Laura Marie brings to her music exactly the talents & inspirations that make for exquisite, soul-moving, life-affirming, path-changing songs. With the honesty, vulnerability, clarity, and power of a person who has experienced daunting adversity, faced it squarely, and triumphed over the injuries, Laura Marie perfectly demonstrates how to make beautiful music, shining with soul.

Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizens Climate Radio (CCR) is the main host today, after some thoughts on our times from Mark Helpsmeet. Then CCR looks at crisis living & response, both in terms of COVID-19 and Climate Change. Guests include Dr. Natasha DeJarnett, the interim Associate Director of Program & Partnership Development at the National Environmental Health Association, Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, the director of the Sustainable Finance Center at the World Resources Institute, Alice C. Hill, a senior fellow for Climate Change Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, plus a performance by the Climate Stew Players.

Andi Renfree stormed into Nashville, scoring almost immediately with one of her songs recorded by Chris LeDoux. She's collaborated with a number of songwriter/performers, and has performed with several groups, for a number of years as one-third of 2-Bit Palomino, but now with her husband as The Renfrees. Andi touches hearts with her poetry & music of the soul.

Spook Handy saw 2 images in the mirror, did not choose the actuarial path, and it has made all the difference. Taking the stage with Pete Seeger more than 50 times didn't hurt his street cred, but mostly his upbeat, folky, deep and relatable songs, along with Spook's poise and talent make him a pleasure and a joy to listen to and sing along with. When not solo, catch him with The Seed Planters, though no longer with Things Between (fka Sofa Kingdom).

Nonprofit groups are at the forefront of care for the homeless, hungry, needy & oppressed. Given the deep compassion and connection of these non-profits, it is all the more remarkable how often their own staffs face issues of equity and near-poverty wages. Among those looking for a solution to this conundrum are Betsy Leondar-Wright, Anastasia Lynge, & other members of the organization Class Action. They share some of the problems, insights, & solutions that they have found in their report, Staffing the Mission: Improving Jobs in the Nonprofit Sector.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Unitarian Universalist

The issue on most everyone’s mind right now is Coronavirus or Covid-19. We are witnessing a massive social and political transformation as we respond to the outbreak of the virus. Individuals have rapidly and radically changed their behaviors—from washing hands to self-isolating. Nations and local authorities are each taking their part to stop the spread of this disease. We see in real time how quickly and effectively we can adapt to a crisis. We also are discovering where we have failed to anticipate this crisis that is upon us. 

While serving as Activist in Residence at Susquehanna University, Peterson Toscano co-preached a sermon with chaplain Rev.

Lincoln Rice and Ruth Benn of NWTRCC (National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee)share the essentials from the January 2020 on-line war tax resistance counselor training, including the methods, mechanics, motivations, & consequences of refusing to pay for war.

There is a power & depth, a vibrant, evocative rootedness in the music of Claudia Schmidt. Over the 24 recordings Claudia has created has run the reflection of the earth & water of the Midwest, but also the freedom & inspiration of the wind & the stars above our entire planet. With lyrics, music, and voice to charm us all, Claudia channels enthusiasm, inspiration, & healing.

3 guests, 2 writers of fiction touching on the Indian Boarding Schools, William Kent Krueger, author of This Tender Land, and Patricia Reynolds, author of the Keeper of the Souls series, and they are joined by a guest from Alberta, CA, Celina Loyer, Aboriginal Programmer of the Michel Band Exhibit and the Residential Schools display at the Musée Héritage Museum in St.