Ok, its not what you think, of course. First, I am making a committment because I have this beautiful website and I almost never update it. My excuse is too busy working on the projects of others, and I am leaving that excuse at the door. I used to blog daily, I dont want to do that, but I do want to start sharing again. I feel very motivated by my life
This is intended to be a list of what I love about Anarchapulco. Despite what the title may suggest, I love my job and my involvement with it. I am very grateful. And yet, still, every single year, I have a moment usually like two weeks before the conference when Im spending 10 hours a day on my computer thinking why do I keep doing this. Then, during the conference, I am reminded why.
Anarchapulco 2026: Genesis was no different if anything more intense in this way because I took on maybe double the amount of responsibility this year and still tried to maintain my side hustles because as much as I say I want to focus on one thing that’s a dirty lie, I like having lots of hustles too much and Im unsure it will ever change.
This year’s Anarchapulco was held in Puerto Vallarta for the first time a strategic move to hopefully stop dealing with the drama of taxi and restaurant cartels of Acapulco and to have a fresh start in a location easier to get to. It had its challenges, of course. Housing was not ideal for anyone as we were figuring out the best and worst places to put people simultaneously. There was the drama that happened on the last day during the TCV Summit, more on that later. But aside from that, it was an amazing event.
I guess its time to get to the reasons. I have no idea how many there will be but let’s just start listing and see what happens.
- The people. The Magic behind Anarchapulco has and always will be the people. From the team that builds the event, to the speakers that grace the stage and the people that come to find their tribe it is honestly the best place in the world to find your adoptive family, soulmate and even business partners. I have managed to find all three within the portal like container that is Anarchapulco. I could write an entire post on this and I kind of did with my post about Dads from last year. Maybe I will eventually.
- The Portal: Every year since 2021 I have noticed there’s a sort of portal like vibe to Anarchapulco for me. Generally speaking, I do not leave the event the same Miranda that walked into the event. Between the availability of spiritual ceremonies, team bonding, work done, opportunities gained, circus tricks performed ect, Anarchapulco tends to be completely transformative for me in the best way. This in essence is a lot of why I do it.
- The Dream Team: I think separate from the general mention of people, is the dream team that runs Anarchapulco. It has its tiers: the producers, the leadership team, the whole team, the community support. Every year it seems to grow and flow. Old team members get new positions better suited to their nature, new team members come in like David Alcock, by beloved platonic boyfriend stage manager guru we discovered this year. Everyone on the Anarchapulco team started as a volunteer and as they prove their indespensibility, they become fully integrated within the team. I like seeing how everything flows, and I love being a part of it.
- Jeff: I have not historically been what one could call a Jeff fangirl and I won’t say I am now even. What I can say is this, and I’ve said this to many people when they criticize him for one thing or another and ask why I could work for him. Jeff Berwick is not perfect, nor does he claim to be and that’s actually part of his charm. But he continually evolves and has become a better and better person in the time I have known him. Jeff has always been able to bring a crowd, but the quality of the crowd he brings has gone up and up every year and there’s something to be said about the old phrase, you attract what you are. Beyond that, he’s incredibly generous in ways that 98 percent of people don’t know about because he doesn’t do things that are generous to be called generous. This year, post event we (me, my partner and my lovely cat) escaped the post apocalyptic vibes of PV with Jeff and his family, who totally could have said “No thanks find your own way” and it was at several points fun. Below, I’ll share a video I took that day.
- Opportunity: Because of my involvement in Anarchapulco from my very first year in 2016, I have received countless opportunities. These are monetary for jobs or donations, spiritual growth opportunities, friends and family and probably a lot more my tired mind are not thinking of. The simple truth is if you come to Anarchapulco searching for something, probably you will find it.
- Love from my Community: I have complained every year about working on my birthday. In thought, it does sound like a shit sandwich to work 12-15 hours on your birthday every year for like 10 years straight. This year was the first year I was thankful for it. I had literal hundreds of people sing happy birthday to me as my beloved Wifey for Lifey Cat Bleish Bonandin pulled me on stage for a “crisis” that was to sing to me. I hate the birthday song, but this year I found myself enjoying it. I got probably a hundred hugs. Where else can 500 people wish you happy birthday? Basically nowhere.
There’s a lot more to say, I’m sure, but honestly its kind of late and Im tired and I don’t have the time currently, to write a 700 page novel on wordpress about my experiences with Anarchapulco. What I can say, is its not like it was portrayed in The Anarchists which IMO was accurate for the epocs displayed but not for what came after. Its a family friendly project of growth and expansion and the reason I do it is because I wouldn’t be me, without it.
So Jeff, Cat, the entire Anarchapulco team and everyone I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet or get to know through it, thank you.
I’ll now share some posts I made during and after the event, followed by some photos with brief explanations, post this and call it a fucking night. Maybe next I’ll share my thoughts and experiences with what happened on February 22nd in PV. If you don’t see yourself below, but are an important part of my Anarchapulco story just know I love you and my photos so far of this year are really fucking limited.
Me with aforementioned David Alcock, him crying after my speech and me telling him he was not supposed to cry. Not sure if its a fail or a win.
Before the event, team bonding day with some of my favorite people. From Left to right, my love, me, big brother Bearheart and Stephany.
To my love: thanks for supporting me no matter what I want to do, if that is to fly mid day, nap mid day or work my entire day away.
To Bearheart: Thanks for making me cry on my birthday with what you said. You have always been a beacon and very important to me and my growth and it warms my heart to know I can be the same for you. You’re the best big brother a girl could ask for.
To Stephany: I fucking love you, I love our friendship and thanks for just being in my life.
Me, Uly XYZ and Catherine “Wifey for Lifey”. Uly is my amigo and artist of Rootless Renegade and is all around just one of the best fucking people I know. And Cat, well she’s my wifey. And I wish I had a photo with her husband too who has fully embraced this weird dynamic with grace and he’s just the best husband in law you could ask for.
Me, Pyasa, Stephany and Cat on the closing night party ofter we performed. I decided to stay in the weird costume. I love all these women so much, and these women have helped me heal whatever weirdness I had with close women bonds of the past. I love you all so much
And speaking of PYASA what a fucking ICON. We have always had love for eachother but this year that got morphed into something very very special. If you don’t know this woman, I feel bad for you. We went DEEP in our friendship literally. I see this woman as a sister, a mentor, a friend and a soul bond that I am incredibly thankful to have. Thank you for what you did for me.
Oh man, baby anarchist me would be so proud of 33 year old Anarchist me. As I told Ernie on this night, 18 year old me would be really impressed that 33 year old me is working for Ernie and Donna Hancock on their amazing Occupy the Land project. They’re really doing the damn thing, and Im glad to be part of it. Visit their website, here: https://occupytheland.org/
Cat, Nadja, Me, Kristaps and tiny Josie. I’ll have to eventually write a whole ass post about Cat. Or maybe a book. IDK but if that doesn’t tell you the importance of her in my life, it should. Nadja is the best acupuncturist I will ever know and an even better friend. Her hugs are literal gold and her smiling face is something I look forward to at Anarchapulco every year. My relationship with Kristaps had a bumpy start I’d say, as we had to figure out how to work best with eachother, but for me personally working with him this year was a pleasure. I have a lot of love and respect for this relentless negotiator and hard worker that Im pretty convinced simply does not sleep.
I only have two versions of this photo and neither are perfect. In the first, Jeffs got his eyes closed and in the second, Pyasa has hers. I picked this cause this was intended to encapsulate the vibe of Jeff this year. He was like that the entire event, completely high on the life he’s built for himself and maybe fumes from his TZLA machine. Also especially love Max, who was there with us to escape the apocalypse and add to the vibes. Love you all.
During my speech, where I showed my parents while pregnant with me and asked, what did two agorist anarchist people really expect for their offspring but for her to become a famous anarchist fugitive in Mexico?
Ah Stephany. The Little sister I always wanted but never got because my Mom kept having boys. It is a pleasure to be your friend and now to work with you at Anarchapulco. Its also always a lot of fun to perform with you, thanks for joining me on this crazy adventure in life and here’s to many more years doing fun shit together.
One Response
I loved the article and pics! Obviously the best resource our community has is our people. Thank you for making things a success, together with all the triumphs and challenges – and fun. – Tom W