Driftwood Conversations

In Part 1 of my conversation with Katherine Hervey, we delve into the inner journey that led her from a career in criminal defense law to art and advocacy. Katherine shares how her sensitivity and empathy, once a source of pain, became the compass guiding her toward healing, storytelling, and a deeper purpose. Her work, including The Prison Within and Broken is Beautiful, invites us to see mass incarceration through the lens of connection, humanity, and transformation.

In this intimate episode of Driftwood Conversations, I sit down with the radiant and resilient Lady Chilane, a performer, storyteller, and bold soul who has walked through fire and come out singing. Our conversation delves into identity, survival, and self-expression, presenting a poignant testament to what it means to reclaim your story with grace and power. Special thanks to Jeff Hafler for his incredible musicianship and to Rocky’s Pizza for the unforgettable live performance that helped bring this episode to life.

In this episode of Driftwood Conversations, I sit down with Maurine Xavier, a woman who walked away from the safe, expected path of a high-level finance career and into the mystery of a life led by intuition. What unfolds is not just a story of career change—it’s a story of spiritual reckoning, physical pain as a message from the soul, and the quiet courage it takes to choose joy over fear. Maurine shares her raw, luminous journey through burnout, awakening, and becoming a mentor for others seeking their truth. This conversation explores the thresholds we cross when we finally choose to listen—first to the whisper, then to the roar, of a life asking to be lived differently.

In Part 2 of my conversation with artist and filmmaker Gordon Clark, we go deeper into the heart of his story-driven work. Gordon reflects on photographing gang leaders, child subjects, and spiritual seekers, capturing not just portraits but decades of transformation. We talk about growing up in apartheid South Africa, finding truth through frequency, and how trauma and perspective shape both art and identity. Gordon shares powerful moments with Quintino, a boy he photographed from age 4 to 15, and Ernie Lustick, a gang leader seeking redemption. This is a conversation about presence, perception, and the sacred act of witnessing.

Gordon Clark: Art, Witness, and the Frequency of Connection (Part 1)
Today on Driftwood Conversations, I’m sharing Part 1 of my conversation with Gordon Clark — an artist, photographer, and filmmaker whose work defies the quick snapshot or surface impression. Gordon doesn’t just document people; he walks beside them, sometimes for years, through grief, beauty, transformation, and all the human terrain in between.
 

In this episode of Driftwood Conversations, I sit down with John Gearty, an immersive media pioneer and founder of Pulse Jet Studios, to explore the frontier where music, technology, and storytelling intersect. John shares his journey from working on Apple’s Vision Pro to collaborating with artists like Björk and Lil Chris on groundbreaking virtual reality music experiences. We discuss what it means to create spaces that extend beyond the stage, how VR can transform the way we connect with art and the spiritual threads that run through even the most futuristic work. This is a conversation about sound, presence, and the radical possibilities of human creativity.

In this episode of Driftwood Conversations, I sit down with sound artist and meditation specialist Kate Cline, known artistically as RSI. We explore Kate’s journey into the world of sound — from her work as a producer to her deeply intuitive approach to sound meditation. Kate shares how sound frequencies can influence brainwaves, foster healing, and open doorways to presence and transformation. This intimate conversation transcends technique into the spiritual responsibility of working with sound, reminding us that every vibration carries meaning, even those we cannot perceive.

Janis Commentz
Painter and educator Janis Commentz discusses finding beauty in the desert and in everyday life. This conversation delves into her artistic evolution, her dedication to community art education, and how she utilizes creativity as a means of spiritual connection and expression.

In Part Two of Driftwood Conversations with Sant Khalsa, we delve into her recent projects, her community-centered practice in Joshua Tree, and her reflections on legacy, teaching, and how we might reimagine our relationship to the land and each other. Sant is one of those rare people whose presence feels both grounding and expansive. I can’t wait for you to hear her story. 

Sant Khalsa is an artist, activist, educator, and longtime resident of Joshua Tree whose life and work embody the kind of transformation this podcast seeks to illuminate.
In Part 1 of this episode, Sant shares the early influences that shaped her, from her Jewish heritage to her spiritual awakening, her name change, and the beginnings of her creative and political journey. We discuss the power of art to reveal what’s unseen, the roots of her photography practice, and the pivotal moment when a California wildfire led her to environmental work that has now spanned decades.