Bonnie Tinker has been an equality activist most of her life, with a special calling to work for the rights of gay and lesbian families. She has spearheaded many initiatives including Love Makes A Family, an organization which supports non-traditional parents and children and seeks to protect their rights, gay or straight. The daughter of a Methodist preacher turned Quaker, Bonnie has Spirit at the heart of her work.

Bonnie jumped into the middle of the debate over Oregon's proposed anti-homosexuality constitutional amendment in 1992, but decided that it was crucial to win over those from "the other side". She eventually got her own talk radio show and learned to make friends of former adversaries using a form of non-violent dialogue.

WW2 was a "popular war" and it so it took greater conviction to be a conscientious objector to that war. We have the privilege of talking to 2 of the surviving CO's of that war, George Watson, 91 years old, and Jack Phillips, now 86. Their experience in confronting the draft and in serving in the Civilian Public Service had a profound effect on the remainding 60+ years of their lives.

Julie Schmitt loves music and instruments from all over the map. From Sanscrit chanting from India to rhythm and blues, from parodies of love songs to Native American flute and drums, Julie finds riches to inspire her spiritual growth. Julie was raised Catholic and currently attends the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Eau Claire.

Patti See is an ordinary person who took an extraordinary "leap of faith" by becoming a Good Samaritan kidney donor last year. Growing up Catholic, but attending church infrequently at present, she has nonetheless nurtured a deep spiritual life.

Patti, as a writer and an inwardly-reflective person, has looked for better and better ways to share her rich life with the world - serving meals at the Community Table, acting as advisor for the UW-Eau Claire Feminists group, and now, through the University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center, she gave a most intimate gift, one of her kidneys, to a complete stranger.

For those interested in helping out folks needing transplants, check the National Kidney Foundation or MatchingDonors.

David Huber has been serving as the pasteur at the Plymouth Congregational UCC in Eau Claire since August of 2004. His taste in music is wide and innovative, and serves to open and balance the purely intellectual part of his character, and it's a pleasure to welcome him to Song of the Soul.

Todd Dennis served in the US Navy on an nuclear submarine from 1997-2003, experiencing a major shift in his world view during that time. Though he was in the military, he found himself wanting to join anti-war protesters when the US attacked Iraq in 2003, and he joined Veterans for Peace once back in the Chippewa Valley.

Todd was nominally raised part Catholic and confirmed Methodist, but feels little connection there currently. He's now pursuing the education that led him to join the military in the first place, standing with Veterans for Peace whenever possible.

Daniel Winings was raised without any real religious faith, but discovered it himself in college, in his pursuit of truth and consistency. He was eventually baptised into a "mega-church", but the deepening and refining of his faith did not end there. A sojourn in Indonesia and other experiences broke open his concepts of materialism and "American exceptionalism", leading him into simplicity and community with the Mennonite Church. His family and and another family are looking to bring together folks to work toward starting a local Mennonite Church. Email Daniel if you are interested.