WE ARE BECOMING — KATIE DALEBOUT

Katie Dalebout’s medium is authenticity. Since 2013, she’s been hosting the podcast Let It Out, a platform for self-described “soft stories” that unite us universally. Katie’s honesty is infectious, and her self-reflection thoughtfully sincere — her groundedness rings most true to us, something that’s come from years of examining her deeply held beliefs through writing. For Katie, journaling became a lifeline during her most difficult seasons; a way to shed masks she’d grown accustomed to wearing. Now, her podcast has a devoted following, growing to also include Spiraling, a co-hosted show about living with anxiety. She currently runs creative clinics and workshops about journaling, and she published a bestselling book about her writing practice. Today, we talk to her about her winding career path as a podcaster and how that medium has made her feel less alone during this isolating year.

 

Katie wears the Lucie Top in Ceramic and Kate Jeans in Putty

  

  

  

  





 What are some tips for women who want to keep better track of their days and emotions?

We constantly wear masks in the world to protect ourselves, but journaling is the place to remove them and be your truly unedited self. When you ask yourself a good question, you’ll likely get a good answer from your intuition. My tip is to think of journaling as a scavenger hunt to discover things about yourself.

 

Why do you enjoy the format of a podcast? What do you think podcasting offers people that books, tv, movies or  interviews do not?

What I love about podcasting is that it is such a mobile medium. People listen in their alone moments like commuting, cleaning, or getting ready. And I think it creates an intimacy with the host and listeners because you’re with them on good days and bad days in these private moments. By contrast, TV and movies are all-consuming, you’re not usually multitasking. 

Like music, I can remember the exact street corner I was when I heard a line from a certain podcast episode. You can take your time while recording a podcast episode, be a bit messy, and meander while you’re making. I think all of that is human and natural, which makes the medium more organic, gentle, and forgiving. The community of listeners is forgiving too. Quality is important, but above all my listeners expect honesty. It’s hard to hide yourself when you are speaking for a couple hours.

 

 

  

  





 

 

Katie wears the Dance Wrap in Tea and the Kate Jeans in Putty 

  

  

  

  

 

  





What is an excerpt or quote you have read recently that stuck with you?

I read an Alan Watts quote a couple days ago where he says,

“This is the real secret of life--to be completely engaged in what you’re doing. Instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” 

This line really reminded me that it’s lighter than I think it is sometimes.

 

Your professional life seems multi-hyphenate. Can you tell us more about how you got to where you are now? 

On a good day, I'm really grateful for my job, and on a bad day, I listen to my anxieties  that ask “can I keep doing this?” The “this” is living a creative life that allows me to connect with all kinds of people while making and sharing things I’m proud of. None of my career has felt like a choice-- more so following the next step in front of me and then course-correcting as needed. 


I started a podcast in 2013 right after college, and I’ve been doing it ever since. It has morphed along with me and eventually it led to a book deal where I wrote about journaling. Now, I lead workshops about creativity and writing for emotional wellness and continue to foster the community that has developed around LET IT OUT. This has become a place for sharing what I call “soft stories,” the vulnerabile tender tales that connect us when shared.

 

What is an object that has zero monetary value but you consider a treasure? 

At this moment,  I inherited a bunch of my grandfather’s handkerchiefs.  When he died, they moved coasts with me and they reminded me of where I came from and the elegance of my grandfather. They also remind me of the concept of my work, let it out… I obviously mean it with feelings and vulnerability, but it’s true for snot too.

 

  

Follow Katie's work here and visit her website here. Listen to Katie's podcast, Let It Out, here, and the episode with OZMA Founder Heidi Baker here. Photos by Dustin Aksland. 

Katie has kindly shared with us her journaling exercise "In-Process Prompts for Transitions, Changes, & Uncertainty" — find and download here.

 

 

  

 

 

 

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