Ink Speak with Maverick Malone

Ink Speak with Maverick Malone

by Maverick L. Malone

Spirituality Personal Journals

Season 2

52. Intermission: “The Art of Standing Still” – on the Attention Economy & Social Media Burnout

I’m still on hiatus but this felt necessary. This intermission episode explores how social media and the attention economy have subtly trained us to equate metrics with meaning, output with worth, and visibility with existence, often without us realizing it. Over time, this conditioning leads to social media burnout, digital fatigue, and a constant pressure to perform. This is a think-piece episode and an invitation to slow down and examine why we create, why we post, and who benefits from our constant production and performance. We’ll question: Why we feel pressured to constantly create and perform How productivity became proof of relevance Who actually profits from our attention and exhaustion As we approach a tipping point in the attention economy and the emergence of a new paradigm, discernment, self-inquiry, and self-awareness are more important than ever. They’re how we protect our energy, reclaim our agency, and choose consciously rather than reactively. This episode invites you to reclaim your attention, step out of fear-based loops, and return to something more intentional, grounded, and human. If you’ve been feeling: Drained by social media but unsure why Tired of being marketed to at every turn Pressure to stay visible just to stay relevant A quiet sense that something about all of this feels off …this episode is for you. You can check out the substack article I referenced here - "You are not your Output & You Don’t Owe Substack or Social Media Anything"

51. SEASON 2 FINALE // "Rocket Boosters" - Manifesting Dreams, Being Delulu, and Beating the Final Boss of Anxiety

Before I take a hiatus from the podcast, I'm closing out Season 2 with my most immersive episode yet, recorded lakeside, like you’re right there having coffee with me. 🌊☕ I’m diving deep into why the world needs dreamers right now, and why you’ve gotta be just a little bit “delulu” to manifest the life you really want. In this finale, I share: Bold predictions for the next 10–20 years Why logic will never get you to your wildest dreams How manifestation goes way beyond “happy thoughts” The raw story of my latest anxiety spiral and how it revealed the final boss I’ve been battling all along: fear of loss and how I time-traveled to heal it The link between rooting out limiting beliefs and finally being able to hold joy and abundance What it takes to keep believing when the external doesn’t match the internal The many examples of my current reality where the external says I'm "failing" and why I'm choosing faith over fear And I wrap it all up with a collective oracle card pull for what’s coming next...because this story is only just beginning. For more content, you can follow me: On Instagram - @mavmalone On Substack - Mentally I'm Here

50. “Top Down, Bottoms Up” - The Universe Knows Best: Dropping out of Colossal’s national contest, America’s Favorite Couple

For this milestone 50th episode (!!), I’m sharing why Jake and I chose to step away from the America’s Favorite Couple contest, even after making it to the quarterfinals. What looked like a “loss” turned out to be a bigger win: a chance to honor my integrity, align with who I’m becoming, and trust that the universe always knows best. In this episode, I: 💫 Reflect on the lessons behind our decision and why not every opportunity is meant to be pursued. 💫 Reframe rejection as redirection (and share how you can too). 💫 Read my poem “Top Down, Bottom’s Up”—a reminder to stand firmly in your power. 💫 Launch a new segment reclaiming the acronym AFC, now standing for Amplifying Fierce Community—and highlight Amanda Dzimianski’s stunning new poetry collection Something Hungry Just Woke Up. This conversation is all about integrity, alignment, and celebrating the unexpected wins hidden inside every “no.” If you'd like to dive deeper and read the full Substack article on my experience with Colossal's America's Favorite Couple contest, you can read that here: ⁠America’s Favorite Couple Contest: People’s Choice or Privileged Choice? ⁠ To purchase ⁠Amanda Dzimianski's⁠ book Something Hungry Just Woke Up, you can choose from the below retailer (and we suggest using Bookshop.org to support local bookstores): ⁠Bookshop.org⁠ ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠ ⁠Amazon⁠ (womp womp.)

49. "High Tide" - The Magic of the Marsh House: Solo in Vilano Beach & the Wonder of Slowing Down

This episode is a love letter to solitude. While I'm away at sea (literally), I’m taking you back to another coastline, Vilano Beach, Florida, where I recently escaped for a solo retreat. I open with a poem I wrote on that trip, "High Tide," (with calming ocean waves in the background!) and then invite you into the quiet, sun-soaked days that followed full of peaceful sunsets, reflections, journal entries, and the gentle unraveling that happens when we let ourselves be alone. I also share why solo travel has become essential for me and how it holds space for solitude, something I believe all women need more of. Later in the episode, I read a passage from Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh that beautifully echoes this truth. If you'd like to next-level experience this episode (with all the photos, journal entries, and a walk-through video of where I stayed), head to my Substack, Mentally, I'm Here. For even more, you can follow me on Instagram, @mavmalone

48. “My Honest Poem, After Rudy Francisco” - Slam Poetry on the Stories We Carry

Inspired by Rudy Francisco’s viral piece, "My Honest Poem," this spoken word episode is Maverick Malone's own version of truth-telling. Vulnerable, narrative-driven, and deeply human, this slam-style poetry piece is a tribute to the power of honesty, connection, and the stories that shape us. Instead of a traditional episode, Maverick offers this performance as a reminder of what unites us all. Listen to the original ⁠Honest Poem by Rudy Francisco here⁠ Follow Maverick on ⁠Instagram @mavmalone⁠ or on her Substack ⁠Mentally, I'm Here⁠

47. “In Defense of Bears” - Why Women Are Exhausted & My Response to Viral Misogyny

In this episode, I unpack a viral dumpster fire of a post dripping with misogyny, projection, and unhealed wounds masquerading as “truth” (it's an absolute ridiculous word salad worth the listen). We talk incel culture, emotional labor, spiritual bypassing, and why women are tired of having to translate their pain just to be heard. This is an episode for anyone who has ever felt exhausted trying to explain their pain to someone who refused to understand it (or even hear it); for the women who are tired of carrying the emotional labor and for the men who want to do better but aren’t sure where to start. Ultimately, it's for anyone trying to make sense of why the conversation around relationships feels so broken. For more content, follow me on Instagram ⁠@mavmalone⁠ or on my Substack, ⁠Mentally I'm Here⁠

46. "Notes to More than Self" - Spoken word from my 2nd book, Hope and Other Beautiful Things

This is for anyone who needs a reminder that they're not alone. This spoken word piece is from my second poetry collection, Hope and Other Beautiful Things, a book about wonder, resilience, and choosing light. This piece was originally written as a note to self, but became a message for all of us: a soft place to land when the world feels heavy. May it offer hope, gentleness, and the reminder that your light is still here. Book readers: this is the audio-only bonus from the end of the book. If you're just discovering me, you can learn more about my work via my Instagram and Substack below. The re-release of Hope will be forthcoming in summer 2025. Instagram: ⁠@mavmalone⁠ Substack: ⁠Mentally, I'm Here⁠

45. "Airborne" - Spoken Word on Love

No podcast today, just a love poem and a reminder for the challenging days. No matter how dark the clouds, love persists.

44. "The Write Time is the Sentinel of Always" - Doing the Scary Thing Was How I Time-Traveled Home

In this introspective episode, I, Maverick Malone, discuss the nature of time—how it changes us, teaches us, and brings healing when we’re open to what it offers. From open mic nights to my first author fair, I reflect on the power of emotional corrective experiences that rewire the nervous system and help us feel safe in spaces that once felt threatening. Through personal stories and hard-won wisdom, I'll unpack how repeating lessons and making new choices gradually shape us into the version of ourselves we’re meant to become. Because sometimes, time isn’t the enemy—it’s the teacher, the portal, and the quiet hand guiding us home. 🎙 I'll touch on: Emotional corrective experiences & nervous system healing Speaking fears and being seen The transformative nature of time Repeating lessons until we evolve Becoming who you're meant to be through new choices A simple practice you can do to honor YOUR growth Follow Maverick Malone - Instagram ⁠⁠@mavmalone⁠⁠ Subscribe to my substack - ⁠⁠Mentally I'm Here⁠ ⁠⁠Find more of my offerings here

43. "There is Beauty in the Wicked" - Why Your Voice Matters More Than Your Following

What if your words are the spark someone else needs? In this powerful episode of Ink Speak, I share some of the origin story of Tempest Press, the new women-owned publishing company of mine and Chelsea Chatts amplifying underrepresented voices in a world drowning in sameness. Inspired by a poem from queer Indigenous poet Melachoir, I explore why follower count shouldn’t determine who gets heard, why we desperately need new voices, and how even one poem can ignite a movement. This episode is a rally cry for creators, dreamers, and misfits who feel unseen in traditional spaces—a reminder that beauty can still rise from the wicked, and your voice matters more than you know. 🎙 Topics include: The flaws of the current publishing industry Fighting gatekeeping with authenticity Creating impact beyond social media numbers Amplifying marginalized voices through art Building a future where beauty and truth lead the way How to persist in a wicked world 📣 Because we don’t need more noise—we need your voice. Follow Maverick - Instagram ⁠@mavmalone⁠ Subscribe to my substack - ⁠Mentally I'm Here ⁠Find more of my offerings here

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