Slow Stories

Sep 30 2024 58 ep. 41 mins 12

Slow Stories Podcast artwork

Hear from leading writers, artists, and innovators who share slow stories—and big ideas—about living, working, and creating in our digital age. Hosted by Rachel Schwartzmann Sign up for the newsletter: https://slowstories.substack.com/

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Rachel Schwartzmann — "Was it a beginning, or had the story been writing itself all along?"

Sep 30 2024 5 mins

A note from Slow Stories' own Rachel Schwartzmann regarding her new book, SLOWING!— Order SLOWING: https://lnk.to/Slowing/ Subscribe to Slow Stories on Substack: https://slowstories.substack.com/ Read Rachel's essay in Literary Hub: https://lithub.com/against-perfectionism-and-productivity-on-embracing-flaws-as-a-writer/ Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rac

Amy Lin — "Grief is a problem of narrative."

Aug 19 2024 72 mins

What does it mean to grieve? What does it look and feel like? Why is it still so hard for us to understand? These are just a few questions Amy Lin tackles in her astounding memoir Here After. In a series of crystalline vignettes, Amy recounts the unexpected death of her husband Kurtis, her subsequent medical crisis—and the winding journey to live after inconceivable loss. In many

Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka — "We're very conscious of that aliveness in our relationship."

Jul 25 2024 52 mins

Shared vision is at the heart of every great partnership—but a good sense of humor helps, too. Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka understand this sentiment. The two creatives met as undergrads at McGill University—and later at a bush camp, cooking for tree planters—and have lived multiple lives since then. In 2012, they co-founded the conscious fashion brand HORSES, which values b

Victoria Chang — "It takes a lot of energy to be slow."

Jun 27 2024 48 mins

"Point of view has a terrible memory. I've looked at photos scrolling up and over, zooming in and out, and realize it is not love I want, just the ability to zoom back out. A woman loses herself when she can no longer zoom out." This is one of the many resonant passages readers will encounter in Victoria Chang's latest poetry collection, With My Back to the World. Across three part

Brandon Stosuy and Rose Lazar — "Crying is a cool thing."

Apr 29 2024 52 mins

When was the last time you cried? This question is at the heart of Brandon Stosuy and Rose Lazar's illustrated anthology, Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears. With contributions from a wide range of voices, including Phoebe Bridgers, Zeba Blay, Sloane Crosley, and many more, Sad Happens is a gentle offering that reminds us to get to the heart of our own stories—and our own humani

Mason Spector — "I find a lot of value in the sadness."

Mar 23 2024 55 mins

Authenticity has never been more critical in a world that celebrates fleeting trends. In an industry like fashion, and for entrepreneur Mason Spector, discerning design is just a small part of creating long-term impact and connection. As the co-founder of the Los Angeles-based clothing brand Madhappy, Spector and his team are committed to "using apparel, events, and experimental re

Chelsea Hodson — ”I’m genuinely excited about creating things.”

Aug 29 2023 72 mins

An essay, Chelsea Hodson tells us, should be an attempt at clarity. That may be true for a writer, but clarity is the last thing that comes to mind when reading Chelsea's words. Instead, we are swept away by her striking prose, repetition, digressions. Chelsea's words pulse with desire, fear, and hope. Readers walk away from the page, not always knowing what to think but feeling so

Katherine May — ”It’s okay to get on with the business of living.”

Jul 12 2023 54 mins

How do we find and maintain a sense of wonder in a world that's become so unpredictable? Katherine May (author of Wintering and The Electricity of Every Living Thing) tackles this pressing question in her latest book, Enchantment, which is “an invitation to each of us to experience life in all its sensual complexity and to find the beauty waiting for us there.” Calling upon the

Tembe Denton-Hurst — ”Growing isn’t always in the big moments.”

May 30 2023 53 mins

The world can learn a lot from Tembe Denton-Hurst—like how to tell a story and, perhaps more importantly, how to tell the truth. She does this and more in her stunning debut novel, Homebodies, which “is a testament to those trying to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space.” In this electric story, readers follow Mickey Hayward, a writer in New York navigatin

Allie Rowbottom — ”The questions in your writing are the questions in your life.”

May 08 2023 66 mins

Who are you when no one is looking? This question came to mind when reading Allie Rowbottom's incisive debut novel, Aesthetica. The story follows Anna, a former Instagram celebrity, on her path of reflection and redemption as she seeks to undergo a high-risk elective surgery called Aesthetica™, which is said to “reverse all her past plastic surgery procedures, returning her, sh