Arts & Life

Dakota Midday: Lisa Napoli's 'Radio Shangri-La'

SDPB Radio | By Karl Gehrke

Published May 29, 2015 at 9:31 AM CDT

Most countries measure their success by Gross Domestic Product. But the remote Himalayan nation of Bhutan uses a different measure: Gross National Happiness. For centuries Bhutan was almost completely cut off from the outside world. The Buddhist nation began opening up in the 1970s after years of seclusion. Since 2008 Bhutan has gone through dramatic changes with a transition from a monarchy to a two-party parliamentary democracy and the introduction of free press and more western-styled media.

Public radio journalist Lisa Napoli first went to Bhutan shortly before the historic elections. She was a volunteer helping with the launch of the country’s first youth-oriented radio station, Kuzoo-FM. She tells the story of her experiences in Bhutan in the book, Radio Shangri-La: What I Discovered on My Accidental Journey to the Happiest Kingdom on Earth.

Napoli was a reporter for the public radio program Marketplace. She's currently a contributor to KCRW. She joined Dakota Midday from her home in Los Angeles and discussed her accidental journey to Bhutan.

Tags

Karl Gehrke

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.

See stories by Karl Gehrke