Masterpiece

Diana Reid wrote her debut novel at 24 during lockdown, having deferred a corporate law job by a year. That book became a bestseller. In the five years since, she’s published two more, with another and a screenplay adaptation on the way. But what's so remarkable about Diana isn't her productivity, but her perspective. Sitting together on a sofa in London, I was struck by her stoicism, he...

Today, my podcast, Masterpiece, is out. I’ve been talking about this podcast for years — dreaming about it, playing with it, circling around it, and avoiding it. It’s wild how you can want something so much and still be so scared of it. How something can feel so true and so dangerous at the same time. I’ve avoided this podcast because I’ve been afraid. Afraid to trust myself. Afraid to be fully se...

Talia Blank is a painter, poet, filmmaker, and incredibly deep thinker. For Talia, making art is like breathing. It isn’t something she thinks about. It pours out of her. And yet, when she had her first solo exhibition in New York, something she had dreamed of, it broke her heart. In our conversation, we speak about what it really means to be an artist. The vulnerability that creativity demands, a...

It’s halfway through the year. A lot has happened, but it feels like just the beginning. This week, Matteo and I sat down to record a chat, reflecting on Juneuary from our new, empty home in Sydney. After 15 months in living limbo, it feels wildly significant. Like a big exhale. We began the month in the South of France, our favourite pocket of the world. I was clinging to that trip like a lifelin...

I’ve wanted to chat to Jonno Seidler since 2022. I was standing in a queue at Palermo Airport, waiting for a flight back to London, when a friend sent me an excerpt from his memoir, It’s a Shame About Ray . I was immediately captivated by his writing, his honesty, and his bravery. I grew up around Jonno but reading his memoir, I realised there was so much I didn't know. His experience of bipo...

This week I spoke with Madeleine Gottlieb — an award-winning director, producer, screenwriter, and one of my oldest friends. I met Mads when I was five. She was the smartest person I’d ever met, with the bluest eyes and the most commanding presence. We were a couple of drama kids. And listening back to this conversation on a walk this week, I realised, we still are. We talk about morning rituals,...

When Matteo and I spent two months in Puglia at the end of last year, living in a sleepy seaside town, we had a weekend ritual: a long walk by the sea, swimming and reading at Lo Scalo, spaghetti vongole and a spritz, a gelato along the promenade, and a movie on the couch. Off our phones, away from the rest of the world, we could switch off. It was incredible. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lat...

There’s a scene in A Complete Unknown I can’t stop thinking about. Bob Dylan steps on stage at the Newport Folk Festival in ’65. Thousands and thousands of people chant his name. They came to hear the songs they know. To see the Dylan they know. But Dylan has moved on. He picks up his electric guitar and plays his new music. The crowd boos. They throw things. Festival organisers try to cut the sou...

After seven years at luxury fashion house Zegna, Nimisha Gupta walked away from the safety of a big role to rediscover herself—and her joy. In this week’s episode of Between the Lines , we talk about making bold career leaps, finding your way back to creativity, and building a life that feels like yours. We also dive into the rituals that help Nimisha stay inspired—including why she takes a bath a...

My earliest memories are anxious ones.  Clinging to my mum’s legs as a child. Hiding under a laundry basket when people popped in. Waking up at 5 AM, putting on my school uniform, and sitting there for three hours—because I was terrified of being late.  For most of my life, anxiety was my default state.  And then last year, driving from Milan to Umbria, Matteo and I were listening to a podcast abo...

Not long ago, I sat down with Grace O’Neill in her Kitchen in London, and we recorded a chat. Grace is a writer. The former editor of Elle Australia . The co-host of After Work Drinks . And one of the most important people in my life. We met during lockdown—Grace and Zach in Apartment B, Matteo and I in Apartment D. The pandemic turned us, and our neighbour Lena (Apartment C), from strangers into...

Matteo and I sat down to talk about redesigning our life in Sydney—finding new rituals, navigating productivity shame, starting therapy, and having the courage to be ourselves. We share the Big Little Things we’re learning and why, in the end, it all comes down to one question: Does it charm you? You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/ Our One Word Journals here:...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve woken up early. I used to resist it. But lately, I’ve realised it’s a secret part of the day—a time to catch ideas. In this week’s pod, I talk about protecting your creative flow, the art of deep work, and the biggest thing I learnt from David Lynch’s 2.5-hour masterclass. Would love to hear what resonates. JYK 🤍 You can find my newsletter here: https://jessica...

A few weeks ago, I took my brother for breakfast and traded coffee and eggs for advice. I told him everything—my podcast vision, the name, the look and feel. I talked for 40 minutes. And then I asked him for a strategy. Then he looked at me and said: "You love the planning. The mood boarding, the strategy, the world-building. But while you’re doing all that, you’re not making the podcast. Sto...

I love January, but I found this one hard. Not because of No Plans Jan —that gets easier every year. But because it’s been a period of transition. Matteo and I are back in Sydney. We’re staying in Sydney. And that still feels difficult to say out loud, even though it feels true. This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about place. The place you live, and how you live within it. How to make space for...

On January 1st, Matteo and I each took out our One Word Journals and started writing. Guided by the book, we reflected on 2024, reconnected with what’s important, and set an intention for the year ahead.  In this chat, we talk about our words for 2025, why Matteo changed his word, and why I stuck to mine. Along the way, Matteo also drops a bomb I wasn’t quite ready to share. I hope you enjoy liste...

This week, Matteo and I sat down to reflect on 2024.  It was a year that began with an eviction from our Notting Hill flat and ended by the seaside in Puglia, Italy. In between, there was a whirlwind of change — a “move” to Milan, a retreat to the forests of Sweden, and an unexpected chapter living in the green heart of Umbria. Along the way, we wrote a book that we’re so proud of. It was a year o...

At the beginning of last year, I was in a creative rut. I knew I wanted to evolve my art but had no idea where to begin. I was terrified I’d never create anything worthwhile again and felt paralysed by indecision. In this episode, I share how ‘play’ (my One Word for 2023) taught me to trust myself, and reconnect with the joy of expression, creativity, and life. JYK 🤍

For years, I was living on autopilot, completely unaware of how disconnected I had become. One simple question changed everything and fundamentally changed the course of my career and life. It led me to quit my job, rediscover painting, and set me on a path toward meaning rather than validation. This episode is just six minutes long, but the truth is, it took me days! JYK 🤍

The concept of journalling was always confusing to me; it felt elusive, awkward, and just another thing to do. So I resisted it for years. But the noise in my head kept getting louder. Matteo kept nudging me to try ‘positive affirmations’, and then my sister sent me a podcast that gave me the final push I needed. Now, it’s something I do every single day. Not because I “should,” but because it’s a...

How do we stay focused when our attention is pulled in a thousand directions? This week, I’m sharing my frustrations with my phone, exploring the hidden cost of distraction on our energy and creativity, and discussing the simple practices that are helping me make space for the things that matter most to me right now. If, like me, you often feel scattered or overwhelmed, this might be for you. Ther...

If you’re on the go, listen on Spotify 🕊 This week, I stepped out of my comfort zone and sat down to record this video. I’m currently in Umbria, working on a podcast, which is pushing me to face my fears and navigate the unknown. It’s been both exciting and scary. In this video, I share what it feels like to confront resistance, the discomfort of starting something new, and the book that’s helping...

Over the last few months I wiped my Instagram, launched my new collection, and transformed my art studio into an exhibition space with almost 200 metres of drapery. In this 20-minute conversation, we touch on stepping into the unknown, finding the courage to lean into what excites you, and why everything is different this year. I hope you enjoy listening! This conversation was recorded a few days...

This week, I sat down with Matteo (aka Dory) to discuss why starting something new is so incredibly hard (and how to get started anyway). You can listen to our first recording above! Recently, I had lunch with a friend who started a brand-new job in a completely new industry. "How’s it going?" I asked. "Good," she said. "Though, there’s a LOT to learn. I’m excited for six...

A few days ago, Camille Liu Nock visited me at home in Sydney, and we spoke about our words for the new year. My word for 2024 is ‘ease,’ and in this two-minute video, I share why! What’s your word for 2024? JYK x This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe