Cuke Audio Podcast

A Memorial Podcast for Gene DeSmidt

Gene DeSmidt was a dear friend of mine and the SF Zen Center who died on October 30th. Gene was a creative builder who left behind a number of sound structures at Tassajara and Green Gulch. He was also a musician who helped me muchly in that realm. He was a great character and a humorous, generous, good-hearted person. Learn more at cuke.com/others/GDS.html and  gofundme.com/f/gene-desmidt-needs-your-help.  - dc

Don't Worry (Excessively)

DC riffs on not worrying excessively about undocumented immigrants and the ongoing election.

With Guest Susan Ross

Susan Ross is an illustrator and artist who worked on Be Here Now. In this podcast she takes us from her native Ohio to Smith College to Woodstock to New Mexico, to Shunryu Suzuki's funeral with Gary Snyder and David Padwa, to Colorado studying with Trungpa Rinpoche. She's in Mexico now still being an artist, practicing Tibetan Buddhism, and working on turtle rescue. Here website is

susanrosscreative.com.

A Talk on the Sandokai

This podcast is a talk I gave and meeting with the All Beings Zen Sangha in Washington DC. On October 19th. Inryu Ponce-Barger is the teacher of this group and their website is allbeingszen.org. The focus of the group right now and therefore of the talk is the Sandokai, an ancient Chinese Zen poem that is chanted at the SF Zen Center. I talk about being at Tassajara when Shunryu Suzuki lectured on it and studying it with him. There's a page on cuke.com for the Sandokai: cuke.com/Cucumber%20Project/lectures/sandokai.htm  - DC

Reading--Silas Hoadley Interview and more

Silas Hoadley began studying with Shunryu Suzuki in 1964. He was highly involved with the founding of Tassajara. Suzuki had Silas giving lectures when Suzuki was ill toward the end of his life. He would have received transmission from Suzuki if Suzuki hadn't died too soon. Silas was a much beloved priest in the SFZC. In this podcast I read a 1994 interview with Silas and a scene with him from the upcoming Tassajara Stories. Check out more about Silas at cuke.com/people/hoadley-silas.htm

A Month with Dharma Sangha Germany

I talk about my recent month spent at Dharma Sangha's ZBZS ,  their Zen Buddhist center in the Black Forest.  The high point of the trip was the passing of the abbotship of Dharma Sangha Germany and America from Zentatsu Richard Baker to Tatsudo Nicole Baden.

With Guest Tozan Alan Senauke - an encore presentation

This is an encore presentation of a May 2023 podcast with Alan Senauke,  the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. and author of "Turning Words, Transformative Encounters with Buddhist Teachers." He has a long involvement with Buddhist peace work and  music. --- The new introduction to this podcast tells about Alan's  heart attack, coma, and recovery which has enabled him to return to teaching and lecturing while being confined to bed and wheelchair. Learn more in the intro to the podcast and  at caringbridge.org/site/5f8e9c7a-e151-381f-8185-b311c544e39b> and gofundme.com/f/help-hozan-with-essential-home-care. More on Alan at cuke.com/people/senauke-alan.htm.

With Guest Bill Porter (Red PIne) - an Encore Presentation

Bill Porter is a translator and interpreter of Chinese Buddhist and Taoist poetry and texts, with books on Chinese Hermits and travel. His pen name is Red Pine. Learn more about Bill on his Wikipedia page, on cuke.com, and at redpinemovie.com. This podcast is an encore presentation of a talk with Bill Porter from August 8, 2020.

With Guest Vanja Palmers - an Encore Presentation

Vanja Palmers is a Zen teacher who was at the SFZC centers for years, ordained by Richard Baker, transmission from Kobun Chino. He talks about his life, his way-seeking mind story, work with animal rights, and psychedelics, and dangerous hang gliding. He has a center in the Alps near Lucerne named Felsentor and the Ecumenical House of Silence he and Brother David Steindl-rast founded in Austria. This is an encore presentation of a June 2020 podcast.

With Guest Paul Rosenblum - an Encore Presentation

Ryuten Paul Rosenblum was a student of Shunryu Suzuki and is the vice abbot of Johanneshof, Richard Baker's retreat in the Black Forest. He lives half time in Germany and half time in Northern California. His website is ryutenpaulrosenblum.com. This is an encore presentation of a podcast from July 2020.