With this Ellie’s Talking Head Show, I start out highlighting Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland’s 8th District, who served as impeachment manager for the second impeachment. I then pivot to a wonderful story about a Louisiana man buying a basketball hoop for an eight-year-old-boy he saw using a garbage can for a hoop. From there, I talk about Heather’s McGhee’s new book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. I then talk about how a black Marin County CA couple outsmarted a racist home appraisal system. Lastly, I share about my experience of being kind to a stranger who had just lost her 99-year-old mother. Because kindness and compassion matter!

It’s a rare live Show! The theme is “Sacrificing for the Common Good”; would you be willing to give up money or resources or time or a luxury to benefit others who didn’t have the same opportunities as you? I also highlight U.S. Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman, who’s quick thinking and bravery on January 6th saved VP Pence and many Senators from being attacked by insurrectionists. Finally, I share about how transgender youth are under attack in much of America as state legislatures work to pass bills marginalizing them.

We start the show with an explanation of how Black History Month originated; from there, we pivot to Rosa Parks and the little-known story of the sacrifices she and her family made in the wake of her 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her Montgomery, Alabama bus seat for a white-color person. The Big Interview is with Sam Hammes, who I spoke about in my Jan. 30th show; he set up the “$12 Impact” GoFundMe to benefit a grocery store checker who paid $12 on Sam’s grocery bill, asking nothing in return. In my C-Bock, I talk about how I nearly lost a dear keepsake from my earlier life as a man.

This week I give an update on Amanda Gorman, who’s been selected to read poetry at the Super Bowl—a first! I also share about a man who was spotted $12 by a Cedar Rapids HyVee checker; that man later launched a GoFundMe to honor the checker’s generosity. So far, the GoFundMe has raised $4700+. The Big Interview is with Renee Grassi, a firecracker idealist librarian whose passion is to increase library access for persons with disabilities. Finally, in my C-Block I share about what’s happening to transgender Americans—some good, a lot not so good.

It’s an Ellie’s Talking Head Show and this week’s featured idealist is Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old Poet Laureate who recited at the Inaugural. I also share about two instances of humans being good to other humans. In my C-Block, I make an offer to speak at schools and churches in my effort to spread a message about having compassion for others and for self. Take me up on the offer!

We begin with an audio blog post by Frank Schaeffer, a former evangelical conservative turned liberal democrat who talks about the January 6th insurrection being the product of evangelical white nationalism. The Big Interview is with Jen Bowen of the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, which helps humans experiencing incarceration tell their written stories. In the C-Block, I talk about how human fear of bullies and fear of “Other” led to the insurrection. I share that the only way past this is to get rid of the bully (nearly done) and to give people the chance get to know humans who are “Other.”

Our first show of ’21 has a nonprofit, Invisible People, and its founder, Mark Horvath, featured for their work in telling the stories of humans who are experiencing homelessness. The Big Interview is with U of M professor Dr. Keith Mayes, who talks about historical and current-day structural racism in the Twin Cities. In the C-Block, I share about being reminded that I’ve been an idealist for more than 40 years.

We’ve got a holiday show with Attorney Larry McDonough, a nationally-recognized expert on landlord-tenant law, who talks about the plight of renters in Minnesota and the eviction moratoriums that are in place. Larry—a man for all seasons—is also an accomplished pianist and vocalist, so in between important information sharing about how the virus has adversely impacted people who rent, he regales us with holiday jazz tunes. How wonderful! In my C-Block, I share how this show is moving to Saturdays from 10 to 11:00 a.m., with a replay on Sundays from 1 to 2:00 p.m.

We start today’s show highlighting PandemicofLove.com, a mutual aid organization that directly matches donors with people in need; in barely 9 months, the organization has helped to transfer $40M in resources to folks in need. The Big Interview is with Kate Cimino of Citizens League, where we hear about the incredible work this 6-person nonprofit is doing. In my C-Block, I share about my first real attempt at idealism—also a mutual aid endeavor—named “Friends of Leonice.” Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out well…

It’s an Ellie’s Talking Head Show! We start out highlighting Poetic Justice, an Oklahoma nonprofit that teaches writing and poetry to women who are incarcerated. In lieu of The Big Interview, I talk about allyship and share stories of how a neighborhood in North Little Rock Arkansas showed unique support for a family that was the subject of a racist attack for having a Black Santa Claus. Other stories of allyship include support for a small bookstore owner in Bayonne, N.J. and a 29-year-old single man who adopted five siblings (age 4-11) who were in foster care. In my C-Block, I share about moving from downtown Minneapolis to rural Carver County MN, a far more conservative area where, I’m sure, I will be the first live transgender person most of my new friends will have met. It’s all a journey, everyone!