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

---

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