101. Land Defenders: The producers of Barú (49:48)

Date:
2020-08-21
Main contributors:
Wilcox, Marvin, Shapiro, Adam, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In the second episode of our land defender series, we talk with land defender Marvin Wilcox and Front Line Defenders representative Adam Shapiro. They walk us through Marvin's story, in which agricultural producers in Panama take on the state and a transnational fruit company to protect their land and health, as well as the patterns commonly encountered by land defenders around the world. If you have any thoughts or questions about the show, you can tweet at us or send an email to itcpod@iu.edu. Resources: ASAMBLEA NACIONAL Ley Nº 55 2019 Dublin Platform Testimony - Marvin Wilcox, Panama Banapiña: Espada de Damócles sobre los productores del Barú

102. The change has not been delicate (25:49)

Date:
2020-01-01
Main contributors:
Alexander, Edward, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
In the new year, we're returning to our first episode, "How the Arctic caught fire." But this time, we focus in on the Gwich'in perspective. Edward Alexander, co-chair of the Gwich'in Council International, tells us how he and those around him are working with the Arctic Council to exchange information and resources in support of a collaborative and resilient Arctic future.

103. Spiritual Ecology: Anishinaabe knowledge with Deborah McGregor (35:32)

Date:
2020-12-11
Main contributors:
McGregor, Deborah, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
Spiritual Ecology: Anishinaabe knowledge with Deborah McGregor In this series, we ask, how can spiritual connection with our environment help us enter into right and restorative relationship with the earth, including human and nonhuman inhabitants? Deborah McGregor, who is Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation and a scholar of law and the environment at York University, helps us understand how spirituality and ecology intertwine in ways more complex than we typically articulate. For further learning: https://iejproject.info.yorku.ca/

104. Air Check: new SAB chair John Graham (19:20)

Date:
2020-11-11
Main contributors:
McCabe, Janet, Graham, John D., Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In this Air Check, host Janet McCabe talks with IU professor and recently-named chair of the EPA's Science Advisory Board John D. Graham about his experience in the SAB and what he foresees for the Biden Administration's environmental work, including cost-benefit analysis and the electrification of motor vehicles.

105. Air Check: activism beyond extractivism (31:58)

Date:
2020-11-25
Main contributors:
Riofrancos. Thea, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In this extended Air Check, political scientist Thea Riofrancos joins us to discuss the historical context of Chilean lithium mining and how it relates to the global movement for a renewable energy future. We touch on the Latin American pink tide, the rise of Indigenous environmental movements, and how supporters of a Green New Deal could effectively maintain pressure on the Biden administration.

106. The psychology of (climate) change (45:33)

Date:
2020-05-08
Main contributors:
Lertzman, Renée, Attari, Shahzeen, Frank, Robert, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
Listeners, we have a question. How are you feeling about climate change, about the environment? You can let us know by emailing us at itcpod@indiana.edu. In this episode, we examine just that—the emotions that can make commitment to climate action difficult and the strategies useful in supporting each other as we reimagine and create a more sustainable future. In this episode: Renée Lertzman Shahzeen Attari Robert Frank

107. The fire season is far from over (45:05)

Date:
2020-01-24
Main contributors:
Douglas, Arabella, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
Part 1 In our first episode covering this season's Australian bushfires, we speak with Arabella Douglas. She is a traditional owner who belongs to the Currie family of the Yugambeh and Bundjalung nations near the Gold Coast of Australia. She also researches behavioral economics and social impact investing at Griffith University. As we entered 2020 and fires swelled, swallowing towns and protected bush, Arabella helped organize a fundraiser to help spread First Nations fire knowledge and land lore, which has protected patches of land this season and for thousands of years. Part 2 In our second episode covering this season's Australian bushfires, we discuss effects on wildlife and communities, whether in the fire zone or choked by smoke. Then, we turn to the generative and unifying role of artists near and far in times of crisis. If you are interested in supporting the ongoing work to protect and recover Australia's wildlife, a couple options mentioned in the episode are Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife and the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES). 3:30 - Amy, who cares for lots of animals, including a Quaker parrot and his friends just outside Canberra

108. Paths to (and from) climate gentrification (42:50)

Date:
2020-02-06/2020-02-07
Main contributors:
Harris, Alex, Keenan, Jesse, Curran, Winfred, Hamilton, Trina
Summary:
Part 1 Long-time residents of higher-elevation Miami neighborhoods have anticipated for decades an influx of wealthy people retreating from flood-prone areas. Then, as it finally began to happen, as households and businesses began to face displacement, as public understanding of climate change swelled, the long-time residents received little assistance. Despite the late 2018 adoption of a City resolution to study climate gentrification—the first of its kind in the U.S.—community activists continue to push the city for substantive action. In our first episode on climate gentrification, we look at the case of Miami-Dade County, including the history that got us to this point and potential solutions moving forward. In this episode: Alex Harris, Miami Herald climate change reporter Jesse Keenan, professor in the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, with a joint appointment at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Science, Technology and Public Policy Part 2 Millions of gallons of oil leaked into the ground under Greenpoint, adding a sheen to Newtown Creek and a substance like "black mayonnaise" to the yards of the neighborhood's working class residents. More than 20 years later, the Coast Guard officially discovered the spill. The chain of events that followed prompted the Just Green Enough strategy, which uncouples remediation and resilience from luxury development and contests the inevitability of displacement in green gentrification scenarios. In our second episode on climate gentrification, we look at the case of the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn, including the history that got us to this point and what we can learn from the people there. In this episode: Winifred Curran, DePaul University Trina Hamilton, University at Buffalo

109. How we solved acid rain (44:27)

Date:
2020-03-31
Main contributors:
Goffman, Joe, Josephson, Dan, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
As early as the 1930s, lakes in the Adirondacks began registering fish loss. By the 1980s, visible forest dieback turned the attention of the United States to the acid rain crisis. Today, scientists are observing the biological recovery of the region. This is the story of how it all happened. In this episode: Joe Goffman, Executive Director of the Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program Dan Josephson, long-time Cornell University Adirondack Fishery Research Program biologist

110. Engaging with climate through art (40:08)

Date:
2020-04-29
Main contributors:
Chandler, Patrick, Pelto, Jill
Summary:
Observing art can help us relate to environmental issues and move us emotionally, but what happens when we take the next step and begin creating art? In this episode, we look at the multi-level potential for art to help us engage in climate commitment.

111. Journey to Full Citizenship: Indiana’s Disability History (12:56)

Date:
2020-03-25
Main contributors:
Indiana Disability History Project
Summary:
This video is an overview of 200 years of change in the lives of Hoosiers with disabilities, produced by the Indiana Disability History Project. A very broad survey starting in the 19th century, the short video highlights the role of advocacy in pressing for the legislation and policy changes needed to secure the civil rights of Indiana's citizens with disabilities. Part One: Hidden Away: By the end of the 19th century, Hoosiers with disabilities were considered to be a burden to society by the state. Indiana created institutions, placing people behind walls and locked doors. Part Two: "Unfit" to Reproduce: In the early 20th century, experts promoted eugenics. They believed society could be improved by using biology and genetics to determine who was fit or unfit to live. In 1907, Indiana became the first state in the nation to legislate mandatory sterilization of some of its citizens. Part Three: Living in the Community: Abuses in institutions came to light. Disability advocates pressed for closures. The establishment of group homes, community mental health centers, and sheltered workshops reflected a shift of funding into community services. Part Four: The Struggle for Civil Rights: People with disabilities and their allies have fought for equal opportunities in employment, education, and housing, for equal access to public buildings and transportation. Because of these efforts, key U.S. civil rights legislation was enacted in the 20th century. Part Five: Hoosiers with Disabilities: Today Hoosiers with disabilities are leading independent lives and contributing to their communities. But despite hard-won successes, inequalities persist in education, employment, economic status, and access to health care. The journey to full citizenship continues.

112. Ray Lay - "I Found My Calling" (06:45)

Date:
2020-09-22
Main contributors:
Indiana Disability History Project
Summary:
"I train psychiatrists, psychologists, police officers, and correctional officers." Ray Lay is an Indiana Certified Recovery Specialist and Veterans Administration Peer Support Specialist. He describes how his life evolved from being homeless to homeowner, from incarceration and substance abuse to owning a small business. Although diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, Ray was never told of his mental health condition. On May 12, 2007, a day that changed his life, he read about his diagnosis in medical records from his service in the Marine Corps. "I have been able to help quite a few vets learn how to live with their condition better. Just like I learned how to live with my condition better." An Indianapolis resident, Ray was interviewed in 2020 via video-recorded online conferencing.

113. In pursuit of environmental justice (33:46)

Date:
2020-02-17
Main contributors:
Shepard, Peggy, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
The legacy of environmental (in)justice stretches beyond the commencement of the industrial revolution, and according to long-time community organizer Peggy Shepard, it remains among the greatest challenges of the next generation. This episode, we discuss the definition of environmental justice, how it tends to play out for regulators, and examples of communities around the world standing up for fair distribution of environmental burdens.

114. What's Next: Claudia Jimenez on participatory design in a just transition (21:43)

Date:
2020-11-13
Main contributors:
Jimenez, Claudia, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In the second episode of our post-election series, Claudia Jimenez discusses how participatory design has led to sustained community investment from Colombia to the Bay Area. As a new Richmond City Council member, she also speaks specifically to the California city's environmental challenges and potential.

115. The environmental justice landscape (24:08)

Date:
2020-04-03
Main contributors:
Konisky, David, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
In this bonus episode, IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs professor David Konisky helps us understand the modern environmental justice movement in the context of its history.

116. Land Defenders: Live with Nina Lakhani and Rebecca Thiele (52:05)

Date:
2020-08-06
Main contributors:
Lakhani, Nina, Thiele, Rebecca, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
According to UK-based Global Witness, 14 land and environment defenders were killed in Honduras over the course of 2019, three years after the murder of celebrated Indigenous land defender Berta Cáceres. In the first episode of our land defender series, we go live with journalist Nina Lakhani to discuss the life of Cáceres and the long campaign against her. We also check in with Indiana Public Broadcasting's Rebecca Thiele, who covers environmental issues in ITC's home state. If you have any thoughts or questions about the show, you can tweet at us or send an email to itcpod@iu.edu.

117. Land Defenders: Why this keeps happening and how to help (59:16)

Date:
2020-08-28
Main contributors:
Brondizio, Eduardo, Goyes, David Rodríguez , Santana, Stella Emery, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In the third and final episode of our land defender series, we talk with Eduardo Brondizio, David Rodríguez Goyes, and Stella Emery Santana about the international systems that have long exploited indigenous land and resources, as well as indigenous and peasant resistance efforts and opportunities to support land defenders.

118. How AI can help fight climate change (26:51)

Date:
2020-05-14
Main contributors:
Silverberg, David, Pilgrim, Brad, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
Machine learning's potential to assist in climate change mitigation and adaptation is vast, but as with any developing technologies, so are the challenges. In this episode, we talk with journalist David Silverberg and Parity CEO Brad Pilgrim about the ways we can use and improve artificial intelligence to fight climate change from all directions.

119. Air Check: lowering energy burdens and the NC Senate (18:12)

Date:
2020-12-17
Main contributors:
Salvador, DeAndrea Newman , Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In this Air Check, Senator-Elect DeAndrea Newman Salvador joins us to talk about North Carolina's 39th District, which she flipped in the most recent election. As the founder of Renewable Energy Transition Initiative (RETI), she also helps us understand high energy burdens and offers insight into lowering them. Resources: https://salvadorfornc.com/meet-deandrea/ http://www.energyhero.org/

120. A future for Las Vegas, part 3 (28:49)

Date:
2020-05-21
Main contributors:
Huber, Nicole, Stern, Ralph, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
Positioned in the driest desert in the United States, Las Vegas is one of the nation's fastest-warming cities. In our third episode on its past and future, we focus on the time from 2000 to present, paying close attention to the ways its extractive industries have intersected with each other and examining the possibility of shrinking the city. In this episode: Nicole Huber and Ralph Stern, authors of Urbanizing the Mojave Desert: Las Vegas

121. Prison Ecology: Live with David Pellow (1:00:00)

Date:
2020-09-03
Main contributors:
Pellow, David, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
This summer, people in United States and beyond took to the streets to demand racial justice. One of the loudest calls was to defund and abolish the police, but not just the police. Abolitionists have long worked to dismantle the broader U.S. carceral state, which imprisons more people than any other nation. "Abolition has to be 'green.'" Ruth Wilson Gilmore told Chenjerai Kumanyika for the Intercepted podcast. "It has to take seriously the problem of environmental harm, environmental racism, and environmental degradation." In the first episode of our prison ecology series, we go live with critical environmental justice researcher David Pellow to discuss the intersection of mass incarceration and environmental justice.

122. Building resilience through parks (37:16)

Date:
2020-03-23
Main contributors:
Jarzen, Joe, Olson, Ethan, Reynolds, Heather, Balsley, Tom, Ogata, Irene, Sawatsky-Kingsley, Aaron, Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
When we learned about the storm-resilient Hunter's Point South Park, we immediately took interest in the resilience potential of urban public space. Then came the questions. How can we manage public space to work in line with local ecology and protect residents from the effects of climate change, all while respecting neighborhood identity and keeping that space truly public? In this two-part series, we look for answers. In this series: Joe Jarzen, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful vice president of program strategy Ethan Olson, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful director of native landscapes Heather Reynolds, Indiana University biology professor and ecologist Tom Balsley, SWA/Balsley landscape architect Irene Ogata, Tucson Water urban landscape manager Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Goshen city forester and director of environmental resilience

123. Air Check: Elections, ghost towns, and refuges (16:42)

Date:
2020-11-03
Main contributors:
Miles, Emily, Shanahan, James
Summary:
We voted, and we hope you did, too! On this election night Air Check, we only prognosticate a little bit. We otherwise discuss climate ghost towns, climate refuges or "havens," and the columns on Emily's future home spreadsheet.

124. Educating (virtually) for Environmental Change (39:53)

Date:
2020-10-09
Main contributors:
Milks, Kirstin, Scribner, Adam, Hamburger, Michael, Speaks, LaStelshia, Boileau, Catherine, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In this bonus episode, we talk with organizers and participants from the award-winning Educating for Environmental Change program. Kirstin Milks, Adam Scribner, Michael Hamburger, LaStelshia Speaks, and Catherine Boileau explain how they've adapted their practices for the challenges we face today.

125. What's Next: Live (59:05)

Date:
2020-11-06
Main contributors:
Meyer, Robinson, Funes, Yessenia, Wray, Britt, Noor, Dharna, Sampathkumar,Mythili, Shanahan, James, Miles, Emily
Summary:
In the first episode of our post-election series, we go live with Robinson Meyer of The Atlantic, Yessenia Funes of Atmos Magazine, Britt Wray of Gen Dread, Dharna Noor of Earther, and independent reporter/consultant Mythili Sampathkumar to discuss the environmental news you need to watch (and how to cope with the associated anxiety) as we move forward.

126. Interview with Oliver Thompson, Boise, Idaho (06:16)

Date:
2020-10-09
Main contributors:
Oliver Thompson
Summary:
Oliver Thompson (Boise, Idaho) Oliver Thompson started playing classical violin as a kid and progressed to bluegrass, blues and rock, and finally jazz when he earned a B.A. in Music from San Jose State University. While studying East Indian music in the San Francisco Bay Area, he started to develop his interests in world music styles. He has recorded with several artists including Bob Culbertson, Mondo Raga Samba, Amuma Says No, and Steve Fulton. Oliver currently plays with Serenata Orchestra and the Basque group Kalimotxo Cowboys. In addition, he performs and records with the Moody Jews of Boise, a band that favors a high-energy klezmer (Eastern European), Jewish-American jazz, and Sephardic (Middle Eastern and Spanish) and Israeli tunes. Audience favorites at events like Deli Days: Idaho’s Jewish Festival, World Village Festival, and Hyde Park Street Fair, the Moody Jews of Boise have entertained and educated listeners about the multi-faceted world of Jewish Music. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/09/2020.

127. How Much Prison Time is Enough? (05:44)

Date:
2020-02-09
Main contributors:
Maharis, Mercedes
Summary:
Presents an actual Nevada parole board hearing during which a disabled sex offender hopes to be released from prison after being eligible many years earlier and repeatedly refused. His traumatic journey finds him caught between prison officials and board members, who place him in a mental double bind, unable to fulfill conflicting requirements to make parole so that he can get the medical care he needs to survive. Includes revealing statistics 2007 - 2019 about death during prison custody for Nevada sex offenders, as compared to total deaths in custody. WARNING: MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS AND CHILDREN. a mercedes maharis film. 6 minutes.

128. Interview with Hasu Patel, Cleveland, Ohio (05:03)

Date:
2020-10-20
Main contributors:
Hasu Patel
Summary:
Hasu Patel (Cleveland, Ohio) Hasu Patel is a composer, performer, and educator based in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Baroda, India, Hasu plays sitar in a style known as Gayaki Ang (vocal style), and has studied with teachers including Prof. N.B. Kikani, and Ustad Anwar Khan Sahib. She has performed nationally and internationally at venues including the Beijing International Congress on Women in Music at the China Conservatory of Music. She has been honored for her achievements in music and public service with awards including the International Peace Ambassadors from the United Nations and the Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award from the Ohio Arts Council. Hasu has recorded and released multiple albums and has composed dozens of compositions in both Indian and Western Classical contexts. She served as a faculty member at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for over twenty years, teaching students who went on to play professionally across genres. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/20/2020.

129. Interview with Jea Street, Jr., Wilmington, Delaware (05:27)

Date:
2020-09-14
Main contributors:
Jea Street, Jr.
Summary:
Jea Street, Jr. (Wilmington, Delaware) Jea Street, Jr. is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. Jea has sung professional operatic and Broadway roles, produced a hip-hop album, and recorded several of his own projects. He was commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Art Museum to co-write a work that told the story of the 1968 occupation of Wilmington, Delaware after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Jea has completed a recording project entitled “The Sit Down,” which tours as a production of Artivism brought to life in the form of a musical experience, and he performed the inaugural set of Firefly CHATs in 2019 on the topic of Artivism. Jea created Ronapalooza, one of the first online music festivals “by artists and for artists,” at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to continue creating music and engaging with fans. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/14/2020.

130. Interview with John Stevens, Swoyersville, Pennsylvania (05:46)

Date:
2020-09-30
Main contributors:
John Stevens
Summary:
John Stevens (Swoyersville, Pennsylvania) John Stevens is an accordion player and polka musician based in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. In 1995, he founded the John Stevens Polka Band. The band has released eighteen cassettes and albums, including Doubleshot Preview (1995) and Come On Let’s Dance (1996). They have performed across the United States, appearing at festivals including Pillar Polkabration (CT), Pulaski's Big Polka Celebration (WI), Polka Spree By The Sea (NJ), The Bethlehem Musikfest (PA), Polka Fireworks (PA), and Polkamotion By The Ocean (MD). In 1997 their song “Everyone’s having Fun” was named number one tune of the year on the Jolly ST. Nick’s Polka Revolution show heard over WPHB 1260AM in Houtzdale, PA. The band has been on numerous Television shows including Pennsylvania Polka, The Jolly Joe Timmer Show, Let’s Polka, and The Bethlehem Musikfest. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/30/2020.

131. Interview with Jemar Phoenix, New Haven, Connecticut (05:58)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Jemar Phoenix
Summary:
Jemar Phoenix (New Haven, Connecticut) Jemar Phoenix is a musician and organizer born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He is a singer and acoustic guitarist specializing in genres ranging from pop, R&B, hip-hop, soul, and Latin music. Along with Cajon player Mike D, he formed the music duo The Hooch, which has performed across the Northeast Metro area. Their EP Cold Fusion (2020) features original lyrics and poetry, and fuses traditional aesthetics of guitar, percussion, and vocals with elements of contemporary American genres. Outside of music, Jemar is also an active member of Ignite the Voice, a non-profit New Haven based youth organization with a mission to equip the youth with the ability of self-expression through the arts. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

132. Interview with Keith Brintzenhoff, Kutztown, Pennsylvania (05:15)

Date:
2020-10-05
Main contributors:
Keith Brintzenhoff
Summary:
Keith Brintzenhoff (Kutztown, Pennsylvania) Keith Brintzenhoff is an autoharp musician and school teacher by profession based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He studied autoharp with leading musicians including Bryan Bowers, Bonnie Phipps, and Becky Blackely, and was a consultant for the large size autoharp built by Folkcraft Instruments of Connecticut. He is an expert researcher on the mountain dulcimer and its Pennsylvania German connections. Keith also plays guitar and old-time banjo, and has performed solo, duo or with his band the Toad Creek Ramblers both in Pennsylvania and in Germany. He has performed in venues including the Hershey Museum and the Historic Schaefferstown, Der Dutch Peddler Homecoming (Ohio), and has served as musical advisor for the Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival. His performances in Germany included a tour for the 700th anniversary of Switzerland Fescht in his ancestral hometown. Keith has also recorded music for various videos and films. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/05/2020.

133. Interview with Jrdarappr, Richmond, Virginia (05:12)

Date:
2020-09-26
Main contributors:
Jrdarappr
Summary:
Jrdarappr (Richmond, Virginia) Jrdarappr aka JR is a rapper based in Richmond, Virginia. His debut album Highway To Hell was released in the spring of 2020 and explores subjects like police brutality, homicide and the ups and downs of living in the United States. The album was made in collaboration with Richmond-based producer NameBrand, along with members of the Poverty Crew, composed of JR, Vonton Soup, and Esco. Other featured artists on the album include Richmond hip hop artists Michael Millions, Young Flexico, and Nickelus F. Beyond the album, JR has performed in open mics around the city, and released a number of music videos driven by visual aesthetics and narrative flow, including “Way 2” and “This That.” JR has collaborated with the Poverty Movement, a project of his and the Poverty Crew that uses creative mediums to further Black radical liberation. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/26/2020.

134. Interview with Marika Hughes, New York City, New York (06:06)

Date:
2020-10-07
Main contributors:
Marika Hughes
Summary:
Marika Hughes (New York City, New York) Marika Hughes is a cellist based in Brooklyn, New York. Although trained in Western classical music, Marika has worked with a wide range of artists and musical genres including Whitney Houston, Lou Reed, Anthony Braxton, Adele, Henry Threadgill, D’Angelo, and Idina Menzel. She was a founding member of the Bay Area-based bands 2 Foot Yard and Red Pocket. She is a teacher and director for Young Arts, a teacher at the Heifetz Institute, and a teaching artist at Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project. Marika has released a number of albums, including The Simplest Thing (2011), Afterlife Music Radio (2011) and New York Nostalgia (2016). She has led her own bands Bottom Heavy and the New String Quartet and played as a cellist in the Tony award-winning show Hadestown on Broadway. Beyond playing music, Marika has been a guest host for All Ears on WQXR and is a featured storyteller on The Moth. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/07/2020.

135. Interview with Moises Nuñez, Portland, Maine (05:55)

Date:
2020-10-26
Main contributors:
Moises Nuñez
Summary:
Moises Nuñez (Portland, Maine) Moises Nuñez aka Mosart212 is a DJ, producer, electronic artist, and educator based in Portland, Maine. His productions and DJ sets feature breaks, funk, bloops, bleeps, and rare finds from far corners of the globe. His released recordings include the EP 212 Pill (Morebeats.lesssleep Collective, 2018), and he is the host of the podcast Symphony Sessions. A mainstay in the Portland, Maine, arts community, he has performed at venues including Space Gallery and the Portland Museum of Art, in addition to touring across the Northeast and beyond. Nuñez was the winner of the Phoenix’s best DJ Music Award in 2011. Outside of music, he has worked as an educator with the Great Schools Partnership, where his focus is on issues of teen violence, restorative justice practices, the social-emotional education of teens, family engagement, and creating inclusive school environments for students. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/26/2020.

136. Interview with Miss Kam, Baltimore, Maryland (05:41)

Date:
2020-10-08
Main contributors:
Miss Kam
Summary:
Miss Kam (Baltimore, Maryland) Miss Kam, born Kamaria Alexis, is a West Baltimore emcee. Miss Kam’s work moves between viral appeal on social media, freestyle series, and prolific collaborative efforts in and out of her community. Miss Kam has collaborated with multiple artists in the DMV region, including Chris Cassius, Baby Kahlo, and Kam’s collective group People Like Us Global. She has gained placements on The Demo Tape’s 2018 playlist and performed with renown acts like JPEGMAFIA. Her performances include cyphers, The Boiler Room, and Red Bull Miss Kam. Beyond live shows, Miss Kam has released multiple singles, including a number produced by producer Doowy Lloh. Her debut EP Birthday Pack was released in 2020. Miss Kam’s music videos, such as “We Are The World, ft. Zadia” seek to feature strong visuals of Baltimore in order to capture the city’s essence. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/08/2020.

137. Interview with Nique Love Rhodes, Detroit, Michigan (05:59)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Nique Love Rhodes
Summary:
Nique Love Rhodes (Detroit, Michigan) Nique Love Rhodes is a hip-hop artist and organizer/activist from Detroit, Michigan. As a performer, Nique leads a multi-faceted ensemble of musicians known as the NLR Experience, playing interactive shows that fuse hip-hop music with jazz and rock. Nique has performed at festivals and headlined venues including the South by Southwest Music Festival (Texas), the North by Northeast Music Festival (Toronto), Dally in the Alley (Detroit), and the Nuyorican Poets Café (New York City). Nique has independently released studio albums including Against All Odds (2019) and The NLR Experience (2018). Nique is also involved in initiatives that are rooted in community and culture. She launched the nonprofit Rise Up Higher, which aims to use music as a tool for social good, and is also the co-founder of D.Cipher, a music mastermind collective dedicated to advancing the Detroit music economy through collaboration and partnerships. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

138. Interview with Morgan Morrison, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (05:49)

Date:
2020-11-02
Main contributors:
Morgan Morrison
Summary:
Morgan Morrison (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) Morgan Morrison is a musician based in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Morgan comes from a family of professional musicians across diverse genres. She began studying the music of Virginia in her teens in various music festivals across the state, but her musical interests span many genres across the world. She plays guitar, bouzouki, and sings. Morgan is a band member and principal manager of the band Furnace Mountain, and performs extensively in the United States and internationally. She teaches mandolin and guitar to local students. Morgan also coordinates more than 200 volunteers for the annual River & Roots Festival and Watermelon Park Festival in Clarke County, and is the Program Director of Barns of Rose Hill, a nonprofit performing arts venue and community center located in historic downtown Berryville, Virginia. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 11/02/2020.

139. Interview with Pablo Batista, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania (05:57)

Date:
2020-10-08
Main contributors:
Pablo Batista
Summary:
Pablo Batista (Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania) Pablo Batista is a master percussionist based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. He has performed, recorded and toured internationally since the 1980s with renowned musicians across genres, receiving the rare distinction of having performed on Grammy-winning releases in jazz, R&B and gospel. Pablo worked with Grover Washington, Jr. since 1985, and served as his touring percussionist 1991-1999. Between 2000-2012, Pablo recorded and toured with Alicia Keys, performing alongside her at such venues as the 2010 World Cup ceremonies in South Africa for an estimated audience of over one billion viewers. Pablo has received grants for research on Afro-Cuban percussion and composer commissions from organizations including the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Pablo leads his own ten-piece Mambo Syndicate salsa conjunto. As an instructor, he has taught at the Curtis Institute of Music, as well as taught low-income students at schools and community centers in North Philadelphia. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/08/2020.

140. Interview with Pepe Santana, Stanhope, New Jersey (05:55)

Date:
2020-10-16
Main contributors:
Pepe Santana
Summary:
Pepe Santana (Stanhope, New Jersey) Juan Pepe Santana is a musician, educator, and instrument maker based in Stanhope, New Jersey. Born in Ecuador, Pepe moved to the U.S. in the 1960s, where he has performed and taught Andean traditions. Pepe plays over twenty Native wind instruments and multiple string instruments. He founded the Festival of the Andes at Waterloo Village, and directed several Andean festivals at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and Symphony Space. Pepe has lectured nationally and internationally. He was an artist in residence at the National Museum of the American Indian: Smithsonian Institution, and has delivered workshops on instrument making in venues including the Museum of Natural History. Pepe founded the ensemble INKHAY (Quechua: “to tend the fire”), which interprets traditional music from the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Pepe was a master folk musician in the Apprenticeship Program of the NJSCA, and was awarded the National Merit and Title of Great Gentleman by the Ecuadorian Government. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/16/2020

141. Interview with Robertico Arias, Providence, Rhode Island (05:33)

Date:
2020-09-18
Main contributors:
Robertico Arias
Summary:
Robertico Arias (Providence, Rhode Island) Robertico Arias is a Dominican musician and leader of the Latin Music Group Alebreke, based in Providence, Rhode Island. He started his music education at ten years old, supported by his mother, folklorist Juana Arias. At the age of seventeen, Robertico became one of the most prominent congas player in the Dominican Republic, eventually moving to New York City. He has toured internationally in Europe, Asia, and North and Central America, and has performed and recorded with musicians such as Wilfrido Vargas and David Byrne. In 1998, he founded the group Merengada which released multiple albums on the BMG Latin label. In 1994, he moved from NYC to Providence, Rhode Island, where he has taught at the Providence Music School and at the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Robertico has performed and taught at many universities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including the Berklee College of Music, Brown University, and Rhode Island University. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/18/2020.

142. Interview with Soni Moreno, New York City, New York (06:03)

Date:
2020-10-13
Main contributors:
Soni Moreno
Summary:
Soni Moreno (New York City, New York) Soni Moreno (Maya/Apache/Yaqui) is a vocalist, actress, composer, and poet, based in New York City. She began her career as a cast member in the original San Francisco production of Hair, and has appeared on Broadway plays including Hair and The Leaf People. Off Broadway, she has performed in plays including Aladdin, America Smith, and Blood Speaks. Soni is the co-founder of First Nations a cappella women’s trio Ulali, touring extensively throughout North America and beyond from 1987 to 2010. She is a member of MATOU, a group of Native American and Maori musicians and performers, performing original compositions that celebrate culture and traditions. Soni has toured with musicians including Buffy Sainte-Marie and the Indigo Girls and performed with Martha Redbone’s concert performances of her play Bone Hill. She has contributed to soundtracks in multiple films and television shows and performed at the Sundance Film Festival Native Program: Celebration of Music in Film. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/13/2020.

143. Interview with Shannon Heaton, Medford, Massachusetts (05:56)

Date:
2020-09-24
Main contributors:
Shannon Heaton
Summary:
Shannon Heaton (Medford, Massachusetts) Deeply rooted in Irish traditional music, Boston-based flute player/singer/composer Shannon Heaton has appeared on stages with duo Matt & Shannon Heaton, and with other traditional performers from around the world, including dancers Kieran Jordan and Kevin Doyle, Tokyo-based tricolor, and guitarist/singer Keith Murphy. As ambassador of the tradition, Shannon hosts the culture podcast Irish Music Stories, and her free Tune of the Month video series and instructional books cater to students of Irish music. Stretching from pure traditional music, Shannon also composes for winds, strings, and piano in various contexts. Heaton received a 2016 Artist Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Live Ireland named her Female Artist of the Year in 2011 and 2010, and Irish American News named her 2009 Female Musician of the Year. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/24/2020.

144. Interview with Sinclair Palmer, Durham, North Carolina (05:59)

Date:
2020-10-16
Main contributors:
Sinclair Palmer
Summary:
Sinclair Palmer (Durham, North Carolina) Sinclair Palmer is a bass player, educator, and instrument maker based in Durham, North Carolina. They perform in a wide range of genres with multiple local bands, and have toured nationally and internationally. They are a member of the musical groups the Muslims, Violet Bell, and Loamlands. Sinclair is also a music educator, teaching in various contexts from private lessons to university settings. They have taught their own community music course titled Music Queery at the Durham venue Pinhook’s People’s School series. Sinclair also plays several other string instruments, in addition to building their own. They hold a BM in Music Performance in Double Bass from the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2017), and an MA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2019). Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/16/2020.

145. Interview with Qya Cristál, Provincetown, Massachusetts (05:57)

Date:
2020-10-05
Main contributors:
Qya Cristál
Summary:
Qya Cristál (Provincetown, Massachusetts) Qya Cristál is a singer, musician, and drag performer based in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She is former Miss Gay USofA Massachusetts 2018, and 4th Runner up for Miss Gay USofA 2018, as well as the winner of the Boston Drag Idol 2019. She holds a degree from Berklee College of Music and has performed in venues across the North Eastern Drag community. She has put on her own one woman shows and performed at events in venues including House of La Rue, Provincetown and Jonathan Hawkins Richardson’s Broadway on the Beach at Crown & Anchor. Through her creative work, she seeks to share messages of love, peace, and acceptance, as well as to continue to show support for her LGBTQIA+ family and assert that Black/Trans/POC Lives Matter. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/05/2020.

146. Interview with Keith Jones, Maywood, New Jersey (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-30
Main contributors:
Keith Jones
Summary:
Keith Jones (Maywood, New Jersey) Keith Jones is an artist and activist based in Maywood, New Jersey. As an artist, Jones is a rapper, musician, poet, and visual artist. In 1978, he began writing lyrics and performing as a rapper known as Fezo. He has recorded multiple albums including Vocal Tai Chi (2015). He is the co-founder of Krip-Hop Nation, an affiliation of artists around the world with various disabilities seeking to raise artist creativity and inclusion in mediums including music, dance, and poetry. Additionally, Jones is president and CEO of SoulTouchin’ Experiences, an organization that sits at the intersection of public policy, community development, disability, and race. Jones has worked to provide outreach support in relationship to the arts and independent living skills. He was recognized for his leadership by the state of Massachusetts and President’s Commission for Employment for People with Disabilities, as well as the Disability Law Center’s 2011 Individual Leadership Award. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/30/2020.

147. Interview with Lakota John, Pembroke, North Carolina (06:00)

Date:
2020-10-16
Main contributors:
Lakota John
Summary:
Lakota John (Pembroke, North Carolina) Lakota John is a Native American artist, songwriter, producer, and musician from Southeastern North Carolina. Lakota John has toured nationally and internationally, performing in venues including the Kennedy Center, the Institute of American Indian Arts Music Fest in Santa Fe, and the Piedmont Blues Festival. He has shared the stage with artists including Pura Fe, Taj Mahal, Keith Secola, and Dom Flemons. He has studied with blues masters John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, among others, and was an artist with the Music Maker Relief Foundation, performing locally as one of their Next Generation Artists alongside elder Bluesmen. His recorded releases include Old Bluez That’s Newz to Me (2009), Lakota John and Kin (2013), and The Winds of Time (2017). Lakota John was awarded a Carolina Music Award in the America/Bluegrass category and has won first place in the 2019 Road to Memphis PBPS Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Competition. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/16/2020.

148. Interview with Larry Lee, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (05:27)

Date:
2020-10-23
Main contributors:
Larry Lee
Summary:
Larry Lee (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) Larry Lee is a ukulele player and music educator based in Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands. Originally from Hawaii, Larry moved to the Marianas around 1990. He has served as music instructor at Northern Marianas College, developing and teaching ukulele courses. He has also taught at junior high schools on the island as well as private lessons and classes at the Public Library. He has performed regularly at venues such as the Surf Club restaurant and produced music videos with his son, musician Kui Lee. Lee is also the co-founder and organizer of the annual Marianas Ukulele Festival, which has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to produce a documentary video about ukulele in the Northern Mariana Islands in 2020. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/23/2020.

149. Interview with Layth Sidiq, Boston, Massachusetts (05:39)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Layth Sidiq
Summary:
Layth Sidiq (Boston, Massachusetts) Layth Sidiq is a violinist, composer and educator. Born in Iraq and raised in Jordan, Layth trained at the National Music Conservatory with Timur Ibrahimov, and later at the Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, U.K. He holds a BM from the Berklee College of Music as well as an MM from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute ,where he studied with artists including Danilo Perez and Terri Lyne Carrington. Layth has performed internationally with artists including Simon Shaheen, Javier Limon, and Jack Dejohnette, and has recorded on Grammy-nominated albums. He has performed as leader and sideman in venues including the Boston Symphony Hall and the Kennedy Center, and in 2018, he won second place in the Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition in Poland. Layth is the director of the Arab Music Ensemble at Tufts University and the Center for Arabic Culture’s Youth Orchestra Program and teaches at Simon Shaheen’s Arabic Music Retreat in Massachusetts. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

150. Interview with Lezlie Webster, Concord, New Hampshire (05:53)

Date:
2020-10-19
Main contributors:
Lezlie Webster
Summary:
Lezlie Webster (Concord, New Hampshire) Lezlie Webster is a Scottish Highland piper and dancer based in Concord, New Hampshire. A native of Ontario, Canada, she began her training in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and studied piping and Scottish highland dancing in Scotland. Lezlie has won many piping competitions in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and is a graduate and examiner of the Institute of Piping. She is also an adjudicator for the Easter U.S. Pipe Band Association. Lezlie and her husband, renowned piper Gordon Webster, were co-founders of the New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts in Manchester, NH, Lezlie and Gordon were invited to represent Scottish Highland piping and dance traditions for New Hampshire’s presentation at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and again for the expanded recreation Celebrate New Hampshire festival held in 2000 in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Lezlie has been honored by the St. Andrew’s Society for her contributions to the Scottish Community. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/19/2020.