Spirit In Action

A visit with Steve Ryals, author of Drunk With Wonder: Awakening to the God Within, former speed freak and alcoholic, and activist with Challenge Day. Music featured in this program: How Could Anyone Ever Tell You - Peaceful Women

Judith did a radical experiment in "Not Buying It" - she went without shopping (beyond simple necessities) for a year. She's full of insights about and experiences with our consumer culture. I recorded her talk at the 2007 MREA's Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair, and I followed up with a phone interview last week. Music Featured: Everything We Need - Carol Johnson Original Air Date: 09/30/2007

Cheryl Thiede is the associate director of social services for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, - ARCW.org or 836-7710. Raised Moravian, she is now part of Eau Claire 's Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Music Featured: The AIDS Song, The Stigma Song - Jony Jerusalem Got a Lot of Livin To Do - Peter Alsop Patchwork Quilt - Sweet Honey in the Rock

Dr. Helen Caldicott spoke at the Forum Series at UW-EC on that fateful day, 9/11/2001. Her topic was "George Bush and the Threat of Nuclear War". Physicians for Social Responsibility Dr. Helen Caldicott is a mother, a physician, the world's leading spokesperson for the anti-nuclear movement, co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the author of a number of books including Nuclear Madness, Missile Envy, and The New Nuclear Danger: George Bush's Military Industrial Complex. Music Featured: The Hammer Has To Fall - Charlie King

The Wellness Shack is a consumer-run non-profit organization for adults with mental illness, working to educate the public about mental illness and to eliminate some of the misperceptions and stigma with mental illness through self-education, socialization, and accepting yourself. The October 12th, 2007 benefit featured music performed by Poppy Moelter & Troy Jackson, and poetry written by Savannah Rhae & Nora Bates. The Wellness Shack is at 515 S Barstow St, Suite 117 in Eau Claire and their phone is 715-855-7705. Music shared in this program is by Poppy Moelter: Healing Days White Pine Water's Changing

JONAH had it's founding ceremony on 11/11/2007 in Eau Claire, where participants spelled out the needs, real and personal, the mission, and the commitment and support to be expected from this association. Covenanting bodies: Good Shepherd ELCA St. Bede Monastery Unity Christ Center First Congregational United Church of Christ First Lutheran ELCA Friends of Meeting of Eau Claire Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire Christ Episcopal Church Thanks to Wayne Sorge for providing a recording of the ceremony!

Katherine is retired from her career as a clinical psychologist and author of To The Left of Inspiration: Adventures in living with disabilities. Blind from birth, Katherine has powerful insight into the dynamics of disabilities in our society. She used the inheritance from her father to create the Schneider Family Book Awards, recognizing the inclusion of people with disabilities in literature. Music Featured: I'm A Little Cookie - John McCutcheon What You Do With What You've Got - Si Kahn Let's Face It - Peter Alsop & Bill Harley

Frances Ford conceived of The War Plays Project, Inc in the period leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, a way to invite people to think of the too-little-thought-of aspects of war. She and the other folks with The War Plays Project have produced a series of short plays going beyond what the mainstream media is willing to consider. What they've produced so far: Letters to, Letters from, Letters Never Written Rachel Corrie, A Life For Others At War With Women You can order the 2 DVD set, Vets Speak, calling Frances at 651-793-6437, or by emailing her at fford255106@yahoo.com. Donations are accepted, but not required, for the DVD set. Music Featured: When Johnny Came Marching Home - David Rovics Who Would Jesus Bomb - David Rovics

Judy Hyde is a perpetual source of healing and fun for the world. She's been working for Free the Slaves for several years, finding ways to stem the record numbers of people - and especially kids - held captive for slave labor. Judy has a special concern for children, which led her to found the Children's Law Center of Connecticut in 1993, and her passions lead her to volunteer with the GI Rights Hotline and to participate with the Concora: Connecticut's Premier Professional Choir". Music Featured: Harriet Tubman (Lifeline) - Holly Near Freedom Song - Sara Thomsen Azanian Freedom Song - Sweet Honey In The Rock House Of The Rising Sun - Peter, Paul & Mary with B.B. King

Elizabeth Gordon recounts the spiritual & cultural odyssey in her newly released book, Walk With Us. When she and her female partner take into their home a 14-year old expecting triplets, it is a learning experience on multiple levels, mixing as it did Black Muslims and white Quakers, straight and gay, not to mention the generational differences. Elizabeth recounts the deeply emotional and powerfully spiritual twists and turns of helping raise 3 beautiful baby boys in trying circumstances. Music Featured: Ella's Song - Sweet Honey in the Rock

A visit with Poppy Moelter about the wholeness/healing modality called Integrative Breathwork, a method using music and breath as keys to access healing and change along the developmental levels corresponding to the chakras. An Integrative Breathwork "workshop" will be held in Eau Claire on Saturday, November 3rd, 8:30 am till 6:30 pm at Unity Christ Center in Eau Claire. For further information or to register contact Poppy Moelter, 834-8867 or PoppyMoelter [AT] hotmail.com. It will be facilitated by Barbara Joye, with Poppy's assistance. Music Featured: Les Maitres-Tambours Du Burundi (The master drummers of Burundi) Feet In The Soil - James Asher Gladiator - Hans Zimmer Myth: Chorus of Tribes Dream - Kitaro Spirit Wind - Richard Warner

On September 11, 2007, the people of Eau Claire gathered at Phoenix Park to remember the events of 6 years earlier, but also to seek a way forward to a better, healed world. Take part in the music, reflection and visioning of the event on this program, including the keynote by Mike Boehm, founder of the My Lai Peace Park & Loan Fund, and other acts of reconciliation with Vietnam, Japan and Central America. You can hear my complete interview with Mike Boehm here. Music Featured: Healing In This Night - Bob Franke Comments from the program for the event: "This evenings observance of forgiveness and rebirth was organized by an informal local interfaith consortium. Six years after the events of September 11, 2001, our nation still finds itself unable to describe the full scope of emotions and loss experienced by our nation and the entire world on that day of tragic proportion. As people of faith we understand that the cause of those deadly actions and the ensuing global reactions all reflect a fundamental sta

Laura and DeeAnn caught a passion for the work because of Ending Hunger Now, a book by George McGovern, Bob Dole, and Donald Messer (Democrat, Republican, and minister - but all Methodists) as part of a Lenton study group at River Falls United Methodist Church. The work of Ending Hunger Now is endless, but Laura, DeeAnn & others bring nearly boundless energy & creativity to the work. Music Featured: The Shortest Story -Harry Chapin Cowboy Dan - Andy Murray

A visit with Amy DeLong, founder of Kairos CoMotion, an organization aiming to Reform, Network and Act-Up within the United Methodist Church to confront discrimination, including that against gays and lesbians. Music Featured: Oh My Children - Sara Thomsen What Shall I Give - Sara Thomsen Everything Possible - Fred Small

Mary Rehwald spear-headed the successful effort of the city council to declare Ashland, WI an ECOmunicipality, incorporating the Natural Step process. Mary is a member of Ashland's City Council and a Northland College faculty member. A life-long Unitarian, she has a special spiritual calling toward building community. She has a stong connection to caring for the earth and living responsibly upon it. Resource she recommends include the Natural Step, the Alliance for Sustainability, Sustainable Sweden, Clean Wisconsin, and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. Music Featured: Whose Garden Was This - Tom Paxton Live Like A Prayer - Magpie Earth Anthem - The Turtles Original Air Date: 04/09/2006

A visit with Peder, Adam & Megan in Jerusalem, on site in the Middle East to shoot a film about the Israeli occupation. They hope to provide a picture of the Palestinians to humanize them and their plight in face of the very unbalanced media picture we typically see in the USA. Peder, Adam & Megan are college Juniors and Seniors with studies in Political Science, Anthropology and Film. Their project is being supported by BuildABridge International You can read a description of their project here or read Peder Wiegner's blog, where you can also find out about the film they will release. For a couple of visuals of what they've seen in the Middle East, check out these videos of a Greek activist being arrested and some Beautiful Dabkeh Dancing.

Snapshot visits at this year's Energy fair, including Stan Gruszynski keynote, Steve Mellenthin, Mike Miles of Anathoth, music by Pine Wilson & Kevin Soucie, Community Homestead visitors, Ned Boyles workshop on Reality 101, exhibitors TS Designs, Tall Grass Bioneers, SonLight Power and Lake Michigan Wind & Sun, and part of Judith Levine's keynote on her "Not Buying It" book. Included in this Spirit In Action visit to the MREA Energy Fair: Excerpt from the keynote address by Stan Gruszynski - Former Representative of 71st District and currently director of Rural Leadership & Community Development Program at UW-SP's Global Environmental Management Education Center Comments by Steve Mellenthin - Deputy Political Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin A brief visit with Mike Miles of Anathoth Community Farm, site of the July 7th, 2007, Live Earth Wisconsin festivities. Pine Wilson of Maritza and Kevin Soucie did music in the Purple Flag Tent - mainly in French, but a little Eastern European fo

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association Energy Fair is an amazing event, rich in speakers, workshops, vendors, music and more than 16,000 attenders. I went with an ear for the voice of the Spirit - and heard PLENTY. A collage of many folks who took part, as I roamed around the fair grounds on June 15-17, 2007. In part 1 of 2, I visit with and listen to: Dr. Helen Caldicott, one of the founders of Physicians for Social Responsibility and keynote speaker for Friday at the Energy Fair. Dorothy Toy, a German-born American, who listened to Caldicott's presentation. Aaron Miller, a 20-something who took part in the Peace Walk. Bonnie Block of Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice, the group who organized the Peace Walk. Lillian Dypold, a 14-year old I met on the Peace Walk. Douglas Dypold, father to Lillian - she was so interesting, I just had to talk to her dad, and the influence was clear and rich. Bryce Black, exhibitor for LoTec Windmill Service - who shared a song he wrote for his son. David Abazs of Roun

Bill Wiese has served as a kind of representative of 6 Eau Claire area churches to UW-Eau Claire in a program known as "The Ministry". Bill, a life-long Methodist, provides a portal to the community for the students and enriches their lives by doing things like teaching free yoga sessions and sharing from his more than a decade under a Native American teacher. The 6 mainline churches who have hired Bill to create "The Ministry" are Eau Claire's 1st Presbyterian, 1st Congregational UCC, 1st Baptist, Lake Street United Methodist, Chapel Heights United Methodist and Hope United Methodist. Bill is well-disposed to "meet people where they are", with an open and inquiring mind that looks for value wherever he can find it. Frank Montano and the beauty of the Native American flute drew him into an in-depth study and practice of Native American ways, while curiosity and openness drew him into yoga, all the time without loosing his Methodist roots. You can email him at uwecministry@yahoo.com or call him at (715) 271-01

A visit with Ruah Swennerfelt and Louis Cox about their role with Quaker Earthcare Witness, the paths that led them to lives of earth & spiritual activism, their lives "off the grid" in Vermont ... and much more. Interviewed July 8th, 2005 at the Friends General Conference gathering held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia Music Featured: Heaven's Here On Earth - Tracy Chapman Earth Pledge - Earth Mama Original Air Date: 09/04/2005