Spirit In Action

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Each week, Spirit In Action brings you stories of people living lives of fruitful service, of peace, community, compassion, creative action and progressive efforts. We'll trace the spiritual roots that support and nourish them in their service. Above all, we'll seek out Light, Love and Helping Hands…

Northern Spirit Radio

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    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 1,426 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Spirit In Action

    Sustainability is the Common-sense Destination for Emergency Preparedness

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 55:00


    Jan Spencer is guest-host today for the sixth time, sharing an episode of Creating A Preferred Future, equipping us further in anticipation of changes we need for a better future. Jan explains why anyone interested in emergency preparedness can "graduate" to an interest in paradigm shift and moving towards sustainability. Preparedness for unplanned disruption is a very prudent idea.

    Botanicals, Prostate Cancer, & Community Supported Enlightenment: Pamela Boyce Simms

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 55:00


    Today for Spirit in Action we welcome back Pamela Boyce Simms of Singularity Botanicals. In 2017 we visited with her about Evolutionary Cultural Design, and in 2019 the topic was the African Diaspora Plant Medicine Project.

    Help Someone Out of Their Grave Clothes: Bubble & Squeak

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 55:00


    Today's guest-host, Peterson Toscano, brings deep riches from his occasional podcast called Bubble and Squeak. There is deep encounter & meaning in this episode, wrestling with stories, overtones of stories, & personal resurrection of Lazarus in the Bible, and recovering from conversion therapy in reality, a recovery of oneself through true unbinding.

    Listening, Sound, and Art: Transforming Climate Anxiety into Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 55:00


    Our guest-hosts today are Peterson Toscano & Elise Silvestra of Citizen's Climate Radio, bringing together voices exploring how emotional honesty, sound, and art can open pathways from climate despair to collective action.

    Harvard's DEI Refusal & Their Joyful Ex-Prisoner Chaplain: John Bach

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 55:00


    President Trump has been wreaking havoc in so many corners of our country, including the disruption caused by his executive order to dismantle all DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) programs throughout the country. Harvard has been the most prominent school to refuse the order, causing joy & celebration among many. Today we're talking with John Bach about Harvard's policies and ethics from his perspective as a Harvard chaplain.

    Earth Service & The Sierra Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 55:00


    Most of the time it is the top officials in an organization who are interviewed to learn about & understand the group, but today we're exploring The Sierra Club from the ground up. Paul Wagner has been very active with The Sierra Club for over forty years, connecting at the local, Chippewa Valley level, within the state of Wisconsin, and also nationally.

    Preparing for the Draft & Conscientious Objection with Wayne Finegar

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 55:00


    Wayne Finegar is Executive Director of QuakerHouse, a resource located in Fayetteville, SC, which provides counseling and support to service members who are questioning their role in the military; educates them, their families, and the public about military issues, and advocates for a more peaceful world. Check out the GI Rights Hotline and also their Conscientious Objection resources.

    The “Bad Boy” Conscientious Objectors of WW2 in Germfask, MI

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 55:00


    We're going back in time to the end of World War II today for SIA, to get to know about one of the 151 Civilian Public Service camps, this one for the “bad boys” of the conscientious objectors. Our guest is Jane Kopecky, and we'll be visiting about her book, World War II Conscientious Objectors - Germfask, Michigan: The Alcatraz Camp.

    Mystics, Misfits, and Mountain Dwellers at the First Church of the Higher Elevations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 55:00


    We're seeking world healing in a different way today, for Spirit In Action. Our guest is Peter Anderson - author, mystic, misfit, & mountain dweller. His recent books have included First Church of the Higher Elevations: Mountains, Prayer, and Presence, and most recently, Riding the Wheel: Prose-Poems.

    A Real Democracy of, by, & for the People: Indivisible

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 55:00


    Today we're catching a glimpse of the organization Indivisible and, specifically, Chippewa Valley Indivisible, the local chapter here in the place I happen to live. There are hundreds, even thousands, of chapters nationwide.

    Truth Among Red & Blue White People: Is It Racism, Is It Sexism?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 55:00


    More than 10 years ago I interviewedBetsy Leondar-Wright about her superb book, Missing Class, and today we'll visit with her about the book she researched and wrote with Jessi Streib called Is It Racist?

    Small Islands of Sanity for The Right Person: Climate Changed

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 55:00


    Today's guest-hosts are Nicole Diroff, Ben Yosua-Davis, and Peterson Toscano, of the Climate Changed Podcast from The BTS Center. In this episode they bring us a conversation that dives deep into the heart of what it means to find hope and community in a chaotic world.

    City Planning Goals and Paradigm Shift

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 55:00


    Jan Spencer is guest-host today for the fifth time, sharing an episode of Creating A Preferred Future which takes a look at an unexpected topic. In Jan upcoming new book, A Primer For Paradigm Shift, he has found a new friend in the City of Eugene, Oregon's Strategic Planning Goals.

    The End of a Hot Mess & Starting Snorkling with CCR

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 55:00


    Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizen's Climate Radio is sitting in today for Spirit In Action, sharing climate info through a True Crime lens, in the 8th and final installation of a series called Hot Mess.

    Small Town, Big Gays - Wholeness in Flyover Land

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 55:00


    The podcast, SmallTownBigGays, (also available on YouTube) is produced weekly by Travis Gorell and Chance Smith, originating from Eau Claire, WI, and sharing the reality, the strengths, and the beauty of queer folks in places most often ignored or discounted. Travis also performs regularly in drag around the Chippewa Valley as Khloe Wold as one of many Dolls of the Valley.

    Remembering a Messenger for Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 55:00


    With the passing last week of Joe Elder, a bright light for peace and justice and a dear friend and neighbor to so many has left us. We feel led to bring you again the interview we did with Joe 15 years ago, so that we can all hear Joe's voice once more. Back then, we told you that Joe Elder was the recipient on October 3rd, 2009, of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice. Joe has traveled the world with quiet off-the-record messages and worked for peace from Vietnam to Sri Lanka.

    10 Things To Do Now That Trump Has Won

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 55:00


    More than a decade ago I interviewed Daniel Hunter about a book he had written, and when I saw the article he had written just before the November election called 10 Things To Do If Trump Wins, I knew it was something I needed to check out. After all, Daniel has done organizing and training in a number of settings, in the United States and abroad, preparing folks to effectively make this a better world.

    Mike McCabe's Miracles Along County Q

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 55:00


    We've visited with Mike McCabe several times in the past 15 years, about his work with the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, about the need for real people in government, and relative to his run for Wisconsin governor. Today we have Mike here for something different, a book of fiction called Miracles Along County Q.

    Community-Owned Healthcare - A New Way? Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 55:00


    Are there alternatives to the expensive, complicated, healthcare system in the US?

    Native Wisdom on Coping With Life & Climate Changed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 55:00


    This heart-opening episode is guest-hosted by Peterson Toscano, Nicole Diroff & Ben Yosua-Davis of the BTS Center and is from their Climate Changed Podcast, This program is possible because of the sound and journalism mastery of 

    The Long Road to Women Doctors, Written in Poetry: Alice Rothchild

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 55:00


    Alice Rothchild is many things: a woman, a Jew, a doctor, a feminist, a poet, and the author of 6 books, the latest being Inspired and Outraged: The Making of a Feminist Physician.

    Tell It Slant - Chuck Fager, Emma Lapsansky-Werner, & 60 Years of Peace & Justice Journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 55:00


    We welcome back Chuck Fager, a writer & activist with some 60 years of work, and we also welcome Emma Lapsansky-Werner, the co-author of Tell It Slant: Chuck Fager, A Prophetic Life of Adventure & Writing on R

    Another Mother's Child - A Jewish Quaker Reaches Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 55:00


    Many of us have been in pain about events in the Middle East for years, a pain that was horribly amplified by the massacre of Jews on October 7th, 2023, and the horrific and disproportional retribution that followed in Gaza by Israelis. Today's guest is Sandy Green, a Jewish Quaker, formerly a Zionist, who found she could not un-see the evils perpetrated by Israel on Palestinians, not just recently, but for decades. Late in her long life, Sandy has become a visible activist, facing painful consequences, but remaining steadfast to a fuller and wider love.

    Positive & Practical Primer for Paradigm Shift

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 55:00


    Jan Spencer is back today to guest-host today Spirit In Action with the 4th installment of his series Primer for Paradigm Shift, and this one is fun for the positive and practical examples of this kind of work actually taking place. While keeping his eye on the needed ways of seeing and thinking about the world in order to become sustainable and to leave our world-wrecking ways behind us, Jan shows us real folks making real change with real fun.

    Hot Mess & Citizens' Climate Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 55:00


    Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizens' Climate Radio is sitting in today for Spirit In Action, sharing climate info through a True Crime lens, in a series he's calling Hot Mess.

    WNPJ Fall Assembly: Elena Terry, Alan Chavoya, & Samer Alatout

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 55:00


    Three speeches from the October 19th meeting of the Fall Assembly of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. In our broadcast version we'll have only two of the three speakers, but the podcast version will have all three of them, sharing on a range of peace and justice topics.

    A Better Life From a US/Italian Viewpoint

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 55:00


    Usually for Spirit in Action we are talking to a person or group who are engaged in some specific world-healing work, while today We'll be talking to John Bachman and Christina Yocca, former residents of Eau Claire, currently back for a short visit, who have been living in Italy for 2 years now, which is their permanent home. Our hope is that by talking with John and Christina, we'll form a clearer view of the strengths and the weaknesses of the two different countries, and to explore the possibilities for improving the world, and ourselves, by choosing a new home.

    Working for a Just, Nonviolent World: Leah Robshaw Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 55:00


    We visit with the recent executive director of FNVW/Friends for a Nonviolent World, Leah Robshaw Robinson.

    Madame Curie: Opening Doors to Women, Peace, & Knowledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 55:00


    An essential part of the road to full equality for women has been the opening of careers in the broad range of disciplines, many that were previously forbidden to women. Perhaps no person had as much effect as the woman known to the world as Madame Curie.

    Rebuilding The American Dream With Thom Hartmann & Myron Buchholz

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 55:00


    Membership in the Middle Class has plummeted over the past 40 years, making the American Dream out-of-reach for a great many Americans. Thom Hartmann addresses the history, present, & possible future of this saga in his book, The Hidden History of The American Dream: The Demise of the Middle Class – And How to Rescue Our Future.

    Straddling Cultural Canyons: Nigeria-Hungary-USA

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 55:00


    As we travel over 3 continents in search of international understanding, connection, and peace, our guest is Daniel Mamah, and he is the author of As The Rivers Merge: A Story of Love, War, and Perseverance Across Continents. Daniel & his siblings were raised between their mother's Hungary, their father's Nigeria, and in a couple other countries, with all the intricacies of attitudes, culture, and history that result in the face of major differences of perspective.

    Bolivia, Revolution, Climate Crisis, & Potatoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 55:00


    Emma Condori Mamani does the work of connection and compassion from her home base in La Paz, Bolivia. Emma has witnessed dramatic changes to the roles of indigenous Bolivians in that society, changes that have led her to higher education and work with the Friends International Bilingual Center.

    The Right Kind of Serenity with Eileen Flanagan & Climate Changed

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 55:00


    In this eye-opening episode, guest-hosted by Keisha McKenzie, Nicole Diroff, Allen Ewing-Merrill, and Ben Yosua Davis of the BTS Center and their Climate Changed Podcast, they bring you an enlightening conversation with 

    climate right kind eileen flanagan
    Citizen George Lakey in Film, Song, & Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 55:00


    George Lakey is many things to many people, including activist, organizer, author, professor, father, and friend. A glimpse into his 87 years of life on the planet comes to us now through the documentary movie, Citizen George (here's the trailer).

    Primer for Paradigm Shift, Part 3, Thought & Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 55:00


    Jan Spencer is back today to guest-host today Spirit In Action with the 3rd installment of his series Primer for Paradigm Shift – the needed ways of seeing and thinking about the world in order to become sustainable and to leave our world-wrecking ways behind us.

    A Different Story for Our Future: Citizens Climate Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 55:00


    Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network and Transition Town Totnes, and author of several influential books, including “The Transition Handbook” and 

    Healing of Youth Facing Adult Imprisonment - YSRP & Bianca van Heydoorn

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 55:00


    Bianca van Heydoorn spoke at this year's FGC Gathering, held this year at Haverford College, just outside of Philadelphia, which made it much easier to have Bianca here for Spirit In Action.

    Jonathan Kuttab's Past & Present in Palestine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 55:00


    Jonathan Kuttab was born & raised in Jerusalem, and he helped found Nonviolence International and the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq, and is the author of 

    Peterson Toscano's Healing Work: From Ex-gay Survivors to Everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 55:00


    Peterson Toscano first appeared on Spirit In Action in 2007, talking about his work to support and heal ex-gay survivors, men who, like him, spent years trying to be cured from being gay, and being seriously, sometimes lethally injured by that treatment. I then observed Peterson as he dove deeply into Biblical study around non-conforming sexual roles, in the Bible, and transforming ways of seeing the lessons of that book.

    Writing Creative Reality with Glen Retief

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 55:00


    Glen Retief grew up in South Africa, a story he captured in his book The Jack Bank, and he writes periodically for the South African publication, The Daily Maverick.

    Nonviolence At Work in Senegal to Sudan to Ukraine to the USA: Michael Beer & Nonviolence International

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 55:00


    Our 2nd visit with Michael Beer, director of Nonviolence International since 1998. Last time Michael talked mainly about his book, 

    Real Flourishing, Not Just Believing: Amanda Udis-Kessler

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 55:00


    Amanda Udis-Kessler is not only a musician, but she's a sociologist, a social ethicist, a theologian, and a writer, and it's her writing that brings her here to us today.

    Starfish Kids, Imago Dei, & Teamwork Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 55:00


    In 2016, Peggy & Mark Halvorson picked up and moved to Liberia, West Africa, with 4 kids in tow, as part of their growing passion of adaption, but also healing for the people of that country. That devotion has only grown in the following years, and so has the organization that Peggy shepherds, Teamwork Africa.

    Trauma-healing: Buffalo Star People, Rwanda, & Nigeria

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 55:00


    A visit with 2 people, from opposite corners of the globe, trying to help with recovery and healing from severe trauma. Terry Hokenson & his interest in regenerative agriculture led him to a total shift in his worldview, guided by the insights and work of Francis and Barbara Bettelyoun, and the Indigenous American organization called Buffalo Star People. This interview took place before the members of Minneapolis Friends Meeting on Easter Sunday 2024.

    George Lakey - Quaker Activist, Organizer, Sociologist, Trainer, & Author - from the Everyday Nonviolence Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 55:00


    The team at of FNVW and their Everyday Nonviolence Podcast guest-hosts today for Spirit In Action.

    Race & Revolution Through Jazz: The Duke, The Count, & Sachmo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 55:00


    Larry Tye captures history and writes books about transformation, like the progress brought about by the black musicians who captured hearts in the USA. Larry's latest book is The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America, a combination of legends, deep examination, and inspirational story-telling. This is the 9th book by Larry, all of which open hearts and minds with real-life stories.Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish

    Coping Fruitfully with Climate Changed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 55:00


    Today's guest-hosts from the Climate Changed Podcast of the BTS Center, Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff, are bringing us some hope and instruction in how to cope constructively with the threat and tribulations of Climate Changed.

    Creative Compassionate Activism from Dubai: Ali Horriyat & Compassiviste

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 55:00


    Our guest is Ali Horriyat and he's an amazing human being. Ali grew up in Dubai, had loads of education in Europe, eventually obtaining 3 Masters degrees, made a huge fortune in Canada, then gave it away to reboot his life, free from a wealth addiction, and also free to direct his energy to the true betterment of the world. Ali created Compassiviste, a mutual-support organization of creative compassionate activists doing wonderful work. Ali Horriyat joins us from Dubai in the Middle East.

    Primer for Paradigm Shift, Part 2, Jan Spencer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 55:00


    Jan Spencer is guest-host today, his fourth time on Spirit in Action. talking about what he calls his Primer for Paradigm Shift – the needed way of seeing and thinking about the world in order to become sustainable and to leave our world-wrecking ways behind us.

    Simple, Wise, Life-changing Living & Parenting: Pamela Haines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 55:00


    Pamela Haines writes deep, profound and life-changing books, but she does it with simple, straightforward, and accessible language. With degrees in Social Ecology and Labor & Women's History, she is a self-taught economist and consummate communicator. Her greatest strength, however, is not her paper degrees, but her genuine and lifelong curiosity, integrity, and wide-ranging compassion, which lead her to write delightful books that all of us need and can appreciate.

    Activism, Antarctica, Permitting, & Re-fashioning: Citizen's Climate Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 55:00


    Guest-host Peterson Toscano of Citizen's Climate Radio is sitting in today for Spirit In Action, assisted by several CCR activists.

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