental health movement. This episode also opens with a reading by Tonya Papanikolov.

Content Note: This conversation centers on supporting mental health and fostering well-being but does allude to topics including substance use and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Thank you for tuning in.

Certain moments in life leave an indelible mark on our stories. While it can sometimes be uncomfortable to navigate these moments of uncertainty, individuals like Deja Foxx remind us that moving with intention will always be a step in the right direction.

At just twenty years old, Deja has already risen to prominence as a community builder who is seamlessly bridging the gap between social justice and social media to connect and mobilize young people around the world. While you may be familiar with Deja's work as the Influencer and Surrogate Strategist for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, Deja's impact began closer to home when, at just sixteen, a question she posed to her senator at a town hall meeting ultimately catapulted her into the spotlight as a leader to watch in the reproductive justice movement.

These days, and even as the world continues to reckon with a global health crisis, Deja has continued to scale her advocacy work—most notably with her digital community, GenZ Girl Gang. But platforms aside, asking questions has remained integral to Deja's work, especially when it comes to examining the systems and policies necessary to ensure a more equitable future.

For Deja, these life-changing experiences have reinforced the critical role that storytelling can play in creating lasting change. In this interview, Deja reflected on her own story, the role of pace in activism, and what she's learned about meeting the moment. This episode also opens with a reading by Samara Cooper.

Some stories stay with us, and the ones that do often shape our lives in ways that we never thought were possible. This is the case for Becky Cooper, whose chance encounter with a harrowing collegiate tale ignited her ten-year exploration into the unsolved murder of Jane Britton—an archaeology graduate student at Harvard who takes center stage in Becky's sophomore book, We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence.

In this compelling mystery-meets-memoir, Becky creates a rich tapestry of Jane's life as she attempts to unearth details around the tangled investigation of her death. But as someone who is no stranger to the allure of storytelling, Becky's immersion into Jane's world ultimately provoked a deeper inquiry into the systems that shape—and at times compromise—a narrative. For Becky, giving a voice to Jane's life (while also sharing snippets of her own experiences throughout the book) ultimately served as a critical reminder about the power and responsibility that comes with telling stories about the past, especially as we navigate a complicated present. 

In this interview, Becky shared more about these ideas, what initially led her to Jane, how slowing down informed her writing process, and what she's learned about the delicate balance of reconstructing and reflecting on a person's story.

Don’t judge a book by its cover—instead, look closely and let it take you deeper into the story. Nicole Caputo understands how to make this sentiment a reality. She is translating her dual passion for art and writing into her roles as Creative Director at Catapult and Counterpoint Press and Co-Founder of She Designs Books.

While the relationship between design and storytelling becomes increasingly important in our crowded, often visually-heavy, digital landscape, Nicole has risen to the occasion in making cover art that is in service of the larger story. Part of this approach stems from Nicole’s resolve to lead with empathy—for the writer, for the reader, and for the process itself.

Empathy, coupled with acceptance, has also played a role in Nicole’s own process—and pace—both online and off. As she continues to navigate how to show up for her professional community online, a recent personal health challenge has also influenced Nicole to make space to live, work, and create away from her devices and closer to the people who matter most.

Nicole’s story of creativity and courage is a powerful reminder to live with intention. In this interview, she spoke more about the opportunity that comes when pursuing quiet moments offline, how slow content has inspired her creative process, and what stories she hopes will come out of this transformational period. This episode also opens with a reading by Jennie Edgar.

Slowing down opens up a world of possibility—though it can take on many meanings depending on who you ask. In the business community, next-generation entrepreneurs have recognized the importance of shifting their pace to create products that cater to a more conscious way of living. Elizabeth Walton Egan is one of these founders, and she is placing intentionality and humanity at the core of her company. Enter Dally—a design-driven lifestyle brand that “crafts goods with attention to detail and a spirit that has a ‘loose understanding’ of time.”

Co-founded with her husband and creative partner, Kevin Egan, the Dally duo’s fast-paced New York City life called attention to a greater opportunity to “seize the slow.” Currently, Dally’s core product includes a botanical handwash with a mission to infuse meaning into this daily ritual.

For Elizabeth, treating these ordinary moments with reverence is an essential part of truly changing our habits—and minds—when thinking about slowness. In this interview, she shared more about building a company that (slowly!) walks the walk, how her personal relationship with pace has changed, and why she believes in daydreaming. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Veronica Petty of Domingo Comms.

What does it mean to gather? This is a question that

While Ghia's roots are inspired by the Mediterranean, closer to home, Mélanie has grappled with building a company rooted in connection in a time of increased isolation. For Mélanie, a shift in perspective—and pace—has become a guiding light during this turbulent time. In this conversation, she shared more about the importance of fostering hospitality even while at home, why she characterizes Ghia as being a “slow” company, and what she's learned about the power of slowing down and setting a new, more inclusive table.

Art imitates life; it also inspires new ways of looking at the world. The advent of the digital age has created a new palette for artists to make their mark on a scale unlike ever before. Lindsay Adams is among these boundary-pushing creatives, and she has captivated the digital landscape with her work—and her story.

For Lindsay, art is both a respite and a runway to inspire introspection and conversation. In this conversation, she shared more about how creativity has catalyzed her work as a disability advocate and what she’s learned about the power of [slow] storytelling. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Alicia Puig of PxP Contemporary.

We look to the past to inform our futures, but as we continue writing the chapters of our stories, we often forget to bask in the events unfolding in real time. Creative people have a unique ability to capture the nuances of these particular experiences. Poet and tastemaker Orion Carloto is one of these individuals. 

As she's grown in her creative practice, Orion learned how to look for—and celebrate—the magic in the otherwise mundane moments. For Orion, this appreciation for the little things stems from lived experiences and the growth that's shaped her perspective since writing her first book, Flux. 

Today, Orion is celebrating the release of her highly-anticipated sophomore, Film for Her, which in her words, “is a reflection of all of the instances in my life where I found beauty and poetry in the most ordinary places.” This introspection has allowed Orion to write from a place of acceptance.

As she's grown into her personal, professional, and creative identity, Orion is slowly changing the narrative around what it means to tell stories with meaning and grace. In this conversation, Orion shared more about the inspiration behind Film for Her, her thoughts on language as a tool for beauty beyond aesthetics, and what she's learned about growing up—and slowing down. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Nikki Barnhart.

“What if you could change your life? Would you do it? How would you do it?” These introductory questions invite readers into the world of The Shame—Makenna Goodman’s debut novel that follows the yearning and ultimate unraveling of a woman named Alma.

While the book itself is short in length, readers become immersed in a slow buildup to a critical decision that Alma makes revolving around Celeste, a mysterious but pivotal character in Alma's life, who, at first, serves as a source of inspiration for Alma but steadily evolves into infatuation throughout the story.

While Makenna has created a riveting work of fiction, The Shame acts as a vehicle for necessary conversations around the relationship between art, identity, and commerce. For Makenna, these ideas remain top of mind, and in this conversation, she shared more about how she arrived at this transcendent story, her relationship with pace and creativity, and how she's learned to reframe an important question when examining storytelling—and life.