Meet Lauren Allison

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Allison. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Lauren, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

My parents. I grew up in a household where I’d wake up for breakfast and often there would be a stranger at the table with us who was down on their luck or a foreign exchange student who needed a place to land for a few weeks. My Dad once pulled the socks off my brother’s feet to give them to a man living outside on a snowy Paris street. My Mum’s dedication to helping others and being part of the solution to hard times really knows no bounds. A drive home with her often ends in an epic side quest to help a friend of a friend or family member.

I try to bring generosity of spirit into every aspect of my work whether that’s my ghost-writing, classical pilates instruction, or at Not Another Pottery Studio (NAPS). Living is a beautiful experience but life can be hard and as humans, we all have a responsibility to do what we can, when we can, to bring some sunshine to other people’s days when we’ve got some to spare. I don’t really see it as generosity, but being a kind human. Kindness is one of our three core values at NAPS and every member there embodies this by supporting each other, volunteering at our free community events, sharing knowledge, food, and laughter together. It’s a special kind of community, and I’m grateful for everyone who brings their kindness and creativity to the space.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I wear a few creative hats, and each one feels like an extension of how I move through the world. I started as a speech-writer and Public Diplomacy advisor and both of those still make up a major chunk of my day-to-day. I split my time between ghost-writing, running Not Another Pottery Studio (NAPS) in Los Angeles, and teaching classical Pilates. On the surface those might seem like very different paths, but they all revolve around helping people express themselves, feel supported, and reconnect with their own sense of possibility.

As a ghost-writer, I help leaders and founders share their ideas with clarity and humanity. The most exciting part for me is the transformation that happens when someone finds their true voice and can express their ideas clearly, confidently, and in meaningful ways to their audiences. I love shaping narratives that spark connection, influence change, and genuinely help people.

NAPS is where my heart lives in the physical world. It’s a community pottery studio built on three core values: creativity, cleanliness, and kindness. We work hard to make the studio a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience. The most special part of NAPS is the community. People show up for each other, share knowledge, volunteer at our free public events, and create a space that feels warm, generous, and a little bit magical.

I’m also a classically trained Pilates instructor. I love teaching movement through the lens of supporting health and happiness. Pilates naturally complements ceramics. Both ask you to be centered, patient, and strengthen your mind-body connection. I teach privately one-to-one but also do mini “Pilates for Potters” offerings which helps artists build resilience and prevent injuries while doing the work they love.

We have a lot happening at NAPS right now: new courses, seasonal workshops, and free community events that bring neighbors together. We’re also expanding our offerings to include more sculpture, handbuilding intensives, and glaze education, and launching a few new creative programs that blend art, wellness, and community.

At the core of everything I do — writing, movement, ceramics — is the belief that people deserve spaces where they can grow, express themselves, and feel supported by others. That’s the through-line of my work, and it continues to guide everything I build.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, compassion, and introspection.

Resilience has been the through-line of my life. Growing up in Northern Ireland in the second-half of The Troubles, you learn early how to navigate uncertainty, stay steady, and keep moving forward even when circumstances are challenging. That mindset carried me through starting businesses, changing career paths, moving countries several times, and pivoting when things didn’t go to plan. One of the most meaningful examples is Not Another Pottery Studio (NAPS); it was born out of a difficult chapter that I was determined to turn into something positive and build a place that could bring joy, creativity, and community into the world.

Advice: Resilience isn’t about being unshakeable. It’s about accepting realities and deciding what you want to learn from situations and who you will be moving forward. Let yourself adapt, adjust, and determine your new way forward. Every setback is the starting point for your next chapter.

Kindness and compassion have guided every part of my work. Whether I’m ghost-writing for a leader, teaching movement, or building a community space, the ability to understand and care for the people in front of you is everything. Compassion creates trust, strengthens teams, and makes creative work feel safe and expansive.

Advice: Slow down enough to truly see people. Be generous with credit, patient with mistakes, and honest with your intentions. Life’s hard sometimes and a little kindness goes a whole way. And make sure to learn the difference between being nice and kind (spoiler, nice isn’t kind!).

Introspection has been my anchor. Journaling, creativity, therapy, long walks, and the quiet work of understanding my own patterns have shaped every major decision I’ve made. Introspection helps you edit your life, stay aligned with your values, and recognize when it’s time for a shift.

Advice: Treat self-reflection like a practice, not a luxury. Make space to check in with yourself, on paper or in conversation. Knowing what you think and feel (before the world tells you!) is one of the most powerful tools you’ll ever have.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, the first thing I do is slow everything down before I emotionally fall over. (I believe the cool kids call it “crashing out?”)

I’ve learned that I don’t make great decisions from a frantic place, so I try to interrupt the spiral before it takes over. Usually that means getting really quiet or stepping away: a walk, a bath, journaling, or even sitting still until my mind stops racing. I try to remind myself that overwhelm isn’t a sign of failure. It’s just my body and mind telling me I’m moving too fast and not prioritizing myself.

I zoom out. I ask myself what actually matters today versus what is noise. I’m someone who juggles a few careers and a community studio, so overwhelm often comes from trying to carry everything at once. When I break things down into “now, next, later,” everything becomes a lot more manageable.

The biggest shift for me was learning to self-soothe instead of self-pressure. I used to respond to overwhelm by pushing harder. Now I try to respond with compassion: “Of course you’re overwhelmed. This is a lot. What would make things feel lighter?” That simple reframe changes everything.

Advice:
• Pause before you fix. Overwhelm is usually a signal, not a problem to brute-force your way through.
• Get the feelings out of your head. Write them down, say them out loud, or move your body. Something to release the pressure valve. As a writer, pen and paper are my best friend and I always feel so much better being able to slow my brain down by writing thoughts out.
• Shrink the day. Ask, “What are the three things that actually matter?” Do those and let the rest wait. Antonio Neves’ 1-Day Method is helping me prioritize and I usually think I can do 40 things at once…
• Be kinder to yourself than you think is necessary. We don’t talk enough about how much compassion helps regulate the nervous system.
• And ask for help. Overwhelm doesn’t mean you’re incapable. It just means you’re human. Sometimes it’s not even help you need, just someone to say it all out loud to. For me my husband, parents, and my awesome NAPS Manager Mimi always shift things back into perspective.

Overwhelm happens to all of us. What matters is how quickly we recognize it and how gently we guide ourselves back to center.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.notanotherpotterystudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notanotherpotterystudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenrallison/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/not-another-pottery-studio-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.bbwellnesscollective.com/practitioners

Image Credits

Alexey Nicala Photography