Daring Creativity. Daring Forever.

Bonus Episode: “Everyone is a Story” (Paula Zuccotti)

Host: Radim Malinic
Date: August 21, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this bonus episode, Radim Malinic dives deeper into his recent conversation with multi-disciplinary creative Paula Zuccotti, best known for her global project “Everything We Touch.” Using Zuccotti’s work as a lens, the episode explores how everyday objects can reveal authentic portraits of ordinary lives, leading to powerful reflections about creativity, identity, and what it means to really “see” ourselves and others. Radim highlights key moments from his interview with Paula and draws out extra meaning for listeners seeking to embrace creativity in honest, human ways.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “X-Ray of Our Lives”: What We Touch Defines Us

• Objects as Unfiltered Storytellers

  • Paula’s project asks: “Can we tell someone's life by just looking at all the objects that they touch in one day?”
  • The collection of daily objects creates an “X-ray” of life—raw and unfiltered, unlike curated social media identities.
  • Quote:

    “Everything we touch is like an X-ray of your life because it is everything you do in 24 hours... while you may have your favorite T-shirt on, you also touch Tupperware and cling film and house keys and medicine and a bottle of wine.”
    — Paula Zuccotti, [00:42]

• Contrasting Curated and Reality

  • Social media and digital profiles encourage us to present curated versions of ourselves, but daily habits—phones, coffee cups, tissues—don’t lie.
  • Paula documents objects of necessity and habit, not just “identity” objects: “the crumpled tissues, the anxiety medications, the third cup of coffee, the Netflix remote used for four hours straight.”
  • Quote:

    "She's found a way to photograph our actual lives instead of aspirational ones. And that's the X-ray of our lives."
    — Radim Malinic, [01:50]

2. “Dream Objects” and the Gap Between Who We Are and Who We Hope to Become

• The Objects of Aspiration

  • Paula observes that people surround themselves with “dream objects”: aspirational items representing the version of themselves they wish to be.
  • Examples include unread books, unused guitars, or cameras never picked up.
  • Quote:

    "We project that idea that we have of ourselves... it could be the books that we haven't read, or the guitar that we haven't learned to play... things that you think that one day you'll use them."
    — Paula Zuccotti, [03:50]

• Fundamental Humanity, Not Judgment

  • Radim reflects that Paula’s work doesn’t judge these objects; rather, it acknowledges their role as symbols of hope.
  • “We need dream objects because they represent hope and possibility... she’s recognizing that it’s fundamentally human.”
  • In her images, only what’s actually used day-to-day gets included. The “dream” items are rarely present, reminding us of the distinction between who we are and who we imagine we could be.

3. The Power of Observation: Shyness as a Creative Superpower

• Being Shy and Observant

  • Paula’s personal journey—from Argentina to London—was marked by a tendency to be quietly observant in new environments.
  • This “strategic curiosity” allowed her to listen deeply, notice details, and absorb what others might miss.
  • Quote:

    "I’m always like, having a start at places where I’m like, shy and observant and I try to figure out my voice in that new place. And I don’t walk into a new place loud, if you know what I mean."
    — Paula Zuccotti, [06:08]

• Cultural Reflections

  • Radim mirrors Paula’s experience, emphasizing that observing before acting provides powerful creative insights.
  • Quote:

    "Being shy and observant can also give you the power of actually observing the situation. She's describing her secret superpower of genuinely curious people."
    — Radim Malinic, [06:38]

• Critique of Loudness Culture

  • The discussion critiques society’s emphasis on being loud, arguing for the value of “the quiet observer” in creative fields.

4. “Everyone is a Story”: Radical Humility in Life and Work

• Equality Through Observation

  • Paula insists on an egalitarian approach: every life is complete, every person a story worth telling.
  • She finds joy in discovering unexpected narratives within the everyday, treating each participant as a teacher rather than a specimen.
  • Quote:

    "Everyone is a story and just to see, just to find stories in the everyday, in people’s lives... What surprised me is like when I look at a photo and I find new narratives, new ways of looking at it."
    — Paula Zuccotti, [08:39]

• A Radical Perspective

  • In a world obsessed with “the right way to live,” Paula’s project suggests that every way is valid.
  • Radim summarizes, “There are as many valid ones [ways to live] as there are people living. And maybe that’s exactly what we need to hear right now.”
  • The episode closes with Radim’s invitation for listeners to reflect on their own “everyday objects” and what stories they might tell about their lives.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Everything we touch is like an X-ray of your life because it is everything you do in 24 hours… while you may have your favorite T-shirt on, you also touch Tupperware and cling film and house keys and medicine and a bottle of wine.”
  — Paula Zuccotti, [00:42]

• “She’s found a way to photograph our actual lives instead of aspirational ones. And that’s the X-ray of our lives.”
  — Radim Malinic, [01:50]

• "We project that idea that we have of ourselves... it could be the books that we haven’t read, or the guitar that we haven’t learned to play..."
  — Paula Zuccotti, [03:50]

• “Being shy and observant can also give you the power of actually observing the situation. She’s describing her secret superpower of genuinely curious people.”
  — Radim Malinic, [06:38]

• “Everyone is a story and just to see, just to find stories in the everyday, in people’s lives… What surprised me is like when I look at a photo and I find new narratives, new ways of looking at it.”
  — Paula Zuccotti, [08:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:42] — Paula on the idea that objects we touch daily create an unfiltered “X-ray” of life.
• [01:50] — Radim expands on the difference between real and aspirational selves.
• [03:50] — Paula explains “dream objects” and self-projection.
• [06:08] — Paula shares the value of shyness and observation.
• [08:39] — Paula discusses humility, equality in storytelling, and the hidden narratives in daily life.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Daring Creativity is a heartfelt meditation on the stories hidden in our everyday lives, the bravery it takes to be both observer and participant, and the beauty of authentic creative expression. Through Paula Zuccotti’s lens, listeners are invited to look at their own lives—and the objects within them—with new eyes, honoring the ordinary as extraordinary, and remembering: everyone is a story.