This short episode is about my mostly unknown Eastern European roots. I read entries from the genealogy report I wrote for my social studies class in 8th grade. Considering The Ukraine and Romania and why I (like many American Jews whose families arrived around 1900) don't know much about Eastern Europe or what the experiences of our ancestors was like when they did get out and arrive in New York. 

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. 

Meet Jeff Alessandrelli. Jeff is a poet, professor and publisher of poetry. He is the John Stockton of the world of poetry, dishing out assists like its 1989. This is an interview for writers and creative folks. We drift from Erik Satie to Samuel Beckett to Bill Knott to Adam Haslett to our own thoughts on identity, from what it means to write and share your work to the psychology of writers and eventually we discuss nihilism solitude. 

https://jeffalessandrelli.net/books
Jeff reads selections from his poetic biography "Erik Satie Watusies His Way Into Sound"

0:08

Impressions from Childhood

0:15

Skateboarding 

Jeff wrote a book of essays on skateboarding and Biggie.

0:24

Growing up in Reno and family history

0:30

Nebraska

Jeff lived in Nebraska. He earned a PhD in Literature with a focus on Poetry. Later, he returned to Nebraska to teach at a small university.

0:45

Writing: Samuel Beckett, Bill Knott and Writing Identity
Satisfaction vs endless striving. The creative process vs literary world. Recognition and validation. Poet Bill Knott. Identity -- writing identity versus real life identity.

0:59

Fonograf Editions
Jeff started a non-profit poetry press. It began with putting out albums of poetry on vinyl. The press now releases books as well.

Jeff is an editor and curator. 

"I started reading and finding an identity in books from a very young age. Fongoraf is an extension of that. Fonograf published Mark Leidner's "Returning the Sword to the Stone," which made the NY Times Best of 2021 list for poetry. 

1:03

Appreciating Jeff's Editing and Assisting in Poetry

Jeff's literary role: Like John Stockton in the 1990s, Jeff dishing out assists to poets. Jeff edits poetry and runs a small press.

http://thefanzine.com/bad-business-is-good-art-fonograf-editions/

1:10

Writing, Solitude and the Imaginative Life

Nobody Marries Themselves

In 2003, I read Adam Haslett's story collection "You Are Not a Stranger Here." I finally re-read it a few months ago. 

Adam Haslett's "The Perpetual Solitude of the Writer"

"One of the paradoxes of writing...in order to fulfill the urge to communicate something to other people, you end up spending huge amounts of time on your own."

Jeff, on The freedom of writing poetry: "One of the beautiful things about poetry, but also challenging, is that there's no money in it."

1:36
Focusing on Gratitude and Dropping Cynicism

1:51
Films: "Nebraska" and "The Station Agent"
Jeff teaches Nebraska in his composition class.

1:55
Writing is Unique to the Writer

Find Jeff and his books online at jeffalessandrelli.net
Find Fonograf Editions 

Thanks for Listening and Sharing,
Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. 

This is part two of my interview with Kyle. Throughout his life, Kyle has traveled with an open mind and compassionate heart. This episode is affecting, because Kyle is a thoughtful, unrushed storyteller...who happens to have many stories. Even as I listened again in editing, I appreciated the ease with which we discussed the big questions, around humanitarian work, humanity, sustaining hope, fatherhood and marriage, and dealing with technology. 

A native of Northern California, Kyle has dedicated much of his life to Humanitarian Work. During college, he spent a semester in Australia. After college, he spent two years in Malawi, teaching through the Peace Corps. He traveled to India, Nepal and Bhutan, before returning to California and eventually heading to grad school to study International Peace and Conflict Resolution. After that, Kyle was in East Timor and then based in Thailand, directing an anti-human-trafficking campaign in Southeast Asia.  

Music samples:
of Montreal "Wraith Pinned to the Mist" album The Sunlandic Twins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8cCPH1qnYI&ab_channel=PolyvinylRecords

Seckou Keita "N'doké"; album Seckou Keita: 22 Strings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77J78-jb-a4&ab_channel=SeckouKeita
Seckou Keita plays the Kora, a West African lute/harp made of 22 strings. 

One of Kyle's mentors: Prof. Abdul Aziz Said, started the graduate program, worked on White House Councils, etc.

https://www.american.edu/sis/news/20210215-a-tribute-to-abdul-aziz-said.cfm

East Timor / Timor Leste

We discuss the genocide in East Timor and Kyle's work there on peace and reconciliation after genocide.

Non-Profit Dedicated to Peace and Reconciliation:
Search for Common Ground
https://www.sfcg.org/

0:47

Q. When you feel overwhelmed with the problems of the world, what restores you?

Kyle describes bringing it back to the individual and the power of connection and kindness.

0:50

Thailand and South Asia: Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign

0:58

Q. How do you balance fatherhood with work, marriage and time for yourself?
Fatherhood, Relationship, Work and Finding a Balance

1:20

Habits: Limiting Technology

1:24

The Difficulty of Just Being


Thanks for Listening to Jonah Asks. If you're looking to donate to the Search for Common Ground, click here: https://www.sfcg.org/

Please email with questions or comments. 
jonahasks at gmail dot com

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks and Happy New Year. Let's hope 2022 brings more health, happiness and general peace than 2021. Us humans seem to be struggling. In this episode, meet Kyle. A father, compassionate soul, a traveler, a writer and a  worker in the struggle for humanity who has dedicated many years of his life to making things better for humans. 


This is a two-part episode. The second part should be up within a week. 

Stay healthy, safe and kind,
Jonah