NwN Podcast // 116. Leah Melby Clinton

This week on the Noteworthy With Nan podcast, I sat down with my friend Leah Melby Clinton, a writer, brand storyteller and community builder who seems to always have time and energy for the next project!

Leah works at one of our favorite brands (Margaux), created the wonderful print magazine In Kind, founded the creative women’s community Diana, all while raising three little ones and occasionally commuting into the city from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

In the episode, we chat about it all: how she thinks about building a brand (and applying that same lens to her own content), why it took her years to call herself an entrepreneur, the case for a good executive coach, and her love of voice notes, whiteboards and a proper paper planner.

Leah is thoughtful, funny and refreshingly honest about the challenges (and joys) of doing many things at once.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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NAME: Leah Melby Clinton

IG HANDLE: @leahmelbyclinton

BOOK: On Writing by Stephen King

HOTEL: Honestly, anything Disney property (sorry not sorry!)

BRAND: Cadets

BEAUTY PRODUCT: The Beachwaver

*see Leah’s hair styling routine in action here.

WARDROBE ITEM: Levi’s 501 ‘90s

FASHION SPLURGE: Blazers on The RealReal

IG ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW: @jessurlichs // ( Jessica Urlichs on substack)

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• Where to find Leah

  • Follow Leah on Instagram, @leahmelbyclinton

  • Here on substack, Circlette

  • Diana: A private membership community curating opportunities for connection, creativity, and holistic networking for women with entrepreneurial spirits seeking community.

• Leah’s Three Noteworthy Tips:

  • Voice notes.

  • A big whiteboard.

  • A proper pen-and-paper planner and journal.

• People mentioned

  • Natalie Steen, The Nat Note

  • Marcella Kelson, executive coach

  • Allison Bornstein, on the three-word style method

• Fashion and shopping

  • Margaux shoes

  • Bags:

    • The Row Marlo Bag

    • The Row Park Tote (her commuting bag)

  • Jewelry:

    • Charm Co - for charms and charm bracelets

    • Leah’s birthstone ring for her three children (peridot, aquamarine and tanzanite) made by a local/family jeweler. See more photos of the ring here.

  • Save & Splurge:

    • Save on denim: Levi’s 501, the 90s cut

    • Splurge on: handbags!

  • Planners & Journals

    • Smythson Portobello Journal

    • Aspinal Day Planner

  • Carry On Suitcase from Tumi

  • Sneakers from Miu Miu Leah was eyeing; she ended up buying these instead

• Podcasts and shows mentioned

  • Hitha Palepu’s episode on Noteworthy With Nan - Episode 111

  • Julia Lynch’s episode on Noteworthy With Nan - Episode 115

  • Beth’s Dead: narrative podcast from Monica Padman of Armchair Expert

  • Felicity: the TV show, on voice notes as modern cassettes

• Apps and tools mentioned

  • Chani: astrology app

  • Wispr and Monologue: dictation apps

  • Claude: AI