A Note From The Host: Jewel’s music, her work as a singer-songwriter, has had tremendous impact on American culture, and worldwide. Since arriving on the scene as an artist in the 1990’s, her lyrics and sound have been woven into the fabric of our lives. I was excited to sit down with her to hear her story firsthand, and she’s the kind of guest I’m grateful for, the kind of person I’m honored I get to share questions with. You walk away from the talk with a lot to think about, and maybe just a bit wiser. But I did not expect to feel the depth of Jewel’s genius in the way that I did. She’s been in the spotlight for over thirty years, adept at giving interviews, so beautifully comfortable in front of a camera and in front of fans---whether on stage or on Instagram---that you think that practice, that ease is what’s coming through in the conversation. And then you realize, she is the embodiment of ‘a way with words’. She’s thoughtful and wise. She’s whip-smart. And that’s why I titled her cover story, Stroke of Genius. She lives the depth of her music. As she shares ahead, much of her music was written ‘as if angels were standing by’. Jewel shares wisdom about investing in oneself, and facts around mental health, the subject of her extensive activism. You’ll hear the stories of her one-of-a-kind upbringing; I was eager to get her unique perspective on motherhood as both a pop culture icon raising a teen son today, and as someone who was raised in the way that she was. We dive into her visual-artist self, she talks songs and tells nostalgic stories of both life and career, whether delicious or difficult. I’ll leave you here to listen to the inspiration that is our November 2025 cover star.

+ tamara rappa