basques

Across the Rocky Mountains Sheep Herders from places as diverse as Greece to Scotland and The Basque Region to Peru have left messages and drawings on Aspen Trees.

We talk with Dr. Alison Krögel about some of the 300 aspen carvings she has documented and the deeper meanings and connections she's found in them at times. Please check out her website The Aspen Archives  to learn more and see pictures of some of them.

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This episode's icon is courtesy of Mark Chapman.

A key component of Jon Rahm's identity, and one that's not often discussed in English-speaking media, is his Basque heritage. The Basque people represent the oldest surviving ethnic group in all of Europe; they pre-date the Indo-Europeans who swept through the rest of the continent, and whose descendants live there today. Euskal Herria, the Basque homeland, is a region the size of New Hampshire in southern France and northern Spain, and the people have their own language and culture that have survived repeated attempts to snuff it out, right up to the present day. But for such a tight-knit and insular community, they've had an outsized impact on world history. As Rahm himself has said, there's a difference between the Basques and the Spanish, and while he represents both on the global stage, it's his Basque background that defines his cultural heritage and his strength as an elite competitor. To understand Rahm, you have to understand the Basques.

In which I share some of my very favourite highlights of my total lack of coordination whatsoever, including The Worst Parking Ever, and all of the reasons why you shouldn't try and dance a can-can while wearing a basque. Plus, my cats are dicks... I'm sharing a bit of love for all of the small businesses out there... and we discover the reasons why Jamie probably won't be stepping into David Attenborough's shoes any time soon.....