...Because You're Going to Die

Life is a Festival #121: Ned Buskirk (YG2D)

Today’s show is with an old friend. Ned Buskirk is the big-hearted, emotive MC of You’re Going to Die, Poetry Prose and Everything Goes an open mic on the subject of death, dying, and grief. Embracing impermanence is one of the paradoxical keys to a life like a festival, to live in the moment we have to learn to let go.

On the show we discuss the important impermanence of a festival and how the shorter lives of our pets teach us to cultivate sacredness. Ned shares how the process of losing his mother and step-mother led to the creation of his unique open-mic. We talk about tears and masculinity and Ned’s special presence as Master of Ceremonies. He tells us about bringing his offering to San Quentin as “Alive Inside.” We share our favorite quotes about loss and death. Finally Ned talks about the You’re Going to Die podcast and we talk shop about making art.

Ned is the host and CEO of You’re Going to Die (YG2D), a 501(c)3 nonprofit which started as a poetry night in 2009. In addition to the iconic open mic, the nonprofit supports two programs Alive Inside and Songs for Life. Alive Inside hosts a version of the above shows for the incarcerated. Songs for Life is a free program where musicians offer their talents & companionship, playing music & writing songs for hospice patients & their communities. YG2D’s most recent venture is a popular podcast where Ned interviews many of his heroes in holding space for grief.

There are two truths that Ned shares. One is that you’re going to die. The other is that you haven’t yet. The rest is up to you.