Good Evening from New York —
I’ve been wanting to do a program like this for a while, and tonight’s the night.
My 60th birthday is Sunday, so I’m going full-on with art and music, starting with a Book of Blue photo that sums up the whole journey of beauty and human encounter over many years and many lands.
Tonight’s music is all by Vision Quest. That includes Daniel Marc (Sternstein) on guitar and percussion, Daniel Grimsland on bass, guitar and percussion, and me on keyboards, guitar, banjo, percussion and vocals. I think Hector Bee may make a cameo on drums somewhere in there.
All songs produced by Daniel Grimsland.
You can hear more Vision Quest on our Soundcloud. Occasionally my Mixlr stream is running (such as right now), and that cycles through a massive folder of nearly everything we’ve done.
All poems are my own except “Poem in October” by Dylan Thomas, “An Eastern Ballad” and “This is About Death” by Ginsberg, and “Slow Down Lizzy” by Liz Grant. I have not compiled a set list.
Next program I’m planning to be back with another special edition — “Introduction to Journalism.”
Thank you all who support this program and my astrology channel Planet Waves (link takes you to a new article).
I have one heartfelt request to those inclined: I would be most grateful if you would encourage and support my journalism education efforts by subscribing to this Substack, or by making a direct donation to Chiron Return, its nonprofit publisher.
And — by investing yourself in the development of confidence, curiosity and tenacity that is the spirit of true journalism. This is a good place to do so. More soon.
With love,
Eric Francis
Airing Friday nights by 10 pm ET…
Planet Waves FM originated in 1996 as a late-night public affairs program on Radio Woodstock, WDST-FM. It was originally called “Radio Navigator.” Hosted by Eric Francis Coppolino, new programs update to this website Fridays nights at 10 pm Eastern time. We are listener supported and an affiliate of Pacifica Network, the oldest public radio network in the world.
The program is published by the nonprofit Chiron Return.
Inspired by Father Bill Ayres and Harry Chapin’s Sunday late-night talk program on WPLJ-NY (in the late 1970s), Planet Waves FM is freeform talk and music format designed for the overnight audience.
Eric also draws inspiration from the Jean Shephard Show that ran for 22 years on WOR-NY.
While Planet Waves FM began with an astrological premise, we have gradually moved away from that and now offer a blend of news analysis, social analysis and spiritual themes.
Even deeper is the program’s investigative reporting ethos, focused on analysis of science in many forms. Our guests have included top astronomers, medical doctors, research scientists and investigative reporters.
We are a project of Chiron Return, which provides journalism mentorships and preserves the tradition of classical investigatve reporting. Chiron also puublished ...
