We’re looking forward to introducing you to Therese Schwenkler. Check out our conversation below.
Therese, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Absolutely. With my creative work, I’ve learned the power of tuning into natural rhythms rather than rushing. For example, I’m planning to release my Unlost podcast episodes on full moons. It’s a way of honoring a slower, more intentional creative cycle rather than feeling pressured to churn out content quickly.
The same approach applies to Peaceful Waters Retreat, the retreat center outside Austin, Texas that my family and I steward. Slowing down has allowed us to listen to the land, honor the natural pace of things, and shape a space where people can slow down in kind and connect with the natural rhythms around them.
For me, not acting fast has been less about hesitation and more about trust—trusting the right timing and allowing myself to move at the pace of nature.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Thérèse Schwenkler, and I split my work between two main projects that are very close to my heart.
The first is The Unlost, a creative platform where I write about what it means to find our way back to center in today’s complex and uncertain times. I combine personal storytelling, humor, and spiritual reflection to explore themes of resilience, creativity, and purpose. I’m currently publishing essays on Substack and preparing to launch a podcast. Each of these projects is designed to help people feel less alone and more grounded in their own journey.
The second is Peaceful Waters Retreat, a family-run retreat center on 53 acres of lakeside property outside Austin, Texas. With modern amenities, cuddly farm animals, and wide-open natural beauty, it’s a place where people come to retreat, reconnect, and create meaningful experiences together. We host everything from family reunions to wellness retreats to corporate gatherings, and our property feature modern amenities combined with natural earth block construction: a private lake, swimming pools, yoga room, dry sauna & steam room, and more. Guests often tell us it feels like stepping into another world… quiet, beautiful, and restorative.
Together, these two projects—The Unlost and Peaceful Waters—reflect the two sides of my work: creating with words and ideas, and creating with land and community. Both are about helping people slow down, connect more deeply, and rediscover what matters most.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds between people are often broken when we forget our shared humanity—when we lose sight of the fact that underneath it all, we all have similar hopes, fears, and a longing for connection.
What restores those bonds is the act of remembering and reconnecting—slowing down, listening deeply, and sharing experiences that remind us we’re not so different after all. It’s about coming back to that simple truth: we all belong to the same human family.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d say: You are enough, exactly as you are. You don’t need to prove your worth or earn love through achievement. The qualities you carry—your creativity, your sensitivity, your curiosity—are gifts. Hold onto them, and trust that they will guide you toward the right people, the right work, and the right places at the right time.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One foundational truth for me is that we are deeply interconnected—both with one another and with the natural world. It’s something I live by, even if I don’t often put it into words. When we remember our interdependence, we show up differently: with more care, more responsibility, and more compassion.
Another truth I carry is that creativity is not optional—it’s essential to being human. It’s not just about art or writing; it’s about how we problem-solve, how we build community, how we imagine new possibilities.
For me, these two truths go hand in hand—connection and creativity. When we recognize our interdependence and allow our creativity to flow, we open the door to more meaningful relationships, stronger communities, and new possibilities for the future.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m close to nature—watching the light shift over water, hearing the wind move through the trees, or simply breathing deeply under an open sky. There’s something about those moments that brings me back to myself and reminds me that I’m part of something larger.
I also feel a deep sense of peace at Peaceful Waters Retreat. Whether it’s gathering with my family around a meal, paddling on the lake, or roasting marshmallows around the fire, the pace of life slows in a way that feels restorative. Peaceful Waters has a way of reminding me what really matters: time together, time in nature, and space to breathe.
For me, peace isn’t about escaping life, but about being fully present in it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.peacefulwatersretreat.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/peacefulwatersretreat
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/peacefulwatersretreat
