Writer Pico Iyer lost everything in a 1990 California wildfire. After being rendered homeless and sleeping on a friend's floor, he was told about a Benedictine monastery. His time spent in silence on retreat there changed him both as a person and as a writer. He spoke with Terry Gross about his new memoir about the experience, Aflame. Also, comic and former Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. talks with Tonya Mosley about his new comedy special, Lonely Flowers. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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From WHYY in Philadelphia, I'm Sam Brigger with Fresh Air Weekend. Today, Pico Ayer talks about coming out the other side of the 1990 wildfire that burned down his Santa Barbara home and kept him trapped for three hours until he was rescued. After being rendered homeless, sleeping on a friend's floor, he was told about a Benedictine monastery, where they accept a few guests at a time.
So it was the fact of being stripped down to nothing that made a Catholic monastery seductive to me.
His new memoir is called A Flame. Also, we hear from Roy Wood Jr. His new comedy special, Lonely Flowers, looks at why people are so disconnected.
We don't even like talking on the phone. We get mad if the phone rings. The phone that was invented for talking. You get mad. Oh, hell no.
You got to text me first. Don't just be calling me.
That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend.
This message comes from NPR sponsor, Sattva. Founder and CEO, Ron Rudson, shares the story of how he got started creating Sattva.
In 2007, 2008, I went out and I bought the most popular luxury mattresses. I tore them apart and I realized, based on the raw materials cost and the analysis that I had done, that I was able to sell that level mattress, but with a very affordable price.
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