Blue Planet Stories

We have a returning guest who is publishing a hilarious and insightful book Misbehaving in Maine: Thirty-half Learned Lessons.

Dan Williams is a humor writer with a huge on-line following. We wanted to bring him back to chat about his stories and the writing process.

And to chat about family and how growing up shapes our lives as adults. Join us for a conversation where we learn, we laugh, and we drop a few f-bombs.

We interview Dan and read a chapter from his new book: Lesson 11: You Never Forget Your First F-Bomb.<...

Today we speak with Lawrence Bransby, an award winning author, motorcycle adventurer, and a retired teacher. He emigrated from South Africa to the UK, and rode a motorcycle there across Africa with his 17-year-old son.

Lawrence wrote twenty books, including novels, novels for young adults, and many travelogues chronicling his numerous motorcycle journeys across Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and North America.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

His favorite of his books is...

Today, we speak with Yvette Brand. She is a slow digital nomad a “slomad”. She lived abroad for 12 years of her life, while traveling and working in 45 different countries.

Originally from the Netherlands, she lived in Mexico for 5 years but is now on the move again in Europe, searching for a place to settle.

She writes about travel, personal growth, and spirituality. Her work has been featured on Vox, YourTango, Columbus Magazine and many Medium Pubs.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proc...

Today we speak with Michael Isaac Almond. He is a visual designer from San Francisco. He recently launched a startup to help families dealing with relatives developing dementia. 

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

But he maintains his creative life by designing and making bags, and writing humorous stories from his own life.

Michael went to Brown university to study film but decided against joining the industry. Today, we talk to Michael and r...

Today we speak with Paul Bigga Bigga P. Paul received his moniker from another music producer in 1996 and it became a proud handle for his life and music career.

Retiring young after a stint as a successful entrepreneur, Paul focused on his passion for producing music and writing. He lived in California, Washington DC, Netherlands, then back in the USA, in New Jersey.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

The stories he writes...

Hello, everyone. We are working on a project in Panama City, Panama this and next week. We will resume our podcasts with guests two Sundays from now. But today, we would love to play for you a fascinating conversation with Audrey Stimson from last year, and read her story about an Alaskan adventure.

For almost 30 years, Audrey has been a television news producer for American and European news outlets. She has interviewed kings and queens, Hollywood royalty, rock and roll stars, sports stars, politicians, and everyday people.

She lives with her husband and their two...

We speak with Federica Minozzi. She is a writer living on the Adriatic Coast of Italy.

Federica studied Physics and Mathematics then taught the subjects in school in her Italian town. She also discovered an affinity for languages when learning English and German.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

Federica is now teaching Physics, Mathematics, and English online to students around the world.

She wanted to be a writer since the...

Today we speak with Darren Weir. He is a retired television news producer, a traveler, photographer and writer.  

He began writing after he retired - during the pandemic - and became part of the successful Parasol Publications. He also started his own successful publication, Travel Memoirs. 

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

Darren climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, cycled from Saigon to Hanoi in Vietnam, traveled through India for three months, and walked 333 kil...

Today with speak with Dana DuBois.  She began her career as a speech pathologist, delaying her dream job as a writer.  But she began to write when a job application required a couple of writing samples. 

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

She wrote the samples, posted them on Medium, and has not stopped writing since, publishing countless essays. She launched two successful Medium publications: Pink Hair and Pronouns, and Three Imaginary Girls.

She...

Today we speak with Rostislava Pankova-Karajova. She began her life in Bulgaria but moved with her family to Swaziland, South Africa, following the chaos after the fall of communism. She lived in Africa for twelve years, then moved to New Zealand, where she now lives with her family.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

Ronnie is a lifelong musician and a music teacher with a degree in Musicology and Choir Conducting. She later pursued and...

Today we have a special from Cuba. It is a difficult episode for us to make. Emotional in ways. We are on the island for a few weeks, visiting distant family, making friends and exploring remote and beautiful places.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

We will talk about what we see and read from the narrative logs of our journey. Cuba is complex and our trip here is life changing. It flipped many notions...

Debra Harman is a writer, editor and a publisher. She launched a number of successful Medium publications, Narrative Arc, Wind Phone, and Imogene's Notebook.

You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation. Help children read.

Debra is an avid hiker exploring the Cascades and Pacific Crest trail in her native Oregon, USA. She likes to venture around the world as well, and has hiked the storied Camino de Santiago trail in Europe.

She is also a musician, playing...

Today, we speak with KiKi Walter . She is a writer, storyteller, and champion of personal narratives. She loves transforming everyday moments into deeply resonant stories.

Kiki is a publisher of Memoirist Quarterly and a founder of The Memoirist on Substack. She curates and edits for three thriving Medium publications: The Memoirist, Age of Empathy, and Black Bear. she also co-hosts The Unfocused Writer podcast.

She has been recognized as a BlogHer Voice of the Year and featured on stage with Listen to Your Mother. Whether through the written word or spoken conversations, KiKi brings warmth, d...

Today we speak with Steph Dyson. She is a bilingual travel journalist and blogger, who has spent the last decade reporting on adventure travel and sustainability in Latin America.

She reported for CNN, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and The Telegraph. 

She's covered everything from how tourism is being used to heal the scars of civil war in Colombia to investigating why pumas are being protected by the ranchers that formerly hunted them in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park. 

Steph is the author of the Moon Chile guidebook, to be published in Ju...

Alex and Egor here from Blue Planet Stories. We hope you are well.

We are preparing our sailboat for a long ocean passage across the Caribbean to Panama, and we had two very busy weeks at a boatyard. With the time constraint, we had to focus on preparation.

But, we are excited to replay our very first podcast for you, which is also one of our favorites, with Ryan Frawley.

Also, Because we are resuming our travel, we will be posting weekly or more on Travel Banter, our channel about sailing, traveling to...

Today we speak with Daniel Williams. He is an author-illustrator and English professor living in Western Pennsylvania.

Dan has a special talent for humor writing, among other things, and you can find his stories and essays on Medium and on his Spotify podcast, "Misbehaving in Maine."

His fully illustrated memoir, "Misbehaving in Maine: 30 Half-Learned Lessons," will be published this spring by Falls City Press.

Today we interview Dan and read his story "You Put the End in Friendship"

From the show:

“…So when you illustrate this story, for example, how...

Today we speak with Tara B. She is a writer based in Connecticut. She has been writing privately for the last two years, but began publishing creative nonfiction and memoir works on Medium in November 2024.

Tara writes about mental health, race, identity and relationships with family and friends - the good, the bad, and the ridiculous.

Tara is a scientist by training and a full time project manager in her work life. When she is not working, she loves traveling, reading, and long-distance running.

Today, we interview Tara B and read her story “Ha...

Today we speak with Joe Guay. He is a voiceover actor from Palm Desert, California. His voice is in commercials, e-learning and web videos for clients all over the globe. 

Joe began writing publicly in 2021. His articles and essays have been featured on Katie Couric Media, YourTango.com and Medium. 

A self-described "recovering people-pleaser with a snarky side,” Joe writes on topics such as mental health, surviving the world of showbiz, self-awareness and authenticity. He also covers LGBTQ issues, world travel, books, and more. 

Today we interview Joe and read his story “My Quirky...

Today with speak with Craig Collins. Craig is a writer who lives in San Diego, California. He is the author of two books of literary nonfiction — Thunder in the Mountains and Midair

He began his carrier as a journalists. He then worked in tech, eventually serving as a senior executive for a Fortune 500 company. He later founded a series of venture backed technology start ups.

Craig is currently working on two books: a novel set in Silicon Valley, and a historical non-fiction about the great merchant travelers of the Silk Road.

Today we in...

Today we speak with John Pucay. He is an author and full-time writer from the Philippines. John writes creative nonfiction essays and short fiction stories. He is currently working on his second novel.

John is also a film maker. His short film, Game Boy Advance, loosely based on his experiences as a 12-year-old, premiered at the San Diego Filipino Film Festival in sunny California in October 2024.

Outside of his artistic pursuits, John is an ultramarathon trail runner and writes the Minimum Effort Health & Wellness newsletter on Substack. He also co-writes the Writing to Earn newsletter...

Today we speak with Kate Brennan. Kate is a humor writer, artist, educator and creator. Her work appeared in numerous publications including McSweeney’s, Slackjaw, and others.

She holds an MFA from the University of Virginia. She writes and produces plays and musicals many of which were finalists and semi-finalists for national awards. See below the comprehensive list of Kates many accomplishments.

Kate is a designated LinkLater teacher. When she is not teaching others she instructs yoga and practices Thai body work.

Today, we interview Kate and read her story: “Signs in the Ceil...

Today we speak with Morgana Sylvana. She is a writer, poet, and a musician from the United Kingdom.

Morgana is a neurodivergent (ADHD/Autistic) writer, neurodiversity advocate, country-dwelling semi-hermit and former nomad. 

She is a published poet and the author of “The Wild Wandering Arc: A Journey through Van life, Nature & Love” and “Wild Motherhood: Tending the Fire of your Creative Spirit.”

We interview Morgana and read her story “Walking All the Way to West Wales.”

From the show:

“…it was really therapeutic to write about it and to share that journe...

Today we speak with Jesse Wilson. He is a storyteller, writer, speaker and a poet from the United Kingdom. His mission is to inspire people to find their purpose and live healthier, happier lives.

For the last twenty years, in his professional life, he has worked as a consultant, trainer and mentor with one of the world’s leading software companies where he wrestles with the complexities of computers and humans.

Today we are reading his essay, and we interview Jesse and discuss his views on humanity, writing, and a path to a happier life.

Today, we speak with Richard Feldmann, a cartoonist whose work appeared in The New Yorker and other publications. We dive into the world of cartooning and the business of it during our discussion.

Richard grew up in New Jersey, lived in Princeton and New York City. He spent twenty years working on Wall Street, but as he says, he eventually came to his senses and focused on work with non-profits and on building his business - Cartoon Arbor Studio.

Richard currently lives in Ellsworth, Maine, near Acadia National Park.

Instagram: @richardfelmanncartoons

...

Today we speak with Walter Rhein. Walter is a full-time writer, traveler and amateur athlete.

After college, he lived in Peru for 10 years, writing and editing for publications there. He moved back to his home in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and re-immersed into the world of cross-country skiing.

He writes about the Birkebeiner - the biggest North American ski race which attracts athletes from all over the world - in his book “Beyond Birkie Fever.” He writes about the race and his experience with it.

His personal essays focus on social justice, immigration, and narr...

Today we speak with Mario Lopez Goicoechea and read his story the Flautist.

Mario was born in Cuba, lived and studied in Havana through the University then emigrated to London, where he has lived for twenty seven years.

Mario is a writer, teacher, a linguist and a cycling instructor. His book “Cuban, Immigrant, and Londoner” was published in 2021 and you can find it where books are sold.

From the show:

“…I'm Cuban by birth and upbringing as well. I was born in Havana and met my now my ex-wife many, many years ag...

Today we speak with Carol Canter, a travel writer from Oakland California, and read her story Biking in the Canadian Rockies.

Carol has written award-winning travel articles that have made the off-beat and exotic accessible to readers for nearly five decades, on topics like Jazz Clubs in Tokyo, Truffles in Dordogne, Cruising the Nile, and Biking the Canadian Rockies. 

She has reviewed children’s music for Parenting magazine, delved into Health Care in Cuba for NurseWeek and covered the Hawaiian Islands extensively for both the consumer press and the travel trade during her 9 year tenure in...

We speak with Sanne Brun. Sanne is a traveler, writer and translator. She has been living in a camper van, exploring beautiful places around the UK, and sharing her experiences on Medium through personal stories. 

She writes about life lessons she learns on the road, about her experiences as a full-time female solo van-lifer, and about how she stays healthy in the van. 

With a strong passion for Mandarin Chinese, she spent a year studying at a university in China and holds a degree in Chinese Studies and Chinese-English translation and interpreting.

We in...

Today, we speak with Gentry Bronson. He is a writer and musician living in New Orleans. He began his musical life as a classical pianist winning competitions and awards during his teenage years.

As a young adult he followed grunge, punk, rock and EDM and lived where the music was, including Seattle, Prague, and a host of other places.

He soon launched his own musical career and released records with his band the Night Watchmen. He also produced solo records, toured Europe seven times, and performed concerts in the United States.

Gentry fell...

Michael is a husband, father, and high school English teacher. And at the base of his being, beneath the flint that sparks his life, is the soul of a writer.

Michael grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he created memories with his family and enjoyed the city to its fullest. After building a family of his own, he made the difficult decision to leave the city and move to Texas.

Michael’s love for sci-fi, Biggie Smalls, and his family is large and he dreams of being a best selling author one day.

“…The mi...

Stephanie is a neurodiversity coach by day, and wrangles with words by night. She also puts comics to her stories that look at this magical hodgepodge called life.

Stephanie was born in Germany where her dad was stationed before his two tours in Vietnam. She grew up in PA where she fell in love with the outdoors. Her adolescence was spent in NJ where she sang Bruce Springsteen songs with the rest of the state.

Stephanie went to undergrad in CA, grad school in NYC, lived for a year in Turkey, and raised her kids...

Today we speak with Chip Walter. Chip began his career in televisions news. He was one of the original CNN employees, launching the company and later becoming its bureau chief. He worked on PBS documentaries, including Planet Earth and other titles.

Chip authored five mainstream science books, including co-authoring a book with William Shatner. His latest book ‘Doppelganger’ was released in 2024. It is a techno thriller and available where books are sold.

In today’s podcast we talk to Chip about his around-the-world project Vagabond Adventure, and read a story from that travel series, ‘American West - R...

Today we speak with Sally Prag. She is a writer from Devon, England focusing on creative non-fiction and poetry.

Sally is an editor for Memoirist and Age of Empathy publications where she works with established and emerging authors.

She is also an entrepreneur, mother, musician, and a nature lover. Today we interview Sally and read her story Without Living Through Darkness How Could We Appreciate the Light.

You can find her stories on Medium: https://medium.com/@sallyprag

From the show:

“…It's just a skill that is important to me t...

Matthew David Nelson is a travel photographer and writer from Des Moines, Iowa. 

He is an advocate for sustainable travel and citizen diplomacy, he has undertaken projects in ten countries, primarily in the Western Balkans, India, and Nepal.

Matthew’s  work has been published in National Geographic Traveller Magazine, Resonate (Norway), and Get Lost! (AU), among others. 

His photographs have appeared in exhibitions and shows in Athens, Greece, and Prishtina, Kosovo. He is also a freelance contributor to travel guidebooks.

We interview Matthew and read his story, Life Lessons from...

Today with speak with Doug Brown. Doug is a writer in Asheville, North Carolina, his beloved home of many years.

Doug began his career as a preschool teacher but now teaches adults on how to be better at their work. He has written for magazines and trade publications, as well as ghostwritten multiple works.

Doug is the author of Walker Percy Loves You and Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life, a memoir on grief.

Today, we interview the author and read his story: There is No Such Thing as a Mountain.

Today we talk with Andy Lammers. He is a writer, a middle school teacher, an athlete, a traveler, and a basketball coach.

Andy lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his family. He writes essays on diverse topics, inspired by the things around him.

We interview Andy and read his contemplative piece: Is This Why We Travel? Volcano’s and Viking Winds - ramblings and wondering in Iceland.

The piece was published in Scribe, and Andy extends a special thanks to Thomas Gaudex, the editor and publisher of the Medium publication.

From th...

Today we speak with Brad Yonaka. He is a geologist who has traveled to over 140 countries for work and pleasure. He is a prolific writer who writes about his experiences around the world.

He also conducts numismatics research for auction houses and he published a book on the topic - Variety Guide to the Silver and Copper Coinage of the Mexico City Mint 1732 - 1771.

As he grows older, Brad says, he has little interest in “settling down” and plans to continue traveling with his family as long as he physically can.

We talk with...

Today we speak with Erika Burkhalter and read her story, ‘Finding Permanence In Impermanence at the LaConte Glacier, Alaska.’

Erika holds a masters degree in neuro-psychology, and another masters in Eastern Philosophy. She taught eastern philosophy, and she taught yoga for twenty plus years.

Erika lives in Orange County, California, focuses on photography and writing, and travels around the world.

From the show:

“…And I remember one day when I was in the fourth grade, I came home and my dad had a yellow school bus sitt...

Today we speak with Geo Snelling. Geo lives in New Zealand with his family. He works at the confluence of art and software engineering in the visual effects industry. He is a traveler and a writer in his spare time.

He began his career working for an economic consulting company, and traveled to over 65 remote countries collecting economic data.

We interview Geo and read his story To Saipan, From Saipan, set in the time of his extensive travels.

The story is about travel, diving and curious twists of fate.

From the...

We are back to talking with guest authors next week, but this week we are reading Egor’s story and talk about how it happened.

From the show:

…So we went to a bar one night to have a little dinner, and we were sitting down next to this guy, and we started chatting with him a little bit and discovered he was a lobsterman, Joe the Lobsterman.

…putting words on paper recalled the memories in my head and also launched this entire train of thought and thinking about the conservation struggle and the pl...