Bob Franke has decades of experience writing songs that vividly capture the experience of the human heart and spirit, enough so that at least one of his songs made it into the Friends Hymnal that came out in 1996. His latest CD, The Other Evening In Chicago is available at the waterbug.com site.

Song of the Soul invites you to a soul-level encounter. Music has the ability to proclaim the soul's language beyond what mere words can speak. That's what we seek as we invite our guests to share their Song of the Soul. You will hear the music that has charted the steps of their spiritual journey, that has provided a touchstone in the soul's dark night, and sung the hearts awe and joy when come to the Light. As you listen to Song of the Soul, you are both witness and companion to our guest's spiritual path and sacred testimony.
Song of the Soul guests provide 20-23 minutes of the music of their soul, and Mark Helpsmeet explores with them the relevance and meaning of this music to their experience. Most guests are musicians, usually sharing their own music, but some guests are simply sharing music they've been impacted by, written and performed by others.
The theme song for this program is by Cris Williamson and is called "Song of the Soul". Please check out the wealth of great music Cris has gifted to the world.
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Ellen Bloom Ninneman's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Ellen was raised in a conservative part of the Lutheran Church, and she completely embraced her childhood religion. In her 30's she found herself working through guilt and rules to find a spirituality that fit her better. Focusing on the Law of Attraction is fundamental to her spiritual world view now, and her musical preferences speak clearly of her vision.
Sara Hickman's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Sara Hickman is an artist with a passionate and activist soul. From the work that earned her an honorary degree as a music therapist to her work on behalf of Romanian orphans, whether performing in a church fund-raiser for a shelter or on the stage of Austin City Limits, Sara brings heart and deep listening to Spirit to her music.
Kate MacLeod's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Singer/songwriter Kate MacLeod was a Utah violin-maker, but became a performer when push came to shove. The fiddle/violin is her special instrument among the other instruments she plays, but my favorite is her voice. Catholic raised, Quaker at present, she’s a story-teller, a folk singer, a blue grass virtuoso.
Sara Thomsen's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Sara Thomsen lives amongst the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin, making music and leading a choir. She's released 3 solo albums plus one with the group called Three Altos. Raised ELCA Lutheran and an occasional UU attender now, her music is deeply spiritual with a lively concern for the world.
Carlton Schreiner's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Carlton has spent the past 2 years at an ashram in California, finding his way forward in his spiritual life. He's produced a CD Love Is The Cure that shares music he's been given, freeing him to skip past the ego battles that were such a part of his work as a counselor.
Nora Bates' Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Nora has tasted a lot of different churches in the course of her spiritual search, and an important part of her quest included coming to grips with the parts of her that felt unloved and unlovable, that doubted that any church could be trusted. She has found a spiritual home, at present, at Unity Christ Center of Eau Claire.
Annie Patterson's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Annie Patterson is a thorough music lover, maker and sharer, with many years experience performing music in coffeehouses, clubs and festivals and with a swing group called Big Nite Out and Girls From Mars. Annie was raised Methodist, but felt, even in her teens, a tug toward the Divine presence available in silence, an attraction that led her to Quakers as an adult.
Annabella Wood's Song of the Soul
First Air Date
During nearly 30 years of driving trucks Annabella was pulled into deep spiritual introspection. One of the outcroppings of this was prolific songwriting on spiritual matters. With her partner at the time, Bobbie Bush, she formed the singing duo "Sweet Spirit". Annabella continues singing solo now delving into the challenge of balancing physical life with spiritual being.
Sally Rogers' Song of the Soul
First Air Date
Sally Rogers has been sharing her music with the world for at least 3 decades, has more than a dozen recordings, and some of her songs have been included in both the Unitarian and Quaker hymnals. She teaches music in Connecticut and is a singer/songwriter on weekends and in the summer.