Ep 88: Susan Wachler: The Alchemy of Emotion and Metal & the Courage to Create Honestly

What does it really mean to live a creative life that’s true — not tidy, not performative, but real?

In this conversation, jewelry artist Susan Wachler shares her journey from a multi-generational family of jewelers to her own late-in-life return to the bench after decades as a psychotherapist. Her work carries the weight of both lineage and lived experience — raw, textural, and deeply human.

We talk about redefining success, creating without proof, and how honesty — both emotional and artistic — can become a kind of freedom. Susan also reflects on what it means to make art in uncertain times, to let intuition lead, and to find joy in the alchemy of the studio.

It’s a conversation about resilience, honesty, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up for your craft simply because you love it.


Listen Now:


Follow Along:

Susan on Instagram: ⁠@susanwachlerjewelry

Susan’s Website: susanwachlerjewelry.com


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Ep 87: Laney Clark - The Girl with the Saw: Lessons from 35 Years at the Bench