Strangers

I met Carolyn Sutherland in Good Hart, Michigan while walking around town looking for stories. Some neighbor outside the general store told me to knock on her door and I said, "Great, I'll tell her you sent me." She replied, "Under absolutely no circumstances can you mention my name to her. She is a very difficult personality. Good luck." Off I went. Despite her struggles to see and hear, we had a wonderful time together. A big thank you to Peter Payette and Interlochen Public Radio for believing in me (at the time, a stranger) to come to your beautiful and complicated state to collect stories. 

I met Phil Gagliano as I was walking around Beulah, Michigan. He was planting cosmos for his late wife Anne Damn. A big thank you to Peter Payette and Interlochen Public Radio for believing in me (at the time, a stranger) to come to your wonderful and complicated state to collect stories. 

All the time, I am witnessing the world. Taking note of who I want to become. A few months ago, I was doing some reporting in Northern Michigan. I needed somewhere to stay and so my manager connected me with a family who would welcome me in. I arrived on a late sunny Friday and was welcomed right in. Andrea told me to put my bag down, sit for awhile. Ryan and I talked about sheep and God. They both looked me in my eyes. We spent hours talking about what it means to be alive. I was awestruck by their depth and openness. I clung onto their every word. All this to say, this is a couple that shows up in the world in a way that I so deeply admire. This is the story of how they met about 40 years ago. Guitar strumming by Natalee Ryan.

I love strangers. They are my window to a wider world. I am undoubtedly more empathetic and understanding because of strangers. I will never stop talking with them and being challenged and delighted and everything in between. Until then. I made this while at Salt. Thank you to my crew: Peter Lang-Stanton, Michelle Lewis, Max Greenstein, Liz Hamm and Forest Gamble. Cover art by my very talented photographer friend, Noah. 

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.