EPISODE INFO HERE, WITH MOST RECENT AT THE TOP

Watch Episode 15 [05-01-25] : May Day

FEATURED ARTISTS

Joselyn & Don: Working the Hi-Line

Hilje: Fjorden Er Ikke Vår

Lara Herscovitch: Letters from a Ghost

Liz Sunde: Director, Music to Life

Heather Masse: A Change is Gonna Come

PLUS Global Notes with: Ken Bramman;

Sunniva Brynnel & Andreas Jansson

Warren Senders: HOST

ABOUT the ARTISTS and their WORKS

Workin’ the Hi-Line, by Joselyn Wilkinson and Don Barrozo, is a story-song about Don’s Filippino immigrant father, coming here and working on the Montana railroad. In the grand tradition of folksongs about immigrants, the backbone of our workforce, this is a touching reminder of what made this country strong.

Fjorden Er Ikke Var, by the Norwegian singer Hilja, is a beautiful paean to the fjords of Norway, and the protests in 2022 against their destruction by industrial development. It’s a call to all of us about the importance of protecting our natural environment.

Lara Herscovitch’s Letters From a Ghost is a moving invocation of the spirit of Martin Luther King, urging us on in the work we all must do to celebrate love, not hate.

Liz Sunde, co-founder and Director of Music To Life (MusicToLife.org), talks about the work of her nonprofit organization, to mentor young, talented musicians (like the musicians above) by helping them use their music to champion social and environmental justice causes.

Host Warren Senders brings a few short pieces from Global Notes to this episode: Thanks to Ken Bramman, the Foresters Morris Men and the Nottingham Hidden History team for permission to use Ken Bramman’s May song. https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/

Swedish accordionist and composer Sunniva Brynnel and guitarist Andreas Jansson play two traditional folk melodies. sunnivabrynnel.com

New York-based jazz vocalist Heather Masse (Wailin’ Jennys) sings a heartfelt outdoor rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” heathermasse.com

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 15 / Music-To-Life Artist Spotlight

Podcast Theme excerpted from ‘Back To Life’ © 2022 Seth Handelman Recorded at Autumn Leaf Studios – Nashua, New Hampshire// Saxophones, Guitars – Seth Handelman // Bass, Drum track – Alan J. King // Recording Engineer: Alan J. King

Ladakh Harvest Song Recorded in Leh by David Lewiston; released on “Ladakh – Songs & Dances of the Highlands of Western TIbet” // Nonesuch H-72023

Workin’ the Hi-Line Lyrics and music by Don Barrozo and Joselyn Wilkinson (ASCAP, Bessie Mae Music, Roots Woman Music, 2023) Joselyn Wilkinson: vocals, tenor ukulele // Don Barrozo: vocals, guitar Video Credits: Camera and Lighting: Spencer Wilkinson // Sound and Editing: Don Barrozo

Fjorden er ikke vår Words and Music © 2022 by Hilja Balsnes Lovvik // Vocals: Hilja Balsnes Lovvik // Guitar: Ola Ur Saebo// Mix: Eskil Lokstad Hansen // Master: Jon Anders Narum // Video: Hilja Balsnes Lovvik //

The Climate Message: Featuring Heather Masse – Vocals // Catskills, NY

Letters From A Ghost Music & Lyrics by Lara Herscovitch © 2009 (BMI). All Rights Reserved. From the Album ’Through a Frozen Midnight Sky’. Produced by John Jennings on La Rama Records. Engineered, Mixed by John Jennings // Mastering – Jim Robeson //Lara Herscovitch – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar John Jennings – Bass, Piano, Percussion, keyboards, Bouzouki, Guitar, Drums // Video Credits: Directed by Maxwell Thomas, Automata Films

The Climate Message: Featuring Sunniva Brynell & Andreas Jansson – Sweden

Podcast Host: Warren Senders

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

Additional Artist Information:

https://heathermasse.com/

https://www.sunnivabrynnel.com/

https://joselynanddon.com http://facebook.com/joselynanddon https://instagram.com/joselynanddon https://www.youtube.com/@JoselynandDon https://open.spotify.com/artist/0aPNQejuOJ9winrYgyjvbF https://music.apple.com/us/artist/joselyn-don/1496721203

hiljamusik.com

Instagram.com/hilja.hilja

LaraHerscovitch.com

YouTube.com/LaraHerscovitch

The opinions shared by the host and guests on this program are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent those of Third Act.

Climate Change Organizations:

https://www.sunrisemovement.org

https://engage.us.greenpeace.org/

Watch Episode 14 [04-22-25] : EARTH DAY

FEATURED ARTISTS

PETE SEEGER & Friends: Solartopia

Will Kimbrough & Brant Miller: I Wanna Be Cool

Karla Lara: Que Corra el Rio

PLUS Global Notes with: Ishaan Rao and

the Taiwan “Recorder Lovers”

Purly Rae Gates: Host

ABOUT the ARTISTS and their WORKS

Folk music icon Pete Seeger co-wrote Solartopia with David Bernz. Harvey “Sluggo” Wasserman, a long-time friend of Pete’s, coined the word Solartopia, and played an important role in the filming. “Solartopia” appears on Seeger’s album “Tomorrow’s Children“. The song was recorded in a studio in Beacon, New York, with Pete Seeger, Dar Williams, David Bernz, and the Rivertown Kids’ Choir. The album was released in 2010 and won a Grammy Award in the “Best Musical Album for Children” category in 2011. Wasserman coined the word “solartopia” and published his book Solartopia! in 2006. “In the spirit of Brave New World and Ecotopia, SOLARTOPIA is a classic futuristic novel of the Earth in A.D. 2030, after a revolution in green energy has transformed the planet. Fast-moving and a breeze to read, this novel will stand for decades as the definitive environmental vision of an ideal world to come. “

I Wanna Be Cool is an outstanding example of teamwork and talent coming together in a world-wide message of hope and action on climate change to attain a sustainable future. Songwriters Will Kimbrough and Brant Miller were paired by the Climate Music Project, Music Declares Emergency and the Be Cool Climate Action Team, and crafted their science-based work of art. Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, thousands of enthusiastic students from around the world were able to participate in the production of I Wanna Be Cool. Joined by a group of climate scientists and an excellent production team, the music video blossomed into an energetic and inspiring climate anthem.

Karla Lara, who for years has been making music that inspires people to be a part of constructing a better reality in places across Central America, now is a leader of the feminists-in-resistance and artists-in-resistance who are a part of the struggle for human rights, justice, and democracy going on in her own country. “Que Corra el Rio” is Karla Lara’s beautiful, moving tribute to the defense of the Gualcarque River, in Honduras, when it was threatened by a hydroelectric project nobody in the region wanted. Here’s a link to another song written for Berta (Cáceres), by Honduran poet and feminist Melissa Cardoza and sung by Karla Lara. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=879074659549503 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=879074659549503

Happy Earth Day!

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 14

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 14 / Happy Earth Day!

Podcast Theme excerpted from ‘Back To Life’ © 2022 Seth Handelman Recorded at Autumn Leaf Studios – Nashua, New Hampshire Saxophones, Guitars – Seth Handelman. Bass, Drum track – Alan J. King Recording Engineer: Alan J. King

SolarTopia Composed by Pete Seeger, David Bernz and Harvey Wasserman. © 2010 Pete Seeger and Harvey Wasserman. Pete Seeger, Dar Williams – Lead Vocals. David Bernz – Guitar. Performed by Pete Seeger, Dar Williams, David Bernz and the Rivertown Kid’s Choir at the Jeff Haynes Studio in Beacon, NY on October 24, 2009. Recording Produced by David Bernz. Recorded by Jeff Haynes. Executive Producer: Dorthy Fadiman. Solartopia Produced by Harvey Wasserman. Film Directed by Dan Keller and David Bernz. Film written and edited by Dan Keller and David Bernz. Camera: Rawn Fulton, Michael Hanish, Dan Keller. Stock Footage Courtesy of Greenpeace. Dar Williams appears courtesy of Razor Tie Records. Listen for Solartopia! on Pete Seeger’s “Tomorrow’s Children” CD from Appleseed Recordings

The Climate Message: Featuring Ishaan Rao – Piano. New Delhi, India

I Wanna Be Cool. Music and Lyrics © 2024 Will Kimbrough and Brant Miller. Vocals, guitars, keyboard & production: Will Kimbrough. Drums & Percussion: Bryan Owings. Trumpet: Matt Serice, Free Radicals,Houston TX. Trombone: Aaron Houzvicka, Free Radicals,Houston TX. Background vocals: John McCutcheon, Cathy Richardson, Becky Hobbs, Claire Lynch, AY Young, Scarlet Rivera, Raine Stern, Falira Gbetie Paul, Yoshie Nakayama, Lucia Antonini +2600 young people from 4 continents. Recorded at Kimbrough Super Service. Mixed by Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant. Mastered by Alex McCullough at True East. Video design and editing: Imaginary Forces. Video camera work: Peter Menchini, Art Koch. Graphics and social media: Charlotte Saunders. Produced by Music Declares Emergency / The Climatemusic Project.

The Climate Message: Featuring Chingwei Lin & Students – Recorder Ensemble. Taichung, Taiwan

QUE CORRA EL RIO (Let the River Flow/ Run, River, Run) Words and Music © 2013 Karla Lara. Karla Lara: Vocal, Guitar. Guitar: Dany Morales. Video Direction: Juan Pablo Méndez. Production: Katia Lara, Terco Producciones

Give Thanks To The Earth © 1983, P. Gates BMI [from the album “Singin’ On a Star / Purly Gates & David Levine]. Purly Rae Gates, Vocal, Guitar. David Levine, Vocal. Jack Hume, Pedal Steel. Peter Jung, Upright Bass

Watch Episode 12 [04-01-25] : RESIST!

FEATURED ARTISTS

Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon & Friends: Ukranian Now

James Kahn: O the Ocean Rolls

Larry Lobert: Isn’t This a Time

Various Chilean Musicians: The Right to Live in Peace

HOSTED BY Warren Senders

ABOUT the ARTISTS and their WORKS

Ukrainian Now, by venerated folksingers Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon, is more than a call for unity with the embattled Ukrainian people – it is a recognition of our commonality. Of the universal truth that when one human being is oppressed, we are all oppressed. Singers in this anthem include Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow, Holly Near, Emma’s Revolution, and many more – celebrating the notion that coming together makes us stronger than the things that divide us.

James Kahn’s O the Ocean Rolls is a folksong in the sea shanty tradition about a boatload of refugees making their way to a better life. Unlike many songs about “the immigrant issue,” this one focuses on the individual people in the boat, their human stories, and what happens to each along the way. To paraphrase an old quotation, “A million deaths is a statistic; one death is a tragedy,” this song poignantly examines the tragedy.

Isn’t This a Time, by Larry Lobert, is unfortunately a little too timely. The lament sings about being in an era “when everything is for sale,” when thieves become jailers, when cruelty is rampant, and the weak are blamed. It’s the time we are living in now in this country. The title echoes the Thomas Paine quote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” And the song’s refrain, “First they came for…” derives from Martin Niemoller’s warning about the rise of the Nazis in the 1930’s: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist. Then they came for…” more groups the speaker was not a member of – until they finally came for him, and there was no one left to speak out. This song appeals to us to speak out, before it’s too late.

The Right to Live in Peace (El Derecho De Vivir en Paz) is sung here by many Chilean stars, based on Victor Jara’s 1971 song – a moving plea that became the rallying cry of the Chilean uprising in 2019. It sings of the right to live without fear, in peace, liberty, and dignity. As in the Freedom Marches of our own Civil Rights protests, songs like this can be taken up by thousands in the streets, empowering a movement – inspirational hymns to the best in us, to the impulse we share – to live together, in mutual respect for each other and the planet.

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 12

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 12: Immigration and Democracy

Podcast Theme excerpted from ‘Back To Life’ © 2022 Seth Handelman Recorded at Autumn Leaf Studios – Nashua, New Hampshire Saxophones, Guitars – Seth Handelman Bass, Drum track – Alan J. King Recording Engineer: Alan J. King

Ukrainian Now Words and Music by John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton © 2022 John McCutcheon Appalsongs, ASCAP and Tom Paxton Bristow Songs. SESAC Lead Vocals: John McCutcheon Harmony vocals: Tom Paxton Chorus: Noel Paul Stookey (Solo on Bridge), Peter Yarrow, Tom Paxton, Holly Near, Bill Miller, Tret Fure, Crys Matthews, Emma’s Revolution, Rebel Voices, Joe Jencks, Chris Lavin, Carrie Newcomer. Musicians: Jon Carroll (harmony vocal/piano/organ/accordion), JT Brown (harmony vocals/bass), Steve Fidyk (drums), Pete Kennedy & Jim Roberts (electric guitars), Stuart Duncan (fiddle/mandolin), Joe Jencks – electric bouzouki. Engineered At – Bias Studios Mastered At – Bias Studios Mastered By – Mike Monseur Recorded At – Cowboy Arms Hotel And Recording Spa Recorded At – Mark Howard Studio Published By – Bristow Music Published By – Appalsongs Manufactured By – Oasis Disc Manufacturing Pressed By – Disc Makers – MHF2050

O the Ocean Rolls Music and Lyrics © 2022 James Kahn James Kahn – Lead Vocal David West – Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Vocals, tres, requinto Wee Dougie Clegg – Tenor and Baritone Vocals Video: Outlier Productions © 2025 P Falkenberg and J. Cochran

El Derecho De Vivir en Paz (The Right to Live in Peace) ©1971 Victor Jara Various Chilean Artists: Different Chilean artists recorded this song, with modifications to the original lyrics, in the context of the Chilean people’s popular nonviolent uprising against the dictatorship in 2019.

Musicians who participated (voices): Roberto Márquez, Mon Laferte, Joe Vasconcellos y Denisse Malebrán, Fernando Milagros y Fran Straube, Javiera Parra y Pedro piedra, Francisca Valenzuela, Tommy Boysen, Pollo Gonzales, Manuel García, Moral Distraída, Camila Moreno, Pedro Piedra, Mariel Mariel, Javiera parra, C funk, Lalo Ibeas, Nano Stern, Augusto Schuster, Gepe, Benjamin Walker y Paz Court, Kanela y Eli Morris, Consuelo Schuster, Princesa Alba y Gianluca, Camila Gallardo.

Musicians who participated (instruments, arrangements) Vocal production: Christopher Manhey. Recording, programming, editions: Pablo Stipicic. Violins, Tiple: Nano Stern. Acoustic guitar: Pablo Jara, Charango. Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar: Eduardo Iensen. Bass, Synthesizer, Metallophone: Valentín Trujillo, Quena. Sax: Pedro Villagra. Percussions: Danilo Donoso. Programming, Editions: Vicente Sanfuentes. Accordion: Juan Angel. Electric guitar solos: Ángel Parra. Bronzes: Moral Distraida.

Music producers and engineers: Christopher Manhey, Pablo Stipicic, Valentín Trujillo, Eduardo Iensen. Mixer: Pablo Stipicic. Mastering: Chalo González. Audiovisual equipment: Director: Camila Grandi. General production: Sebastián Astudillo. Direction of photography: Rafael Russo. Photography assistant: Ulises Moya, Second camera: Mae Solis. Photograph: Loretta Castelletto. Still Photograph: Val Palavecino. Still Photograph: Lucas Benavente. Camera on CDMX: Cristóbal de la Cuadra.

Thanks to: Jamabros, Julio Zúñiga. Recording Studios: La Salitrera (Chile). Indierocks (México)

Watch Episode 10 [03-10-25] : IMMIGRATION

FEATURED ARTISTS

LAURA BARON: Refugee

WILLY SCHWARZ: The Immigrant Orchestra

PATTY LARKIN: The Fool’s Song

ALISON MOORE: Liberty

HOSTED BY WARRREN SENDERS

ABOUT the ARTISTS and their WORKS

Refugee, by award-winning singer-songwriter Laura Baron, is an ethereal, soft jazz folksong, going straight to the heart. With plaintive lyrics like “It’s so long since we’ve been welcomed,” she takes us to that place of deep empathy. And ending with “We are the song of the human race,” she reminds us we all come from a family of immigrants.

The Immigrant Orchestra, by Willy Schwarz, is the spoken word story of how his parents fled here from Europe on the eve of World War II. Interspersed with the music from around the world that influenced him, Willy talks about how he came to create the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra – 23 musicians from dozens of countries, playing their native instruments in harmony. Beautiful music – but he also saw it as a model for a respectful, multicultural society. It’s an American tale, if we can just hold on to it.

The lyrics of The Fool’s Song, by singer-songwriter Patty Larkin, were actually adapted from a poem written in 1913 by the celebrated poet William Carlos Williams – but Larkin adds her own new verses, along with a haunting melody. The singer laments putting her bird in a cage – the bird of truth. But it cannot be contained, the bird flies free, and the cage is broken. Truth can’t be locked up forever – including truths about climate, the desperation of the refugee, or any other facts some would try to hide away.

Liberty, by Alison Moore, is a spoken word tale – a magical realism metaphor about the Statue of Liberty on a road trip across the country, down to the Southern border. Having lost her way, she’s unable to remember how to finish her line, “Give me your tired, your poor…” – until she’s reminded by the children she meets there. “Libertad,” one child says, teaching us we are a country of immigrants, striving for freedom.

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 10

COMING SOON!

Watch Episode 9 [02-10-25] : WATER

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Kenyan-American jazz vocalist Gabrielle Agachiko

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

GABRIELLE AGACHIKO: When The Water’s Gone

JAMES KAHN: NO More A’Whaling

RICK ARNOLDI: We Are The River (Sung By MaryEdna Salvi)

WATERMELON SLIM: Black Water

HOSTED BY PURLY RAE GATES

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

Jazz singer Gabrielle Agachiko was born in Kenya, and trained at the Julliard School of Music. Her song, When the Water is Gone, asks us not to keep our heads buried in the sand about the effects of drought on the planet. If we wait until the water is gone from rivers and lakes, it will be too late to act. We all have to do what we can – and the first step is to wake up, pay attention, and see the problem for what it is.

James Kahn’s No More a’Whalin’ is a take on a modern sea shanty about saving whales instead of harpooning them. It tells of the majesty of these beautiful deep sea creatures, a species in decline in part because some countries still kill them, and partly because their habitats are being so altered by climate change.

We Are the River, written and arranged by Rick Arnoldi, is sung by MaryEdna Salvi in this R & B take on a song Rick wrote in the late 60’s. Picked up by various groups working for social change, it became a small part of anonymous oral tradition. Inspired by an actual river (Connecticut’s Natchaug) and by the peace and justice movements of the sixties, the song embodies all the rivers that start as tiny streams, joining others on their way to the sea, unstoppable by man-made dams and levees. Floods are coming, the response of the rivers to our attempted control – and loss of control – of nature. And the power of the sea reflects the power of the people yearning to be free.

Black Water, by Watermelon Slim, is a hard rockin’ Gulf Coast electric blues about the muck that was left flooding the streets after Hurricane Katrina hit, leaving so many living in tent cities. Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive every year, and Slim asks, after all the money this country spends on war, why is there so precious little left to help the victims of these terrible storms.

Watch Episode 8 [01-20-25] : KEEP HOPE ALIVE

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

TIM GRIMM: Broken Truth

JEAN ROHE: National Anthem Arise! Arise!

KIM MOBERG: Resist

RODNEY WHITTENBERG: Love

HOSTED BY RODNEY WHITTENBERG

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

TIM GRIMM is an award winning singer songwriter, whose work focuses primarily on community, family, and social issues. This one, BROKEN TRUTH, is both political and deeply personal. It’s a poignant, heartfelt Americana piece, written during Trump’s first administration, that expresses how heartbroken the singer is to see this country torn apart by “that laughing fool.” There’s so much emotion in Grimm’s refrain, “Damn that man,” you can feel it in your bones. The song alludes to our new president’s shamelessness, along with the usual seven sins he’s exhibited over the years. But hope is invoked toward the end of the song, with Dylanesque references like “ring them bells” and “the times they are a’ changin.” It ends with an invitation to all of us to spread the peace, as Dr. King asked us to – the ideals he gave his life for. The least we can do is to strive for that dream. In that pursuit, we can make for ourselves and everyone else a better place.

JEAN ROHE hails from Brooklyn, NY. Her song is all about hope, and the journey from darkness to light. Jean is a multiple award winning, singer-songwriter and teacher. Her remarkable, gorgeous song, NATIONAL ANTHEM: ARISE! ARISE! is musically both simple and complex. Part folksong with guitars, part choral anthem, part orchestral brass ensemble—and sung in a church—it’s nothing so much as a mass. It begins singing about the great oceans and lands that sustain us – that we must cherish. And from which we must aspire to a more perfect union. And from that, her refrain, “Lift out voices from the fire.” Our history has led us through the darkest fires, but we always strive for that better place in our hearts and lives. We all came here from different places, “some by force and some by will.” But we’re all here together now, and together we’ll rise.

Award winning singer/songwriter/guitarist KIM MOBERG was born in Juneau, of Alaskan Native Tlingit heritage. As a Folk/Americana artist, her sound reflects a diverse musical upbringing. She has recorded 3 albums which have aired world-wide and have charted on the Folk International, Folk DJ and the North American College & Community Radio charts to critical acclaim. Kim’s rich vocals, described as “a blend of honey and whiskey”, gently guide listeners through her musical stories while her compositions tug at feelings of melancholy, heartbreak, healing and social consciousness. Her simple, unadorned folksong, RESIST, is an ode to liberty, and resisting the social pressures that try to take it away. Remembering Native peoples’ stolen lands, she asks us to stand up to the forces that eat away at our liberties. Resist the greed and the lies – like the marchers in Selma, some of whom gave their lives for equality, freedom and justice. Violence is never far from our midst. But she implores us all – we can do better than this. We are better than this.

RODNEY WHITTENBERG is an Emmy award-winning composer and an Emmy-nominated film-maker based in Pennsylvania. Rodney’s passion for music and film is followed closely by his love of civics, history, and politics. In addition to contributing his song LOVE , he is also our guest host for this episode. Rodney personally interviewed and filmed Georgia’s US Representative, John Lewis, for a project called “We Stood Up…A Celebration of the Civil Rights Era“. Immeasurably inspired by Congressman Lewis—and other early Civil Rights movement leaders he interviewed for the project—Rodney wrote LOVE. In 2018, Rodney and an old friend—David Heitler-Klevans—began co-producing the highly-acclaimed podcast Music for the New Revolution. He is also the founder of Melodyvision, an audio music and video production company. Rodney’s professional work centers around social issues, community service, and political action.

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 8

Podcast Host: Rodney Whittenberg

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

WATCH Episode 7 [12-30-24] : NEW MOON, NEW YEAR

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

CARRIE NEWCOMER: Sanctuary

SETH HANDELMAN: Prayer for Peace

performed by Mark & Deb Bond

PURLY RAE GATES: Wake Up Now!

EMMA’S REVOLUTION: Peace, Salaam, Shalom

performed by singers & musicians around the world

HOSTED BY JOANNA RUSH AND SETH WILPAN

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

Michigander Carrie Newcomer’s video for her beautiful song Sanctuary was inspired by a letter she received from her good friend, Quaker writer Parker Palmer. He had responded to her question on what can we do now—when things seem so bleak. This song says it all so well, with Newcomer’s wrap-you-up-in-her-arms-reassuring voice. “In a time of deep divisions, Carrie has become a national voice for finding how we still connect at the heart of the human story.”

Next up is Prayer for Peace, by Seth Handelman, and performed so passionately by Mark and Deb Bond, who also hail from New Hampshire. The song laments a world rife with unnecessary wars, and calls for a new era of peace to be ushered in by the collective power of millions of fervent voices. May the “Hundredth Monkey Effect” rise again!

Musical activist Purly Rae Gates‘ song Wake Up Now! has found its way into webinars, films and living rooms around the country over the last few years. The message becomes more urgent with every new moon: we must wake up and do whatever we can to ‘turn the ship around’, and keep the planet liveable for future generations. Time to lead the leaders.

Closing out the episode is the anthem, Peace, Salaam, Shalom, from west coast-based Emma’s Revolution. This wildly impactful, talented and rockin’ folk duo, a long-standing partnership between Pat Humphrey and Sandy O, was inspired by the anarchist and revolutionary Emma Goldman. Their song has travelled the world and has been sung by thousands— bringing joy, inspiration and hope to many populations suffering now from global warming, toxic pollution and geopolitical strife.

SONG CREDITS – EPISODE 7

Peace, Salaam, Shalom Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow – Lyrics & Music // Sp. tr. John Glaser, Fr. tr. Ervelyne Bernard // © 2001 Pat Humphries & Sandy Opatow/Moving Forward Music BMI. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. PEACE THROUGH ALL PEOPLE © 2013 COMMUNITY OF CHRIST

Podcast Hosts: Joanna Rush and Seth Wilpan

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

Additional Artist Information:

Carrie Newcomer: www.carrienewcomber.com www.Facebook.com/CarrieNewcomer

Emma’s Revolution: www.emmasrevolution.com

Purly Rae Gates: www.purlygates.com everyday-earthday.com

The opinions shared by the hosts and guests on this program are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent those of Third Act.

Climate Change Organizations:

https://www.sunrisemovement.org https://engage.us.greenpeace.org/

WATCH

Episode 6 [12-9-24] : HEALING SPIRITS

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

MARK LAGERWEY: Last Winter

JAMES KAHN: Workin’ That ER

TOAD the WET SPROCKET : Starting Now

MELANIE DeMORE: Lead With Love/ One Foot

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

Mark Lagerwey is a singer-songwriter in the folk-rock tradition. Recently, his music focuses on our changing climate and the dire implications for humanity. A retired journalist and writer, Mark resides in West Michigan with his wife and also travels frequently to Alaska where he hikes, bikes and skis with his son and grandsons. In Last Winter, Mark expresses his longtime love of winter weather, and his sadness at its diminishment as global warming eats away at it all over the world. In floods, fires, and heatwaves, the warmth is overwhelming the cold – but we can solve the problem if we just muster up the willpower, and the good will, to honestly address it.

Mark Lagerwey: composer, guitar,vocals / Anne Carpenter: vocals

James Kahn is a longtime physician, novelist and screenwriter who has turned his focus to writing/performing Americana music over the last ten years. As a musical storyteller he hopes to touch people’s hearts, moving them to help save our collective ship from sinking. Workin’ That ER is a poignant, tender look at the life struggles of those around us, as seen through the lens of the emergency room. A reflection of the wounded and damaged souls wandering the world, it asks us to see the humanity in them – to help heal them, and ourselves, by coming together, supporting each other, and understanding the power of community to bind us in the mystery of life.

James Kahn – guitar, lead vocal / Shawn Thies – harmony vocals / David West – electric bass, harmony vocals / Jon Crosse – clarinets / George Friedenthal – piano / Tom Lackner – drums

Starting Now, written by Glen Phillips and performed by Toad the Wet Sprocket, is an introspective musing about what a person needs to do after being lost and directionless, looking at wasted years looking for life to change – and realizing change doesn’t just happen, we have to make it happen, we have to “dig a little deeper.” Maybe the “best time to change was years ago,” but the next best is here and now.

Glen Phillips – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin, keyboards / Todd Nichols – lead guitar, backing vocals, mandolin / Dean Dinning – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar / Josh Daubin – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Melanie DeMore eloquently describes herself as “a weapon of mass communication”. With a solid education in music composition, this accomplished songwriter, composer, choral conductor and former Sister of the Cloth, has a level of understanding as to the pure intention of Music that comes to only a very few in each generation. There is only one woman on this Planet whose voice is as deep, resonant, mesmerizing, comforting, and downright jaw-dropping in its power and sensuality as hers is. In Lead With Love/One Foot we see her passion and skill at work while she leads an enthusiastic, young group of singers about overcoming life’s struggles by confronting them together, by sharing our feelings of fear and sometimes despair, and facing them in common. “Don’t give up hope/Keep movin’ on,” is a joyous battle cry of protest and empowerment. And it just makes you feel good.

Melanie DeMore – Lyrics and music

Special thanks to our hosts and audio/video team!

Hosts: Seth Wilpan & Joanna Rush

Audio&Video:
Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, aka Outlier Moving Pictures

Watch Episode 5 [11-5-24] : CHANGE

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

SETH BERNARD : The Time Has Come

EMMA’S REVOLUTION: Our House is on Fire

CRYS MATTHEWS : Changemakers

SETH HANDELMAN: Imagine As You Dream

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

Seth Bernard is the founder of Earthwork Music, which encourages comm-unity healing through collective musicianship. Seth is a prolific songwriter and recording artist with 12 solo albums and a dozen more collaborative projects in his catalog. He’s won eight Jammie awards as a recording artist and producer and has been a longtime iconic leader and steward of Michigan’s music community. The Time Has Come asks us to come together now, there’s no more time to wait in the fight against the men whose greed is accelerating the climate change that is destroying our planet. The heartfelt lyrics implore us to find meaningful pathways to action, in our shared humanity.

Credits for The Time Has Come: Seth Bernard – Composer, Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars/ Samantha Cooper – Vocals/ Khalin Diggins – Bass / Dan Rickabus – Drums, Vocals/ Michael Shimmin – Shakers, Cabasa, Tambourine, Shekere/ Ruth Unger – Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Hand Claps © 2021 Seth Bernard

Emma’s Revolution is the dynamic, award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O— known for fearless, truth-telling lyrics and melodies you can’t resist singing, The duo are in their 20th year performing together. Their songs have traveled around the world and have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and covered by Holly Near. Our House is on Fire, by Emma’s Revolution, is a passionate song with a similar message: our house – the earth – is going up in flames, literally and metaphorically, and we have to join hands to put those fires out. The ‘fires’ of polluted air and oceans, dying trees, melting glaciers, rising seas, bleaching coral, growing drylands, racism, homophobia, hunger and poverty all need our attention—and we must deal with them now.

Credits for Our House is on Fire: Sandy O – Vocal, Guitar / Pat Humphries – Vocal, Guitar / Shelley Doty – Electric Guitar / Vicki Randle – Bass / Kofy Brown – Drums /

Daryn Roven @The Raindrop – Recording and Audio Editing / Sara St. Martin Lynne – Videography / Steve Holloway – Video Editing

Thank You to the Lakota’s Law Project

Crys Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality”. Crys is made for these times, and her hope-fueled, love-filled social justice album Changemakers is a resounding affirmation of that fact. Changemakers was named International Folk Music Awards 2021 SONG OF THE YEAR. It’s a soulful, moving prayer, asking us all to battle hate and racism, and stand up for all the starving children, dreamers, homeless, and vulnerable members of our society; an appeal to the soul of America, with the poetry that symbolizes us to the world: “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.”

Credits for Changemakers: Crys Matthews: Composer, vocal & acoustic guitar / Video: courtesy of JB Nuttle, worldonevideo.com

Seth Handelman is one of the hardest working podcast team members. He’s a life-long musician who has written and played rock-infused songs for decades. You hear his powerful sax riffs at the beginning of every Cool Tunes for a Hot Planet episode. Imagine as You Dream addresses the horrors of school shootings by asking why this keeps happening, why we keep leaving our children to face these nightmares alone. He wonders if maybe we can start to turn things around by dreaming the possibilities of how to fix this intractable problem. We must visualize the solutions first, and only then can we effect them.

Credits for Imagine As You Dream: Seth Handelman: Composer, Lead Vocals, Guitars, Saxophones / Alan J. King: Backing Vocals / Craig ‘Shab’ Chabot: Bass Guitar, Drum Programming / Recorded at Shabby Road Studios – Nashua, New Hampshire / Craig ‘Shab’ Chabot: Recording Engineer © 2018 Seth Handelman

And special thanks to our hosts and audio/video team:

Hosts: Joanna Rush & Seth Wilpan

Audio&Video: Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, aka Outlier Moving Pictures

Watch Episode 4 [10-28-24] : VOTE!

And special thanks to our hosts and audio/video team:

FEATURED SONGWRITERS

THE THERAPY SISTERS : Do Something

Long-time Austin music scene celebs, The Therapy Sisters have been conducting their own kind of therapy sessions all over town—encouraging smiles and laughter, hilarity and joy, introspection and out-trospection with a dedicated army of faithful clients. Lisa Rogers’ song Do Something, written over twenty years ago, is still a huge hit. (It’s rumored that Michelle Obama is a fan…)

Lisa Rogers: Electric guitar, lead vocal, percussion, video editor / Maureen McLean: Electric bass, vocals

PATTY CARPENTER & VERANDAH PORCHE : Precious Right (Vote)

Patty (singer & piano player) and Verandah (poet & scribe) have penned about 50 songs together, “one for each year of our friendship”. Southeastern Vermont is their stomping ground. Verandah, a well-recognized, published poet and Patty, with her keyboard brilliance and jazz-inflected singing are a powerful duo. Check out their outstanding commentary in 2020’s “Tweeting From the Tower“—not to be missed!

Patty Carpenter: composer, vocals, keyboard / Verandah Porche: composer, spoken word, vocals / Charles Light: video / Jack Cochran & Pamela Falkenberg (Outlier Moving Pictures): Additional images and video editing

ZOE LEWIS : SMASH (the Glass Ceiling)

Known for her outrageous talent and unlimited energy, Zoe Lewis has wowed audiences world wide since she first graced British stages. Often called “a band in a body”, Zoë plays vintage jazz and world beat grooves on anything from the piano to the spoons! Now a US citizen, she’s released 10 albums of original material, and has toured with Judy Collins, the Indigo Girls and many more notables!

BABA BRINKMAN & FRIENDS : LOTUS for POTUS

“In Sanskrit, Kamala means LOTUS. In America, Kamala means POTUS.” Baba Brinkman is a Canadian rapper and playwright best known for recordings and performances that combine hip hop music with literature, theatre, and science. Brinkman spent his early summers in remote tree planting camps, and began planting trees himself at the age of 15. He worked for his parents’ business, Brinkman & Associates Reforestation, for twelve seasons in British Columbia and Alberta, personally planting more than one million trees.

Baba Brinkman, Jam Ram, Lex Rush, Dex McBean: Artists, Composers / Produced, mixed, mastered: Tom Caruana / Sitar + Overtone singing: Neel Murgai / Sanskrit + Hindi vocals: Preeta Sinha / *Special thanks to One Green Planet and all who participated in the production of Lotus for Potus

Hosts: Joanna Rush & Seth Wilpan

Audio&Video: Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, aka Outlier Moving Pictures

Watch Episode 3 [10-14-24] : In Honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Featuring

HOST: muhu’wit

Larry Long with Honor the Earth + many other Pipeline Fighters /

Keith Secola & David Huckfelt /

Mark Lagerwey

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

This special edition of Cool Tunes for a Hot Planet celebrates Indigenous Peoples and their contributions to the environmental movement. Hosted by muhu’wit of the Central California band of Chumash, he begins by chanting Toki Toki, a song first recorded over 100 years ago by ‘Lone Woman’ of San Nicolas Island.

Next up: No More Pipeline Blues (On this Land Where We Belong), composed & produced by Larry Long, is a song which celebrates the courage of “water protect-ors” and the inspirational leadership of indigenous women against Big Oil. Featuring Mumu Fresh, Waubanewquay, Pura Fe, Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Joy Harjo and many other allies.

Music – Larry Long

Words: Winona LaDuke, Keri Pickett, Buffy Sainte Marie, Keith Secola, Pura Fe, Dorine Day, Waubanewquay, Marion Moore, Pam Mahling // No More Pipeline Blues Band: Larry Long – Acoustic guitar/ Dakota David Hull – Acoustic baritone guitar / George Parrish – Electric guitar / Larry Dalton – Upright bass / Petar Janjic – Traps / Pura Fe – Hand drum / Jennifer Kreisberg – Hand drum

Book of Life, by Keith Secola (composer/elec.guitar) and performed with David Huckfelt (vocal, guitar, video), ponders how the beauty of the natural world asks of us the deeper spiritual questions: Why do we suffer? What is the meaning? The answer to finding what we seek in order to embrace this beauty… is love.

Quiltman-vocals; Connor Gallagher-pedal steel; Winston Watson-drums; Thoger Lund-Bass; VIDEO: Suez Taylor- Director/Producer; Add’tl footage: Unicorn Riot / Luminal Films: Lance Lindhal, Fantasy Fishing, NOAA. The audio version of Book of Life appears on David Huckfelt’s album, “Room Enough, Time Enough”. To order (vinyl, cd or digital) go to: https://www.davidhuckfelt.com

Finally, Denali Rising, by Mark Lagerwey, believes the majestic mountain, Denali, the pinnacle of wilderness and spiritual guidepost of the Alaskan Native peoples, has seen enough of the incursions of modern industrialized civilization (particularly the dirty fossil fuel industry) and is on the verge of rising up in outrage.

Mark Lagerway – Lead vocal, acoustic guitar

Special thanks to our fabulous AV team:

Audio&Video: Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, aka Outlier Moving Pictures

Episode 2 [09-23-24] : GET OUT THE VOTE!

ABOUT the SONGWRITERS and their SONGS

We open with Roy Zimmerman and his fabulous song, My Vote, My Voice, My Right. It’s the most honest & true, totally grooving’ musical history of voting rights you will EVER hear. And it starts at the very beginning. Roy has created hundreds of fantastic songs with his writing (& life) partner, Melanie Harby—so check ’em out. Based in California, Roy has covered the country from west to east, north to south many times over, offering finely-honed entertainment—shedding light on while making light of—US politics.

Next up, there’s a catchy, ukulele driven-tune from the new, digital duo

Hattie-Purl & the Poll Cats’: Vote4Mom! Jerushko, wrote the song, and Purly Rae Gates played Uke, provided back-up vocals, arrangement & mixing; guitar, bass & engineering by Rick Arnoldi. And there’s a cast of 50+ beautiful people lending smiles, holding lyric signs.

Distant Thunder—a new American musical— just opened on Broadway. Directed & choreographed by LYNNE TAYLOR-CORBETT, with music and lyrics by SHAUN TAULOR-CORBETT and CHRIS WISEMAN. It’s a sneak peek/listen to Hold On, with an all-Indigenous cast.

Wrapping up the episode, Seth Handelman offers a heartfelt look back at the voting rights struggle some 60 or so years ago, with his rock-infused song The Returns. (You hear Seth’s awesome sax riffs at the intro & outro of each podcast episode.)

Hosts: Joanna Rush

and Seth Wilpan

Audio&Video: Jack Cochran and Pamela Falkenberg, aka Outlier Moving Pictures

EPISODE 2 SONG CREDITS coming

EPISODE 1 [9-02-24]
WELCOME to Cool Tunes for a Hot Planet! A Labor of Love...

Episode 1 features Eliza Gilkyson, a nationally touring folk musician with two Grammy nominations, based in Taos, NM. You’ll see videos of her stunning songs Promises to Keep and Peace in my Heart. Eliza offers some back-story on both songs.

Also featured is the multi-talented, award-winning phenom James Kahn, with his moving, evocative climate change sea shanty, By the Risin’ of the Seas. Based in Portland, OR, he’s still flexing his outstanding creative side.

And the ever-hopeful, quirky Purly Rae Gates—based near Austin, TX—swings out with her positive oxymoron of a parody: In Cleaner, Greener Texas. She’s a musical activist and a Kerrville (TX) Folk Fest Songwriting Finalist.

Hosts: Youth Activist Veronica Vevang & Actor Joanna Rush

Videographers: Jack Cochran & Pamela Falkenberg/ Outlier Moving Pictures

EPISODE 1 SONG CREDITS

Back to Home Page

In Cleaner, Greener Texas New Lyrics: Purly Rae Gates, ©2024 Adapted from music by Don Swander // Purly Rae Gates – vocals & acoustic guitar, mixing, arranging, recording // Craig Eastman – fiddle, recording // East Side Flash – dobro, piano, recording // John Ohlinger, upright bass // Chorus: Bob Tom Reed; Donna Pelkey Bailey; Dan Pickens

Promises to Keep and Peace in Our Hearts Eliza Gilkyson – Composer (music and lyrics), lead Vocal, electric guitar Additional singers: Pastor Sam Butler (5 Blind Boys of Alabama), with daughters Shamara & Samoa Butler singing backup; Cris Williamson; members of the WEWIM choir of Austin (Betty Too, Charlie Faye, Alina Adderley and Bella Rosa Castillo (Eliza’s granddaughter). Produced by Cisco Ryder Gilliland ©2020, Eliza Gilkyson

Additional Artist Links:

James Kahn https://thatjameskahn.com https://www.youtube.com/c JamesKahnEntertainments https://open.spotify.com/album/2SuFuGZ7K3Ec4 THOkp9Hck

Eliza Gilkyson https://elizagilkyson.com/

Purly Gates https://www.purlygates.com https://www.everyday-earthday.com