Coming out of the tunnel of trauma is no small thing. It took years of hard work—hours spent across from someone who asked me to unzip everything I thought I knew about myself. It also meant facing the shadows, wading deep, and clawing my way back to the surface.
That’s an accomplishment I’ll never take for granted.
Because the truth is, most people who come from where I came from don’t end up like this. They don’t end up living in another country, building a life from the ground up. They often become statistics. But I refused to be one…and I know you don’t want to be, either.
That’s why it’s time for Practical Growth to move forward.
Why the Change?
When I started Practical Growth, I was still in the thick of my own healing. The work was raw. Messy. Necessary.
Recovering from trauma takes years. You go through version after version of yourself until you finally find one that fits. Practical Growth was about digging into that process, getting honest about the pain, and learning how to move through it.
But what happens once you’ve made it through? Once you’ve reached the other side?
That’s where NUSKA comes in.
🌙 What is NUSKA?
In Ancient Mesopotamia, Nuska was the god of light—the lantern-bearer who guided the way through darkness.
That’s what I want this new project to be: a beacon. A gathering space. A place apart from the noise where we can reconnect with the things that give life meaning. Not a cult, not woo-woo—but a creative refuge.
Here’s what you can expect from NUSKA:
Stories → fact and fiction, personal and universal
Writing → poetry, prose, and works-in-progress
Interviews → with friends and fascinating voices
Art & Culture → literature, history, mythology, life, death, love, loss
Community → your stories, your votes, your ideas shaping what comes next
This is the “misfit podcast with the patchwork plan.” A world painted in full color, not just black and white.
Together, we’ll learn how to love the world again—by embracing its weirdness, its wonder, and its strangeness. One story at a time.
When Does It Happen?
Practical Growth officially becomes NUSKA on Wednesday, October 1st.
You’ll start to see logos and graphics change across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube in the days leading up.
All Practical Growth podcast episodes will remain archived and available. Patreon subscribers will also have permanent access to the full library.
If you’re already subscribed to the podcast, you don’t need to do anything. The feed will update automatically. The first new episode of NUSKA drops Wednesday, October 1st. (But there’s a reintroduction episode available now for Patreon subscribers).
What About Patreon?
NUSKA will live alongside a brand-new Patreon community, where I’ll share:
Behind-the-scenes podcast content
Early access to episodes
My essays, art, and fiction
Bonus interviews & creative deep dives
You can join here: patreon.com/nuska
For Substack Subscribers:
What is changing for you? Well, nothing really. I’m going to keep posting my essays here weekly, but the really good stuff (like videos, BTS, etc.) will be on Patreon.
There are a lot of reasons that I’m making this change , but the biggest one is that Patreon gives me more tools to create and share with you — from behind-the-scenes posts to bonus essays, polls, and even the podcast. It’s the best way for me to give you more than just some weekly email essays.
Since you’ve been with me here on Substack, I want you to be a part of that transition with me. So, here’s how it’s going to work:
You don’t have to change anything about your Substack subscription if you don’t want to. I’ll keep hanging out here, just as I always have.
But…
If you want more of what I do, what I’m doing, and more of this new project, you can join me with some special perks:
If you’re a yearly Substack subscriber:
You’ll get 1 year of free membership at my base Patreon tier: The Spark.
You’ll also receive a special coupon to upgrade if you want:
Lantern Bearers tier → 5% off every month for a year
Illuminators tier → 10% off every month for a year
If you’re a monthly $5 Substack subscriber:
You’ll get your first month free at The Spark tier.
You’ll also have the option to upgrade:
Lantern Bearers tier → 5% off every month for a year
Illuminators tier → 10% off every month for a year
If you’re a free Substack subscriber:
You’ll also have the option to upgrade to my Patreon supporters:
Lantern Bearers tier → 5% off every month for a year
Illuminators tier → 10% off every month for a year
In short: no one loses out, and you get more ways to connect with me and this work.
✨ The move will be happening over the next few days, so keep an eye on your inbox for your personal Patreon link + upgrade coupon.
What’s Next for Substack?
I’ll still be posting my essays and takes here on Substack, but Patreon will be the home for my podcast, early access episodes, bonus content, videos, and more. Think of it like the main hub for anything and everything I do.
NUSKA is the next step. It’s about expanding beyond trauma into something fuller—art, story, creativity, and hope. It’s about building something brighter together.
For those who journey with me: thank you. I can’t wait to show you what’s ahead.
For those for whom this is goodbye: thank you, too. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.
See you October 1st 😉
—E.B.