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Some stories don’t just get told—they burn their way into you. In this powerful episode, writer Elly Donado guides us through the streets of Queens that shaped her, sharing how she transformed childhood trauma into breathtaking art. From experiencing over 30 moves (often packing her life in trash bags instead of suitcases) to discovering writing as her lifeline, Elly reveals how our deepest wounds can become our most potent creative fuel. Her concept of the "boomerang of breath" will change how you think about resilience—every inhale carrying struggle, every exhale releasing transformation.

We didn’t have suitcases, but what I carried in my notebook? No one could take that." Elly’s journey as a first-generation Colombian-American is a story of resilience and transformation an epic scale. She breaks open the duality of her work: one raw, autobiographical novel asking "How did I survive?" and a whimsical mermaid fantasy answering "What if I’d thrived?" The conversation turns radiant as she describes Queens’ kaleidoscope of cultures—where "you could travel the world in ten blocks" and neighbors became family. Listeners will clutch their hearts when she shares how losing her childhood teddy bear taught her to "grieve in one hand and write with the other."

"You don’t just survive your story—you dance with it. And honey, I came to move!" The episode crescendos with Elly’s infectious joy, proving that healing isn’t linear—it’s a rhythm. She leaves us with this truth: "Your breath always comes back changed." Whether you’re a writer, a dreamer, or anyone who’s ever rebuilt themselves from scraps, Elly’s story will arm you with ink and hope. Available now wherever you get podcasts!

Quotes

• - "We inhale experiences, emotions, lessons—and then exhale our reactions, creations, or even traumas. Over time, those exhales change as we take in new breaths."
• - "Ink became my protector, my voice when I felt voiceless. Those pages held what I couldn't say out loud."
• - "We'd pack our lives into trash bags and go. But it taught me how to connect quickly—because I never knew how long I'd stay anywhere."
• - "No one was there to hug me, so I'll hug you. It doesn't feel selfless—it feels almost like a healing action."
• - "Everyone can be a writer. It's a muscle that can be trained. Five words, ten minutes a day. Start with pen and paper; screens distract."

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