On the Live The Width of Your Life podcast, we explore what it means to not only live the length of our life but instead the breadth, depth, and purpose of each day.

She shares her personal story of creating balance in her life by aligning her daily choices to life values, strategies to redefine success, and creating space for a bit of magic and synchronicity.

It's never too late to change! We don't need to have it all figured out to begin; we can take action daily, show up imperfectly, and be amazed and inspired by how beautiful life can be.

Have you ever felt like your sensitivity was "too much"? Like the way you experienced the world—through deep emotion, energy, or intuition—was something you had to hide or tone down? If so, you're going to love this conversation.

This week, I'm so excited to introduce you to Stephanie Milanowski. Stephanie is one of those rare souls whose creativity, sensitivity, and depth truly light up a room. She's an artist, designer, illustrator, letterpress printer, and author—but more than that, she's someone who has fully embraced who she is, and it shows in everything she creates.

Stephanie began college at just 14 years old, earned a full scholarship to RISD, designed work for the Museum of Modern Art, and even hand-bound 1,200 books for Oprah. But despite all of these incredible accomplishments, it wasn't until she was 44 that she made a life-changing discovery: she could hear people's thoughts—and always had.

Our conversation took so many beautiful turns as we explored what it means to live as a Highly Sensitive Person, how to embrace intuitive gifts, and why authenticity is the key to living a full, creative, and meaningful life.

In this episode, Stephanie and I talk about:

The moment she realized she could hear thoughts—and the emotional release that followed
Her creative path, from RISD to Herman Miller, and designing award-winning work across industries
How being a "sponge" for others' energy shaped her relationships and career
The healing power of friendship and mentorship in learning to own your gifts
Why her letterpress studio feels like sacred space—and how she connects with the spirits of master printers who've passed
How intuition and creativity are often intertwined, and how she's learned to trust both

My favorite takeaway?

When we stop trying to fit into what the world expects of us and start honoring who we really are—that's when we come alive. Stephanie's story is a powerful reminder that our most unique qualities aren't something to fix—they're the very keys to our purpose.

Connect with Stephanie and her work:

Books:
- Clairvoyage: Stories from a Highly Sensitive Life
- The World's Smallest Letterpress: A Not So Ordinary Day
Website: Stephanie Milanowski
Instagram: @‌stephaniemilanowskiConnect with Stephanie and her work:
Books:
- Clairvoyage: Stories from a Highly Sensitive Life
- The World’s Smallest Letterpress: A Not So Ordinary Day - https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?3VQdgz9TsIgPnwI50HuTU4t3IeixEH4Cdre7da0Nmlx
Website: stephaniemilanowski.com
Instagram: @‌stephaniemilanowski

Connect with George Verongos:

Website: https://www.literaryservices.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/george_verongos/

A little bit about Suzy:

Stephanie Milanowski, author of "Clairvoyage: Stories from a highly-sensitive life....." and "The World's Smallest Letterpress: a not-so-ordinary day!" a fantastical tale introducing readers young and old to one of the most important inventions of our time—the printing press. With illustrative photos and quirky line drawings, readers will learn & fall in love with the art of letterpress. Available worldwide.

Stephanie Milanowski enrolled in college at the age of 14, eventually receiving a merit-based, full ride scholarship to study Graphic Design at Rhode Island School of Design, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. At RISD Stephanie studied under Andy Warhol’s friend and former employee, Mahler Ryder, design great Malcolm Grear and world-renowned book artist Jan Baker and typographer Inge Druckery. Stephanie turned her senior thesis project “Save Me Lunch Bags”—a series of educational lunch bags for children featuring endangered species—into a global product. Overseeing manufacturing and distribution, Stephanie, encouraged by a telephone call from Tippi Hedren, went on to sell lunch bags to zoos, gift shops and museum stores around the world.

Prior to graduating from Rhode Island School of Design, Stephanie heard Herman Miller, Inc. (where Charles & Ray Eames created timeless modern furniture) was hiring three design apprentices to work under Creative Director, Steve Frykholm. Stephanie was hired, never forgetting that Steve Frykholm told her “You’re more %#@$@* creative than the whole bunch out there.”

From owning her own business to Herman Miller Inc. to earning a Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, Stephanie continued her competitive streak. In summer 1994 she was 1 of just 20 students worldwide admitted to the Yale University School of Art Summer Program in Brissago, Switzerland, where she studied and befriended art and design luminaries including Paul Rand, Mario Botta, Wolfgang Weingart, Pierre Mendell and Armin and Dorothea Hofmann. She also was recipient of a graduate studies fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for her printmaking work where she was the first to drive a steamroller to print giant copper plates, making headlines and photographed by press.

Stephanie has taught and lectured graphic design at the college level. She has illustrated children’s books for HarperCollins, McGraw-Hill, Cricket and major U.S. publishers, and has designed hundreds of book jackets and covers for best-selling authors, publishing companies and university presses nationwide. One of the first books Stephanie illustrated was for Katherine Paterson, author of “Bridge to Terabithia,” titled “Who am I?” Having learned the art of letterpress and book making at Rhode Island School of Design Stephanie’s work and recognition as a book artist exploded when she hand-bound 1,200 books for Oprah Winfrey and many other distinguished customers including Max De Pree. Her artists books have been distributed by the Manhattan artists’ book collective Printed Matter, Inc., and her graphic design work has won numerous honors including Printing Industries of America Awards, the International Design Competition sponsored by Mohawk Paper Company, and first place in the National Billboard Competition of the Community Action Network’s Media & Corporate Awards, NYC.

Working since 1997 as a contract graphic designer, illustrator and entrepreneur, Stephanie’s projects have included holiday cards for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, as well as custom designs of national exhibition collateral for world recognized artists/sculptors including Dale Chihuly, Dietrich Klinge, Mark di Suvero, Magdalena Abakanowicz and Louise Bourgeois, to name a few.

Stephanie lives in Michigan with her husband, two grown children, three dogs, loves coffee and donuts with lots and lots of sprinkles.

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