James Navé here. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost is one of the most beloved poems in American literature. I memorized it decades ago and have performed it countless times—it never gets old. The poem endures because it invites us to reflect on our place in the world. Where do we belong? How do we face solitude? The speaker reminds us he has promises to keep. What does it mean to make a promise? What does it mean to keep that promise? How many promises have you kept? How many promises have you broken?  Enjoy the poem.

Stopping by Woods in a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost—Performed by 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.

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