Episode 17 – Cool Tunes for a Hot Planet

Watch Episode 17: Planting Hope
FEATURED ARTISTS:  Mark Lagerwey, Harriet Korim Sophia Mirto, Young Activist Spotlight (Austin, TX), Atlas Soul
Hosts: Warren Senders & Purly Rae Gates

The theme of episode 17 is “Planting Hope,” which is much needed now. There are four songs in this episode.
The first is Mark Lagerwey‘s “Plant a Tree” which reminds us: if we want to leave a viable planet for our children and our children’s children, we need to think on the time scale of the trees, some of which can live for hundreds of years — if we don’t cut them down or create unsustainable conditions. We can find a better balance and a purpose through thoughtful stewardship. Mark suggests, “Plant a Tree.”
The second song is Harriet Korim’s “Life is not a Race,” which continues the tree theme, pointing out that trees stay in one place, keep on growing, provide habitat and new seedlings. Like Mark, Harriet is also a Cool Tunes crew member—and a very grounding one at that! Like the line in the song, “I aim to be like a tree.”
The next segment in this episode is an interview with Sophia Mirto, a young Austin activist, lead wrangler and board president with “Hands Off Central Texas“. She has had amazing success with large rallies and events, demonstrating that there are huge numbers who want to protect democracy and our constitution. If you’re looking to contribute to something positive, this might be a good way to start.
Next is a short Global Notes interlude with Boston-based Afro-pop band Atlas Soul with “We Are Atlas Soul“. Good vibes! Gotta love that James Brown-esque start on the rap…   Rees Shad, a rising folk star, closes out episode 17 with an animated music video, “Ain’t That the Way“. This Delta blues has a pointed message about activism, using your voice and art. Enjoy!

CREDITS & RESOURCES FOR EPISODE 17

Plant A Tree © 2025 Mark Lagerwey – Music, lyrics, acoustic guitar, Jack Conners – Bass guitar, Recording and Production – Jack Conners, Perfect World Studios, Traverse City, Michigan, Video Development and Production – Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, Outlier Moving Pictures.

Life Is Not A Race © 1999 Jerusha (BMI) permanent wave music. Music, Vocals – Harriet Jerusha Korim. Lyrics – Harriet Jerusha Korim and Ann Upshure. Arrangement, Guitars – Rick Arnoldi. Keyboards – Tom Beaver. Hammered Dulcimer – Gip Hoppe. Congas – Pat DeGroot Photos and Video – Harriet Jerusha Korim. Watercolors – Rebecca Arnoldi.

SPOTLIGHT / YOUNG ACTIVIST, TX – SOPHIA MIRTO Videos by S. Mirto. Lead Wrangler for handsoffcentraltx.org Email: president@handsoffcentraltx.org Instagram: @mirtosophia TikTok: @civicdutytx.

The Climate Message: Featuring Atlas Soul Boston, MA Regie Gibson – Lead Vocals, Percussion. Burcu Gulec – Lead Vocals. Jacques Pardo – Sax. Tim Paul Weiner – Bass. Jon Simmons – Trombone. Perry Bakalos – Guitar. Matt Steinberg – Drums. Steve Lamb – Guitar. Michael Maleson – Trumpet. Andy Cormier – Trumpet. Alice Iu – Vocals. Anita Coelho – Vocals

Ain’t That The Way from the album Porcelain Angel (2025) written by Lance Cowan and Rees Shad for Shadville Music. performed by Robert ‘Bobby Kay’ Kovacs (drums), Jeff Link (bass), Rees Shad (guitars & lead vocals).

Podcast Hosts: Warren Senders and Purly Rae Gates

Video/ Audio Support: Outlier Moving Pictures – Pam Falkenberg and Jack Cochran

LINKS to COOL TUNES FOR A HOT PLANET: To our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@cooltunes4ahotplanet To our website: cooltunesforahotplanet.com

Additional Artist Information:

https://www.reesshadmusic.com/

marklagerweymusic.com

mwlagerwey@gmail.com

Related to Sophia Mirto report:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIodQcLMl1r/

https://www.handsoffcentraltx.org/

https://www.tiktok.com/@civicdutytx

Dr. Brian Register, Professor @ Austin Community College; Video explaining the concept of 3.5% as the magic number to : socio-political change. https://www.tiktok.com/@civicdutytx/video/7495430168236903702?q=Brian%20Register&t=1748384126310

THINGS YOU CAN DO… if you can’t get out on the streets:

Administrative work for an organization
Send emails
Write Letters to the Editor
Call journalists; direct them to activist events• Register Voters
Fundraise
Volunteer at Community Food Pantries
Plug in to an advocacy org, or mutual aid network

PLAN YOUR OWN EVENT…it’s basically party planning!

You need a clear goal: What is the point of the action?

(give the people a place to gather & meet others/ get them to do a specific action; give a voice to the people for democracy, the rule of law, habeus corpus, etc.)

Call the office of your electeds at the city & state level
Call the permit department at your state Capitol
Ask how to process a permit for a public event
Process the permit
Crowd-fund for permit fees
There might be fees to be paid if you don’t want to March on the sidewalk only; Check with Police department
Try to get one or two lawyers to work with your group, to help explain things
Figure out what’s already happening; you don’t need to

reinvent the wheel!