Welcome to Feral Polymaths, the brainchild of two best friends, Gayle Towell and Marylea Quintana. If you’ve landed here, it’s likely because you too feel the incessant pull of diverse ideas and interests that tug at your soul, demanding exploration. Yes, this is our second welcome message, but it is longer and more thorough, and an indication that you can expect actual blog posts to start showing up here soon as well.
Why “Feral Polymaths”? You might wonder. The name itself is an embodiment of our spirit. “Feral” signifies the untamed, wild nature of our quest for knowledge and creativity. “Polymaths” stands for individuals who indulge in multiple areas of knowledge and expertise. Together, it paints a picture of fierce, untamed intellectual pursuit across a spectrum of interests.
Our journey began in our college days, filled with late-night conversations, debates, and a shared insatiable hunger for knowledge. Today, as 40-somethings, our lives might have taken on the hue of adulthood responsibilities – juggling careers, parenting, and trying to keep our sanity in the midst of global pandemics. Yet, the fervor for ideas, for understanding, for exploration never dimmed.
Over the years, we felt cornered by the world’s expectations. Society often paints women, especially mothers, with a single brush, confining them to certain roles and expectations. But here’s the thing: being a mother doesn’t mute the polymath within. It fuels it. The myriad experiences, challenges, and lessons of motherhood only add layers to our multifaceted personas.
That’s why Feral Polymaths is more than just a podcast. It’s a movement. It’s a clarion call to all those who feel stifled by societal norms. It’s a testament to the fact that you can be a mom, a nerd, an artist, a scientist, and anything else your heart desires, all at once.
In our podcast episodes and in our blog posts, expect authenticity. We’ll dive deep into our experiences, discussing how we balance our diverse passions with motherhood, the lessons we’ve learned, the challenges we’ve faced, and how, through it all, we’ve grown as individuals. Our stories are not just our own; they mirror countless others who’ve felt confined by labels.
We created Feral Polymaths as a sanctuary for thoughts that didn’t fit into neat boxes. As you navigate through our content, anticipate a delightful chaos of ideas – from the artistic to the scientific, the introspective to the external, the comforting to the uncomfortable.
Bear with us. As with any passionate venture, ours too might have its rough edges as we find our rhythm. But it’s the raw, genuine nature of this journey that makes it beautiful. Here, we don’t shy away from the unanswered; we embrace it.
So, if you’ve ever felt the weight of unexpressed ideas, if you’ve ever felt torn between different passions, or if you’ve ever felt boxed in by societal expectations, know that you’ve found your tribe. Welcome home.
Join us. Let’s redefine norms together. Let’s celebrate the feral spirit within us. Let’s be unapologetically curious. Welcome to Feral Polymaths.
Warmly,
Gayle & Marylea
Feral Polymaths 