In this episode, celebrating five years of The Unruly Muse, John and Lynn explore the complex legacy of our forebears. What have they bequeathed to us? Of course we owe them for our very existence. And their example of courage as many struggled to find their place in the world. They’ve left us their spirits, their caring and their foibles, their examples of how to live and how to make a mark as they’ve passed through this earthly plane. In many cases, they’ve left behind mementos, land, houses, and companies. We’ve also inherited from them certain phobias, stories of triumphs, scars of difficult journeys and lives. We toast them in this episode and wonder what we’ll leave behind. Ponder for yourselves this rich inheritance, this river of the unconscious that unites us all. In that sense, we are all related; we are all progenitors and all descendants. Observe, rejoice, and scrutinize at the beginning of this new year. To life!
Song 1: “Like They Did” (composed and performed by John V. Modaff with Dan Modaff on mandolin and 2nd/3rdguitars)
Poem 1: “Bringing Back the Dead” by Julie Williams, a poet and visual artist. Author of Escaping Tornado Season and Drama Queens in the House. Her new poetry collection is in process.
Prose Fiction: “The Home Place,” excerpt of a short story by Lynn C. Miller, whose fifth novel, The Surrogate, comes out March 31, 2026. www.lynncmiller.com
Feed the Cat Break: from “Tuel’s Landing” (composed by Lauren Price, performed by The Price Sisters Lauren and Leanna and their fantastic bluegrass band)
Poem 2: “Willard at Work” by Kelly Yenser, from Midcentury Modern, a new collection in process. His most recent published collection is Walking Uphill at Noon, from UNM Press.
Song 2: “Life is a Chorus” (lyrics by Larry D. Browning, performed by John V. Modaff with brother Dan Modaff on mandolin and 2nd guitar)
Episode artwork by Lynda Miller
Show theme and Incidental music by John V. Modaff
The Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY
Produced at The Creek Studio, Morehead, KY
NEXT UP: Feb/ 2026, Episode 56: “Freedom”