Shows
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #291: Cats in the OfficeHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 291. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I reveal how I agreed to allow my children to have cats only after making it clear the cats would be allowed only under my rules—but of course rather than living under my rules they snuck under them. And over them. And around them. And through them. And that was just the first week. And never mind the house, these days they pretty much run my off...
2025-11-2308 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryTools of the Mystic With Allyson Perry-TurnerLinks to AllysonWebsite: https://unstitchedmuse.wixsite.com/unstitched-museInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unstitchedmuse/Newsletter: https://unstitchedmuse.substack.com/Booking Site: https://unstitchedmuse.setmore.comIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael Perry, Justin Gates, and Allyson Perry-Turner explore the mystical tools of Reiki, astrology, and tarot. They discuss the growing popularity of these practices, the misconceptions surrounding them, and how they can be used as tools for personal growth and healing. Allyson shares her journey into these modalities, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and self...
2025-10-161h 14
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #285: Mike's New Book, and...Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 285. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode, I describe how we arrived at the cover design for the new book. And what it’s got to do with rock ‘n’ roll posters.To see the images mentioned in this episode (and link to the fish story), scroll down.If you’d like to receive all episodes of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, click on the button below (it says “Subscribe Now” b...
2025-10-1111 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #280: The Rockford Files and...Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 280. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I discuss my enduring affection for The Rockford Files, how I have failed to recruit my own family as fans of the show (but did introduce them to the music of Isaac Hayes), and share a piece of writing tying the art of Edward Hopper to International Harvester pickup trucks, The Rockford Files, and the Portuguese concept of saudade.Scroll down for marginalia supplementing the...
2025-09-0713 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #275: Evolution of a Book CoverHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 275. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode, I celebrate the return of Truck: A Love Story to Wisconsin Public Radio’s longest-running program, “Chapter A Day,” by revisiting all the twists and turns it took to come up with a cover for that dang book in the first place. I hope you enjoy the behind-the-scenes story, and all the related photos below.And above all—thank you for subscribing, and thank you for list...
2025-08-0312 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryEmbracing Greatness: Remembering Our True EssenceSubscribe to the New Ashla Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your journey of personal growth and spiritual Alchemy. In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, the hosts, Justin V Gates and Michael Perry explore the concept of inherent greatness that exists within all individuals and creation. They discuss how societal pressures often lead to a misunderstanding of greatness as something to be earned rather than recognized as an intrinsic quality. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity, connection with nature, and the journey of remembering one's true self. Practical steps are provided for listeners...
2025-07-2946 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryChoosing Your Inner Circle: The Power of CommunityIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael and Justin discuss the profound impact of community on personal growth and well-being. They explore the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals who uplift and challenge us, while also emphasizing the need for discernment in choosing relationships. The conversation explores the dynamics of family versus chosen family, the signs of misalignment in relationships, and practical tools for fostering a nurturing community. Through personal anecdotes and insights, they highlight the significance of vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to let go of connections that no longer serve our highest good.
2025-07-101h 00
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #271: Mother to ManyHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 271. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.This episode is in honor of my mom—a mother to many. She passed away peacefully last Sunday.MikeAn earlier episode about mom (subscription required).An even earlier episode about mom (no subscription required).Thank you, folks. We’ll convene again next week.If you’d like to receive all episodes of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, click on the butto...
2025-07-0909 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #269: Delmar Takes FlightHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 269. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I revisit the adventures of two cousins—Herbie and Delmar—and bid Delmar good-bye after over a century of a life well-lived. In the Marginalia section (scroll down) I share related photos and videos.I also have two announcements. One concerns my goddaughter Amy.The other concerns some current events.While recording today’s episode I was reminded for the forty-’lev...
2025-06-2212 minThe New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryRewriting the Script: Winning the War with Your Inner CriticIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael and Justin delve into the concept of the inner critic, exploring its origins and how it manifests in our lives. They discuss the detrimental effects of rumination, the importance of self-reflection, and the role of the inner judge in shaping our thoughts and behaviors. The conversation emphasizes the significance of being present, grounding oneself, and developing strategies to combat negative thought patterns. The hosts also address the pervasive nature of 'what-ifs' and how they can disguise underlying fears, ultimately encouraging listeners to embrace self-awareness and acceptance on their healing journeys.
2025-05-131h 09
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #263: Exploding Pink Tape MeasureHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 263. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I explore the evolution and nuances of the Menards rebate form and why some of us are so excited about the new version. Then I tell the story of the exploding pink tape measure. And then it all ends up back at Menards again.If you happen to be in the Eau Claire area on May 15, I’m doing a live event with my friend...
2025-05-1111 minThe New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryUnity Mind Code or Code of the Student: Navigating the ParadoxesIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry delve into the Unity Mind Code, or Code of the Student. Emotion, yet Peace.Ignorance, yet knowledge.Passion, yet serenity.Chaos, yet harmony.Death, yet the Force.Exploring its significance in personal growth and spirituality. They discuss the importance of balancing emotions with peace, embracing ignorance as a pathway to knowledge, and tempering passion with serenity. Listeners are encouraged to navigate their emotional landscapes and cultivate a mindset of continuous learning...
2025-05-081h 26
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #262: Dandelion FuzzHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 262. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I sit down to read about canoes with a cup of coffee at hand, wind up reading an essay about autodidacticism and have my day lightened by a line about dandelion fuzz I wish I woulda wrote.If you happen to be in the Eau Claire area on May 15, I’m doing a live event with my friend Frank Bures to promote his new book...
2025-05-0409 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryWheels of Light: How Chakras Shape Our Inner WorldIn this conversation, Michael Perry and Justin Gates explore the intricate relationship between the energetic and physical aspects of healing, focusing on the chakras as key components in understanding our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. They delve into each chakra's unique functions, the importance of balance, and how trauma can manifest in our bodies. The discussion emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, grounding, and the power of self-expression in achieving harmony within ourselves. They explore the interconnectedness of kindness, service, mindfulness, and the relationship between the chakras and the nervous system. They discuss practical techniques for emotional healing...
2025-04-171h 13
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Freedom of Letting GoInspired by the book "The Light Within: A Journey through the Axioms of Ashla." In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry delve into the themes of letting go and the emotional costs of holding on to past situations. They explore how clinging to unresolved issues can drain energy, create anxiety, and hinder personal growth. The conversation emphasizes the importance of surrendering control and trusting the process of life. Individuals can reclaim their energy, find peace, and open themselves to new possibilities by letting go. The episode concludes with practical exercises and reflections for listener...
2025-04-1549 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryHealing with Alchemy: With Life Alchemist Courtney DematteoIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry speak with Courtney DeMatteo, https://www.courtneydematteo.com/, a life alchemist, about her journey blending various modalities of coaching, energy work, and channeling. They discuss the importance of understanding perspectives, the E3 program designed for healing and empowerment, and the different levels of living and awareness. Courtney shares her personal experiences with awakening and the significance of empathic abilities, as well as the balance between meditation and prayer. In this conversation, they explore the profound di...
2025-04-101h 27
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #258: Neighborhood MeetingHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 258. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I talk about a brief and impromptu neighborhood get-together, then head off in a slightly different direction than usual and request your input. I also reveal the phrase I used last week to describe why I’ll never be a fashionista and why there will always be limits to my refinement.In random news, a few years ago we gave the chicken coop from Coop t...
2025-04-0810 minThe New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Art of Surrender: the Path from Struggle to Serenityhttps://feelingswheel.com/In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael Perry and Justin Gates explore the transformative power of surrender, emphasizing that true freedom comes from letting go of control. They discuss the distinction between surrender and giving up, the importance of trust, vulnerability, and emotional awareness, and how surrender plays a crucial role in relationships and personal growth. The conversation delves into the significance of emotions as messengers, navigating grief, and the necessity of surrender in shadow work. Practical steps and exercises are provided to help listeners cultivate surrender in their daily lives, ultimately...
2025-04-081h 05
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Light Within Insights Into the Axioms of Ashla: The Weight of Influence: Understanding ResponsibilityInspired by the book "The Light WIthin: A Journey through the Axioms of Ashla." In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Justin Gates and Michael Perry explore the profound responsibility of holding influence over others. They discuss the importance of leadership, discernment, and the law of confusion in teaching and mentorship. The conversation emphasizes the need for integrity, compassion, and the ability to challenge students while allowing them to grow. The hosts reflect on their own experiences and the significance of letting go as a mentor, ultimately highlighting the journey of personal growth and authenticity.Get t...
2025-04-0444 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryUnlocking the Power of Reiki with Brenda Lee Martinez of Soul Deep LifeIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Justin Gates and Michael Perry with special guest Brenda Lee Martinez of "Soul Deep Life" explore the transformative journey of self-discovery through Reiki and spirituality. Brenda shares her personal experiences, the importance of radical responsibility, and the power of intention in shaping one's life. The conversation delves into the interconnectedness of various healing modalities, the significance of mentorship, and the impact of authenticity and vulnerability on personal growth. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their journeys, understand the importance of their energy, and recognize the beauty in...
2025-04-011h 29The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryLeaving the Matrix and Beginning the Healing JourneyIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael Perry and Justin Gates explore the journey of self-fulfillment, discussing the concept of the 'matrix' as a metaphor for societal conditioning and domestication. They delve into the role of ego, the disconnect from one's true self, and the importance of breaking generational patterns. The discussion emphasizes the lifelong nature of healing and self-discovery, encouraging listeners to explore their inner selves and recognize signs of living in a matrix-based life. In this conversation, the speakers explore the profound connection between the heart and personal growth, emphasizing the heart's intelligence and its...
2025-03-201h 17The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Twelve Agreements part 3Inspired by the book"The Light WIthin: A Journey through the Axioms of Ashla." In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry delve into the virtues of hope and generosity, exploring their significance in personal growth and interpersonal relationships. They discuss how hope serves as a guiding light through adversity, emphasizing its active role in fostering resilience and courage. The conversation transitions into the concept of generosity, highlighting its importance as a mindset rooted in abundance rather than scarcity. The hosts share practical ways to cultivate both hope and generosity in daily life, underscoring the interconn...
2025-03-181h 23The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Dance between Ego and Spirit: Finding HarmonyIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Michael Perry and his mentor Justin explore the intricate relationship between ego and spirit, emphasizing the importance of balance and understanding in personal growth. They discuss how ego, often seen as negative, plays a vital role in our identity and survival, while spirit connects us to a higher purpose. The conversation delves into the nature of attachment, the significance of creativity, and the ripple effects of our actions. They also provide insights on how to harmonize these two aspects of ourselves for a fulfilling life....
2025-03-1149 minThe New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryEmbracing Self-Acceptance: A Journey WithinIn this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael Perry explores the profound theme of self-acceptance, emphasizing its importance in personal growth and development. He discusses the relationship between self-acceptance and willpower, the significance of self-compassion, and the detrimental effects of the inner critic. The conversation also delves into the necessity of building self-trust, setting realistic goals, and understanding the role of shame in our lives. Michael encourages listeners to practice patience, embrace incremental change, and utilize daily affirmations to foster a positive self-image. Ultimately, he highlights the transformative power of changing one's inner world to positively...
2025-03-0425 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #253: Derp Alert and Deep ScytheHowdy, folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 253. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I start out to share my latest dunderheaded derp-stunt only to realize I already covered that in this episode, which we have switched to free so you can access it without a subscription.Then I switch gears to discuss eggs and chickens and then why I’m not a farmer which leads me to a passage from Visiting Tom about harvesting oats with a scythe...
2025-03-0211 min
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Student and the TeacherInspired by the book"The Light WIthin: A Journey through the Axioms of Ashla." In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry, with special guest Heather Gates, explore the interconnectedness of learning and teaching, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a student mindset throughout life. They discuss personal heroes, the role of mentorship, and the impact of philosophical teachings on personal growth. The conversation highlights the significance of self-care, sharing knowledge, and the influence of community in the learning process. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the hosts illustrate how curiosity and humility are essential for contin...
2025-02-131h 42
The New Ashla Podcast: Embracing the Shadow through Self MasteryThe Heart of Greatness, A Journey WithinInspired by the book"The Light WIthin: A Journey through the Axioms of Ashla." In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, hosts Justin Gates and Michael Perry explore the profound connection between having a great heart and achieving true greatness. They discuss the importance of selflessness, resilience, and the role of forgiveness in personal growth. The conversation emphasizes that greatness is not solely defined by accomplishments but by the compassion and love, we bring to the world. Through personal anecdotes and philosophical insights, they encourage listeners to cultivate a great heart and engage in heart-centered actions that positively impact...
2025-02-1133 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #250: Best In ShowHowdy, folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 250. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode I go from talking about snow to talking about a first responder call I just made to talking about the mockumentary “Best in Show,” then share an essay about dog shows, as if I know anything about that. And tell a funny story about me and my merchandise manager Tony.Lots of dogs in this episode, so I went with some dog photos...
2025-02-0908 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #245 (Archive Dive #7): Firsthand FootballHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 245. In honor of the final week of the NFL football regular season, this one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I explain how the very first time I attended a professional football game, I was on the field with the team. As has often been the case with my career, I got there by coming at things from an angle. For the rest of the story (and to find out just...
2025-01-0515 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #243: Van AgainHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 243. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I start out to wax poetic about my snow plow truck then detour into talking about my tour van instead. There is also a hubcap update. And be sure to scroll down…and finally, please scroll down to the Marginalia section where I share a few highlights from a book I started reading out in my deer stand.Forward!MikeToday’...
2024-12-2207 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #242: Scavenging DookieHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 242. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Ten years ago I wrote a book called The Scavengers. Then I started the sequel. And then…well, as you’ll hear in today’s episode, some life came up. But I’ve kept pecking away at it, and am currently powering through, bound and determined to hand it in before my editor retires.Also in this episode: A couple of sneak peeks into the sequel, including a passage wr...
2024-12-1509 min
The Plant Based PodcastThe Plant Based Podcast S16 E06 - Behind the scenes at the Garden Centre with Boyd-Douglas DavisIf you're part of the garden centre world, you may have heard the name Boyd Douglas-Davies. Boyd has had a long year career in ther garden centre industry, most recently heading up the PR and Communications of the popular British Garden Centres brand. He is now working as a freelance consultant, and chair of Greenfingers Charity. Boyd has a wealth of knowledge about garden centres, so if you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, this is the episode for you. Afterwards, @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening gossip about naughty squirrels, midlife crisis and procrastination. Series 16 is sponsored by Grow Th...
2024-11-241h 18
The Plant Based PodcastThe Plant Based Podcast S16 E05 - Winter garden colour and containers with professional gardener Benjamin Pope.If you need some winter garden inspiration, this is the episode for you. @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek chat with Benjamin Pope @theworkinggarden all about how to add plenty of winter interest to your garden. Not just in larger gardens, but even in containers. Ben provides some really exciting combinations to brighten up any patio pot for the colder months of the year. Plus hear all about Ben's career and exciting 'retirement' project. Afterwards Michael chats with Julie Parker @parkers_patch for the gossip, filling in for Ellen who was otherwise engaged! Series 16 is sponsored by Grow This, Not That - th...
2024-11-101h 06
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #236: The Healing DayHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 236. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Today I found myself drawn to revisit a piece I wrote about a song called “The Healing Day” by Bill Fay. It’s the piece from which the title of the book Peaceful Persistence came. And because the piece mentions sheep—and in particular my father’s sheep—I dug into the family archives for some of my favorite sheep pictures.Thank you for listening,MikeShare this epi...
2024-11-0304 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #235: Failing In Prine TimeHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 235. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Let’s say there’s a person whose work altered the course of your life in the best possible way. Let’s say that person is a songwriter, and one day you are given the opportunity to perform one of that man’s songs for him and a couple thousand strangers.And then let’s say you muff it.Then what?I hope you enjoy this...
2024-10-2811 min
The Plant Based PodcastThe Plant Based Podcast S16 E04 - Where is the houseplant trend going to next with The Plant Rescuer Sarah Gerrard-Jones and Urban TropicanaHouseplants have always been 'trendy' in our eyes but over recent years the boom hasn't slowed up. Or has it? @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with the experts Sarah Gerrard Jone and Urban Jungle to find out what they think about the future of houseplants. From upcoming trends to favourite plants, it's a plant packed podcast episode. Afterwards, Michael and Ellen gossip about whatever comes to mind in the moment from Michael's birthday (that he doesn't want to be mentioned) to bulb lasagnes. Series 16 is sponsored by Grow This, Not That - the Substack about new plants, horticulture news, botanical trave...
2024-10-271h 37
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #234 (ARCHIVE DIVE #3): It's That Time of DeerHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 234. This one’s subscribers only free in honor of the “OKAYEST HUNTER” podcast. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I head down to the pole barn and dig out a goofball essay I wrote in 1992 about how I wasn’t the greatest hunter ever. I had forgotten I’d even written it, so as I read it, I’ll be rediscovering it in real time right along with you.Mmmm…venison.Forward,MikeMARGINALIARelevant excerpt...
2024-10-2012 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #230: Rural Waving EtiquetteHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 230. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I answer a reader’s question about the etiquette of waving when you meet someone on a country road, and how that small civilized gesture heartens me on days when I need heartening.When driving, my preference is the one- or two-finger steering wheel raise, but there are other options, including the seed-corn-cap brim-brush salute, demonstrated below:Below is my dad, four decade...
2024-09-2205 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #224: Trucker RadioHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 224. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode a thought about the magic of radio leads me back to revisit a time when I wrote about truckers and trucker radio. And I mention that the band and I are going to play a benefit for a unique local radio station. Join us if yer in the area!Oh, and a clarification: In today’s episode I mention 1997 and 2007 in a way that might...
2024-08-1111 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #223: The Writing ShackHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 223. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.This one isn’t from any book, but it’s tied to a lot of books. It’s all about a little writing shack I had hidden on forty acres I used to own in the mostly middle-of-nowhere. And it’s got a lotta pictures, so: If the newsletter is truncated click on "View entire message" and you'll be able to view the entire post.And this week’s margi...
2024-08-0610 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #217: How I Became a New York Times Bestselling AuthorHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 217. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I tell the unpublished story of how I came to be a New York Times bestselling author, what that really means, and why your kids are gonna giggle at you anyway.The band and I are playing in Minneapolis tonight, if you are in range and see this in time.This week’s marginalia…well, you’ll see (scroll down).Meanwhile...
2024-06-2310 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #212: Tractor TimeHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 211. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Last week I climbed into a big ol’ tractor and helped my brother with the planting (short video here). I was in a troubled state of mind, and that tractor helped. It also brought back a flood of memories, many of which I revisited in the book Coop, the memoir from which today’s reading selection is taken. Above all, I was a fortunate boy. And last week on that tra...
2024-05-1907 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #207: Andy and AlabamaWelcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 207. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode I share the story of heading down to Alabama to tell stories and sign books in roadhouses and meet a friend I’d never met before. It all began thanks to a tornado and a guy who used to live under a bridge. And although we didn’t read Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, we coulda, and probably even finished it during the three hours we found oursel...
2024-04-1410 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #203: Cowboy PunkHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 203. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode I’m fresh back from a side-trip to Los Angeles which got me somehow to thinking about my short-lived punk rock career and the most important lesson I ever learned about playing guitar. There is also a passing mention of prairie oysters and sousaphones. And a band named Toxic…well, you’ll hear. My mom listens to this podcast, but sometimes you gotta just tell it the way i...
2024-03-1711 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #197: Thank Yous, YouseHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 197. This one’s subscribers only. Click the player above to listen.Today I got to thinking—and then talking—about thank you cards and thank yous and how whether you mail it or you click it you can never say thank you enough. Although taking the time to use pen and paper and a stamp do add a special degree of sincerity to the act.And for today’s marginalia, rather than the usual notes from the text of the book, I stuck with the “...
2024-02-0406 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #196: The Mike and Mary SituationWelcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 196. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode, I introduce a good friend of mine, Mary Cutrufello. I’ve mentioned Mary before, usually when talking about my band the Long Beds (named after the truck in Truck), but since we’re going to be doing some shows as a duo this year (The Mike and Mary Situation), I figured maybe it was time to share some background. Scroll down and you can see a video of Mary on The Ton...
2024-01-2808 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #194: Brain FreezeHowdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 194. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.I recorded today’s episode after running the snow plow and just before stoking the wood stove in anticipation of the first good long run of subzero temperatures, which reminded me of a piece I wrote about the subtle ways deep winters push us over the edge and into behaviors warm-weather outsiders might view as odd, but we view as just gettin’ through it all. So I pulled on my stock...
2024-01-1407 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #189: "Jimmy and the Haymakers"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 189. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode the death of a childhood friend sent me back to the days of bikes with “sissy bars” and banana seats, and how the last time we saw each other it was for a funeral, but most of all how his memory is tied to the days when we neighbors would all hay together, sharing equipment and time, and—as the photo above shows—relying on each other to...
2023-12-1009 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #184: "I'm With the Band"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 184. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In today’s episode I talk about how a writer winds up with a band and how the writer’s wife has one very important rule about that and how being in a band has become one of my dearest joys, even as I know that my main job is still to write words meant to make their own music. Other details include how members of my band have won Gram...
2023-11-0512 min
Couch and Coffee TableEpisode 216 The Pit And The Pendulum Starring Vincent PriceCouch And Coffee Table's second week of October Nights for 2023 presents a week of Edgar Allen Poe. For this episode, Couch And Coffee Table presents Suspense and their adaptation of The Pit And The Pendulum starring Vincent Price which aired on November 10, 1957. For the final part of the episode, Michael Perry reads the Edgar Allen Poe poem simply titled, "Alone".
2023-10-1129 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #177 "St. Jude and Drew and Me"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 177. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I reveal why little ol’ agnostic me is a St. Jude fan, why I find poetry in words like supplication, how chance encounters and friendships echo long beyond the moment at hand, and how the simple gift of a journal led to words shared with thousands. And above all, how grateful I am to be allowed this erratic knockabout reflective life. Buncha related photos below.MISC...
2023-09-1707 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #176 "Brothers Gotta Call"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 176. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Today I lighten things up with humorous marginalia courtesy of the late Jim Harrison (a friend of the late Jimmy Buffett). Story for another time, but Harrison’s essay collection Just Before Dark played a significant role in my getting a book deal for Population 485. Then I revisit a humorous piece about me and my roughneck brothers in “Cellphone Connection,” an essay from Peaceful Persistence (see images related to this week’s...
2023-09-1006 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #171 "Self-Deprecation Depreciation"Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 171. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In this episode I recount how my dear late friend Billy yanked my chain once when it needed yanking (as one’s best friends will), and why that incident wound up in my book about the French philosopher Montaigne. This week’s marginalia is drawn from Mark Twain, and I also reference Apollo and Prince.Depending on when you receive this, the concert I mention may or may not already be over (it...
2023-08-0511 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #168: "Back To Books"Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 168. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.I wrote this up as a fresh “Roughneck Grace” essay. Then I recorded it during a thunderstorm. The plan was to talk about turning back to books. Which I did. But I also invoked pigeons, ping-pong balls, and parkour. I then veered into a light consideration of queasy unease. After a few other meanders, I wrapped it up by revisiting some marginalia from my copies (yes, plural, as I explain in the recording) of this...
2023-07-1608 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #164 "Mike's Marginalia"Howdy folks:Adding something new this week. This is still Michael Perry’s Voice Mail. Episode #164, to be specific. This episode is available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.In each episode, I’ll still be reading and reflecting on a passage from the past (today, a painfully relevant passage from Montaigne in Barn Boots). But if you look down there below, we’re also adding a new section: “Mike’s Marginalia.” Marginalia are the little notes we make while reading a book. Sometimes in the margin, sometimes between the...
2023-06-1811 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #162 "Neil Gaiman and Weird TV"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 162. (Ignore Mike saying it’s episode #161, he’s off by one week, which is better than average, and we’re not gonna tell him for at least another week.)This episode is available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.NOTE: The Neil Gaiman story anchoring this episode originally appeared in a subscribers-only episode back in January of 2022, but Mike wished to revisit and share it more widely as a memorial to his late friend “ALR.” Also, the original episode did...
2023-06-0305 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #157 "On The Road Again"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 157. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Soon to speak at a writer’s conference and then do a show with his band, Mike talks about how he came to have a band in the first place, how his first-ever show went, and how things have gone since. Also included: The best musical advice he ever received (from a two-time Grammy winner). Then he closes with the essay, “Roadworthy,” about being on the...
2023-04-3012 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #153 "Coffee Whoopsie"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 153. This one’s available to paying subscribers and free subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike begins the day with a coffee whoopsie, which leads him back to his writing about the French philosopher Montaigne’s thoughts on absentmindedness. Mike also does his Dylan Thomas impression, something you might never have heard unless you’ve been to a Long Beds soundcheck.You can find Montaigne in Barn Boots in hardcover, paperback, audiobook (CD and digital), and Kindle an...
2023-04-0208 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #142 "Chickens [NOT] Back on Board"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 142. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike is missing his daughters and pondering the price of eggs. This moves him to revisit a piece from Peaceful Persistence addressing both of those topics and including a reference to Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.Bonus link to a video of Mike’s younger daughter leading a flock of chickens across the yard.Thank you for listening. We don’t take your time or i...
2023-01-1905 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #136 "Stay Before You Go"Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 136. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.This is a fresh “Roughneck Grace” essay, never before printed nor recorded. In this one, Mike shares how he and his friend Evan wrote a new song they’ll be debuting at two live shows this week. A “scratch” vocal (in this case an unedited take recorded directly into a phone) is attached to the end of the piece so you can hear how the song turned out…so far. (Lyrics at the bottom of th...
2022-12-0909 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #129: A Quiet HalloweenHowdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 129. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.This was supposed to be the monthly “ramble” episode. Then I remembered I had written a piece about Halloween in 2017. So I read that and also did a mini-ramble expanding on the essay and the photos below. I also reveal why—for me—this Halloween will be a quiet—but happy—one.(The Halloween essay is from the book Million Billion. The paperback, Kindle and other ebook versions...
2022-10-3007 min
Mike The Gardener - Gardening PodcastMic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast - Michael Perry aka Mr Plant GeekHello, hello, hello and welcome to this weeks episode of the Mic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast.
Today I chat once again, to another returning guest to the podcast, Michael Perry a.k.a. Mr Plant Geek. Michael was a guest on the podcast at the beginning of Series 2 (click here to listen to that episode) when I travelled to his wonderful garden and sat in the August sunshine talking all things gardening, plants, social media and of course lots lots more.
So I'm absolutely delighted to invite Michael back again to chat about his n...
2022-10-1336 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #122 My Mom Made ItHowdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 122. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike goes on an unscripted ramble about how unboxing a box of mouse-riddled hats and caps transported him to a heartwarming recollection of his mother and how she balanced want and need on the tip of a sewing needle…and taught him everlasting lessons about grit and gratitude in the process. This week’s ramble is accompanied by a bunch of photos for referen...
2022-09-1609 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #121 "Apple Golf"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 121. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike takes you inside the world of “clodhopper sportz,” most specifically the splattery happiness of apple golf. Today’s essay is from the book Roughneck Grace, available in print and ebook form here, along with all of Mike’s other books, music, shirts, and doodads at the Sneezing Cow store.Thank you for listening. It’s nice to visit. We don’t take any...
2022-09-1005 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #112 "Humidity, Tarzan, and Frenchness"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 112. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.This is also where Mike’s “Roughneck Grace” columns will show up in the future (see text of today’s coumn below). For an update on all that, and more information about what Voice Mail is going to be like going forward, please see this typewriter post.Also, it hasn’t been officially released yet, but as Voice Mail subscribers already know, there’s a new Michael Perry book available.
2022-07-0806 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #105 "Hairball Doula"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 105. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike reads a piece about a cat who maybe spent the night in a tavern and now produces efflux! In the Roughneck Reflection, he explains why the chicken coop is empty for the first time in 15 years, is glad his readers will accept a little anthropomorphism, and then signs off to go play some J.J. Cale.Today’s essay is from the bo...
2022-05-2606 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #101 "When Did You Know?"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 101. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike departs from reading a published essay to sharing an unpublished piece about his accidental, tangential, unplanned, sideways foray into writing for a living. In the Roughneck Reflection, he says there’ll be more next week.For backstory on the book in the photo (and mentioned in the recording), click here.For all of Mike’s latest books, including Peaceful Persistence and Million B...
2022-04-2808 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #96 "Working With Musicians"Howdy folks (been traveling and just now got a chance to post this):Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 96. This one’s subscribers only. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike acknowledges world events make it tough to do fluff, but also figures we still need fluff. Then he reads the piece that includes the Garth Brooks story. In the Roughneck Reflection, he shares the story of meeting another country music superstar.Today’s essay is from the book Roughneck Grace, available in print and ebook form here...
2022-03-2507 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #88 "Falling Forward"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 88. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike reads the essay about the time he overdosed on pizza in a hotel room, decided to get fit in the course of a single day, and face-planted. In the Roughneck Reflection, he explains the story of the pizza in the picture, describes what it’s like to stay in a boutique hotel so boutique you can’t find the bathroom in your own room, and then he f...
2022-01-2708 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #81 "Snowed In"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 81. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: They tell us a big blizzard is on the way, so Mike revisits a piece he wrote about being snowed in. He also revisits (albeit briefly) his tussle with the local highway commissioner, a historic (well, for Mike, anyways) battle detailed in much greater detail (spoiler: Mike lost) in the book Visiting Tom.Today’s essay (titled “Snowed In”) is fro...
2021-12-0905 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #75 "Victoria's Secret and the Cosmos"Howdy folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 75. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike revisits a piece about the pigs, the cosmos, and Victoria’s Secret, then—EPISODE INTERRUPTED WHEN MIKE HITS HIS HEAD ON A BIG SET OF ANTLERS MID-RECORDING—reflects on the passage of time, whether or not his neighbors shut their lights off because of him, and why he’s still happy at the far end of a dead-end road, for now...Th...
2021-10-2906 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #66 "Jesus Cow and Miss Honorée"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 66. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike revisits a selection from The Jesus Cow and then reveals the poet who inspired the scene…and how that trail leads back to a literary conference from the past and an Oprah book club pick in the present…and above all, how happy we are for someone we’ve admired for a long, long, time. Go, Miss Honorée!And here’s The...
2021-09-0109 min
Mike The Gardener - Gardening PodcastMic The Gardener - Gardening Podcast - Michael Perry a.k.a. Mr Plant GeekIn this first episode of the second series, Mike chats to Michael Perry, a.k.a. Mr Plant Geek.
Michael is a TV presenter, speaker, podcaster and social media influencer (voted as Social Media Influencer of the Year 2020 by the Garden Media Guild).
In this exciting episode, Mike chats to Michael in his glorious, sunny Suffolk-based garden about the garden itself, the design, the hard landscaping and quite a bit about the plants, of course!
Also in this episode, Michael talks about why weeds are great in any garden, what his parents think o...
2021-08-2758 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #62 "Throwback Thanks"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 62. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: When a reader sent Mike an old magazine profile from 2003, he was caught off-guard by his reaction while reading it. “A truckload of emotions,” Mike says, “low-key but deep.” After reflecting on the unexpected life of Population 485 and everything after, Mike reads a favorite excerpt.Special Voice Mail insider tid-bit: I got publicly yelled at (yah, at volume in a bookstore) after...
2021-08-1007 min
Power PlayThe wonderful world of moving robots with Michael Perry and Boston DynamicsWelcome back to another episode of the Oil & Gas Tech Podcast. This week, our host Michael O’Sullivan talks with Michael Perry from Boston Dynamics. Brought to you on the Oil and Gas Global Network by Cognite – helping you make data do more. Learn more at https://makedatadomore.cognite.com
Also be sure to check out Michael’s other show Oil & Gas Digital Doers — a podcast about getting digital done. Stories and guidance from real people making real progress.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-perry-4160b11
https://www.bostondynamics.com/
Cool robot videos …
Meet Sp...
2021-07-2200 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 04/07/21In this weeks plant based podcast episode it's the news round up with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary. Find out what the latest horticultural news is from winners of the plant awards, new species, to the joy of flower shows plus mushrooms and microgreens in Chiswick. There's a news extra as well where Michael and Ellen discuss the news amongst many other plant related gossip including the dreary weather. Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram
2021-07-0433 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 20/06/21In this weeks plant based podcast episode it's the news round up with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary. Find out what the latest horticultural news is from rare orchids thought extinct, to garden shows, royal roses and gardening for wellbeing. There's a news extra as well where Michael and Ellen discuss the news amongst many other plant related gossip! Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Facebook This episod...
2021-06-2019 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #51 "Shy in Public"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 51. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: How shy people hide in public, and why I wish you wouldn’t do play-by-play on my groceries. It’s Freudian and Scandinavian and some other things. In the Roughneck Reflection Mike discusses hiding in public and why even though he’s happiest alone in his little room above the garage, he’s looking forward to standing in front of a whole bunch of people.P.S...
2021-06-0907 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 23/05/21It's the news round up on this weeks plant based podcast with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary as hosts. Find out what has been happening in the world of horticulture from new gardening books to growing plants on Mars, plus a news 'extra' where Michael and Ellen discuss and give their own opinions about the news and a whole lot of other chat. In his episode, hear about Ellens new book 'The Joy of Gardening' and Michaels love for his new garden. Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! T...
2021-05-2329 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #47 Ask Mike: "Writer's Block"Howdy folks:Welcome to the first “Ask Mike” episode of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail. Plan is to do one or two of these a month in addition to Mike’s weekly “Roughneck Rewind” and “Roughneck Reflection.” Most “Ask Mike” episodes will go out as a thank you to paid subscribers, but we’re releasing this first one into the wild to help spread the word.Are you a subscriber with a question you’d like to ask Mike? If so, please record it on your phone or computer and email it to voicemail@sneezingcow.com. Please keep the ques...
2021-05-1406 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 09/05/21It's the news round up on this weeks plant based podcast with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary as hosts. Find out what has been happening in the world of horticulture from Cherry Trees to plants stealing genes, plus a news 'extra' where Michael and Ellen discuss and give their own opinions about the news. In his episode, hear about Hydrangea tea and snobbish gardeners! Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram Twitter Fac...
2021-05-0930 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #45 "The Way The Story Goes"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 45. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: The one about the farmer who got kicked by a dead cow. In the Roughneck Reflection Mike reveals how his brother told him he’d been telling the story wrong for years, and how—even when we have no interest in spreading disinformation—we can still wander off the path. And how we’re all looking for the spot where our stories overlap. (We do agree the dead...
2021-05-0507 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 25/04/21It's the news round up on this weeks plant based podcast with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary as hosts. Find out what has been happening in the world of horticulture from Plymouth to Rome plus a news 'extra' where Michael and Ellen discuss and give their own opinions about the news. In his episode, hear about sea grass meadows, door mice and plant based podcast topping the charts! Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net Instagram ...
2021-04-2525 min
The Plant Based PodcastS4 - News 11/04/21In this weeks episode you can hear the first plant based podcast horticultural news round with Michael Perry and Ellen Mary as hosts. Every other week find out what has been happening in the world of horticulture plus a news 'extra' where Michael and Ellen discuss and give their own opinions about the news. In his episode, hear about bamboo with a warning, RHS closures due to the sad death of Prince Philip and the cancellation of some garden shows across the UK. Visit www.theplantbasedpodcast.net for more info and to win prizes! ...
2021-04-1116 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #40 "Truck Snacks"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 40. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: A rooster, offering background commentary throughout because Mike forgot to close the window over the garage before he started recording this episode about truck troubles, truck happiness, and above all, truck snacks. In the Roughneck Reflection Mike reveals his favorite gas station treat of all. “Truck Snacks” is from Mike’s book Million Billion, available in print and ebook formats here. The gener...
2021-03-3006 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailWHOOPS* Episode #35 "Burn Barrel Khakis" (*now with proper audio)Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 35. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike explores the section about Harley’s khakis in The Jesus Cow as a metaphor for the ambivalent relationship between art and pitchforks. Or something like that. And then in the Roughneck Reflection Mike delves deeper into the discomfort and gratitude borne of operating in disparate milieus (or milieux).The Jesus Cow is available in hardcover, paperback, and audio. The general store for every...
2021-02-2308 min
The Plant Based PodcastThe Plant Based Podcast Bonus - Michael Perry interviews Ellen Mary and delves into her plant based past and futureIn the second of two special bonus episodes where Michael and Ellen interview each other, it's Ellen's turn to get the third degree! Michael delved deep to find out a surprising fact about Ellen's past, what she would tell her younger self all of these years later plus a quick fire question round and plenty of laughs! The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net
2021-01-3130 min
The Plant Based PodcastThe Plant Based Podcast Bonus - Ellen Mary interviews Michael Perry and delves into his plant based past and futureFind two bonus episodes in the lead up to series 4 of the podcast which are about the hosts themselves! In this first episode, Michael Perry is interviewed by Ellen Mary who gives some secrets away and delves into Michael's plant based past, future & everything inbetween...including what irritates him, what his plant star sign is & why he doesn't like his cooking critiqued! All here on the plant based podcast. The Plant Based Podcast: www.theplantbasedpodcast.net
2021-01-2435 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #30 "Mercy"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 30. This one’s free for subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike thanks readers and listeners for their notes and emails. In fact, it was a reader who suggested this episode’s “Roughneck Rewind,” in which Mike revisits and reflects on an essay about mercy from the book Peaceful Persistence.You can listen to the Mary Gauthier song “Mercy Now” right here.Mike also wrote a book about Montaigne. And the Peaceful Per...
2021-01-1906 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailEpisode #26 "Christmas Tree Kids"Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 26. This one’s free to all, and to all a good night. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: Mike doesn’t mention it, but he knows he really oughta hook up the snowplow. In this episode’s “Roughneck Rewind,” Mike revisits and reflects on a piece he often shares this time of year, about how he went from Christmas-tree-free to leading the bucksaw charge.The essay originally appeared in the book From the Top, currently on sale here and available...
2020-12-2306 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 013 "Tom Goes On A Date"One of my favorite Tom pictures. He just finished telling one of his stories, and he’s enjoying my reaction as much as he enjoyed telling it. Love this informal snapshot, and how much it conveys of what we miss these days—dropping in to eat a little something, shoot the breeze, pass some time.Howdy folks:Welcome to the Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 13. This one’s free to one and all. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: From his window Mike sees squash curing in the sun, an...
2020-10-0608 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 007 "Little Bird"Art by Andrea WortheyBack before the pandemic I was having a bad day. Felt I was failing as a husband. Had a daughter in distress far from home and calling for comfort. Another daughter on the edge of change. I needed sunlight. I stepped outside into a beautiful summer afternoon. First thing I saw was an indigo bunting, dead in the grass. So I headed back into my little room above the garage and wrote this song. It’s about trying to do better. About how memories can sustain us. About letting daughters fly.So...
2020-08-3106 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 006 Greg BrownGot a message the other day: “WPR tonight had your intro to Greg Brown, would love the transcript of that.”The transcript is below. I was introducing Mr. Brown for his final appearance at the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. If some of my words sound familiar it’s because they drew upon what I wrote about him in Truck: A Love Story and in a profile I wrote of him included in Danger: Man Working.If you’d like to hear the intro delivered live as well as Part One of the concert, click here. Pa...
2020-08-2700 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 003Howdy folks:Welcome to the third full episode of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: From his window Mike can see he never put the grill away, which sends him off on a tangent about men and meat. Also addressed: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom’s book THICK, eggplant, and sad corn on Instagram. In this episode’s “Roughneck Rewind,” Mike revisits and reflects on “Pathfinding” an essay in his book From the Top. Also referenced: Coop and Visiting Tom.NOTE FROM MIKE: W...
2020-08-1211 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 002Howdy folks:Welcome to the second full episode of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: From his window Mike can see the last of the lilies and reveals his favorite plant name; a teenager picks the onions; what the sheriff found in our pole barn; and, in this episode’s “Roughneck Rewind,” Mike revisits and reflects on one of the most popular pieces he’s ever written…an essay on gratitude.NOTE FROM MIKE: We plan to release “Voice Mail” once per week to subscribers. The fi...
2020-08-0510 min
Michael Perry's Voice MailMichael Perry's Voice Mail Episode 001Howdy folks:Welcome to the first weekly episode of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail. Click the player above to listen.Included in today’s installment: From his window Mike can see his daughter’s hammock (her slumbers interrupted by a thunderstorm), state of the garden report (dang deer), HOT SHOWER NEWS, and in today’s “Roughneck Rewind,” Mike revisits and reflects on a piece he wrote in 2013.NOTE FROM MIKE: We plan to release “Voice Mail” once per week to subscribers. The first few are free, and even after we go to a subscription mod...
2020-07-3100 min
The Michael Perry PodcastThe Michael Perry Podcast Episode 2: Cam RobbAnother trash bag episode with a fellow trash man.
2019-09-2225 min
The Plant Based PodcastS1 Special 4 Behind The Scenes At The Chelsea Flower Show 2019!Ever wondered what goes into being an exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show? It's the most prestigious gardening show in the world and unites plant lovers from every corner but just what goes into producing a Chelsea exhibit? In this special episode of the Plant Based Podcast recorded at the show, Michael Perry and Ellen Mary meet some of the people behind these show stopping displays, who are true plant experts dedicated to producing the very best plants in the world. They chat to the fantastic Medwyn Williams from Medwyn's of Anglesey...
2019-05-2144 min
The Plant Based PodcastS1 E8 The Current Trend Of HouseplantsHouseplants are one of the biggest trends in gardening at the moment - they're taking over! One place that is certainly true is The Plant Den in Norwich. In this episode of The Plant Based Podcast, Michael Perry and Ellen Mary meet Roscoe Gibson-Denney a true ambassador for plants. Roscoe, and his partner Michelle, started The Plant Den, as a tiny treasure chest of a shop in Norwich that is the same size as a garden shed but packed to the ceiling with a huge variety of plants. Since recording the podcast, The Plant Den has become...
2019-04-2138 min
The Plant Based PodcastS1 E7 Medicinal Plants And Remedies You Can Make At HomeSitting on the banks of the River Thames is a four acre site that is home to more than 5,000 species of plants from around the world. The Chelsea Physic Garden in London is a secret garden originally established by the Apothecaries in order to grow medicinal plants. Nowadays, it's bursting with edible and useful medicinal plants, and the gardens are open to the public to explore. In this episode of The Plant Based Podcast, Michael Perry and Ellen Mary meet Michael Holland, head of education at the garden, to find out more about the history...
2019-04-0745 min