Welcome to In Harmony with, our ongoing series where we invite people who inspire us to share their stories and the rituals that help them stay grounded.
This month, we spent time with Amanda Montell, New York Times–bestselling author, iHeartRadio Award–winning podcaster, and self-proclaimed magical overthinker.
How would you describe young Amanda?
A chatty theater kid, dreamy drama queen, mini wannabe grown-up, who received a thesaurus for her tenth birthday and was genuinely thrilled about it. My parents are both scientists, which means I grew up in a house where logic mattered; I took those values and put my own spin on them. I always knew I wanted to do something creative and social when I grew up. I just didn't know "linguistics for the girlies" was a job until I kind of made it up.
Extrovert who writes books, how does that work?
Mornings are solitary and monastic, but by afternoon I need human contact or I start talking to the pets at a concerning volume. Thankfully my husband, Casey, who I’ve known since childhood and is also a creative, works from home, too. We take turns jumping all over each other for attention throughout the day. The extroversion is actually useful for book research, though; I do a lot of cornering people at parties and getting them to tell me their story.
Two podcasts—which came first and why audio?
Sounds Like A Cult came first, basically as an extension of my second book, Cultish, that turned into its own beast. Writing is slow and solitary (which is an extremely grounding and romantic process for me, especially now that I’m writing fiction for the first time in my career). Podcasting is the opposite. Being able to do both is a nice balance. For someone who processes out loud and loves people, dedicating half my career to the podcasting stuff makes sense. Magical Overthinkers followed because apparently I had more to say. Forty million downloads later, I’m still curious and haven’t shut up.
How do you recharge?
Dinosaur videos on YouTube, trips to my cabin in Idyllwild (a mountain town two hours from LA, where I’ve always loved going to write and smell the air), and being with friends—my chosen family—as much as possible. Also, as I enter my mid-30s, I’ve leaned much harder into my ~wellness girl~ alter-ego: La Gree Pilates, infrared sauna/cold plunge, and high-quality skincare (including, My July’s Gold Mine Face Oil and Serenity Now Body Butter, which are truly scrumptious).
Tell us about Fiddle, Claire, and Teddy Roo.
Fiddle is our eight-year-old rescue border collie-lab who’s convinced that every person who enters our home came specifically for him. He is the happiest, most goofy, loving (needy) dog alive. Claire, who I’ve had since we were both babies, is a cat-shaped ghost who lives either on my lap or in her own special chamber of the house and communicates exclusively through telepathic judgment. Teddy Roo (not pictured) is a sweet perfect three-year-old BABY. As of now, we are the childless millennial stereotypes who spoil the living daylights out of our pets.
What does “living in harmony” mean to you?
One of my favorite lyrics from the song “A Little Bit of Everything” (I love the Lizzie McAlpine cover) goes, “It’s like trying to make out every word when you should simply hum along.” I am a perfectionist and an overthinker, so for me, living in harmony requires some amount of surrender. It's Casey’s morning cortados and late afternoon piano-playing, the dog in the yard, the cats in their weird positions, the mountains, and a big belly laugh with my friends.
—
Find Amanda:
Website
Instagram
Sounds Like a Cult Podcast
Magical Overthinkers Podcast
—
Interviewed & Photographed by Micaela Hoo, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, My July
