Amanda Udis-Kessler is not only a musician, but she's a sociologist, a social ethicist, a theologian, and a writer, and it's her writing that brings her here to us today.

Each week, Spirit In Action brings you stories of people living lives of fruitful service, of peace, community, compassion, creative action and progressive efforts. We will trace the spiritual roots that support and nourish them in their service. Above all, we will seek out Light, Love and Helping Hands, being shared between our many neighbors on this planet, hoping to inspire and encourage you to sink deep roots and produce sacred fruit in your own life.
Spirit In Action is an hour of interviews with those providing leadership in peace, justice and "good works", interspersed with relevant music. The theme music is "The Turning of the World" performed by Sara Thomsen (written by Ruth Pellham).
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Starfish Kids, Imago Dei, & Teamwork Africa
First Air Date
In 2016, Peggy & Mark Halvorson picked up and moved to Liberia, West Africa, with 4 kids in tow, as part of their growing passion of adaption, but also healing for the people of that country. That devotion has only grown in the following years, and so has the organization that Peggy shepherds, Teamwork Africa.
Trauma-healing: Buffalo Star People, Rwanda, & Nigeria
First Air Date
A visit with 2 people, from opposite corners of the globe, trying to help with recovery and healing from severe trauma. Terry Hokenson & his interest in regenerative agriculture led him to a total shift in his worldview, guided by the insights and work of Francis and Barbara Bettelyoun, and the Indigenous American organization called Buffalo Star People. This interview took place before the members of Minneapolis Friends Meeting on Easter Sunday 2024.
George Lakey - Quaker Activist, Organizer, Sociologist, Trainer, & Author - from the Everyday Nonviolence Podcast
First Air Date
The team at of FNVW and their Everyday Nonviolence Podcast guest-hosts today for Spirit In Action.
Race & Revolution Through Jazz: The Duke, The Count, & Sachmo
First Air Date
Larry Tye captures history and writes books about transformation, like the progress brought about by the black musicians who captured hearts in the USA. Larry's latest book is The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America, a combination of legends, deep examination, and inspirational story-telling. This is the 9th book by Larry, all of which open hearts and minds with real-life stories.
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish
Coping Fruitfully with Climate Changed
First Air Date
Today's guest-hosts from the Climate Changed Podcast of the BTS Center, Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff, are bringing us some hope and instruction in how to cope constructively with the threat and tribulations of Climate Changed.
Creative Compassionate Activism from Dubai: Ali Horriyat & Compassiviste
First Air Date
Our guest is Ali Horriyat and he's an amazing human being. Ali grew up in Dubai, had loads of education in Europe, eventually obtaining 3 Masters degrees, made a huge fortune in Canada, then gave it away to reboot his life, free from a wealth addiction, and also free to direct his energy to the true betterment of the world. Ali created Compassiviste, a mutual-support organization of creative compassionate activists doing wonderful work. Ali Horriyat joins us from Dubai in the Middle East.
Primer for Paradigm Shift, Part 2, Jan Spencer
First Air Date
Jan Spencer is guest-host today, his fourth time on Spirit in Action. talking about what he calls his Primer for Paradigm Shift – the needed way of seeing and thinking about the world in order to become sustainable and to leave our world-wrecking ways behind us.
Simple, Wise, Life-changing Living & Parenting: Pamela Haines
First Air Date
Pamela Haines writes deep, profound and life-changing books, but she does it with simple, straightforward, and accessible language. With degrees in Social Ecology and Labor & Women's History, she is a self-taught economist and consummate communicator. Her greatest strength, however, is not her paper degrees, but her genuine and lifelong curiosity, integrity, and wide-ranging compassion, which lead her to write delightful books that all of us need and can appreciate.
Activism, Antarctica, Permitting, & Re-fashioning: Citizen's Climate Radio
First Air Date
Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizen's Climate Radio is sitting in today for Spirit In Action, assisted by several CCR activists.