"Living with openness isn’t easy, but it’s the only way I feel truly connected."

In this intimate, firelit conversation recorded in the oak woodlands of Mendocino, I sit down with someone who has long felt like a little sister to me - Alyson. We’ve shared many chapters over the years, from our time living and working in Nepal to weaving our own creative paths through life. What we spoke about in 2023 still holds weight today, perhaps even more so in this ever-accelerating world.

Together, we unpack themes of identity, ego, creativity, and care. Alyson reflects on growing up Filipino-American in San Jose, California, finding healing through gardening and natural dyeing, and wrestling with the writer’s journey - the guilt, the fixation, the fear. We talk candidly about the shadow side of service, and the ever-present tug between doing what we love and doing what we think will make us lovable.

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the cycles we move through - in art, in life, in healing. It's a timestamp of where we were, and a torchlight for the path still unfolding.

Connect with Alyson on Instagram: @alysonnoele (instagram.com/alysonnoele/)

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Wilderness Within (WW) is made possible due to the ongoing financial support of patreon supporters. We are big fans of the value-driven, pay-it-forward model, and the reason why you won't hear razor subscriptions or VPN discounts offered is thanks to the supporters who pitch in each month. Besides becoming a patron, some of the best ways to support this podcast is to share this episode or show with a friend, and to rate WW on Spotify, Apple, or your favourite listening platform. Whatever you are able to do, thank you!

Special thanks also to Carlos Militante for the WW soundtrack and logo. Gratitude to the following humans - Paul J., Antoine M., Aiyana B., Deborah C., Rene D., Luke F., Kelly P., Carina F., Kelsea L., Khen R., Kelsey Y., Michael C., Evan S., Kristine S., Lindsay C., Anne G., Yu Shan C., Otis S. Steven T., Steven M., Steph P., Anna W., Camila N., Dana W., Naira d. G., Dora L., Orion H., Michelle K., Steven W., Jackie C. S., Romar S., Peter W., Jacky C., Tsetop S., Frankie L., Jim B. Lisa C., Marek B., Mikey L., Alex A., and more past & present patrons - in making this dream come true!

Alyson Noele Sagala - Making Meaning and Letting Go as a Creator (WW 07)

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