Creatures of the Wind

While on a hike with my friend Forest, I saw a potential place to jump into the water and so I took off my clothes and got in. He said he wanted to too. But then, when it was time to actually jump, I could see how much fear he had written on his face. He couldn't do it. We went home. A few days later, I brought him back to the same spot (at 9pm and when it was much colder outside). Listen to find out whether he jumps or not. 

I made this while at Salt. Thanks to my crew: Peter Lang-Stanton, Michelle Lewis, Max Greenstein, Liz Hamm. And, most importantly, Forest Gamble. Thank you for trusting me with your story. 

At the edge of an 8-foot cliff overlooking the ocean, Phoebe has a decision to make: to jump or to not jump. 

Thank you to Phoebe and Haleigh and Savannah for coming to the island with me on your autumn morning. Another thank you to my Salt crew: Peter Lang-Stanton, Michelle Lewis, Max Greenstein, Liz Hamm and Forest Gamble. 

All my love. 

A few months ago, I walked into a coffee shop bathroom in Vermont to find a note that I haven't been able to shake. It read: "Normalize asking people what they want to build and destroy in this world." So, I went around and asked the people of Brooklyn, New York and Portland, Maine.

Thank you to every kid, stranger and friend who gave me their time and thoughtfulness. Thank you also to the my Salt crew: Peter Lang-Stanton, Liz Hamm, Michelle Lewis, Forest Gamble and Max Greenstein for the wisdom. Thank you to Quincie Ndiaye Jai for your beautiful hymns at the end. Thank you to whoever wrote that note on the walls of Muddy Waters. Keep on building and destroying. 

I request that you fully submerge and do your best to become an octopus, too. 

Miriam Simun founded the Institute for Transhumanist Cephalopod (ITCE) in response to rising sea levels. Last spring in Brooklyn, she led a group of around 40 people to dance, touch and observe themselves, each other and their environment in an effort to be more like octopuses (and sometimes squid). She believes that if we try our best to become these slimy, eight-armed creatures, then who we will become in the process is greater than we already are. 

The song at the beginning is by humanoide9000 and the ending song is by Miriam Simun. Find more of her research and work here. Special thanks to Sarah Kate Kramer. 

A sonic letter to my younger sister.

It's official. We have served free tea in Maria Hernandez Park every single day of April. Thank you for everything. 

Arnaud is playing the clarinet underneath the poem Initiation Song from the Finders' Lodge by Ursula K. Le Guin. This month was one of the most special of my entire life. It was a true honor to document the people and moments of this corner of the world. I am so grateful. Until next time.

A soundscape of sorts. 

One more day. Unbelievable that we're almost to the finish line. See ya tomorrow!!!

An episode about what happened yesterday. Listen to most recent episode first if you haven't already.

The poems are Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish, Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, and One Heart by Li-Young Lee. Sabelle Guido played a bit of guitar and Rili played their usual electric violin goodness.

Until tomorrow.

Warning: this is an intense three and a half minutes of audio. Kids should not listen. As we were packing up the equipment, we looked over to see an unconscious man to our left. What followed was about 20 minutes of attempts to revive him. It was serious and heartbreaking. We'll update this description box when we know more about the situation. 

Syd is taking over the tea stand today! They are awesome. Sounds include Jose meeting his first Hasidic Jew, an Australian man named Noll and, of course, ants.