Podcast
The Life of Letters
Hosted by Laura Edralin · EN
A podcast on the history (and future) of calligraphy, penmanship, hand writing, lettering and much more. Hosted by me, Laura Edralin!
I am on a journey to fill the gaps in my knowledge as a calligrapher, having light-hearted conversations with historians, artists, and stationery experts to discover the stories behind the pen and beneath the ink.
This is for people who love the scratch of a nib on paper, who collect notebooks they’re too afraid to use, and who wonder what our writing says about us—past, present, and future.
So, whether you're a calligraphy enthusiast, a history lover, or just curious about the stories behind the letters we write, join me for The Life of Letters.
I’m not in this alone! This new podcast is produced by fellow calligraphy lover, Heidi Cullip.
Follow us on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast
Find Laura @lauraletterslife | lauraletterslife.com
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Art of Tattooing Script: Where Calligraphy Meets Skin
Apr 2100:37:24Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Kalo, a calligraphy instructor and tattoo artist, shares her journey from being influenced by her father's calligraphy to establishing her own business, Kalo Make Art. She discusses the evolution of her career, the challenges faced during political unrest and the pandemic, and her unique approach to tattooing that combines her calligraphy skills. Kalo also shares personal stories behind her tattoos, the process of designing meaningful tattoos for clients, and her involvement with the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH). The conversation highlights the beauty of handwriting, the significance of tattoos, and the importance of community in the art world. Here's a folder of images to accompany the episode, courtesy of Kalo. Find out more: Kalo's Website Kalo's Instagram - Calligraphy Kalo's Instagram - Tattoo IAMPETH - International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting -- If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Exploring Etymology: The Origins of Words
Apr 1400:38:55Tap to summarizeIn this engaging conversation, Laura Edralin speaks with Richard Manning, founder of wordsecrets.org, about the fascinating world of etymology and the evolution of language. They explore the origins of words, the influence of culture on language, and how the digital age is transforming communication. Richard shares insights from his background in linguistics and his experiences in the civil service, highlighting the interconnectedness of languages and the importance of preserving linguistic diversity. The discussion also touches on personal reflections about favorite letters and words, emphasizing the ongoing journey of learning in the realm of language. To find out more about Richard visit his website and subscribe to receive his blog 'Secrets of the Words You Know'. Richard mentions: - Dr George Gazis's epsiode from series four, listen here - Danny Bate's book 'Why Q Needs U' If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Creating Alphabets and Protest Signs with Chris Campe
Apr 700:53:07Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Laura Edralin interviews Chris Campe, a designer and writer based in Hamburg, Germany, who specialises in lettering and visual communication. They discuss Chris's journey into the world of lettering, the significance of letters as a medium, and the intersection of content and form in her work. Chris shares her experiences with analog and digital tools, her involvement in political expression through protest signs, and her publications on lettering. The conversation also touches on her teaching methods and the importance of finding one's unique voice in art. Find out more about Chris - visit her Website, connect on Instagram. Watch visual clips from this epside on The Life of Letters's Youtube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Written in Faith: Calligraphy, Kindness, and Community
Mar 3100:31:30Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Laura Edralin speaks with Angenise Rawls, a talented calligrapher and artist, about her journey into the world of calligraphy, the evolution of her business, and the impact of her faith on her art. Angenise shares her experiences of creating meaningful cards for her community, the importance of giving, and how her artistic practice has influenced her spiritual growth. The discussion highlights the connection between creativity and personal development, as well as the role of art in fostering connections with others. To find out more about Angenise, visit https://www.thegracefulpenstudio.com, on Youtube, or connect with Angenise on Instagram @thegracefulpenstudio. Mentioned in this episode: The Psalms of David: The Great Illuminated Psalter Dedicated to Queen Victoria --- If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Redesigning the Streets of London
Mar 2400:38:19Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Toshi Omagari, a typeface designer, shares his journey into typography, discussing key projects such as the City of London street names and his work on arcade game typography. He explains essential terminology in typography, the significance of kerning, and the challenges of designing typefaces for non-Latin scripts. Toshi also reflects on his favorite letters and the future trends in typeface design, particularly the impact of AI and the importance of diverse writing systems. View images of fonts and typefaces discussed in Toshi's epsiode. To find out more about Toshi, visit: www.tosche.net or connect with him on Instagram @toshiomagari. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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How The Art of Printing Letters Has Changed
Mar 1700:51:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Laura Edralin speaks with Kate Fishenden and Jonathan Mercer from Starch Green Studio about their creative journey, the tools they use, and how technology has influenced their design work. They discuss the importance of community, the evolution of design, and their favourite letters of the alphabet, highlighting the significance of typography in their work. To find out more about Kate and Jonathan, visit starchgreen.com or connect with them on Instagram @starch_green. Here's a folder of images to accompany the episode visually. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Reviving the Art of Shorthand
Mar 1000:41:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Laura Edralin speaks with Devon, the creator of the Learn Gregg Shorthand project. They discuss the history and importance of shorthand, Devon's personal journey into learning and teaching shorthand, the current state of shorthand in society, and the intersection of shorthand with other writing forms like calligraphy. They also explore the community aspect of learning shorthand and the future of digital resources for teaching this valuable skill. View images that accompany the episode (i.e. 'Paracetamol') To find out more about Learn Gregg Shorthand visit LearnGreggShorthand.com, on substack as https://learngreggshorthand.substack.com or on socials as learn.gregg.shorthand: Instagram | Youtube | Tiktok. Devon's exciting new Gregg Shorthand course is now live, find out more here. Take the next step towards becoming a shorthand expert and enhancing your journal writing experience. Enroll now to unlock the secrets of shorthand reading and start your immersive learning journey today! --- If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Understanding the DNA of Letters (and making it a career) with Martina Flor
Mar 300:40:15Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Martina Flor shares her inspiring journey from a graphic designer to an award-winning lettering artist. She discusses the importance of education, the craft of lettering, and how it allows for personal expression within constraints. Martina emphasises the significance of community and support in the creative process, as well as the importance of developing one's own style. She also shares insights into her favorite projects and the creative processes behind them, highlighting the role of teamwork in achieving success. Watch how the 'Futuremaker' piece came together here. To find out more about Martina Flor visit https://www.martinaflor.com/ or Instagram @martinaflor. More information for The Lettering Seminar mentioned, and Martina's Youtube channel. --- If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Series 5 Trailer: An Evolution of Letters
Feb 2400:07:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode, hosts Laura Edralin and Heidi introduce the fifth series of the Life of Letters podcast, highlighting the exciting guests and topics that will be covered. They discuss the evolution of the podcast, the diversity of the art of lettering, and the importance of listener engagement and feedback. If you’re enjoying The Life of Letters Podcast, it would mean the world if you could follow or subscribe, leave a quick review, or share the episode with a friend. Every little action helps more people discover the calming, creative world of calligraphy and lettering.️ Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife.️ ✍️ ✨ Want to bring a little calm and creativity into your own life? Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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Evolution of Letters: What Ancient Greece and Extinct Scripts Tell Us
Dec 3000:48:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode - and epic finale to the fourth series - of the Life of Letters podcast, host Laura Edralin speaks with Dr. George Gazis, an expert in ancient inscriptions and Greek literature. They explore the history and evolution of writing systems, the significance of ancient inscriptions, and the impact of Linear B on our understanding of Greek writing. The conversation delves into the complexities of deciphering lost scripts, the role of digital tools in modern studies, and the cultural implications of writing as a form of expression. To find out more about George, visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/g-a-gazis/. You can also discover more about the work and research he and his team do here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/centre-for-language-and-writing-systems/. --- If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you! ☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here. Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes. ✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.
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