Where stories invite wonder: Inside Issue 25
This issue, we’re leaning into a sense of wonder – the small sparks, the curious moments and the beauty hiding in plain sight. Here’s your first look at what’s inside.
The Fold Exclusive
Slow tech – is technology a friend or foe of the slow life?
Doing a digital detox is about as much tech talk as you’ll hear in most slow living circles. But let’s not forget that no matter how dreamy your slow life might look on the outside, you’ll still have floors to clean and groceries to buy and a mental load to manage. So let’s take a more realistic look at how to integrate tech into a slower, more intentional life – because if there’s an app or gadget to automate the tasks you don’t enjoy, you’ll have more time to be present in other areas of your life.
How to make time for reading (when it feels kind of impossible)
Too busy to read? So was Hannah – until she wasn’t. Her tips for squeezing 70 books into a busy year (so far!) might just get you back on the page.
What ‘slow living’ means to us
When we first started talking about Issue 24, one theme kept circling back into the conversation: slow living. Maybe it’s because we’re all mums in the thick of family life, maybe it’s because running two businesses doesn’t leave much breathing space, or maybe it’s because the world itself feels like it’s always asking us to go faster. Whatever the reason, “slow” felt like something we were craving, and something worth exploring.
A slower way to tell a story: Inside Issue 24
This issue, we’re putting the spotlight on something that’s always been at the heart of Swell – slow living. Here’s your first look at what’s inside.
Bonus interview: artist Melody Suranyi
In this bonus interview with Newcastle artist Melody Suranyi, she shares the artists who inspire her, her dreams of international residencies and fashion collaborations and the colour palettes currently lighting up her studio. Plus, Melody offers honest, heartfelt advice for emerging artists navigating the highs and lows of the creative journey.
Bonus interview: Dan Marshall, author, illustrator and designer
Following his feature in Issue 23 of Swell, we caught up again with Dan Marshall for a bonus Q&A to find out what’s been happening since we went to print – from landing a global book deal with Penguin Random House (which was all a bit hush hush when we published his story) to presenting at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, and who’s on his dream dinner party lineup.
Why we started Swell (and why we keep going – even when it’s hard)
Sometimes the best beginnings come from the hardest seasons. Swell was born from a craving for purpose, creativity and connection – a way to bring more heart into our work. What started as a passion project has grown into something far greater than we imagined: a magazine that celebrates the strength, creativity and resilience of everyday local people. This is the story of how Swell began – and why, through every challenge, we’ve chosen to keep going.
