Hannah Close is a writer, photographer and cultural curator. I invited her because, to me, she embodies the pursuit of wisdom and wholeness. Her art—whether in the form of an image, written piece, or Instagram post—emerges from a profound, quiet place. It moves the stuff of the spirit, and invites us to question who we are and what we’re really here for. 

Together we unpack Hannah's early life as the daughter of a 17-year old mother in a working class household that revered flatscreen TVs and honest labor. We listen to the waking up moments that let Hannah to eventually commit to her artistic pursuits. We also talk about her reluctance to personal branding, and the subversive role of creativity in a consumerist culture. And, last but not least, how Hannah attempts to live her most waking life.Guest Bio:Hannah Close is one of those human beings whose life’s work defies easy static bios. She’s a brilliant writer, to start with, author of METAXU, a Substack newsletter that delves into themes as personal as they are collectively relevant.

Her words have appeared in publications such as the Dark Mountain Project and Evolve. While her images, since she’s a brilliant photographer too, have been featured in the Guardian, The Telegraph, the Times, among others. 

With a Ma in Engaged Ecology from Schumacher College, where she created the visual philosophy project ARCHIPELAGO: A Cartography of Relation, Hannah is currently making Islandness, a documentary expanding on the theme of islands and what they can teach us about resilience, togetherness, and our connection to the natural world.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Hannah is curator. In 2018 she founded the Experimental Thought Co, a network that convened events on culture change. More recently, she partnered with the transformational learning platform advaya (whose co-founder Ruby Reed I recently interviewed) to curate several courses, among them Contemporary Spirituality: Meaning and Mysticism in the Modern Age.

Hannah lives between South West England, where she’s from, and a wild Hebridean island where she occasionally hosts sailing residencies.

Credits:

* Music Audio Producer & Editor: Carlos Sierra

* Producer, Writer & Host: Carlota Guedes

Get full access to Waking Youth at www.wakingyouth.org/subscribe