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The Thousand Words Podcast

A personal essay of a thousand words based on two randomly generated words. Every week.
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Episodes

27. Reading for Pleasure (break/correct)

We're back with regular episodes! I've been reading again this week, and it feels good to read for pleasure again, something I haven't done too much of this year. I've been thinking a lot about something my undergraduate advisor said to me shortly before I graduated, and that's what this essay is about. If you want to help support the show, head over to our Patreon , or share an episode with someone who might enjoy the show. All the support means a lot and goes a long way! Alright, we'll catch '...

Dec 11, 20207 min

Interlude - The Great Sandstone Yosemite

It's been a few weeks! Here's a little song we wrote while I get myself settled again. I'll have a full episode again next week. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Dec 04, 20202 minSeason 1Ep. 27

Balance/Discover Episode 3 - One Star Grind

Checking in after just over a week of climbing in Las Vegas, Nevada. We're talking about the ways climbing out here has changed our perspectives on climbing and on ourselves as climbers. If you want to help support the show, go to our Patreon. Or, share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Nov 06, 202020 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Balance/Discover Episode 2 - Towards Vegas

I have a conversation with my climbing partner Teague Worlton about balancing climbing and our lives outside of rocks. If you want to help support the show, head to our Patreon . Or, share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya with another episode next week.

Oct 31, 202010 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Balance/Discover Episode 1 - Getting Ready

On the eve of heading west again, I'm changing the style of the show. I'm focusing on two words for the next six weeks. Two words in all their meanings while out on the road. Balance and discover. Follow along with the trip on Instagram . If you want to help support the show, head to the show's Patreon . Or, please share and episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week with a story from somewhere out west....

Oct 23, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 24

23. Old American Chestnut (wise/dead)

I've been thinking about trees recently as I've watched the leaves change. I've had a front row seat to the changing season while working for a handyman with a masters in horticulture. There's a disease ravaging the ash trees in the Midwest, just as Covid is ravaging the people of Wisconsin. If you want to help support the show, go to the show's Patreon . Or, share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week....

Oct 16, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 23

22. Little Glass Marbles (basketball/cling)

Go watch some marble racing on YouTube. Jelle's Marble Runs and Fubeca's Marble Runs are the two I watch most often. If you want to help support the show, head to The Thousand Words Patreon , or share and an episode with someone who might enjoy. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week....

Oct 09, 20208 min

21. Early Morning Round (pastoral/answer)

I've played disc golf for many years, and yesterday I had the chance do to something I haven't done in a long time: play an early round. If you want to help support the show, head to The Thousand Words Patreon. Or, share an episode with someone who might enjoy the show. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Sep 26, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 21

20. A Rest Area Just Inside Wisconsin (power/convey)

I'm back after a week off while driving from Colorado back home to Wisconsin, where I'll be for the next six weeks or so. This essay comes from a moment I had on that drive home. And a couple other moments from the summer. If you want to help support the show, head to the Patreon . Or, share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Sep 18, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 20

19. How to Pass a Couple Hours (ten/card)

I've got some down time between trips coming up. And I've been thinking about passing time, and how so often we pick up a deck of cards to pass that time. This essay is a list of times I've played cards. Find a transcript with photos at The Thousand Words Patreon page. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Sep 04, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 19

18. An Alternate Reality (history/reset)

I'm out in Colorado now. Seeing old faces covered by masks and old places without any people. I've been asking myself what the world might look like if the last four years hadn't happened the way they did, and why I've been watching so many movies about the multiverse. If you want to help support the show, head to patreon.com/thousandwordspodcast or share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. I'll be back on Friday with another essay from Colorado. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week....

Aug 28, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 18

17. A Short Documentary (produce/direction)

The creative process ebbs and flows. This essay is about getting back access to pictures I haven't seen in over a year, and how getting them back has invigorated me. If you want to help support the show, head to patreon.com/thousandwordspodcast . Your support will help keep me on the road for a while longer, bringing you stories the entire way. I'll be back next Friday from Colorado. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week....

Aug 21, 20209 minSeason 1Ep. 17

16. Wind Chimes (knowledge/time)

An essay I wrote in the middle of May. I reread it this morning as a reminder of what it felt like then, and as a reminder that there's still a long way to go before the world will ever go back to anything like it was before. Please wear a mask. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. I'll be back next Friday with a new episode. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Aug 14, 20209 minSeason 1Ep. 16

15. The World is Open for Play (haircut/agree)

I'm leaving Maine in two days. Going back to the Midwest, then on to Colorado. I'm excited to get out there, but thinking about the folks I'm leaving. The folks who inspire me, challenge me, and make me who I am. My words this week are haircut/agree. If you want to help support the show, please share and episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Aug 07, 20209 minSeason 1Ep. 15

14. The Curve of the Earth (curve/stoop)

I'm getting ready to head west again, first to Wisconsin, then on to Colorado and Wyoming. I've been thinking about the uncertainty of my plans in the next few months, and that's where this essay came from. My words this week are curve/stoop. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Jul 31, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 14

13. The Ocean (bright/foamy)

My words this week are bright/foamy. Working on some bigger projects for the show in the coming weeks. If you want to help the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Jul 24, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 13

12. Olive Green (stitch/dwell)

Still out in Maine doing some cool things with cool people. Thinking about clothes with this essay. My words are stitch/dwell. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. Alright, we'll catch 'ya next week.

Jul 17, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 12

11. Hills (inhabit/wrench)

I've been reading Annie Dillard lately, and she inspired this essay. My words were inhabit/wrench. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. We'll catch 'ya next week.

Jul 10, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 11

10. My Root Canal (interest/tooth

This is the story of what happened during my root canal. Please support the show by sharing an episode with someone who might enjoy it. My words this week were interest/tooth.

Jul 03, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 10

9. A Dangerous Freedom (downtown/request)

My words this week were downtown/request. If you want to help support the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it. I'll be back next Friday with a new episode, we'll catch 'ya then.

Jun 26, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 9

8. Too Young to be Full (station/shoes)

Please go read these two stories from Langston Hughes: Seven People Dancing Blacklisted from Birth My words this week are station/shoes.

Jun 19, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 8

7. Jacqueline Nkhonjera (evergreen)

Phenomenal writer and poet Jacqueline Nkhonjera gives a quest essay this week based on the word 'evergreen.' Find her on Instagram: @jacqueline.tiwonge Thanks for listening this week, we'll be back with another episode next Friday.

Jun 12, 20208 minSeason 1Ep. 7

6. Do The Work

Start here: Ava DuVernay's documentary "13th" and show "When They See Us" -- Netflix Brian Stevenson's book "Just Mercy" Claudia Rankine's book "Citizen: An American Lyric" New York Times podcast "1619" Harriet Jacobs's novel "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" The work doesn't end with this list. In fact, it is only a beginning, which is why I say start here. Do not end here. Seek out black writers, creators, thinkers. Seek them out and consume the art and teaching that has been out there f...

Jun 05, 20204 minSeason 1Ep. 6

5. Three Drops (damp/start)

An essay about three times I was outside getting wet. My words this week were damp/start. If you enjoy the show, please share an episode with someone who might enjoy it.

May 29, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 5

4. At Summer's End (magic/apples)

An essay on the beauty of autumn and all the things I remember about those years. My words this week were magic/apples.

May 22, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 4

3. Future's Paradox (rainstorm/cemetery)

An essay about two places at different stages. One of future, the other past it's time. And yet they both feel the same, or at least point to the same things. My words this week were rainstorm and cemetery.

May 15, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 3

1. The Easy Part (coast/thread)

The Easy Part. An essay about moving home after some years. Back to Wisconsin from Colorado. Leaving and returning. My words this week were coast/thread.

May 01, 20207 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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