Ken Grossinger has written a compelling new book about the synergy and power possible between art and organizing. His book is Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together and it brings together many social change efforts of the recent decades and the various forms of art that empowered dramatic movement toward change. From the Civil Rights movement to Black Lives Matter to environmental efforts to a wealth of other actions, looking at a wide spectrum of forms of art, not just music and painting, Ken's book is amazingly deep and wide in its purview. Ken's 35 years of organizing and his eagle eyes give him a valuable vantage point to analyze that made and missed opportunities for artists and organizers to harness their mutual strengths.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish

Our guest is Nerissa Nields, who shares equal lead billing with her sister, Katryna, of the group known as The Nields. Their website proclaims them to be "equal parts Beatles, Cranberries and Joni Mitchell", and that description is admirably accurate and concise. It's hard to adequately capture the power of their songs and voices except to tell you that you need to brace yourself to be inspired, moved, and likely brought to tears. We're only able to share a tiny fraction of the riches of their 21 albums in our show. Check Nerissa's personal site for info on her books and other creations.

Today's guest-hosts from the Climate Changed Podcast of the BTS Center share the fruits of their second season, first episode. Starting with some overview and practical pointers, co-hosts Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff provide us a glimpse of the poetry of Lilace Mellin Guignard, a poem called The Great Reimagining.

Jan Spencer is guest-host today, his third time on Spirit In Action. Jan has a rich vision for a better world, what he calls Creating A Preferred Future. You can track down many of his insights via his YouTube videos and on his website, or you may even be able to hear his broadcasts via KEPW, in Eugene, Oregon.

Geof Morgan was a pioneer in the men's music that emerged around 1980 and which was so transformational for so many. Geof's path began in New England, matured and deepened in Nashville, and then migrated to Bellingham, Washington. His healing work continued all the while, though Geof's music lay largely dormant for decades, till about 6 years, where it sprung fully back to life. Geof released the album Morning Rising last year, with new breadth and depth. From Goodbye John Wayne and Take Back the Night more than 40 years ago to Day Is Coming and Light in the Tunnel this past year, Geof Morgan shows us new and better paths to walk.

Part 2 of a visit with Si Kahn, Vivian Nesbitt, John Dillon, and a special guest, Joe Jencks, where we will looking at the musical written by Si Kahn called Mother Jones in Heaven. Viv and John perform music together in a number of ways, including their tours performing the musical.

Si Kahn is joining us today for Spirit In Action along with two other folks, Vivian Nesbitt and John Dillon, and this week's show is part one where we will looking at the musical written by Si Kahn called Mother Jones in Heaven.

My guest today is Kat Moore, and she's bringing us the music of the Super Saturated Sugar Strings from Anchorage, Alaska. Words fail in terms of describing the power and energy of their songs, though the phrase orchestral alternative folk-rock captures at least part of it. We're talking about band members playing multiple instruments at the same time, while the music sails and dives and soars and ambles in creative and moving ways.

In December I interviewed Chuck Brodsky about his song, On Christmas I Got Nothing, which introduced me to Chuck's wry sense of humor mixed with cultural insight, Today we'll get a full chance to explore the range of his songs, complete with tinges of Bob Dylan's tones, mixed with heart-tendering stories, irony, and inspirational vision. And let's not neglect the imprint of the stories of baseball, present on every album of the 13 albums Chuck has produced. Chuck is a storyteller and sharer from Ashville, North Carolina.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish

All featured music is written & performed by Chuck Brodsky: