Celebrating Four Years of The Relatable Voice Magazine - Lucia Matuonto

Four years ago, I had what I believed was a simple idea.

After interviewing so many incredible guests on The Relatable Voice Podcast, I wanted to create a monthly newsletter—a way to stay connected with our growing community, share updates, and highlight a few of the inspiring conversations we were having.

It sounded straightforward. Then reality set in.

Each interview introduced me to remarkable people with extraordinary stories. Authors, artists, entrepreneurs, wellness experts, travellers, and creatives from around the world all had something meaningful to share. Every conversation deserved more than a few paragraphs, and I quickly realized there simply wasn't enough room in a two- or three-page newsletter.

That's when the idea evolved. Instead of a newsletter, why not create a magazine?

In August 2022, the very first issue of The Relatable Voice Magazine was published. I still remember the excitement—and the nerves—that came with launching something completely new.

When actress and former America's Next Top Model contestant Casia Pilewicz graciously accepted our invitation to appear on the cover of our inaugural issue, I knew we had something special. The cover was beautiful, and inside were interviews and articles filled with inspiration, creativity, and hope. I had no idea how readers would respond. Fortunately, the response exceeded every expectation.

Readers embraced the magazine. Authors proudly shared their features, and the independent publishing community welcomed this new project with incredible warmth and generosity. Originally, I had planned to publish the magazine quarterly after that first issue, believing it would be a manageable schedule. Instead, the enthusiasm of our readers convinced me to do something far more ambitious. We became a monthly publication.

Today, as we celebrate four years of The Relatable Voice Magazine, we proudly publish our 49th edition. Every issue represents countless hours of interviews, writing, editing, design, and collaboration with talented contributors from around the world. What makes this magazine special isn't just the content—it's the people behind every page.

The Relatable Voice Magazine was founded on the belief that every person has a story worth sharing. While books remain at the heart of what we do, our pages have grown to celebrate so much more. We feature authors, illustrators, actors, entrepreneurs, wellness professionals, travellers, artists, educators, and creative minds from every walk of life.

As a natural extension of The Relatable Voice Podcast, the magazine allows conversations to continue long after the microphones are turned off. Together, the podcast and magazine have become a place where readers and listeners discover new books, meet inspiring people, explore fascinating destinations, and celebrate journeys of resilience, creativity, and hope.

One of the greatest rewards has been hearing from independent authors who tell me that being featured in the magazine gave them confidence, introduced them to new readers, or opened doors they never expected. Publishing can sometimes feel like a lonely path, and if we've helped even a handful of writers feel seen, encouraged, and celebrated, then we've achieved something truly worthwhile.

Over the years, our vision has continued to grow. Through The RV Book Fair, author interviews, magazine features, book launches, and collaborations with wonderful partners, The Relatable Voice has become much more than a podcast or a magazine. It has become a welcoming community where creativity is celebrated and meaningful connections are made across continents.

None of this would have been possible without my husband, Marco. Every month he patiently transforms my endless ideas into beautifully designed pages, solves technical challenges, and somehow makes the impossible feel possible. His quiet dedication is woven into every issue we publish, and I am endlessly grateful for his love, encouragement, and partnership.

I also want to thank our readers, contributors, guests, columnists, sponsors, and partners. Every interview, every article submitted, every encouraging email, every social media share, and every kind word has helped shape this magazine into what it is today.

Creating a magazine isn't always easy. There are impossible deadlines, last-minute changes, unexpected challenges, and many late nights that readers never see. But every month, when the finished issue is ready and I begin hearing from readers around the world, I'm reminded why we started this journey.

Stories matter. They comfort us, teach us, inspire us, and remind us that we are never alone.

Four years ago, I thought I was creating a newsletter.

Instead, I found myself building a global community.

As we celebrate our fourth anniversary and the publication of our 48th issue, I look forward to everything still to come. There are countless voices waiting to be heard, stories waiting to be shared, and connections waiting to be made.

Thank you for believing in this dream and for being part of this extraordinary journey.

Here's to the next chapter of The Relatable Voice Magazine.

Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - August 2026. Download the full magazine at https://www.relatable-media.com/the-relatable-voice-magazine.