logo
episode-header-image
Apr 5
42m 56s

Why Creativity Demands Discipline | “Go...

Daily Stoic | Wondery
About this episode

Does telling your story mean revealing everything? Bestselling author and viral poet Maggie Smith returns for part two of her conversation with Ryan, discussing how writers decide what to share and what to keep sacred. They debunk the myth that memoirs must be exposés, talk about the role of empathy in both storytelling and activism, and explore the challenges of staying true to one's work while navigating success.


In 2016, Maggie Smith’s poem Good Bones became a viral sensation. It was named the “Official Poem of 2016” by the Public Radio International. Maggie Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful; My Thoughts Have Wings, a picture book illustrated by SCBWI Portfolio grand prize winner Leanne Hatch; the national bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change; as well as Good Bones, named one of the Best Five Poetry Books of 2017 by the Washington Post and winner of the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry. 


📚 Maggie’s latest book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life just released on April 1! You can grab signed copies of Dear Writer at The Painted Porch in addition to her books You Could Make This Place Beautiful and Keep Moving.


Follow Maggie Smith on Instagram @ MaggieSmithPoet


🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast


🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast


✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail


🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/


📱 Follow us:  Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 1
Do You Have This? | Protect Your Own Good
Seneca practiced poverty. Marcus Aurelius mentally rehearsed being criticized and misunderstood. Why did they put themselves in these uncomfortable positions?📓 Pick up a signed edition of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living: https://s ... Show More
6m 44s
Jun 30
The One Thing In Your Life You Can Control | The Obstacle Is The Way
Our lives are unpredictable. We are at the mercy of so many forces. 📚 Books Mentioned:The Inner Citadel by Pierre HadotThe Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": https://store.dailystoic.com/ ... Show More
8m 25s
Jun 29
6 Stoic Tips to Being a Great Friend
When we think of great Stoic figures like Marcus Aurelius, Cato, and Epictetus, we tend to focus solely on the individual, their perspective, their observations. But how did these brilliant thinkers treat those around them?Read this article here: https://dailystoic.com/6-stoic-ti ... Show More
14m 55s
Recommended Episodes
May 21
Title: Maggie Smith on Art and the Gift of Our Attention
Description: … We need art and beauty now more than ever We need creators to create And Jen admits to being a metaphor whore Thought-provoking Quotes: “The thing that really kept me going was writing. Writing was the way that I came home to myself.” – Maggie Smith 8:00 Nobody wan ... Show More
1h 11m
Dec 2024
Tricky Questions About Grief: Is There A Right Way To Do It? What To Say To People In Grief? And Can You Grieve For Things? | Sloane Crosley
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- A famed author and humorist takes a deep dive into grief (with Dr. Bianca Harris as co-host). Sloane Crosley is the author of The New York Times bestselling ... Show More
54m 30s
Jun 29
TED Talks Daily Book Club: A Little Daylight Left | Sarah Kay
Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet and the author of the new poetry collection "A Little Daylight Left." In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview with host Elise Hu, Kay reflects on her relationship with poetry — from reading the poems her parents left in her lunchbox to frequent ... Show More
47m 20s
Dec 2024
Taylor Johnson — Pennsylvania Ave. SE
When you look at people who are younger than you — particularly teenagers — does your mind ever take you back to yourself at their age? Taylor Johnson’s poem “Pennsylvania Ave. SE” performs this feat of time travel, going from a glimpse of two boys on bicycles to a haunting sense ... Show More
13m 21s
Dec 2024
S22: NoSleep Podcast Holiday Hiatus 2024 #1
The NoSleep Podcast is taking a Christmas break but that doesn't mean there aren't some Christmas specials to enjoy! "Christmas Santa" written by Jill Benson (Story starts around 00:05:30) Produced & scored by: David Cummings Cast: Narrator - Peter Lewis, Police Officer - Erin Li ... Show More
2h 4m
May 26
Five Rules for Living a More Creative Life
Acclaimed poet Maggie Smith says everyone is creative — yes, even you. 📖 Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life 📱 Support the show by subscribing to our newsletter 
18m 10s
Mar 2025
Bobbi Althoff On How To Go Viral, Find Your Voice, Manage Criticism, & Build Something From Nothing
#816: Join us as we sit down with Bobbi Althoff – comedian, viral sensation, & host of The Really Good Podcast. After skyrocketing to fame on TikTok, Bobbi carved out a niche with her signature deadpan humor & hilariously awkward celebrity interviews. In this episode, Bobbi opens ... Show More
1h 7m
Nov 2023
266: How to Write an Unforgettable Public Statement Honoring Someone's Life and Legacy
In the latest episode, we explore the delicate art of crafting heartfelt tributes. Motivated by Matthew Perry's passing and the notable silence from the "Friends" cast, we delve into the significance of memorializing individuals and the impact of their legacy. The discussion ... Show More
38m 48s
Dec 2024
Diego Báez — Inheritance
Many people say their experience of time changes after they have children, a phenomenon that Diego Báez captures in “Inheritance.” In this poem, a past, present, and future starring the same child shift ceaselessly in a parent’s mind, like photos flipped through in an album, dots ... Show More
20m 4s