Michael Johnathon is a farmer - a songfarmer - and he cultivates folk music from his log cabin just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, by his personal writing, playing and touring, through his 20 albums, but also via the radio and video show called WoodSongs that he's been broadcasting on hundreds of stations for the past 18 years. But, to circle back, Michael's core commitment is to serve the song, a passion that he carries out through the SongFarmers organization and community that he founded and sustains from his front porch.
Valerie Brown's new book is Hope Leans Forward, Teaching From a Black Buddhist & Quaker. Valerie's book shares a number of Buddhist & Quaker teachings and insights which can help anyone lead a more fulfilled & complete life. These lessons are embodied in the lives of many different people, but especial in Valerie's life experience growing up Afro-Cuban-Jamaican in a single-parent household in Brooklyn, NY.
Emily White is Memphis-raised, but Chicagoan as adult, self-describing as Southerner by heart, Midwestern by choice. While Emily's voice and music are beautiful and compelling, her lyrics elevate her to the top ranks of performers, touching the deep places and raising it all to golden heights. Her newest album is called Songs You Didn't Know I Wrote About You, and that's likely the truth you'll experience in Emily's music.
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jesus, Evangelical Christian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal
A sampling of the full 3-plus-hour collaborative concert held on February 11th, 2023 as part of the People's Music Network (PMN) Winter Convergence hosted at The People's Forum in New York City. Activism, humor, inspiration, justice, and more by 10 of the 25-plus performers at the concert. Be there for future events!
In 1987 David & Lise Abazs bought and built their off-the-grid Round River Farm, in Finland, Minnesota, from the ground up, starting with a 30-year plan. Having completed that phase, and needing to create additional plans to allow them live sustainably on their land throughout their full lives, they created an updated 10-year strategic plan addressing aspects of energy, transportation, water, shelter, food, work/community, and spirituality.
Guest-hosts today are from the Climate Changed podcast, Nicole Diroff & Ben Yosua-Davis, of the BTS Center, accompanied by Peterson Toscano.
Annie Capp's music has sometimes been called Midwest Urban Folk and it has also been called Folk Therapy, and the music that she shares today is from an especially deep and somewhat confessional project called How Can I Say This.
Randie O'Neil's music is magnetic, especially in the deeply honest feelings and aspirations of her songs. Randie has self-described as a Americana/Folk-Pop artist, but she is also standing on the shoulders of a number of heavy-rocking, strong-and-assertive-and-determined women who blazed a way in a mostly male-dominated rock world. Though her songs are largely solo artistry now, back in the day Randie was part of AMA (Against Medical Advice), though she is truly FMA (For Mental-health Advancement).
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Lutheran, Moravian, Mindfulness, Non-affiliated