Story Tellers: Angela TenBroeck, Willie Evans Jr, Anna Jacobson
Musical Guest: Meredith Mason
The second episode of Untold Stories was recorded live on stage at the Florida Theater in downtown Jacksonville on November 27, 2021.
Untold Stories kicks off its second episode, Ebbs and Flows, Part 2, with a soulful performance by Meredith Mason. With her guitar in hand, Meredith takes center stage and pours her heart out through two powerful songs that hold significant meaning to her. The first song speaks to the internal battle of the mind, while the second recounts the most transformative experience of her life, second only to becoming a mother.
The first storyteller of the episode was Angela TenBroeck, CEO of Worldwide Aquaponics and co-founder of Foodery Farms. Angela shared her story about her Cherokee roots and how she moves through the world as a modern-day farmer.
Raised on a river that her family had lived on for generations, Angela was told by her aunt that she was the family's White Buffalo, responsible for bringing balance, harmony, and hope. But in 2018, Angela's life changed forever when a near-fatal allergic reaction made her realize that she needed to focus on her own insecurities and personal growth.
Over the next 18 months, Angela evolved and changed, recognizing that she had been seeking validation from the outside world and needed to give balance and hope to herself. During this time, she also helped bring 2 million pounds of produce to those in need, proving that even during personal struggles, one can still make a positive impact in the world. As Angela learned to accept and receive personal love, she felt elemental love like never before and finally found the balance and abundance she had been searching for.
The next storyteller of the evening was Willie Evans Jr., a talented beat maker and hip hop artist from Jacksonville, Florida. With a career spanning over 25 years, he has toured the world with his hip hop group, Asamov, and has received critical acclaim for his solo albums.
In a heartwarming and comical segment, Willie Evans Jr. shares his experience of learning to swim as a child. Despite being terrified of the water, Willie's mother pushed him into the pool and forced him to swim to the other side. In the midst of his panic and tears, Willie managed to make it to the other end of the pool, surprising himself. This event left a lasting impression on Willie, teaching him that with determination and focus, he could achieve anything.
Willie recounts a nerve-wracking encounter with Pharoahe Monch, one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time. After landing a critical success with his solo album, Willie had the opportunity to open for Pharoahe at a festival. His label owner, knowing Willie's tendency to get nervous and falter in high-pressure situations, accompanied him and introduced him to Pharoahe. As the two introduced themselves, Pharoahe surprisingly told Willie how much he loved his album. The label owner shot Willie a look, but Willie was too excited to notice as he awkwardly reacted to Pharoahe’s praise.
Later that night, on the way to dinner with Pharoahe, the label owner trying to make a connection happen shoved Willie into the backseat of Pharoahe's car. While he drove, Pharoahe discussed a concept for a new album with another and another legendary artist in the passenger seat, and at one point, Pharoahe asked Willie for his thoughts. Willie embarrassingly turned his head to look behind him, assuming that Pharoahe was talking to someone else.
Willie also shares about his profound friendship with Peyton Lock, who was not only his long-time collaborator, but also his best friend. Their conversations went beyond hip hop theory and into matters of parenting and relationships. When Peyton was diagnosed with stage four inoperable cancer, their conversations shifted to taking stock of their lives and the decisions they had made as artists. Peyton's passing left a deep hole in Willie's life, and he struggled to come to terms with the loss of his friend and collaborator.
Anna Jacobsen delivered the final story of the evening that takes us on a journey through Hurricane Irma, a disaster that destroyed her home and forced her family to evacuate. As they paddle away from their flooded house with their koi fish posse in tow, Anna reflects on how the disaster has affected her family's life. She describes how she and her husband responded differently to the crisis, with him donning protective gear and her wearing running shorts and holding a baby squirrel.
As they shuttle people to safety, Anna's disaster brain kicks in, and she feels a sense of belonging amidst the chaos. She admits to grieving the loss of her fish after they made a sassy escape to the St. Johns River. Anna finds herself and her family staying with her parents for seven months, where she watches them struggle with aging and their own relationship.
Throughout her story, Anna contemplates the idea of a "new normal" and how it doesn't exist. She reflects on the cycle of crisis and response and how every change brings its own set of losses and resignations. Anna finds comfort in a stained glass window that she and her husband had purchased before they had their house. It depicts a pelican with text from Psalms that speaks to Anna's sense of exile and loneliness.
Through it all, Anna finds solace in the idea that life is a cycle of crisis and response and that we must hold tight to what and who we love.
Meredith Mason's final song of the evening, "Wild Heart", speaks to the yearning for a free and untamed spirit, to break free from the confines of societal expectations and the fear of the unknown. It reminds us that sometimes we must let go of our fears and embrace the unknown in order to truly find our wild heart.
