In this first of a three-part series, two conversations: the first, with John Daido Loori (1931-2009), founder of Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York, who analyses our current global crisis from a Zen Buddhist perspective;  the second, with Peter Russell, a writer and speaker who examines the tumult and crisis of our world in terms of our belief systems and the part that a developed consciousness can play in liberating our minds. (First broadcast on WPKN in 2009. Produced by Tony Ernst.)

Natalie Vie is a Latina and a US Team fencer, sculptor, yogi and immigration and civil rights activist.  Within a historical context of segregation and minority consciousness in the Southwest, Natalie builds a vivid picture of what it means to grow up Hispanic in Arizona and to navigate the changing personal and cultural situations she continues to encounter and which are no doubt a daily experience for many young “Dreamers". (First broadcast on WPKN on October 12, 2016. Produced by Tony Ernst)

Natalie Vie is a Latina and a US Team fencer, sculptor, yogi and immigration and civil rights activist.  Within a historical context of segregation and minority consciousness in the Southwest, Natalie builds a vivid picture of what it means to grow up Hispanic in Arizona and to navigate the changing personal and cultural situations she continues to encounter. (Broadcast on WPKN on October 12, 2016 and produced by Tony Ernst)

Israel-born and -bred psychotherapist and activist, Avigail Abarbanel, brings her psychological expertise to analyze how changing the language we use can fundamentally alter the way we understand human and geopolitical relationships, with particular reference to Israel’s settler-colonialism in Palestine. This conversation is a continuation of Avigail’s article The Palestine-Israel language trap published in mondoweiss.net on August 19, 2016. (Produced by Tony Ernst and broadcast on WPKN on September 14, 2016.)

See other Tidings interviews with Avigail Abarbanel here, here, here

 

 

These Tidings come to you from Jamaica where I spent time with two artists in their family “yard”or compound in Oracabessa.  You’ll hear Rani Carson talk about her journey from growing up Jewish to becoming a Rasta artist.

            

Ras Ibrak, intuitive Jamaican artist, talks about the philosophy and beliefs of Rastafari and what it means to live the life of a Rastamon.

            

Please follow the links to see more of their work. (Rebroadcast on WPKN on August 10, 2016. Produced by Tony Ernst.)

In this very personal Tidings, Tom Scovel and I swap stories about our boarding school days in India and what growing up as Third Culture Kids meant to each of us: for Tom born and raised in China (which he's captured in his terrific book) and for me, Pakistan was home.  Special thanks to Pat and Scrib Sheafor who made our lovely and meaningful class reunion possible. (Broadcast on WPKN on July 13, 2016 and produced by Tony Ernst.)

 

In this very personal Tidings, Tom Scovel and I swap stories about our boarding school days in India and what growing up as Third Culture Kids meant to each of us: for Tom born and raised in China (which he’s captured in his terrific book) and for me, Pakistan was home.  Special thanks to Pat and Scrib Sheafor who made our lovely and meaningful class reunion possible. (Broadcast on WPKN on July 13, 2016 and produced by Tony Ernst.)

 

Coming to us from Jerusalem via Skype is Jen Marlowe,, a tireless and imaginative social justice activist, with a lifelong commitment to fight for human rights wherever in the world she sees them abused, using whatever medium, device or initiatives for her numerous "donkeysaddle" projects projects that she considers best suited to the need at hand.

(Broadcast on WPKN June 8, 2016 and produced by Tony Ernst.)

Coming to us from Jerusalem via Skype is Jen Marlowe,, a tireless and imaginative social justice activist, with a lifelong commitment to fight for human rights wherever in the world she sees them abused, using whatever medium, device or initiatives for her numerous “donkeysaddle” projects projects that she considers best suited to the need at hand.

(Broadcast on WPKN June 8, 2016 and produced by Tony Ernst.)

Hirsh Sawhney talks about his new novel South Haven, set in an imagined suburb of Connecticut and published by Akashic Books. The conversation ranges from this very local story to the immigrant, Indian and transnational cultures that Sawhney and his writings also inhabit. (Broadcast on WPKN May 11 , 2016)