Stefano Maroni is an Italian-American author and cultural essayist whose work explores masculinity, loneliness, identity, and the quiet collapse of the American dream. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Harpers, The New Yorker, and several leading literary journals. His most recent book, The Distance Between Us, was described as “a haunting meditation on belonging in a fractured nation.”
Originally from New Jersey and now living near Taos, New Mexico, Maroni has intentionally stepped back from the noise of modern life — unplugging from most social media, hiking daily, and writing on a laptop with no internet connection. Despite his quiet approach, he’s built a loyal readership through his Substack newsletter and continues to shape conversations around culture and meaning in the digital age.
We sat down with Stefano Maroni to talk not about work, but about what he watches, listens to, re-reads, and quietly obsesses over.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I write essays, books, and longer-form reflections — usually about masculinity, immigration, culture, and the things we don’t talk about enough. I split my time between Taos, where I live quietly and write full-time, and New York, where I occasionally meet with editors and sit in cafés without ordering enough.
How would you describe your personal or professional vibe in 3 words?
Slow, focused, off-grid-ish. I take my time with ideas, work without internet distractions, and live mostly offline in the mountains to protect my thinking space
What’s one fun fact about you most people don’t know?
I’ve never owned a ring light, and I’ve written every book I’ve published on a laptop with no Wi-Fi. Not on principle — it just works better that way.
What’s your favorite TV show right now?
The Taste of Things. It’s actually a film, but I watch it like a show — over and over. It's about food, but really it’s about grief and restraint. The silence in it is louder than most dialogue.
What’s your most-used social media app these days?
Substack. I use it more to publish than to scroll. It’s the one place on the internet where people still read to the end.
What was the first social media app you ever joined?
Tumblr. I treated it like a notebook — quotes, photos, train complaints. I still miss it sometimes.
Are there any influencers or creators you never miss content from?
Saeed Jones. If he writes something, I read it immediately. His work is sharp and graceful at the same time — which is rare.
Are there any must-follow accounts or pages for people in your industry?
@lithub and @ElectricLit. They both actually care about books, and not just how many copies sold or who got a movie deal. They remind you why writing matters.
Do you listen to any podcasts related to your field or niche?
Yes, between the Covers with David Naimon. It’s one of the few interview shows where the host has clearly read the book, cover to cover, and thought deeply about it. It’s not promotional. It’s conversation.
What’s the best advice you’ve heard from a podcast or interview?
“Don’t chase the market. Chase your curiosity.” I think it was Zadie Smith. It saved me from trying to write things I didn’t actually believe in.
If you could collab with any influencer or celeb, who would it be?
Werner Herzog. I don’t need to be on screen. I’d just walk behind him while he talks about nature and failure and record it all.
What’s a habit, hack, or tool you swear by for staying informed or inspired?
Walking without my phone. No music, no podcast — just walking. It’s when my thoughts get less frantic and more honest. I do my best thinking about 45 minutes in.
