Phil Hoose writes songs that we all love and that other performers love to perform. His best-known, Hey, Little Ant, is a song, but also a book that has sold over 1 million copies in 10 languages. With a quirky eye for seeing the world differently, his songs intrigue, amuse, & enchant. An employee of The Nature Conservancy for decades, and the author of more than 10 books, including the inspirational Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, Phil's awards include the John Newbery Medal, Sibert Medal, and the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Liam Hooper, a Trans Bible scholar, talks about Jael in Judges chapter 4, her famous tent peg, & the naughty unconventional way she uses it. Fierce, subversive, and gender non-conforming, Jael stands as a bold figure in the Bible.

Peterson Toscano joins in the discussion then shares an "other" text. He reads a poem by Sapho (ca. 610-580 B.C.E.) from Andrew Harvey's The Essential Gay Mystics. 

Steve Suffet has the heart & the pedigree of a 100% authentic old-fashioned folk singer. Growing up near ground zero of the folk music explosion of NYC in the early 1960's, Steve has witnessed & shared the music of many others, and added his share to the conversation. Though he waited a few decades to start recording his music, Steve has 7 CDs on CDBaby.

Kevin McMullin has created a powerful one-man show called Into the Black Sea: Stories of Darkness and Light to invite the audience to journey alongside the voyage of hurt, healing, and uncertainly he has traveled with the onset of a brain tumor. Kevin uses storytelling and music to walk a mile in his hospital bed, and out of it, show all a way to look honestly into the confusion, pain, and loving that confronts most of us at one time or another of our lives. Check Kevin's site for the full schedule, but there is a looming opportunity in Eau Claire, WI, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 pm, at the UU Eau Claire, 421 S. Farwell St, Eau Claire, suggested donation $15.

Though he's of & lives in South Armagh, Ireland, the music of Ben Reel is variously described as Rock/Americana, Roots Rock, Alternative Folk, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock and even Jazz Pop. Thing is, he's great. Though Irish through-and-through, he's influenced by musicians all over, like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young, Rob Orbison, U2, & many more. Having grown up in the middle of "the troubles" in Ireland, Ben is deeply committed to a better country & a better world.

Permaculture is much more than organic gardening because it uses whole systems thinking. It is explained eloquently by Carol Barta of the Kansas Permaculture Institute, one of the places where Carol teaches folks to see the world differently by focusing on the Big Picture, supported by the 3 core tenets and 12 design principles of permaculture. Their quest for a healthy and balanced way to meet our needs is supported by research by The Land Institute.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Quaker 

Climate Communication experts Blair Bazarich from the San Francisco Zoo and Hannah Pickard at Boston's New England Aquarium share proven insider tips about effective communication strategies.

George Lakey passes on the inspirations that led him to a life of activism & social change, among them Bayard Rustin & Lucrecia Mott. George has more than 50 years experience with on-the-ground activism & activism education, including the establishment of TrainingForChange.org, his WagingNonviolence.org blog, and many books including How We Win and Viking Economics.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Charismatic Christian, Quaker

There are climate advocates everywhere including in sports, the circus, and in mermaid drag. Peterson Toscano of Citizens Climate Radio talks with Lew Blaustein of Green Sports Blog, Brewers pitcher Brent Sutter of Strike Out Waste, Eliana Dunlap of the Circus Action Network, Angel Collinson of ProtectOurWinters.org, and Elizabeth Doud performs in The Mermaid Tear Factory.

Full Notes:

Joe Iadanza is an exceptional Common Man from Long Island, who, in addition to his music tinged with Harry Chapin and Bruce Springsteen flavors, has a serious spirituality and healing avocation, which you can access through his LivingRoomStudio.org site, for his meditation, yoga, podcast, & spiritual direction gifts. Joe performs solo, as part of Joe Iadanza & His Beautiful Band, and in a duo with Carolann Solebello.