This premiere episode of Write Up The Coast Writers begins with a simple idea: what happens when people pause—just for a moment—and follow the nudge to say something from the heart?

Fifteen voices from around the world responded to the prompt “The thank-you that lingers.”
No overthinking. No polishing. Just two minutes, a spark, and whatever rose to the surface.

You’ll hear reflections from Hong Kong to Budapest to California. Some speak in their own voices; others are read by volunteer storytellers. Together, they form a tapestry of gratitude—casual, reflective, mysterious, and deeply human.

This project is part of the broader Write Up The Coast mission: keeping people connected through storytelling, one prompt and one voice at a time.

Thank you for listening. And thank you to every contributor whose words linger long after they’re spoken.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Step-In! set up just outside Surf Market, where Sonoma and Mendocino counties meet on the Mendonoma Coast in Northern California — a place you won’t find clearly marked on any map.

On the hinge between Halloween, Daylight Savings, and Election Day, random voices of community stepped into the booth to reflect on light and dark, time shifting, and change.

These are their voices. This is Step-In!

Thank you to Surf Market, the Independent Coast Observer and all the voices for coming together for this episode.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Step-In! begins its journey at the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco — a space already alive with creativity, dialogue, and attentive listening. Inside this installation by artists Lenka Clayton, Nanci Amaka, and Katherine Vetne, visitors stepped into the Story Booth, one by one, and shared whatever rose to the surface in the moment. No script. No rehearsal. Just presence — a voice, a breath, a thought caught in real time.

This first episode captures the spirit of Step-In!: spontaneous story-sharing as a gentle act of community-making. These recordings were gathered live at the gallery and will become part of a growing sound tapestry of everyday voices — weaving together strangers, place, memory, and the courage of “showing up” with our words.

One voice at a time. One community taking shape.
Music by max b.
For more about Step-In! and upcoming pop-ups, visit writeupthecoast.com

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Date: October 22, 2025
Recorded live inside The Record in Point Arena, this Step-In! episode invites locals to pause between aisles and share their stories, blending everyday moments with honest reflection.

Thank you to Paul, Kim, and Mak at The Record — located at 265 Main Street in Point Arena — for opening both their space and their spirit to the very first Step-In! gathering held there.

And thank you to everyone who stepped inside the booth, hesitated for a breath, and then chose to speak from where they truly were in the moment. These October-season nudges opened the door to memories, fears, childhood shadows, playful ghosts, and quiet truths — the kinds of stories that sit just beneath the surface until someone gently invites them forward. All spoken out alone in a small booth on-the-spot in the middle of a crowd and all the noise.

In your quiet moment, how would you respond to one of the nudges?

This episode was produced and hosted by Mark Sanford Gross.

music by max beldner

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Date: October 18, 2025
Recorded live at the No Kings Rally in Gualala, this Step-In! episode gathers voices from the crowd — neighbors, riders, and wanderers pausing amid celebration to speak from the heart.

Step-In! is a roaming, pop-up recording booth gathering everyday voices in everyday places--the grocery store parking lot, the farmers market, a gallery opening, a quiet restaurant courtyard, or a town sidewalk. People step in without preparation or script, speak from the moment they're in, and leave behind a living pulse of community.

• These are not interviews-they are offerings.
• Reflection instead of performance.
• Spontaneity instead of polish.
• Presence instead of perfection.

Each recording becomes a small window into what it feels like to be human right now, in this shared place and time--one person, one voice, one moment.

Together, these voices become a collective portrait of community-one voice at a time building connection and belonging.

Hosted by Mark Sanford Gross, founder of Write Up the Coast.

Look for the booth around town and when you do, STEP-IN!

visit: writeupthecoast.com

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Recorded live at The Sea Ranch Lodge, this special episode features acclaimed writer Paul Lisicky in conversation with host Mark Sanford Gross. Against the breathtaking backdrop of where redwoods meet the ocean, Paul reflects on his latest book, Song So Wild and Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell, and on what it means to be a writer — and a human — in today’s world.
Recorded live July 9, 2025, The Sea Ranch Lodge, California

Episode Description
In this Write Up The Coast “In Conversation” event, host Mark Sanford Gross sits down with New York–based author Paul Lisicky to discuss his newest book, Song So Wild and Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell. Their conversation, recorded live on June 19, 2025, at The Sea Ranch Lodge, flows from Joni’s artistry to the craft of writing, teaching, and the lifelong search for meaning through words.

Beyond the event itself, Paul joined the local literary community for a reading at the Four Eyed Frog Bookstore, then shared a quiet coffee chat with Mark under the redwoods before departing. Their exchange captures both the depth and warmth that define the Write Up The Coast experience — connection through authentic conversation.

A special thank you to The Sea Ranch Lodge for hosting this event and to local musician Pam Powell for her dulcimer music featured in the episode.

For more on Paul Lisicky, visit paullisicky.net
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For more on Write Up The Coast, visit writeupthecoast.com
or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com
.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

Recorded live amid the music and laughter of Chief Sullivan’s Irish Bar in San Francisco, this episode captures an unforgettable evening with The Irish Newsboys. Host Mark Sanford Gross joins the band for a spirited conversation woven through song, story, and community — a celebration of art, joy, and the shared rhythm that connects us all.
Recorded live June 28, 2025, San Francisco, California

Episode Description
As co-host of a global reading project of James Joyce’s Ulysses, Mark Sanford Gross often finds himself immersed in Irish voices — but few moments rival the energy of this live encounter in San Francisco.
At Chief Sullivan’s Irish Bar, home to the legendary Irish Newsboys, the atmosphere is electric: a fusion of traditional melodies, laughter, and the unmistakable camaraderie of the crowd.

In this episode, Mark sits down with The Irish Newsboys to talk — and feel — the pulse of Irish music in America. The conversation unfolds in real time, surrounded by the sounds of a community alive with rhythm, memory, and joy.

For anyone visiting or living in the Bay Area, catching The Irish Newsboys at Chief Sullivan’s is more than a night out — it’s a celebration of cultural spirit and connection that lingers long after the music fades.

For more information, visit writeupthecoast.com
or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com
.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com

In this special crossover episode, Write Up The Coast joins forces with KGUA-FM’s benchmark program, “Peggy’s Place,” hosted by the First Lady of Native Radio, Peggy Berryhill. Together, Peggy and Mark Sanford Gross talk about the evolving influence of AI and the enduring power of community storytelling as “Peggy’s Place – The Podcast” prepares to launch.
Recorded live March 26, 2025

Episode Description
Peggy’s Place has long been a cornerstone of Mendonoma radio—where Southern Mendocino and Northern Sonoma Counties meet and community voices thrive. Now, the beloved show is expanding into the podcast world: Peggy’s Place – The Podcast: Where You Want It, When You Want It!

This preview episode, produced in collaboration between KGUA-FM and Write Up The Coast, features Peggy Berryhill in conversation with Mark Sanford Gross. Their discussion—first aired live on KGUA-FM 88.3 Gualala on March 24, 2025—explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative expression while reaffirming the irreplaceable human voice at the heart of storytelling.

For more information, visit writeupthecoast.com
or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com
.

for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com