Best Northwest Independence Podcasts (2024)

1
St. Louis and the Sublime 10:36

3d ago10:36

10:36

I want to share two moments with you, rendering them as best as I am able. They are startling in the manner that makes an imprint, a fully sensual memory. Perhaps what makes them so vivid is the sheer unexpectedness of the occurrences. Math geek alert. Pilot's Glory.

1
My Car and a Helicopter Got in a Fight 8:34

14d ago8:34

8:34

Who do you think won? I am back, working with Riverside Studio to share this True Story of Military Life. Thank you for listening, as always.

1
"These United Colonies . . . are Free and Independent States" 10:29

3M ago10:29

10:29

Happy Birthday to the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence is comprised of five distinct parts. Hear about them, the language, its length, and how the signatures are categorized.

1
A Stoic on Stupidity and Plumbing 6:34

3M ago6:34

6:34

"There are some things which men confess with ease, and others with difficulty. No one, for instance, will confess himself a fool or a blockhead . . . " Epictetus. If Epictetus were alive, he may be surprised to learn that I am No One. That No One who played the part of the fool and blockhead and figured you may benefit from my stupidity.…

1
The Curse of the Bootlegger's Daughter 9:53

3M ago9:53

9:53

On narrative lust and the pleasure of rereading with C.S. Lewis. I’ve recently come across a few passages worthy of rereading, which is also a subject of this letter: a peek into Amor Towles 2024 short story collection, A Table for Two.

1
Northeast by Northwest: How Travel Changes Me* 8:48

3M ago8:48

8:48

On travel and British Columbia in summer. EATS and FEATS: where to eat and what to do. And how I have changed after this particular trip. *Title is a play on the 1959 film from Alfred Hitchcock: North by Northwest.

1
"Well-Intentioned Fools" 3:00

3M ago3:00

3:00

Poetry for Emergencies. On grief. D. Adam Boaz with a poem from his anthology, Voices from the Second Life.

1
Memorial Day Speech: We're Here Today Because They Lived 11:09

3M ago11:09

11:09

I gave this speech at New Canaan Town Hall on Memorial Day. I read it here for THL listeners, sharing stories which honor 7 local residents who died during the Vietnam War. Video recording of the speech is available on my site under Events tab.

1
"We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow" 5:22

3M ago5:22

5:22

Toolbox: On Speechwriting and public speaking. Research and preparation for the town Memorial Day speech. Finding the story and pulling it together... and, doing so as the first woman to speak at this event. The holy trinity of writing. Title quote from John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields.

1
That Teacher, You Know the One 9:01

3M ago9:01

9:01

Let's take a moment for teachers. That teacher, you know the one. Because, I have a confession to make. . . On poetry for emergencies, E. E. Cummings, and J.S. Bach. David Foster Wallace and This is Water.

1
Midwest Mandala 4:56

3M ago4:56

4:56

On Kansas City, life in the middle, and a meditation on mothers.

1
Semper Fidelis 6:00

3M ago6:00

6:00

We had not met before though we met in other ways, I suppose. On Vietnam and Operation Frequent Wind. And, honoring three marines.

1
On Poetry, Spring, and Transition 5:38

3M ago5:38

5:38

Poetry for emergencies. Friends are leaving, selling their houses and moving away. Mary Oliver on things and Lau Tzu on excess.

1
Small Delight: The Unexpected and the Good 5:04

3M ago5:04

5:04

I suppose it is the unexpected and the good which sustain us. Learn about a discovery in a second-hand book by Penelope Fitzgerald. In the process meet characters and listen to a cheeky retort from the protagonist.

1
Advanced Planning: Long Term Care with Doug Shellabarger 14:05

3M ago14:05

14:05

Doug Shellabarger CLU, ChFC, is an Independent Financial Advisor who sells long-term care. He has worked in this field for 30 years. He tells us what you need to know about long-term care if you are on Medicare. Thanks for listening! Connect with Doug below. Thanks again! Cell: (727)512-6700 Email: doug@innovateyourinsurance.com Website: www.innova…

1
Dirtman and Dillard on Signs of the Apocalypse 10:13

5M ago10:13

10:13

Earthquake and eclipse may signify the end of times. For both to occur in a week, after a deluge of rain and flooding, it is easy to lose your moorings. Geography Instructor on the quake and Annie Dillard on the eclipse.

1
Deez Nutz* 8:39

6M ago8:39

8:39

Nuts and nonsense. On Mixed Nuts, contronyms, and a classic film.

1
Being an Organ Donor on Medicare with LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services Tammy Ward 15:31

6M ago15:31

15:31

Happy Spring! This season, we are talking with Tammy Ward, the Public Education Coordinator for LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services in the Pensacola Area. She discusses the importance of knowing if you are an organ donor. Connect with LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services: www.LifeQuestFla.org https://www.instagram.com/lifequestfla/ https://www.facebook.…

1
Who Does Not Prefer Civility to Barbarism?* 9:00

6M ago9:00

9:00

I love reading about the type of characters and situations I have encountered in my own life. What is less than pleasant is the recognition of less than admirable qualities that bear similarities to my own. George Washington's Rules and C.S. Lewis's Four Loves provide insight on civility and barbarism in an age when their relevance is more importan…

1
How to Improve Your Writing - Part 2: from Confucius to Lincoln 12:47

6M ago12:47

12:47

The importance of the English textbook and lessons on writing style. Part 2 of 5 with a book rec, a style guide, and passages from four writers: Confucius, C. Keegan, D. Grohl, and Lincoln.

1
What Men Live By* 11:54

7M ago11:54

11:54

Leo Tolstoy's classic story, C.S. Lewis and "The Four Loves", and a surprising message on the day of a military funeral.

1
How to Improve Your Writing - Part 1 13:04

7M ago13:04

13:04

The importance of the English textbook and lessons on writing style. Part 1 of 5 with a book rec, a style guide, and passages from four writers: Tolstoy to Grohl (of Nirvana and Foo Fighters).

1
Superior to the Saint, the Scientist, the Philosopher, and the Poet? 10:09

7M ago10:09

10:09

Who is superior to the saint, the scientist, the philosopher, and the poet? Learn why reading novels--serious novels worthy of re-reading--enriches your life. Why the novel is in decline, what makes a novel great, where to start, and the 3 novels that damaged the prestige of Communism. The Novel, Who Needs It? by Joseph Epstein…

1
An Alabama Road 6:49

8M ago6:49

6:49

Music and songwriting -- how writing for the senses breathes life into words. A live clip of five-part harmony and a look at the verses that make this song a classic.

1
Town Mouse and Country Mouse 12:49

8M ago12:49

12:49

"The town mouse and the country mouse. Distress and agitation of the town mouse." Aurelius. True story about coffee with the "town mouse" and Willa Cather on town versus country. 3 book recs, 1 film rec, The Music in Prose of O Pioneers! and wordnerd special.

1
Living Outside the Page 8:53

9M ago8:53

8:53

Pickleball. And, passages from 3 short books by prize-winning authors, Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These (2021) and Willa Cather's My Mortal Enemy (1926) and Annie Ernaux's The Young Man (2022). Ernaux opens this book with "If I don’t write things down, they haven’t been carried through to completion, they have only been lived."…

1
Using Your Gym Benefit with The Exercise Coach Pensacola on Making Medicare Fun 11:29

9M ago11:29

11:29

This winter season, we get to talk with the owners of The Exercise Coach Pensacola, Evan and Tracey Forbes. They were so kind to talk about their gym, what a membership includes, and what my members can access through their local Medicare plan (that I am licensed to offer for those who qualify). Please seek your local Medicare agent to see if you q…

1
Books for the Casual and Serious Reader 10:02

9M ago10:02

10:02

If you're looking for gifts or books to read over the winter break, I pulled these titles from the TreeHouse shelves and give you my short takes on 15 books from recent reading: contemporary fiction, nonfiction, books about writing, and for-the-serious/for-the-seeker.

1
Involved and Implicated: Narcissism and Poetry 9:49

9M ago9:49

9:49

If you're like me, you can use a bit of poetry. Tony Hoagland's poems make me re-think, calibrate to a new heading. Can you stand still and hear the worst of yourself from others? Disappointment. Patience. The song lyrics that "evolve" over the years: the words are the same but the message changes as you change.…

1
Giving Thanks for a Man I Never Met 6:59

10M ago6:59

6:59

What I learned about love this Thanksgiving. Three rules for life.

1
On Flesh-Eating Beetles and the Sins of the Mother 11:00

10M ago11:00

11:00

When working on an aspect of my writing, I pay attention for it in my reading. Improve your writing by tapping into the 7 senses--the 5 sense organs and 2 more. Examples in recent works: Horse by Geraldine Brooks and Zero-Sum Stories by Joyce Carol Oates. Writing exercise from the song-writing guide by Pat Pattison, music professor at Berklee.…

1
In the Company of Heroes 7:07

11M ago7:07

7:07

Veterans Day, Operation Gothic Serpent, and the 160th SOAR. Elite aviators and family remember the Battle of Mogadishu, 30 years ago. Lessons learned, what the media missed, and the effect on the military family.

1
Spooky Hour with Spirits of the Dead 7:30

11M ago7:30

7:30

A text that gets me off my arse, a visit to the cemetery, and word work on three holidays: Hallowe'en, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day.

1
What's in your trunk? 9:10

11M ago9:10

9:10

Take all the stuff of your life. Put what you think will sell in a 20 feet by 20 feet space. What's in your space? Learn about New England's largest flea market and a classic sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley on the folly of fame, legacy, and empire. Visit my site to get a book rec on song writing and link to an exercise to write through the prism of …

1
Why Do I Run? 10:15

11M ago10:15

10:15

I'm not sure I like running, even when I was fit and fast. Running at mid-life: there's the pain of it, in the chest, in the knees. This letter explores the reasons I run and what I learn running a race the 7th time. And training with a focus on form and cadence, with an eye to effortless, injury-free running. Plus, four books on running and on liv…

1
Fall is Like a Country Music Song 5:48

12M ago5:48

5:48

On music and memory, on Norman Blake and Colter Wall. What do we learn from the Fall, from the songs of our lives?

1
What to Know for AEP with my Mom on Making Medicare Fun 25:20

12M ago25:20

25:20

Last year's episode on the Annual Enrollment Period was our most popular episode ever! So I knew this year for this fall season I would need to bring in THE MEDICARE MOMMA who I go to for AEP advice... Which is my actual mother! Diana Albritton runs and operates Albritton Insurance Services in central Florida. She has worked in the medical field fo…

1
Trailway to Heaven 5:28

12M ago5:28

5:28

Fall is my favorite season and I suppose it has something to do with the trees. A new poetry collection and farewell to a friend. Passage from Sidney Lanier and The Marshes of Glynn.

1
Through the Keyhole 6:42

1y ago6:42

6:42

A keyhole view of a week with the Literate Laundress. On laundry and language.

1
The Ever Restless Soul 7:51

1y ago7:51

7:51

This is for my friend K--- and M--- and for you, but I suppose it's for myself. Learn about my daughter's letter and the song she shared with insight into music and the restless soul. Billie Marten's song and Rick Rubin's book on Creativity.

1
Confusables, Contronyms, and Jane's Potato Salad 5:49

1y ago5:49

5:49

Learn about a real world example of a confusable. Discover a type of word with two opposite meanings. Word Nerd special. A reference and an essay recommendation. Bryan Garner and David Foster Wallace.

1
The Music in Stories: Pavan on Borges 10:31

1y ago10:31

10:31

Literature informs and inspires us, says Argentine guitarist and composer Carlos Pavan. This letter considers his suite of songs inspired by Jorge Luis Borges, how the songs reflect the stories: El Sur, El Fin, Funes el Memorioso. Melody, myth, perfect memory. Learn why song IS story and discover the Music in Prose of the literary legend.…

1
Beyond Grade-School Sentences: Adding Depth and Texture to Writing 7:19

1y ago7:19

7:19

The four basic sentence constructions are simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.* Like the 8-pack of crayons, this is the first order of business, tools we learn and use as children. Let’s face it: many never learn more than these. Add to your toolbox and improve writing immediately. Learn about loose (cumulative) and periodic (suspensive…

1
On Theft, Death, and the Moon 7:24

1y ago7:24

7:24

My friend was recently robbed. It made me sad and reminded me of a story about Ryokan. Learn about the Zen monk who lived on Mount Kugami, Rene Descartes Discourse Part II on Method and Part IV on God and the Human Soul. With a reflection on the death of a young soldier.

1
The Master Sentence and the Centenarian 10:19

1y ago10:19

10:19

A master sentence tends to be long though length is not its sole characteristic, nor is it a sign of a writer’s mastery. Like any art, the master sentence comes in infinite forms. Instead of trying to define what makes such a sentence, I share an example from the Book of Charlie, a memoir about a remarkable life. Understand the elements of artful s…

1
Three Days in Sun Valley and the Best Writing Teacher 6:54

1y ago6:54

6:54

What I learned in Sun Valley about living and writing and friends. Impromptu visit of Hemingway haunts, who lived and died there. A hike into the clouds, a French hound dog, and a foodie's paradise.

1
Classic Prose: Thought and Presentation 7:09

1y ago7:09

7:09

Improve writing immediately. "In the classic stand on the elements of style, writing is neither a way of thinking something out nor an art that exists for its own sake..." Learn about classic prose from authors Thomas and Turner with passages from award winning poet and writer Ocean Vuong. Why classic prose resembles cooking with its preparation in…

1
Biblical Times - Fire and Flood 4:44

1y ago4:44

4:44

We live in biblical times. Fires and floods. Plagues. Or, pandemics. Learn about flash flooding in the Hudson Valley and the First Noble Truth.

1
July 4th Declarations: a Nation, a Panda, a Soldier 11:58

1y ago11:58

11:58

What does July 4th mean to a fledgling nation and what kinds of people made such a nation possible? Learn about Mark Manson's book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and how his superhero the Disappointment Panda helps us see ourselves against a stark backdrop, the life of the soldier as she finishes Air Assault training.…

1
Goggins, Pushup Yoga, and the Art of the Paragraph 10:57

1y ago10:57

10:57

Learn about the 'toughest man on the planet' and improve writing with examples of the four types of paragraphs. Also check out the two strand or A/B structure. To see the four paragraphs and learn more, visit my website at TreeHouseLetter.com.

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Northwest Independence Podcasts

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