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When I started researching today’s interview with artist extraordinaire and potter Kevin O’Keefe from Mississippi I honestly would have missed the answer to that question of how long pottery as a process has been around by at least 15,000 years.  Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions…(I thought that beer was!): a figurine discovered in the Czech Republic dates back to 29,000 or BC,[2]....pottery vessels discovered in China, date back to 18,000 BC. And pottery artifacts have been found in Japan estimated to be from about 10,500 BC). Today’s guest, Kevin O’Keefe,  probably knew the answer to that questions….Kevin not only keeps an age old tradition alive through his pottery and artwork, but he makes useful and beautiful tools like one of a kind sake cups, incense holders and candle holders which are carried in Topdrawer shops in the United States.  Kevin O’Keefe’s pottery is of iridescent glazes with copper reds or crystalline blues, they shimmer through the micro-crinkling of various types of reflective surfaces…rain drops of molten glaze purposefully frozen in time then they glow and glisten in candlelight… Kevin keeps alive the magical things that can happen on a potter’s wheel, and then he tests every conceivable limit of a kiln that he built in his backyard, which burns at temperatures of nearly 2000 degrees (I looked that up)...    Looking at his work I became interested in how someone like Kevin becomes a full time artist….why someone would take that leap of faith into a world where so many artist struggle to survive.  During our interview, Kevin talk often of his old friend ‘andy’...  Andy, or Andrew Jessup, is the man behind the magical and illuminating design of the Topdrawer shops. Also from Mississippi, Andrew (or Andy, as Kevin calls him) and Kevin go way back….and their friendship, as you will see, is a big part of Kevin’s path toward becoming a full-time professional potter…and, I didn’t even know this was possible, they actually melted kilns…which are supposed to be the furnaces that do the melting, not be the things that actually melt themselves.  To see Kevin’s work in-person, walk into any Topdrawer shop and you’ll find his unique and one of a kind sake cups, incense burners and candle holders…they are exquisite  Visit Kevin’s website at http://www.kevinjohnokeefe.com to see a sampling of his work….or his YouTube channel @KevinJohnOKeefe. ---- Tools For Nomads is brought to you by Topdrawer At Topdrawer, life is about loving and living intentionally, where the things we carry matter to us, impact our productivity, our well-being, and even our identity. Topdrawer combines the quality and craftsmanship of our grandparents’ generation with the drive for independence, function, and stylish sustainability. It results in a collection of tools that help you do your best work, wherever you are. Visit https://topdrawershop.com/ or visit one of their dozen plus meticulously outfitted shops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Berkeley, Chicago, New York & Tokyo.  https://topdrawershop.com

Our Guest Today: Sam Mogannam is the second-generation owner of Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco and founder of the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses that Forbes named one of the best small companies in the United States. He’s been featured in Bon Appetit, Civil Eats, Food & Wine, the San Francisco Chronicle and more. Sam is the author of Bi-Rite Market’s Eat Good Food: A Grocer’s Guide to Shopping, Cooking, and Creating Community Through Food. Sam and his brother Raffi took over the family owned Bi-Rite Market with a small staff of six. They revamped market and it quickly became a destination for curated specialty foods.  Bi-Rite family of businesses includes Bi-Rite Creamery, 18 Reasons cooking school where they teach over 7,000 students the art of cooking each year FOR FREE…,they also have a farm Their mission is Creating Community Through Food.  The website for Bi-Rite Market says this in the about section:  When Bi-Rite Market re-opened in 1998 under Sam and Raph Mogannam’s leadership, we introduced our Community Values: Love. Passion. Integrity. While we added verbs back in 2019 (Lead with Love. Pursue with Passion. Act with Integrity.) these values have never been more relevant, or meaningful, as they are today. Yet, every day our news is filled with grief and anguish as our community continues to be attacked by others. So we feel it’s necessary to be even more explicit. We vehemently STAND AGAINST racism and will fight against all forms of oppression and hate, whether it’s implicit or explicit. Inside our doors you will be safe, protected, and welcome. You will be seen, heard, and appreciated. And you will be loved. Always. We all deserve kindness and respect. Please only enter our doors if you can have an open heart and treat all people with dignity. VISIT Bi-Rite online: https://biritemarket.com/

Life is hectic, there’s a lot of static and radio interference, so many loud and confusing things vying for our attention. It is a testament to the incredible capacity of the human mind to filter through the chaos and actually find a way to focus on things, and accomplish specific goals and tasks.  As a person who probably would have been diagnosed with ADHD when I was a little kid many moons ago, I can’t even imagine what kind of distractions I would have found in a cellphone, TikTok and YouTube. Sometimes we need a little help, a little inspiration. That’s where today’s guest Elisabeth Sharp McKetta comes in. She’s written an extraordinary book called EDIT YOUR LIFE - An inspiring guide to focusing on what matters most in life—and hitting delete on what doesn’t.  Elisabeth Sharp McKetta, author and storyteller, teaches writing for Harvard Extension School and Oxford Department for Continuing Education. She is the author of a dozen books including her recent release: ‘Edit Your Life’.... Her book shares simple ways to cut through the clutter, drama, and abundance of distractions of modern life to live with more intention and joy.  She should know: Elisabeth and her husband James Stead once sold everything they owned and moved into a tiny house in Idaho (with their two children).   In our recent conversation I wanted to talk to Elisabeth about not only her book but the practice and habit of journaling and how it can help us zero in on our priorities and the things that matter in our lives.  Listen my conversation with ELISABETH SHARP McKETTA from her lovely home where her husband and two amazing children live. For more about Elisabeth, visit her website at: https://elisabethsharpmcketta.com/

A small company in Brooklyn New York called Square Roots looks to change the tide and take back the heart and soul of farming, by growing organic food in shipping containers, and by creating meaningful jobs in modern farming. Square Roots actively incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion in as well as a starting base pay that would surprise anyone PICTURE THIS: a tractor trailer, fitted out with all the necessary equipment and technology to become self-contained farms - which can be placed inside cities around the world to feed urban dwellers Alex Pate is farm manager of Square Roots Brooklyn operation. He grew up outside Chicago, became a teacher. After becoming disenchanted with his purpose, he found urban agriculture to be a natural extension of an interest in the recently legalized cannabis industry. For more on Square Roots: https://www.squarerootsgrow.com/

Michael Palmisano - Creating a New Life as a YouTube Influencer “Are you a professional or are you an amateur? Do you view yourself as a professional? Meaning, Is this what you do with your life? Or is it a hobby? And if you do this professionally, if this is the profession that you've chosen, you do have to be constantly working on your craft. "  Michael Palmisano, Baltimore, MarylandMichael Palmisano and his wife staked their savings on the hopes that Michael would make it big as a YouTuber. After losing just about everything, then getting it back again, it’s been a steady rise ever since.  Michael’s YouTube community is 364,000 subscribers and growing.  As a guitar teacher who made his name by making videos showing him ‘reacting’ to live concert performances( by bands that we all know), Michael soon entered the elite world of YouTube influencers. Thom wanted to know what it takes to build a community where hundreds of thousands of people find a sense of belonging and identity on a YouTube channel. and what the special sauce is for success. If you’re one of the 122 million active daily YouTube users consuming over a billion hours of video every day, or even just the occasional browser, you’ll want to meet Michael.  Listen and be inspired!

American born, Chris grew up in a family of missionaries in Kenya. He befriended the nomadic Maasai tribe, learned Swahili as a young child, and escaped a pack of hyenas by climbing a tree.  A nomad in the truest sense, Chris Carter spends his time between thru-hikes to study for a divinity degree. He currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But, Chris will tell you that the road is his home. He knows how to pack light, then sets his compass for a world of pain. 

Cameron Scott, my guest in the most recent episode of Tools For Nomads, had a close encounter with a leopard as a small child in South Africa. The experience left an indelible impression on his life and completely altered the direction of career as an African travel expert and safari guide, as well as world class wildlife photographer. He has his dad to thank for that. They used to visit wildlife parks every year when he was a child. Cameron really does have the heart and soul of a leopard. When you hear this revealing conversation he’ll open your mind to the healing powers of an African wildlife adventure. His photography tips will prepare you for your next encounter with the great outdoors, be it at your backyard bird feeder or deep in the world of the African bush.   Cameron's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camscott_wild/ Royal Ngala - Cameron's company: https://www.royalngala.com/about

Today’s guest is as much a philosopher and thinking man as he is a creative force in the world of music. He started busking - which means playing music on the streets for coins - on Broadway in Nashville at  14. Two years previously the only thing he knew about playing guitar was the video game GUITAR HERO. He was good, damn good. Then he heard a Gun’ & Roses song blasing out of a set of speakers and decided to give playing real guitar a try.  Turns out he was even better at the real thing. On his first day of busking Daniel Donato didn’t make one red penny.   The next part of the story is one of those storybook kind of tales that seem more fiction than fact,  Daniel is no stranger to the idea that if one is prepared, then that person will capitalize when an opportunity arises. One day he’s walking down the street - 14 year old kid,  guitar case in his hand and a guy from a bar - the bass player from a band that was performing -  waves him in and says “hey kid can you play guitar?”   The sensation of sound waves blasting into his calves from the amplifier standing on the stage just behind him transformed him forever. At 16 he became the youngest musician ever to get a regular playing gig at the world famous honky tonk ROBERT’S WESTERN WORLD - on Broadway in Nashville of course -  Daniel Donato is 26 now, that’s him we’re listening to now.  several cross country tours, a second album just released, 2,000 performances under his belt….. Some would call him a Master of the Telecaster...referring to the style of Fender guitar he plays, which you see all sorts of country stars play, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuart, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, REAL guitar heroes… Today’s  conversation with Daniel Donato moves from music to all things  ABOUT LIFE, MOTIVATION, OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS, BREAKING THROUGH THE BARRIERS, ABOUT FOLLOWING THE CORE PATH OF YOUR HEART….WHETHER YOURE A MUSICIAN, DANCER, HITCHHIKER, SHOWER SINGER, HOUSE BUILDER, CAR PAINTER, ENGINEER, AMATUER PILOT….DON’T MATTER….THIS IS ABOUT FOLLOWING YOUR HEART   Daniel Donato, he calls his brand of music COSMIC COUNTRY He also has a podcast, called The Lost Highway, HE HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT CALLED  Cosmic Country & Western Songs, released on September 30 of 2021. Daniel Donato is a lot more than a musician….wise beyond his years, here’s our conversation 

“I don’t want to keep dinosaurs alive. I want to inspire young people to combine old technologies with new technologies. If you stop understanding the past you will not find the answers for the future. And this is the big problem with digital.”     Florian Doc Kaps, ViennaFlorian Doc Kaps: is a champion of all things analogue, an out of the box thinker who believes that people are too swamped with digital things in our lives. He believes that we should on our five senses to make decisions about business, love, family and friends.  Former biologist who was a foremost authority on spider eye movement (I didn’t know that was a thing until I met Doc), he is also the entrepreneur who literally saved Polaroid instant photography from extinction.  Do you know those big, instant cameras that make a loud click when you take a snapshot? It spits out an undeveloped photograph into your hand? Doc saved that. In 2008 the company that owned that instant film, Polaroid, was planning to shut down the last factory where it was made. Boom. The End. No more Polaroid. The end of instant photography as we knew it. Then along came Doc. He literally bought the Polaroid factory before they shut it down forever. He calls his arduous journey An Impossible Project They made a film about it, too. If you own one of those vintage cameras or see an instant photo on a refrigerator you can thank Doc.  My Tools For Nomads episode with Doc Kaps explores how he saved Polaroid from extinction. We went deep into the mind of Doc and talked about the importance of analogue in our lives, about the lost art of daydreaming, his experience-store called Supersense, and what it was like growing up in Vienna, birthplace of Mozart, Beethoven and Freud.  You’ll love Doc Kaps just as I do.  Listen and be inspired!

She’s been featured on the cover of Vogue and Cosmopolitan, nominated for Golden Globes for best acting in the wildly popular mini-series The Thorn Birds as well as in the motion picture Sharky’s Machine for New Star of the Year. However, Rachel Ward’s next cover shot will probably be for a holistic farming magazine or conservation publication. She’s a regenerative farmer and is producing a documentary about her cattle farm called Standing On The Soilution. When Rachel and her husband, the Australian actor Bryan Brown, bought their cattle farm in eastern Australia 33 years ago it was run by farm managers. However, after the devastating bushfires that swept across Australia in 2019 and beyond, Rachel had a change of heart and became a hands-on farmer. Having recently become a grandmother, she became alarmed at the amount of chemicals used in modern farming. With the urging of her farm manager, they joined forces turned to regenerative farming practices. No chemicals. Farming the old way.  TEASER TO STANDING ON THE SOILUTION: https://vimeo.com/516531797?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=13295571 RACHEL'S FARM IN AUSTRALIA: https://www.thegoodfarm.shop/ Rachel is currently co-producing a documentary about the difficulties of embracing regenerative farming on her farm, called Standing on the Soilution. The film documents Rachel in her efforts to start a revolution to saving the planet.   

So, imagine you’re walking to work one day….minding your own business, people coming and people going….commuters, buses, cars….maybe a street musician is playing in the background. You hear someone politely call out from behind you, ‘excuse me, do you have a minute please?’    You stop...and turn, approaching you is a smiling young man, confident, yet, humble and friendly….ball cap turned backwards on his head, a backpack on, camera in his hands and a friend following and filming with an iphone, filming him...and you….. It might sound like this: SOUND UP OF DINO AND MOON FROM TIKTOK Dino Serrao is a street photographer. He grew up in an medieval city in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. Perhaps that’s where he acquired his ability to observe, to be fascinated by the rich diversity of humanity: black, white, yellow, man, woman, child, photographer, aborigine, gay, heterosexual, musician, didgeridoo player, street performer, homeless teenaged girl….skateboarder, elderly…. Dino moved to Australia in 2012, where he settled in Sydney…. After he started posting his street photography on social media he gained a large following…..people write him asking for more, some even sought him out, asked for a photo session, for tips on how to take photos, how to edit them…. He edits his photos on his laptop using Lightroom. His work...if you can call it that…. went viral, he was covered in news articles and in magazines…   His biggest following is from the usa, but he’s know worldwide,  On Instagram, he has over 217 THOUSAND followers, on TikTok, 1 point 8 million….where you can see his incredible photography, spontaneous, on the spot, people like you and me. As Dino says about his photography, “he is there not to make an impression but to make an impact” to make someone’s day...to make someone feel special, attractive, respected…. Dino says beauty has no age, no race….his photography is his way of connecting cultures, across continents and countries of different languages, people of different colors, creeds…. A successful photo shoot for Dino is to convey the truth that they are a beautiful person, unique, valued…. Before COVID hit hard, he learned that Australia was going to shut down, big time. He packed his bags and moved to Oslo Norway...he never lost a step capturing people, faces, moods….