Malcolm Spears, author of "Biggie’s Chronicles," witnessed abuse as a child and became an addict at an early age. He was one of the first participants to find recovery through Norwalk's Liberation Programs. He went on to pursue a college education and become a professional actor. "Biggie's Chronicles," published by Liberation Programs, tells the amazing story of his life. Also joining the conversation is Alan Mathis, President and CEO of Liberation Programs. Malcolm will be doing a book signing and participating in a panel discussion on Saturday, September 17, 2 to 4 p.m. at Stamford's Ferguson Library

An interview with Suzanne Ryan, who speaks with Valerie about the “Lights of Hope” event being held on Saturday, September 10, at 6 p.m. at Dwight Hall on Yale’s Old Campus. This is an annual and nationwide event sponsored by the organization “The Addict’s Mom.” This organization seeks to reduce the stigma of drug addiction and provide support for those whose loved ones are addicts, recovering addicts, or who have died from their addiction.

www.theaddictsmom.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAMConnecticut/

Sunita Sharma and Scott MacLennan speak with Valerie about “Her Farm,” a woman-owned and run organic farm in Nepal, two hours outside of Kathmandu. Scott and Sunita initiated the project several years ago. Around thirty women jointly own the farm and live there with their children, growing their own food and receiving education. The farm also welcomes volunteers to come and spend time working on the farm and also to be involved in education projects. The evolving mission of the farm is to also give the members of its family the opportunity to learn 21st-century computer skills and experience with photography, video, and even radio and podcasting. Their website is at herfarmnepal.org

WPKN's Howard Thompson interviews Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain-co-authors of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, which is the number one Punk best seller of all time. It has been published in 12 languages and helped launch the oral history trend in music books.

Roderick Edward "Legs" McNeil (born January 27, 1956 in Cheshire, Connecticut, United States) is an American music journalist. He is one of the three original founders of the seminal Punk that gave the movement its name; as well as being a former editor at Spin and editor-in-chief of Nerve Magazine. His regular column in Vice is read by over two hundred thousand readers each week.

PUNK MAGAZINE- At the age of 19, McNeil gathered with two high school friends, John Holmstrom and Ged Dunn and decided to create "some sort of media thing" for a living. Holmstrom had an idea of combining comics with rock n roll. They settled upon a magazine, assuming that people would "think [they were] cool and hang out with [them]" as well as "give [them] free drinks", and it worked. Within days of its first publication, Punk Magazine, McNeil, Holmstrom, and Dunn were famous.

The name "Punk" was decided upon because "it seemed to sum up...everything...obnoxious, smart but not pretentious, absurd, ironic, and things that appealed to the darker side". Holstrom wanted to call it "Teenage News Gazette" to which Ged said,"Absolutely not." The name Punk was Legs McNeil's idea to which Ged agreed to instantly and John rather reluctantly.

Nicknamed "Resident Punk" in the magazine, he claims (to much dispute) that he was the first person (along with co-founder John Holmstrom) to have coined the term "punk" to describe a certain type of music, fashion, and attitude. He says he came up with the name punk because Telly Savalas used the line "You lousy punk!" on the show "Kojak." According to McNeil: "After four years of doing Punk magazine, and basically getting laughed at, suddenly everything was "punk," so I quit the magazine."

McNeil is the co-author (with Gillian McCain) of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, which is the number one Punk best seller of all time. It has been published in 12 languages and helped launch the oral history trend in music books.

McNeil has appeared on many TV documentaries, from the History Channel to VH1, and has produced and hosted a three-hour TV special on Court TV over three nights on the porn industry, which was the highest-rated original programming in that network’s history.

WPKN is a 10,000-watt non-commercial radio station founded in 1963 as the college radio station of the University of Bridgeport. While our studios and offices remain on the campus of the University of Bridgeport, in 1989 we became an independent, non-profit 501 (c)3 corporation. Since then WPKN has been a listener-supported community radio station, broadcasting at 89.5 FM. WPKN can also be heard streaming live on the internet at wpkn.org. There's also an app for Apple and Android- WPKN LIVE. WPKN’s terrestrial signal now serves a potential listenership of 1.5 million people in Connecticut, Long Island, and parts of New York and Massachusetts. Programs on WPKN include live and recorded music, news, public affairs, and spoken word.

On "Digging in the Dirt" Host Kevin Gallagher spends one hour talking with Michael E. Mann about Climate Change. The award-winning climate scientist Michael E. Mann and the Pulitzer Prize–winning political cartoonist Tom Toles have written a new book together entitled "The Madhouse Effect". Mann and Toles have been on the front lines of the fight against climate denialism for most of their careers. They have witnessed the manipulation of the media by business and political interests and the unconscionable play to partisanship on issues that affect the well-being of billions. The lessons they have learned have been invaluable, inspiring this brilliant, colorful escape hatch from the madhouse of the climate wars. You can hear about "The Madhouse Effect" on "Digging in the Dirt" here on WPKN.org,

Host Kevin Gallagher speaks with Michael Astera the author of the book the ideal soil is kevins guest, as he talks about the secrets of soil mineral balance that create ideal soil, plant, and animal health are revealed here for the first time. The amazing results that can be achieved by balancing the major cation minerals Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium in the soil according to the teachings of Dr William Albrecht and Dr Carey Reams have changed the world of agriculture.

Host Kevin Gallagher speaks with Bill McKibben Chief Agronomist of one of the largest soil testing labs. Talks with us about exactly that...soil testing.

Host Kevin Gallagher speaks with Director Sean Kaminsky to discuss his film about one of the world’s most precious resources that is at risk. This timely and emotionally moving documentary illuminates what is at stake and what can be done to protect the source of nearly all our food: SEEDS. Seeds provide the basis for everything from fabric, to food to fuels. Seeds are as essential to life as the air we breathe or water we drink…but given far less attention.

Host Kevin Gallagher speaks with David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé on this episode of "Digging in the Dirt The duo wrote the book The Hidden Half of Nature which tells the story of our tangled relationship with microbes and their potential to revolutionize agriculture and medicine, from garden to gut.

Back for a second visit to Digging in the Dirt with his better half Emily Magazzi, Joe Magazzi has been involved in the research and development of microbial-based probiotic products for use in turf care, horticulture and agriculture. As co-founders of Green Earth Ag and Turf, a Connecticut small business, Joe and Emily have expertise in practical methods for building healthier soil, integrating greener methods into professional practices and reducing inputs and costs.