Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Suleika Jaouad (on creative alchemy)
112 snips
Jul 2, 2025 
Suleika Jaouad, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author, shares her journey through illness and creativity. She discusses why memoir writing should be brutally honest and reflects on moments where vulnerability can lead to resilience. Jaouad reveals how a misdiagnosis sparked a deeper understanding of herself and her art. There’s humor as she recounts her band camp romance with Jon Batiste and her connection to music. Throughout, she emphasizes the healing power of journaling and the importance of self-acceptance.
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Dissolving Loneliness Through Stories
- Reading others' stories creates connection and dissipates loneliness.
- Seeing someone openly share your private feelings is comforting and powerful.
Puberty and Early Literary Discovery
- Experiencing puberty brings awareness to romantic and sexual feelings without full understanding.
- Early reading like Lolita ignited Suleika’s intrigue into romance and sexual bodies.
Early Writing Injury in School
- Suleika wrote a controversial novella in school inspired by her reading but was misunderstood and shamed.
- This experience hurt and made her afraid to share writing for a decade.
