Magnus Toren, host

A Big Sur Podcast

Society EN ↓ 136 episodes

A Big Sur Podcast An ongoing conversation with people from near and far about Big Sur's past, present, and future. A Big Sur Podcast interprets “community” to mean ALL people from around the world who are curious about, and who care about, the preservation and restoration of the wild and rural character of Big Sur. Stories are told by visitors and residents, plumbers and linesmen, musicians and authors, dancers and jugglers and others. Sometimes we drift (way) off-topic into the arts, sciences, personal stories, gossip, politics, philosophy, ornithology, Henry Miller, and our zeitgeist in gene...

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.bigsurpodcast.org

Author

Magnus Toren, host

Episodes

# 62 Pico Iyer | The Half Known Life | New Camaldoli Hermitage, Big Sur, Jerusalem, Greece, Leonard Cohen, Thomas Merton, Dalai Lama, Cyprian, Japan, Tahiti... 11.05.2023 1:41:25

Send us Fan Mail We have a wonderful conversation roaming from Jerusalem to Vanuatu, from Atheism to Greek Orthodoxy and from Thomas Merton to Sam Harris! Oh...and from Dalai Lama to Henry Miller! The Half Known Life Best place to visit Pico Iyer online is his website HERE! Pici Iyer on Wiki : HERE New Camaldoli Hermitage HERE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Support the show _____________________________...

# 61 A new book by Henry Miller! The Book of Conversations with David Edgar. 04.05.2023 54:16

Send us Fan Mail Magnus speak with Michael Paduano about the soon to be published book The Book of Conversations with David Edgar and also about the literary archival detective work that eventually resulted in its publication…it is an exciting story! Some of you remember Michael from Episode 31 of a Big Sur Podcast - I recommend listening to that episode as well of course. The Paris Review w/ exce...

# 60 Big Sur Ronna Rio Riding Water Buffaloes, Giraffes & Teaching Art! 23.04.2023 1:42:27

Send us Fan Mail Ronna Rio Emmons is well known and loved in the Big Sur community perhaps especially because of her many years being our art teacher. Ronna, and her husband Michael and I, have fun talking and we cover a few good stories. Below are links and comments about some of what we speak of. (Michael, as you will realize, will have to have his own podcast episode!!...so please stay tuned!...

# 59 Israeli journalist and writer Yossi Klein Halevi. 18.04.2023 1:26:42

Send us Fan Mail I met Yossi Klein Halevi when I was in Jerusalem in early 2020. We have stayed in touch ever since that fateful day. His voice is important in Israel as you will hear. I hope you take the time to listen to this podcast and then to read all of Yossi's books, and listen to his talks on YouTube, other podcast etc.. By doing so you will get to know a wonderful man. LINKS: Yossi K...

# 58 Darryl Purpose: Writing Songs, Playing Blackjack, Telling Stories and the Great March! 11.04.2023 1:38:19

Send us Fan Mail Action packed podcast episode with Darryl Purpose! And he is soon coming to the Library: Tickets HERE for the April 29th evening with Darryl Purpose at the Library Some folks we mention during our chat: Ellis Paul Paul Simon The Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament Mozart Support the show _________________________________________________ This podcast is a production of...

# 57 Joshua Yaffa of the New Yorker magazine speaks with Magnus about journalism in wartime Ukraine and Russia. 24.03.2023 1:34:43

Send us Fan Mail Joshua's article about the recent arrest of Evan Gershkovich. >>>>>>>>>>> A podcast co- hosted with the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies , based at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. The Monterey Initiative is supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York. Joshua Yaffa visited the Middlebury Institute by invit...

# 56 Stranded, Finding Nature In Uncertain Times by Maddalena Bearzi 16.03.2023 1:07:29

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a conversation with author and marine conservation biologist Maddalena Bearzi on the occasion of her most recent book being published by Heyday Books on April 18, 2023. Books by Ms Bearzi: Stranded: Finding Nature in Uncertain Times Beautiful Minds: The Parallel Lives of Great Apes and Dolphins Dolphin Confidential: Confessions of a Field Biologist To find more about Ma...

# 55 The Revolt of The Public. A conversation with author and former CIA analyst Martin Gurri. 05.03.2023 2:00:06

Send us Fan Mail A wonderful recorded conversation at the Henry Miller Library with Martin Gurri , a geopolitical analyst and student of new media and information effects. Martin Gurri spent many years working in the corner of the CIA dedicated to the analysis of open media. From that privileged perch, he watched the global information landscape undergo a transformation so radical as to seem...

# 54 Betty Withrow. From as high up, and deep, in Big Sur as one can get! 28.02.2023 1:27:37

Send us Fan Mail Betty's Amazon Page Please email us with comments, suggestions etc. Thanks! Some of the places and people mentioned: Elaine (Bird) and Twig Westmere Naqarubi Point 16 Neil Rose Fleet Montgomery Jaime Morton Glen Harlan Whiz Bang Loggers Pacific Valley Mike and Marla Sarah Harlan Jolon Support the show _________________________________________________ This podcast is a pr...

# 52 Palestine's leading writer, Raja Shehadeh. From Ramallah, West Bank/Judea 06.02.2023 1:10:54

Send us Fan Mail RAJA SHEHADEH is Palestine’s leading writer. He is also a lawyer and the founder of the pioneering Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq . Shehadeh is the author of several acclaimed books including Strangers in the House , Occupation Diaries , and Palestinian Walks (which won the prestigious Orwell Prize). In 2022 he was named an International Writer of the Royal Society o...

#51 Big Sur Wild Woman! Dana Carnazzo Godbe. Chapter 2! 😊 30.01.2023 1:24:32

Send us Fan Mail Dramatis Personae: Alf the Sacred Burro (see episode photo: Dana on Alf!) Damien Carnazzo Tessa and 'Jack' Carnazzo Jack Kerouac Eric Barker Chuck and Lisa Brewer Helmuth, Celia and Tara Morgenrath Yolanda Shae (sp?) Micah Curtis Robin Burnside Peggy Horan Mary Lu Toren Sandy Justice Bill Wiesjahn & many more... Topics: Building a house in Big Sur Water/Power/Permit...

# 50 You And Me And The Rain On The Roof / Raining in Big Sur! 14.01.2023 1:44:48

Send us Fan Mail Seven Big Sur residents talk about the weather! (click on 'Chapters' above for direct links to participants.) The 50th episode of A Big Sur Podcast Featuring: John Handy , South Coast | 07:15 Diana Ballantyne , Big Sur Valley | 23:20 Marcos Ortega , (also on episode # 37 ) Pfeiffer State Park | 35:35 Ryne Leuzinger, Palo Colorado | 41:10 Kendra Morgenrath , Pfeif...

# 49 Zad and Laela Leavy: Protecting the Big Sur coast by creating the Big Sur Land Trust. 06.01.2023 53:21

Send us Fan Mail The way we can honor the legacy of Zad Leavy is to be vigilant and to always work for the preservation and restoration of the wild and rustic beauty of the Big Sur coast! Thank you for listening. Please email here with any comments, critique, suggestions...Thank you! Links to some of the people and places we touch on: The Big Sur Land Trust The Big Sur Gazette Jim Josoff Nancy Hop...

# 48 Dana Godbe Carnazzo, a Big Sur Wild Woman! Part 1. 02.12.2022 1:46:58

Send us Fan Mail A wide ranging conversation sitting at Dana's house on her Mesa up Bixby. We have three dogs keeping us company and we talk about growing up in Big Sur, hanging out down Cannery Row, Monterey Pop Festival, VW bus around Europe, sailing in the Caribbean and South Pacific; anchoring in Hanavave Bay on Fatuhiva, Tuamotu and onwards...it's an amazing journey...😊 Some of the...

#47 Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai. A conversation with author Matti Friedman 10.11.2022 1:23:43

Send us Fan Mail Talking with Matti Friedman from his home in Jerusalem. Very grateful to him for writing this book and for sharing his stories! WHO BY FIRE: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai Please share this episode ! Copy link. Comments/Criticism much welcome: Email us here! In 1973, Leonard Cohen announced he was done with music for good. The same year, in October, war broke out in Israel. The Yom K...

# 46 The Heaven Beyond Heaven: William (Bill) Ashley about publishing and collecting Henry Miller. 02.11.2022 1:07:24

Send us Fan Mail We're sitting on a couch under the Persimmon tree. There's some sound of traffic in the background and a beautiful afternoon! Bill Ashley and two new Henry Miller titles! The Heaven Beyond Heaven and Jupiter In All His Phases Published by Henry Miller's Unique Books owned and operated by Bill Ashley. Bill Ashley is very well known in the Miller world for having publ...

# 45 BIG SUR FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITY TOWN HALL, October 25, 2022 28.10.2022 1:50:51

Send us Fan Mail FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITY TOWN HALL October 25, 2022 at the Big Sur Grange . CLICK ON "CHAPTER MARKERS" ABOVE TO TOGGLE BETWEEN CONTENT Audio recording courtesy Rayner Marx. For further information: email info@fireadaptedbigsur.com or visit www.fireadaptedbigsur.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIRESAFE NEWSLETTER In other fire related news: Interview here with Chief Matt Harris! Comme...

#44 A conversation with Kerri Maher, author of The Paris Bookseller 23.10.2022 52:40

Send us Fan Mail After reading Kerri's book I get a chance to talk with her. We're on opposite ends of the country but with zoom and a microphone we are instantly connected. Still mind blowing. We have a good talk. Thank you for joining us in the conversation. Visit Kerri Maher's website. Visit Shakespeare and Co the way it is today (online)! Check this old info: Henry Miller Librar...

#43 Big Sur Fire Chief Matt Harris in a conversation with Magnus Torén. 11.10.2022 1:29:12

Send us Fan Mail Matt Harris and I are sitting along the creek a few hundred feet up in "Emil's Canyon" behind the Library. It is quiet and the sun is breaking through the canopy as we talk with each other. More about Big Sur Fire Here! >>>>>>>>>> Comments/Criticism of this podcast much welcome: Email here! >>>>>>>>>> Link...

#42 MY SECRET PLACE: A conversation with author, songwriter and performer, Mac Talley. 06.10.2022 32:15

Send us Fan Mail Thank you Mac for stopping by to make some noise! “If Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Philip K. Dick had a love child, the result would be Yesterday We Forget Tomorrow: a disturbing dystopian future shot through with unconventional wit and humor.” –Matthew J. Pallamary, author of Land Without Evil and Spirit Matters. Links to Mac Music and Art: Mac Books and Home The Mac Talley Trip Mac Art...

#41 Lovers of The Place: A conversation between Pico Iyer and Cyprian Consiglio 26.09.2022 1:37:10

Send us Fan Mail A conversation between two very accomplished writers and thinkers: Pico Iyer & Father Cyprian Consiglio . This wonderful episode was recorded pre-covid on June 6, 2018! Please share it! ) The two of them, with the help of the audience, touch on the meaning of life and what happens after death (!), Narcissus and Goldmund, Henry Miller, Thomas Merton, the Trappist's life,...

#40 Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb. A conversation with author Togzhan Kassenova 07.09.2022 1:33:41

Send us Fan Mail A long way from Big Sur! Reading the book Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb is an amazing adventure of international intrigue, extremely high drama, and a unique history lesson about some very important aspects of the latter part of the twentieth century. I hope you will enjoy hearing some of Dr Kassenova's story in this conversation as well as when you read her...

#39 Big Sur Softball League History w/ Chris Counts, and the cliffhanger final game 2022! 20.08.2022 56:51

Send us Fan Mail Through a long tradition, an extraordinary community, amazing players, trials and tribulations, the Big Sur Softball League always gets back to home plate ready to toss a coin again! For this podcast not enough time as usual but a wonderful romp through some of what has been happening and, of course, a report on the 2022 season and it's cliffhanger final game! Thank you Comm...

#38 Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director, Ventana Wildlife Society 13.08.2022 1:12:24

Send us Fan Mail Kelly Sorenson & The California Condor! We see the beautiful Condor soaring over the Big Sur Coast every day! This is thanks to an ongoing effort for over 25 years by Kelly Sorenson and others. In this podcast episode we speak with Kelly who has been the Executive Director of the Condor re-introduction program since its inception. We talk about DDT, Peregrine Falcons, nestin...

#37 Marcos Ortega, Big Sur resident and Big Sur District Superintendent of California State Parks. 04.08.2022 1:17:05

Send us Fan Mail A wonderful conversation with Big Sur State Parks Superintendent Marcos Ortega. We speak of growing up in Big Sur, being the Superintendent of Parks, managing increased traffic on the coast, St. Francis Church, Apple Pie, CalTrans, 7/11 in Salinas, hippie parents, the Naval Facility, crawdads in the Big Sur River...and so much more! A few other Big Sur folks in the podcast: Sul...