33
Jesus and the Glory Seekers: Mark 10: 35-45For his December Bash, Don takes a close and insightful look at Mark’s gospel and Jesus’ interactions with James and John, who wish to be seated at Jesus’ side and share in his glory. Or, so they say when they ask Jesus to do something for them.  In his reading, Don peels back the layers of this story to expose what appears to be a first-century, discipleship power-grab. And, of course, Don has some thoughts about this, as well as Jesus’ revealing response to James and John.
JONAH Homeless Vigil
SIA-000640
Standing, Talking, Listening With The Homeless

Listen in on the chilly Dec 20th JONAH-sponsored vigil on homelessness, with presentations by governmental, activist, and homeless participants. There's an extended interview with Maria Guzman, one of the 3 speakers who were homeless at one point, Maria for 7 months, and she now lives in the Solis Circle affordable housing and serves on the Altoona city council.

67
Experiencing Climate Data Through Art

Citizens’ Climate Radio is a monthly podcast hosted by CCLer Peterson Toscano.

Civil Rights Memorial
SIA-000639
Civil Rights Elders - Groundswell

We'll learn from our civil rights elders as guest-host Patricia Stansbury (AKA Sunny Gardener) interviews three Virginia residents who were involved with civil rights and integration efforts in the 1950s, 60s, and since, Charles Carter, Janet Worsham, and Sallie Rugg. Patricia originally broadcast this interview back in July, 2020. Patricia Stansbury produces Lightly On The Ground and Groundswell shows on WRIR - Richmond Independent Radio.

Featured Music:

SIA-000638
Climate Hospitality & Cli-fi - with Peterson Toscano

Peterson Toscano of Citizen's Climate Radio guest-hosts today, and he explores hospitality in a time of Climate Change with Dr. Natasha DeJarnett and Jayme R Reaves.

Bill Staines
SOS-000562
Bill Staines Sings One Last Time: Critter In The Choir

The incredible and influential folksinger, Bill Staines died this past week, bringing tears of fond memories to my eyes when I got the news. I've been singing his songs in our local song circles for 40 years now, so I decided to again share my 2015 Song of the Soul interview with you, today, in homage of a wonderful man and musician. Bill is best-known, perhaps, for his songs like All God's Critters Got A Place In The Choir, and River, but there are hundreds more available on his more than 26 albums produced over his more than 4 and a half decades and 3 million miles of folk music minstrelsy. Have a good time fondly remembering Bill Staines and his gift of music as we listen to my 2015 interview with Bill, which I called Critter In The Choir.

Linda Hall
SIA-000637
Pulling Together for Children's Mental Health

The topic today for Spirit In Action is the mental health of our children, and who better to talk about it than the director of Wisconsin's Office of Children’s Mental HealthLinda Hall. It turns out that Wisconsin has a somewhat different structure in place to advocate for the mental well-being of our kids, and Linda has spent around 30 years getting to the place where she and her co-workers can more effectively marshal the resources needed to intercede on their behalf.

Tom Neilson performing with his guitar
SOS-000561
Give Trees a Chance!

Tom Neilson is a folk singer's folk singer, using his songs to bring you all the news and issues that are of vital importance to the physical and ethical well-being of Americans but which get short-shrift in mainstream media. It's not a surprise at all that Just Plain Folks International gave Tom awards this year for best Traditional Folk Album & best Social Commentary album. He also does stirring spoken word pieces, some of them shared today.

Religious/Spiritual Influences – Methodist, Quaker

Cover of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows
SIA-000636
Carnism - Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, & Wear Cows - Melanie Joy

Melanie Joy presents deep thought and a check on our clouded view of reality in the new edition of her book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: an Introduction to Carnism, in which she introduces the concept of carnism & explores the psychological mechanisms that buttress the dysfunctional, arbitrary, and unhealthy way that people decide which animals we eat and which we keep as pets. And the questions are foundational to our lives, explored in further detail in her other books, about empathy, connection, violence, nonviolence, and healthy relationships.

Man Offering Hospitality
66
Hospitality in a Time of Climate Change

We live in a world with stronger and more frequent extreme weather events. As a result, giving and receiving hospitality is becoming the new normal for humans. Citizens’ Climate Radio host Peterson Toscano speaks with public theologian Jayme R. Reaves and public health expert Dr. Natasha DeJarnett. What are the risks leading to more displacement? What are the dilemmas and challenges of housing, feeding, and creating more space for people uprooted from homes during extreme weather?