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A clown stands alone… somewhere between Henry Miller and Samuel Beckett… somewhere between laughter and the cosmic void.

Henry Miller once said, “A clown is a poet in action.” Today, that poet is Kangalee—the one-man actor and director—returning to the stage with a new mono-drama that refuses to stay in one world. Silent film. Revolutionary vaudeville. Delirious mime. Poetry. Nirvana.

This is the modern holy fool—not Keaton, but Kangalee—struggling, leaping, breaking through to offer us something sacred.

And for the first time in America, Henry Miller’s most mysterious story comes alive on stage in Smile: A Clown’s Ascension — based on The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder.

This episode is a conversation with Kangalee! 

Please visit:

Kangalee Arts Ensemble

HM 21 Symposium

With support form the Arts Council of Monterey County

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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Author-photographer Josh Jackson grew up camping the Midwest’s state-parks but it wasn’t until he had moved to California, and after the birth of his third child, in 2015—when every California campground was booked solid—that a friend uttered the words “BLM land.” One spur-of-the-moment trip to the Trona Pinnacles cracked open a new universe: 15 million acres of under-sung, “left-over” public land in California alone.
Over the next decade Jackson made pandemic-era pilgrimages to deserts, sagebrush plateaus, and the Lost Coast’s King Range, keeping a field journal, hauling a camera, and gradually uncovering two intertwined stories:

1. A Scrappy, Essential Landscape – Bureau of Land Management parcels host wild‐and‐scenic rivers, endangered species, Indigenous cultural sites, and 60+ first-come camps where solitude still reigns.
2. A Perpetual Target – From the Sagebrush Rebellion to Senator Mike Lee’s 2025 amendments that would auction up to 1.2 million acres, BLM lands survive only by “enduring” repeated sell-off and extraction threats.

The Enduring Wild braids those threads—personal awakening, ecological portraits, Indigenous history, and political urgency—into 100 photographs and 45 k words aimed at turning anonymity into affection. Jackson’s thesis echoes Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love.” His book is an invitation to know, love, and therefore defend America’s most overlooked public commons.

Come down to the Henry Miller Library - browse and buy your copy ofThe Enduring Wild. 

Wallace Stegner;
These are some of the things wilderness can do for us. That is the reason we need to put into effect, for its preservation, some other principle that the principles of exploitation or "usefulness" or even recreation. We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.

https://psych.utah.edu/_resources/documents/psych4130/Stenger_W.pdf

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This episode is a particularly tender one. I had the privilege of speaking with Patte Kronlund whose husband, Butch, recently passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer. 

Patte and I have an open, heartfelt conversation—one marked by courage, honesty, and that shows Patte's extraordinary personal strength.

She speaks about grief, love, and the quiet acts of devotion that carry us through our darkest times. Her willingness to share such intimate reflections is something I deeply respect, and I think you will, too.

There’s of course also much more we could have talked about Patte than what we were able to cover here. For one Patte has been a vital part of our Big Sur community through her work with CABS, and although we touched on that in our conversation, I chose to focus this episode on her personal story. I hope we’ll return to her community work in a future episode.

For now, we're simply grateful to Patte—for her openness, for her strength, and for reminding us that even in loss, there can be great beauty and connection.

Here's a link to the podcast with Butch.

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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Ever since she picked up her father’s camera at age twelve, Rachael Short has been captivated by the art of photography. Listen to our conversation to learn more from and about Rachael's remarkable story.

LINKS:
Relay for Rachael

Gallery Exposed

Rachael Short Photography

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SUMMARIES:

Rachael's Nature-Inspired Photography Journey
Rachael and Magnus reminisced about their past interactions and shared experiences. Rachael, who grew up in Carmel Valley, expressed her gratitude for her upbringing, which included spending time in nature and observing the environment. She credited this upbringing for influencing her photography and creativity. Magnus and Rachael discussed how Rachael's experiences, such as horseback riding and long drives through nature, shaped her perspective and artistic vision.

Rachael's Photography Journey and Technical Skills
Rachael discusses her early experiences with photography, starting in high school and continuing through her education at Brooks Institute. She was drawn to black and white photography and the darkroom process, which she began learning as a sophomore. Rachael explains that she didn't fully appreciate the significance of famous photographers from her area, like Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, until later in her studies. She describes her time at Brooks Institute, where she experienced the transition from film to digital photography, and highlights the technical skills she gained there, particularly in lighting and the zone system. Rachael also mentions her focus on fine art photography and portraiture, which led to her work in wedding photography as a means to fund her artistic pursuits.

Neurological Trauma Experiences Compared
Rachael and Magnus discussed their experiences with neurological traumas. Rachael shared her vivid memories of a 15-year-old accident that left her paraplegic, while Magnus described his wife's recent stroke. They compared their experiences, noting similarities and differences. Magnus asked Rachael about her memories of the accident and how she has coped with the trauma over the years. Rachael confirmed that she still remembers painful aspects of the accident and has no memory of the first few days in the hospital.

Quadriplegia and Community Support
Rachael discussed her quadriplegia, emphasizing the difference between paraplegia and quadriplegia. She acknowledged the fragility of life and the ongoing challenges of finding the right care to manage her condition. Rachael also expressed gratitude for the community support she receives, particularly through the annual run organized by a core group of friends. Despite the difficulties, she remains hopeful and appreciative of the love and support she receives.

Rachael's Photography and New Project
In the meeting, Rachael discussed her photography work, including a series of images taken at her grandparents' property after it was sold. She explaine

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In memory of Butch Kronlund, this episode is a replay of a live interview recorded as part of the Under the Persimmon Tree series at the Henry Miller Library.

In this conversation, Butch reflects on his early life and upbringing, meeting his beloved wife Patte, and his arrival in Big Sur—where he would go on to lay the foundations of the Post Ranch Inn, collaborate with architect Mickey Muennig on several iconic homes, help build the new Big Sur Health Center, and oversee the rebuilding of the baths at Esalen.

We also hear about his more recent efforts to raise and distribute critical funds for community members affected by fires and floods—a testament to his enduring care for the coast and its people.

Thanks for listening, and for remembering Butch with us.

There will be a celebration of Butch's life in June. 
Announcement will be forthcoming.

Thank you for listening!

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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Mary Lu had a stroke* on October 18, 2024. 

In this episode she speaks of the moment it happened and a bit about the past five months of slow and steady recovery.

The episode is followed by a conversation from 2015 where Mary Lu tells of how she got to Big Sur "on the saddle of a Hell's Angel Harley" and what happens after that...

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* some deatil about the stroke and treatment:

Mary Lu had a serious stroke on the right side of her brain. The stroke was caused by a blockage in a major artery (the right internal carotid artery) due to a condition called ICAD (intracranial atherosclerotic disease — meaning hardening and narrowing of arteries inside the brain).

At the time of her stroke, shortly after arriving at CHOMP, she was given clot-busting medication (TNK) and also, after flying up to Stanford, underwent a procedure (EVT) where doctors tried to physically remove the blockage. They used a balloon to open up the artery and made three attempts to retrieve the clot, eventually getting partial blood flow back (about 50-70%, known as TICI 2b reperfusion). Unfortunately, there was some bleeding afterward in the area of the brain where she had the stroke, including bleeding into the fluid spaces of the brain (IVH = intraventricular hemorrhage).

An MRI before the procedure showed:

• A major stroke deep in the right side of the brain (basal ganglia area).
• Some smaller strokes in nearby brain areas (insular and temporal lobes).
• A small brain bleed in the right frontal area.
• Ongoing blockage in the main artery supplying the right side of the brain.

Cause of Stroke:
The stroke likely happened because pieces of plaque from the narrowed artery in her neck broke off and traveled into her brain (called "artery-to-artery embolism").

Post-Stroke Symptoms and Recommendations:
Mary Lu is dealing with some ongoing issues, including:

• Sleep problems
• Pain on the left side of her body (the stroke affected the right side of her brain, which controls the left side of the body)
• Some vision issues

Recommendations:

• Drink less water before bedtime to help with sleep.
• Talk to her primary doctor, Danielle Glazer, about adjusting sleep or nerve pain medications (like Lyrica or Trazodone).
• Increase movement as much as possible (to help both pain and sleep), and continue physical and occupational therapy.
• She's been referred to a rehabilitation specialist (PM&R doctor) to help with recovery, and to an eye doctor for her vision problems.

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I just found out that Clovis left us a short time ago.
Here in this chat she is sharing some of her stories. There are so many, many people that will miss her and treasure the memory of her. Thank you Clovis. A true 'Big Sur Woman!'

SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

Some of the folks mentioned in this episode:

Doug Madsen
Lolly Fassett
Tevye Morgenrath
Helen Morgenrath
Tara Morgenrath
Helen Handshy
Kim Novak
Richard Burton
Helen Weston
Elizabeth Taylor
Gorge Choley
Don Case
John Steinbeck
Wing Chong
Jack Curtis
Kenny Loggins
Grady Cook
Anthony Quinn
etc...

Livermoore Ledge

Peter Melchior Rolfing 

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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This years Monterey County Gives Campaign are heading for its final crescendo! Please join us and make it the best so far.

We speak to seven of the Big Sur Non Profits who are participating in this years campaign. Click on 'chapters' above for a direct link to each organization.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NON PROFITS!

Big Sur Fire
Big Sur Health Center
Keep Big Sur Wild
Community Association of Big Sur
Big Sur Park School
Emile Norman Arts Foundation
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
The Henry Miller Library

Other Big Sur nonprofits:
The Big Sur Grange
Big Sur Food and Wine
Mid Coast Fire Brigade (with Gives)
Ventana Wildlife Society (with Gives)
The Big Share
Big Sur River Run
Range of the Condor (with Gives)
Big Sur Historical Society
Big Sur Marathon
Big Sur Softball
Esselen Tribe of Monterey County
and more...

Previous podcast episodes with some of the guests above:
Marcus Foster, Keep Big Sur Wild
Heather, Heather and Kim of Emile Norman Arts Foundation
Butch Kronlund of CABS
Matt Harris of FIRE
Sharen

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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A wonderful conversation with Jan Straley about Humpbacks, Tide pools, Ed Ricketts, Wave Shocks, her book Ed Ricketts, from Cannery Row to Sitka, Alaska and what it all means!

The book: Ed Ricketts, from Cannery Row to Sitka, Alaska is available at the Henry Miller Library.

Quick links:
John Straley
Ed Ricketts
John Steinbeck
Joseph Campbell
Doc Ricketts Lab

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This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

Let us know what you think!
SEND US AN EMAIL! 😊
[email protected]

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