Books and Brews Podcast Episode #5: Barry MacDonald (Tekkan)

Tekkan is the Dharma name for Barry MacDonald. He has lived in England, Japan, and Minnesota, all of which have influenced him. The themes of his life revolve around his Buddhist practice and his recovery from addiction. His books, "Everyday Mind," look for the extraordinary hidden within everyday events. He uses the sonnet form without the rhyme scheme followed by a Japanese tanka.   LINKS https://www.facebook.com/barry.macdonald.1293   Upcoming Events: Barry and Laura will be reading at the Startled By JOY 2019 poetry reading and open mic on October 6th, 2019. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Troubadour Wine Bar, 2827 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.   Barry's Readings: Reading Circles of Sober Alcoholics – 12:20 The Wood Flooring of the Zen Temple – 27:44 Like a Basset Hound – 42:39   Michael's Beer Pairings: All Out Non-alcoholic Extra Dark, Athletic Brewing Company (paired to Reading Circles of Sober Alcoholics) – 9:16 Pilsner Urquell, Plzeňský Prazdroj (paired to The Wood Flooring of the Zen Temple) – 25:31 Heavenly Body Golden Wheat, Wellbeing Brewing Company (paired to Like a Basset Hound) – 41:30   Interview Highlights: Sonnets and the sonnet form – 13:32 Meeting Shakespeare in Amsterdam – 15:40 The influence of a well-read father – 16:42 Writing routine and meditation – 20:25 What brought you to Japan? – 31:18 The impact of travel on an artist's work – 33:49 Zen and dharma, Barry's dharma name – 35:09 Does image lead to idea or does an idea seek an image? – 45:11 The Everyday Mind series – 47:36   COMING NEXT MONTH: Novelist, short story writer and interactive fiction creator Anya Johanna DeNiro  Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.