A Twice 5 Miles Radio podcast hosted by James Navé

In this episode, The Medicine of Talking Plants, I welcome herbalist Julie Hatch for a fascinating exploration of plant medicine and its healing powers. Julie shares her adventures from a life-changing trip to the Amazon jungle in her early 20s, including a close encounter with a massive anaconda. In the show's second part, I contemplate the musicality of natural sounds, reflecting on a recent news report of the Taliban banning music and burning instruments. Tune in to uncover the mysteries of nature and the power of sound.

James Navé welcomes multitalented actor and filmmaker Nina Franoszek to the Twice 5 Miles Radio microphone.

I started by asking Nina to talk about her extensive background in the entertainment business. She opened with her childhood in West Berlin before the Wall's fall. Because her parents, Sabine Franek and Eduard Franoszek, were fine artists, the creative community in Berlin underscored Nina's childhood.

Along with her creative community, Nina experienced the simmering tensions between the East and West during that Cold War. Nina reflected on those who died trying to reach the West. "Art told the people what was there," she said. "In the West, we had jeans and Coca-Cola; in the East, they had the shield and sword of the Stasi (the secret police). Nina made a documentary film titled 12 Means I Love You, which told the story of a Stasi guard and his "tough cookie" artist girlfriend, who was harsher than he was.

Halfway through, our conversation deepened when I asked Nina how she defined evil. Her unexpected perspective on evil will surprise you. Enjoy the show.

James Navé here. Please welcome soul embodiment coach Jessica Falcon to the Twice 5 Mile Radio microphone.

In this episode, “Claim Your Sovereignty," Jessica, a former criminal prosecutor turned coach, builds an engaging narrative as she artfully blends her background in law, spirituality, wilderness exploration, and her role as a soul embodiment coach. Jessica insists that our greatness cannot help but shine when we truly belong to ourselves.

In this conversation, Jessica tells a gripping personal story of an encounter with a formidable mama bear. Both parties, in their inherent sovereignty, stood their ground. The standoff eventually concluded without harm to either party, symbolizing the respect and understanding that can emerge when we acknowledge the sovereignty of others, be it human or otherwise.

So, get ready for an inspiring journey into self-discovery, personal sovereignty, and the power of authenticity. You'll come away with a fresh perspective on taking charge of your life and truly living in alignment with your soul. Tune in, sit back, and enjoy the conversation.

James Navé here welcoming historical storyteller Logie Meecham to the Twice 5 Miles Radio microphone. Logie and I met in the early 90s when he and I were members of Poetry Alive!, a theater company devoted to performing traditional poems for students. Sadly, Logie left this world in 2018. But Logie made his mark long before he said goodbye. During this conversation, Logie reflects on his deep involvement with his beloved North Carolina and what it meant to grow up in the South in the 50s and 60s.

Logie was an educator, a storyteller, an activist, a singer, and one of the best performance artists I’ve ever known. Whether Logie was in a bar or a church, when he stood, everyone listened. Logie understood life would often say, “The smallest gesture of kindness to a stranger can make all the difference in the world.” Enjoy the show.

James Navé here. In this latest episode of Twice 5 Miles Radio, critically-acclaimed author Donna Glee Williams explores the intricacies of the writing process. Known for her lyrical storytelling and imaginative worlds, Williams reads from her newest creation, "The Night Field," scheduled to hit the bookstores on July 25th.

Williams guides us through her creative journey with transparency and raw authenticity throughout this hour-long conversation, from early concept development to the final draft. As Williams weaves tales of her inspiration and trials, she also offers invaluable wisdom for writers at any stage of their career. She peppers this discussion with practical advice, lessons learned, and truths about the writing world that only a seasoned author can provide. Enjoy the show.

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio. James Navé (www.jamesnave.com)here going solo while I explore the intersections of art, culture, and spirituality.

This week, I dive into an engaging discourse sparked by a unique invitation from Maria Masycheva (www.mariamasycheva.com), an event organizer based in Berlin, who invited me to participate in UNISONO, a virtual symposium bringing together brilliant minds from music, dance, painting, literature, and theater. 

Maria explained that at this gathering, we'll ponder six provocative questions about the role of art and spirituality in our future. Inspired to understand the question better, I decided to turn this introspection into an episode. Join me as I attempt to answer the following questions, exploring the essence of art, spirituality, and our collective responsibility in this transformative age:

1) How can artists guide us in our evolution?

2) What must we do to elevate the value of art?

3) How can we help others to incorporate spirituality into their lives?

4) What do spiritual mind and spirituality mean, and can we survive

without them?

5) How can we raise our awareness and creativity and spread it through

our art?

6) How does art help us endure and transform the unbearable into bearable?

James Navé (www.jamesnave.com) here welcoming Erin Clare to the Twice 5 Miles Radio microphone. Erin is the founder and Artistic Director of Story Parlor, a multi-disciplinary art space featuring storytelling and the exploration of the human condition (www.storyparlor.com).

Launched in 2015, Story Parlor offers community-driven events and workshops designed to bring audiences and artists together through the universal language of creativity and story. Erin served as the Creative Director of the Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (where she currently remains on the board) and produced the PBS and PRX-affiliated project, On Story.

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio with your host, James Navé. I recently had the privilege of launching my new book, "100 Days, A Poetic Memoir After Cancer," in a unique, live-spoken word show, "Once Upon a Time in Early Summer." This event occurred at The Story Parlor, Asheville's intimate listening room, on June 25th.

Instead of the typical book launch, I found myself amidst a gathering of 40 curious and creative souls, many of whom are close friends. Once "Upon a Time in Early Summer" was more than a book launch; it evolved into an improvisational exploration, a delicate blend of remembrances shared by old friends, new experiences narrated by recent acquaintances, and a sense of community in the small-tribe-vibe of wizards and dreamers.

Together, we all became part of this beautiful narrative, suspended in an exquisite hour that held so much early summer. Enjoy this recorded show of what unfolded on that magical evening at The Story Parlor. I am profoundly proud and grateful for what we accomplished together.

Welcome to a special mini-podcast from Twice 5 Miles Radio; I'm James Navé. Join me as I delve into a thoughtful discussion at the TEDxAsheville Red Rug Round Table Salon, hosted by Barrie Barton, director of TEDxAsheville. We explore the value of TEDxAsheville, and I share insights on my 2010 talk "From the Imaginative Storm to the Creative Form." I reflect on its reception and how my ego played a part in my interpretation of its success. I also delve into my current journey of exploring radical honesty, a concept more elusive to me than I first thought. Tune in and enjoy."

James Navé here. Please welcome award-winning author Maia Toll to the Twice 5 Miles Radio microphone. In this provocative show titled From Mundania to the Magical Realms, Maia frames our conversation around her new memoir, "Letting Magic In." Her other publications include "The Night School," "Wild Wisdom Companion," "The Illustrated Crystallary," "The Illustrated Bestiary," and "The Illustrated Herbiary."

During this interview, Maia offers much insight from her writing experience, like, “You can hold mundane and the magical realms in your heart simultaneously and slide back and forth between.” We talk about how when something comes from your deeper knowing, it comes as a feeling without language filling your body with certainty that requires no rational thought.

In this interview, you’ll quickly come to understand why people say, “Maia maps new pathways for seeing our lives, inspiring those who encounter her work to live with more purpose, more intention, more meaning, and, maybe, even more magic.”

Enjoy the show.