In this episode from Write-Up-The-Coast, we bring you an exclusive "In Conversation" event with acclaimed NYC writer Paul Lisicky! Recorded live on June 19th, 2025, from the stunning Sea Ranch Lodge on the northern tip of Sonoma County, California, Paul delves into his latest book, Song So Wild and Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell, and shares insights on the craft of writing and the very essence of being a writer with host Mark Sanford Gross.

Experience Paul's profound words as they resonate with the magical backdrop of where redwoods meet the ocean. Beyond the main event, Paul also stopped by the community-run Four Eyed Frog bookstore for a casual reading. On his last day, under the redwood trees before heading to the airport, Paul and Mark sat down for a casual conversation over coffee about what it means to be an author,  a writing inspiration, and a professor these days.

A special thanks to the staff at The Sea Ranch Lodge for making this event possible.

Music on the dulcimer by local resident Pam Powell.  For more on Paul Lisicky visit paullisicky.net

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

While I co-host a global reading project of James Joyce's Ulysses, one of the most unexpected and truly wonderful highlights unfolds right here in San Francisco: a visit to Chief Sullivan's Irish Bar to witness the electrifying performance of The Irish Newsboys.

Being in conversation with them, feeling their excitement, and soaking in their incredible energy is an absolute joy. The atmosphere at Chief Sullivan's when The Irish Newsboys are playing is simply contagious—a vibrant blend of traditional Irish melodies, lively banter, and a palpable sense of community. It's the kind of experience that leaves you energized for days.

For anyone in the Bay Area, visiting San Francisco, or even planning a special trip, I wholeheartedly recommend seeking out The Irish Newsboys at Chief Sullivan's. It's more than just a night out; it's an immersion into an authentic, exhilarating cultural experience that will undoubtedly keep your spirits high.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

Peggy's Place, featuring the First Lady of Native Radio and Community Voice of Mendonoma, California where Southern Mendocino and Northern Sonoma Counties merge, Peggy Berryhill, is now expanding to the podcast sphere with Peggy's Place - The Podcast! Where You Want It When You Want It! 

We're excited to kick off this preview with the benchmark program of KGUA-FM Gualala: Peggy's Place, hosted by the beloved Peggy Berryhill. Get a sneak peek with this First Podcast Episode of Peggy's Place

As we fully transition to offering Peggy's Place - The Podcast, current shows will be brought to you through a collaboration between KGUA-FM and  Write Up the Coast.

For your first listen, we're featuring the episode that originally aired live on KGUA-FM 88.3 Gualala, California on March 24th, 2025. In this episode of Peggy's Place, hear Peggy Berryhill in conversation with Mark Sanford Gross about the evolving effect of AI in today's world.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

Join Write Up the Coast Host, Mark Sanford Gross and San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer, Tara Duggan as they engage in an unscripted conversation on various topics relevant to our everyday lives. This episode is part of the Write Up the Coast "In Discussion" series.

Tune into Write Up the Coast, where we weave community through shared stories and genuine dialogue. Hear the raw and real voices of people everywhere.   

This episode was recorded live on March 16th, 2025, in Gualala, California.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

The WRITERS EPISODE is a special series of the Write-Up-The-Coast project. Building community through writing and sharing stories The Writers Episodes will feature the voices of everyday people who participate in any Write Up the Coast event or outreach. From scheduled writing events to pop-up events to on-the-street encounters Write Up the Coast offers folks to write on the spot. 

A recent participant called this a writer's non-workshop. This episode includes spontaneously written stories generated from a gathering, a nudge, or just a meeting on the street.  This episode is the first of the The Wtiters Episode series. Hosted by Mark Sanford Gross and guest co-host, Cris Vail.

Write Up the Coast is based on the southern tip of Mendocino, California. Writers are welcome from everywhere.  It's a movement to build community through writing. We will figure out how to get stories that folks write heard from all over.  No writing experience is needed.

Please join us!

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

Planning for "what happens to us and where we go" when the time comes for others to send us off is a gift we give to our loved ones. Yet, so many of us stall and put it off.  More options confuse us. Our environmental concerns and choosing "where"  add to the delay in our decision-making.

Better Place Forests is one of these new options.  Today, in conversation with Gillian Nye, Forest Memorial Manager at Better Place Forests in Point Arena, California, we visit and learn about a very special forest.

For more information on Better Place Forests visit betterplaceforests.com

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

For Freedoms is an artist-led organization that uses art as a catalyst for creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action.  In October 2024, For Freedoms began a three-year residency at The Corcoran School of Art, part of The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The first installation centers on the theme, "Where Do We Do From Here?"

Mark Sanford Gross lives in Northern California, building community through writing. With comfort and enthusiasm, he inspires everyday folks to tell stories based on their on-the-spot reactions to prompts.

In this project, the prompts were the phrases on the oversized canvases hanging in The Corcoran: The For Freedoms installation (forfreedoms.org) a sampling of the greater national outdoor billboard campaign.

You will see as you listen that this engagement did not stop at The Corcoran in Washington, DC, but became the focus of a writing project at the Write Now! project, part of the Write-Up-the Coast, on the bluffs of the northern California coast at the world-renowned,  Sea Ranch Lodge.  

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

During their Write Now! November gathering at The Sea Ranch Lodge at the tip of the northern Sonoma County coast, Write Up The Coast writers paid tribute to Dorothy Allison, the author, who passed away on November 6th.  Dorothy Allison is the author of Bastard Out of Carolina.

Write up the Coast holds prompt-based local workshops; all writing is original and created in real time.

The prompt for this session is a prompt from Dorothy Allison.

Write Up the Coast founder Mark Sanford Gross created and hosted this episode with special guest writer and co-host Pam Powell. All stories written  at this gathering are featured in this episode and read by the authors.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

Ever had one of those chats that start innocently enough—just a friendly, "Hey, did you hear about...?"—but before you know it, you're on the defensive, scrambling for a response? That’s the inspiration behind this short episode. 

I set out on my usual day, asking random people how they'd handle those unpredictable moments. No script, no plan—just me, a mic, and a few conversations along the way.

I apologize in advance for the coastal winds and background noise—you might hear more than just voices in this one—but I wanted to capture the real-time, unfiltered vibe of these interactions. Hope you enjoy the ride!

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]

In Episode #2, Write Up the Coast hits the streets to ask local community members, spontaneously and unplanned, in different spots around town: "What matters most?"Tune in to hear their diverse, heartfelt answers. Thanks for listening. For more information, visit writeupthecoast.com. 

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email [email protected]