Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. Today, I sit down with my longtime friend Walter Parks for a wide-ranging conversation about art, politics, messaging, community, and the future of civic discourse in America.

Recorded in the solarium of the historic Mountain Stream lodge at Lake Eden Retreat—once the administrative heart of Black Mountain College—our conversation unfolds in the spirit of that legendary institution: curious, fearless, and open-hearted.

Walter and I explore how liberal and conservative ideologies have drifted so far apart—and how we might begin to bridge that divide through artful messaging, shared values, and the courage to claim common ground.

Together, we ask: What if patriotism belonged to everyone, not just one side? What if inclusion could be framed not as a threat but as a strength? Can we rethink “woke” not as a weaponized label but as a declaration of creative aliveness?

From the symbolic power of flags to the manipulative genius of Edward Bernays, the father of public relations, and the role of creativity as a survival tool, we delve into the roots of narrative, perception, and identity. We envision a new kind of gathering at Lake Eden Retreat in Swannanoa, NC —one that welcomes all voices, resists tribalism, and fosters deep, productive conversations. Join us.

Why We Must Stay in the Creative Game with Walter Parks and James Navé

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.

Why We Must Stay in the Creative Game with Walter Parks and James Navé

Twice Five Miles