A recent episode of Lew Blaustein’s Green Sports Pod featured a riveting interview with National Football League player, Garry Gilliam. Blaustein writes:
Garry Gilliam experienced this hope-squashing system firsthand during his childhood in the opportunity-deprived section of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Now, the ex-NFL offensive lineman is using his resources and his seemingly boundless energy to try to break that system, replacing it with a more equitable, hopeful one.
She's never just one (musical) thing. As the co-creator of the immensely popular group-singing songbook, Rise Up Singing, and its sequel, Rise Again, Annie Patterson has one foot securely rooted in the folk music world. Annie must have several feet, because she also has feet well-planted in diverse musical genres, like blues, swing, and jazz.
Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizens Climate Radio visits with 5 guests: Andrew Stuhl, associate professor of environmental studies and sciences at Bucknell University; Jason Davis of Climate Stories Project; poet and Master of Environmental Management from Yale University Clara Fang; photographer, writer, and climate advocate
Bahareh Zare Bahari is distinct in so many ways - as an Iranian woman who, in her early 20's, started her own school, soon shut down by the regime in Iran, who then moved to the Philippines to become a Doctor of Dentistry, and who won 3 beauty queen crowns, using the opportunity to both hold up the beauty & power of the Iranian women and people. Because of her witness, she has been threatened, nearly abducted, and had her nose broken. She is stranded precariously in the Philippines, trapped, with minimal help and protection from vengeful Iranian forces, with people all around her reluctant to step into the path of that wrath. If you wish to help, you can reach out to Bahar on Instagram or via Facebook, but better yet through an email to Ran Meir at RanMeir@gmail.com, who will channel aid to Bahar.
Christine Stay & Aiden Quinn are the modern-folk duo known as Friction Farm. Starting, both, from science-geek jobs, they followed their hearts from work they were very competent at into work that they love and do exquisitely. Based from their sustainable home near Greenville, South Carolina, they make music with deep lyrics, beautiful vocals, and sumptuous instrumentals. And, in non-coronavirus times, you might find them cooking in your kitchen as part of one of their Farm to Table House Concerts. They also do wonderful humor, including political parody, like in this one called "Sweet Kamala".
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
John Vento self-describes as making Americana Classic Rock with Indie Folk Pop surprises, which you can find when he performs solo, with Nied's Hotel Band, or, in the past, with Xposure and Bmen. He has sometimes been called the chameleon of Pittsburgh's music scene. You can find more of his influence through the kind of programs hosted by Steamworks Creative/Steamworks Spirit Station and the work of Band Together Pittsburgh - Music with People on the Autism Spectrum. Also find John on FB.
The women's rights effort in Egypt looks different from that of the USA, with some overlap, addressing things like FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and child marriage, but also economic, employment, & other civil rights. Reda Eldanbouki is the founder & executive director of the Women’s Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness (WCGLA), working to ensure that women enjoy all of their human rights. Reda has faced attacks & violence because of his support for women & women's rights. Ran Meir, formerly of the Clarion Project, both provides input & acts as translator for this interview.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Muslim
Tom Kimmel spent more than 3 decades in Nashville sharing his songs with folks like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Linda Ronstadt, Nanci Griffith, Dolly Parton, Shawn Colvin, Art Garfunkel, and many, many other well-known performers, and performing them himself. Tom's songs expose his heart and move the hearts of others, both though the words & music, combining his gifts as a songwriter, poet, speaker, & teacher.
In an effort to support MVP (Movement Voter Project), Annie Patterson & Peter Blood of RiseUpAndSing.org organized 5 on-line benefit concerts to raise funds, consciousness, & energy to Sing Out The Vote. Focusing their concerts on particular "battleground" states & regions, they educated about the issues & organizations involved in the upcoming election, combining edification for the minds & electrifying for the spirits of their listeners.