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Rowan Mangan

Writer. Mom. Wild Inventurer.

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welcome!

Hi there! Thanks for popping by.

I’m Ro: a writer, a podcaster, a mom, a food enthusiast. I try to live in a way that feeds my heart and soul, even when that goes against the norms of our culture. This can look weird but it feels like total freedom. I call this way of living “Wild Inventures.”

If you’re interested in freeing yourself from norms—or just want to watch the spectacle of me doing it very imperfectly—please feel free to become an inventurer yourself.

Subscribe to my Substack newsletters. I write here every week about my own inventures.

Listen to the Bewildered podcast, which I make with my wife, Martha Beck.

Follow me on Instagram.

So glad you’re here! Let the wild rumpus begin!

  • Health inventures

    #health

  • Loving Inventures

    #loving

  • Parenting inventures

    #parenting

  • Work inventures

    #work

read more on the blog

Recent Posts

Busting Our Creativity Myths

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

The Ani DiFranco Wormhole

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

Our Own Private Era

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

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On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about the tendency to search for “happily ever after”—that mythical destination where everything will be fine, life will be manageable, and things will stay still and perfect.

The thing is, while we’re “consciousness in a meat suit” for the short duration that we’re playing this game of life, there is only one destination—and we’re already there.

The destination is this exact moment because honestly, where else are you ever going to go? Have you ever not been in the present moment? This is it!

There’s a security people think they’ll get once they have:

💍 the perfect marriage or
💰 the full bank account or
🏋🏼‍♀️ the ideal body

But when you look at any present moment, all you have to do is open the aperture of your attention and go, “Oh yeah, I’m okay. I’m here. This is the best it’s ever going to get.”

To learn how to stop obsessing on being perfect, how to trust-fall into the present, and how to find perfection in the now, join us for the full conversation!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
On this episode of Bewildered, we realized somethi On this episode of Bewildered, we realized something wild: In the game of life, we’re all obsessed with the score.

The point about the score is that it’s a number, and that’s certain. The score at the end of the game is something we can understand. Good or bad, it’s done now. It’s a very left-brain-dominated thing: Measure it, count it, and it’s over.

We’re all here for the game, but we get into a froth where all we can fixate on is the score at the end. And it’s so crazy because what we fear above all else is the moment when the game is over—our own death—and yet we’re just waiting until the game is over to actually live.

What are we all rushing toward, and why? Join us for the full conversation and find out!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
Our obsession with reaching a certain destination Our obsession with reaching a certain destination all comes down to some form of:

🛟 Then I’ll feel safe.
🔐 Then I’ll feel secure.
🎯 Then I’ll feel sure.

There’s a baseline uncertainty and insecurity we’re convinced will cease once we hit a certain designated point—whether it’s a relationship, a kitchen renovation, or a bank balance.

And it’s so interesting when you actually interrogate that idea. It really is like the fairytale will be complete, the music will swell, the camera will pan out—because this is the “happily ever after.” There’s something very childlike in that. 🏰

It’s heavily culturally fortified, too. Every rom-com you watch—boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl gets chewed up by a wheat thresher, girl goes to hospital, boy finds her—they always end up together, and then it’s perfect and okay. And all the problems have stopped.

We all do this at different times, in one way or another. The question we’re pondering on this Bewildered is: Are we there yet?

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
The angles of light that mean fall The angles of light that mean fall
We’re trying to break the cultural story that says We’re trying to break the cultural story that says, “If you work, you’ll be just all right—as long as you keep working. If you don’t work, you’ll die.” ☠️

That’s the loop we’re all caught in, often without noticing it. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re looking at how to remember to step off the rotating stage and actually look at the story.

When we look at something as magnificent as the Broadway show Hadestown, we’re watching the story we’ve been told be made into art—something that lifts it far beyond the prosaic, everyday context of work and survival.

Art itself is a category that can excite our psychology and inspire us toward something new.

Remembering death or mortality is not the only way to step out of cultural conditioning around work. We believe we can also be inspired, enchanted, and invited into a different way of being and a new consciousness. ✨

Join us for this conversation to find out more!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 135: Hadestown and the Mythology of Work, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱 The personal is po A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱

The personal is political. The garlic is groomed.

#gardening #garlicharvest #homegrownfood
“Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time “Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time on this? What’s it for?”

That’s the “culture worm” talking... 🐛

Culture says everything we do has to be for something: for prestige, power, wealth, and status. Even practicing an instrument becomes preparation for a moment that has to exist.

On this episode of Bewildered, we’re asking: What if that moment doesn’t have to exist?

What if you can just keep getting better and better, not for anyone or anything, just for the moment and the sound of the notes?

Tune in for the full conversation to hear about cultivating the play vibe, living in the present moment, and breaking free from culture worms to pursue what you love.

You can listen to Bewildered episode 133: Playing Without Performing, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freeran Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freerangechickens
Ah, Saturday Ah, Saturday

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On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about On this episode of Bewildered, we’re talking about the tendency to search for “happily ever after”—that mythical destination where everything will be fine, life will be manageable, and things will stay still and perfect.

The thing is, while we’re “consciousness in a meat suit” for the short duration that we’re playing this game of life, there is only one destination—and we’re already there.

The destination is this exact moment because honestly, where else are you ever going to go? Have you ever not been in the present moment? This is it!

There’s a security people think they’ll get once they have:

💍 the perfect marriage or
💰 the full bank account or
🏋🏼‍♀️ the ideal body

But when you look at any present moment, all you have to do is open the aperture of your attention and go, “Oh yeah, I’m okay. I’m here. This is the best it’s ever going to get.”

To learn how to stop obsessing on being perfect, how to trust-fall into the present, and how to find perfection in the now, join us for the full conversation!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
On this episode of Bewildered, we realized somethi On this episode of Bewildered, we realized something wild: In the game of life, we’re all obsessed with the score.

The point about the score is that it’s a number, and that’s certain. The score at the end of the game is something we can understand. Good or bad, it’s done now. It’s a very left-brain-dominated thing: Measure it, count it, and it’s over.

We’re all here for the game, but we get into a froth where all we can fixate on is the score at the end. And it’s so crazy because what we fear above all else is the moment when the game is over—our own death—and yet we’re just waiting until the game is over to actually live.

What are we all rushing toward, and why? Join us for the full conversation and find out!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
Our obsession with reaching a certain destination Our obsession with reaching a certain destination all comes down to some form of:

🛟 Then I’ll feel safe.
🔐 Then I’ll feel secure.
🎯 Then I’ll feel sure.

There’s a baseline uncertainty and insecurity we’re convinced will cease once we hit a certain designated point—whether it’s a relationship, a kitchen renovation, or a bank balance.

And it’s so interesting when you actually interrogate that idea. It really is like the fairytale will be complete, the music will swell, the camera will pan out—because this is the “happily ever after.” There’s something very childlike in that. 🏰

It’s heavily culturally fortified, too. Every rom-com you watch—boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl gets chewed up by a wheat thresher, girl goes to hospital, boy finds her—they always end up together, and then it’s perfect and okay. And all the problems have stopped.

We all do this at different times, in one way or another. The question we’re pondering on this Bewildered is: Are we there yet?

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 136: Are We There Yet?, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
The angles of light that mean fall The angles of light that mean fall
We’re trying to break the cultural story that says We’re trying to break the cultural story that says, “If you work, you’ll be just all right—as long as you keep working. If you don’t work, you’ll die.” ☠️

That’s the loop we’re all caught in, often without noticing it. In this episode of Bewildered, we’re looking at how to remember to step off the rotating stage and actually look at the story.

When we look at something as magnificent as the Broadway show Hadestown, we’re watching the story we’ve been told be made into art—something that lifts it far beyond the prosaic, everyday context of work and survival.

Art itself is a category that can excite our psychology and inspire us toward something new.

Remembering death or mortality is not the only way to step out of cultural conditioning around work. We believe we can also be inspired, enchanted, and invited into a different way of being and a new consciousness. ✨

Join us for this conversation to find out more!

🎧 You can listen to Bewildered episode 135: Hadestown and the Mythology of Work, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app.
A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱 The personal is po A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱

The personal is political. The garlic is groomed.

#gardening #garlicharvest #homegrownfood
“Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time “Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time on this? What’s it for?”

That’s the “culture worm” talking... 🐛

Culture says everything we do has to be for something: for prestige, power, wealth, and status. Even practicing an instrument becomes preparation for a moment that has to exist.

On this episode of Bewildered, we’re asking: What if that moment doesn’t have to exist?

What if you can just keep getting better and better, not for anyone or anything, just for the moment and the sound of the notes?

Tune in for the full conversation to hear about cultivating the play vibe, living in the present moment, and breaking free from culture worms to pursue what you love.

You can listen to Bewildered episode 133: Playing Without Performing, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freeran Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freerangechickens
Ah, Saturday Ah, Saturday
We were talking to Ro’s father about songwriting a We were talking to Ro’s father about songwriting and the process of writing songs and playing music, and he said, “Just don’t forget that it’s called playing the guitar.” 🎸
Emphasis on playing.

Somewhere along the way, the “culture worm” gets in there and stops us from doing things for their own sake. We stop playing and start performing, even when there’s no one watching.

On this episode of Bewildered, we’re dissecting what it means to reclaim the play in whatever you do. Come play with us! ✨

You can listen to Bewildered episode 133: Playing Without Performing, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Just a rooster, standing in front of a lesbian, as Just a rooster, standing in front of a lesbian, asking her to ignore gender stereotypes
Did you know that you don’t have to do everything Did you know that you don’t have to do everything by yourself?

For example, you can be the one who makes the thing, and someone in your community who enjoys photographing the thing can do that part. 📸

No matter how introverted we are, we just keep landing back in community because it’s never supposed to be self-sufficiency. It’s always supposed to be interdependence.

You can have a part yourself that makes the art, and you can have other parts that do other stuff, but you can also externalize those things to actual other people.

We can help each other. What a concept. 🤯

The culture’s monetization of everything often makes us forget that it doesn’t always have to be a transaction. It can just be a favor.

We saw this happen at our Pure.Wild.Self retreat in Costa Rica. There were twenty-five people there, and Liz Gilbert stopped by one day, and the whole thing turned into people rejoicing in each other’s genius.

Person after person connecting with someone whose joy would help them make their joy into something sustaining. They were trading passions, trading specialties. It was a little village of 25 people, just bursting with interdependence.

That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Bewildered. Join us!

You can listen to Bewildered episode 132: Enriching Your Enclosure, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
We’re always trying to hack our own psyches, right We’re always trying to hack our own psyches, right?

We’re looking for ways to game the system…to reframe things from Sunday-scaries mode into exciting mode.

One hack we keep coming back to is: Money equals points. If you can get the little Pac-Man part of you engaged in money (nit-nit-nit-nit), suddenly you’re moving.

A friend of ours said it best. When Ro asked her what was pushing her to her desk every day to finish her book, she looked up and said: “Well, I’m really looking forward to getting paid.”

It was such a great cut-the-bullshit, cut-all-the-highfalutin-stuff moment.

One way of tricking yourself so that you can move toward the money thing and not get stopped by the switch into “I have to do a job now!” panic, is this: Just make something. Anything.🧶

To hear more about the hacks, tricks, and reframes for getting more of what you love into your life, join us for the full conversation!

You can listen to Bewildered episode 132: Enriching Your Enclosure, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Happy Lughnasadh, festival of first harvest! It’s Happy Lughnasadh, festival of first harvest! It’s lovely to meet some of the potatoes and onions I’ve been talking to these past few months. I just love these midsummer vibes ☀️
We will not be taking questions at this time. #chi We will not be taking questions at this time. #chickens #chickenswholunch #chickensbigdayattheraces
Some recent summer moments 🥰 Some recent summer moments 🥰

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