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  • # 129 Love Means I’ll Be Here Tomorrow: Father Cyprian Consiglio on music, monastic life, Big Sur, Rome, and the discipline of staying.

    # 129 Love Means I’ll Be Here Tomorrow: Father Cyprian Consiglio on music, monastic life, Big Sur, Rome, and the discipline of staying.
    Jul 9 2026
    Send us Fan MailMagnus, a secular Swede in Big Sur, speaks with Father Cyprian Consiglio — musician, Camaldolese monk, former prior of New Camaldoli, and now Secretary General of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue in Rome — about vocation, music, solitude, Rome, Iran, God, and why real love may simply mean: “I’ll be here tomorrow.”>>>>>>>>>Magnus speaks with Father Cyprian as an old Big Sur friend and as a secular Swede trying to understand what Christian depth can mean when inherited church culture has grown thin.The conversation moves from childhood memories of Chicago museums and the upheavals of 1968 to Phoenix rock-and-roll years, crisis, faith, New Camaldoli, chastity, silence, interreligious friendship, Iran, Rome, and love as the choice to stay. Along the way, Father Cyprian reflects on his latest book, Epiphanies of Nature and Grace, the solitude and community of the Camaldolese life, and the one practice he protects wherever he travels: Silent Meditation.Link to episode # 41 with Cyprian Consiglio and Pico Iyer.Link to Animas Ensemble Music>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Places, people, organizations, books, music, and ideas mentioned:Main placesNew Camaldoli Hermitage — Father Cyprian describes it as a Camaldolese hermitage where monks live in separate cells, gather for prayer, share work, and try to live “a contemplative life in community."Sant’Anselmo — the Benedictine house/institution in Rome where Cyprian participates in community life and works near “the boss.” The Vatican / St. Peter’s / Vatican Office for Interreligious Dialogue — in current Vatican language this is the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.The Angelicum — Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.St. Charles Borromeo High School / Seminary High School — formative high-school seminary experience.DePaul University — he attended during that Chicago period.St. Meinrad Monastery / Archabbey, Indiana — formative monastic/theological exposure.Mount Madonna — yoga community/center near Watsonville; he mentions doing yoga teacher training there.Tassajara Zen Mountain Center — mentioned as part of California’s alternative spiritual/meditative landscape.Tangaza University — a School of Theology and an Institute for Interreligious Dialogue and Islamic Studies.People mentioned or strongly impliedFather Bruno / Bruno Barnhart — former prior of New Camaldoli, major Camaldolese thinker and influence on Cyprian’s theology. Your research file identifies Barnhart as a decisive source for Rediscovering the Divine.Romuald — The Camaldolese founder Saint Romuald.Robert Hale — former prior of New Camaldoli; Cyprian identifies him as prior when he first arrived.Meister Eckhart — medieval Christian mystic/theologian; Cyprian found his monastic name while reading a book about Eckhart by Cyprian Smith.Cyprian Smith — author/scholar whose book on Meister Eckhart helped trigger Cyprian’s choice of name.Bede Griffiths — Benedictine monk central to Hindu-Christian dialogue; major influence on Cyprian.Abhishiktananda / Henri Le Saux — Benedictine monk and Hindu-Christian contemplative pioneer; major influence on Cyprian.Martin Luther King Jr. — childhood memory of his assassination in 1968.Wisława Szymborska — Polish poet quoted by Cyprian; verify the exact poem before show notes.Professor Mohammad Ali Shomali — Shi‘a Muslim scholar involved in Christian-Muslim dialogue. DIM·MID’s 2026 page references Professor Mohammed Shomali in relation to Kenya and Shi‘a dialogue.William Skudlarek — Cyprian’s predecessor in the DIM·MID role.John Pennington — longtime percussion, music, recording collaborator; OCP lists his collaborations with Cyprian.Aldous Huxley — Cyprian mentions having The Perennial Philosophy in Italian.Organizations / institutionsNew Camaldoli Hermitage — Camaldolese Benedictine monastery in Big Sur.DIM·MID — Dialogue Interreligieux Monastique / Monastic Interreligious Dialogue — Cyprian’s current work; as Secretary General for Benedictines and Cistercians worldwide. DIM·MID’s website presents current reports from Cyprian as Secretary General.Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue — Vatican office connected to his work.Focolare Movement — hosted/sponsored the Week of Unity event.World Meditation Day Foundation — he mentions helping co-host an event connected to it.European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies — he was about to travel for this meeting.Tangaza University — Nairobi Catholic university / theology and interreligious context.Orbis Books — publisher of Rediscovering the Divine and Epiphanies of Nature and Grace.Liturgical Press — publisher of Spirit, Soul, Body and other Cyprian books.Support the show_________________________________________________This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County! Let us know what you think!SEND US AN ...
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    1 Std. und 24 Min.
  • # 128 From Tehran to the Akasha: Rohini Moradi on grief, ancient wisdom, and the search for meaning

    # 128 From Tehran to the Akasha: Rohini Moradi on grief, ancient wisdom, and the search for meaning
    Jun 26 2026

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    From Tehran to the Akasha: Rohini Moradi on grief, ancient wisdom, and the search for meaning

    Raised in a Hindu temple in Tehran before emigrating to the United States, Rohini Moradi brings an unusually personal perspective to ideas that are often presented only as modern spirituality.

    Meet Rohini Moradi at the Henry Miller Library on July 14 for a book reading. Reserve your spot here.
    Share this episode!!!

    Our conversation ranges from her childhood in Iran, her family's connection to India and the Vedic tradition, the death of her young daughter that transformed her life, and her new book Tapping into the Akasha (available at the HMML!). Along the way we explore intuition, ritual, meditation, the relationship between science and spirituality, the ethics of translating ancient traditions for modern audiences, and the enduring human search for meaning.

    Whether you approach these ideas as a believer, a skeptic, or simply someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations, this episode asks larger questions about grief, consciousness, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

    Thank you Rohini!


    Links

    • Official website
    • Tapping into the Akasha
    • Courses and teachings
    • Rohini on Spotify

    Concepts discussed

    • The Vedas
    • The Upanishads
    • Bhagavad Gita
    • Akasha / Akashic tradition
    • Pranayama (breath practice)

    People mentioned

    • David Bohm
    • Rupert Sheldrake
    • Nikola Tesla
    • Carl Jung
    • Helena Blavatsky
    • Rudolf Steiner

    Places

    • Rishikesh
    • Triveni Ghat


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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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    1 Std. und 23 Min.
  • # 127 Letting People In on the Secret: Stuart Thornton on Big Sur, Guidebooks & the Crowds They Create

    # 127 Letting People In on the Secret: Stuart Thornton on Big Sur, Guidebooks & the Crowds They Create
    Jun 14 2026
    Send us Fan MailTravel writer, guidebook author, former Big Sur ranger, and old friend, Stuart Thornton, returns to Big Sur—at least in spirit—to reflect on a career spent encouraging people to visit the very places he sometimes wishes they would leave alone. We talk about discovering California's coast, writing guidebooks, the challenge of over tourism, and whether AI will help travelers find deeper experiences or simply send more people to the same beautiful places. Along the way, Stuart shares stories from Big Sur, the road, and a lifetime of chasing the next hidden corner of the map.Stuart traces his path from a Richmond, Virginia upbringing to a campsite at Andrew Molera, a ranger job that came with a phone book and a dorm bed, years living in the old naval housing at Point Sur, and a writing career that runs from the Monterey County Weekly to National Geographic to a shelf of Moon guidebooks. Along the way: a condor egg airlifted from the backcountry, an interview with James Cameron fresh from the Mariana Trench, a settlement after Anthropic ingested four of his books, and the contradiction he's lived with for years — a man who spends his days off chasing empty beaches while writing the books that fill them. Plus monks and silence at New Camaldoli, Gary Clark Jr. winning over the Monterey Jazz crowd, and a novel about "Billy the Brewer."LinksStuart Thornton — personal site · Moon author pageJoe Burnett / Ventana Wildlife Society — condor biologist who got Stuart access to the egg storyGary Clark Jr at Albert HallJames Cameron — record Mariana Trench dive (National Geographic)Pico Iyer — author; wrote on New Camaldoli and on Henry MillerWilliam T. Vollmann — The Atlas — Stuart's early influenceRyan Masters — Monterey County Weekly writer; band SuborbitalsEric Johnson — longtime Monterey County Weekly editorKem Nunn — "surf noir" novelist (Tapping the Source, The Dogs of Winter, John from Cincinnati)Martin Gurri — The Revolt of the Public — Magnus's earlier guestHipólito Bouchard — Argentine raid on Monterey, 1818Kayla Anderson — Moon Northern California Road Trips (co-author)"Billy the Brewer" — California's first beer brewer; subject of Stuart's novel-in-progressPlacesHenry Miller Memorial LibraryNew Camaldoli HermitageAndrew Molera State Park (and Pico Blanco above the Big Sur River)Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park / Big Sur StationPoint Sur State Historic Park & Lighthouse — site of the former naval housingPartington Cove (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park)Monterey State Historic Park — Custom House, Casa Serrano, California's First Theatre"Shipwrecks: Every Broken Piece Tells a Story" — Casa Gutiérrez exhibit (opened June 12; the Natalia, wrecked 1834)Monterey Bay Aquarium — Stuart's tip: Tue–Thu, 2–6 pmHenry Cowell Redwoods State Park (albino redwoods)The Dyerville Giant — Humboldt Redwoods State ParkMusic & eventsMonterey Jazz FestivalFolk Yeah! (Britt Govea)Pixies — played the Henry Miller LibraryBonnie "Prince" Billy / Will Oldham — the first Folk Yeah show at FernwoodGary Clark Jr. — Stuart wrote an early national profileRelix MagazineTaj Mahal — Magnus's Fiji/Stockholm anecdoteBooks, publishers & otherMoon Travel Guides (incl. Moon California Road Trip, IPPY Gold Medal 2016)Monterey County Weekly / Monterey County NOWNational Geographic EducationJohn Steinbeck — The Pastures of Heaven · Sweet Thursday · East of Eden — Netflix series, fall 2026The Anthropic copyright settlement ($1.5B; Bartz v. Anthropic)Support the show_________________________________________________This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County! Let us know what you think!SEND US AN EMAIL! 😊 magnus@henrymiller.orgFaceBookInstagram
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    1 Std. und 47 Min.
  • # 126 What Are We Really Protecting? Carol Olson, Wilderness, and the Future of Big Sur

    # 126 What Are We Really Protecting? Carol Olson, Wilderness, and the Future of Big Sur
    Jun 1 2026

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    In this episode Magnus has a conversation with Carol Olson, Executive Director of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance, about wilderness, responsibility, and the increasingly difficult art of protecting a place people love.

    GOOD LINKS:

    Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act

    • Full text — Congress.gov
    • Public Law details — GovInfo
    • Summary — Ventana Wilderness Alliance

    Ventana Wilderness Alliance

    • Official website
    • Wikipedia

    Big Sur LUP Download

    • Big Sur LCP Defense Committee — download page
    • County of Monterey — LUP Tables & Figures
    • Big Sur Coast LUP Update project page

    Adler Ranch / Esselen Land Transfer

    • KQED — California Tribe Regains Ancestral Lands
    • Western Rivers Conservancy
    • Esselen Tribe official news

    The Wilderness Act / Definition of Wilderness

    • The Wilderness Society
    • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
    • Full text PDF — USDA

    Land Back Movement

    • LANDBACK.org — the movement's own site
    • NPR overview (2024)
    • Sierra Club feature
    • Yale Environment 360
    • It's time to rethink the idea of the "Indigenous"

    Shelley Alden Brooks

    • Monterey County Weekly profile
    • Book — UC Press
    • Book — Amazon


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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

    Let us know what you think!
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    magnus@henrymiller.org

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    1 Std. und 10 Min.
  • # 125 OUT OF THE SKY by Matti Friedman

    # 125 OUT OF THE SKY by Matti Friedman
    May 16 2026

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    In this episode of A Big Sur Podcast, I speak with the writer and journalist Matti Friedman about his remarkable book Out of the Sky — a work that begins with four words from the Bible, “Out of the sky,” and unfolds into a meditation on fear, memory, survival, aviation, mythology, Jewish history, and the strange psychological atmosphere that has surrounded Israel since October 7, 2023.

    We carry Matti Friedman's books at the Henry Miller Library.

    Important links:

    Matti Friedman's Website

    Matti Friedman with Dan Senor

    Nicholas Kristof in NYT

    Magnus Substack about some of this.

    Support the show

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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

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    magnus@henrymiller.org

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    1 Std. und 5 Min.
  • # 124 The Language of Trees — and the World We’ve Forgotten How to Read

    # 124 The Language of Trees — and the World We’ve Forgotten How to Read
    Apr 26 2026

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    A conversation with artist Katie Holten about life and art, climate and action, walking and inaction!

    Katie's website

    Announcement for her new book!


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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

    Let us know what you think!
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    magnus@henrymiller.org

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    1 Std. und 35 Min.
  • # 123 "Condors: Guardians of the Wild" with Joe Burnett

    # 123 "Condors: Guardians of the Wild" with Joe Burnett
    Apr 1 2026

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    "At intervals the condor passed, huge as an ocean liner.”
    Henry Miller in Big Sur and the Oranges

    Besides marveling at the exceptional beauty and almost mysterious power of these amazing birds Joe Burnett and I discuss work in Big Sur and Monterey.

    We talk about the rebuilding of the Ventana Wildlife Sanctuary after the 2020 Dolan Fire, how the sanctuary supports releasing, feeding, monitoring and recapturing condors to test for lead poisoning—the leading mortality threat—using radio and GPS transmitters to track a flock of 113 birds, including wild-born untagged chicks.

    VWS outreach now centers on getting ranchers and hunters to switch to non-lead ammunition, which the program helps by providing free ammo, though non-lead .22 availability is a major hurdle.

    Joe describes vaccinating about 90% of the population against highly pathogenic avian influenza, ongoing disease and blood-lead testing, wildfire impacts, public engagement while tracking birds, and resources and documentaries available through the organization’s website.

    Thanks for listening!

    Magnus

    Ventana Wildlife Society

    The beautiful documentary Condor Canyon

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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

    Let us know what you think!
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    magnus@henrymiller.org

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    1 Std. und 27 Min.
  • # 122 Help Kelp: The Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Forest with Josie Iselin

    # 122 Help Kelp: The Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Forest with Josie Iselin
    Mar 23 2026

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    The Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Forest

    a New Heyday Book

    The Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Website

    I sit down with artist, photographer, and author Josie Iselin, and what begins as a conversation about kelp opens into an exploration of the intricate world in the waters just off our coast.

    Josie traces her own path into that world—from artist to something closer to a naturalist of the shoreline—guided by curiosity, attention, and a willingness to look closely at what most of us walk past. Kelp, in her telling, is not just seaweed but a kind of language: a way of reading the ocean’s health, its rhythms, and its disturbances.

    We talk about the fragile balance of the kelp forests—about urchin barrens and restoration efforts, including diver-led removal and the promise (and limits) of lab-grown kelp. We touch on kelp’s often overstated role as a carbon sink, I learned the meaning of the “wrack line” as a living archive of the sea, and the ongoing tensions around sea otter reintroduction.

    Threaded through it all is Josie’s project Above Below: The Mysterious World of Bull Kelp, created with illustrator Ellen Litwiller—first as a digital exploration, now as a beautifully realized book available where books are sold and at the Henry Miller Library.

    It’s a conversation about paying attention and what the edge of the ocean might still teach us if we take the time to walk down to the shoreline and slow down long enough to see it.

    /Magnus



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    This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial Library with support from The Arts Council for Monterey County!

    Let us know what you think!
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    1 Std. und 12 Min.