Take Your Time

For our first interview of the season, I sat down with my mentor and friend, the brilliant and ever-wise Ara Katz. During our conversation, Ara reflected on many things: her return to New York after years living in LA, how experiencing grief as a teen shaped her worldview, and how she turned to creativity as a means of survival as a child. We explore neuroaesthetics and the impact of physical space, the importance of quiet, intuition, and trust in oneself, and why creatives must resist "contorting" for social media algorithms.

Tune in for a meditation on self-trust, the importance of non-attachment, and the lifelong work of becoming who you are.

(0:00) Introducing Ara Katz, Co-Founder of Seed

(01:37) Three Deep Breaths & "How Is Your Heart Today?"

(04:11) Returning to New York & the Meaning of Home

(09:49) How Dianna & Ara Met

(11:08) When Do We Really Become Who We Are?

(13:20) Childhood, Early Trauma & Creativity as Survival

(16:03) Grief, Solitude & Losing Her Mom at 15

(25:34) "She Didn't Always Follow the Recipe" — Her Mother's Last Gift

(27:25) The Decision to Launch Crown Affair

(30:26) The Miracle of the Human Body & Lifelong Wellness Philosophy

(34:19) Disconnection from Nature & the Importance of Getting Quiet

(41:37) Building a Brand Without Contorting for the Algorithm

(45:25) Anxiety as a Signal You're Out of Alignment

(58:04) Mary Oliver's "The Journey" Read Aloud

(1:02:52) Take Your Time Questions Begin

(1:05:15) Seed's Storytelling Legacy & the Times Square Billboard

(1:12:02) When Does Time Stand Still? Reframing Our Relationship to Time

Thank you for listening to Take Your Time. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok

Follow Dianna on Instagram: @diannacohen

Subscribe to Take Your Time on Substack

Find everything Take Your Time at takeyourtimeuniverse.com

Recommendations and resources from this episode:

• Undimmed by Cecily Mak

• Seed

• Mary Oliver Poem

For the very first episode of Take Your Time, I'm sharing my own story and the "why" behind this podcast. I reflect on growing up in a small town in South Florida, discovering art history in eighth grade, and how collecting images through magazines, art books, and Tumblr became my creative safe space. I talk about how Take Your Time became my personal mantra as I built Crown Affair, what it really means to slow down and reclaim your time, and why I believe that all of us are creative, we just have to get quiet enough to listen to ourselves.

Tune in for a meditation on dreaming, consistency, and the seeds we plant long before we ever see the fruit.

(01:05) Why a podcast, and why now?

(02:00) Dianna's creative upbringing in South Florida

(03:10) Building Crown Affair & the power of mood boarding

(05:05) Dianna's unique relationships and what inspired the show

(06:10) The three deep breaths ritual

(06:55) The meaning behind "Take Your Time"

(07:44) Take Your Time Back Segment

Thank you for listening to Take Your Time. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok

Follow Dianna on Instagram: @diannacohen

Subscribe to Take Your Time on Substack

Find everything Take Your Time at takeyourtimeuniverse.com

Check out Crown Affair at crownaffair.com

Welcome to Take Your Time, a podcast about creativity and intention hosted by Dianna Cohen.