Happy Christmas Eve! Here is the final episode of the Advent series for this year. This episode features the poem “The Winter Is Cold, Is Cold” by Madeleine L’Engle and concludes with a selection from the Book of Common Prayer that is often read on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas from the Coffee Den!

Welcome to the third episode of the Advent series audio podcast. In 2012, I composed a list of Advent poems. It is now one of the most visited Coffeehouse Junkie blog post. This episode features “The House of Christmas” by GK Chesterton, “The God We Hardly Knew” by Óscar Romero and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer. Also, special thanks to…

This is the second special edition Advent audio podcast. A couple years ago I composed a list of Advent poems. Since that time, it has gone on to be one of the most read Coffeehouse Junkie blog posts. This episode features “Mosaic of the Nativity (Serbia, Winter 1993)” by Jane Kenyon, “Nativity” by John Donne, “A Christmas Carol” by Christina Georg…

A couple years ago I composed a list of twelve Advent poems that has become on of the most read blog posts of Coffeehouse Junkie. This episode features “Annunciation” by Denise Levertov, “Advent” by Donald Hall, “Into The Darkest Hour” by Madeleine L’Engle and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer.…

As many listeners know, books are important here at the Coffee Den. First segment features three books and a question: where have all the fathers gone? Next, a tale of two city libraries. Sort of. And poets. And books. Finally in the last segment, a glimmering coming-of-age story by author Justin Grimbol. If you would like to read along as well as …

What would you tell someone if they told you that your internet behavior was categorically a mental illness? How much time do you spend on Facebook, Tumblr? or other social media sites? How does this affect your real life relationships? Do you prefer e-books to physical pulp and ink books? These and other confessions are the topic of this episode o…

How does an artist translate visions and dreams into pigment on canvas? These and other topics are discussed with artist Eva Scruggs. Next, poetry readings and acoustic singer/songwriter sets are common at bookstores and cafés. Join me and take a glimpse behind the scenes of one of those events that takes place at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville,…

When was the last time your wrote a letter? Not an email, but a handwritten letter with pen, paper, envelope and postage. Learn about a legacy of letters from a WWII soldier discovered by his son. Also, a short story about poetry, jazz and a rainy afternoon. This show is unofficially sponsored by Circa Celeste — a cafe located in historic downtown …

A light breeze from the south carries echoes of a recent place in memory. In this episode, stories about creative space, laptop versus hand-writing and more. It is warm enough to finally open the windows and let the Spring air fill the house. The first segment touches on that in a story titled "Creative Space." Recently, the village where I current…

Thank you visiting the Coffee Den. And welcome to the relaunch of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast. It is good to be back. A lot of things have happened during that time and there is much I plan to share with you, just not in this episode. Yes, it is true. The last two years or so I have fasted from coffee. That’s right. Not a drop of my favori…