Dwight L. Wilson returns today for Spirit In Action - we had him with us about 2 years ago discussing, among many things, his book series Esi Was My Mother, a fictional account of the real situations of his enslaved ancestors. Dwight has been very active in the interim, serving on a police oversight commission in Ann Arbor, MI, and much more, including writing 2 books we're going to discuss. The first is called Modern Psalms of Solace & Resistance, wherein Dwight shares deep, Divine-directed, psalms from a humble, fully engaged, 21st century heart.
Carrie Elkin brings to listeners a tear-jerking joy through her songs that seek to make the world better from the vulnerable places in each of our hearts. With a life, study, and career path including saxophone, Lutheran church music, pre-med studies, physiology, and environmental work using organic chemistry, it was a long road that led Carrie to her true home & profession as a singer/songwriter folk musician. On her own or with her husband and partner, Danny Schmidt, Carrie's music enchants and enthralls.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences: Lutheran, Jewish, Yoga, Meditation, Unitarian Universalist
Alastair Moock has been playing music in the Philly area since 1995, with a specialty of family music added after the birth of his twins in 2006. He was first place in the 2020 Songs for Social Change, a project of RAWA, with his song Be A Pain. He helped found Family Music Forward in 2020, to transform family music by supporting Black artists, children, and communities and dismantling individual, institutional, and systemic racial bias within the industry, and he does a podcast/interview series, Opening Doors, with artists of color. His music has tinges of John Prine & Arlo Guthrie, with a combination of humor & insight that makes for fun & transformation.
Thom Hartmann, #1 progressive talk show host in the USA, is back today for SIA, discussing his newest book, The Hidden History of American Healthcare: Why Sickness Bankrupts You and Makes Others Insanely Rich. Thom combines incredible acumen with the ability to tell a story simply and powerfully, both spoken and written. Thom's discourse addresses the issues and tells the important stories that affect most of us profoundly, and, certainly, healthcare is big – or will be big – in all of our lives at one time or another.
I ran into Pete Bastounes at a campground in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and learned about his transition from a political conservative and a Rush Limbaugh enthusiast to a Thom Hartmann and Bernie Sanders liberal, a change that could be promising for those who wish to speak across the political & cultural spectrum. Pete Bastounes is union steward for local 150 operating engineers in Illinois, a compelling speaker, and a great hope for our future.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Greek Orthodox, Evangelical Christian, Charismatic Christian, Non-affiliated
Anita Aysola was a top finalist in the 2020 Songs for Social Change contest sponsored by Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA) with her beautiful & poignant song, Heartbeat. Anita's voice is sweet & sultry, and her lyrics are evocative & moving. Mixing jazz, blues, & rock with the music from her origins in India, Anita creates new currents of music and meaning. Anita is based near Atlanta and her latest album is Beyond Our Dreams.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Hindu, Eastern, Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness
Citizens’ Climate Radio is a monthly podcast hosted by CCLer Peterson Toscano. Browse all our past episode recaps here, or listen to past episodes here, and check out the latest episode in the post below.
In our latest podcast episode, Chantal Bilodeau tells us about Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA) 2021. Founded in 2015, CCTA is a worldwide series of readings and performances of short climate change plays presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings.
The music of Niyonu Spann has depth of meaning thoroughly entwined with fine melodies and harmonies and musical acumen. We've seen her on Northern Spirit Radio once previously for Song of the Soul, and also once for Spirit In Action, focused on her work with Beyond Diversity 101. Niyonu is a change-maker and a heart-opener, not by lecturing, but by traveling side-by-side with and modeling that change that so many of us want to see in the world. She was the motivational center of the musical group called Tribe1, and currently she is the guiding alchemist and anchoring artist of the Nuyoni Singers.
Mike Ball of Dr. Mike & the Sea Monkeys and Founder/Executive Director of Lost Voices has an endless streak of creativity, and a passion for creating music that both amuses and changes people. Mike started out in the 1960's rocking it with an electric guitar, in spite of his hidden folk music passion, spent a lot of years doing all kinds of non-music work, but eventually an invite into a detention facility for young folks got Mike to reconnect with his music beginnings, and kicked off his commitment to foster the spirit of these young people through music. With a wry gift for words akin to that of John Prine, he delights, amuses, and inspires through his music.