Slow Stories

Latest Episodes:

Zak Williams — ”You need to be engaged with your environment and the people around you.” Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

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.

Deja Foxx — ”We should be making statements about who we are.” Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

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.

Becky Cooper — ”What is the story that I should be the one to write?” Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

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.

Nicole Caputo — ”I really see design as a lifestyle.” Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

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.

Mélanie Masarin — ”You never remember the time you spent on the internet.” Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

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

Ghia—a new non-alcoholic aperitif brand founded by Mélanie that “inspires new ways to drink, gather, and think.”

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.

Lindsay Adams — ”Slow storytelling means giving yourself the grace and the space to evolve.” Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

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.

Orion Carloto — ”Slowing down is the most beautiful thing you can do for yourself.” Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

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.

Makenna Goodman — ”I do think that we want to escape, but I don’t think we want to flee.” Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

“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.

Taylor Sterling — ”I want to be more empathetic to how I can help versus how people can help me.” Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

The creative process is exciting, messy, and in some cases, uncertain. But it illuminates the depths of our subconscious and creates a runway to tell stories that inspire a shift in pace, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the worlds conjured by some of the most creative minds. Taylor Sterling is one of them, and her multifaceted approach to creativity has come to life most notably in the form of Glitter Guide—a brand and editorial platform that publishes “lifestyle advice, reading recommendations, and tips for boosting and embracing your creative energy.”

While the site has amassed a loyal following over the years, the road to building Glitter Guide hasn't been all sparkles, and Taylor has grappled with how we collectively value—and approach—storytelling in an increasingly fast-paced environment.

As Taylor has paid attention to the big changes that have informed how she's built her business, she's also learned to pay attention to the little moments that are shaping how she's building her life. In this conversation, she shared more about those moments, along with how slowness has informed her relationship with creativity, and what she's learned about surrendering certain expectations to make space for the things that matter most. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Tania Leipold of Laine + Alliage.

Jordan Taylor — ”The most meaningful learning comes from deeper experiences.” Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Finding strength in numbers has taken on a whole new meaning as it’s shaped how we navigate a tumultuous time—one that’s called much of how we live and work into question. However, if you ask Jordan Taylor, the question of what comes next ultimately ignites us to look inward and seek to learn things about ourselves—and others. This is the root of what Jordan is exploring with her new company, Medley, which, put simply, “is a membership for curious, growth-minded people who want a structured, social, and accessible way to invest in themselves.”

Medley's mission draws on Jordan's experiences navigating modern life and recognizing that something was missing in an age of individual pursuit. Coupling this with the experiences of her co-founder and mother, Edith Cooper, the duo put their heads together and eventually tapped into the potential that comes when creating space for people from all walks of life to gather and engage in holistic growth.

In this conversation, Jordan shared more about the people who inspired Medley's inception, the importance of diversity in storytelling, and what she's learned about embracing process over outcome. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Naomi Shah of Meet Cute.

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