Ink Speak with Maverick Malone

If you’ve ever been told that “your thoughts create your reality,” you’ve probably also felt the toxic underbelly of that phrase. Does an intrusive thought mean you're manifesting a catastrophe? “NOOOOOOO!” (I say with the fierceness of a Michael Scott meme). In this episode, we’re dismantling the sanitized, bypass-heavy narratives of mainstream manifestation to look at what actually happens when...

Have you ever re-read your old writing or listened to your own audio and felt a big wave of cringe? In a digital culture optimized for fast validation, we are conditioned to believe that loving our own creations is a symptom of a massive ego. But WHAT IF the inverse is true? WHAT IF refusing to witness and appreciate your own expression is the ultimate act of self-fragmentation? In this episode, w...

Today's episode is a Listen When minisode in a series of sound bytes, of (what I hope will be) inspirational and motivational poetic mini-speeches or spoken word pieces set to music for helpful, hopeful reminders. Reach for these episodes when you need them. This one is "Pep Talk From An Angel", something that I wrote in one fell swoop last summer at the beach when I was struggling with self worth...

In this expansion of Episode 54 Failure is Success Part I, I take you with me as I Goldilocks my way through my various publishing experiences, trying and "failing" as I searched for the right fit for my books, and how I discovered that every so-called failure was actually refining me and leading me to sovereignty with Tempest Press & Tempest Studio. We'll explore how setbacks in business can...

3What if nothing was ever truly a failure? In this episode, I explore the idea that failure is not something fixed but something we ourselves define. And if we’re the ones defining it...we can also choose to redefine it. I share a personal story of something that happened at a bookstore, something a past version of me would have judged as failure. But instead, it became a growth moment of self com...

I ghosted social media for months, but I couldn't stay away forever. In this season 3 premiere, I’m sitting in my backyard with an iced coffee, talking to you the way I would like two friends catching up after months apart. This episode is a laundry list of so many things I haven't said. It's where I've been and what's happened in the in-between, in all its messy, unraveling, void glory. And yet t...

I’m still on hiatus but this felt necessary. This intermission episode explores how social media and the attention economy have subtly trained us to equate metrics with meaning, output with worth, and visibility with existence, often without us realizing it. Over time, this conditioning leads to social media burnout, digital fatigue, and a constant pressure to perform. This is a think-piece episod...

Before I take a hiatus from the podcast, I'm closing out Season 2 with my most immersive episode yet, recorded lakeside, like you’re right there having coffee with me. 🌊☕ I’m diving deep into why the world needs dreamers right now, and why you’ve gotta be just a little bit “delulu” to manifest the life you really want. In this finale, I share: Bold predictions for the next 10–20 years Why logic...

For this milestone 50th episode (!!), I’m sharing why Jake and I chose to step away from the America’s Favorite Couple contest, even after making it to the quarterfinals. What looked like a “loss” turned out to be a bigger win: a chance to honor my integrity, align with who I’m becoming, and trust that the universe always knows best. In this episode, I: 💫 Reflect on the lessons behind our decisio...

This episode is a love letter to solitude. While I'm away at sea (literally), I’m taking you back to another coastline, Vilano Beach, Florida, where I recently escaped for a solo retreat. I open with a poem I wrote on that trip, "High Tide," (with calming ocean waves in the background!) and then invite you into the quiet, sun-soaked days that followed full of peaceful sunsets, reflections, journal...

Inspired by Rudy Francisco’s viral piece, "My Honest Poem," this spoken word episode is Maverick Malone's own version of truth-telling. Vulnerable, narrative-driven, and deeply human, this slam-style poetry piece is a tribute to the power of honesty, connection, and the stories that shape us. Instead of a traditional episode, Maverick offers this performance as a reminder of what unites us all. Li...

This is for anyone who needs a reminder that they're not alone. This spoken word piece is from my second poetry collection, Hope and Other Beautiful Things , a book about wonder, resilience, and choosing light. This piece was originally written as a note to self, but became a message for all of us: a soft place to land when the world feels heavy. May it offer hope, gentleness, and the reminder tha...

In this episode, I unpack a viral dumpster fire of a post dripping with misogyny, projection, and unhealed wounds masquerading as “truth” (it's an absolute ridiculous word salad worth the listen). We talk incel culture, emotional labor, spiritual bypassing, and why women are tired of having to translate their pain just to be heard. This is an episode for anyone who has ever felt exhausted trying t...

No podcast today, just a love poem and a reminder for the challenging days. No matter how dark the clouds, love persists.

In this introspective episode, I, Maverick Malone, discuss the nature of time—how it changes us, teaches us, and brings healing when we’re open to what it offers. From open mic nights to my first author fair, I reflect on the power of emotional corrective experiences that rewire the nervous system and help us feel safe in spaces that once felt threatening. Through personal stories and hard-won wis...

What if your words are the spark someone else needs? In this powerful episode of Ink Speak , I share some of the origin story of Tempest Press , the new women-owned publishing company of mine and Chelsea Chatts amplifying underrepresented voices in a world drowning in sameness. Inspired by a poem from queer Indigenous poet Melachoir , I explore why follower count shouldn’t determine who gets heard...

In this spontaneous, soul-led episode, I take you with me on a wisdom walk —a solo hike by the river where I set the intention to receive messages from nature and spirit. What unfolded was a quiet, powerful communion with the unseen through dandelions, trickling water, and the gentle language of the earth. I reflect on how creativity is a spiritual practice , how novelty opens the channel to divin...

This episode begins with a poem (an invocation, really) about love as medicine. The kind that finds us at our most depleted and still asks us to show up, gently. I talk about pushing through a heavy day with no energy left, the moment a song pulled me through, and how a simple reel cracked something open in me, revealing a quiet ache from my inner child that I didn’t expect. What followed was a dr...

Are you caught between who you were and who you're becoming? In this soul-stirring episode of Listen When , I dive into the heart of transformation—what it feels like to be in the messy middle of becoming. This inspirational speech explores the liminal space —the hollow, confusing phase when you've outgrown your past self but haven't yet stepped into the fullness of your future. It’s the moment wh...

Can one simple question create a miracle? I hadn’t written in months. I was deep in hermit mode—resting, healing, waiting. But then, I asked myself: What can you find to be joyful about? That one moment shifted everything. I saw my coffee differently. My parking lot view became my future beach house. And then… my creativity unlocked. This episode is about the magic of noticing, the power of believ...

In this episode, I sit down with poet Danielle Coffyn to celebrate the upcoming March 8th release of her debut poetry collection, If Adam Picked the Apple . We dive deep into her journey into writing and what poetry means to her, exploring how the creative process can be both a personal sanctuary and a public offering. Danielle opens up about navigating the highs and lows of the social media game—...

In this episode, I share a deeply personal story of how a simple notification about a new Substack subscriber reignited my passion for creating and reminded me of my "Great Why." When the world feels like it's shouting for you to give up, this episode is a reminder to keep going—because your art does matter. I reflect on the power of art to change the world, one creation at a time, and discuss how...

Today's episode is crossover from my Substack newsletters, Junk Drawer - more specifically, my "ARTHOUSE" subseries, where I break down a poem I've written, tell the backstory of its creation, and/or dive deeper into the topic. With this one, I'm covering the controversial topic of AI poetry. Sparked by a recent study from the University of Pittsburgh, where participants couldn't distinguish betwe...

In this episode of the "Listen When" short motivational series, we'll explore how curiosity can help us transcend fear. Through powerful stories and reflections, I’ll discuss shifting our mindset from anxiety to curiosity, empowering us to face challenges head-on. Plus, stay tuned for a reading of my poem, "Pluto's Impetus," which captures the essence of transformation. Tune in for a quick dose of...

Join us for a special episode featuring local Chattanooga poet Chelsea Chatts as we dive into her new collection, Mud Water Will Rise . Chelsea explores Southern identity through the lens of community and culture, highlighting the unwavering resilience and pride that define what it means to be a Southerner in the 21st century. In this captivating conversation, we discuss the importance of poetry,...