The Farm Stand celebrates Women's History Month by focusing on a key figure in the birth of the environmental movement: Rachel Carson. Our guest Donna Merrill, discusses Carson's life before the publication of her book Silent Spring and shares the way in which Rachel Carson inspired her to go on to found the Pollinator Pathway project. Panel: Richard Hill, Laura Modlin, Steve Munno and Chris Ferrio
Mar 23, 2023•54 min
-California braces for its 12th significant atmospheric river storm this year -U.N. says an urgent course correction needed to tackle the climate emergency, -Biden administration approves the massive Willow oil drilling project in Alaska, -Minnesota monitoring cleanup of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water -The world is facing an imminent water crisis -Department of Energy puts $315 million toward modernizing nations electrical grids -Significant rise in CO2 emissions from the global power sect...
Mar 23, 2023•4 min
* Recent Bank Failures Underscore Need to Toughen Federal Regulation; James S. Henry, economist, attorney, investigative journalist, Global Justice Fellow at Yale University; Producer: Scott Harris. * 20 Years Later, Echoes of US Iraq Invasion in Russia's Ukraine War; Medea Benjamin co-founder Code Pink & Nicolas Davies, author and Code Pink researcher; Producer: Scott Harris. * Elder ‘Stop Cop City’ Activists Target Contractor building Atlanta’s Militarized Police Training Facility; Kendall...
Mar 22, 2023•29 min
GM- Steve di Costanzo Goddess Tymani Rain is a CT artist, activist and poet. She currently holds the title of 17th ranked International Poet of 2021, and 3rd place in the New Haven MLK Poetry Slam 2023. She slams, and features across the US and on international platforms, She also curates and assists writing workshops, offers mentorship for youth and adults. Every 1st and 4th Wednesday of each month she hosts “Poetz Realm Open Mic” at BPT CREATES in Bridgeport, CT. She reads a poem as part of ou...
Mar 21, 2023•8 min
Ed Pitaro who has been involved with non-profit legacy giving at Planned Parenthood and Consumer Reports
Mar 21, 2023•5 min
GM Host: Steve di Costanzo Dr. Jennifer Reynolds-Kaye the director of the Housatonic Museum of Art will talk about their Spring series lecture. Jennifer Reynolds-Kaye most recently served as a consultant at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and as an Art History lecturer at Manchester Community College in Manchester, Connecticut. She held previous positions at a variety of museums and organizations, including the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery. She r...
Mar 21, 2023•8 min
Today at 12noon WPKN’s General Manager Steve di Costanzo does his monthly GM REPORT TO THE LISTENERS. Today he will be talking about the recent WPKN event at The Quick Center for the Arts with the modern dance company Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane & Company. Steve will also talk with curator Martha Willette Lewis about the Sound & Vision II gallery show at the Institute Library in New Haven. Steve introduces a new volunteer, Ed Pitaro who has been involved with non-profit legacy giving; Dr. J...
Mar 21, 2023•50 min
Thank you to WPKN 89.5 FM for hosting today's discussion - "The Arts and Social Justice." CFJ's President and CEO Debra Greenwood, left in the photo, joined Edith Boyle, President and CEO of LifeBridge, to discuss how the arts can help organizations such as ours in the work we do. On the right is David Green, Executive Director, Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr
My guest is Lorena Venegas, a resident of East Haven, CT. and a community member of both “10,000 Hawks' ' and “Keep Tweed Small” will tell us about her group's efforts to educate the public about the cumulative environmental impacts of the airport expansion proposed by Tweed Airport in East Haven.
Mar 21, 2023•14 min
My guests on “Digging in the Dirt" Monday afternoon are two committed environmentalists, renowned American landscape Artist April Gornik and McArthur fellow Carl Safina. Their respective organizations, The Church and the Safina Center are doing wonderful work in their own creative ways. They are coming aboard to talk about the April 1st Creativity Conference to be held at the Church. which is located in Sag Harbor long Island.
Mar 21, 2023•29 min
Host Mike Merli speaks with Attorney Alex Taubes and Bridgeport resident Clifford Holly. The discussion examines the Commutations Process in Connecticut: what it is, how it works, and the recent history of Commutations as an avenue for clemency for people incarcerated in Connecticut. A recent press conference organized by Republican lawmakers on March 7th called for the state of Connecticut to "slow down" the commutations of prison sentences. In response, many are speaking out in support of inca...
Mar 20, 2023•28 min
Lorena Venegas, a member of the environmental group 10,000 Hawks (www.10000hawks.org), discusses the movement to generate public comments about the proposed Tweed Airport expansion at the FAA-monitored meeting scheduled for 1:30 PM, April 1 at East Haven High School. Interested people can consult www.tweedmasterplan.com or Save Our Shoreline on Face Book. Interview by Richard Hill, March 17, 2023
Mar 18, 2023•13 min
-Cherry blossoms Bloom earliest yet -A 5,000-mile-wide swarm of seaweed threatens Florida -100 trillion untracked pieces of old satellites circling the planet -The world's first honeybee vaccine has been approved -The global food system and the agriculture cause global warming -Big Oil makes record profits, urged to embrace Green Tech -China’s emissions rose by 2.2 percent in 2022 -agrivoltaic’ technology- combining solar panels with agriculture -(EPA) proposes mandatory limits on PFAS levels in...
Mar 17, 2023•4 min
Today's show feature a focus on two potentially cataclysmic issues: the War in Ukraine; and the continuing war against womens' reproductive rights at home. Mel Goodman, foreign policy and national security expert discusses the escalating dangers posed by the war in Ukraine. Amanda Skinner, president of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England talks about the latest rightwing assault on women, targeting the abortion medication pill in many Republican-controlled states. Panel: Ruthanne Baumgartn...
Mar 17, 2023•53 min
Peace Corps volunteers create Pathways Togo to empower girls and women. Harvard Professor and world class expert on empathy shares how to grow our empathic skills.
Mar 16, 2023•55 min
* GOP Pushes Repressive Laws Targeting LGBTQ Community, Trans Youth & Drag Shows; Tori Cooper Dir Comm. Engagement, Lindsey Clark, Senior Regional Field Organizer w Human Rights Campaign; Producer: Scott Harris. * Republicans Working to Outlaw Medication Abortion in All 50 States; Steph Black, a feminist, abortion activist and writer based in Washington, D.C.; Producer: Scott Harris. * Stop Cop City Protests Today’s Frontline on Issues of Police Violence and Environmental Justice Activist; F...
Mar 15, 2023•29 min
Gary Leupp, professor of History at Tufts University, talks about the causes of the war in Ukraine and how it could escalate into a nuclear confrontation between Russia and the US. Interview by Richard Hill
Mar 13, 2023•32 min
Two interviews with locals about the effort to Stop Cop City in Atlanta, plus a conversation with Bill McKibben, founder of Third Act for those over 60 working on democracy and climate, about the Spring Equinox actions focused on the four banks funding the most fossil fuel development.
Mar 13, 2023•30 min
-California faces new round of extreme weather -Despite the heavy rainfall and snow California has a drought -Home insurance companies are leaving California -Mysterious dust fell over parts of the Virginias -Nasa’s new instrument to track Dust storms -Link found between deforestation and rainfall decline -Ocean floating turbine commences operation -Historic agreement on a High Seas Treaty
Mar 09, 2023•5 min
* Fox News’ Republican Propaganda Machine Tests the Limits of Free Speech Victor Pickard, prof. of Media Policy & Pol. Economy, Univ of Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication Producer: Scott Harris * After Ohio Train Derailment Biden, Congress Must Implement New Safety Standards, Worker Protections Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network Producer: Melinda Tuhus * ‘Scrap the Cap:’ How to Save Social Security Without Cutting Benefits Sarah Rawlins, Program Assoc...
Mar 08, 2023•29 min
My guest today is Louise Washer returning to Digging in the Dirt because she is doing great work for us here in the state of CT. and for our planet. Louise Washer serves on the board of the Pollinator Pathway, a grassroots movement she helped create in 2017, in Wilton, CT and which has since spread to over 325 communities across 11 states. The PP helps give pollinators of all kinds habitats to thrive in. She also serves as president of the Norwalk River Watershed Association, as a member of the ...
Mar 08, 2023•33 min
The Farm Stand lineup: --Steve Munno's Small Farm Report from Massaro Farm in Woodbridge, CT --Vincent Kaye's Honey Bee update --Annie Hornish, CT director of the National Humane Society, talks about pending legislation that would change the protocols for bear management in the state. Hosts: Richard Hill and Laura Modlin
Mar 05, 2023•1 hr
TOMORROW, Monday 2/28 at NOON tune into WPKN Community Radio on 89.5 for a special solo show with our founder, Rob Fried! This month’s show will talk about how we can each be caretakers for our special state, including the vital shoreline and our waterways!✨
Mar 02, 2023•16 min
New lithium reserves discovered in India Impressive growth in wind and solar energy in 2022. Colorado River Compact to share water is in dispute heat waves in Middle-East predicted to increase 600% Super-pig crossbreeds threatening to invade the northern U.S. Climate change and the savannization of the Brazilian Amazon New material paves the way for ultra-efficient solar panels?
Mar 02, 2023•4 min
* Putin’s Suspension of New START Treaty Endangers Last Remaining US-Russia Nuclear Arms Pact; Jon Rainwater, executive director of Peace Action and the Peace Action Education Fund; Producer: Scott Harris. * Toxic Ohio Railroad Derailment Underscores Urgent Need for Tough Government Regulation; Mel Buer, an associate editor and labor reporter with The Real News Network; Producer: Scott Harris. * Third Act, Organizing People Over 60 to Defend Democracy and Address the Climate Crisis; Bill McKibbe...
Mar 01, 2023•29 min
While you may not totally overcome trauma you can learn to manage it. And rejection is always possible, but it need not hold you back.
Feb 24, 2023•19 min
My guests on DITD today are Robert Peck and students Kimberly and DJ. Robert manages Green Village Initiatives Youth Leadership Program, which has a summer employment program in which they employ Bridgeport High School students to work and learn about how to operate an urban farm. Participants spend 8 weeks through the summer at Reservoir Community Farm learning in workshops and thru hands-on experience on the farm. , Kimberly, and Dejhanae are 2 students who are in the program under Robert. Gre...
Feb 23, 2023•22 min
Defunct Indian Point nuclear facility to dump 1 million gallons of radioactive water into Hudson River. The Thwaites Glacier ice shelf is melting slower and faster. Sea ice around Antarctica has hits a record low UN Secretary-General warns the world's cities are at risk of flooding drought in Italy dries up canals of its watery city Venice The Dept. of Energy offers $74 million to geothermal pilot projects Electrify America breaks ground on the site called “Solar Glow 1 Global investment in low-...
Feb 23, 2023•5 min
* Professor Vows to Resist Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Censorship of Black History; Marvin Dunn, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Florida International University; Producer: Scott Harris. * Fox News Exposed for Consciously Spewing Toxic Propaganda to Their Audience; Sergio Muñoz, Media Matters For America's Vice President of Research and Policy; Producer: Scott Harris. * Reflecting on Progress Made Since the American Indian Movement’s Occupation of Wounded Knee Madonna Thunder Hawk, Cheyenne R...
Feb 22, 2023•29 min
Sheena Graham is an educator, songwriter and poet – she’s also a member of our WPKN Black History Advisory Committee. She's a retired teacher who worked at Harding High School and Central High School, Bridgeport CT. She has worked with students across grade levels throughout her career and continues to be energized by her students and colleagues. Sheena has been featured in the book “Notable Valley African Americans.” She has received the Beard Excellence in Teaching Award, Teacher Of the Year A...
Feb 20, 2023•18 min