Dear Reader,

I am not a fangirl. (Usually.) I'm not that person who waits at the stage door to talk with famous people after a concert. I wouldn't approach a famous person at a restaurant to ask for an autograph. I'd rather go home and sleep than attend an afterparty and engage in small talk. But as my podcast clearly shows, I love to connect one on one, uninterrupted, and speak in depth on the origin stories of creative endeavors.

Which is why this episode is both surprising and not. Because even though my guest is Twin Cities famous, which feels audacious, and I do feel kinda fan-girly talking about what a big deal it is for me to host Jeremy Messersmith on my podcast, it was also an easy conversation about songwriting on a very human level.

Some context, in case you're not from the Twin Cities and have never heard of The Current...

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I've heard Jeremy Messersmith's name around the Twin Cities for years. His music is frequently played on The Current, the Minnesota Public Radio music station, and I hear that he taught ukulele at the music studio where my kids took violin lessons. Some years back, I heard that he was doing these house concerts where he played his ukulele in people's living rooms. Last summer, I attended one of these parties where I sat yards away from Jeremy as he sang. Wouldn't you know, I interacted more than I would've expected.

And dare I say, I wanted to discuss a few things, as if this were a dinner party as much as a concert, which indeed it was. Afterwards, over catered appetizers, Jeremy and I talked at length about various things.

This was by design, it turns out. Jeremy has made a life as working songwriter AND he makes an intentional practice of connecting with people at the "stage door," which in this case was my dear friend's St. Paul kitchen where I greeted guests for my own Tiny Altars book launch with its Lutheran Potluck theme.

The parallels led to a podcast invitation and this great conversation about Jeremy's creative process, and how he began offering his signature potluck parties (a decade's worth) as a friendlier way to share his work.

In a world where it's loud out there and human presence feels increasingly rare, Jeremy has found a way to perform his songs and connect with people much in the intimate way that a storyteller does. He shares this human experience with fellow musicians as he writes his music behind the scenes, and he extends that same collaborative experience to his audience members like me who want to share how we relate.

And isn't that why we create? To relate?

Enjoy this episode.

Travel safely.

Love,

Amy

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PS—In the Twin Cities and feel called to write? Talking with Jeremy got me thinking about my take on an interactive living room party for writers at another friend's St. Paul house. Maybe I'll make it a habit.

Coming Sunday, August 10, 9:45–noon in St. Paul: Courageous Wordsmith Sunday Morning

Join us for my first-ever Sunday Morning Session, part parallel writing, part small reflective circle in the company of kindred writers. $25 includes facilitation, scones and coffee / tea.

FREE for Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers, free-will offering welcome.

When I lead these kinds of live sessions, people make big leaps.

Reply to this email for details and payment link.

(If we haven't met, introduce yourself and share some context.)

10 spaces tops.