Leslie Evers joined me for her first Song of the Soul back in 2020, just after the advent of COVID, and it was a rich occasion of musical and spiritual sharing. She has been a singer and songwriter since she was a kid, so in some ways the release of her first record in 2014 and the second one this year represents a fruition of decades of creativity and art on the folk/jazz/rock continuum.

Gisele Bolton is an inspiration of where a passionate heart for healing the world can lead you. From her home in the Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin, Gisele earned degrees in International Politics and Human Rights and in Global Studies, Human Rights and Justice in the Middle East and Africa. She added languages, including Arabic, to her toolkit, and she volunteered and interned in diverse countries like Lebanon, Kenya, and Honduras.

Nick Foytik brings with him music deeply marinaded in blues, soul, and rock n' roll, something not-so-common in Wisconsin's north woods where Nick grew up. Nick has been building his chops for some 20 years, and yet it's really only the past few years when he's really launched his music career full-scale, still focused mostly in the upper Midwest. In addition to his solo gigs and those with his Nick Foytik Band, he continues to work as a guitar for hire. Expect to be delighted by his blues-y songs and finger-guitar artistry.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Catholic, Buddhism, Taoism, Non-affiliated

Ken Grossinger has written a compelling new book about the synergy and power possible between art and organizing. His book is Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together and it brings together many social change efforts of the recent decades and the various forms of art that empowered dramatic movement toward change. From the Civil Rights movement to Black Lives Matter to environmental efforts to a wealth of other actions, looking at a wide spectrum of forms of art, not just music and painting, Ken's book is amazingly deep and wide in its purview. Ken's 35 years of organizing and his eagle eyes give him a valuable vantage point to analyze that made and missed opportunities for artists and organizers to harness their mutual strengths.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish

Today's guest-hosts from the Climate Changed Podcast of the BTS Center share the fruits of their second season, first episode. Starting with some overview and practical pointers, co-hosts Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff provide us a glimpse of the poetry of Lilace Mellin Guignard, a poem called The Great Reimagining.

Our guest is Nerissa Nields, who shares equal lead billing with her sister, Katryna, of the group known as The Nields. Their website proclaims them to be "equal parts Beatles, Cranberries and Joni Mitchell", and that description is admirably accurate and concise. It's hard to adequately capture the power of their songs and voices except to tell you that you need to brace yourself to be inspired, moved, and likely brought to tears. We're only able to share a tiny fraction of the riches of their 21 albums in our show. Check Nerissa's personal site for info on her books and other creations.

Jan Spencer is guest-host today, his third time on Spirit In Action. Jan has a rich vision for a better world, what he calls Creating A Preferred Future. You can track down many of his insights via his YouTube videos and on his website, or you may even be able to hear his broadcasts via KEPW, in Eugene, Oregon.

Geof Morgan was a pioneer in the men's music that emerged around 1980 and which was so transformational for so many. Geof's path began in New England, matured and deepened in Nashville, and then migrated to Bellingham, Washington. His healing work continued all the while, though Geof's music lay largely dormant for decades, till about 6 years, where it sprung fully back to life. Geof released the album Morning Rising last year, with new breadth and depth. From Goodbye John Wayne and Take Back the Night more than 40 years ago to Day Is Coming and Light in the Tunnel this past year, Geof Morgan shows us new and better paths to walk.

Part 2 of a visit with Si Kahn, Vivian Nesbitt, John Dillon, and a special guest, Joe Jencks, where we will looking at the musical written by Si Kahn called Mother Jones in Heaven. Viv and John perform music together in a number of ways, including their tours performing the musical.