How are the impacts of climate change similar to what we are experiencing with the Coronavirus global pandemic? Many climate advocates have long felt sadness, anger, and despair over the destructive effects of climate change and the slow response by elected officials to do anything about it. Suddenly with the Coronavirus Outbreak we are all thrust into yet another existential crisis and even more grief. Eight women talk about working through grief to a place of action. They use their expertise to connect the impacts of climate change to what we are now seeing with Covid-19.

Ksenia Mack is great writing and performing on her own, but is part of a quintuple threat with the Porch Party Mamas. Her songs and music are evocative, warm, & touching, guiding the listener through complex landscapes & emotions, always in the company of beauty. The Porch Party Mamas are a Boston, MA, area group of women with deep talents and a great combined voice.

Laura Marie brings to her music exactly the talents & inspirations that make for exquisite, soul-moving, life-affirming, path-changing songs. With the honesty, vulnerability, clarity, and power of a person who has experienced daunting adversity, faced it squarely, and triumphed over the injuries, Laura Marie perfectly demonstrates how to make beautiful music, shining with soul.

Chief Richard Quiet Thunder Gilbert served as tribal chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape of Bridgeton, NJ, for 13 years. His 86 years on the planet has included 2 books co-authored with Greg Vizzi, The Seventh Generation: Quiet Thunder Speaks (coming soon), and also The Original People. Ruthann Purchase is active with Lenape Everywhere. Check out Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware and Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape of New Jersey On-line Museum.

Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizens Climate Radio (CCR) is the main host today, after some thoughts on our times from Mark Helpsmeet. Then CCR looks at crisis living & response, both in terms of COVID-19 and Climate Change. Guests include Dr. Natasha DeJarnett, the interim Associate Director of Program & Partnership Development at the National Environmental Health Association, Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, the director of the Sustainable Finance Center at the World Resources Institute, Alice C. Hill, a senior fellow for Climate Change Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, plus a performance by the Climate Stew Players.

Andi Renfree stormed into Nashville, scoring almost immediately with one of her songs recorded by Chris LeDoux. She's collaborated with a number of songwriter/performers, and has performed with several groups, for a number of years as one-third of 2-Bit Palomino, but now with her husband as The Renfrees. Andi touches hearts with her poetry & music of the soul.

Spook Handy saw 2 images in the mirror, did not choose the actuarial path, and it has made all the difference. Taking the stage with Pete Seeger more than 50 times didn't hurt his street cred, but mostly his upbeat, folky, deep and relatable songs, along with Spook's poise and talent make him a pleasure and a joy to listen to and sing along with. When not solo, catch him with The Seed Planters, though no longer with Things Between (fka Sofa Kingdom).

Nonprofit groups are at the forefront of care for the homeless, hungry, needy & oppressed. Given the deep compassion and connection of these non-profits, it is all the more remarkable how often their own staffs face issues of equity and near-poverty wages. Among those looking for a solution to this conundrum are Betsy Leondar-Wright, Anastasia Lynge, & other members of the organization Class Action. They share some of the problems, insights, & solutions that they have found in their report, Staffing the Mission: Improving Jobs in the Nonprofit Sector.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Unitarian Universalist

The issue on most everyone’s mind right now is Coronavirus or Covid-19. We are witnessing a massive social and political transformation as we respond to the outbreak of the virus. Individuals have rapidly and radically changed their behaviors—from washing hands to self-isolating. Nations and local authorities are each taking their part to stop the spread of this disease. We see in real time how quickly and effectively we can adapt to a crisis. We also are discovering where we have failed to anticipate this crisis that is upon us.