Kevin McMullin has created a powerful one-man show called Into the Black Sea: Stories of Darkness and Light to invite the audience to journey alongside the voyage of hurt, healing, and uncertainly he has traveled with the onset of a brain tumor. Kevin uses storytelling and music to walk a mile in his hospital bed, and out of it, show all a way to look honestly into the confusion, pain, and loving that confronts most of us at one time or another of our lives. Check Kevin's site for the full schedule, but there is a looming opportunity in Eau Claire, WI, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 pm, at the UU Eau Claire, 421 S. Farwell St, Eau Claire, suggested donation $15.

Though he's of & lives in South Armagh, Ireland, the music of Ben Reel is variously described as Rock/Americana, Roots Rock, Alternative Folk, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock and even Jazz Pop. Thing is, he's great. Though Irish through-and-through, he's influenced by musicians all over, like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young, Rob Orbison, U2, & many more. Having grown up in the middle of "the troubles" in Ireland, Ben is deeply committed to a better country & a better world.

Permaculture is much more than organic gardening because it uses whole systems thinking. It is explained eloquently by Carol Barta of the Kansas Permaculture Institute, one of the places where Carol teaches folks to see the world differently by focusing on the Big Picture, supported by the 3 core tenets and 12 design principles of permaculture. Their quest for a healthy and balanced way to meet our needs is supported by research by The Land Institute.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Quaker 

Climate Communication experts Blair Bazarich from the San Francisco Zoo and Hannah Pickard at Boston's New England Aquarium share proven insider tips about effective communication strategies.

George Lakey passes on the inspirations that led him to a life of activism & social change, among them Bayard Rustin & Lucrecia Mott. George has more than 50 years experience with on-the-ground activism & activism education, including the establishment of TrainingForChange.org, his WagingNonviolence.org blog, and many books including How We Win and Viking Economics.

Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Charismatic Christian, Quaker

There are climate advocates everywhere including in sports, the circus, and in mermaid drag. Peterson Toscano of Citizens Climate Radio talks with Lew Blaustein of Green Sports Blog, Brewers pitcher Brent Sutter of Strike Out Waste, Eliana Dunlap of the Circus Action Network, Angel Collinson of ProtectOurWinters.org, and Elizabeth Doud performs in The Mermaid Tear Factory.

Full Notes:

Joe Iadanza is an exceptional Common Man from Long Island, who, in addition to his music tinged with Harry Chapin and Bruce Springsteen flavors, has a serious spirituality and healing avocation, which you can access through his LivingRoomStudio.org site, for his meditation, yoga, podcast, & spiritual direction gifts. Joe performs solo, as part of Joe Iadanza & His Beautiful Band, and in a duo with Carolann Solebello.

Exploration of how spiritually-root service can transform the paths of young volunteers. There's riches in the experience with the Peace Corps, Americorps & VISTA, Teach for America, & many more, but today we visit with several folks with QVS (Quaker Voluntary Service). QVS provides a year of service, living at the intersection of transformational spirituality and activism.

Special guest, Joy Ladin, joins Liam Hooper and Peterson Toscano for a moving and insightful exploration of the Book of Jonah. Joy Ladin holds the Gottesman Chair in English at Yeshiva University, and, in 2007, became the first (and still only) openly transgender employee of an Orthodox Jewish institution. 

Kori Riesenweber has an angelic voice & a love for harmonies that has been lived out in many ways: in the bluegrass band of her extended families, in the intricate arrangements of her time as part of Beacon James (on Facebook and on Bandcamp), and currently with Girl Band. She also performs solo, and sings constantly with her newborn son.