1 Sealed Letter

In this letter, Rilke discusses his time in Rome, muses about beauty and encourages his young fan’s poetry. I recommend listening to the earlier episodes first if you haven’t heard them already.

The history of airmail combines the history of aviation with history of the US Postal Service. In this episode, I explore the key chapters in this fascinating history, and share some of my personal stories in aviation.

Blog post about airway beacons and arrows:

https://www.gentleartofwandering.com/looking-for-airway-beacons-and-arrows-in-the-backcountry/

Additional photos and resources from the USPS: https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/airmail-history-in-pictures.pdf

https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/airmail.pdf

Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the little know but revolutionary Renaissance woman, Vittoria Colonna. We’re joined by author, Ramie Targoff, who is a Professor of English, co-chair of Italian Studies, and the Jehuda Reinharz Director of the Mandel Center for the Humanities at Brandeis University. Professor Targoff wrote a book about Vittoria Colonna, “Renaissance Woman,” and shares about this fascinating historical heroine.⁣

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Vittoria Colonna, Marchesa of Pescara, was the quintessential renaissance woman. She was personally connected with some of the most prominent people in 16th century Italy, including Michelangelo, many popes and Queen Marguerite de Navarre, to name a few. As the first female poet published in Italy, she began a revolution for female writers and is still beloved today.⁣

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Professor Targoff’s Bio:⁣

https://ramietargoff.com/about⁣

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Professor Targoff’s books:⁣

https://ramietargoff.com/new-page⁣

Listen to accounts from Titanic Passengers to get a better sense of the those who took this fatal voyage over 110 years ago. I provide some historical context to the letters, share some interesting stories from the ship, and draw parallels to our current time.

Today, I'm speaking with Mike Harney who is the Vice President, master tea buyer and blender of Harney & Sons teas. Tea drinking and letter writing have always gone hand-in-hand for me, and so I asked Mike to teach us all about the ceremony of fine teas. He has extensive knowledge of all of the major tea regions in the world as well as an exceptional palette for tasting team. He also has published The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea. Whether you're an inveterate tea drinker like me or new to tea, there is lots to learn from Mike.⁣

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Harney.com⁣

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Tea Recommendations:⁣

Leisurely afternoon letter - Hot Cinnamon⁣

Love Letter - Jane’s Garden⁣

Condolence Letter - Earl Gray Supreme⁣

A Complaint Letter - Oolong⁣

Letter Before Bed - Yellow and Blue⁣

Travel Letter - Paris⁣

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Dr. Will Li:⁣

https://instagram.com/drwilliamli⁣

Learn from those who lived during the Spanish Flu of 1918. In this episode, I discuss what I learned about the pandemic through letters, and I also read letters written at that time. The letters come from the National Archives in DC, the WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO, and the British Medical Journal. If you’re interested in learning more about the 1918 pandemic, I recommend Jeremy Brown’s book, “Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History.” He tells more stories from the pandemic and how the flu shaped society.

Paul Herron is a researcher, writer, editor and publisher of Sky Blue Press. He has extensive knowledge of Anaïs Nin’s life, literary work and letters. Through his in-depth knowledge and passion for her work, Paul helps us understand this multifaceted woman and artist, who even by today’s standards lived outside of societal norms. Her work continues to inspire and bring new questions about the cycle of human relationships and personal growth.⁣

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http://www.skybluepress.com/bookstore/⁣

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http://www.skybluepress.com/about-us/⁣

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In this episode, we continue with Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet. We talk more about the life of an artist, an artist’s unique path, and how to grow even when it makes others uncomfortable. I recommend listening to the other three episodes first.

What can the history of letter writing teach us about fan mail? When writing celebrities, what are the best ways to connect with them, while still respecting the distance of being strangers? In this episode I share some simple tips of how to write a good fan letter… And how to avoid some of the tropes that have existed since the beginning a fan mail.⁣

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In this episode I also mention fan mail that Lord Byron received. To read more about his fan mail and additional letters that I didn’t share, visit the article written by the Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/i-love-you-lord-byron-how-the-poet-s-postbag-bulged-with-female-admirers-letters-894522.html

Many know the ending of this tragic relationship between two Queen cousins, but the letters from these two figures are often forgotten. Hear about their lives and star-crossed paths. To see how Mary folded her last letter, see this tutorial: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_2fca6JibI/?igshid=zg9af871mzlm