Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I'm your host, James Navé. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Virginia Todd while she was having lunch with Davyne Dial, the director of WPVMFM radio in Asheville, where this show always airs first.

During our brief encounter, I was captivated by Virginia's unique journey in the world of radio. Virginia, who holds an amateur (Ham) Radio license and hosts a music show on WPVMFM called Spinclass, has a story that is as fascinating as it is inspiring. I knew immediately that I wanted her to share her story on Twice 5 Miles Radio, and she graciously agreed.

In this episode, we delve into Virginia's journey to becoming an amateur radio operator and the deep-seated love for radio that fuels her passion. Growing up in Asheville in the 1990s and early 2000s, she recounts how those formative years were both informative and thrilling. Virginia speaks at length about her involvement in the Asheville community as a thought leader and radio artist, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment it brings her.

Our conversation also touches on the significant role radio has played in shaping American culture, harking back to Reginald Fessenden's first radio broadcast on Christmas Eve 1906 in Brant Rock, Massachusetts. He played a Christmas song, read a Biblical passage, and serenaded his listeners with his violin. Radio continues to be a vibrant force in our lives, and we are fortunate to have it in all its evolving forms.

Join us as we explore these themes and more, celebrating the enduring magic of radio. Enjoy this engaging and enlightening conversation with Virginia Todd, a true radio enthusiast and community beacon.

The Magic Of Radio with amateur radio operator Virginia Todd

Twice 5 Miles Radio is an hour-long interview show that digs beneath the surface with people with much to say and the courage to say.  The show's title (Twice 5 Miles) comes from lines in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Kubla Khan. 

I am a poet, storyteller, educator, and manuscript coach with an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. With over 20 years of experience, I’ve taught workshops on writing, creativity, and public speaking worldwide, drawing from a background that includes memorizing 600+ poems and performing poetic storytelling globally.

My latest book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer, was published by 3: A Taos Press in May 2023. I’ve also co-authored How to Read for an Audience and Write What You Don’t Know: Ten Steps to Writing with Confidence, Energy, and Flow. Through The Imaginative Storm Writing Project, co-created with Allegra Huston, I guide writers to unlock their creativity and craft impactful, dynamic work.

As co-founder of The Artist’s Way Creativity Camp with Julia Cameron, I’ve taught creativity courses for over two decades. Julia describes me as “a quick, curious mind with a humanist eye for poetic detail and an important force for change.”

I’ve also served as director of The Taos Storytelling and Poetry Festivals and host Twice 5 Miles Radio, a podcast broadcast in Asheville and Taos and streamed on SoundCloud.

New tracks tagged #VirginiaTodd