Slow Stories

By Rachel SchwartzmannSociety & Culture Arts Books Personal Journals

Slow Stories episodes

May 26, 2020 Stephanie Danler — ”Compassion depends on being able to pay attention and feel.”
Novelist, memoirist, screenwriter, reader, mother, daughter: Stephanie Danler’s title isn’t singular, and perhaps that is what makes her such a compelling storyteller.
If you’ve read Stephanie’s work, you might already be aware of her gift for writing about the human experience in a way that captures your heart—and sometimes breaks it. Her breakout novel-turned-television show, Sweetbitter, is the embodiment of this. Although it was a runaway success, Stephanie eventually slowed down and looked inward when she realized that another prominent piece of writing she had been working on needed to be told, too. It wasn’t just any story; it was her story, and it recently came to life in her new memoir, Stray.
In this interview, Stephanie spoke more about the impetus for writing Stray, how her relationship with pace has changed, and her thoughts on slow content in our age of digital creativity. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Alessandra Angelini of The Workshop.
49 min
April 24, 2020 Indré Rockefeller
Indré Rockefeller of Paravel gives a whole new meaning to traveling in style. Before making the entrepreneurial leap, she enjoyed an enriching professional life, which included dancing with ballet visionaries to leading meetings in the boardroom where she served in executive roles at renowned luxury fashion companies like Moda Operandi and Delpozo. Coupling Indre's creative acumen with her insatiable curiosity, Paravel is a culmination of her many talents. As the co-founder and co-CEO, Indre and her team are building a new kind of a modern travel brand that aims to "reimagine the possibilities of travel" and create resilient, sustainably-made luggage and travel accessories. In this interview, Indré chatted about her background, the importance of slowing down to reframe our thinking, and what's next for Paravel. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Natasha Hoskins of AllCall.
NOTE: Please note that this interview was recorded in early February 2020. We are conscious of the current fragile state of the world due to COVID-19, but we hope this episode gives you a bit of respite and inspiration. Thank you for listening!
28 min
April 10, 2020 Jessica Latham
The art of socializing has changed drastically, thanks to the advent of the internet. While technology can serve as a powerful mode for connection, there are a few people who understand the unique value of gathering around a table — especially if it’s good enough for the gram. Jessica Latham is one of these individuals. As co-founder of Social Studies, a modern party rental company that takes the guesswork and hard work out of entertaining, Jessica and her team are bridging the gap between online and offline to create environments that are sharable and memorable. Jessica’s entire career has centered around creating space for people from all walks of life to come together, and this community-first approach has already transcended time and space, as evidenced by Social Studies’ dynamic online storytelling efforts. In this interview, Jessica shared some pivotal moments that led to the inception of Social Studies, her thoughts on the slow content movement, and what she’s learned about throwing parties that foster presence. The episode also opens with a “slow story” contributed by Anisa Benitez of More By Her.
NOTE: Please note that this interview was recorded in early February 2020. We are conscious of the current fragile state of the world due to COVID-19, but we hope this episode gives you a bit of respite and inspiration. Thank you for listening!
31 min
March 20, 2020 Special Episode: Introducing Soul Stories
We envisioned kicking off a new season of Slow Stories on a different note, but as we all know, the widespread tragedy caused by COVID-19 has forced us to slow down in more ways than one. Still, we wanted to think about the most effective way to contribute to an ever-evolving, noisy landscape that has spread uncertainty to every corner of the globe — our answer: storytelling.
If you’ve listened to past episodes of Slow Stories, you might be aware that we begin each episode with a "slow story" contributed by a member of our community. These stories have inspired each of our contributors to "stop in their scroll" or slow down and unplug. In light of everything that’s happening in the world today, we couldn’t be more proud to kick off a new season of Slow Stories then by resharing some of these stories along with a few new voices in this special segment.
In this episode, you'll hear slow and soul stories that members of our community return to not only when looking to slow down, but when seeking out happiness and peace.
A special thank you to our newest contributors: Ali Alquiza, Larissa May, Alexandra Fine, Stef Etow, Natalie Skoblow, Grace Lee, Ash Souza, and Chelsea Nicholson.
24 min
December 13, 2019 Emmett Shine
You may know Emmett’s work via his role as the co-founder of the leading design agency, Gin Lane, which during its tenure, built brand identities and creative for some of the most beloved startups in business. Now, Emmett is throwing his hat in the ring with the recent introduction of Pattern, a family of brands that is intent on helping us all enjoy—and reconnect with—daily life. Pattern recently introduced its first brand, Equal Parts, and will be rolling out more initiatives and companies that tie back to this conscious mission in the new year. Emmett and his team have also leveraged our hyper-connected culture by using Pattern’s social media platforms to amplify a conversation around digital mindfulness. In this interview, Emmett discussed his take on slow content and the importance of spending our time in healthier (and happier) ways. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Creative Director and Slow Stories collaborator, John McLaughlin.
32 min
November 15, 2019 Minali Chatani
Minali Chatani's inherent creativity has paved the way for an enriching design career. The industry-leading creative has spearheaded brand design and development for renowned companies, including Sweetgreen and Bloomingdales, and in turn, has mastered the art of fusing brand creative and content in a wholly integrated way. Now she’s rising to the occasion once again in her role as co-founder and Head of Brand at Wild One—an elevated pet brand that creates design-driven, durable products for modern pets and their people. In this episode, Minali spoke more about why slowing down and placing quality at the forefront of all creative decisions will cut through the noise and create a brand with true longevity. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Sandy Friesen of Welden.
22 min
November 01, 2019 Trinity Mouzon Wofford
When Trinity Mouzon Wofford recognized a disconnect between accessibility and wellness, she began building a brand that she hoped would resonate with modern wellness consumers. Since then, she and her small but mighty team have been working diligently to build Golde, the beloved superfood health and beauty brand for everybody. Trinity’s commitment to stewarding authenticity and transparency within the wellness industry has also made its way into her efforts to demystify the realities that come with entrepreneurship in our digital age. In addition to running Golde, Trinity launched an initiative entitled Office Hours—a social series that she hopes will ignite important conversations about creating a business (and life) that makes sense for you. In this episode, Trinity spoke more about these initiatives and why slow content is more important than ever. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Emily Schildt of Pop Up Grocer.
29 min
October 17, 2019 Ara Katz
True change and innovation start from within. That's where Ara Katz of Seed comes into play. As the co-founder and co-CEO, Ara spends her days leading a team to realign our thinking about the vital role bacteria plays in the health of both people and our planet. In addition to Seed's research efforts, Ara has taken its educational mission one step further by engaging with modern customers through Seed University, their digital partner program that is rooted in accountability. In this episode, Ara spoke more about this essential initiative, her thoughts on the current social landscape, and why slowing down our content creation and consumption is integral to coming up with actionable solutions. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Tori Lazar and Alison Belilty.
31 min
September 27, 2019 Nichole Powell — ”There is tremendous power in the pause.”
What does it mean to build a better tomorrow? Nichole Powell of Kinfield has been crafting the answer to this question throughout her entire career. In this interview, Nichole unpacked the importance of reinvigorating Kinfield's product category, how sustainability drives everything she does both on and off duty, and why slow content is a critical component in the modern storyteller's playbook. This episode also opens with a story contributed by writer Adeline Hocine.
36 min
June 19, 2019 Tanya Taylor
The vibrancy and artistry of Tanya Taylor’s vivid prints, flowing silhouettes, and dynamic collections have made her a leading contemporary fashion designer. Beyond aesthetics, Tanya is quickly becoming known for leading the charge in building a brand that has a true heart. Furthermore, Tanya’s passion, honesty, and focus on creating accessibility have also allowed Tanya and her team to tell brand stories that have longevity. In this interview, Tanya spoke more about what slow content means to her and the importance of inspiring sustainable relationships. This episode also opens with a story contributed by interior designer Avery Cox.
26 min