Having done this program for 20 years, I have had the opportunity to see the work my guests do evolve over time, and such is the case with Eileen Flanagan. When I spoke with her 16 years ago about her book, The Wisdom to Know the Difference, she was in the very early stages of her life as an organizer, trainer, and visionary in the activist world, including with EQAT. In the intervening years she has had a major hand in a number of actions, stepping powerfully into the role of trainer.
Today's guest, Maria Requena, is also known as Sunflower Summit, and they answer to both, so take your pick. What attracted me first was the singing, but I quickly became intrigued when I saw comments like “Chicago based queer Latinx artist and producer” and “with a mission to support their community through music and mental health discussion” and, finally, “music that hits right in the feels”. Katie Dwyer, a recent guest from South Dakota, pointed me this direction because of collaboration with Sunflower and something called Produce Like A Boss. I think you'll experience the gift of the music of Sunflower Summit, “in the feels”, as they say, as Maria/Sunflower joins us via Zoom.
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Catholic, Non-affiliated
Andrea Prichett's musical career started in Zimbabwe, where she taught, and it was with the group Novisimos. Her activist music grew further during the many years she performed as part of the trio Rebecca Riots, and other synergies have been explored with the musicians of Wildcat Canyon, and with the Shake It Booty Band. Andrea has been deeply devoted to activism, some of that showing through her work with Copwatch, but also through her faithful teaching of history with the middle school students of Berkeley, CA. Raised atheist, she is a Christian Anarchist.
It's been 20 years that Northern Spirit Radio has been broadcasting, and to celebrate that milestone we've set up a John McCutcheon concert event both streaming online and right here in-person, in Eau Claire, WI, on Sunday October 5th, 2025, starting at 6:30 pm Central Time. Get more info and tickets on the NorthernSpiritRadio.org website. I've interviewed John several times, including live at a Quaker gathering at Grinnell College in Iowa on July 4th, 2019. In the hopes you consider joining our October 5th concert, in person or online, we share today my interview from 6 years ago. John McCutcheon is classic & cutting-edge folk music.
Though Kris Angelis is a long-time resident of LA, California, she joins us today from her new home in Okinawa, Japan. There is so much about Kris that will intrigue & enrich you. She has an identical twin, Alex, and both of them are singers, and both have been actors, Alex more than Kris. But Kris is queen in the indie singer-songwriter role, with a rich tapestry of music mostly painted in colors of the heart. And though you'll most often see and hear Kris scintillating with light, she also sometimes reflects the somber hues of darkness and depression. But more light than dark, for sure. She has a new album coming out soon, and you'll be able to savor bits of it today. Get ready to have your heart opened wide as Kris Angelis joins us from Okinawa.
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Catholic, Buddhist, Non-denominational Christian, Non-affiliated
Linda Allen was called to my attention by Peter Alsop. Linda has all the credentials that speak to me. She has 5 decades of experience as a people's musician. She combines a piercing mind & and capacious heart, with room enough for all. And she won her Doctor of Ministry degree with a dissertation called, “The Bridge Between the Earth and Sky: The Spirituality of Voice”, leading to her ordination as an interfaith minister in 2006. And, of course, Linda's songs are moving and memorable, crafted so that her listeners can sing along and carry the songs home ringing in their hearts and vibrating in their throats. Linda Allen joins us from Bellingham, Washington.
Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Baptist, Lutheran, UU-United Universalist, UCC-United Church of Christ, Creation Spirituality, Matthew Fox
I've seen alternative & sustainable energy technology evolve tremendously in my lifetime, and yet I know there are applications, like hydroelectric energy, that continue to be valuable contributors to our world. One that, sadly, has diminished mightily in most of our eyes, is the water-pumping windmills. At one time they were spread widely across our country, but now they are mostly broken, non-functional, and rusty relics seen here-and-there. Today's guest is Bryce Black, and he has worked for almost 45 years under the name LoTec Windmill Service. We're going to explore this still-valuable energy source with Bryce, and it's role in American life, past and present. Besides Bryce's windmill work, he makes music with Yata and with The Sliced Bread Jug Band.
Katie Dwyer is absolutely one of the top surprises & joys of 20 years I've been doing this program, no exaggeration. Katie is unassuming & modest, even though she has every reason to be proud of the wonderful music she creates & performs. She's all about real life, real pains and glories, all song with passion & compassion. Maybe it's fitting that she doesn't live among coastal elites, but right in South Dakota. I'll forewarn you that there are other Katie Dwyer performers, so follow our link to find the best Katie I know of. Katie has performed as part of The Sunrise & The New Perspective, Owl Chaser, Moon & Sea (with her husband, Andrew), and she's been part of the February Album Writing Month (FAWM.org).
Our guest is Suzanne Parry (and on Instagram), and she is the author of a historical fiction novel, The Communist’s Secret, the 2nd of a trilogy centered on events during WW2 around Russia. It might be enough to talk about the history of that time in terms of lessons and implications we can draw for our times about tyrannical governments, oppression, & the necessary self-examination for truly understanding what we are serving and upholding by the actions of our country. That might be enough to make this visit with Suzanne valuable, but, in addition, Suzanne was also an arms control negotiator in the mid-1980's, near the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Many of us have been deeply concerned about domestic violence and been heart-broken at people we've known who've suffered, and maybe died, within a violent marriage, unable to leave. Today's SIA guest is Michael Neely, and he has testifying power about domestic abuse because of his many years in a marriage where he was badly abused. He'll talk about that today, but you can also find portions in his book, Black Eyes and Sweet Talk. While most violent abuse is male on female, when Michael has shared his story, it has freed so very many women, and also some men, to find a way to freedom from the torment and fear. In particular, Michael has worked to help churches move away from keeping abused spouses in violent marriages.