Voices of the Valley Podcast & Radio Show

Connecting in Community Over Tea: An Interview with David Lee Hoffman

Join us for a fascinating episide with longtime valley resident and tea connoissure, David Lee Hoffman. David has spent more than four decades traveling the remote backcountry of Asia in search of the world's finest rare, organic, and wild pure leaf teas, becoming the first American to work directly with tea farmers in China and to form joint ventures with long-established tea gardens. This deep engagement with place and culture is captured beautifully by his photographic essay of his 1971 journey to the remote Himalayan region of Dolpo, Nepal, where he documented landscapes and communities rarely seen by outsiders. Whether through tea or photography, Hoffman's work is marked by respect, authenticity, and a commitment to preserving moments, traditions, and environments on the cusp of change. to learn more about David's work and specialty teas go to: http://thephoenixcollection.com/ [http://thephoenixcollection.com/] And here's a great article: http://thephoenixcollection.com/press/all-the-tea-in-china.pdf [http://thephoenixcollection.com/press/all-the-tea-in-china.pdf]

Stories of Wine & Place: An Interview with Patrick McNeil

Join us for a terrific interview with Nicasio resident wine industry mover & shaker Patrick McNeil who shares some amazing family stories about the history of his fascinating family, Nicasio and Northern California at large. Patrick McNeil is a native Californian with roots and influences in both Southern California and the Bay Area,. Patrick McNeil's personal history is entwined with—and endures in—this state's world-class wine industry. Since graduating from UC Davis in 1996, Patrick has enjoyed a fully integrated career in all aspects of wine: from sales, marketing, and distribution to winemaking and viticulture—with healthy doses of creative entrepreneurship to fuel his efforts along the way. His experience building wine brands has brought hard-earned national attention to some first-rate estates, from Napa Valley to Paso Robles.

The Poetics of Community: An Interview with Aja Couchois Duncan

Aja Couchois Duncan is a social justice coach and capacity builder of Anishinaabe, French and Scottish descent living on the ancestral and stolen lands of the Coast Miwok / Tamal-ko people. Her debut collection, Restless Continent (Litmus Press, 2016) was selected by Entropy Magazine as one of the best poetry collections of 2016 and awarded the California Book Award for Poetry in 2017. In 2020, Sweet Land—a collaborative opera project which brought together composers Raven Chacon and Du Yun, librettists Aja Couchois Duncan and Douglas Kearney, and co-directors Cannupa Hanska Luger and Yuval Sharon—was produced in the Los Angeles State Historic Park to critical acclaim and named the Best Opera of 2020 by the Music Critics Association of North America. Her forthcoming book, The Intimacy Trials will be published in early 2026 by the University of Chicago Press as part of its Phoenix Poets series. When not writing or working, Aja can be found running the west Marin hills, training with horses, or weaving small pine needle baskets. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and a variety of other degrees and credentials to certify her as worthy. Great Spirit knew it all along. Join us for an exceptional episode about poetry, indentity and creativing community right where you are! For more information about Aja Couchois Duncan's work go to https://ajacouchoisduncan.com/ [https://ajacouchoisduncan.com/] For more information about the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and to donate go to www.sgvcc.org [https://www.sgvcc.org]

The Spirit of Community: An Interview with James Baraz from Spirit Rock

James Baraz is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James started the Community Dharma Leader program, the Kalyana Mitta Network, the Spirit Rock Family Program and helped create the Heavenly Messengers Training Program. James has been leading the online course "Awakening Joy" since 2003. He serves as a guiding teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change. He co-authored Awakening Joy and Awakening Joy for Kids. In this exceptional and inspiring episode James leads us through the history of Spirit Rock Meditation Center's founding here in the valley, and leads us through a beautiful introduction/reminder to core Buddhist Principles. for more information on Spirit Rock Meditation Center got to www.spiritrock.org [https://www.spiritrock.org] for more information on James Baraz's work go to https://awakeningjoy.info/ [https://awakeningjoy.info/] to donate to the San Geronimo Valley Community Center go to www.sgvcc.org [https://www.sgvcc.org]

The Future of the Valley: An Interview with Larkin Sylvester

Join us for an exceptional episode with Woodacre resident and Lagunitas School student Larkin Sylvester. Larkin is a Greenstitch Climate Action Intern, a Aerial Performer, a Stilt-Walker, and all -around amazing creative. This inspiring episode will give you great hope for a bright future!