Letterpress Printing with Athena Cauley-Yu from Meticulous Ink
In this episode of the Life of Letters podcast, host Laura Edralin speaks with Athena Cauley-Yu, founder of Meticulous Ink, a letterpress and fine stationery business. They discuss Athena's journey into the world of stationery, the intricacies of letterpress printing, and the various workshops and community events she hosts. Athena shares her passion for creativity, the importance of collaboration, and her upcoming On Paper Festival, which celebrates the art of paper and printmaking.
To find out more about Athena, visit meticulousink.com, follow and connect with her:
insta & Tiktok: @meticulousink
YouTube: @MeticulousInkFineStationery
Facebook: @meticulousink
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39:09
Mudlarking Mysteries: The Curious Case of the Dove Type with Jason Sandy
In this episode of the Life of Letters podcast, Laura Edralin speaks with Jason Sandy, an American architect and mudlark in London. They explore the fascinating world of mudlarking, where the River Thames reveals its historical treasures at low tide. Jason shares his personal journey into mudlarking, the community of fellow mudlarks, and the incredible artifacts he has discovered, including Roman coins, tokens from the Great Fire of London, and shares the fascinating story of the historic Dove typeface created by Emery Walker and T.J. Cobden-Sanderson.
The conversation delves into the history of the Thames, the significance of the artifacts found, and the stories behind them, culminating in discussions about exhibitions and the future of mudlarking.
Images to accompany the episode can be found here.
To find out more about Jason, follow and connect with him on Instagram @jasonmudlark
Jason's books are available on Amazon (these are affliate links):
Mudlarks: Treasures from the Thames
Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London's Lost Treasures
Secrets of the Thames Exhbition (May 2025-2026)
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51:00
The Business of Calligraphy with Kestrel Montes from Ink Me This
In this episode of the Life of Letters podcast, host Laura Edralin speaks with Kestrel Montes, a prominent figure in the calligraphy community. Kestrel shares her late discovery of calligraphy, her journey from a laser engraving business to becoming a calligraphy educator and product innovator. The conversation explores the balance of traditional and modern calligraphy, the importance of foundational skills, and the innovative products Kestrel has developed to support calligraphers. They also discuss the future of calligraphy and the personal growth that comes with learning new styles.
To find out more about Kestrel
Visit inkmethis.com (boutique and services) and learncalligraphy.com (classes)
Or connect with her at kestrel@inkmethis.com or on Instagram @inkmethis
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42:11
Series 2 Trailer: What's Coming This Series
In this episode, producer, Heidi and host, Laura, reflect on the success of Season One of the Life of Letters podcast, expressing gratitude to listeners and guests. They share their excitement for Season Two, which will focus on community themes and feature a diverse range of guests. The conversation highlights memorable moments and stories from Season One, showcasing the unique journeys of various guests in the world of lettering and calligraphy.
More about the podcast can be found here | Follow on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast.
For more about Laura visit lauraletterslife.com or connect with her directly @lauraletterslife.
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7:08
Arabic Calligraphy (in the Digital Age) with Ruh Al-Alam
In this episode of the Life of Letters podcast, host Laura Edralin speaks with award-winning calligrapher Ruh Al-Alam about his journey from London to Dubai, his passion for Arabic calligraphy, and the innovative ways he blends traditional techniques with modern digital tools. Ruh shares insights into his creative process, the significance of calligraphy in cultural contexts, and the importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation of artists. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of calligraphy in the digital age and the future possibilities for this art form.
To find out more about Ruh:
Visit: RuhAl-Alam.com & Archetype.xyz
Or connect with him on Instagram at @ruhalalam
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!
Connect with me on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.
To discover more about my calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife.
Look out for the next series, coming soon!
A podcast on the history (and future) of calligraphy, penmanship, hand writing, lettering and much more. Hosted by me, Laura Edralin!
I am on a journey to fill the gaps in my knowledge as a calligrapher, having light-hearted conversations with historians, artists, and stationery experts to discover the stories behind the pen and beneath the ink.
This is for people who love the scratch of a nib on paper, who collect notebooks they’re too afraid to use, and who wonder what our writing says about us—past, present, and future.
So, whether you're a calligraphy enthusiast, a history lover, or just curious about the stories behind the letters we write, join me for The Life of Letters.
I’m not in this alone! This new podcast is produced by fellow calligraphy lover, Heidi Cullip.
Follow us on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast
Find Laura @lauraletterslife | lauraletterslife.com
Ireland