Grief doesn’t always arrive as tears. Sometimes it arrives as instinct, the sudden, sharp reflex to call someone who isn’t there anymore.

I’m sitting down with Canadian folk-pop songwriter Joe McLeod to talk about his single, “ARROWS” the first release from his upcoming album TORN. Written over years of reflection following the loss of his father at age 22, “ARROWS” explores the weight of becoming the protector.

From writing in solitude on an acoustic guitar to intimate house shows in Switzerland, this conversation explores loss not as a one-time event, but as a lifelong reshaping.

In This Episode:

• Navigating the loss of a parent in early adulthood.
• Understanding grief as an evolving process, not a destination.
• The journey of writing alone versus the energy of the studio.
• Creating a shared, present-moment refuge for the audience.

Connect with Joe McLeod HERE

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From the Studio

This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance.

Leave a voice message or reflection

The Letterbox

I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it.

Story House
370 Mallard Loop Dr.
Clayton, NC 27527

Find the House

• Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/
• Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community

Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

Some songs are written during the day. Others are built in the quiet hours, when no one is watching, when exhaustion meets inspiration, and when something inside refuses to let you sleep.

I’m joined by Danish pop artist Emilie Thorsby to talk about her single, “Late Night”—a vibrant celebration of hardworking musicians in an era increasingly shaped by AI and automation. From global radio play (including a surreal first spin in Uganda) to studio sessions fueled by disco beats and live saxophone, Emilie shares why she believes in breath over perfection and live performance over simulation.

This is a conversation about the craft of songwriting, the ethics of AI in the music industry, and the simple truth that some things can’t be generated, they can only be lived.

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From the Studio

This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance.

Leave a voice message or reflection

The Letterbox

I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it.

Story House
370 Mallard Loop Dr.
Clayton, NC 27527

Find the House

• Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/
• Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community

Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

Some songs are written to be heard. Others are written to be seen.

I’m joined by singer-songwriter Lavender Fire to discuss her debut album, From Shadows to Light. Her work is a four-year journey of reclaiming parts of herself and stepping fully into her identity. Built primarily around piano and voice, the album traces a profound arc from self-realization to radical self-acceptance.

Connect with Lavender Fire HERE
Go backstage HERE
Theme music by: Lincoln Parish

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From the Studio

This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance.

Leave a voice message or reflection

The Letterbox

I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it.

Story House
370 Mallard Loop Dr.
Clayton, NC 27527

Find the House

• Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/
• Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community

Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org