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.
Art in Times of Beauty and Chaos with Parks & Navé by James Navé
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio, I'm your host, James Navé. This week, I sit down with Erinn Hartley, Executive Director of LEAF Global Arts, for a dynamic conversation on creativity, cultural exchange, and the power of the arts. Erinn shares stories from LEAF's renowned festivals, international cultural programs, and its impactful educational initiatives, LEAF Schools and Streets. From teaching theater in Asheville's public housing to life-changing cultural journeys abroad, Erinn illustrates how LEAF connects communities and inspires creative growth. As LEAF celebrates 30 years, we also discuss the upcoming book, Live Life Like a Festival, co-authored by Jennifer Pickering, Lauren Breher, and me. Please tune in to discover how LEAF Global Arts empowers us all to live creatively, courageously, and festively. Twice 5 Miles Radio airs weekly on WPVM FM, Asheville, and KCEI FM Cultural Energy Radio, Taos.
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.
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.
Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio, I’m your host, James Navé. In this episode, we begin with Leandro Reyes, Manila’s dynamic “Basyang Kid”—a spoken-word artist who channels a century-old literary legacy into powerful performances, poetic craft, and cultural community-building. From open mic stages across Makati to the pages of Postscript Magazine, Leandro honors the legacy of his great-grandfather, Severino “Lola Basyang” Reyes—the iconic playwright and “Father of Tagalog Zarzuela”—while forging his own bold new path. His debut poem, “Sugarcoats,” contemplates loss with quiet precision, and his work in theater and advocacy reveals a deep devotion to Filipino artistry and imagination. Then we travel from Manila to Taos for a conversation I recorded a few years ago with Ocean Vuong, bestselling author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and his current novel, The Emperor of Gladness, published on May 13, 2025. Ocean was in Northern New Mexico for the Taos Poetry Festival, and we sat down to talk about poetry, language, loss, and what it means to carry beauty and grief in the same breath. To close the show, I offer a short writing workshop—an invitation called “A Long Look at Yourself.” It’s a simple, powerful practice in awareness and emotional truth, designed to help you connect with your voice and see your own story in a fresh light. Whether you're a writer, a listener, or someone simply curious about the human spirit, I hope this episode offers you something to carry with you.
The Slow Burn of a Beautiful Dream with Jennifer Peterson Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. I’m your host, James Navé. In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Peterson, founder of the Estelle Center for Creative Arts in La Veta, Colorado (https://estellecreativearts.com/). Jennifer shares how a dream seeded by her grandmother's artistic spirit evolved into a vibrant retreat center for women to explore creativity, build community, and work with their hands. We talk about the emotional power of quilting, the quiet transformation that happens during a five-day retreat, and how making art becomes a way to live with more grace, connection, and resilience. Jennifer’s story is a masterclass in patience, purpose, and creative leadership. Whether you’re a fiber artist, a retreat leader, or someone yearning to carve out creative time in a busy life, you’ll find inspiration here. Jennifer reminds us: you don’t have to know exactly how your dream will unfold—you just have to let it live long enough to find its form. Listen in and discover how one woman’s quiet dream turned into a movement of creative restoration.
Three 10-minute pieces of writing generated by James Navé at an Imaginative Storm Writing Retreat at the Estelle Retreat Center in La Vita, Colorado,
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.
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.
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?
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. here
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.