This podcast. originally broadcast on the Mowglis Memories Podcast is offered here as well because of the extraordinary life of Randall Gibson.

Elliot's career as a writer began with a colorful story about a Green Lantern comic that he wrote for a history class at Brandeis University, from which he graduated as the class Valedictorian, despite only getting a B+ on his comic book paper! 

The first comic spawned 15 more years of writing comics for DC, mostly Superman, making him a cultural icon for millions of young people who eagerly anticipated the next issue each month. Those 15 years were capped off with two best-selling "Superman" novels written with his own storyline but timed for release by DC in conjunction with the first two Superman movies. Between those novels he made a move to New Hampshire, taught at Waterville Academy, bought a home, bought a horse; adopted a dog and ran for Congress, among other things. When the campaign was over he went back to writing and has never stopped.  

W. Richard West Jr.. my guest on the podcast is the Founding Director of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian .

A citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and a member of the Society of Southern Cheyenne Peace Chiefs, first among equals of the warrior societies among the Cheyenne and central to the governing of the nation on the Council of 44. Where he follows on the paths trod by the great Black Kettle, Dull Knife (aka Morning Star), Lean Bear, Little Wolf and Porcupine, among many others.

Richard West was appointed to be the founding director of the National Museum of the American Indian in 1990. He was formally named to the position on May 21, 1990.

Following his retirement from the Smithsonian he was asked, and accepted, a role as CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West. A role that certainly challenged Rick to bust a lot of myths and lead him to be acclaimed as a leader who "helped shift the love-hate dynamic between Indigenous people and museums"

Though he is modest about this, sharing the credit among his colleagues, Rich was a major force at both the Smithsonian and Autry for steering the mission of the modern museum to a space of collaboration, education, community building and mutual understanding.

Ira Shapiro: "We're in a Dark Place" The Damage Runs Deep

In this podcast we catch up with Ira Shapiro after just 150 days of the Donald Trump administration including the challenges ahead for democracy. 

As is always the case, for those who listen through the full podcast there are always gems to take away from the experience and this podcast is no exception.

Elliott Berry recently retired after nearly fifty years in the same job as a lawyer for New Hampshire Legal Assistance. I hesitate to even identify his job this way because the trail that Elliott Berry has blazed over those years has burnished a reputation and accomplishments across the country.

While Elliott chose New Hampshire as the venue for his life's work as an advocate for low-income families, his service and impact have been broadly hailed for creating innovative solutions to daunting problems, especially around homelessness and affordable housing.

Competency Based Education: Fred Bramante Has a Dream for our Public Schools.

Public schools so exciting and effective that no one would want to send their children anywhere else.

47% Rate Increase for Electric Transmission Proposed by Eversource, Kreis Warns.

Here's what you can do:

47%. That is the increase that Everource is requesting before the PUC in their current rate case for the distribution part of their bill. 

But the folks at Eversource are doing their best to bury the lead in an avalanche of other charges in which the 47% is embedded. That's 47% over just a bit more than 2 years, well over the rate of inflation.

18 Months On: David Concannon looks back on the Oceangate Tragedy 

Scheduled to be aboard the Titan, a business emergency sidelined David. Soon he was immersed in the efforts to help save the submersible. In this podcast David looks back 18 months to the tragedy and adds to the historic record. . . and he pulls no punches.

Since June 18, 2023 the tragedy aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible remains a topic of discussion in gathering spots everywhere. David Concannon, "The Sixth Passenger" on the ill-fated Titan submersible, was scheduled to be the "Titanic whisperer" (my words not his - aka the subject matter expert) aboard the Titan when a last-minute business conflict forced him to give up his spot on the vessel's voyage to the shipwreck.

In August of 2023 David recounted to Wayne the events that transpired after the Titan was launched with five souls and when communications were lost; he reflects on the loss of the crew and the submersible, the inept, opaque and feckless approach of the US authorities in the Coast Guard, and the US Navy, and the frustration and heartbreak of the outcome when it was finally revealed.

18 Months later David joins us again - with some benefit of hindsight - to talk about both the tragedy and the personal impacts on he, his family and others who were deeply affected by the implosion of the submersible.

David Concannon

Attorney, Explorer,

Partner Concannon & Charles

Founder of Explorer Consulting

Former General Counsel to the Explorer Club International

VP of the Explorers Club

Member of the Apollo 11, F-1 Engine Recovery Project with Jeff Bezos

Board Member Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, Camp Mowglis, School of the Open

Step aside Elon. Lex Luthor is here. He is badass and out to save the planet. 

It's an interesting contrast really. Elon Musk has his sights set on colonies on Mars and continuing to aggressively exploit the resources of earth in service to that, and other goals. On the other hand, the supervillain that most Americans and much of the world know as Lex Luthor, the nemesis of Superman, may be turning over a new leaf. "May be" is the operative phrase though. Nevertheless you can't help but notice that Luthor's bottom line is saving the planet that we currently call home rather than hastening a move into the cosmos.

Is the Fever Breaking? What lies ahead for the US Senate and Representative Democracy?

In this podcast we catch up with Ira Shapiro one week out from the historic 2024 election. We take Ira's temperature on the upcoming election and discuss some of the challenges ahead for democracy. 

As is always the case, for those who listen through the full podcast there are always gems to take away from the experience and this podcast is no exception.