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,

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

Mar 24th, 2024 55m 4s

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

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

Aug 30th, 2023 1h 12m

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, digr

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

Jul 12th, 2023 54m 32s

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

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

May 30th, 2023 53m 9s

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 a

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

May 8th, 2023 1h 6m

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 under

Ross Gay — ”There’s always a gathering inside of us.”

Dec 20th, 2022 46m

To hold joy in your hand means to honor sadness in your heart, for the two are inextricable. This sentiment is one that many of us will recognize after a prolonged period of chaos and transformation. But for poet and author Ross Gay, studying t

Tarajia Morrell — ”We imagine our future, our family, ourselves.”

Nov 30th, 2022 45m 40s

From Chopped to Top Chef to restaurant dreams, Fatima Ali's star was on the rise. But after a devastating cancer diagnosis upended her plans, the young chef vowed to experience all she could with the time she had left. Yet as her illness sudden

Ella Frances Sanders — ”People ask questions differently, and they also answer questions differently.”

Oct 26th, 2022 59m 34s

How do you define beauty? Where does beauty come from? Why is beauty important? For Ella Frances Sanders, these questions take center stage in her latest book, Everything, Beautiful, an artful guide that encourages readers to “find hidden beaut

Naj Austin — ”What does it mean to put ourselves on a platform that requires less of us?”

Sep 27th, 2022 33m 54s

Think about the places you frequent most. What’s the experience like? How does it make you feel? How are you connecting? And who are you connecting with? Whether online or offline, Naj Austin has been exploring these questions through her visio

Kayla Maiuri — ”Fiction teaches us so much about reality.”

Aug 9th, 2022 56m

What we leave behind can still shape what moves us forward. This idea is at the core of Kayla Maiuri's poignant debut novel, Mother in the Dark. In this quietly captivating story, readers follow Anna, a young woman who finds herself at a cross

Jon Staff — ”Our words matter, and our lack of words matter.”

Jul 12th, 2022 36m 40s

This is your sign to take a break. Step outside, and feel the delicate earth beneath your feet. Stretch your arms towards the sky, and put your phone in your pocket. Whether you're a city dweller or beach-goer, the great outdoors is closer than

Lisa Taddeo — ”I’ve been there, and you’re not alone.”

Jun 14th, 2022 30m 42s

Let's start with a simple truth: Lisa Taddeo's work is anything but slow. Time and time again, her readers are pulled into honest—devastating—examinations of rage, grief, and what it means to be a person in the world. From her acclaimed work of

Ashley Merrill — ”Design is in service of your rest.”

May 31st, 2022 41m 32s

As hours pass, pay attention to the way the light shifts. Notice how the afternoon sun fades into dusk. Another night has arrived: How was your day? How do you feel? And perhaps more importantly, how will you rest and replenish?These questions

Coco Mellors — ”If you create something and no one sees it, does it count? Yes.”

May 10th, 2022 50m 6s

“When the darkest part of you meets the darkest part of me, it creates light.” This is one of the many incredible lines readers will find in Coco Mellors' luminous debut novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein. In this riveting story, readers meet Cl

Hannah Traore — ”The context is always important.”

Apr 6th, 2022 44m 20s

Slow down and look around. Observe the art on the walls. Take in the colors, textures, and scents. What memories come to mind? How does it make you feel? And, perhaps more importantly, why? Ask Hannah Traore, and she'll tell you that these que

Laura Cramer and Starr Hout — ”We’re so capable of realizing dreams.”

Feb 4th, 2022 34m 15s

Picture this: a vast expanse of Texas road and sky, two best friends, and a world of possibility. It was here that Laura Cramer and Starr Hout came together and conceived Apiece Apart—a brand revered for design-forward staples that, in their wo

Katie Kitamura — ”There’s also incredible power in grief.”

Nov 22nd, 2021 43m 36s

What does it mean to belong? And what responsibilities come with belonging? These questions were top of mind while reading Katie Kitamura's stunning novel, Intimacies. In Intimacies, readers are presented with a rich examination of language, p

Grace Miceli — ”Slowing down is about trusting myself more.”

Oct 18th, 2021 36m 54s

The art of life requires empathy, resilience, and a laugh or two—especially now. But after all that we've been through over the last few years, one question endures: How do we deal? This idea is at the core of artist Grace Miceli's book, How to

Matthew Herman — ”I hope we’re all realizing that we can live by our own rules.”

Sep 30th, 2021 40m

Rituals transform how we live, work, and create—but closer to home, they can do something much greater: encourage self-love. For conscious creators like Matthew Herman, this idea is especially prevalent. Enter Boy Smells.Co-founded in late 201

Meredith Westgate — ”Being a writer can often be empathy overload.”

Aug 23rd, 2021 46m 38s

What do we remember about our stories? In her stunning debut novel, The Shimmering State, Meredith Westgate explores the convergence of memory, art, and grief through the lens of two artists: Lucien, a grieving photographer who moves to Los Ang

Larissa Pham — ”I think everyone woke up to just how impossible it is to survive.”

Jul 15th, 2021 42m 35s

Art creates space for understanding, introspection, and intimacy. These themes are especially at play in the work of artist and writer Larissa Pham. You may recognize Larissa’s work from her bylines in esteemed publications, including The Paris

Jen Spyra — ”How much doubt attends every stage of your writing?”

Jun 30th, 2021 36m 58s

While some stories remain in your heart, others simply make you laugh out loud. Jen Spyra's storytelling oscillates between the two. You may recognize Jen's work from her roles at revered comedic havens like The Onion and The Late Show with Ste

Melissa Febos and Forsyth Harmon — ”Writing is the very solitary room where I practice articulating things that feel unspeakable.”

Jun 15th, 2021 49m 27s

“A lasting, conscientious change in the self is similar to one in society: it requires consistent tending. It is sometimes painful and often tedious. We must choose it over and over.” This is one of the many resonant passages readers will come

Jen Batchelor — ”I take it very seriously when a word gets hijacked out of our vocabulary.”

May 31st, 2021 34m 51s

Conscious connection with others has taken on a whole new level of importance after a year of isolation and recalibration. But if you ask changemakers like Jen Batchelor, lasting connection comes from within—and begins with fueling the body and