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Episode 1526Feb 10, 2026

The power of reading and writing as self-care

Sometimes, it’s about having “a good day in a bad world”

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The power of reading and writing as self-care
SEBASTIAN WILLNOW/DDP/AFP via Getty Images

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Cliche or not, engaging with art is certainly one of the best ways to take a step back when the news cycle gets extra heavy. On the show today, Kimberly is joined by Maggie Smith, poet and host of “The Slowdown” podcast. They talk about why reading and writing are so good for the soul, and about the importance of practicing creativity when funding for the arts is under attack. Maggie also reads a poem she selected specially for us! Plus, we’ll hear from two listeners about their self-care rituals.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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The Team