The Power of Platonic Love – Tally Gilbert on Friendship, Poetry, and Storytelling
In this moving episode of Saturn Returns, Caggie Dunlop sits down with her oldest friend and creative collaborator, Tally Gilbert – poet and founder of Pinky Studio – to explore the profound impact of lifelong friendship, creative expression, and platonic love. What unfolds is a nostalgic, vulnerable, and joy-filled conversation about growing up together, surviving life’s transitions, and using art to deepen connection.

The conversation begins with laughter and childhood memories, as Caggie and Tally reflect on their earliest years in school and summers on the Isle of Wight. Their anecdotes capture a kind of innocence and freedom rarely seen today – micro scooters, prank phone calls, summer jobs, and endless role-playing games that laid the groundwork for their creative bond. Even their mischievous first jobs, where they were fired for a reckless boat stunt, become symbols of the resilience and humor that thread through their friendship. These stories remind us how formative shared experiences are in creating unshakable emotional ties.

One of the most touching themes is how friendship evolves alongside personal growth. From late-night phone calls during Caggie’s parents’ divorce to early experiments in poetry writing – sending each other three-minute challenges over landlines – their bond was always anchored in creativity and emotional honesty. Tally shares how these early exchanges shaped her love of storytelling and poetry, eventually leading her to found Pinky Studio, a bespoke poetry service that transforms clients’ memories and relationships into deeply personal works of art.

Her career pivot embodies courage and authenticity. After years in various jobs, Tally took the leap into turning her lifelong love of writing into a business. What began as poems for friends’ birthdays and weddings became a calling – helping others articulate their love, grief, and milestones through verse. She admits the transition was daunting, marked by imposter syndrome, but the human impact of her work quickly affirmed her path. As she describes, clients often claim her poems as their own because they feel so intimately personal – capturing quirks, stories, and emotions with uncanny precision. Far from ego-driven, Tally delights in this response, seeing it as proof of the connection she creates.

Beyond professional growth, the episode dives into the often-overlooked power of platonic love. Tally shares one of her own poems, written about the quiet yet profound support of friendship: “There’s no contract here, no promises or get out clause… Just pure platonic love quietly helping you through.” This reflection resonates deeply, as both women acknowledge the complexities of long-term friendship – the shifts that come with distance, life changes, and growing older. They speak candidly about the unspoken pain of drifting apart for seasons of life, while also honoring the resilience of bonds that endure time and change.

The conversation also touches on the cultural undervaluing of friendship compared to romantic love. While romantic relationships often take center stage in discussions of meaning and connection, Tally and Caggie argue that friendships can be just as transformative – offering stability, inspiration, and unconditional acceptance. In fact, friendships can uniquely sustain creativity and growth by providing spaces where people can express themselves freely without the pressures of romance. Their reflections underscore that platonic love deserves celebration, recognition, and care.

Underlying the entire episode is an awareness of time – how fleeting childhood feels in retrospect, how fast children grow, and how adulthood sharpens our sense of urgency. Tally reflects that she didn’t truly find her creative groove until age 35, and she urges younger listeners not to feel pressured by timelines. Life is not a race; it is a process of layering experiences, mistakes, and pivots that ultimately bring us closer to our authentic selves. This message is both grounding and liberating, reminding listeners that it’s never too late to realign with joy and creativity.

Ultimately, this episode of Saturn Returns is a love letter to friendship. It celebrates the humor of shared history, the courage of reinvention, and the tenderness of relationships that see us through every stage of life. It asks us to reflect: Who are the friends who have shaped us? How do we honor and sustain those connections? And how can creative expression – whether poetry, storytelling, or simple conversation – help us deepen the bonds that matter most?

In a digital world often dominated by superficial exchanges, Tally’s story illustrates the beauty of slowing down and expressing genuine care. That’s also the principle behind apps like Thinking of You, which encourage couples and close friends alike to nurture intimacy through intentional, daily reflection. Just as poetry captures love in words, Thinking of You helps capture love in practice – transforming fleeting moments into meaningful connection.