http://www.radiocurious.org Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:04:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1 Welcome to the 20th year of Radio Curious, half hour interviews on a curiously wide variety of topics about life and ideas. All of the almost 400 half-hour archive editions on our website are free for you to enjoy, download, copy, share or rebroadcast as you wish. Please give credit to Radio Curious and let us know what you like about the program. www.radiocurious.org Radio Curious clean Radio Curious curious@radiocurious.org curious@radiocurious.org (Radio Curious) Creative Commons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Radio Curious Radio Curious, Interviews, Environment, Education, Chautauquan, Psychology/Psychaitry, Sex, Mendocino, Law, Religion, Feminism http://www.radiocurious.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/radio-curious-rss-logo.jpg http://www.radiocurious.org/category/music/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/12/05/alex-de-grassi-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/12/05/alex-de-grassi-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2024 05:10:29 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=5388 http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/12/05/alex-de-grassi-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/feed/ 0 Click here to begin listening.  - Alex De Grassi is a guitarist extraordinaire whose interpretation of the Radio Curious theme, entitled “The Last Cowboy”, you may hear if you listen carefully. In this edition of Radio Curious he asks us ‘What does a ... Click here to begin listening.  Alex De Grassi is a guitarist extraordinaire whose interpretation of the Radio Curious theme, entitled “The Last Cowboy”, you may hear if you listen carefully. In this edition of Radio Curious he asks us ‘What does a cumulous cloud sound like when played on guitar?’ Alex De Grassi will share that sound with us in this interview. De Grassi played the trumpet as a child and when he was about 12, his brother was given a guitar, which soon gave Alex inspiration… allowing us to hear what a cumulous cloud sounds like. Our conversation began when I asked him about his relationship with the guitar. You can learn more about his work at his website www.degrassi.com. Alex De Grassi came to the studio of Radio Curious for this conversation on November 12th 2008. The book Alex De Grassi recommends is “Musicophilia: Tales Of Music And The Brain”, by Oliver Sacks. Ignacio Ayala clean http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/11/28/marcos-pereda-soft-sounds-of-spanish-guitar/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/11/28/marcos-pereda-soft-sounds-of-spanish-guitar/#comments Thu, 28 Nov 2024 06:37:10 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=5385 http://www.radiocurious.org/2024/11/28/marcos-pereda-soft-sounds-of-spanish-guitar/feed/ 0 Click here to begin listening.  - Spanish songs sung and played on guitar is something I have enjoyed beginning when I lived in Peru in the mid 1960′s. I often have the pleasure of listening to and talking with Marcos Pereda, Click here to begin listening.  Spanish songs sung and played on guitar is something I have enjoyed beginning when I lived in Peru in the mid 1960′s. I often have the pleasure of listening to and talking with Marcos Pereda, a person who can do just that. Marcos was born in Cuba and made his home there until the end of the last century when he moved with his American wife to the United States and soon thereafter to Mendocino County where he has settled, and can often be found playing his guitar and singing the soft sounds of his songs. Marcos Pereda joined Radio Curious at our studio in Ukiah on the 24th November 2008. The book Marcos Pereda recommends is “The Course of Miracles” by Dr. Helen Schucman. Ignacio Ayala clean http://www.radiocurious.org/2022/11/10/jed-barahal-cellist-extraordinaire-2/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2022/11/10/jed-barahal-cellist-extraordinaire-2/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2022 05:33:13 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=5012 http://www.radiocurious.org/2022/11/10/jed-barahal-cellist-extraordinaire-2/feed/ 0 Click here to begin listening. In this edition of Radio Curious, we take a look at the cello, the kind of musical instrument it is and the sounds it makes. My guest is Jed Barahal, a concert cellist extraordinaire, who lives in Porto, Click here to begin listening. In this edition of Radio Curious, we take a look at the cello, the kind of musical instrument it is and the sounds it makes. My guest is Jed Barahal, a concert cellist extraordinaire, who lives in Porto, Portugal and performed with pianist Christina Margotto, his wife, and Amari Barash, an oboist, in Ukiah, California in August 2004. Jed Barahal recommends “The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Future of Industrial Societies,” by Richard Heinberg. Originally Broadcast: September 7, 2004 Ignacio Ayala clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2020/02/12/garmentleonard-crazy-rhythm-my-journey-from-brooklyn-jazz-and-wall-street-to-nixons-white-house-watergate-and-beyond/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2020/02/12/garmentleonard-crazy-rhythm-my-journey-from-brooklyn-jazz-and-wall-street-to-nixons-white-house-watergate-and-beyond/#comments Wed, 12 Feb 2020 19:39:34 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=4493 http://www.radiocurious.org/2020/02/12/garmentleonard-crazy-rhythm-my-journey-from-brooklyn-jazz-and-wall-street-to-nixons-white-house-watergate-and-beyond/feed/ 0 Click here to begin listening - Some people’s memories of President Richard Nixon are negative due to his role in escalating the Vietnam War, the student demonstrations at Kent State University, and Nixon’s ultimate downfall in Watergate. Click here to begin listening (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-Garment_Leonard_2.12.20_IA.mp3) Some people’s memories of President Richard Nixon are negative due to his role in escalating the Vietnam War, the student demonstrations at Kent State University, and Nixon’s ultimate downfall in Watergate. But who was the man? And how could another individual get close to him? “Crazy Rhythm: My Journey from Brooklyn, Jazz, and Wall Street to Nixon’s White House, Watergate, and Beyond…,” is a story written by a complex person very close to Richard Nixon. Attorney Leonard Garment was born to immigrant Jewish parents in New York in 1924. Playing music, especially saxophone jazz, he grew up in Brooklyn. As a good student and, with what he describes, “an ambition to run things,” Garment finished law school in his early twenties and began working for a major Wall Street law firm. Even though at times he characterized himself as a liberal Democrat, Garment became a close friend and law partner with Richard Nixon and later became the attorney for, and the counsel to, President Richard Nixon, during the time Nixon was embroiled in the throws of Watergate. This interview was originally broadcast in May of 1997. Leonard Garment recommends “American Pastoral,” by Philip Roth. Originally Broadcast: May 16, 1997 LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2019/04/02/seeger-pete-thoughts-from-a-troubadour-an-interview-with-pete-seeger/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2019/04/02/seeger-pete-thoughts-from-a-troubadour-an-interview-with-pete-seeger/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:02:10 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=4415 http://www.radiocurious.org/2019/04/02/seeger-pete-thoughts-from-a-troubadour-an-interview-with-pete-seeger/feed/ 0 Click here to begin listening - This archive edition of Radio Curious was originally recorded and broadcast in January of 1992 when Radio Curious was called “Government, Politics and Ideas.” Our guest is Pete Seeger, Click here to begin listening (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-Seeger_Pete_1-20-92_(1-29-18).mp3) This archive edition of Radio Curious was originally recorded and broadcast in January of 1992 when Radio Curious was called “Government, Politics and Ideas.” Our guest is Pete Seeger, a folk musician and a very special person in the lives of many people around the world. He brings songs of hope, peace, justice and equality wherever he goes. He was an inspiration to me when I first learned to play the 5-string banjo and when I took lessons from him, in what seems both long and ago and, just yesterday. We began our conversation when I asked him what he meant when he said “the world is in a state of uncertainty Originally Broadcast: January 20, 1992 LeGov clean 28:59 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/11/10/martin-buzzy-teaching-guitar-in-san-quentin-prison/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/11/10/martin-buzzy-teaching-guitar-in-san-quentin-prison/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2015 23:07:38 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3892 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/11/10/martin-buzzy-teaching-guitar-in-san-quentin-prison/feed/ 0 mass incarceration,prison,San Quentin Buzzy Martin taught guitar in San Quentin Prison for three and a half years, where he gained a unique "insiders" perspective about prison life, prisoners, and the guards. He chronicles his experience in a book, "Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man." Buzzy Martin began teaching music to at risk kids in Juvenille Hall. He then taught guitar in San Quentin Prison for three and a half years, where he gained a unique "insiders" perspective about prison life, prisoners, and the guards. His book, "Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man," chronicles his experiences teaching prison inmates, including rapists, child molesters and murderers how to play the guitar. Martin shares his experiences with incarcerated youth, to teach them that prison is not a “badge of honor,” and he reveals how music can be a universal language to open the hearts of people who may think they don't have one. Buzzy Martin's memoir will be made into a movie. Visit his website for more information.  The interview with Buzzy Martin was recorded on October 11th, 2010. The book he recommends is, “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book,” by don Miguel Ruiz. Click here to listen or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/06/10/gilbert-ronnie-a-memorial-tribute/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/06/10/gilbert-ronnie-a-memorial-tribute/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:56:31 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3707 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/06/10/gilbert-ronnie-a-memorial-tribute/feed/ 0 Radio Curious pays tribute to folk singer Ronnie Gilbert, who died on June 6, 2015 at the age of 88. In this edition of Radio Curious we honor and pay tribute to folk singer Ronnie Gilbert, who died on June 6, 2015 at the age of 88. She is well known for her powerful contralto voice as a member of the Weavers, the extraordinarily popular folk music quartet that in 1950s and 1960s. She also had careers as an actor and a psychologist. From the Radio Curious archives, recorded in September 1996, Ronnie Gilbert describes her introduction to music and dance, how the Weavers came together; their blacklist experience; her thoughts about turning 70 years old when this program was recorded in 1996; and her friendship and work with Holly Near. We conclude with Holly Near recalling her friendship with Ronnie Gilbert. The books Ronnie Gilbert recommends are “The Moors Last Sigh” by Salman Rushdie, “Making Movies” by Sidney Lumet and “Eyewitness: A Personal Account of the Unraveling of the Soviet Union” by Vladimir Pozner. Click here to listen or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/03/17/kiggins-josanna-josanna-kiggins-on-skin-color-gender-and-song/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/03/17/kiggins-josanna-josanna-kiggins-on-skin-color-gender-and-song/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:04:57 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3604 http://www.radiocurious.org/2015/03/17/kiggins-josanna-josanna-kiggins-on-skin-color-gender-and-song/feed/ 0 Radio Curious discusses racial discrimination and cultural gender norms with Josanna Kiggins, a young black woman living in the small, predominantly white town of Ukiah, California. Radio Curious continues our conversation about racial discrimination, cultural gender norms and expected behaviors.  Our guest, Josanna Kiggins, is a parent, student, singer, singing and cultural education teacher, and a medical receptionist.  A native of Salvador, Brazil Josanna has lived here in Ukiah, California, for 30 years.  She’s someone I’ve known almost that long.     When Josanna Kiggins and I visited at Radio Curious on March 14, 2015, she described her experiences, values and goals.   Her story begins when she was 9 months old.  The book Josanna Kiggins recommends is “Hard Laughter,” by Anne Lamont. Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/12/23/pereda-marcos-the-new-cuba-reflections-stories-and-song/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/12/23/pereda-marcos-the-new-cuba-reflections-stories-and-song/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:04:56 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3516 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/12/23/pereda-marcos-the-new-cuba-reflections-stories-and-song/feed/ 0 Cuba Radio Curious visits with Cuban born singer-songwriter Marcos Pereda, who now lives in Ukiah, Ca. Pereda shares songs and stories about his life and his reflections about the new diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Marcos Pereda, a native of Havana, Cuba, and a singer-songwriter who lives in Ukiah, California, is our guest in this edition of Radio Curious. The background music in this weeks program is a song titled "Center" that he wrote and then performed on his guitar in our studios.  Pereda returned from a two month visit in Havana on December 20, 2014; he traveled there to attend his mother’s funeral.  In our visit, recorded on December 22, 2014, Pereda shares his music and songs, his thoughts and experiences about life in Cuba and in the United States, and his hopes for the new relationship between the the two nations.  We began our conversation when I asked him to tell us about his mother.  Marcos Pereda's email is: marcosinsonte@hotmail.com (mailto:marcosinsonte@hotmail.com). The book he recommends is “The Little Prince,” by Antoine St. Exupery. Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:02 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/11/25/edge-jerome-unity-and-healing-after-a-school-shooting-a-native-american-perspective/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/11/25/edge-jerome-unity-and-healing-after-a-school-shooting-a-native-american-perspective/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:09:14 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3479 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/11/25/edge-jerome-unity-and-healing-after-a-school-shooting-a-native-american-perspective/feed/ 0 Radio Curious discusses the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting near Marysville, WA, the Native American communities impacted by the shooting, and their humanistic approach to the traumatic events with Jerome Edge, The shooting and deaths at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington, on October 24, 2014, brought sadness, fear, unity and a special form of healing to the Tulalip and other Native people of the area.  In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with Jerome Edge, a Native American of Swinomish and Upper Skagit heritage, hip-hop activist and radio host at KSVR-FM in Mt. Vernon, Washington. When Jerome Edge and I visited from his home in Mt. Vernon, Washington, we discussed the trauma and sadness caused by the shootings and the turn toward healing that then occurred.  We also discussed a developing hip-hop focus -- a way to instill values of personal and community respect and strength.  The song “Rise Up,” which you will hear in the program sung by Shaundiin Zollner, is used by permission. Jerome Edge and I began our conversation on November 16, 2014, when I asked him to put the shootings in a context of time and place. The book Jerome Edge recommends is “The Indians of Skagit County,” by Martin J. Sampson. Click here to listen or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:01 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/07/01/rovics-david-the-art-of-political-song/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/07/01/rovics-david-the-art-of-political-song/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:11:09 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3349 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/07/01/rovics-david-the-art-of-political-song/feed/ 0 david rovics The Art of Political Song is the topic of Radio Curious with singer – songwriter, David Rovics who discusses how he creates his songs, some of which he’ll sing, and what he hopes they will achieve.  Songs of a political nature are not surprising given the similarities and parallel community structures of politics and religions, with each community promoting the behaviors and concepts it supports as being the most appropriate.  The art of political song, which has been crafted and heard world wide since time immemorial, is the topic of this edition of Radio Curious. In this program we visit with singer–songwriter David Rovics, a veritable troubadour and folk musician of our time.  He visited the studios of Radio Curious on December 9, 2012, and began our conversation when he described his work, his songs, and how he creates them.   The following is his biography taken from his website. 
”David Rovics grew up in a family of classical musicians in Wilton, Connecticut, and became a fan of populist regimes early on. By the early 90's he was a full-time busker in the Boston subways and by the mid-90's he was traveling the world as a professional flat-picking rabble-rouser. These days David lives in Portland, Oregon and tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has shared the stage with a veritable who's who of the left in two dozen countries, and has had his music featured on Democracy Now!, BBC, Al-Jazeera and other networks. His essays are published regularly on CounterPunch and elsewhere, and the 200+ songs he makes available for free on the web have been downloaded more than a million times. Most importantly, he's really good. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, he will make the revolution irresistible.” Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/01/29/seeger-pete-pete-seeger-in-his-own-words/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/01/29/seeger-pete-pete-seeger-in-his-own-words/#comments Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:41:11 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3175 http://www.radiocurious.org/2014/01/29/seeger-pete-pete-seeger-in-his-own-words/feed/ 0 Radio Curious pays tribute to the life and times of Pete Seeger, folksinger, troubadour and activist, who died January 27th, 2014 at the age of 94. With sadness and admiration we pay tribute to the life and times of Pete Seeger, America’s foremost folk singer and troubadour. Pete Seeger brought songs of hope, justice and equality wherever he went with his 5 string banjo, 6 string guitar, 12 string guitar and Chailil, a simple handmade bamboo flute. Pete Seeger died January 27, 2014, at the age of 94.  Seeger chronicled the history of activism in the United States through his music:  From the beginnings of World War Two, through the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 60s, the anti war movement of the 1960s and 70s to the Iraq-Afghanistan wars today. This interview with Pete Seeger was recorded in January of 1992. We began our conversation when I asked him to describe what he meant when he said the world is at an age of uncertainty. Click here to listen or on the media player below. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/11/12/buckley-mary-what-are-you-afraid-of/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/11/12/buckley-mary-what-are-you-afraid-of/#comments Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:10:40 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=3079 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/11/12/buckley-mary-what-are-you-afraid-of/feed/ 0 Radio Curious visits with local singer, songwriter Mary Buckley, who shares songs from her new CD “What Are You Afraid Of.” "What Are You Afraid Of?" is the title of a cd released in August 2013 by singer and songwriter Mary Buckley, our guest in this edition of Radio Curious.  Mary has a wide range of skills and experiences and has been singing her songs since she was a young teenager in the mid-1970s.  She visited the studios of Radio Curious on November 10, 2013, and began her story when I asked her what prompted her to create a cd. The book Mary Buckley recommends is “A Pattern Language,” by Christopher Alexander. Click here to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=72434&version_id=80143&version=1) to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/27/levitin-dr-daniel-your-brain-on-music-part-two/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/27/levitin-dr-daniel-your-brain-on-music-part-two/#comments Tue, 27 Aug 2013 22:57:47 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2964 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/27/levitin-dr-daniel-your-brain-on-music-part-two/feed/ 0 Radio Curious brings you part two, of a 2006 conversation with Dr. Daniel Levitin about the relationship between music and the brain. Dr. Levitan is author of “This Is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession.” The understanding of how we humans experience music and why it plays a unique role in our lives is this topic of two interviews with Dr. Daniel Levitin, author of “This Is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession,” recorded from his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in late October 2006. Professor Levitin runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.  He asserts that our brains are hardwired for music and therefore we are all more musically equipped than we think.  He says that music is an obsession at the heart of human nature, perhaps even more fundamental to our species than language.  Professor Levitin believes that the music we end up liking meets our expectations of what we anticipate hearing just enough of the time that we feel rewarded, and the music that we like violates those expectations just enough of the time that we’re intrigued. In the first interview Dr. Levitin begins by describing how the human brain learns to distinguish between music and language. The second interview begins with a discussion of what happens when people listen to music they like. Professor Daniel Levitin's website is www.yourbrainonmusic.com. The books Dr. Daniel J. Levitin recommends are, “Another Day in the Frontal Lobe,” by Katrina Firlik, and, “The Human Stain,” by Philip Roth. Originally Broadcast: November 1, 2006 November 8, 2006 Click here to begin listening to part one. Click here to begin Listening to part two or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=20418&version_id=23947&version=2) to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/19/levitin-daniel-dr-your-brain-on-music/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/19/levitin-daniel-dr-your-brain-on-music/#comments Tue, 20 Aug 2013 02:20:26 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2955 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/08/19/levitin-daniel-dr-your-brain-on-music/feed/ 0 Radio Curious revisits a 2006 conversation with Dr. Daniel Levitin about the relationship between music and the brain. Dr. Levitan is author of “This Is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession.” The understanding of how we humans experience music and why it plays a unique role in our lives is this topic of two interviews with Dr. Daniel Levitin, author of “This Is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession,” recorded from his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in late October 2006.    Professor Levitin runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.  He asserts that our brains are hardwired for music and therefore we are all more musically equipped than we think.  He says that music is an obsession at the heart of human nature, perhaps even more fundamental to our species than language.  Professor Levitin believes that the music we end up liking meets our expectations of what we anticipate hearing just enough of the time that we feel rewarded, and the music that we like violates those expectations just enough of the time that we’re intrigued. In the first interview Dr. Levitin begins by describing how the human brain learns to distinguish between music and language.  The second interview begins with a discussion of what happens when people listen to music they like. Professor Daniel Levitin's website is www.yourbrainonmusic.com The books Dr. Daniel J. Levitin recommends are, “Another Day in the Frontal Lobe,” by Katrina Firlik, and, “The Human Stain,” by Philip Roth. Originally Broadcast: November 1, 2006 November 8, 2006 Click here to begin listening to part one. Click here to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/05/13/donahue-terry-alloy-orchestra-new-music-for-silent-films/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/05/13/donahue-terry-alloy-orchestra-new-music-for-silent-films/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 20:37:00 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2815 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/05/13/donahue-terry-alloy-orchestra-new-music-for-silent-films/feed/ 0 Radio Curious visits with Terry Donahue, a member of the Alloy Orchestra, a group of multitalented musicians who provide live, in house, orchestral backup to silent films of the 1920's era. The Alloy Orchestra is a group of multitalented musicians with widely diverse abilities, based near Boston, Massachusetts.  This group provides live, in house orchestral backup to the Chaplin, Keaton and other classic silent films of the 1920s. Our guest in this edition of Radio Curious is Terry Donahue, an Alloy Orchestra partner, a skilled player of the accordion, musical saw, drums and bells, to name only a few. Terry Donahue and I visited by phone from his home near Boston Massachusetts, on May 10, 2013, and began with his description of the composition of the Alloy Orchestra. The book Terry Donahue recommends is “Accordion Crimes,” by Annie Proulx, and “Delicatessen” a French film. Click here to listen or on the media player below. Click here to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/16/mcvicar-gregg-22000-songsunder-currents/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/16/mcvicar-gregg-22000-songsunder-currents/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:51:49 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2777 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/16/mcvicar-gregg-22000-songsunder-currents/feed/ 0 Radio Curious visits with Gregg McVicar host and producer of Under Currents. Our guest in this program is Gregg McVicar, the host and producer of Under Currents. Under Currents is Public Radio's freewheeling eclectic music mix of Triple A, Rock, Folk, Blues, Native, Americana, World, Reggae, Dub and Electronica.  It brings you five hours of music every day. Gregg McVicar and I visited in the Under Currents state of the art studio in the San Francisco Bay Area on April 6, 2013.  We were in the sound booth listening to it’s superb quality and I realized that it was really Radio Curious on tour. The book Gregg McVicar recommends is  “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” by Stieg Larsson. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-MCVICAR_GREG_INTERVIEW_CA_2013.mp3) to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=67773&version_id=75189&version=1) to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/02/edelman-reid-the-music-man-is-coming-to-river-city/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/02/edelman-reid-the-music-man-is-coming-to-river-city/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:58:28 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2753 http://www.radiocurious.org/2013/04/02/edelman-reid-the-music-man-is-coming-to-river-city/feed/ 0 Radio Curious visits with Reid Edelman, producer and director of The Music Man, a local theater production involving more than 100 people from the Ukiah, California area. The Music Man is coming to town, right here in River City, also known as Ukiah, California. In this program Radio Curious visits with Reid Edelman, the producer and director of the musical extravaganza.  Edelman is a professor of Theater Arts at the Mendocino College in Ukiah, California.  This production of the Music Man, presented by the Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department and Ukiah Civic Light Opera, involves more than 100 people from the Ukiah community. It opens April 12 and plays through April 21, 2013 at the Mendocino College Center Theater on the Ukiah campus. For more information call (707) 462 9155. I met with Reid Edelman in the Radio Curious studios on March 29, 2013 and began our visit when I asked him:  Why the Music Man? The book Reid Edelman recommends is “Improv:  Improvisation and the Theatre,” by Keith Johnstone. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-EDELMAN_REID_INTERVIEW_CA_2013.mp3) to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=67446&version_id=74828&version=1) to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/17/the-art-of-political-song-part-one-with-david-rovics/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/17/the-art-of-political-song-part-one-with-david-rovics/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:01:04 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2612 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/17/the-art-of-political-song-part-one-with-david-rovics/feed/ 0 The Art of Political Song is the topic of Radio Curious with singer – songwriter, David Rovics who discusses how he creates his songs, some of which he’ll sing, and what he hopes they will achieve.  Songs of a political nature are not surprising given the similarities and parallel community structures of politics and religions with each community promoting the behaviors and concepts it supports as being the most appropriate.  The art of Political Song which has been crafted and heard world wide since time immemorial is the topic of this edition of Radio Curious. In this program we visit with singer–songwriter David Rovics, a veritable troubadour and folk musician of our time.  He visited the studios of Radio Curious on December 9, 2012, and began our conversation when he described his work, his songs, and how he creates them. The following is his biography taken from his website (http://www.davidrovics.com):  ”David Rovics grew up in a family of classical musicians in Wilton, Connecticut, and became a fan of populist regimes early on. By the early 90's he was a full-time busker in the Boston subways and by the mid-90's he was traveling the world as a professional flat-picking rabble-rouser. These days David lives in Portland, Oregon and tours regularly on four continents, playing for audiences large and small at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies. He has shared the stage with a veritable who's who of the left in two dozen countries, and has had his music featured on Democracy Now!, BBC, Al-Jazeera and other networks. His essays are published regularly on CounterPunch and elsewhere, and the 200+ songs he makes available for free on the web have been downloaded more than a million times. Most importantly, he's really good. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, he will make the revolution irresistible.” Based in Portland, Oregon, David Rovics spends most of his time on tour.  The book he recommends is “Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves,” by Naomi Aldort. Click here to listen or on the media player below. Click here to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/05/schaeffer-jessica-the-harp-the-second-oldest-human-musical-instrument/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/05/schaeffer-jessica-the-harp-the-second-oldest-human-musical-instrument/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:03:32 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2595 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/12/05/schaeffer-jessica-the-harp-the-second-oldest-human-musical-instrument/feed/ 0 harp Radio Curious visits with harpist Jessica Schaeffer, who teaches the instrument she loves and plays in symphonies and orchestras. She discusses the harp, it's history and the philosophy of music. The harp, in its early form, is second only to the flute as the oldest known human musical instrument.  The Radio Curious theme music this week is played by professional harpist and harp teacher Jessica Schaeffer, our guest in this edition of Radio Curious.  Intrigued by the harp when she saw it at a piano lesson when she was four years old, she began her formal training to play the harp when she was ten.  Jessica Schaeffer holds a bachelor’s degree in the study of the harp and a Master’s Degree in music; she plays in symphony orchestras and teaches the instrument she loves.  We visited in the studios of Radio Curious where she brought her harp, played for us and told stories, on December 3, 2012. Jessica Schaeffer's website is www.jessicaschaeffer.com (http://www.jessicaschaeffer.com).  The book she recommends is “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle. Click here to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=64807&version_id=72008&version=1) to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/05/28/schwawrtz-maya-one-holocaust-survivor%e2%80%99s-wonderful-thrill-of-life/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/05/28/schwawrtz-maya-one-holocaust-survivor%e2%80%99s-wonderful-thrill-of-life/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 22:06:51 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=2362 http://www.radiocurious.org/2012/05/28/schwawrtz-maya-one-holocaust-survivor%e2%80%99s-wonderful-thrill-of-life/feed/ 0 Radio Curious takes you to France as it was in 1932 where Maya Schwartz was born to an immigrant family. 1939 to 1945 her family was torn apart by the Nazis. California 2012 – We interview Maya Schwartz a holocaust survivor who relies on optimism and s... There are two kinds of Holocaust survivors:  Those who didn’t die yet could no longer experience pleasure and those who yearned to feel alive and were able to create anew. In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with Maya Finkel Schwartz, born in France in 1932 to Jewish parents from Poland.  After being separated from her father at the beginning of World War Two, her mother had the foresight to introduce then seven year old Maya to as many social workers and nuns as her mother could locate.  It was these people who Maya credits with saving her life as they sheltered her in barns and convents.  She never saw her parents after the war.  As an older teen-ager she arrived in Los Angeles, California where she still lives after a decades long career teaching high-school, and later as a singer, as we shall hear. The story of Maya Finkel Schwartz is one of 52 childhood accounts of the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany documented in the book “How We Survived:  52 Personal Stories by Child Survivors of the Holocaust.”  More information about this book is available at childsurvivorsla.org. Maya Schwartz visited the studios of Radio Curious on April 20, 2012.  Maya shared her story and a song, accompanied by her son Michael Charnas. Her theme is the “joy of life,” which is where we began our conversation. The story of Maya Finkel Schwartz is found in the book she recommends.  She wrote one of 52 childhood accounts of the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany documented in the book “How We Survived:  52 Personal Stories by Child Survivors of the Holocaust.” Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. Click here to download the podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/05/23/les-blank-the-chef-of-film-making/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/05/23/les-blank-the-chef-of-film-making/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 00:03:42 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1794 http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/05/23/les-blank-the-chef-of-film-making/feed/ 0 Radio Curious visits with film maker extraordinaire, Les Blank, about his life's work including a documentary about folk/blues musician Lightning Hopkins and a film about garlic. In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with Les Blank, film maker extraordinaire. Les Blank will receive the Albert Maysles award at the 2011 Mendocino Film Festival where his films “Burden of Dreams” and "The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin' Hopkins" will be presented.  John Rockwell, writing in The New York Times, describes Les Blank as, "…a documentarian of folk cultures who transforms anthropology into art." Though he had a long fascination with films, his career turned to film making after he saw “The Seventh Seal,” by Ingmar Bergman.   Our conversation, which was recorded by phone from his home in Berkeley, California on May 23, 2011, began when I asked him why he makes films. The films Les Blank recommends are “The Seventh Seal” and “Through a Glass Darkly,” both by Ingmar Bergman. Les Blank's website is www.lesblank.com Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=51974&version_id=58219&version=1) to download and subscribe to our podcast. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/01/11/reinhart-ed-boogie-woogie-pianist/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/01/11/reinhart-ed-boogie-woogie-pianist/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:59:45 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1606 http://www.radiocurious.org/2011/01/11/reinhart-ed-boogie-woogie-pianist/feed/ 1 Radio Curious visits with world famous boogie woogie piano player, Ed Reinhart, who also masquerades as Rico Suave and Earl Dixon. In my opinion, when my friend Ed Reinhart comes here to Ukiah, it is well worth the effort to track him down and listen to him play someone else’s piano and sing along. And that is what happened the last few days of 2010. The sign said Ed would be playing at the Himalaya Café at the south end of town on New Year’s Eve beginning at 6:30 pm. Now it may seem a bit early to start a New Year’s Eve Party, but Ed is always ready to do things his way, and under the guise of liking to get to bed early, he played and sang Old Lange Syne when it was New Year’s in New York, or in the Ukiah vernacular, 9 p.m. Now Ed, who masquerades as Earl Dixon, a semi-unknown sort as he likes to say, and/or Rico Suave, a moniker he adopted while living in Ecuador, can play boogie-woogie piano better than most anyone. And that to me makes Earl and Rico all the more confusing as to who they may or may not be. Ed, etc. have been guests on three previous editions Radio Curious, and those visits are available at www.radiocurious.org. Why so much Ed on Radio Curious? I like him and his music and enjoy our visits. We hope you do too. So Happy New Year to each of you and welcome to the first Radio Curious program recorded in our 21st year on the air. This interview with Ed Reinhart was recorded in the studios of Radio Curious, in Ukiah, California on January 7, 2011. The book Ed Reinhart recommends is “World Without End,” by Ken Follett. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/48534/54534/69250/?url=http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-ED_REINHART_INTERVIEW_1-7-11_CA.mp3) to begin listening or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=48534&version_id=54534&version=1) to download and subscribe to our podcast LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/12/20/martin-buzzy-dont-shoot-im-the-guitar-man/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/12/20/martin-buzzy-dont-shoot-im-the-guitar-man/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:47:06 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1562 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/12/20/martin-buzzy-dont-shoot-im-the-guitar-man/feed/ 0 Buzzy Martin taught guitar in San Quentin Prison for three and a half years, where he gained a unique "insiders" perspective about prison life, prisoners, and the guards. He chronicles his experience in a book, "Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man." Buzzy Martin began teaching music to at risk kids in Juvenile Hall.  He then taught guitar in San Quentin Prison for three and a half years, where he gained a unique "insiders" perspective about prison life, prisoners, and the guards.  His book, "Don't Shoot!  I'm the Guitar Man," chronicles his experiences teaching prison inmates, including rapists, child molesters and murderers how to play the guitar.  Martin shares his experiences with incarcerated youth, to teach them that prison is not a “badge of honor,” and he reveals how music can be a universal language to open the hearts of people who may think they don't have one. Buzzy Martin's memoir will be made into a movie.  His website is http://buzzymartin.com/ The interview with Buzzy Martin was recorded on October 11th, 2010.  The book he recommends is, “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book,” by don Miguel Ruiz. Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=48079&version_id=54035&version=1) to download and subscribe to our podcasts. LeGov clean 29:00 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/05/11/cohen-joel-understanding-the-language-of-the-cello/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/05/11/cohen-joel-understanding-the-language-of-the-cello/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 22:13:49 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1150 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/05/11/cohen-joel-understanding-the-language-of-the-cello/feed/ 0 The sound of the cello may, if you listen, be heard in the heart invoking a kaleidoscope of emotions on a “magic carpet ride” of sound. Joel Cohen, cellist extraordinaire has performed with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, The sound of the cello may, if you listen, be heard in the heart invoking a kaleidoscope of emotions on a “magic carpet ride” of sound. Joel Cohen, cellist extraordinaire has performed with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and currently lives in Mendocino County.  When Joel Cohen visited the Radio Curious studios on April 26, 2010 he described his friend the cello, bowed it to life, and it sung and spoke to us.  Our conversation began with Joel Cohen describing his relationship with the cello. This interview was recorded in the studios of Radio Curious on April 26, 2010. The book Joel Cohen recommends is “Skinny Legs And All” by Tom Robbins. Click here to begin listening (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/42605/48103/63968/?url=http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-COHEN_JOEL_04-26-10_HB_WEB_MONO_COHEN_INTRO.mp3) Click here to download the podcast of this program (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=42605&version_id=48103&version=1) LeGov clean http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/25/1121/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/25/1121/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:44:33 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1121 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/25/1121/feed/ 0 Sharing interpretations of the human condition and the love of music with lyrical power and determination is the artistry of Joanne Rand, our guest on this edition of Radio Curious.  Currently based in Arcata, California, after growing up in the Georgia, Sharing interpretations of the human condition and the love of music with lyrical power and determination is the artistry of Joanne Rand, our guest on this edition of Radio Curious.  Currently based in Arcata, California, after growing up in the Georgia, and studying art, her passion as a singer – songwriter gripped and has shaped her life since. I met Joanne Rand at a house concert in here in Ukiah soon after she released her tenth CD album “Snake Oil and Hummingbirds.”  We visited in the Radio Curious studios on March 29, 2010 and began our conversation with recollections of her early memories and how they helped shape the woman she is now. The book Joann Rand recommends is "Universe: A Journey To The Edge of The Cosmos," by Nicholas Cheetham. Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/42188/47664/63615/?url=http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-RAND_JOANNE_3-29-10_MONO.mp3) Click here to download the podcast of this program. (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=42188&version_id=47664&version=1) LeGov clean http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/23/muldaur-maria-sing/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/23/muldaur-maria-sing/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:42:52 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=1112 http://www.radiocurious.org/2010/04/23/muldaur-maria-sing/feed/ 0 Maria Muldaur is a name that has been familiar to my ears since I was a teenager, she could be familiar to your ears too on this edition of Radio Curious.  After the popularity of her songs “I’m A Woman” and “Midnight at the Oasis” in the late 60’s an... Maria Muldaur is a name that has been familiar to my ears since I was a teenager, she could be familiar to your ears too on this edition of Radio Curious.  After the popularity of her songs “I’m A Woman” and “Midnight at the Oasis” in the late 60’s and early 70’s she has explored her love of American "roots music." During this conversation we discover what drew her to "roots" music, who influenced her and  what “I’m A Woman” means to her.  We began our conversation with her to sharing stories about her early life in Greenwich Village, New York. The books Maria Maldaur recommends are: “The Game Of Life And How To Play It,” by Florence Scovel Shinn, “The Wisdom Of Florence Scovel Shinn,” “ The Power Of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale and  “The Code” by Tony Burroughs. This interview was recorded in the studios of Mendocino College on April 19 2010. The books Maria Maldaur recommends are: “The Game Of Life And How To Play It” by Florence Scovel Shinn, “The Wisdom Of Florence Scovel Shinn,” “ The Power Of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale and  “The Code” by Tony Burroughs. Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/42219/47701/63641/?url=http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-MULDAUR_INTERVIEW_MONO_hb_WEB.mp3) Click here to download the podcast of this program. (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=42219&version_id=47701&version=1) LeGov clean http://www.radiocurious.org/2009/08/03/boogie-woogie-blues/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2009/08/03/boogie-woogie-blues/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:31:31 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=651 http://www.radiocurious.org/2009/08/03/boogie-woogie-blues/feed/ 0 http://www.radiocurious.org/2008/11/12/de-grassi-alex-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/ http://www.radiocurious.org/2008/11/12/de-grassi-alex-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:08:46 +0000 http://www.radiocurious.org/?p=543 http://www.radiocurious.org/2008/11/12/de-grassi-alex-a-cumulous-cloud-on-guitar/feed/ 0