Second part of Songs Beyond the Norm for the December 2023 Holidays, focused today on Christmas, but with twists both deep and heavy, and still moving toward Light. Today's 5 songs are by our 6 guests are John McCutcheon & Tom Paxton, The Janzen Boys, Sofia Talvik, Si Kahn, and David LaMotte.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Catholic, Quaker, Mennonite, Pentacostal, Anglican, Non-affiliated, Jewish, Presbyterian

Albert Bellg has followed a long and mindful path in his life, and he shares the essential experiences and insights in his new book, Living the Deepest Truth You Know. Drawing on deep inner resources and availing himself of external supports and mentors, Al recounts the times his decisions were guided by unexpected and surprising truth and wisdom, available to all, but often neglected. Al retired from work as a psychologist recently, but continues to facilitate retreats, lead meditation sessions, and write, including poetry and books.

Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene are exploring the potentials and pitfalls of interracial friendships, and, really, all friendships with “the other”.

First part of Songs Beyond the Norm for the December 2023 Holidays, with humor and humility, for Hanukkah, Solstice, & Christmas, in ways you'd never expect. Today's 5 guests are Chuck Brodsky, Peter Alsop, Joe Jencks, Chris Rosser, and The Rustic Riders. 5 more guests next week.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Baha'i, Jewish, Indian, Buddhist, Christian, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist

Featured Music:

Today's guest-hosts from the Climate Changed Podcast of the BTS Center present a few heart-and-soul-deep features, starting with a moving audio essay called “Daddy, Did We Hurt Them?” by co-host, Ben Yosua-Davis and his 5 year-old-son, Michael. Co-host Nicole Diroff and her father, Michael DiMonte, continue the discussion, and then Nicole does a deep-dive with Hannah Malcolm who is an ordinand in the Church of England and is writing a PhD on a theology of climate and ecological grief.

John Lynch has decades of experience in the music world, performing full-time right out of school, traveling all around the USA with the group The Memories. Eventually the needs of raising kids reduced the territorial range over which he'd perform, but retirement freed his dedication to come back to the stage full-time.

Steve Chase has a long history of doing, teaching, and writing about activism, starting from the age of 13, when he first stood against war.

John Janzen is on his way to “living the dream”, largely because he successfully planted the seeds of the dream of life as a musical artist in his young sons' hearts, and they've taken over making the dream a reality. The result is some really go-getter music makers known as The Janzen Boys. Though along the way they've lived in Japan for some years, home for them is Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada, so I count myself lucky to have discovered John, who, with his 2 oldest sons, is this multi-talented, multiple-harmony, roots and singer-songwriter band, all of them Janzens.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Mennonite, Pentacostal, Anglican, Catholic