Adam Gidwitz is a prominent young adult writer. He has an upcoming Netflix show debuting in October. His books sell well all over the world. So why be a children's author rather than an author who writes for adults?

Adam writes for young adults and children because he hopes to influence them to live healthy, productive, community-centered lives. He uses modern interpretations of fairytales to accomplish this goal.

Adam knows the young people are open to good ideas. However, fairytales teach children to draw their own conclusions, stand up for what they believe in, and throw their shoulders behind more significant causes the world and their generation face. 

 Adam also understands that once adults develop a set of core beliefs, it is almost impossible to get those adults to change their minds. A fair amount of psychological and sociological research back this up. You can test this right now. Think about your core negative beliefs. What would it take for someone to get you to change your core beliefs?  

Please understand I am a big fan of my core beliefs. I imagine you feel the same way about your core beliefs. I vote for the good core beliefs like "do unto others as you would want them to do onto you." I vote against the core destructive beliefs. For example, con artists believe all people are greedy, so they deserve to be conned and tricked. You can easily see how these two examples would fit nicely into a modern fairytale that might point a child in a productive direction.

In this terrific conversation with Adam, you will quickly sense his enthusiasm for his career as a children's author. He is also a fantastic teacher and a storyteller who has spent many hours in classrooms worldwide telling fairytales to students. He also has a podcast called Grim, Grimmer, and Grimmest. Finally, toward the end of this conversation, you will discover that Adam is also a political activist. He focuses on how to organize and implement good voting practices on a state level. 

I'll leave it up to you to determine how Adam combines his career as a writer and his commitment to the political process into his fascinating Brooklyn New York life. Enjoy the show:

Grim Grimmer, Grimmest with award winning children's author Adam Gidwitz

Hi, James Navé here (www.jamesnave.com), your host for Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm pleased to welcome photographer, dancer, and choreographer Micha Bergese (www.michabergese.com). The title of this Twice 5 Miles show is From the Still Point to the Dance. 

 One of the things I appreciate about hosting Twice 5 Miles Radio is having conversations with artists like Micha. You'll enjoy listening to Micha talk about growing up in Berlin after World War 2 when his parents invited their artistic friends over for long evenings of poetry and music.   
 
Of course, Micha's primary artistic focus has always been dance, choreography, eastern arts like tai chi and Qi gong, and photography.  
You'll enjoy Micha's reflections on his notion that art happens not only in action but most especially at the still point. 
 
He starts his musings by quoting from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets, "At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is."  Micha suggests that if you keep this still point idea in mind, you'll experience many satisfying artistic adventures. 

For example, Micha's photographic eye captures the still point of an image, the essence of the event itself, precisely like Henri Cartier-Bresson captured the decisive moments in photography. Listening as Micha reflects on his artistic life and ideas was an absolute pleasure for me. 

I'm confident you'll have the same experience. Enjoy.

From the Still Point to the Dance with photographer, dancer, and choreographer Micha Bergese

Twice 5 Miles Radio, hosted by James Navé (www.jamesnave.com) welcomes master musicians Julia Thornton and Don Kirkpatrick (www.yoursacredunion.com) to the microphone. The title of this show is Love In the Time of Play. 
 
A few months ago, Julia and Don crossed my path when we were guests panelists at a (Zoom) storytelling conference. We’d been invited to discuss how the power dynamics between men and women inform the storytelling process. As you might imagine, it was a relatively rich topic that Julia and Don were well-suited to discuss because they used generous love to frame their exploration of the power dynamics between men and women.  
 
After the conference was over, Julia, Don, and I decided to get together for a Zoom visit, just for fun. Our conversation quickly moved to how they coach people around strategies for better relationships. They explained they use much of their professional musical sense of rhythm and harmony in their coaching services for people who come to them. 

They spoke about their ideas around how playing music and healthy functional relationships have much in common. They pointed out that the spirit play is the essential ingredient for both relationships and music. 
 
In this conversation, they illustrate this relationship between music and play by describing the big arena shows they perform in with Rod Stewart. Julia has played the harp and percussion for Mr. Stewart for ten years, and Don has been playing lead electric guitar for twenty years. 

They fell in love on one of the long tours that lasted months. They talk about how their love and subsequent marriage brought a playful love vibe on the stage and the road. 

 Julia and Don are going back out on the road for a spring and summer 2022 tour. If you go to YouTube (https://youtu.be/OOfkDWapW5k), you can watch Julia and Don demonstrate playful love as they play a big show with Rod Stewart - Live at the Fillmore, Miami, February 2022. 

 If you’ve had questions about how you can enjoy your relationships more, Julia and Don will answer your questions. Remember, love and being in love can offer you much. Enjoy the show.

Love in the Time of Play with master musicians Julia Thornton & Don Kirkpatrick

Twice 5 Miles Radio, hosted by James Navé, welcomes two-time Grammy Award nominee singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson to the microphone. Songs From the River Wind is the title of this show and the title of Eliza’s latest record.  

Eliza has twenty-five records to her credit, starting in 1969 with Eliza '69 and continuing with Songs From the River Wind in 2022. 

Since Eliza and I live in Taos, I recently visited her for dinner and her husband, Bob Jensen, and my creative collaborator Allegra Huston. 
The dinner conversation ranged from life on the road as a touring musician, old Taos adobe houses, the ins and outs of teaching songwriting compared to teaching poetry, and, of course, the state of the world. 

After dinner, we strolled across the field in Eliza’s backyard, walking and talking on what seemed like the roof of the world under the dusk darkening star popping sky. 

When we left, Eliza offered me her CD, Songs from the River Wind, which I happily took and immediately started playing in my car CD player. Yes, my car has a CD player. While it’s a bit retro, it certainly does the job with Eliza’s lovely songs. 

Of course, you can also listen to all of Eliza’s musical work on YouTube and other digital platforms. Speaking of listening, enjoy this interview and all that Eliza has to say.

Songs From the River Wind with singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson

James Navé welcomes agriculturalists Marvin Ani to the Twice 5 Miles microphone. I met Marvin when I recently visited Lolo Doc Farm Resort / Casitas de Victoria Batangas, Philippines. My partner Tish Vallés and I had driven down from Manila for the weekend. We arrived around noon on Friday. We went to the café and ordered lunch right away. 

When our salads arrived, they looked so fresh I thought the leaves were still growing in the garden. As it turned out, Marvin had picked our lettuce leaves less than twenty minutes before they appeared on our plates. 

Later that afternoon, we walked down to the large garden and greenhouse to check out the plants. That's when Marvin greeted us in front of the greenhouse filled with gorgeous plants and flowers. 

Marvin, a man who loved his work, smiled and showed us around. His excitement inspired me to invite him to sit down and tell me more about his life as an agriculturalist. During our conversation, I learned that Marvin had been farming all his life. "It's my passion," he said.  

I've got to say, I learned much about farming in the Philippines from Marvin. I'm confident you will too. Enjoy the show.

July 29, 2022 Aired on WPVMFM and KCEIFM

A Garden in the Philippines with agriculturalist Marvin Ani

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host James Navé. Today, please welcome poet, activist, and storyteller Robert McDowell to the microphone. You’ll get the sense you’re eavesdropping when you listen to this conversation. Who are you? Robert and I dive into the role writers and poets play in modern culture. Robert points out that Emily Dickinson tells us to tell the truth and tell it slant. Robert suggests the best way to understand people is to get close, listen, and ask questions. Robert and I discuss how poetry can help us discover how to answer the question who are you? Robert tells us that Emily Dickinson gives us some clues that will support your search. 

Robert is known for his dynamic talks, transformative keynote addresses, and stimulating workshops that awaken the visionary doer in each of us, inspiring deeper listening and evolving consciousness of life’s diverse spectrum. Robert’s compassionate story-and-poem–telling clears obstacles, opens windows, and encourages more effective communication in personal relationships and at the office.

"Who Are You?," with poet, activist, and storyteller Robert McDowell

James Navé here with an Imaginative Storm Twice 5 Miles Radio podcast, welcoming Top Fox Marketing's brand strategist Ali Kennedy to the microphone. Ali and I met in Boulder, Colorado, during an Imaginative Storm Writing Project marketing meeting where their Top Fox Marketing team and our Imaginative Storm Writing team met to discuss strategy for presenting The Imaginative Storm project to the world.

I was so impressed with Ali's insights; I invited her to be a guest on Twice 5 Miles Radio, and, praise be, she accepted.

In this interview, Ali and I dive into language, communication, and the importance of honesty in advertising. We also touch on ChatGPT and copywriting and address people's fears in this ever-changing environment. As our conversation unfolds, Ali and I even share a few confessions about our online shopping habits and what's in our closets. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this engaging and informative Imaginative Storm Twice 5 Miles Radio episode with brand strategist Ali Kennedy.

Marketing From the Fox Den with brand strategist Ali Kennedy

On Good Friday, April 7, 2023, the spoken word community was shaken by the sudden loss of Danny Solis, the vibrant poet and trailblazer of the spoken word community, who died in his sleep at 60. Danny's razor-sharp insights into poetry, culture, and art were respected by all who knew him.
 
I met Danny in 1992 during the National Poetry Slam Championships in Boston. Danny was on the winning Boston team that year. My first memory of Danny is watching him start a Poetry Slam performance from the back of the room before walking up on stage, his loud booming voice completely encompassing the auditorium. 

Danny and I got to know each other during the week of the national Poetry Slam championships. A few weeks later, my creative partners and I invited Danny to join Poetry Alive!, an Asheville-based educational theater company that fielded teams of poets to tour the country performing traditional poems in dramatic spoken-word fashion for students. Thus Danny moved to Asheville. 

Not only did Danny do a terrific job with Poetry Alive! he energized the entire Poetry Slam scene in Asheville, along with Allan Wolf, Lee Lancaster, and Ginger West. Remember, this was in the early 90s; the spoken-word movement was gaining momentum, and Danny was inventing and experimenting with performance poetry across the theatrical spectrum. 

Danny thought big. For example, his significant contributions elevated Asheville to one of the top locations in the early spoken word poetry scene. The Asheville Poetry Slam Team won the 1995 National Poetry Slam championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with Danny Solis, Kim Lane, Ted Vacca, and Pat Storm. 

Danny's insatiable drive for poetic community building led him from Asheville to Albuquerque, Austin, and beyond, where he cultivated thriving spoken word scenes in each location. His unique ability to foster creativity and connection allowed him to make an indelible mark on each community he touched. A national poet with local sensibilities, Danny's creative process always began like this: one table, one piece of paper, one pencil, and one poem.  

 Danny Solis's legacy will continue to inspire and unite poets and dreamers for future generations. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his extraordinary life and the countless lives he touched with his words and vision. Happy trails, Danny Solis.

In Memoriam: The Poetics Of Living with poet and novelist Danny Solis

My first performance of A Child's Christmas was in Greensboro, NC 1987. I performed the story in a parking lot while my friend and I had 30 minutes to spare before our movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes," was due to start. Given that the poem runs for 22 minutes, the timing was perfect for an impromptu rendition in the car. That experience marked the beginning of a cherished tradition, as I've recited it every Christmas season since. 

Now, years on, the poem still reveals new layers and nuances with each performance. Enjoy this delightful story about a boy growing up in Swansea, Wales, during the 1920s. It will spark memories, surprising imagery, and pleasant recollections of holidays you've enjoyed. 

If you'd like to contact me, go to my website, www.JamesNave.com, click contact and send me an email. I'd love to hear from you.

A Child's Christmas In Wales by Dylan Thomas performed by James Navé

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio; I’m your host, James Navé. 

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to poet and educator Cynthia Shumacher, who, at 95, is still actively writing and publishing. Cynthia’s latest works, "Polished Stones" and "Soul Flowers" reveal her masterful ability to convey the emotions we all feel but often struggle to express. Through a carefully crafted combination of words, she paints a relatable and refreshing picture of the human experience.

Our conversation touches not only on her poetic journey but also on her deep commitment to education. A career teacher for 33 years, Cynthia has been a champion of student empowerment and was even briefly fired in the 1960s for her courageous activism during the civil rights movement. Her insights into poetry, teaching, and the power of language are a testament to her lifelong dedication to both the arts and social justice.

In this episode, I’ve paired my interview with Cynthia with a past conversation I had with poet Ocean Vuong. Together, their perspectives bridge generations and remind us of poetry's timelessness.

Join us for a rich discussion that spans history, poetry, and education.

The Poetics Of Education with author and educator Cynthia Shumacher

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. This week, we’re joined for a fourth time by poet, teacher, and podcaster Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, a devoted practitioner of daily poetry for nearly two decades. 

Together, we explore what it means to Rosemerry to “live poetry.”  She speaks to the soul-deepening practice of poetry as a way of experiencing life in its fullness—a delicate dance of grief, joy, curiosity, and acceptance.

We discuss her philosophy on self-compassion, how poetry tunes us into the subtleties of our bodies, and why even moments of struggle or uncertainty can be creative openings. For Rosemerry, the poetic journey is one of constant exploration, where even the smallest moments offer potential. “What if we treated our bodies like our poetry?” she asks, drawing an illuminating parallel between artistic and personal growth.

This episode also touches on the resilience of creativity—how poetry can serve as both a witness and a response to life’s most significant challenges, including Rosemary’s journey through profound loss. Through poetry, she reveals the layers of emotion we all carry and how the written word can connect us to the shared experience of being human.

Join us as we journey through Rosemarie’s philosophy and poetry's remarkable capacity to connect, comfort, and awaken us to the beauty of everyday moments.

Self-Compassion and the Poetic Heart with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

I'm James Navé with The Imaginative Storm Writing Project. Today, I’m delighted to perform “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore—more commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Moore (1779–1863) was a writer, scholar, and professor of Oriental and Greek literature, as well as a philanthropist and land developer. His poem is widely credited with shaping American Christmas traditions. 



Does Santa look like this?

"He had a broad face and a little round belly 
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. 
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, 
 And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself."

One of my fondest memories of this poem is watching poet Allan Wolf, during the Asheville Poetry Slam in December 1992, wrap himself in flashing Christmas lights and spin wildly while performing it. 

One of my fondest memories of this poem is watching poet Allan Wolf, during the Asheville Poetry Slam in December 1992, wrap himself in flashing Christmas lights and spin wildly while performing it. 

Though I’ve never donned Christmas lights myself, I’ve always loved how the poem’s rhyming narrative bounces along. Some performers punch the rhymes, but I prefer understating them and letting the story carry you through. Enjoy!

A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore performed by James Navé

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio, where the art of conversation thrives. I'm your host, James Navé. Kelly Pasholk, the talented book designer and creative writing facilitator, is joining me today. Kelly brings a unique blend of artistry and expertise to every project she touches, and she's here to share the fascinating journey behind Taos Portraits II, a visually stunning art book capturing 60 prominent Taos artists through the lens of photographer Paul O'Connor.

In the first part of our conversation, Kelly recounts the intricate process of creating Taos Portraits II, from conceptualizing the book to watching the first pages roll off the presses in a specialized printing house in China. We also delve into plans for the book's grand launch event, scheduled for June 6, 2025, in Taos—a celebration we hope will be the highlight of the summer, leaving attendees with unforgettable memories.

In the interview's second half, Kelly offers invaluable insights into book publishing. With decades of experience in graphic arts and a passion for nurturing creativity, she discusses her unique 10-day intensive retreats in Taos, where aspiring authors develop a committed writing process and leave with the tools and momentum to bring their stories to life.

Kelly's story reflects her deep commitment to helping others shine, whether through the pages of an art book or personalized creative services. From her early days in the printing industry to building her solar-powered home in Taos, she's a testament to the transformative power of creativity and craftsmanship.

This engaging and comfortable conversation offers a wealth of inspiration for anyone passionate about storytelling, publishing, or the creative process. Tune in to hear Kelly's wisdom, anecdotes, and plans for one of the Taos' most anticipated summer 2025 art events. Enjoy the show.

Crafting Legacy: The Making of Taos Portraits II with book designer Kelly Pasholk

In this episode of Twice 5 Miles Radio, I speak with Rev. Barbara Lane, author of Broken Water, a memoir of childhood trauma, foster care, and reunion with the sisters she was separated from at age three. Barbara’s story is both heartbreaking and healing—a journey through abandonment and abuse into the power of love, memory, and inner resilience.

We talk about how the light of the divine lives in each of us, even in the darkest moments. Barbara shares how the Grovian coaching method and symbolic metaphor can open new paths to healing. Her work is grounded in the belief that you're not what happened to you—you are the story you choose to live now.

If you've ever felt weighed down by the past, this conversation offers „a way through. A reminder that even if the water breaks, it still flows—and you’re still here.

Learn more about Barbara's work at www.barbaralane.info.
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Rev. Barbara Lane: Broken Water—Power of Metaphor

Today on the show, I'm pleased to welcome Donald Graham, an internationally acclaimed photographer whose portraits, landscapes, and stories span the globe—from high fashion in Paris to mountain lions prowling the wilds of Taos, New Mexico.

Don's work is housed in collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the International Center of Photography, and his black-and-white portrait book "One of a Kind" has garnered over 40 international awards.

We met by chance at an after-party in Taos and found ourselves deep in conversation about photography, light, and the animals that roam his high desert land. That moment led to this interview. In our conversation, 

Don takes us from the glamour of Vogue shoots in Paris to the quiet solitude of waiting for a bear to appear on a trail cam. 

We discuss photography as an act of presence, empathy, and uncovering stories behind the eyes of a subject. He offers technical insights, soulful reflections, and a few hard-earned truths about making a life in the arts.

So pour a cup of coffee, settle in, and join me for this intimate and far-reaching conversation with a man who's spent his life pointing a lens at the world—and seeing what most of us miss.

The Photographer's Lens with Donald Graham

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm your host, James Navé.

On today's show, I'm joined by Michelle Vandepas, founder of GracePoint Publishing, TEDx speaker, and book coach to bestselling authors such as Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield. Michelle has published over a thousand books, but what sets her apart is her deep belief in the transformative power of creativity and voice.

In this rich conversation, we dive into the mechanics and mysteries of publishing—what it means to shape your story, find your voice, and deliver a book with soul.

Michelle pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry, revealing common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and she shares her philosophy on how authenticity, strategy, and—yes—even impatience can become your greatest creative assets.

After our conversation, I read an excerpt from my memoir-in-progress, written by hand in my Taos studio, a reflection that loops together moonlight, country music, and marble statues from the Louvre.

If you've ever wondered how your voice becomes a book—or how a memory becomes meaning—you'll want to settle in for this one. Twice 5 Miles Radio—original, curious, and always on the road to somewhere.


The Power of Publishing with Michelle Vanderpass

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm your host, James Navé. Today, I'm joined by Juliet Ewing, a dynamic jazz vocalist whose journey from Broadway stages to intimate New York jazz clubs is as lyrical as the songs she sings.
'
A classically trained musical theater performer, Juliet speaks candidly about creativity, joy, and the art of telling the truth through song. We dive deep into her transformation from touring musicals like Crazy for You and Footloose to developing her sold-out cabaret "Rise Up Singing: The Music of George Gershwin," now culminating in her upcoming album Simply'S Wonderful.

Juliet unpacks the layers of perfectionism, the power of storytelling in music, and how Gershwin's lyrics still break hearts a century later. We talk rehearsal, spontaneity, roses, and the jazz of living well. Juliet's voice—clear, radiant, intelligent—carries more than a tune. Her voice carries a lifetime of artistic devotion, grit, and joy. If you've ever wondered where the magic lives in a song, this conversation will bring you home.

Lyrics Come First with Juliet Ewing on music, meaning, and Gershwin

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé.  Today’s guest is PJ Ewing—a longtime friend, brilliant digital marketer, skilled podcast host of Lester the Nightfly, and one of the most thoughtful audio engineers I know.

This wide-ranging conversation explores the evolving intersection of sound, artificial intelligence, and American culture. From podcasting to tech ethics, it’s a deep dive into our digital future.

PJ and I dig into what makes good audio, the shifting podcasting landscape, how media influences identity, and whether we as a species can survive the next 400 years.

From the 1960’s Gunsmoke TV series to AI, from Alaska community radio to Malcolm Gladwell’s take on gun culture, we examine the deep questions—and share a few laughs along the way.

You’ll come away with fresh insights on creativity, society, and the risks we’re all taking to build whatever’s next.

Key Topics Covered in the Interview
The importance of high-quality audio in podcasting
Tips and gear for DIY podcasting (mics, software, editing tools)
Niche podcasting vs. general interviews
Podcast recommendations (including 20,000Hz, Pivot, Hard Fork, StarTalk)
PJ’s shift away from political media
Malcolm Gladwell and the cultural influence of Gunsmoke
Personal reflections on American gun culture
Local community resilience post-Hurricane Helene
The case for city-states over large national governments
Speculative futures: AI, gene editing, alien contact
Cultural evolution and the crisis of masculinity
Whether humanity can survive the next 400 years
The dual nature of capitalism as destructive and innovative

Aliens Are Coming: PJ Ewing on technology, culture, and the American Mind

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio; I’m your host, James Navé. What happens when a bullied 12-year-old finds her voice through a school talent show poem—and never looks back? In this powerful episode of Twice 5 Miles Radio, I sit down with Alabama-born poet E. Bailey, a rising star in the national slam poetry scene, who will be competing at this year’s LEAF Poetry Slam Championships.
Over 40 minutes, E. Bailey walks us through her poetic journey—from being mentored by a traveling poetry dad to self-publishing her first book at 15, to discovering the raw intimacy of slam poetry. Baileydoesn’t just write poems—she does poetry. She performs it, embodies it, lives it.
Her stories are vulnerable, electric, and deeply human: navigating trauma, small-town isolation, early grief, and ultimately, transformation. Whether she’s reading her two-part piece “Bad Girl / Bad Girl Becomes Woman” or reflecting on slam as a spiritual awakening, E. Bailey speaks forcefully, without hesitation.
The second half of the episode includes I  reflect on my own poetic evolution—growing into the craft later in life, the origins of the LEAF Slam, and what it means to say something true on the page and on the stage.
This is a show about poetry as survival, as connection, and as reclamation. Whether you’re 13 or 97, a seasoned poet or someone just starting out, this episode is an invitation to step through the door and speak your truth.
Tune in, take a breath, and let E. Bailey catch yo with your guard down.

Bad Girl Write Poetry with spoken word poet E. Bailey

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio; I’m your host, James Navé.  
In this episode, I speak with Schree Chavdarov, Global Engagement Director of LEAF Global Arts, about solidarity, resilience, and the healing power of culture. From the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina to grassroots programs across El Salvador, Rwanda, and Kenya, Schree shows how art keeps communities alive when everything else is broken.
She shares her own extraordinary story of surviving a rare, life-threatening parasite—an experience that deepened her understanding of resilience and solidarity.

We also discuss how drumming, storytelling, and preserving languages become pathways to healing, hope, and identity for young people worldwide.

Together, we reflect on what it means to live fully in challenging times: to welcome others, to share culture, to keep creating even when resources are scarce. This conversation reminds us that art is not a luxury—it is a lifeline.

Global Language of Resilience with Schree Chavdarov, LEAF Global Arts

What the Wind Whispers 
—James Navé

Forever 
and without trouble, 
I start now. 
No force 
or struggle,
swimming along, 
no knots. 

I tap at your door. 
Will you join me? 

Let's go down 
the willow path, 
past the old trees 
that understand, 
troubled yesterdays 

When the dance 
comes in time, without 
the will of fierce wind,  
I will tell you about the secret
that visits me often 
coming through the window. 

Here's what the wind whispers. 
“fire will do when you crack 
the young flowers open 
in the blue whale rain 
that falls from days gone by.” 

When will I be able to say 
I belong to the rain? 
Who will check on me, 
kiss me when spring comes 
after the long cold? 

Take me to the first party 
before the sky goes white 
like old bones left alone 
on the side of a hill 
where cougars roam 
and stars pop out at dusk.

 I wish I had more time 
to tell you about 
what I did this morning, 
when I rose early, 
still dark, 
no sound—late stars in the sky. 

I walked to the kitchen, 
made a coffee, 
then sat down, alone 
like some small blue whale 
floating in the air.

What the Wind Whispers performed by James Navé

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. Today, we venture into the soul of community, tradition, and joyful expression through the lens of contra dancing, sound, and the magic of gathering. In this episode, I sit down with Ed and Tami Howe—two deeply rooted contributors to the contra dance movement and the LEAF Festival. Design, Dance, and LEAF Love

From Ed’s beginnings as a fiddler in Maine to his rise as a creative force behind the band Perpetual e-Motion, his story is steeped in sound, stagecraft, and communal uplift. Tami shares how a search for connection led her to the contra dance floor, where eye contact and shared rhythm transformed her sense of belonging.

We dive into Brookside, the epicenter of LEAF’s dance scene—a pavilion filled with movement, music, and intentional design that fosters joy and inclusiveness. We explore the art of building the dance floor, the evolving language of tradition, and the metaphorical power of crafting space where everyone feels welcome.

It’s about design meeting passion. Movement meeting grace. Mistakes becoming invitations. From the roots of Nelson, New Hampshire, to the inclusive pulse of modern festivals, contra dance has become more than a pastime—it’s a way of life.

Stay with us. This episode is a celebration of artistry, culture, resilience, and the kind of dance that brings people home to themselves.

Contra Dancing with dance visionaries Ed and Tami Howe

Let's Say Goodbye performed by James Navé
When the world rounds 
along mud bound lines
Small trees speak. 

They tell long, 
determined stories. 
Can you hear them 
in the days you inhabit? 

Wild days. Tame days. 
Hot and cold days.

Sometimes 
I'm rich
and other times 
I count the last leaves
on the thin stems 
hanging above 
strangers coming 
and going 
to work 
or from love 
or into days 
of hope that demands 
a small pay now. 

Moments of flesh 
or motorcycle dreams
or the pull and push 
of memories 
hang round 
the world as the world spins. 
As it always spins. 

I live on the long side of time
miles away from Las Vegas
miles away from the Q train
crossing the long bridge. 
=Miles away from my father's grave. 

These days the soul is silent
in the buried violence 
of bronze memories. 

Love comes and goes. 
Yes, shoes fit 
and so do shirts 
and small earrings 
fashioned by dreamers 
from New Orleans 
under the green sun. 

After the invisible wizards 
were gone out, names 
they gave in the last storm 
were remembered 
by those who could remember. 

I was there that day, 
near the Mud bound lines
under the wedding trees. 

Can you make a wish? 
A small one. 
Let's make one together. 

Touch the prayers of blackbirds.
Forget snow. 

Remember why you long 
for those distant songs.  

Why do mysteries forget
 what you try to remember. 

I have my keys. 
I have my dreams.
I'll leave soon. 
Come walk with me 
to the door, 
and let's say goodbye.

Let's Say Goodbye

Art in Times of Beauty and Chaos with Parks & Navé

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice Five Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. Unlike many podcast hosts who book their guests weeks in advance, I choose mine from the people I meet as I travel through my days.

The only requirement for a provocative conversation is— you guessed it— they enjoy talking about what they love: gardening, writing poetry, tracking down underground criminals in the Philippines, circling 14,000-foot Colorado peaks in a glider, singing in New York jazz clubs, self-compassion, playing the blues, and consciousness—living and dying.

So when I met my guest today, storyteller Lo Ziv, at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and she told me she was a religious scholar, a progressive storyteller, and a software engineer, I unpacked my microphones and invited her to sit down and tell me about God, HTML coding, and why Artificial Intelligence will never replace our species-imperative superpower—Imaginative Intelligence.

Lo Ziv’s story is one of transformation—from ancient languages and sacred texts to the wild dance of storytelling and code. She grew up in a white evangelical military family and somehow found her way through centuries of scripture, dead languages, and a few living contradictions. Along the way, she taught in prisons in the United States and Romania, worked with children in villages, and stood in pulpits she could not yet claim.

What fascinates me most is how she carries the sacred into the everyday—how a theologian, dancer, and software engineer can look at a line of HTML or a verse of scripture and see the same divine syntax. For Lo, the imagination itself is a spiritual act, a way of remembering that the wind—like the Spirit—blows wherever it pleases.

The Divine Nature of Storytelling with Lo Ziv

In this episode, I sit down with Santa Fe entrepreneur and creative strategist David Lamb. From his family’s 150-year-old timber business in the Pacific Northwest to his work supporting Navajo weavers in New Mexico, David has spent a lifetime asking one essential question: How can we succeed in business without losing our soul?

David’s answer comes down to three deceptively simple words—Have Fun. Make Money. Do Right. Together, we explore how those principles have shaped his leadership, his philanthropy, and his sense of identity as a “Western man.” David shares stories of rebuilding after bankruptcy, of learning humility through humor, and of finding clarity by listening to what he calls the voice of the organization.

We also talk about creativity, community, and the hidden business acumen of Navajo grandmothers who run their weaving enterprises from sheep to finished rug. David reveals why he believes laughter is the foundation of resilience, why solvency is an act of stewardship, and why doing right—whether in commerce or art—is the truest measure of wealth.

This conversation is both practical and philosophical, rooted in the belief that joy, prosperity, and integrity are not separate goals but parts of a single practice.

Have Fun, Make Money, Do Right- David Lamb on ethical life and business

Welcome to Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé, and today you’re in for something rare — a conversation where music, mastery, presence, and spiritual curiosity meet in one sweeping arc.

My guest is Deborah Domanski, the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano praised by The New York Times for her “luscious sound and lyrical refinement.” I met Deborah at the 2025 LEAF Festival in North Carolina, where — by pure serendipity — she ended up onstage with guitarist and longtime friend, Walter Parks. What unfolded that night was more than a performance. It was an act of instant creative communion, two artists from different worlds dropping into a shared field of presence, improvisation, and trust.

In this conversation, Deborah talks openly about what it takes to reach that level of effortless mastery — the thousands of hours of training, yes, but also the deeper practice of getting out of your own way, listening for what wants to come through, and letting the art work on you as much as you work on it.

We talk about creativity, collaboration, Monteverdi, meditation, belonging, grief, loneliness, home, and that rare moment when an artist dissolves into something larger than themselves — and brings an audience with them.

Settle in. Enjoy.

From Juilliard to The LEAF Festival with Deborah Domanski

Welcome to provocative conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm your host, James Navé. Today I'm going solo.

In this hour-long wandering through memory, poetry, and place, I invite you into a journey that begins in Manila—fifteen million people, dense layers, and a heat that never quits—and circles outward into the deeper weather patterns of a poetic life. From Robert Frost's Dust of Snow to John Keats' On the Grasshopper and the Cricket, we explore how the natural world awakens our inherent poetic disposition, whether we realize it or not.

I take you back to my early days, hitchhiking across America, discovering the cold, haunted power of the Pacific Ocean, and then finding my younger self mirrored in Robert Frost's "Once by the Pacific." I talk about what it was like to co-found Poetry Alive in the 1980s—performing poems in gymnasiums, bringing playfulness to classrooms, and teaching thousands of students that the little things matter just as much as the big ones.

We dip into thought-beats, memorization, and why Emily Dickinson's "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" works for five-year-olds and grown-ups alike. And we venture into heavier terrain with Sharon Olds' The Food Thief, asking what poetry demands of us in a serious, complicated world.

I also read new work generated during Imaginative Storm writing sessions—pieces like Rip Curled Edge and Ivory in the Night Sky—and reflect on time passing, aging, and the themes that keep returning.

Enjoy this hour of poetry, memory, travel, performance, and the ever-present possibility that something is going to happen.

"Why Everything You Notice Matters" with James Navé

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost was a terrific poem to perform for students in grades K-3, alongside other short poems like I'm Nobody by Emily Dickinson. 

Both poems work well for children; that said, both have serious adult themes, such as identity and loneliness, which thread through many lives today.

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

Yours truly James Navé welcomes poet, writer, and author of The Artist's Way Julia Cameron to the Twice 5 Miles Radio microphone.  In this timely conversation Julia and I had a couple of summers ago, Julia discusses the many useful tools you'll find throughout her bestselling book The Artist's Way.  She talks at length about the value of Morning Pages and how to take yourself on an Artist Date. The Artist's Way has sold millions of copies over the last 26 years. What does it take to get rid of creative blocks and get on your Artist's Way?  Tune in and hear what Julia Cameron has to say.  Join me for a 6-week Artist's Way Workshop in Asheville, Tuesdays, October 23-November 27, 2018.  Near Asheville? Join us, I'd love to have you in the class.

The Artist's Way, a podcast with Julia Cameron

Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio is a podcast devoted to candid, often surprising exchanges with artists, thinkers, and cultural instigators who speak from the core. Each episode dives beneath the surface to explore the stories and questions that shape our lives.

I’m James Navé—poet, storyteller, educator, and longtime creative collaborator. With an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and decades of teaching experience across the globe, I help writers and performers tap into their authentic voices through public speaking, creative writing, and the Imaginative Storm method, which I co-developed with Allegra Huston.

My most recent book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer (3: A Taos Press), documents a hundred days of healing and poetic reckoning. I’m also co-author of Write What You Don’t Know and How to Read for an Audience—practical guides for anyone seeking to speak and write with more truth and power.

I’ve directed festivals, hosted literary salons, taught with Julia Cameron, and memorized over 600 poems. I still believe in the power of a well-told story, the light through stained glass, and the open road with nothing but a podcast and a windshield full of stars.

Twice Five Miles

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