Discover how language and storytelling empower Indigenous sovereignty in this episode of Reclaiming Our Roots. Explore the resilience of Indigenous communities in revitalizing languages, the impact of colonization on cultural identity, and the power of stories to challenge stereotypes and reclaim narratives. Reflect with us on the profound role of words and stories in honoring the past and shaping a sovereign future.

Episode 2 - Language as Sovereignty: Stories, Resilience, and Reclamation

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé, and today, I’m joined by screenwriter, actress, and documentary filmmaker Angela Shelton for a wide-ranging conversation that’s as bold as she is.

This is Angela’s second visit to the show, and if there’s one thing I admire about her, it’s her fearless honesty. She has no hesitation in saying what’s on her mind, whether it’s about the clutter on her kitchen counter or heavier topics like the politics of sex trafficking and the aftermath of last year’s floods in Western North Carolina. She believes developers are using the floods as an excuse for a massive land grab; it’s a point worth exploring.

We also touch on faith and perspective. Angela says Jesus is her boyfriend—someone she can always count on. I see God more as “The Infinite,” something less human and more abstract. That’s where our conversation takes its twists and turns, from rituals and daily habits that keep us grounded to the unflinching realities of the world around us.

Angela’s perspective on sex trafficking is incredibly personal—she believes it’s time for ordinary people to step in, become investigators, and take action. It’s a controversial notion that forces you to think and question where you stand.

Our visit is more than an interview—it explores ideas and attitudes that challenge the status quo. Whether or not you agree with everything we discuss, Angelia brings a fire to the conversation that’s impossible to ignore.

When Honesty Meets Action: Angela Shelton on Life and Justice

What does it mean to report on the world’s hidden stories? In this episode of Twice 5 Miles Radio, I sit down with investigative journalist Sean Williams, co-host of the Underworld podcast, which reaches a million listeners every month. Sean’s reporting has taken him into the depths of organized crime, political corruption, and human resilience, from the slums of Manila to the frontlines of war zones.

We met in Manila, a city he describes as “organized chaos,” where he was researching an in-depth Harper’s Magazine feature on Duterte’s brutal drug war and the lives caught in its grip. In our conversation, we discuss the sharp economic divides in Manila, the rise of disinformation, and how journalists like Sean navigate truth in a world increasingly shaped by propaganda.

Sean shares his radical skepticism of social media, how digital platforms distort narratives, and why long-form journalism remains one of the last bastions of in-depth storytelling. We also explore the personal side of his work—how walking clears his mind, the discipline behind crafting a great feature, and why he believes every good story starts with listening.

Whether you’re a writer, a journalist, or simply someone who cares about understanding the world beyond the headlines, this episode is for you. Join me, James Navé, as we take a deep dive into the art of investigative storytelling, the ethics of journalism, and the unseen forces shaping our global reality.

Tune in to Twice 5 Miles Radio for this eye-opening conversation. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.

Manila's Organized Chaos with investigative reporter Sean Williams

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with my longtime friend, John Biscello—a gifted writer, actor, poet, and theater director who’s been shaping the artistic landscape of Taos, New Mexico for over two decades.

John and I connected across the Atlantic—he in Taos and me in a 6th-floor studio on rue Dauphine in Paris. In this lively conversation, John and I discuss his latest youth theater production, Neverland Noir, a metaphysical remix of Peter Pan featuring 30 young performers. The show premieres at the Wildflower Playhouse in Taos, April 11–13.

John founded the Taos Youth Ensemble over ten years ago, and in that time, he discovered just how transformative the creative process can be for young people. Our conversation explores how theater teaches flexibility, confidence, collaboration, and the power of embracing mistakes onstage as creative gold.

We also dive into John’s rich, multidisciplinary creative life—his work as a novelist, playwright, spoken word artist, and filmmaker—and how Taos continues to be a haven for imaginative expression. As always, our talk reminded me why we make art first: to connect, grow, and honor the magic in things not going quite as planned.

"Be Wrong Loud" John Biscello on Youth, Theater, and the Art of Not Knowing

In this solo episode of Twice 5 Miles Radio, I reflect on my final days in Paris after 40 years of coming and going. I’m sitting in a small studio at 38 Rue Dauphine—a place that’s been a quiet touchstone in my life and a silent witness to the legacy of the Paris literary scene. As I look back, I think about this little apartment and time, memory, and the places we carry with us.

I share stories from 1968 when the world was turning upside down—when I graduated high school the night Robert F. Kennedy was shot. I talk about growing up on Pine Lane in western North Carolina, driving through the dark toward Myrtle Beach, and listening to the news on an old AM radio. I wonder what it means to feel the passing of time—and to feel its presence, too.

You’ll hear a recitation of Dylan Thomas’s Fern Hill, a reading from my book 100 Days: Poems After Cancer, and reflections on how the echoes of the past live inside the present moment. I also talk about my ongoing work with Allegra Huston and the creative path we’ve forged together over the last five years.

This episode is a meditation on home, history, poetry, and the stillness that lives beneath the noise. It’s a way of saying thank you to Paris, Pine Lane, and the community of listeners who’ve made this radio journey possible.

Broadcast on the edge of evening, Rue Dauphine, Pine Lane, and the Eternal Now is my love letter to what’s been, a salute to what is, and a quiet nod toward whatever comes next.

Reflections on Paris, rue Dauphine, Pine Lane, and the Eternal Now with James Navé

Q: Who Would Envy You? 
A: Bruce Springsteen 

Last month, I had coffee with my friend Gareth Higgins at Recess Coffee in Black Mountain, North Carolina. As we settled in, I mentioned I’d been exploring ChatGPT. Gareth smiled and said, “Let me show you something ChatGPT can do that’ll surprise you.”

Then he leaned into his phone and dictated: List 10 notable writers or poets who would be envious of James Navé and explain why.

If you’ve ever used ChatGPT, you know what happened next—within seconds, it generated the list along with a paragraph for each one. 

While a few responses were predictable, the overall experience was oddly fascinating. It got me thinking about the lens of self-worth, creative admiration, and the power of imaginative comparison.

Yesterday, I tried Gareth’s idea out as a prompt during our Thursday Imaginative Storm Zoom workshops. List 5 to 10 people you admire. Then, write for 10 minutes about why they would envy you. Give it a spin. 

I chose Bruce Springsteen. Here’s what I wrote.

Bruce Springsteen, you envy me because I can be invisible whenever and wherever I want, wherever I go, walking through the promised land across the Rainbow Bridge. 

Bruce, I like the way you look straight out. You envy me because I can see the edges. I dwell in the fall from grace as much as the rise from grace. I'm not troubled with old sheep wandering in dry pastures. 

I have a voice that calls my mama from the grave. No, I'm no karmic child, nor am I a fleeting-moments Buddhist. I am oil and dusty windows. 

Bruce, you envy me because unlike you, I'm from the rugged south, down in the heartland where rocks have accents and children grow up to sing in Nashville. 

Bruce, you are from New Jersey—Land of steel, forest, factories, and “made-men” on corners in Jersey City. I am a creature of things that crawl in old gold heat. I know the runners that pull the cargo up the inland waterway and fly twin-engine planes out of Cuba, or they used to. 

Bruce, I know you know people, too. Do I envy you? Sure, I envy you. I've heard you weep over your piano. You envy me because nobody expects me to weep over my piano. Those who know me expect me to rise up like magic wind. 

Bruce, you envy me because I can talk to age, and time, and the coming years. I belong to the invisible Bruce. I can call up sometime, anytime I want. You can call me sometime, too. 

Let's meet in Virginia, south on I-95 just below Washington, DC. How about it, Bruce?

Bruce Springsteen Envies Me by James Navé

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

In this episode, I speak with musician, educator, and LEAF Global Arts programming director Melissa McKinney, who shares the remarkable story of how music has shaped every corner of her life. From running a music school in West Virginia to starting over in Asheville, and her involvement with LEAF Global Art. Melissa’s journey is one of courage, reinvention, and the power of community.

We discuss her daughter’s band, The Change, and how their 2016 performance at LEAF led to a deep involvement with the organization.

Melissa reflects on the challenges of leaving a conservative environment, rediscovering her voice, and building new roots through music and mentorship.

She shares stories of Kinsey, a beloved student whose life and song, “Laugh, Love, Live,” continue to inspire children across Buncombe County—and Melissa’s creative path. We also explore what it means to “step into your power,” honor your voice and lead through authenticity.

Tune in for a moving conversation about creativity, healing, and living a life in tune with your deepest values.

Rooted in Rhythm with Melissa McKinney

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.

New tracks tagged #StorytellingMatters