The Politics of Living - Episode 11

January 3, 2018
 

• Pulitzer-Prize nominated author Inara Verzemnieks discusses her latest work with contributor Inessa Anderson.  The book, entitled "Among the Living and the Dead", is part memoir, part historical record.  Inara was raised by her Latvian refugee grandparents in Washington state, with stories of the old country.  Inara traveled to eastern Europe to discover family and homeland for herself. The intimate recounting here offers the difference between an exile's memory of home - which tends to remain permanently encased in that time - to the 'now' of life.   
   
• New contributor (and Portland Story Theater storyteller) Lynn Fitch shares a story about learning life lessons from one of her children, entitled "My Daughter, My Teacher".
   
• The segment "10 minutes with Darka" returns, with Darka's thoughts about gun violence and shooting massacre tragedies.  Darka shares how discovering and recording a version of an uncommon Christmas carol helped her deal with grief  related to gun violence.  
   
• A local Portland woman found inspiration from the slogans of the Women's and Science Marches.  Contributor Vicky Mazzone interviews Lois MacKenzie about launching the website "March Every Day", and Lois' committment to positive action and supporting non-profits.  
   
• On January's edition of the She-Ra Solution, Kristin Thiel presents two women artists.  Commercial and neon artist Betty Willis, who designed the iconic "Welcome To Las Vegas" sign; and award-winning artist Noelle Stevenson, who's on a mission to make comics accessible for everyone.
   
• Local musician Teri Untalan is featured this month, with a song entitled "Thank You Note."  Teri is a Berklee College of Music graduate (viola) and also is a singer-songwriter.  She teaches voice and music, and is the director of the Rocker Chixx Choir, an all-female community based choir that performs with an all-female band. 

Resources for Episode 11:

• Inara Verzemnieks - https://english.uiowa.edu/people/inara-verzemnieks
• Review of "Among The Living And The Dead" - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/books/review/among-the-living-and-the-dead-inara-verzemnieks.html
• Portland Story Theater - http://www.pdxstorytheater.org/
• March Every Day - https://marcheveryday.com/

The She-Ra Solution:

• Hart, Maria Teresa. “She-Ra and the Fight Against the Token Girl.” The Atlantic, June 16, 2016. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/06/she-ra-the-female-centric-80s-kids-show/487145/.
• SassyBlack. “Me and Mines (Cute Chicks).” https://sassyblack.bandcamp.com/track/me-and-mines-cute-chicks.
• Betty Willis:  Brown, Patricia Leigh.  "At Home With: Betty Willis; A Neon Come-Hither, Still Able to Flirt." New York Times, January 13, 2005, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506E6DE1738F930A25752C0A9639C8B63&pagewanted=all
• Noelle Stevenson: Brown, Tracy. “Noelle Stevenson Invites Everyone into Comics.” Los Angeles Times, July 9, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-ca-hc-noelle-stevenson-20150708-story.html.

Music

• Darka Dusty - "O Holy Child" by Mammoth In Space:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOirqpUHhBs
• Teri Untalan - "Thank You Note": http://www.teriuntalan.com/

Hosted by: Dennise M. Kowalczyk

Content Contributors:
Inessa Anderson (Interview Inara Verzemnieks – Producer:  Inessa Anderson)
Lynn Fitch (Storytelling – Producer: Don Merrick)
Darka Dusty (Reflection on gun violence  – Producers: Darka Dusty & Dennise M. Kowalczyk)
Vicky Mazzone (Interview Lois MacKenzie – Producer: Vicky Mazzone)
Kristin Thiel (The She-Ra Solution – Producer: Dennise M. Kowalczyk)

 

Technical Assistance:
Liam Delta (Editor)
Dennise M. Kowalczyk (Executive Producer)
Vicky Mazzone (Web)