The ocean — vast, brutal, beautiful, and so very deep — is a thrilling setting for stories. Seafaring heroes and heroines are challenged by external forces like the wind and waves, as well as internal demons that become unwelcome companions in the close quarters of a ship.
The sea is a metaphor for everything that’s important to us: for adventure and creativity and love. It’s fascinated humans since the beginning of time, inspiring poets, historians, and novelists, as well as adventurers, conquerors, and pirates.
In this episode, we discuss essential words and phrases associated with the sea — including an introduction to the first poet (a lady poet!) — and recommend books that made us feel the ocean breeze and smell the salt in the air.
Then David chats with B.J. Porter, an American father and husband from Ohio, who sailed with his family halfway around the world in their boat the Evenstar.
For a complete roundup of all the books we recommend, plus a full transcript and the other cool stuff we talked about, including more info about our guest B.J. Porter, visit the Episode 06 show notes.
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Top image courtesy of Annie Spratt.
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