Driftwood Conversations

Hilary Sloane
  • 4.6 (8)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Driftwood Conversations is a weekly podcast hosted by journalist Hilary Sloane, sharing soulful conversations with artists, seekers, and everyday revolutionaries. Each episode offers stories that connect us to the world—and to each other—through truth, wisdom, and the grit of lived experience.

  1. 6d ago

    C. Von Hassett - Writer and longtime meditation practitioner

    C. Von Hassett — Awareness, Death and the Practice of the Pause Writer and longtime meditation practitioner C. Von Hassett joins Hilary Sloane for a wide-ranging conversation about awareness, fear, death, meditation, and learning to be present in an increasingly distracted world. Hassett has practiced Dzogchen, a Tibetan contemplative tradition, for more than thirty-five years. From his home in Rimrock near Pioneertown, California, he now devotes much of his life to meditation and contemplative practice. The conversation moves through his childhood in the San Fernando Valley, his early love of literature, years in Los Angeles and New York, teaching, writing, and the books and teachers that eventually led him to Dzogchen. Chris and Hilary also explore what spiritual practice looks like in ordinary life: watching the mind, living with fear, finding stillness in a city, growing older, making room for death, and discovering the extraordinary possibilities contained in something as simple as a pause. They also discuss the practical side of choosing a contemplative life: Chris's decision to step away from much of contemporary media, his relationship with his wife, Rachel Reid Wilkie, and his writing on meditation and end-of-life practice. C. Von Hassett is the author of Entering the Mind, The Boundary Stone, and Awakening in the End. Links to the books are here. Driftwood Conversations is hosted by Hilary Sloane.

  2. Sep 10

    Jeff Hafler - Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum

    Jeff Hafler has spent more than twenty years building an unusual life in California's high desert. He owns the Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum in Joshua Tree and is a musician, former yoga teacher, collector, husband, and father. He also believes deeply in synchronicity and in paying attention when life seems to point you in a particular direction. Jeff and I talk about leaving West Hollywood for Wonder Valley, raising a son with his husband Michael, building the Beauty Bubble, surviving the pandemic, becoming the subject of the documentary Inside the Beauty Bubble, and the strange coincidences that have shaped his life. We also talk about what happens when optimism meets a more difficult world—and why Jeff keeps returning to a simple piece of advice: Follow your bliss and keep showing up. https://insidethebeautybubble.com/ https://kinema.com/films/inside-the-beauty-bubble-ndm5aq Driftwood Conversations is hosted by Hilary Sloane.

  3. Sep 3

    Mandi Leigh: Leaving the Life You’re Good At

    Mandi Leigh: Leaving the Life You’re Good At Mandi Leigh spent years working in the film industry, beginning as a production assistant on Supernatural and eventually becoming an assistant director. She was good at the work. She loved it. But another part of her life was becoming impossible to ignore. “I love working in film, but I love life more.” Mandi had always been a singer, but when she began playing guitar and writing her own songs, music started pouring out of her. In 2024, she packed her guitars, her dog and a mattress into her Dodge Journey and toured through British Columbia. She discovered that traveling from town to town, sharing music and connecting with people, felt more like herself than anything she had done before. Eventually, she took a much bigger leap, leaving British Columbia and moving across Canada to Toronto to build a life around her music. In this episode of Driftwood Conversations, Mandi and I talk about what it means to leave something you’re good at, the fear and uncertainty of beginning again, family expectations, self-worth, songwriting, touring, and the strange moment when you realize you may have stepped into the life that feels like your own. We also talk about her EP, Emotional Highs; the full-length album she is recording; her family's leatherwork tradition; and the two words tattooed on her hands: contradiction and balance. Mandi didn’t leave film because she failed at it. She left because another part of her was asking to be lived. Driftwood Conversations is hosted by Hilary Sloane https://www.mandileigh.com/

  4. Aug 13

    Cristina Martinez

    Seattle artist Cristina Martinez creates work rooted in memory, resilience, community, and the beauty that can emerge from difficult beginnings. In our conversation, we talk about the women who shaped her, her unexpected path from fashion school to painting, and why storytelling and human connection are at the heart of her work. Cristina shares how art has become a way of honoring where we come from while imagining who we might become. To see more of Cristina’s paintings, murals, and public art, visit cristinamartinezart.com or follow her on Instagram @sew_trill.

  5. Aug 5

    Dr. Priyanka Upadhyai

    Dr. Priyanka Upadhyai: Science, Story, and the Human Search for Meaning What happens when a scientist who studies rare genetic disorders also becomes a thoughtful observer of what it means to be human? In this episode of Driftwood Conversations, I sit down with Dr. Priyanka Upadhyai, a professor of biomedical sciences in India whose work explores the mysteries of genetics and disease. Beyond the laboratory, Priyanka is a writer whose reflections on identity, curiosity, and everyday life have attracted readers around the world. Our conversation moves easily between science and storytelling, childhood and culture, research and creativity. We talk about growing up in India, the discipline of scientific inquiry, the role of imagination, and why stories matter just as much as data when we're trying to understand ourselves. Despite the complexity of her work, Priyanka approaches life with warmth, humility, and an openness that makes this conversation feel less like an interview and more like two people exploring what it means to pay attention. If you've ever wondered how science and creativity can exist side by side—or why curiosity may be one of our greatest human gifts—I think you'll enjoy this conversation.

  6. Jul 31

    Story with Brenda Littleton and Hilary Sloane

    Field guid for Being Human, Episode 1 - Story  In the first episode of Field Guide for Being Human, Hilary Sloane and Jungian therapist, writer, and coach Brenda Littleton explore the nature of story. Together they discuss memoir, dreams, trauma, identity, and why the stories we tell ourselves can both limit us and set us free. As the conversation unfolds, they discover that perhaps story isn't something to cling to or erase, but something that continues to evolve throughout our lives. What happens when we stop asking who we've been and begin asking who we're becoming? If you've ever written, remembered, questioned your past, or wondered how meaning emerges from experience, this conversation is for you.

  7. Jul 29

    Palo Xanto

    Musician, poet, and community organizer Palo Xanto joins Hilary Sloane for a conversation about creativity, music, and life in the California high  desert. Drawing inspiration from hip-hop, rock, poetry, and the desert’s unique culture, Palo discusses his evolution from a young rapper in Northern California to the frontman of a genre-blending band that combines conscious lyricism with groove-driven music. He shares how writing became his first creative language, why community matters, and how independent artists are navigating a rapidly changing creative landscape. The conversation explores the desert as a source of inspiration, the role of creativity in finding one's voice, and the power of building authentic communities around art. Learn more about https://paloxanto.com/home

  8. Jul 22

    Sean Kennerly

    Show Notes Guest: Sean Kennerly Sean Kennerly is a writer, musician, and founding member of the influential California punk band Samiam. He is also the vocalist for the Brooklyn experimental noise band Ice Balloons. His debut novel, Memoir of a Hyena, combines years of research with an imaginative first-person narrative that invites readers into the life of one of nature's most misunderstood animals. In this episode, we discuss: Growing up surrounded by books, music, and the arts Experimental music and the influence of John Cage and Robert Wilson Creativity, curiosity, and following unconventional ideas The remarkable social world of spotted hyenas Why Sean chose to tell a hyena's story from its own perspective Making art for the love of creating rather than commercial success Learn more: Memoir of a Hyena — Some People Press Instagram: @deathfluff Music: Samiam Experimental music: Ice Balloons If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe to Driftwood Conversations, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves thoughtful conversations about creativity, storytelling, and the unexpected paths that shape our lives.

See All (66)

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Driftwood Conversations is a weekly podcast hosted by journalist Hilary Sloane, sharing soulful conversations with artists, seekers, and everyday revolutionaries. Each episode offers stories that connect us to the world—and to each other—through truth, wisdom, and the grit of lived experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Hilary Sloane
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024-2025 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Driftwood Conversations