Slow Stories

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

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 you think—but no matter where you are, one idea endures: when we disconnect from our devices, the world opens itself up to us in magical ways. For Getaway Founder and CEO Jon Staff, this idea has gradually become second nature.

Founded with the belief that "free time should be a right and a ritual for everyone," Getaway cabins offer visitors the chance to escape, replenish, and slow down. But as the leader of a business whose mission is to help others ultimately do nothing, Jon is putting everything into creating a brand that embodies its values—inside and out, online and off.

In this interview, Jon shared more about redefining escape, his relationship with writing, what technology gives and takes from us, and the magic of doing nothing. This episode also opens with a story by today's partner (Pablo Carrascal of) Ostrichpillow.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/jon-staff 

Learn more about Getaway: https://getaway.house/ 

Purchase Jon's book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/getting-away-75-everyday-practices-for-finding-balance-in-our-always-on-world-jon-staff/13584980 

Follow Getaway: https://www.instagram.com/getawayhouse/ 

Learn more about Ostrichpillow: https://ostrichpillow.com/ 

Follow Ostrichpillow: https://www.instagram.com/ostrichpillowofficial/  

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

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 nonfiction, Three Women, to her unforgettable debut novel Animal, Lisa's writing is not merely an invitation into a story but a rallying cry to recognize the full scope of the human experience. The same can be said for her latest book, Ghost Lover, a collection of stories that “brings to life the fever of obsession, the blindness of love, and the mania of grief.”

For Lisa, life moves quickly, especially now. But her enduring exploration of grief creates space to talk about the (often) slow process of overcoming heartbreak or pain. And because of this, her stories stay with you long after the last page. In this interview, Lisa shared more about the pace that drives her practice, why she's drawn to short stories, and what she's learned from writing about people. This episode also opens with a reading by Francesca Giacco.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/lisa-taddeo 

Learn more about Lisa's work: https://www.lisataddeo.com/ 

Purchase Lisa's books: https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=lisa+taddeo 

Follow Lisa: https://www.instagram.com/lisadtaddeo/ 

Learn more about Francesca's work: https://francescagiacco.com/ 

Purchase SIX DAYS IN ROME: https://bookshop.org/p/books/six-days-in-rome-francesca-giacco/18785655 

Follow Francesca: https://www.instagram.com/fegiacco/ 

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

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 drive the work of creative entrepreneur Ashley Merrill. Over the years, her company, Lunya, has grown into a category-defining sleepwear brand at the intersection of wellness, design, and, as Ashley puts it, “creative problem-solving.” But for Ashley, achieving success means nothing without building a business—and living a life—fueled by intention.

In this interview, Ashley shared more about the relationship between creativity and pace, the complicated notion of balance, how she views slow storytelling, and how dreams show up in her daily life. This episode also opens with a story by Bryn Taylor.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/ashley-merrill 

Learn more about Lunya: https://lunya.co/ 

Follow Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ashley__merrill/ 

Follow Lunya: https://www.instagram.com/lunya/ 

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

“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 Cleo and Frank, two disparate characters whose chance encounter brings them closer in ways they couldn't have expected. Throughout the book, readers also meet Cleo and Frank's closest friends and family members, whose own stories add texture to Cleo and Frank's relationship and provide a nuanced portrait of what it means to come together, grow up, and in some cases, grow apart. 

Cleopatra and Frankenstein may be a work of literary fiction, but for Coco, it also calls upon what she deems "emotional nonfiction." And her own story of transformation and curiosity is a reminder that slowing down—and looking inward—is often the only way forward.

In this interview, Coco shared more about what led her to write Cleopatra and Frankenstein, her thoughts on gratitude and faith, and the importance of spending time doing what you love most. This episode also opens with a story by Alyssa Natoci.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/coco-mellors 

Learn more about Coco's work: https://cocomellors.com/ 

Follow Coco: https://www.instagram.com/cocomellors 

Purchase CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN: https://bookshop.org/p/books/cleopatra-and-frankenstein-coco-mellors/16786593 

Learn more about Alyssa's work: https://alyssanatoci.com/ 

Follow Alyssa: https://www.instagram.com/lyssssssie/ 

Hannah Traore — ”The context is always important.”

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 questions are integral to how we collectively engage with art. The New York-based gallerist originally got her start in the industry at renowned institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and Fotografiska. Today, she's bringing her experiences into focus with the introduction of her namesake gallery, which in her words, is “dedicated to broadening the notion of what is deemed appropriate for the gallery setting.”

While Hannah's fast-paced, high-energy nature is part of her daily life, pace plays an essential role in the gallery itself. Nestled in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhood, the space offers a welcoming, immersive environment that allows visitors to peruse the work at their leisure. For Hannah, art is something to be witnessed and experienced—to do so fully means slowing down.

In this interview, Hannah shared more about the implications of curation and consumption in the digital age, the responsibility of viewing art, and the practices that have changed her relationship with pace year after year.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/hannah-traore 

Learn more about Hannah Traore Gallery: https://hannahtraoregallery.com/  

Follow Hannah: https://www.instagram.com/hannahtraore/ 

Follow Hannah Traore Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/hannahtraoregallery/  

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

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 words, “act as witnesses to our lives... and never go out of style.”

While the duo's shared love for beauty has culminated in timeless clothing, style is just one part of their story. For Laura and Starr, community-building anchors everything at Apiece Apart, and this notion has become even more vital as the world continues to change at warp speed. And though they may not always know what's ahead, Laura and Starr are still looking forward, moving slower, and are sure of one thing: Their best work is yet to come.

In this interview, Laura and Starr shared more about their enduring friendship, what it means to tell slow stories, and what they've learned about building support systems in business—and life. This episode also opens with a story by Arlena Armstrong-Petock of Marvin Ruby.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/laura-cramer-and-starr-hout 

Learn more about Apiece Apart: https://www.apieceapart.com/ 

Follow Apiece Apart: https://www.instagram.com/apieceapart 

Follow Marvin Ruby: https://www.instagram.com/shopmarvinruby/?hl=en 

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

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, power, and identity seen through the lens of an unnamed narrator who has arrived in The Hague to interpret at the international court. As the narrator's story unfolds, readers witness the manipulation of language—and self—as the narrator tries to reconcile her role as an interpreter—and participant—in the stories shaping the spaces around her.

For Katie, distance and perspective are often top of mind in her writing process. But in the case of Intimacies, Katie's work also provokes deeper reflection about the relationship between time and choices—and how the decisions we make ultimately inform how we interpret and navigate the complicated landscapes of our personal, professional, and romantic lives.

In this interview, Katie shared more about the research and writing process behind Intimacies, her thoughts on the relationship between grief and power, and how pace has evolved in her creative practice. This episode also opens with a story by Sara Harowitz.

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

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 Deal. 

Billed as “a weird but honest roadmap from a friend who wants to make it just that much easier for us to navigate our own journey,” How to Deal provides a creative respite from the "daily dreads" that pervade modern life. With thoughtful prose and a collection of original comic strips, illustrated lists, and diary entries, Grace renders a compassionate exploration of what it means to deal with—and embrace—the messier parts of life, both online and off.

In this interview, Grace shared more about the evolution of her creative practice, the process of working on How to Deal in a period of isolation, and what she's learned about slowing down—and trusting herself. This episode also opens with a story by Emily Freidenrich.

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

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 2015 with his partner David Kien, Matthew and the team have worked diligently to create a gender-inclusive lifestyle brand that, in their words, encourages people to “make loving your identity a daily ritual.” With products ranging from candles to fragrances to intimates, Boy Smells aptly puts the personal back in personal care routine. 

While much of Boy Smells’ journey is reminiscent of Matthew’s personal experiences, the brand has embraced its community every step of the way. In this interview, Matthew shared more about his journey from fashion to fragrance, the ins and outs of building a genderful brand, and what he’s learned about slowing down—and living an abundant life. This episode also opens with a story by Julianne Fraser.

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

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 Angeles to care for his grandmother, and Sophie, a dancer with the Los Angeles Ballet Company who has landed a coveted lead role in an upcoming production. On the periphery of their stories is an experimental drug called Memoroxin that "targets and delivers patients' own memories" and is intended for medical treatment. But when Lucien and Sophie meet as patients at the Center—a Memoroxin rehabilitation clinic founded by the mysterious Dr. Sloane—readers are taken on a journey between past and present to understand Lucien and Sophie's connection to one another—and the world around them.

The consumption and curation of memory fuels so much of how we live, work, and create in our digital age. Yet as The Shimmering State comes out during a time of recalibration—both online and off—Meredith's work reminds us of the delicate threshold between the memories that make us who we are and the stories we tell ourselves.

In this interview, Meredith shared more about the origins of The Shimmering State, her thoughts on the curation and commodification of memory, and why writing fiction slows her down. This episode also opens with a reading by Kayla Maiuri.