Hank Pellissier Bio
Hank Pellissier (wikipedia) is a writer, director, performer, speaker & producer. He’s the founder/director of Humanist Mutual Aid Network, a nonprofit that’s worked in 45 nations, primarily in Africa. He also founded/directed two preschools and a comedy institute, and was managing director of the think tank Institute for Ethics & Emerging Technology. He was a weekly columnist for the New York Times (SF edition) and SFGate.com, a daily columnist for Salon.com plus he’s written 100+ parenting and education articles for GreatSchools.org, 120+ futurist essays, and published 10 chapbooks and e-books. He was a SF Poetry Slam co-champion and he’s anthologized in The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (as “Hank Hyena”). He was a critically-acclaimed performance artist, and he’s produced multiple events: a Buddhist Performance Festival, a Muslim Performance Festival, an Atheist Film Festival, a DADA Festival, two Peace Gatherings and ten futurist conferences. He’s a member of the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists where he’s on the Social Justice Committee; as an activist he was in Extinction Rebellion and CodePink; plus he founded or co-organized RACCOON, Mega Mouth Rebels, and RAT, and his latest project is Share The World Club.
REVIEWS
“a quirky, witty writer, with a knack for the provocative twist… hilarious” San Francisco Examiner
“two of the better representatives of the 90s shout-it-out school of poetry are (Reg E.) Gaines and Hank Hyena” New York Press (10/27/99)
“inspired…absurdist humor, with a cogent political analysis” San Francisco Weekly
“charming… delightfully outrageous… an appealing performer… ”San Francisco Chronicle
“Hank Hyena is an original media performer stamped with the charm of authenticity… He uses elaborate props and sculptural additions to describe what can happen when modern living and bodily functions careen out of control…. a Dadaist one-man-band intermedia.” Artweek
“Hank Hyena is fun to watch…” Oakland Tribune
“political savvy… trenchant and witty… charming… his manner on stage is eminently comfortable” San Francisco Bay Times
“a master practitioner of the slideshow form…” High Performance
“Hank Hyena is a very amiable, unpretentious performer… ” Daily Californian (UC Berkeley)
“amazingly funny and hip.” Cal Aggie (UC Davis)
“MIRACLES OF THE FLESH” by Hank Hyena is a superb collection of funny short stories… The one about the fruit fly was so funny, with such a joyous happy ending, I read it thrice… Damn fine writing. — ZINE WORLD, spring 1997
“Hank Hyena was insanely funny and would do — and write about — anything you asked. I thought he deserved a medal.” Gettingit.com editor Matt Honan interviewed by greenmagazine.com
“Hank Hyena, Daniel Ferri, and Patricia Smith offer up quality poems…: Jack Magazine
“Hank Pellissier relates, with touching humor, the story of impregnating both his wife and a lesbian friend and the emotional turbulence the pregnancies evoke.” — Publishers Weekly
FAN LETTERS
Hank, your article was unusual and fascinating… so, keep up the good work. — Charles Matthews
Hank Hyena’s article on circumcision was a rarity — informative and extremely funny. Salon needs more writers like him.” – Heather Swanson
Subject: Turkey baster baby — The HERO of the whole thing is such a wonderful guy. I don’t know of ANY male of my knowledge who could go through this and be so gracious about it all. Good luck to all and may fortune smile on them — Holly D
Hi Hank, Very good Salon travel piece where on your trip to Europe you switched over from the Dark Side and became a more lefty-leaning person. Regards – David
Hank, you are a genius. Thanks for the best laugh I’ve had in weeks! My first thought, after I stopped laughing, was how much fun you must be at parties. Cheers – Rearwood
Good job on the AIDS’ story in Salon. I read the national and local press every day, and this is the first story I’ve seen on it. One has to wonder if the media has ignored the story because of its controversial nature. Keep up the good work – GILGEO
Subject: Zen Flirting. Hank–Hilarious column. Thanks for getting my day off to a good start. – Jay Bartos
That was a great article! IT WAS FUNNY! made me laugh. And well crafted, like, control, like, like a fine canned beer! Give Hank control of the whole enchilada. — – Wise Fool
Hank, you crack me up. Great stuff. – Matassa
Dear Mr. Hyena, I just wanted to tell you I thoroughly enjoyed your article. I am a Wisconsinite, but am soon to be relocating to San Francisco. I look forward to reading your column in the future. – A Tourvil
I really enjoyed your recap of the Folsom Street Fair, and look forward to reading more from you. I quite enjoyed your archive. – Crusso
I really did enjoy your pieces I read at the Gate. From the woman who taught folks how to marry well to well, to the physical manifestations of a mammal toward the end of her period of gestation, you always managed to be very interesting, genuinely funny and of such impact that I’d laugh with joy when I saw your name. I send my best to you. –Edward Shaw