Work With Me
Hi, I’m Dr Laura Premack, a writer, historian, educator, gardener, meditation teacher, and weaver. Originally from New England, I live with my husband, two children, and big white dog in the rainy fells of the northwest of England.
Alongside my writing and creative work, I run a coaching practice — working with people at the intersection of life, work, and being. It’s work I absolutely love.
The kinds of people who really connect with me are those that share some of my values – things like justice, creativity, sustainability, and presence. I work with people one-to-one and in groups, creating spaces of solidarity, trust and transformation.
I know it’s possible to live more grounded, spacious lives than those mandated by capitalist logic and the attention economy, and this is what I help people do. We can develop ease, deepen purpose, and live in greater connection with each other and the natural world.
About my bona fides
I left a successful academic career to hang out my shingle as a coach, writer, and artist. I have fancy degrees (MA/PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; EdM Harvard; BA Wesleyan) and I’ve researched on four continents; spoken internationally; published widely; been awarded fellowships; and held permanent faculty positions in the US and the UK.
Before entering academia, I did lots of other things, many of them quite a bit more interesting. I’ve waited tables in the Hamptons; taught school in San Francisco, Phoenix and Costa Rica; led wilderness trips in Utah and Colorado; run mountain huts in New Hampshire; cycled the Pacific Coast of the US; and been a Zen student in California.
Since my academexit, I’ve studied horticulture in the Lake District; taught myself to handweave with the support of Arts Council England; signed with a literary agent in London; and scored two book deals for my debut work of creative nonfiction, which I’m finishing now and should come out in 2027.
Throughout all of this time, I’ve nurtured a yoga and meditation practice which began when I took my first yoga class in Burlington, Vermont in 1995. I’ve trained with leading yoga, Zen and vipassana teachers; sat silent meditation retreats; studied dharma consistently; and become certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher. Practicing meditation, moving my body, and spending time in nature are the fundamental grounding activities in my life, setting the foundation for everything I do.
Here are some of the things people say about working with me:
Laura asks the questions that you didn’t know you needed to be asked, ones that unstick the stuckness, release the overwhelm and focus the intention. It is no understatement to say that Laura’s guidance is transforming me and my work, and this change ripples through my relationships in and out of work.
Through working with Laura, I am healthier, bolder, calmer and I breathe deeper. I am doing much better work.
For those seeking a coach who, like me, were ready to make a change but unsure if they can trust themselves to do it alone, I would highly recommend working with Laura for her empathetic and personalized approach to coaching.
I just wanted to feedback how much I appreciated the thought and care that went into making the session an inclusive space. As a neurodivergent person, I’ve always really struggled with online meetings and tend to leave with a headache/feeling dysregulated but this was probably the first time I’ve come away from an online workshop feeling calm and well.
Her coaching completely transformed how I worked and allowed me to make progress on the projects that I needed to while also figuring out how to slow down and take care of my health and well-being. She helped me to actually enjoy the work again!
I’d worked with Laura before and knew the kind of empathetic, authentic, and pragmatic approach she takes to coaching was the one I needed to help me develop a more intentional route into and through my mid-life. After considering various alternatives, I decided I wanted Laura to coach me because of her ability to nurture a compassionate, productive space that enables reflection, growth and change.
I want to say that I valued the experience tremendously. Since being part of the retreat I have been part of two other writing workshops provided by professional coaches and the difference between your approach and those others was significant. In terms of style, rapport and thoughtful application of knowledge, your process was as impactful and generative as theirs were frustrating and alienating.
I could honestly say everything about it was extremely helpful. Aside from learning about the stuff that worked for me specifically, I also became aware of the writing habits I had that weren’t very helpful. The community we made is also such a great one and is very supportive. I really did enjoy every part of it.
If you think I’d be a good match for you, please use the above button to reach out! In addition to coaching people one-to-one and in groups, I design and facilitate bespoke workshops and retreats. I’m always interested in new clients and partnerships, I love designing programmes, I enjoy public speaking, and I’m happy to provide references. Even if we don’t end up working together, I’m glad you’re here reading The Hard Prune and I’d be delighted to meet you :-).