LIFEBEAT FOLLOW-UP: CATHRYN BEEKS

Let’s find out what the dynamic Cathryn Beeks has been doing since we last met during the 4^th episode of LifeBeat: Conversations with Purposeful Womxn back in November 2020 (watch the episode). In this follow-up conversation, we covered some lighter subjects like cooking and what she’s been watching lately, but we also got into more substantive topics like the realization of her dream of a performance space and retreat destination in the California desert and how she continues creating content to highlight the many artists in the southern CA region. And, oh yeah, she’s still making her own music, and, of course, she is still running Listen Local Radio (since 2003!). This Q&A was conducted by email, and Cathryn provided her answers on January 2, 2022.

~~ 

Lizzie: My first question to all the guests was what you are great at cooking, and your answer was homemade taco shells. Have you added anything new to your cooking repertoire?

Cathryn: Yes! While it’s not really “cooking,” I’m obsessed with the art of charcuterie! I made a board for New Year’s Eve, and it was the most fun I’ve had with food in a long time! I watched some videos on YouTube for inspiration then just went for it. So. Fun. 

The Big Lebowski was your answer to what movie you could watch over and over. As we’ve endured the pandemic, many of us got very familiar with streaming services. Any favorites that you watched in the last year?

So many. I’ve watched the entire Netflix catalog and everything on the internet. LOL

I really enjoyed Unforgivable, The Crown, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, and I’ve watched all the seasons of Schitt’s Creek three times.    

Your earliest childhood memory was watching your parents dance in the kitchen. I absolutely love that. Any other gems you want to share with us as far as cherished memories?

I have a bunch of great memories of big family parties. I guess spending the last few years separated from the rest of our family, either from COVID or because our different view of the world has finally become too much, has really made me miss those days. Mom and Dad used to host parties where we’d play desert golf, cards, music, and there would be tons of food and fun with family and friends. Everyone was there. I miss those days.   

We covered a lot of things when we talked back in November 2020. You’d made a music video for a San Diego songwriter, you’d created Looped, a comedy show, and you were putting out another cookbook. Tell us what you’ve been able to work on through this last year.

I made a few more videos [through her ½ Fast video production venture] including one for Berkley Hart’s “Dear John John Deere,” Jonny and I produced a festival in Wonder Valley, Calamity went into Chaos Recorders with Christopher Hoffee and recorded our song “Earthquake Girl,” I joined a band from Joshua Tree called The Desert Drama Club, and I started learning how to calm myself down when I feel a panic attack coming on. That’s been real helpful. 

We spent some time talking about how you were looking to buy land in San Diego County or up there in the high desert. Let us know what’s been happening as far as creating that dream property.

After my father passed away in December of 2019, we talked with my mom about relocating back to the San Diego area, finding some land and creating a space where I could host my songwriting retreats. She was on board, but we never could find anything down there that we could afford so we started looking up here. We spent almost a year looking for the right spot and then in December of 2020, Mom said she wanted to stay here and that we could do what we wanted with two acres that wasn’t being used. Since there was no way we were leaving Mom here alone, we decided to make our little retreat space here, calling it Hart Acres after my dad who planted all of these lovely trees. We remodeled our RV as a guest casita, built a pretty potty and outdoor shower, and had our first event in May of 2021. We’re still making upgrades and adding amenities, and it’s been really fun knowing Dad would LOVE that we’re doing this here. And staying here with Mom. HartAcres.info is the website. Besides being available for a private getaway, check the events page for the retreats this year including the Berkley Hart Music Camp where you can spend an entire weekend with Jeff [Berkley] and Calman [Hart] learning their secrets. Details for that coming soon!

A fellow guest on the show, Jules Stewart, commented on how you’re a connector and you mentioned that it’s one of your favorite things to do. How have you been able to connect to other people yourself and/or connect others as we’ve had to become accustomed to a more virtual world?

I mean, thank the universe for Zoom. That’s all I can say. I know some people hate it because they have to use it for work, but it has kept me connected to San Diego and for that I am so thankful. I was doing several different Zoom interviews over the past few years (Animals and Their People, Look What YOU Made, etc.) and this year I’m doing a multi-guest format on Zoom called Manage Participants where I’ll have five creative guests sharing their art and stories. I’ll be featuring lots of folks from Joshua Tree and the Morongo Basin, people I’ve become friends with on social media but have yet to meet. I’m looking forward to these shows so that I can reconnect with old friends and meet new ones!

How is your Patreon going? What could people expect to get if they subscribe?

Patreon is wonderful. It’s my only source of regular income, and besides the financial support, knowing that I have 56 people who care about and support my mission means the world. I create content for those 56 people and that gives me purpose, gives me life! I try and give exclusive content to my subscribers but since most of my content is about promoting other artists, I always feel like I need to share the shows with the public in order to give that artist the most exposure possible. I try to create exclusive content though. For instance, only subscribers are invited to be in the studio audience of the recording of Manage Participants, there are a lot of private videos that subscribers get access to, too.  

You gave a shout-out to your hubby, Jon Edwards. As a live sound man, how has he fared through the pandemic thus far?

He finally started working in early 2021 after folks started getting vaccinated, but it’s slowing down again. He was really having trouble the first year, he’s not good at being sedentary. He missed his work. He commutes to San Diego for 95% of his work. He’s considering taking some odd jobs in Big Bear this winter, everything just depends on what’s happening in the world. It’s all weird. [Hire Jonny!]

Let us know about anything else you want to promote or talk about!

The Listen Local Show continues to offer a monthly podcast featuring local musicians from San Diego, the High Desert, and beyond introducing their songs. You can listen and submit your song and message at ListenLocalRadio.com.

~~

If you’re not inspired by all that Cathryn Beeks has done, is doing, and plans to do, you should read this follow-up interview again! Keep up with everything she’s got going on at cathrynbeeks.com. Thanks for all you do, Cathryn, and keep on keeping on!