The Leftscape

Tom Limoncelli is an LGBTQ organizer, trainer, and speaker from New Jersey. His speaking and training repertoire includes time management for activists and support group facilitation skills. He is the recipient of several activism awards including the Brenda Howard Award for bisexual activism. Tom spoke about Time Management for Busy Activists on Leftscape Episode 86 almost exactly four years ago in 2020. In this episode he shares about the easy-to-do activism he’s been taking part in to get out the vote as we approach yet another incredibly important presidential election.

In a new/modified segment, Why Is This Not Awesome?, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée look over a report on Project 2025 and its Consequences for Libraries. In This Fortnight I Learned, Robin and Wendy both bring animal facts (cats and giraffes, respectively). News includes Kamala Harris’ kickass debate performance, flooding in Eastern Europe, an accusation of a CIA plot to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, another potential Trump assassination attempt, a Trump court case roundup, the Ig Noble Awards, and Wendy’s Rahway Library Action Update. Robin names Conspirituality co-host Derek Beres Lefty of the Week.

Things to do:

Register to vote or confirm your voter registration today.

Get addresses to GOTV for Democratic candidates.

Get postcards to send to Democratic voters.

Find volunteer activities (remote and in-person) all over the US: Mobilize!

Read Tom Limoncelli’s blog post about postcarding, “Postcards for Democracy.”

Read Project 2025 and its Consequences for Libraries.

Check out The Daily Beans podcast.

Check out the Conspirituality podcast.

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée are back after summer break for the 2024 Season 2 of The Leftscape! Featured guest Jonah Minkoff-Zern (he/him) is the co-director of Public Citizen’s Democracy Campaign. He has organized nationwide mobilizations to challenge ongoing threats to democracy from former President Donald Trump and his allies, coordinated grassroots activities to pass federal voting rights and democracy reforms, and mobilized national action for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. He has led and supported state-based efforts to win voting rights, public financing to protect election officials and prevent artificial intelligence deepfakes in elections, and coordinated national support for the Second Chances Florida ballot initiative, which restored the eligibility to vote to Floridians with felony convictions. Hear him speak with Wendy about the many aspects of the Democracy Campaign’s important work.

In This Fortnight I Learned, Wendy recounts the controvery over which of two simiarly-named people originated Labor Day in 1882 and Robin discusses the first term entered into their personal Pittsburghese dictionary. In News, there is so much to tackle that a great deal more of it is covered in What the Bleep Happened This Summer? on Patreon. X offline in Brazil, the summer COVID surge, the upcoming Harris vs. Trump presidential debate, members of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland elected in Germany, an action against budget cuts at the Rahway Public Library, and the Oasis reunion are some of the stories that made the show. In The Blanket Fort, Robin and Wendy check in on what they’re doing to stay informed without getting overwhelmed. Wendy nominates Frances Perkins as Lefty of the Week.

Things to do:

Learn more about Public Citizen.

Follow Public Citizen on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Watch the presidential debate on Tuesday, September 10th at 9pm EDT.

Subscribe to 1440.

Check out to What a Day and On the Media.

Read “Inmates Training Hard-to-Adopt Dogs in New Mexico Creates Joy On Both Ends of a Leash.“

Hal Robins is known for his radio broadcasts and public performances, as well as for his participation in the Church of the SubGenius (as Dr. Howland Owll, Master of Church Secrets). He has worked in film and television and is a poet and playwright. Robins is also a fine artist and cartoonist. In this featured conversation with Rev. Andrew Genus, he shares his wit and insight into the world of the SubGenius, the current political state we find ourselves in, and his upcoming appearance at PubeFest in Bethlehem, PA featuring the Ask Dr. Hal Show and other SubGenius shenanigans.

In this final show of the season before summer break, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée start off in This Fortnight I Learned with some lighthearted factoids about dolphins and tennis balls. All the News We Can Handle was more was enough with the presidential debate and SCOTUS decisions, a few of which deal with presidential immunity, ordinances prohibiting camping within city limits by people who are homeless, and overturning the 1984 decision in Chevron v Natural Resources Defense Council. In The Artscape, Wendy interviews Robin about recent creative projects and process, challenges and small victories. Robin names Kai Wright Lefty of the Week.

Happy a Happy 4th of July and have a great summer! Reach out anytime and keep in touch on social media @leftscape.

Things to do:

Check out the Ask Dr. Hal Show!

Learn the truth about J. R. “Bob” Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius!

Attend the Second Annual PubeFest! July 5-7, 2024

View the featured image, Dobbs Ourobouros, by Hal Robins.

Read more about Supreme Court decisions on SCOTUSblog.

Listen to the Saved By Zero show with host DJ Andrew Genus.

Watch “Nick Lowe – Alison (Elvis Costello cover)”

https://youtu.be/oPJ5dNFh-Rc?si=xQZ3TP1DU5hfmHh7

Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan discuss the enormous and detailed Project 2025, a collection of policy proposals created by The Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States government in the image of current-day far right conservativism. It seeks to mandate conservative Christian values, dismantle many social programs and government departments, and to provide ready-made policy positions and personnel for the next Republican president. This description barely begins to do justice to the sweeping, detrimental changes this tome proposes. Wendy and Robin begin to look at its elements broadly and anticipate future conversations about Project 2025 along with discovering and taking part in things we can do to keep it from being enacted.

In concert with the featured conversation, Robin sparks a discussion on a video by Innuendo Studios, “Always a Bigger Fish” in the Geekscape for a better understanding of conservative vs. liberal worldviews.

The show begins on a lighter note with a few rewinds to Episode 160 and This Fortnight I Learned facts about Google searches and ants in New York City. News includes the upcoming presidential debate slated for June 27th, the Supreme Court’s end-of-June decisions, a “tactical pause” of the fighting in a portion of Gaza, the continuing adverntures of Trump and Rudy in the Georgia election fraud case, and wild Przewalski’s horses returned to Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe. For Lefty of the Week, Wendy names local activist Quanae “Pie Lady” Palmer.

Things to do:

Watch “ What is Project 2025?”

https://youtu.be/A7OlQG9C4zM?si=rTG2uZgrWDHSUwpq

Watch “The Alt-Right Playbook: Always a Bigger Fish”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agzNANfNlTs

Watch “Trump’s Second Term: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwqpx6lp_s

Meet the ManhattAnts!

Ray Katz is a web developer—one of Philadelphia’s first. He has many hobbies including collecting artifacts related to the history of space flight and animation. His passion and most pressing endeavor, however, is to find effective ways of dealing with climate change. To that end, he has created a new and unique movement, The Saners. He is also the host of the 5 Minutes to Save the Earth podcast. Don’t miss his inspired thoughts on how a grassroots environmental movement can learn from past and present brilliance, use a decent dose of humor, and stand up to the status quo with a joyful resistance.

Leftscape co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the show with a bit of a check-in and a shout out to Pride Month before getting into This Fortnight I Learned. Wendy has learned about a once-ubiquitous melody that was composed by Brian Eno and Robin has learned yet another thing about squirrels. In News, Donald Trump is convicted of 34 felony counts, SCOTUS clears the way for Louisiana to use a new congressional map containing two majority-Black districts, Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is elected, Vermont becomes the first state to require oil companies to pay for the impacts of climate change, all four members of ABBA are knighted, and other stories. Earlier in The Earthscape, Robin and Wendy share their favorite workouts. At the end of the show, Robin names climate activist Lauren MacDonald Lefty of the Week. 

Things to do:

Learn about The Saners and sign up to get involved.

Get inspired by the 5 Minutes to Save the Earth podcast.

Follow Ray Katz and The Saners on X and Medium.

Try working out on a GiBoard.

When was America great? Check out this article for answers.

Check out this creative pride flag creation by Wendy’s daughter, Ariel Sheridan!

Listen to “Uptown Squirrel [update]” on 99% Invisible.

https://youtu.be/H_W6ErOgLwI?si=1Uq3xrTRic8kmAAv

When Abby Driscoll, a senior at Fort Defiance High School in Verona, VA had a piece placed in a school art show, she likely didn’t expect the drama that ensued. Listener Tony Rogers of Fairfax, VA sent the story to The Leftscape via X/Twitter to spark conversation between co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan. This featured discussion ranges from thoughts on the artwork, “But Not Enough to Save You,” to serious concerns about censorship, art and book banning, and right-wing influence on school boards, the importance of down-ballot electoral races, and the power of art as activism.

The episode gets started with Wendy and Robin revealing their latest new knowledge in This Fortnight I Learned — this time on the topics of the design of chef’s hats and well-known actors whose 60s band collaboration is surprising. All the News We Can Handle includes Rudy Giuliani served with notice of his indictment for efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results, Kristi Noem banned from Native American reservations, and a call from the international criminal court for arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders. Also in the news: the Human Rights Campaign’s massive public education and mobilization campaign ahead of the 2024 elections, Nevada activists secure signatures for a vote on abortion access, Art Smart singing lessons, and much more.

Before the featured discussion, Robin and Wendy enter The Blanket Fort for an extended personal check-in.

Things to do:

Watch the video: “A high school artist called out Christian bigotry. Her school board is furious. (Livestream)“

https://youtu.be/SZLiDPhpdvE?si=bBg7_kVDysaqAOcv

Read the article on FriendlyAtheist.com.

Check out wendycardz on Etsy.

Listen to Saved by Zero on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Listen to “My Old School” by Steely Dan.

https://youtu.be/rFnwczuvb74?si=vb87jRmtKqm5r5H7

Do you have a topic you’d like to hear discussed on The Leftscape? Let Wendy and Robin know.

David Michael Jamison is the Assistant Professor of History at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida and the former Visiting Assistant Professor of Black World Studies at Miami University–Middletown in Middletown, Ohio. He previously worked as a special-education teacher, first with the New York Board of Education and then with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is the Education and Programs Chair of the Jacksonville Historical Society; the director of the oral-history project, the co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project, and the Local Historian for the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He was a guest on The Leftscape Episode 60 back in 2019 and returns to talk about The Race Cards, a tool for fostering positive, authentic conversations about race.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée kick off the show with facts about “TikTok voice” and the world’s largest baguette in This Fortnight I Learned. In the News, the 4th Circuit Court in Richmond Virginia ruled that state health-care plans must pay for gender-affirming surgeries, Washington state GOP delegates come out against democracy, Methodists end anti-gay bans in the church, and blue whales return near the Seychelles. Before the featured interview in the Geekscape segment, Wendy leads the geek-out about repairing stuff. At the end of the show, Robin nominates Allison Gill for Lefty of the Week.

Things to do:

Learn more about 904WARD, The Race Cards conversation tool, and the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project.

Learn about the Right to Repair.

Listen to Allison Gill’s podcasts and other great shows on MSW Media.

Listen to Saved By Zero and the other great shows on Radio PVS.

Check out Saved By Zero on Mixcloud.

Get artwork on wendycardz.

Watch “The first ever footage of Blue Whales in the Seychelles.”

https://youtu.be/oKU-2Q7esNA?si=mwBXfHH2YFfocfG0

Michael Naphys is a singer/songwriter from South Jersey. Music has always been a big part of his life, and he has some musical releases including his first original album, Coming Out of my Shell, that we’ll learn about in this conversation. Michael performs live acoustic sets in Southern New Jersey including at Whims Brewing in Atco where co-host Robin Renée was lucky enough to catch his set not long ago. He finds using music to express his views on political issues to be very rewarding and empowering, and joins us on The Leftscape to talk about his experiences with writing and performing protest music and the journey of growing into his political focus.

In The Artscape, Robin talks with co-host Wendy Sheridan about her recent work and upcoming art shows. In This Fortnight I Learned, Wendy discovers the songs by Shel Silverstein and Robin discovers the joy of Asking for What You Want. News covered includes trouble for the Great Barrier Reef, a new union for Volkswagen workers, a search engine for conservatives, a new nondiscrimination law in Oakland, CA for polyamorous and other alternative family structures, states where abortion will be on the ballot, President Biden announces environmental grants and jobs on the 55th Earth Day, recreational cannabis use linked with lower risk of dementia-related diseases, and remembering David Newman aka Durga Das. Wendy nominates Earth Day creator Gaylord Nelson as the Lefty of the Week.

Things to do:

Keep up with Michael Naphys on Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter.

Listen to Michael Naphys on Soundcloud or Spotify.

Say hi to Wendy Sheridan and buy her art at the Spring Craft & Vendor Show, Saturday, April 27th, 10am – 4pm, Allaire State Park 4263 Atlantic Avenue Farmingdale, NJ 07727. Booth #40. Raindate Sunday, April 28th.

See Wendy’s work in the Union County Senior Art Exhibit, Union College of Union County, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Tuesdays until 8 pm, Closes May 30th at noon.

Check out wendycardz on Etsy and Wendycards on Facebook for more art by Wendy Sheridan.

Listen to healing sounds by David Newman.

Kyle Schickner has been a bisexual activist for the past 30 years. His company, FenceSitter Films makes films that tell the stories of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ communities. Kyle was our guest back in November 2021 on Leftscape Episode 113 when we talked about his film, A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop, a documentary of his cross country road trip focused on having down-to-earth conversations about race and racism. Now he is the director of the upcoming FenceSitter Film Festival which is coming right up, April 18th through the 21st at Bernardsville Cinema in Bernardsville, NJ.

In the Why Is This Awesome? segment, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share their excitement about the amazing solar eclipse that crossed North America on April 8, 2024. In a related note, Robin complains about “travel hazing” in This Fortnight I Learned, while Wendy points our the value of writing things down. In the News, there are the SCOTUS and Trump trial roundups, 4/8 conspiracy theories, the next total solar eclipe, the future of Mifepristone, a push for a 32-hour work week, a newly-discovered blue and yellow gecko, and more. Robin nominates Keith Olbermann for Lefty of the Week.

Things to do:

Get your tickets for the 2024 FenceSitter Film Festival, April 18 – 21 in Bernardsville, NJ.

Follow Kyle Schickner on Facebook and the FenceSitter Film Festival on Instagram.

Explore more on the FenceSitter Films website.

Get ready for upcoming eclipses!

Listen to Countdown With Keith Olbermann.

Watch a FenceSitter Film Festival trailer.

https://youtu.be/sGaC5yc105A?si=o60aN3tViZdEN406

David “Daxe” Axelrod is a holistic economist, currently teaching at Montclair State University. He developed and teaches the course “Economics of Time, Mind, and Spirit.” He has also produced over a dozen albums of original music. Creativity, resources, aspirations, limitations, the problems with capitalism and what a society without it might look like all weave into his conversation with co-host Wendy Sheridan. The answers to all the world’s inequality problems may not have been uncovered in this interview, but listen in for some surprising starting points and intriguing questions well worth contemplating.

Before the featured interview, Wendy and Robin head to The Blanket Fort for a personal chat about commitments and ceremonies. In This Fortnight I Learned, Wendy had a family revelation and Robin found out about the Ides of March Coin. In the News: Tammy Murphy leaves the Senate primary, a couple of Trump trial headlines, a right-wing family’s challenges in Russia, Jasmin Paris finishes the Barkley Ultramarathon, SCOTUS oral arguments regarding healthcare for the Arizona Apache tribe and access to mifepristone, and a man changes his name to “Literally Anybody Else” to run for president. At the end of the show, Wendy nominates Heather Cox Richardson as this episode’s Lefty of the Week.

(Please pardon our sound quality… There were some mysterious tech issues this time around.)

Things to do:

Listen to Daxe on Economics, Time, Mind, and Spirit on YouTube.

Subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From An American newsletter.

Listen to Music For the Goddess.