Xanthe Alexis is a captivating and enchanting musician from Colorado Springs who so clearly captures power, meaning and charm through her music. She self-describes her music as sepia-toned Americana, and while I don’t see it exactly that way, there is something reflective and deep that the listener will receive from her music, She performed for many years as part of The Hopeful Heroines including on their album, Goddamn Mess (Live), and just returned from the annual Folk Alliance International session in Montreal.
Throughout his career, Dwight L. Wilson has held many jobs: educator, administrator, chaplain. In each role, he worked to advance equality, opportunity and understanding. He continues this work in his carefully researched historical fiction series Esi Was My Mother, which follows the lives of an enslaved black family from 18th century Africa to the American Civil War. He strives to portray triumphant examples of black stories that will make history come alive for readers. He is also author of The Kidnapped: A Collection of Short Stories and Modern Psalms: In Search of Peace and Justice. Dwight writes about "characters who existed, those who could have existed, and those who should have existed."
Gael Henry Carlut grew up in the Philippines on what was once a desert island. Gael's father is from France and his mother is from Iloilo in the Philippines. They fell in love and in 1986 settled on Pandan Island. Their goal was to protect the extraordinary coral reef that surrounds the island and then share it with others. Gael left the Philippines and settled in France to study environmental science and water treatment processes. He felt a strong pull though to return not only to the Philippines, but to this remote island. On a recent visit to Pandan Island, Citizens Climate Radio host, Peterson Toscano chatted with Gael about the island, climate change, and the pursuit of happiness.
Host Peterson Toscano visits with 3 Evangelicals fighting climate change, Kyle Meyaard-Shaap, Corina Newsome, & Rev. Josh Gibson. Comic creation, Tony Buffusio from the Bronx, talks climate change in the Bible. Scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, host of the Global Weirding Podcast shares climate communication tips, and author Dr. Jeffrey Bennett and illustrator Roberta Collier-Morales inspire by their book, The Wizard Who Saved the World.
Ali Handal's launch into music was via the kind of rock music done by Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses, and has blossumed into a variety of singer/songwriter styles. She can rock out with a powerful Whole Lotta Love and she can inspire with an anthem like Love More, and bounce jazzily with songs like I Love My Pussy Cat.
Selika Ducksworth-Lawton is Professor of History at UW-Eau Claire and an educator & activist, raising awareness and working for our civil rights. From a rural black Louisianan upbringing, Selika has an incisive perspective on race & cultural dynamics in the USA. She serves on the executive board of Wisconsin's ACLU, is co-author of The Pipeline, and wrote a chapter, Have Gun Will Travel, in the newly released book, Black Veterans, Politics, and Civil Right in 20th Century America.
Lena Elizabeth writes and sings music straight from the heart, using her songs to transform experiences like depression, crippling anxiety, & an eating disorder into health and wholeness. While clearly growing from folk-music infused ground, she has a blues-rooted voice, and the combination of these & other influences is magical. Check out her transformation of the Everly Brothers' song, Bye, Bye, Love, so that it sounds like the lyrics, with Sarah Morris and her Toilet Tunes.
Lou & Peter Berryman are known for their unstoppable humor & wordplay, and for their distinctive guitar & accordion instrumentation. Based in Madison, WI, they've churned out many hundreds of songs on topics large & small, staving off the weight of the world with terminal laughter syndrome. There's no one like them as you will know by browsing their Lou & Peter's Big Songbook.
Wendy Martin is part country, folk, Americana, and rock, but she is completely a golden throat and a golden heart. She wrote her first song, a really viable song complete with harmonies & instrumentation, at age 5, so it's a great pity that shyness and care for her children and family delayed the release of her musical gifts to the world by decades. She's here now, a great reason to be thankful for her voice, lyrics, & stories.
Robert Friedman, founder of Prosperity Now, & author of A Few Thousand Dollars: Sparking Prosperity for Everyone, says, "Given a chance, low-income people do amazing things and can be, not just beneficiaries, trainees, employees, but entrepreneurs, home-owners, college material, skilled workers, creators of wealth". He shares the proof and the means to reversing income inequality and increasing prosperity for our nation.