389. Madeleine Dubus
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “389. Madeleine Dubus” inside PodZeus.
Madeleine Dubus, a writer, poet, and global head of visual merchandising at Jacques-Marie Maj, challenges the myth of the solitary, disciplined artist with a radical embrace of chaos, contradiction, and imperfection. She reveals that her most profound writing—her memoir and poetry collection—was composed not at a desk, but on her phone during lunch breaks, driven by fleeting inspiration. Her process defies traditional 'writerly' rituals: she doesn’t believe in over-editing, trusts her first thoughts implicitly, and sees writing as a sacred act that emerges from life, not a performance. Moving from New York to L.A., she discovered that slowing down—embracing lateness, sunlight, and dog walks—wasn’t a failure of productivity, but a necessary condition for creativity. She argues that the pressure to 'do it all' is a trap, and true artistry lies in knowing when to delegate, when to rest, and when to simply let go. Her story is a manifesto for the modern creative: you don’t need to be a 'writer' to write, you just need to be present, messy, and unapologetically yourself.
Write on your phone during lunch breaks—your best ideas come in fragments, not at a desk.
Never edit your first line; if it came to you, it was meant to be there.
Delegation isn’t failure—it’s the only way to survive being a 'person who wears many hats'.
Sunlight and dog walks are not distractions—they’re essential creative fuel.
Your process doesn’t have to match anyone else’s; your art is sacred, not precious.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Digital Invasion: When Devices Take Over
The episode opens with a humorous lament about phones hijacking audio and the growing sense of disrespect from inanimate tech, setting the tone for a conversation about reclaiming agency in a chaotic world.
The Typewriter Ritual: Analog as Sacred Practice
“I do think... the typewriter is more about like ritual. So once I'm putting together the collection, type it out because poetry is so visual too. So using that as a way to like type it out, get this kind of spacing the way I want it, the way it I want it to look visually, but also just having the ritual of rewriting.”
The Myth of the 'Writer's Life': Hustle Culture vs. Authenticity
“I'm like, I can do everything all the time and I do not need to ask anyone for help and I shall not delegate. And then, you know, that doesn't always work out great so yeah it doesn't but um at least you tried you know yeah i mean it's a double-edged sword...”
From New York to L.A.: The Creative Power of Slowing Down
“You don't have to be rushing. Everyone in L.A. is late for everything. And it's just like part of the vibe because. That drives me so bonkers. No, it used to be like the worst thing in the world to me. I still struggle a little bit, but I something shifted where it's like especially with my like work in fashion. It's like as long as I'm getting my work done, I have all these projects in all these different places. It's okay if I'm left the house 10 minutes later than I meant to because I was walking my dog or whatever it is.”
The Sacredness of Writing: Not Precious, But Higher
“I don't believe in being precious with it, meaning like overly sensitive or like not open to feedback and not open to sharing. And kind of like, no, don't touch that thing. You know, this is this special thing. But I do believe that it's sacred, meaning art is higher than us. It's how I connect to a higher part of the world, whatever that is.”
“I don't believe in being precious with it, meaning like overly sensitive or like not open to feedback and not open to sharing. And kind of like, no, don't touch that thing. You know, this is this special thing. But I do believe that it's sacred, meaning art is higher than us. It's how I connect to a higher part of the world, whatever that is.”
“I feel like the typewriter is more about like ritual. So once I'm putting together the collection, type it out because poetry is so visual too. So using that as a way to like type it out, get this kind of spacing the way I want it, the way it. I want it to look visually, but also just having the ritual of rewriting.”
“If it came to you then it was meant to be there. Oh, damn. You believe in dreams. Plug your socials. Where can people find you? Oh, well, I'm on Substack. Sometimes against my will. Sometimes not. I'm just kidding. Madeline Dubuze on Subsec.”
Host
Guest
Madeleine Dubus
person
Poppy's
brand
Substack
brand
Jacques-Marie Maj
brand
brand
Bodhi
brand
Spotify
brand
Mary Oliver
person
Passion Pit
other
Allen Ginsberg
person
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “389. Madeleine Dubus” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime