The Leftscape

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going (Episode Omega) Nov 27, 2025

As it was in the beginning, so it is now. We’re going through ch-ch-ch-changes. Please take a listen our heart-to-heart about what we’ve been doing these last few months and where we’re headed.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Things to do:

Keep up with Wendy Sheridan on Etsy, BlueSky, Instagram, and on her website.

Listen to Saved By Zero on Radio PVS, Mixcloud, or Yacht Rock Discord (Ask for an invite!).

Keep up with Robin Renée on Facebook, Instagram, the Saved By Zero group, and their website.

Nybor Tarot Deck, Wendy Sheridan's reading, 7/4/2025 — **Reliable Sources (Episode 177)** Jul 09, 2025
Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan get ready for *The Leftscape*‘s summer hiatus and share some of their plans for the season. Wendy makes a big announcement about being chosen to create an outdoor fiber arts display for the Rahway Train Station. Robin’s season will be a bit more relaxed; they’ll perform a couple of shows and go to quite a few more, attend a retreat and plan another for the fall, and catch some time in the sun.

Wendy initiates this episode’s featured conversation with her July 4th tarot reading. It may or may not be a “reliable source” of information, but it sparks insight and ideas about our current situation, what the future may hold for the United States over the course of the next year, and how we might take action. In an extended *Pièce de Résistance*, Wendy and Robin offer some activist work we can continue over the season including seeing what’s next in the No Kings movement, working with mutual aid groups, and attending a Good Trouble Lives On event on July 17th. The *Timeline Cleanse* entries touch on challenging topics but are ultimately uplifting; Robin reflects on the the final Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath show and Wendy reports on Australian scientists who have reversed Parkinson’s in mice.

Have a great summer (or winter, if you’re Down Under)!

Things to do:

Follow *The Leftscape* on social media @leftscape and give us a shout!

Get ICEBlock in the App Store or wherever you get your apps.

Learn about what is in the Big (Horrible) Bill.

Check out Wendy’s stuff on Etsy.

Listen to the Saved By Zero show by Robin (DJ Andrew Genus) on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Listen to Robin Renée on Spotify.

Watch two adorable otters on a cat wheel in a pool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OLGHaMtHYA&t=253s

American (United States) flag flying in breeze — **Redefining “Patriot” (Episode 176)** Jun 26, 2025

Isabella Braveheart photo by Dauss Miller

Isabella Braveheart is an evolutionary performance artist and activist, speaker, playwright, director and producer who transmutes the pains of humanity into the voice of truth through bold multimedia transmissions and heart-centered, experiential events in service of bringing our global family back to wholeness and love. She has been called a Deep Water Heart Surgeon and an Urban Priestess and she calls herself a heart-trepreneur. Don’t miss her spoken word performance of “Patriot” and her thoughts on how we might reclaim this fraught term while prioritizing personal, then societal healing.

To start off the show, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée chat in *Timeline Cleanse* about an unusual item on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the recent Sky Farm Arts & Music Festival in Basking Ridge, NJ. Robin and Wendy recount their No Kings Day experiences in *Pièce de Résistance* and discuss some activists’ tendency toward protest gatekeeping. Wendy shares another brief and important principle from *On Tyrrany.*

Things to do:

Learn more about Ithe work of Isabella Braveheart on her website and keep up with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Find out more about SPREAD, an evocative evening for the distinguished palate.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

After No Kings Day, stay politically active!

Check out Sky Farm.

Listen to Robin Renée on Spotify.

Listen to the Saved By Zero show by Robin (DJ Andrew Genus) on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Check out Wendy’s stuff on Etsy.

Go see a 200-year-old condom in Amsterdam! (or at least read the article)

Watch “ReDefining Patriotism by Isabella Brāveheart.”

https://youtu.be/4q_ot6yatyg?si=C1bIKfymcSwKwrQE

Isabella Braveheart - Photo by Dauss Miller — **Redefining “Patriot” (Episode 176)** Jun 26, 2025

Isabella Braveheart photo by Dauss Miller

Isabella Braveheart is an evolutionary performance artist and activist, speaker, playwright, director and producer who transmutes the pains of humanity into the voice of truth through bold multimedia transmissions and heart-centered, experiential events in service of bringing our global family back to wholeness and love. She has been called a Deep Water Heart Surgeon and an Urban Priestess and she calls herself a heart-trepreneur. Don’t miss her spoken word performance of “Patriot” and her thoughts on how we might reclaim this fraught term while prioritizing personal, then societal healing.

To start off the show, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée chat in *Timeline Cleanse* about an unusual item on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the recent Sky Farm Arts & Music Festival in Basking Ridge, NJ. Robin and Wendy recount their No Kings Day experiences in *Pièce de Résistance* and discuss some activists’ tendency toward protest gatekeeping. Wendy shares another brief and important principle from *On Tyrrany.*

Things to do:

Learn more about Ithe work of Isabella Braveheart on her website and keep up with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Find out more about SPREAD, an evocative evening for the distinguished palate.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

After No Kings Day, stay politically active!

Check out Sky Farm.

Listen to Robin Renée on Spotify.

Listen to the Saved By Zero show by Robin (DJ Andrew Genus) on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Check out Wendy’s stuff on Etsy.

Go see a 200-year-old condom in Amsterdam! (or at least read the article)

Watch “ReDefining Patriotism by Isabella Brāveheart.”

https://youtu.be/4q_ot6yatyg?si=C1bIKfymcSwKwrQE

painted art box by Wendy Sheridan — **Men of Stone (Episode 175)** Jun 12, 2025
Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan head back to the Blanket Fort this time to regroup, check in, and hide out. But there’s not much actual hiding to be had from the firehose of news and unrest. They catch up on the intentional ways they each are staying sane through the mayhem — painting, gardening, exercising, immersing in fiction, and curating the news for personal consumption among them. ICE raids, the National Guard, and the chaos stoked in Los Angeles can’t be ignored, nor can thinking about ways to protest in the streets and elsewhere, wishing for the least violence and the greatest impact. They think about the role of their creative works and consider writing some “political earworms.” Wendy might revive and complete one of her old songs, “Men of Stone.”

For the *Timelime Cleanse* that starts the show, Wendy is happy with her newly painted art storage box and Robin describes a jello mold drag relay race that was pure joy. The biggest *Pièce de Résistance* this time around is the upcoming No Kings Day on June 14th, while the Pope seems to have scheduled some counterprogramming of his own. Wendy reads from *On Tyrrany* followed by a discussion and Robin reads a new brief reflection/response piece, “Why So Much Pride?”

Things to do:

Join a June 14th No Kings Day protest: Indivisible, FiftyFifty.one/events.

Stay safe and know your rights.

Listen to Episode 172 for Anji Marth’s ideas for being prepared and helpful at protests.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Watch “LA protests LIVE: View from Los Angeles”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMcCbwLCAYc

Listen to the Saved By Zero show by Robin (DJ Andrew Genus) on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Check out Wendy’s stuff on Etsy.

Jam out to this internet classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuWVgVkMiHE

5 Facts About Grief - Naila Francis — **Grief, Healing, and the Fiercely Alive (Episode 174)** May 29, 2025
Naila Francis is a certified grief coach and death midwife. As the founder of This Hallowed Wilderness, she helps people transform their relationship to grief and loss through one-on-one coaching, workshops, rituals and ceremonies. Naila is also a founding member of Salt Trails, a Philadelphia collective normalizing grief through community rituals. In this featured conversation, she shares about offering compassion, the necessity of healing from both personal losses and greater world tragedies, and the “fierce aliveness” that often emerges from moving through our deepest emotional work.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée open the show with some levity in the *Timeline Cleanse* segment – this time on the pleasures of sipping Negronis and petting jellyfish. They are ready for the rainbow celebrations of June and contemplate an “All Lives Matter” moment at a Pride march. Visibly celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride is one of the recommended actions in *Pièce de Résistance*, along with picking up some feminist reading and attending a No Kings Day protest. Wendy reads another brief exerpt from *On Tyrrany*.

Things to do:

Learn more about Naila Fracis and her work on the This Hallowed Wilderness website, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

Attend the Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival, May 29 – June 1, 2025.

Join a June 14th No Kings Day protest: Indivisible, FiftyFifty.one/events.

Read The Flytrap – worker-owned, reader-supported intersectional feminist journalism to unfuck your algorithm.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Visit the National Aquarium.

Celebrate Pride!

Have a Negroni!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgy6vEX_hQg

jellyfish at the National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD — **Grief, Healing, and the Fiercely Alive (Episode 174)** May 29, 2025
Naila Francis is a certified grief coach and death midwife. As the founder of This Hallowed Wilderness, she helps people transform their relationship to grief and loss through one-on-one coaching, workshops, rituals and ceremonies. Naila is also a founding member of Salt Trails, a Philadelphia collective normalizing grief through community rituals. In this featured conversation, she shares about offering compassion, the necessity of healing from both personal losses and greater world tragedies, and the “fierce aliveness” that often emerges from moving through our deepest emotional work.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée open the show with some levity in the *Timeline Cleanse* segment – this time on the pleasures of sipping Negronis and petting jellyfish. They are ready for the rainbow celebrations of June and contemplate an “All Lives Matter” moment at a Pride march. Visibly celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride is one of the recommended actions in *Pièce de Résistance*, along with picking up some feminist reading and attending a No Kings Day protest. Wendy reads another brief exerpt from *On Tyrrany*.

Things to do:

Learn more about Naila Fracis and her work on the This Hallowed Wilderness website, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

Attend the Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival, May 29 – June 1, 2025.

Join a June 14th No Kings Day protest: Indivisible, FiftyFifty.one/events.

Read The Flytrap – worker-owned, reader-supported intersectional feminist journalism to unfuck your algorithm.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Visit the National Aquarium.

Celebrate Pride!

Have a Negroni!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgy6vEX_hQg

Who Told You That You Were Naked? by Beverly Dale - book cover — **Who Told You That You Were Naked? (Episode 173)** May 15, 2025

Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale, also known as “Rev. Bev,” is a sociologist-turned-pastor who has made a career of teaching a pleasure-centered, justice-focused, and sex-positive Christianity as an ecumenical campus minister at the University of Pennsylvania, as faculty at Lancaster Theological Seminary, and as a local pastor. Her latest book is *Who Told You That You Were Naked? Meditations on the Sexual Body* from PIlgrim Press. It is a book to help people heal from the problematic teachings about sexuality from the Church by offering tools to help people feel comfortable about their body and pleasure.

Before the featured conversation, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share *Timeline Cleanse* info on an uplifting environmental book and a cat with (at least) two names. The arrest of Ras Baraka and the upcoming June 14th protests are the focus of the *Pièce de Résistance* segment. Robin reads their new essay, “Fool Me Twice” and Wendy puts forth another principle outlined in *On Tyrrany*.

Things to do:

Read *Who Told You That You Were Naked?* by Beverly Dale.

Keep up with Rev. Bev at BeverlyDale.org and on BlueSky, Facebook, YouTube, and Substack.

Join a June 14th No Kings protest: Indivisible, FiftyFifty.one/events.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Read *What if We Get It Right?* by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

MOOD: DOOM. DOING THINGS Zine — **Shouldn’t We Be Doing Something? (Episode 172)** May 01, 2025
Anji Marth has been a professional tattoo artist and painter since 1999. Her published books include *Tar and Gravel*, *Knuckle Sandwich*, the *Resonant Eye* series, *The Horrors Coloring Book for Adults*, and the *Paintings From Quarantine* series, painted during the pandemic. She also works in taxidermy as assemblage art as well as illustration. A longtime activist, Anji grew up in coal country, Pennsylvania and has lived in the Pacific Inland Northwest for almost 30 years. In this featured conversation, she discusses her recent experiences in activism in Spokane, WA and what inspired her to create and distribute a new zine aimed at getting people DOING THINGS.

Photo by Kyle Schickner

Earlier in the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share *Timeline Cleanse* news about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Nature Conservancy, Wendy gives info to get people ready for nationwide May 1st protests in Pièce de Résistance, and Robin shares about hearing the inspiring Darryl McDaniels (DMC) speak at the FenceSitter Film Festival last weekend in Bernardsville, NJ.

Things to do:

Learn more, get zines, get art, and/or get tattooed by Anji Marth at ResonantEye.net.

Join a May Day protest: FiftyFifty.one/events

Check out Leftscape.com for previous shows by Anji Marth and Kyle Schickner.

Listen to some Run-D.M.C.!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CQIn7N5CuRDP8wEI7FiDA?si=JzuTqONfSlWR7vQftnWZzA

Robin Renée and Daryl McDaniels (DMC) — **Shouldn’t We Be Doing Something? (Episode 172)** May 01, 2025
Anji Marth has been a professional tattoo artist and painter since 1999. Her published books include *Tar and Gravel*, *Knuckle Sandwich*, the *Resonant Eye* series, *The Horrors Coloring Book for Adults*, and the *Paintings From Quarantine* series, painted during the pandemic. She also works in taxidermy as assemblage art as well as illustration. A longtime activist, Anji grew up in coal country, Pennsylvania and has lived in the Pacific Inland Northwest for almost 30 years. In this featured conversation, she discusses her recent experiences in activism in Spokane, WA and what inspired her to create and distribute a new zine aimed at getting people DOING THINGS.

Photo by Kyle Schickner

Earlier in the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share *Timeline Cleanse* news about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Nature Conservancy, Wendy gives info to get people ready for nationwide May 1st protests in Pièce de Résistance, and Robin shares about hearing the inspiring Darryl McDaniels (DMC) speak at the FenceSitter Film Festival last weekend in Bernardsville, NJ.

Things to do:

Learn more, get zines, get art, and/or get tattooed by Anji Marth at ResonantEye.net.

Join a May Day protest: FiftyFifty.one/events

Check out Leftscape.com for previous shows by Anji Marth and Kyle Schickner.

Listen to some Run-D.M.C.!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CQIn7N5CuRDP8wEI7FiDA?si=JzuTqONfSlWR7vQftnWZzA

**Have Books, Will Travel (Episode 171)** Apr 17, 2025
Brittany Smith is a key volunteer with the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians, a group that delivers free books throughout the Appalachian Mountains, especially to those affected by Hurricane Helene. The organization is a revival and revisioning of the librarians who made book delivieries in the same region during the Great Depression. Smith resides in Jonesborough, Tennessee, works in Projects Control for an engineering firm, and lives on nine acres with her family plus a large number of chickens and ducks. In this featured interview, she shares about the grassroots efforts to bring hope to those who have lost everything and asks us all not to forget those in her area who are still dealing with Helene’s devastation.

In *Timeline Cleanse*, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take inspiration from the announcement that Kermit the Frog will speak at the University of Maryland‘s upcoming graduation and Cory Booker’s recent record-breaking 25 hour, 5 minute protest speech in Congress. Robin reads an original poem, an unconventional reflection at Pesach, called “Change Party.” Wendy reads more from *On Tyranny* by Timothy D. Snyder and leads a discussion on Chapter 2.

Things to do:

Learn more about, donate, and/or volunteer for the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians.

Follow the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians on Facebook and Instagram.

Read “Thirty lonely but beautiful actions…” and do the ones that move you.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Call the Supreme Court at 202-479-3000 or email pio@supremecourt.gov to ask them what they plan to do about Donald Trump ignoring court orders.

Listen to Radio PVS Sundays at 9pm EDT for the Saved By Zero show. Check the schedule for repeat times.

**Toward a Saner World (Episode 170)** Apr 03, 2025
Featured guest Ray Katz started and currently leads The Saners, a group dedicated to preventing climate collapse and building a better civilization worldwide. He holds a BA in Economics from Stonybrook University as well as an MBA from Fordham University and he co-founded one of the first web development agencies in Philadelphia in 1994. Katz first appeared on *The Leftscape* in Episode 160, “Saving the Planet With Joy.” He returns to spread the word on the bold ideals and expanded objectives adopted by The Saners, their partnership with General Strike U.S., and to put forth actions and atitudes we can all take on to survive and thrive in these particularly challenging times.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée introduce several new show segments. In *Timeline Cleanse*, Robin reflects on a friend’s statement about self-care and Wendy speaks of the power of getting one’s hands dirty. Wendy shares a few simple and immediate political and financial actions we can all take in *Pièce de Résistance*, Robin reads a personal essay, “Concentric Circles,” and Wendy reads the first lesson from Timothy D. Snyder’s *On Tyrrany*.

Things to do:

Join the General Strike.

Learn more about The Saners on their website. Follow on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, and Medium.

Attend a Hands Off! protest near you on Saturday, April 5th.

Find your representatives in Congress and let them know your concerns.

Try the 5 Calls app to make your voice heard.

Read *Bullshit Jobs* by David Graeber.

Read *On Tyrrany: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century* by Timothy D. Snyder.

Watch “A Shockingly Better World – Saners YouTube Video.”

https://youtu.be/m3zz_7rYaS8?si=ALp64g1aswluIfI5

On Tyrrany book cover — **Prelude (Episode 169)** Jan 20, 2025

*The Leftscape* is back after an extended holiday hiatus. Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan have a casual chat and reveal a new direction for the show. Moving forward, expect less news that imitates doom-scrolling and more reporting on ways we as progressives can come together to make an impact and to nurture communities. Expect thoughtful conversations and a couple of new segments to go with old favorites.

Wendy introduces and reads the chapter titles of *On Tyrrany* by Timothy Snyder, which will be explored more deeply in upcoming episodes. As this minisode is posting on the eve of the 2nd inaugauration of Donald Trump, the co-hosts suggest listening, thumbing through *On Tyrrany*, celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and/or watching nature program re-runs rather than giving attention to the events in Washington, D.C. on January 20th.

Featured image: Pen and ink drawing by Wendy Sheridan, January 17, 2025.

Things to do:

Read the new short bio:

We all need progress and community. These are what The Leftscape podcast is all about. Presented by co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée, The Leftscape features commentary, culture, politics, personal dialogue, geekery, and humor. Most importantly, it centers on the conversations progressive people navigate in pursuit of social justice and finding common ground – with just enough news you can use to take action. The show welcomes guests making positive moves in the worlds of activism, feminism, music, media, racial equity, STEM, LGBTQIA+, spirituality, and more.

Follow The Leftscape on Bluesky.

Keep in touch on other social media @leftscape.

brue and red crying face - painting by Wendy Sheridan — **Four-Year Blanket Fort (Episode 168)** Nov 15, 2024
Painting by Wendy Sheridan

Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan speak for the first time after the U.S. presidential election. Together they process the loss by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to Donald Trump and JD Vance. Between surmising why a majority of Americans voted for the Republican ticket and worrying what changes the next four years may bring, they begin to work through the deep sadness and disappointment, anger, frustration, and fear of encroacing fascism. With many more questions than answers, Wendy and Robin take the first small steps toward sorting out how to cope, how to prepare, and what to do to develop and maintain friend groups and communities that are now more important than ever.

*The Leftscape* will be on hiatus through the end of the year. In the meantime expect repeat episodes best suited to help us all be ready for the political shift. Take care of yourselves, be well, and we hope you will make the best of the coming holiday season.

Things to do:

Let us know how you’re doing. How can the show best serve you and your communities as we move ahead?

Keep in touch with us on social media @leftscape.

We are now sincerely on Bluesky! Follow us: voxwoman.bsky.social, robinrenee.bsky.social, leftscape.bsky.social

Lamalé Torres — **Start With the Workers (Episode 167)** Oct 31, 2024

Lemalé Torres has a calling in educating union members on how they can be empower themselves to take charge. She is passionate about understanding the political landscape as an advocate of social justice. Another role in her life deeply affects how much she cares about the issues — motherhood. She met co-host Wendy Sheridan at an event sponsored by Indivisible. They sat down to talk about Torres’ knowledge of Project 2025 and its plans for labor laws from a union perspective as well as what it has to say about education, families, and more. Lemalé Torres says, “The work starts with community, and that is where my allegiance will always lie.”

In *This Fortnight I Learned*, co-host Robin Renée gets some info on rabid wildlife and Wendy discovers an interesting factoid about why we may need sleep. *News* includesthe terrible Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, ballot boxes for early voting have been attacked in Washington State and Oregon, voter rolls purged in Virginia, war in the Middle East, and New York state hits environmental goals ahead of schedule. In the *Blanket Fort*, Robin and Wendy cope with election anxiety. *The Lefty of the Week* is not a single person this time – It is every single one of us who has voted or will vote in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. It takes all of us. LFG!

Things to do:

Follow Lemalé Torres on Facebook and Instagram.

Read Kamala Harris’ policy positions vs. Project 2025.

Volunteer to help get out the vote.

VOTE!

Visit Wendy Sheridan at the Rahway Craft and Art Fair, Saturday, November 2nd. 10% off if you voted!

Take a break and have a laugh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbuOVqpuifM

cheerful cat art by Wendy Sheridan — **Start With the Workers (Episode 167)** Oct 31, 2024

Lemalé Torres has a calling in educating union members on how they can be empower themselves to take charge. She is passionate about understanding the political landscape as an advocate of social justice. Another role in her life deeply affects how much she cares about the issues — motherhood. She met co-host Wendy Sheridan at an event sponsored by Indivisible. They sat down to talk about Torres’ knowledge of Project 2025 and its plans for labor laws from a union perspective as well as what it has to say about education, families, and more. Lemalé Torres says, “The work starts with community, and that is where my allegiance will always lie.”

In *This Fortnight I Learned*, co-host Robin Renée gets some info on rabid wildlife and Wendy discovers an interesting factoid about why we may need sleep. *News* includesthe terrible Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, ballot boxes for early voting have been attacked in Washington State and Oregon, voter rolls purged in Virginia, war in the Middle East, and New York state hits environmental goals ahead of schedule. In the *Blanket Fort*, Robin and Wendy cope with election anxiety. *The Lefty of the Week* is not a single person this time – It is every single one of us who has voted or will vote in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. It takes all of us. LFG!

Things to do:

Follow Lemalé Torres on Facebook and Instagram.

Read Kamala Harris’ policy positions vs. Project 2025.

Volunteer to help get out the vote.

VOTE!

Visit Wendy Sheridan at the Rahway Craft and Art Fair, Saturday, November 2nd. 10% off if you voted!

Take a break and have a laugh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbuOVqpuifM

**Project 2025 on Labor and Employment (Episode 166)** Oct 16, 2024

Ivo Becica is an attorney who represents businesses and Human Resources professionals in employment disputes, including providing advice and training on staying in compliance with the law, as well as defending against employee claims when necessary. He writes about labor and employment law at his firm’s blog, HR Legalist. Becica joined co-host Robin Renée for an even-tempered conversation on what Project 2025 has to say about labor and employment issues in comparison to what the Harris/Walz platform proposes.

In *This Fortnight I Learned*, co-host Wendy Sheridan shares a fact about the slowing of the earth’s rotation while Robin shouts out the Halloween-appropriate, most recently recognized cat breed according to Cat Fancy UK. In the *News*: Survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan win the Nobel Peace Prize for their campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons and three economists win for their study on post-colonial wealth, rough weather in the U.S. and Morocco, yet another worrying climate observation, Jack Smith’s unsealed court filing regarding obstruction of the 2020 electoral process, the presidential election’s Jill Stein complication, a promising use for CBD oil, and more. Robin nominates Allison Gill for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Register to vote or confirm your voter registration today.

Read the HR Legalist blog.

Read Project 2025.

Donate and volunteer for hurricane relief.

Test your media literacy.

Check out The Daily Beans podcast.

Listen to “Why is Jill Stein Trying to Get Trump Elected” on *How We Got Here*, a weekly series by the *What a Day* podcast.

Watch the Democrats’ anti-Jill Stein ad.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tdrVgxCvHtM?si=Bjx_9aTsMoOpvS6n

See wtf Robin is talking about: Skibidi Toilet, Chicken Nugget Singing

**Start Local, Get Vocal, GOTV! (Episode 165)** Oct 02, 2024

Lisa Vandever is an organizer and activist with over 30 years of experience in media, communications, arts and events. A lifelong Democrat, she is a co-leader of the progressive group, Indivisible Rahway, and an active member of Fair Ballot Alliance NJ and OneNJ7. An enthusiastic Garden Stater by way of Oregon, Chicago and Brooklyn, she has been happily settled in Rahway, NJ for two decades with husband, Alan, and two ginger tabbies, Clive and Radley. Everyone who is interested in the 2024 U.S. election, getting involved in local politics, and activism will learn a lot from this discussion that begins focused on Rahway and its greater region.

What did co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan learn this past fortnight? Wendy took in a couple of lofty facts about the weight and density of clouds while Robin attempted Gen Alpha slang. With too much going on to be neatly broken into headlines and deep dives, news items include Hurricane Helene and numerous weather disasters around the world, a lawsuit by members of the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio against Donald Trump and JD Vance, Chappell Roan’s non-endorsement of Kamala Harris, the Rahway Library roundup, Rudy Giuliani’s disbarment, the new haka world record, and much more. In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Wendy and Robin reflect on the health benefits of arts practices (and get side-tracked by The Church of the SubGenius). Wendy nominates Reverend Kat Irwin for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Register to vote or confirm your voter registration today.

Get active with Indivisible and learn more about Indivisible Rahway.

Help democratic victories with Swing Left.

Help get out the vote with Mobilize.

Learn more about the Fair Ballot Alliance.

Listen to Episode 144 featuring Lisa Vandever, “20 Years of Cinekink.”

Watch “New Zealand reclaims world record for largest mass haka.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnOhDX9QAFk

Fair Ballot Initiative — **Start Local, Get Vocal, GOTV! (Episode 165)** Oct 02, 2024

Lisa Vandever is an organizer and activist with over 30 years of experience in media, communications, arts and events. A lifelong Democrat, she is a co-leader of the progressive group, Indivisible Rahway, and an active member of Fair Ballot Alliance NJ and OneNJ7. An enthusiastic Garden Stater by way of Oregon, Chicago and Brooklyn, she has been happily settled in Rahway, NJ for two decades with husband, Alan, and two ginger tabbies, Clive and Radley. Everyone who is interested in the 2024 U.S. election, getting involved in local politics, and activism will learn a lot from this discussion that begins focused on Rahway and its greater region.

What did co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan learn this past fortnight? Wendy took in a couple of lofty facts about the weight and density of clouds while Robin attempted Gen Alpha slang. With too much going on to be neatly broken into headlines and deep dives, news items include Hurricane Helene and numerous weather disasters around the world, a lawsuit by members of the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio against Donald Trump and JD Vance, Chappell Roan’s non-endorsement of Kamala Harris, the Rahway Library roundup, Rudy Giuliani’s disbarment, the new haka world record, and much more. In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Wendy and Robin reflect on the health benefits of arts practices (and get side-tracked by The Church of the SubGenius). Wendy nominates Reverend Kat Irwin for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Register to vote or confirm your voter registration today.

Get active with Indivisible and learn more about Indivisible Rahway.

Help democratic victories with Swing Left.

Help get out the vote with Mobilize.

Learn more about the Fair Ballot Alliance.

Listen to Episode 144 featuring Lisa Vandever, “20 Years of Cinekink.”

Watch “New Zealand reclaims world record for largest mass haka.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnOhDX9QAFk

**Postcard GOTV with Tom Limoncelli (Episode 164)** Sep 18, 2024
Tom Limoncelli is an LGBTQ organizer, trainer, and speaker from New Jersey. His speaking and training repertoire includes time management for activists and support group facilitation skills. He is the recipient of several activism awards including the Brenda Howard Award for bisexual activism. Tom spoke about Time Management for Busy Activists on *Leftscape* Episode 86 almost exactly four years ago in 2020. In this episode he shares about the easy-to-do activism he’s been taking part in to get out the vote as we approach yet another incredibly important presidential election.

In a new/modified segment, *Why Is This Not Awesome?*, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée look over a report on *Project 2025 and its Consequences for Libraries.* In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Robin and Wendy both bring animal facts (cats and giraffes, respectively). *News* includes Kamala Harris’ kickass debate performance, flooding in Eastern Europe, an accusation of a CIA plot to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, another potential Trump assassination attempt, a Trump court case roundup, the Ig Noble Awards, and Wendy’s Rahway Library Action Update. Robin names Conspirituality co-host Derek Beres *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Register to vote or confirm your voter registration today.

Get addresses to GOTV for Democratic candidates.

Get postcards to send to Democratic voters.

Find volunteer activities (remote and in-person) all over the US: Mobilize!

Read Tom Limoncelli’s blog post about postcarding, “Postcards for Democracy.”

Read Project 2025 and its Consequences for Libraries.

Check out The Daily Beans podcast.

Check out the Conspirituality podcast.

**Doing the Work of Democracy (Episode 163)** Sep 04, 2024
Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée are back after summer break for the 2024 Season 2 of *The Leftscape*! Featured guest Jonah Minkoff-Zern (he/him) is the co-director of Public Citizen’s Democracy Campaign. He has organized nationwide mobilizations to challenge ongoing threats to democracy from former President Donald Trump and his allies, coordinated grassroots activities to pass federal voting rights and democracy reforms, and mobilized national action for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. He has led and supported state-based efforts to win voting rights, public financing to protect election officials and prevent artificial intelligence deepfakes in elections, and coordinated national support for the Second Chances Florida ballot initiative, which restored the eligibility to vote to Floridians with felony convictions. Hear him speak with Wendy about the many aspects of the Democracy Campaign’s important work.

In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy recounts the controvery over which of two simiarly-named people originated Labor Day in 1882 and Robin discusses the first term entered into their personal Pittsburghese dictionary. In *News*, there is so much to tackle that a great deal more of it is covered in *What the Bleep Happened This Summer?* on Patreon. X offline in Brazil, the summer COVID surge, the upcoming Harris vs. Trump presidential debate, members of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland elected in Germany, an action against budget cuts at the Rahway Public Library, and the Oasis reunion are some of the stories that made the show. In *The Blanket Fort*, Robin and Wendy check in on what they’re doing to stay informed without getting overwhelmed. Wendy nominates Frances Perkins as *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Learn more about Public Citizen.

Follow Public Citizen on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Watch the presidential debate on Tuesday, September 10th at 9pm EDT.

Subscribe to 1440.

Check out to *What a Day* and *On the Media*.

Read “Inmates Training Hard-to-Adopt Dogs in New Mexico Creates Joy On Both Ends of a Leash.“

**We Asked Dr. Hal! (Episode 162)** Jul 03, 2024
Hal Robins is known for his radio broadcasts and public performances, as well as for his participation in the Church of the SubGenius (as Dr. Howland Owll, Master of Church Secrets). He has worked in film and television and is a poet and playwright. Robins is also a fine artist and cartoonist. In this featured conversation with Rev. Andrew Genus, he shares his wit and insight into the world of the SubGenius, the current political state we find ourselves in, and his upcoming appearance at PubeFest in Bethlehem, PA featuring the *Ask Dr. Hal Show* and other SubGenius shenanigans.

In this final show of the season before summer break, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée start off in *This Fortnight I Learned* with some lighthearted factoids about dolphins and tennis balls. *All the News We Can Handle* was more was enough with the presidential debate and SCOTUS decisions, a few of which deal with presidential immunity, ordinances prohibiting camping within city limits by people who are homeless, and overturning the 1984 decision in Chevron v Natural Resources Defense Council. In *The Artscape*, Wendy interviews Robin about recent creative projects and process, challenges and small victories. Robin names Kai Wright *Lefty of the Week*.

Happy a Happy 4th of July and have a great summer! Reach out anytime and keep in touch on social media @leftscape.

Things to do:

Check out the Ask Dr. Hal Show!

Learn the truth about J. R. “Bob” Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius!

Attend the Second Annual PubeFest! July 5-7, 2024

View the featured image, *Dobbs Ourobouros*, by Hal Robins.

Read more about Supreme Court decisions on SCOTUSblog.

Listen to the Saved By Zero show with host DJ Andrew Genus.

Watch “Nick Lowe – Alison (Elvis Costello cover)”

https://youtu.be/oPJ5dNFh-Rc?si=xQZ3TP1DU5hfmHh7

cracked American flag face — **Breaking Down Project 2025 (Episode 161)** Jun 21, 2024
Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan discuss the enormous and detailed Project 2025, a collection of policy proposals created by The Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States government in the image of current-day far right conservativism. It seeks to mandate conservative Christian values, dismantle many social programs and government departments, and to provide ready-made policy positions and personnel for the next Republican president. This description barely begins to do justice to the sweeping, detrimental changes this tome proposes. Wendy and Robin begin to look at its elements broadly and anticipate future conversations about Project 2025 along with discovering and taking part in things we can do to keep it from being enacted.

In concert with the featured conversation, Robin sparks a discussion on a video by Innuendo Studios, “Always a Bigger Fish” in the *Geekscape* for a better understanding of conservative vs. liberal worldviews.

The show begins on a lighter note with a few rewinds to Episode 160 and *This Fortnight I Learned* facts about Google searches and ants in New York City. *News* includes the upcoming presidential debate slated for June 27th, the Supreme Court’s end-of-June decisions, a “tactical pause” of the fighting in a portion of Gaza, the continuing adverntures of Trump and Rudy in the Georgia election fraud case, and wild Przewalski’s horses returned to Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe. For *Lefty of the Week,* Wendy names local activist Quanae “Pie Lady” Palmer.

Things to do:

Watch “ What is Project 2025?”

https://youtu.be/A7OlQG9C4zM?si=rTG2uZgrWDHSUwpq

Watch “The Alt-Right Playbook: Always a Bigger Fish”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agzNANfNlTs

Watch “Trump’s Second Term: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwqpx6lp_s

Meet the ManhattAnts!

Ray Katz, Founder of The Saners — **Saving the Planet With Joy (Episode 160)** Jun 07, 2024
Ray Katz is a web developer—one of Philadelphia’s first. He has many hobbies including collecting artifacts related to the history of space flight and animation. His passion and most pressing endeavor, however, is to find effective ways of dealing with climate change. To that end, he has created a new and unique movement, The Saners. He is also the host of the *5 Minutes to Save the Earth* podcast. Don’t miss his inspired thoughts on how a grassroots environmental movement can learn from past and present brilliance, use a decent dose of humor, and stand up to the status quo with a joyful resistance.

*Leftscape* co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the show with a bit of a check-in and a shout out to Pride Month before getting into *This Fortnight I Learned*. Wendy has learned about a once-ubiquitous melody that was composed by Brian Eno and Robin has learned yet another thing about squirrels. In *News*, Donald Trump is convicted of 34 felony counts, SCOTUS clears the way for Louisiana to use a new congressional map containing two majority-Black districts, Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is elected, Vermont becomes the first state to require oil companies to pay for the impacts of climate change, all four members of ABBA are knighted, and other stories. Earlier in *The Earthscape*, Robin and Wendy share their favorite workouts. At the end of the show, Robin names climate activist Lauren MacDonald *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Learn about The Saners and sign up to get involved.

Get inspired by the *5 Minutes to Save the Earth* podcast.

Follow Ray Katz and The Saners on X and Medium.

Try working out on a GiBoard.

When was America great? Check out this article for answers.

Check out this creative pride flag creation by Wendy’s daughter, Ariel Sheridan!

Listen to “Uptown Squirrel [update]” on *99% Invisible*.

https://youtu.be/H_W6ErOgLwI?si=1Uq3xrTRic8kmAAv

**Saving the Planet With Joy (Episode 160)** Jun 07, 2024
Ray Katz is a web developer—one of Philadelphia’s first. He has many hobbies including collecting artifacts related to the history of space flight and animation. His passion and most pressing endeavor, however, is to find effective ways of dealing with climate change. To that end, he has created a new and unique movement, The Saners. He is also the host of the *5 Minutes to Save the Earth* podcast. Don’t miss his inspired thoughts on how a grassroots environmental movement can learn from past and present brilliance, use a decent dose of humor, and stand up to the status quo with a joyful resistance.

*Leftscape* co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the show with a bit of a check-in and a shout out to Pride Month before getting into *This Fortnight I Learned*. Wendy has learned about a once-ubiquitous melody that was composed by Brian Eno and Robin has learned yet another thing about squirrels. In *News*, Donald Trump is convicted of 34 felony counts, SCOTUS clears the way for Louisiana to use a new congressional map containing two majority-Black districts, Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is elected, Vermont becomes the first state to require oil companies to pay for the impacts of climate change, all four members of ABBA are knighted, and other stories. Earlier in *The Earthscape*, Robin and Wendy share their favorite workouts. At the end of the show, Robin names climate activist Lauren MacDonald *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Learn about The Saners and sign up to get involved.

Get inspired by the *5 Minutes to Save the Earth* podcast.

Follow Ray Katz and The Saners on X and Medium.

Try working out on a GiBoard.

When was America great? Check out this article for answers.

Check out this creative pride flag creation by Wendy’s daughter, Ariel Sheridan!

Listen to “Uptown Squirrel [update]” on *99% Invisible*.

https://youtu.be/H_W6ErOgLwI?si=1Uq3xrTRic8kmAAv

"But Not Enough to Save You" by Abby Driscoll — **Enough (Episode 159)** May 23, 2024
When Abby Driscoll, a senior at Fort Defiance High School in Verona, VA had a piece placed in a school art show, she likely didn’t expect the drama that ensued. Listener Tony Rogers of Fairfax, VA sent the story to *The Leftscape* via X/Twitter to spark conversation between co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan. This featured discussion ranges from thoughts on the artwork, “But Not Enough to Save You,” to serious concerns about censorship, art and book banning, and right-wing influence on school boards, the importance of down-ballot electoral races, and the power of art as activism.

The episode gets started with Wendy and Robin revealing their latest new knowledge in *This Fortnight I Learned* — this time on the topics of the design of chef’s hats and well-known actors whose 60s band collaboration is surprising. *All the News We Can Handle* includes Rudy Giuliani served with notice of his indictment for efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results, Kristi Noem banned from Native American reservations, and a call from the international criminal court for arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders. Also in the news: the Human Rights Campaign’s massive public education and mobilization campaign ahead of the 2024 elections, Nevada activists secure signatures for a vote on abortion access, Art Smart singing lessons, and much more.

Before the featured discussion, Robin and Wendy enter *The Blanket Fort* for an extended personal check-in.

Things to do:

Watch the video: “A high school artist called out Christian bigotry. Her school board is furious. (Livestream)“

https://youtu.be/SZLiDPhpdvE?si=bBg7_kVDysaqAOcv

Read the article on FriendlyAtheist.com.

Check out wendycardz on Etsy.

Listen to Saved by Zero on Radio PVS and Mixcloud.

Listen to “My Old School” by Steely Dan.

https://youtu.be/rFnwczuvb74?si=vb87jRmtKqm5r5H7

Do you have a topic you’d like to hear discussed on The Leftscape? Let Wendy and Robin know.

**Playing The Race Cards (Episode 158)** May 08, 2024
David Michael Jamison is the Assistant Professor of History at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida and the former Visiting Assistant Professor of Black World Studies at Miami University–Middletown in Middletown, Ohio. He previously worked as a special-education teacher, first with the New York Board of Education and then with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is the Education and Programs Chair of the Jacksonville Historical Society; the director of the oral-history project, the co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project, and the Local Historian for the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He was a guest on *The Leftscape* Episode 60 back in 2019 and returns to talk about The Race Cards, a tool for fostering positive, authentic conversations about race.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée kick off the show with facts about “TikTok voice” and the world’s largest baguette in *This Fortnight I Learned*. In the *News*, the 4th Circuit Court in Richmond Virginia ruled that state health-care plans must pay for gender-affirming surgeries, Washington state GOP delegates come out against democracy, Methodists end anti-gay bans in the church, and blue whales return near the Seychelles. Before the featured interview in the *Geekscape* segment, Wendy leads the geek-out about repairing stuff. At the end of the show, Robin nominates Allison Gill for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Learn more about 904WARD, The Race Cards conversation tool, and the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project.

Learn about the Right to Repair.

Listen to Allison Gill’s podcasts and other great shows on MSW Media.

Listen to *Saved By Zero* and the other great shows on Radio PVS.

Check out *Saved By Zero* on Mixcloud.

Get artwork on wendycardz.

Watch “The first ever footage of Blue Whales in the Seychelles.”

https://youtu.be/oKU-2Q7esNA?si=mwBXfHH2YFfocfG0

toolkit — **Playing The Race Cards (Episode 158)** May 08, 2024
David Michael Jamison is the Assistant Professor of History at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida and the former Visiting Assistant Professor of Black World Studies at Miami University–Middletown in Middletown, Ohio. He previously worked as a special-education teacher, first with the New York Board of Education and then with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is the Education and Programs Chair of the Jacksonville Historical Society; the director of the oral-history project, the co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project, and the Local Historian for the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He was a guest on *The Leftscape* Episode 60 back in 2019 and returns to talk about The Race Cards, a tool for fostering positive, authentic conversations about race.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée kick off the show with facts about “TikTok voice” and the world’s largest baguette in *This Fortnight I Learned*. In the *News*, the 4th Circuit Court in Richmond Virginia ruled that state health-care plans must pay for gender-affirming surgeries, Washington state GOP delegates come out against democracy, Methodists end anti-gay bans in the church, and blue whales return near the Seychelles. Before the featured interview in the *Geekscape* segment, Wendy leads the geek-out about repairing stuff. At the end of the show, Robin nominates Allison Gill for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Learn more about 904WARD, The Race Cards conversation tool, and the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project.

Learn about the Right to Repair.

Listen to Allison Gill’s podcasts and other great shows on MSW Media.

Listen to *Saved By Zero* and the other great shows on Radio PVS.

Check out *Saved By Zero* on Mixcloud.

Get artwork on wendycardz.

Watch “The first ever footage of Blue Whales in the Seychelles.”

https://youtu.be/oKU-2Q7esNA?si=mwBXfHH2YFfocfG0

**Out Of His Shell (Episode 157)** Apr 25, 2024
Meet Protest Singer Michael Naphys

Michael Naphys is a singer/songwriter from South Jersey. Music has always been a big part of his life, and he has some musical releases including his first original album, *Coming Out of my Shell*, that we’ll learn about in this conversation. Michael performs live acoustic sets in Southern New Jersey including at Whims Brewing in Atco where co-host Robin Renée was lucky enough to catch his set not long ago. He finds using music to express his views on political issues to be very rewarding and empowering, and joins us on *The Leftscape* to talk about his experiences with writing and performing protest music and the journey of growing into his political focus.

In *The Artscape*, Robin talks with co-host Wendy Sheridan about her recent work and upcoming art shows. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy discovers the songs by Shel Silverstein and Robin discovers the joy of Asking for What You Want. *News* covered includes trouble for the Great Barrier Reef, a new union for Volkswagen workers, a search engine for conservatives, a new nondiscrimination law in Oakland, CA for polyamorous and other alternative family structures, states where abortion will be on the ballot, President Biden announces environmental grants and jobs on the 55th Earth Day, recreational cannabis use linked with lower risk of dementia-related diseases, and remembering David Newman aka Durga Das. Wendy nominates Earth Day creator Gaylord Nelson as the *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Keep up with Michael Naphys on Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter.

Listen to Michael Naphys on Soundcloud or Spotify.

Say hi to Wendy Sheridan and buy her art at the Spring Craft & Vendor Show, Saturday, April 27th, 10am – 4pm, Allaire State Park 4263 Atlantic Avenue Farmingdale, NJ 07727. Booth #40. Raindate Sunday, April 28th.

See Wendy’s work in the Union County Senior Art Exhibit, Union College of Union County, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Tuesdays until 8 pm, Closes May 30th at noon.

Check out wendycardz on Etsy and Wendycards on Facebook for more art by Wendy Sheridan.

Listen to healing sounds by David Newman.

**FenceSitter Film Festival (Episode 156)** Apr 13, 2024
Kyle Schickner has been a bisexual activist for the past 30 years. His company, FenceSitter Films makes films that tell the stories of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ communities. Kyle was our guest back in November 2021 on Leftscape Episode 113 when we talked about his film, *A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop*, a documentary of his cross country road trip focused on having down-to-earth conversations about race and racism. Now he is the director of the upcoming FenceSitter Film Festival which is coming right up, April 18th through the 21st at Bernardsville Cinema in Bernardsville, NJ.

In the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share their excitement about the amazing solar eclipse that crossed North America on April 8, 2024. In a related note, Robin complains about “travel hazing” in *This Fortnight I Learned*, while Wendy points our the value of writing things down. In the *News*, there are the SCOTUS and Trump trial roundups, 4/8 conspiracy theories, the next total solar eclipe, the future of Mifepristone, a push for a 32-hour work week, a newly-discovered blue and yellow gecko, and more. Robin nominates Keith Olbermann for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Get your tickets for the 2024 FenceSitter Film Festival, April 18 – 21 in Bernardsville, NJ.

Follow Kyle Schickner on Facebook and the FenceSitter Film Festival on Instagram.

Explore more on the FenceSitter Films website.

Get ready for upcoming eclipses!

Listen to *Countdown With Keith Olbermann*.

Watch a FenceSitter Film Festival trailer.

https://youtu.be/sGaC5yc105A?si=o60aN3tViZdEN406

**FenceSitter Film Festival (Episode 156)** Apr 13, 2024
Kyle Schickner has been a bisexual activist for the past 30 years. His company, FenceSitter Films makes films that tell the stories of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ communities. Kyle was our guest back in November 2021 on Leftscape Episode 113 when we talked about his film, *A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop*, a documentary of his cross country road trip focused on having down-to-earth conversations about race and racism. Now he is the director of the upcoming FenceSitter Film Festival which is coming right up, April 18th through the 21st at Bernardsville Cinema in Bernardsville, NJ.

In the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share their excitement about the amazing solar eclipse that crossed North America on April 8, 2024. In a related note, Robin complains about “travel hazing” in *This Fortnight I Learned*, while Wendy points our the value of writing things down. In the *News*, there are the SCOTUS and Trump trial roundups, 4/8 conspiracy theories, the next total solar eclipe, the future of Mifepristone, a push for a 32-hour work week, a newly-discovered blue and yellow gecko, and more. Robin nominates Keith Olbermann for *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Get your tickets for the 2024 FenceSitter Film Festival, April 18 – 21 in Bernardsville, NJ.

Follow Kyle Schickner on Facebook and the FenceSitter Film Festival on Instagram.

Explore more on the FenceSitter Films website.

Get ready for upcoming eclipses!

Listen to *Countdown With Keith Olbermann*.

Watch a FenceSitter Film Festival trailer.

https://youtu.be/sGaC5yc105A?si=o60aN3tViZdEN406

David "Daxe" Axelrod — **Money is a Metaphor (Episode 155)** Mar 28, 2024
David “Daxe” Axelrod is a holistic economist, currently teaching at Montclair State University. He developed and teaches the course “Economics of Time, Mind, and Spirit.” He has also produced over a dozen albums of original music. Creativity, resources, aspirations, limitations, the problems with capitalism and what a society without it might look like all weave into his conversation with co-host Wendy Sheridan. The answers to all the world’s inequality problems may not have been uncovered in this interview, but listen in for some surprising starting points and intriguing questions well worth contemplating.

Before the featured interview, Wendy and Robin head to *The Blanket Fort* for a personal chat about commitments and ceremonies. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy had a family revelation and Robin found out about the Ides of March Coin. In the *News*: Tammy Murphy leaves the Senate primary, a couple of Trump trial headlines, a right-wing family’s challenges in Russia, Jasmin Paris finishes the Barkley Ultramarathon, SCOTUS oral arguments regarding healthcare for the Arizona Apache tribe and access to mifepristone, and a man changes his name to “Literally Anybody Else” to run for president. At the end of the show, Wendy nominates Heather Cox Richardson as this episode’s *Lefty of the Week*.

(Please pardon our sound quality… There were some mysterious tech issues this time around.)

Things to do:

Listen to Daxe on Economics, Time, Mind, and Spirit on YouTube.

Subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson’s *Letters From An American* newsletter.

Listen to Music For the Goddess.

Lieve Monnens with Audrey Golden and book — **Factory and Garden (Episode 154)** Mar 14, 2024
Lieve Monnens was born in Belgium in the 1960s. She had a musical awakening when she was eleven years old through listening to her dad’s records by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys. She became interested in going to live shows, then later took internships with radio and record companies which led to several jobs in the music industry. In 1990, Lieve moved to England and began working at Factory Records in Manchester, only 2 and a half years before the label dissolved. Over thirty years later, she has been featured in the book, *I Thought I Heard You Speak: Women at Factory Records* by Audrey Golden, which has just been released in the U.S. She offers her thoughts on the experience of being a woman at Factory at the time, what it’s like looking back, and the importance of recording our lesser-known histories.

After introducing the show, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée share their *This Fortnight I Learned* facts; Wendy learned something cool where *Babylon 5* meets International Women’s Day, while Robin copped out and read the day’s Google Doodle fact about fancy coffee drinks. *Just the Tip* news includes the State of the Union address and the Katie Britt response, Greta Thunberg climate protest, the passing of Akira Toriyama, and The Oscars. A call by Rosemarie Mallet, Bishop of Croydon for the Church of England to pay hefty reparations for chattel slavery, decreasing power of anti-trans talking points, SCOTUS taking up the presidential immunity question, and more are discussed *In Deep*. In *The Earthscape* segment, Wendy leads a discussion on early spring gardening. Robin nominates Clementine Morrigan as *Lefty of the Week*.

Things to do:

Get the book! *I Thought I Heard You Speak: Women At Factory Records* by Audrey Golden.

Listen to Saved By Zero – Factory Records Favorites w/ Lieve Monnens.

Check out the book event for *I Thought I Heard You Speak* on March 30th at Record Grouch, 986 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222. Reading by author Audrey Golden. Former Factory colleagues Lieve Monnens and Seema Saini will be in attendance. Time TBD – Keep an eye on the Record Grouch events page.

Learn about Lefty of the Week, Clementine Morrigan.

Read *American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America* by Colin Woodard.

Donate to Vote Save America to help the most important campaigns in the upcoming U.S. elections.

Keep track of the Trump trials.

Bisexual Married Men book cover — **Bisexual Married Men: A Conversation With ‘One Bi Guy’ Robert Brooks Cohen (Episode 153)** Feb 29, 2024
*The Leftscape* 2024 Season 1 begins with special guest, Robert Brooks Cohen! Cohen is a writer, content creator, and life coach living in Los Angeles. He spent seven seasons writing and producing for *Law & Order: SVU*, and in 2019, he created *Two Bi Guys*, a podcast about sexual fluidity, masculinity, and the gender spectrum. His first book, *Bisexual Married Men: Stories of Relationships, Acceptance, and Authenticity*, was published by Routledge in 2023. In this featured conversation, he shares about his personal journey, the making of the book, questions of identity in the current political climate, and future creative possibilities.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée catch up at the beginning of the show after the long winter break. News highlights include Sweden’s successful bid to join NATO, the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that embryos are children, SCOTUS hearing arguments on whether social media companies have the right to censor, the tragic death of nonbinary student Nex Benedict, scientists isolated in Antarctica develop their own, unique accent, the various Trump trials, and more. Wendy introduces a new mini-segment of the show with her nomination of John Oliver for a Lefty Award. In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Robin is excited about having checked out a recent concert by Young Gun Silver Fox.

Things to do:

Keep up with Robert Brooks Cohen and get your copy of *Bisexual Married Men: Stories of Relationships, Acceptance, and Authenticity.*

Listen to the *Two Bi Guys* podcast.

Attend B+ WELL: A Wellness Conference for the Bisexual, Pansexual & Fluid Community, Saturday, March 2nd, 9am – 2:30pm, Los Angeles City College, 855 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90029

Check out community-based support and discussion group, BiRequest.

Watch *I May Destroy You*.

Remember the lives and the tireless bi advocacy of Sheela Lambert and ABilly Jones Hennin.

Listen to *Leftscape* Episode 33 featuring John Cecil Price. Rest in Peace, Johnnycakes.

Follow the GoFundMe in memory of Nex Benedict and give if you are so moved.

Listen to the *Saved By Zero* show by DJ Andrew Genus (aka Robin Renée).

Jam out to Young Gun Silver Fox.

Watch “Supreme Court Ethics: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO).”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE-VJrdHMug

**Words, Music, Ghosts, Oceans (Episode 152)** Dec 14, 2023
When Jan Steckel was a guest on *The Leftscape* back in April of 2019, she read from her book of poetry, *Like Flesh Covers Bone* (Zeitgeist Press, 2018), which went on to win two Rainbow Awards. Her earlier poetry book, *The Horizontal Poet* (Zeitgeist Press, 2011), won a 2012 Lambda Literary Award. Jan Steckel’s creative prose and poetry have appeared in Scholastic Magazine, *Yale Medicine*, *Bellevue Literary Review*, *Canary*, *Assaracus*, and elsewhere. This time in our featured interview, the Oakland, California based writer is back to share from her new debut fiction collection, *Ghosts and Oceans (*Zeitgeist Press, 2023).

In *The Artscape*, Wendy Sheridan asks Robin Renée about current gigs, DJing post-punk, stage fright, and other happenings on the creative front. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, they cover Kit Kat flavors, an ending and beginning for KISS, and Wendy’s music streaming in Japan. *All the News We Can Handle* includes contention over the Zulu kingship, a Texas abortion case, activists working to stop severe anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Uganda, George Santos on Cameo, the Pantone color of the coming year, and a fosssil called Turtwig.

This is the last show of the season! Stay tuned for reposts of some of our favorites, check us out on Patreon, and catch us on social media @leftscape.

Have a beautiful holiday season and a great start to 2024. We’ll see you soon!

Leftscape Love,

Robin and Wendy

Things to do:

Read *Ghosts and Oceans* by Jan Steckel.

https://www.zeitgeist-press.com/index.php/product/ghosts-and-oceans/

*Ghosts and Oceans* on Amazon

See Robin Renée’s live performance on Friday, December 15th, 7-9pm with Sharief & Friends at Mr. Pi’s, 247 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ.

Stream music by Wendy Sheridan’s band, Music for the Goddess:

Listen to DJ Andrew Genus / Robin Renée on Mixcloud.

See Turtwig!

**Words, Music, Ghosts, Oceans (Episode 152)** Dec 14, 2023
When Jan Steckel was a guest on *The Leftscape* back in April of 2019, she read from her book of poetry, *Like Flesh Covers Bone* (Zeitgeist Press, 2018), which went on to win two Rainbow Awards. Her earlier poetry book, *The Horizontal Poet* (Zeitgeist Press, 2011), won a 2012 Lambda Literary Award. Jan Steckel’s creative prose and poetry have appeared in Scholastic Magazine, *Yale Medicine*, *Bellevue Literary Review*, *Canary*, *Assaracus*, and elsewhere. This time in our featured interview, the Oakland, California based writer is back to share from her new debut fiction collection, *Ghosts and Oceans (*Zeitgeist Press, 2023).

In *The Artscape*, Wendy Sheridan asks Robin Renée about current gigs, DJing post-punk, stage fright, and other happenings on the creative front. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, they cover Kit Kat flavors, an ending and beginning for KISS, and Wendy’s music streaming in Japan. *All the News We Can Handle* includes contention over the Zulu kingship, a Texas abortion case, activists working to stop severe anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Uganda, George Santos on Cameo, the Pantone color of the coming year, and a fosssil called Turtwig.

This is the last show of the season! Stay tuned for reposts of some of our favorites, check us out on Patreon, and catch us on social media @leftscape.

Have a beautiful holiday season and a great start to 2024. We’ll see you soon!

Leftscape Love,

Robin and Wendy

Things to do:

Read *Ghosts and Oceans* by Jan Steckel.

https://www.zeitgeist-press.com/index.php/product/ghosts-and-oceans/

*Ghosts and Oceans* on Amazon

See Robin Renée’s live performance on Friday, December 15th, 7-9pm with Sharief & Friends at Mr. Pi’s, 247 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ.

Stream music by Wendy Sheridan’s band, Music for the Goddess:

Listen to DJ Andrew Genus / Robin Renée on Mixcloud.

See Turtwig!

No Art for Art’s Sake (Episode 151) Dec 01, 2023

John Oliver Mason is a freelance writer and has written for newspapers in the Philadelphia area for thirty years, covering such community-based events as town watches, school boards, community associations, Labor issues, and demonstrations. He has written for magazines and blogs as well and he is an advocate who specializes in writing about people in the community who are empowering themselves to make their communities better. He is a poet who has broken into fiction with his novel, Soldier of the Cross. He is a media consultant and a longtime community and labor activist. In this interview, he reveals his current projects and elucidates his dedication to political relevance and authenticity.

Co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan make a rare in-person recording for this show. In This Fortnight I Learned, Wendy has info on the blue whale’s heartbeat and Robin has happy pet news from the homefront. In the News: a cease fire and hostage release in the Israel-Hamas War, shrinking GOP donations, George Santos’ rant-a-thon, Hall v. Oates, the latest on the Trump gag order in the New York civil case, and the winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photo Contest. Robin is psyched about the season’s concerts in Why Is This Awesome!?.

Things to do:

Visit John Oliver Mason’s website. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter.

Read Soldier of the Cross by John Oliver Mason.

Follow Robin Renée/DJ Andrew Genus on Mixcloud. Listen to “What’s New What’s Live” and “A Nick Lowe Show.”

Watch THE CHATS – SMOKO (OFFICIAL VIDEO).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58V2vC9EPc

Jeffrey Scott Pearson — **Love Over Money (Episode 150)** Nov 16, 2023
Over the last five decades Scott Pearson has been a recording artist, a music producer, a TV soundtrack composer, an educator, an entrepreneur, a fine artist and painter, a social media and marketing consultant, and a tour guide for his adopted hometown of Utrecht near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. *Leftscape* co-host Robin Renée had the opportunity to work with Scott on some musical projects back in the mid 2000s, and was happy to have a chat with him about what the United States looks like from somewhere else. Listen in for thoughts on politics to healthcare to housing, the journey to becoming a “Trump refugee,” and what it could mean as individuals and as societies to let love lead.

Before the interview, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée share info about “Metal” Mike Saunders and competitive art in *This Fortnight I Learned*. In *All the News We Can Handle*: multiple legal actions filed to keep Donald Trump off of 2024 ballots, Ohio votes for abortion rights, Democrats retake full control of the Virginia General Assembly, new animal cruelty laws in Victoria, Australia, and a sighting of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, which was thought to be long extinct. In *The Blanket Fort*, Wendy and Robin chat about surviving – and hopefully finding some joy – during the upcoming holidays.

Things to do:

Visit Scott Pearson’s website and read his Curious Tales Untold.

Follow Scott Pearson on Facebook and Instagram.

Attend Philcon – the world’s first and longest-running conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror!
November 17-19, Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ.

See the Attenborough long-beaked echidna.

**Let’s Talk Constitution (Episode 149)** Nov 01, 2023
Michael A. Ventrella is an author and editor who has written novels, short stories, and nonfiction books including *Big Stick*, *Terin Ostler and the Axes of Evil*, and The Beatles on the Charts. Ventrella is also an attorney and has taught Constitutional Law at a number of institutions of higher learning. Just in time for elections and the upcoming holiday season, he speaks with Wendy about his helpful and humorous book, *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*.

Before the interview in *The Earthscape* segment, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée reflect on the meaning of and plans for the holiday of Samhain and how it interweaves with secular Halloween fun. Donald Trump’s gag orders, the argument for keeping Trump off of the 2024 presidential ballot, new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, a simulation of the Chicxulub impact, and debt activists to the rescue are all part of *All the News We Can Handle*. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Robin and Wendy each discover something mildly interesting about breakfast cereal.

Things to do:

VOTE!

Learn more about Michael A. Ventrella on his website.

Keep up with Michael A. Ventrella on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

Get the book! *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*

Attend Philcon – the world’s first and longest-running conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror!
November 17-19, Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Watch Micheal A. Ventrella read the first chapter from *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owMyfhce_vQ

How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative book cover — **Let’s Talk Constitution (Episode 149)** Nov 01, 2023
Michael A. Ventrella is an author and editor who has written novels, short stories, and nonfiction books including *Big Stick*, *Terin Ostler and the Axes of Evil*, and The Beatles on the Charts. Ventrella is also an attorney and has taught Constitutional Law at a number of institutions of higher learning. Just in time for elections and the upcoming holiday season, he speaks with Wendy about his helpful and humorous book, *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*.

Before the interview in *The Earthscape* segment, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée reflect on the meaning of and plans for the holiday of Samhain and how it interweaves with secular Halloween fun. Donald Trump’s gag orders, the argument for keeping Trump off of the 2024 presidential ballot, new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, a simulation of the Chicxulub impact, and debt activists to the rescue are all part of *All the News We Can Handle*. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Robin and Wendy each discover something mildly interesting about breakfast cereal.

Things to do:

VOTE!

Learn more about Michael A. Ventrella on his website.

Keep up with Michael A. Ventrella on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

Get the book! *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*

Attend Philcon – the world’s first and longest-running conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror!
November 17-19, Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Watch Micheal A. Ventrella read the first chapter from *How to Argue the Constitution With a Conservative*.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owMyfhce_vQ

Missy Singer Dumars smiling — **The Food We Choose (Episode 148)** Oct 20, 2023
Missy Singer DuMars has had careers in Theatrical & Entertainment Lighting, Therapeutic Massage, and Business Coaching. She is now a farmer and the owner of Crown Hill Farm in Eden, NY. She is also the hostess of the *Women in Food Podcast*. With this eclectic life and experience, she has lots to talk about! Hear what she had to say about her journey into farming, empowering women in the food industry, and the habits and conventions we can all use help breaking through to realize better choices around the food we enjoy and are nourished by every day.

Before the featured interview, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée talk about autumn gardening plans in *The Earthscape*. The *News* is a LOT. Stories include the profound losses and complications of the Israel-Hamas War, India’s Supreme Court statement on same-sex marriage, the continuing U.S. Speaker of the House debacle, Greta Thunberg’s recent arrest, the defeat of The Voice for Australia’s First Peoples, and the first off-road, solar powered car. Robin and Wendy kick off the show with *This Fortnight I Learned*. This fortnight, Wendy learned a fascinating fact about Australia. Robin embraced being in love.

Things to do:

Check out Missy Singer DuMars’ Crown Hill Farm, SpiritBizPeople coaching, and Women in Food Podcast.

Like Crown Hill Farm on Facebook and follow on Instagram. Connect with Missy Singer DuMars on LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

Take a Haunted Hayride at Crown Hill Farm! Saturday, Oct 28th, 11am – Sunday, Oct 29th, 2pm.

**Art, Barf, and Mermaiding (Episode 147)** Oct 04, 2023
Teanna Byerts wants you to know that adventure is out there — You just need some imagination! Byerts is an artist, writer, photographer, kayaker, horseman, and mermaid. She nerds out about science, science fiction, fantasy, superheroes, animation, and weird, early lifeforms. She has paddled in the wake of dolphins, trained actual wild mustangs, and lived with a small pride of mini panthers. She believes that storytellers and artists should inspire and educate and very much lives up to that objective. In this friendly, artist-to-artist conversation with co-host Wendy Sheridan, Teanna Byerts shares about some of her great experiences with painting and working in environmental education art, wildlife rehabilitation, publishing, and the joy and skill of mermaiding.

Just before the featured interview, co-host Robin Renée interviews Wendy in *The Artscape* about her explorations in finding a signature style, her art and design work for the new Flick Liver album cover, her upcoming shows, and more. In *All the News We Can Handle*: Laphonza Butler will fill the U.S. Senate seat that was held by Dianne Feinstein, increased availability of abortion pills for New York City residents, Trump’s legal calendar, NJ Senator Bob Menedez’ issues, Taylor Swift’s voter registration impact, and rhino rebound. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy learned about hemorrhoids and Robin learned about blimps.

Things to do:

Go to Teanna Byerts’ website. Check out her books and other offerings.

Follow Teanna Byerts on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Check out Wendy’s art shows! Find her at:

BarronFest 2023: Woodbridge’s 16th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
400 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ
October 14, 2023, 12pm - 4:30pm

Rahway Craft & Art Fair
Rahway Recreation Center, 275 E. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ
November 4, 2023, 11am – 4pm

Philcon
Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ
November 17 – 19, 2023

Get music by Flick Liver!

See the Goodyear blimp!

Get yourself a public radio name here, here, or here.

View art by Wendy Sheridan (click for full size images)

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Flick Liver - We Found You album cover art by Wendy Sheridan — **Art, Barf, and Mermaiding (Episode 147)** Oct 04, 2023
Teanna Byerts wants you to know that adventure is out there — You just need some imagination! Byerts is an artist, writer, photographer, kayaker, horseman, and mermaid. She nerds out about science, science fiction, fantasy, superheroes, animation, and weird, early lifeforms. She has paddled in the wake of dolphins, trained actual wild mustangs, and lived with a small pride of mini panthers. She believes that storytellers and artists should inspire and educate and very much lives up to that objective. In this friendly, artist-to-artist conversation with co-host Wendy Sheridan, Teanna Byerts shares about some of her great experiences with painting and working in environmental education art, wildlife rehabilitation, publishing, and the joy and skill of mermaiding.

Just before the featured interview, co-host Robin Renée interviews Wendy in *The Artscape* about her explorations in finding a signature style, her art and design work for the new Flick Liver album cover, her upcoming shows, and more. In *All the News We Can Handle*: Laphonza Butler will fill the U.S. Senate seat that was held by Dianne Feinstein, increased availability of abortion pills for New York City residents, Trump’s legal calendar, NJ Senator Bob Menedez’ issues, Taylor Swift’s voter registration impact, and rhino rebound. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy learned about hemorrhoids and Robin learned about blimps.

Things to do:

Go to Teanna Byerts’ website. Check out her books and other offerings.

Follow Teanna Byerts on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Check out Wendy’s art shows! Find her at:

BarronFest 2023: Woodbridge’s 16th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
400 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ
October 14, 2023, 12pm - 4:30pm

Rahway Craft & Art Fair
Rahway Recreation Center, 275 E. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ
November 4, 2023, 11am – 4pm

Philcon
Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ
November 17 – 19, 2023

Get music by Flick Liver!

See the Goodyear blimp!

Get yourself a public radio name here, here, or here.

View art by Wendy Sheridan (click for full size images)

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Bipolar Us: The State of Mental Health (Episode 146)** Sep 20, 2023
Janet Coburn writes about mental health on her award-winning blog, *Bipolar Me*. She draws her insights from direct experience, as she has lived with bipolar disorder for decades. Her book of valuable mental health information and personal stories, *Bipolar Me*, was published in 2018. Her collection of short essays, *Bipolar Us*, which appeared in 2020, includes chapters on work, family life, self-care and caregivers, society and stigma, treatments and medications, and treating bipolar disorder sucessfully with help and caring. In this discussion, hear her speak candidly about experiencing bipolar II disorder, psychiatric treatment options, mental health care in the United States, and more. Coburn lives in Ohio with her husband and cats.

Before the featured interview, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée enter *The Blanket Fort* for much needed heart-to-heart time and virtual hugs. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy reveals the world’s most faked artist and Robin reveals the meaning behind a popular song by Squeeze. In the *News*, there is an Australian government proposal to add Indigenous representation in Congress via a vote to change their constitution, there are multiple impeachment attempts around the US, a stolen Van Gogh is returned, an absurd “Jersey Man” story, the 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes, and a Herculean kitten rescue on Long Island.

Things to do:

If you are struggling, help is available. Text or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Read Janet Coburn’s blog, *Bipolar Me*.

Buy the books: *Bipolar Me* and *Bipolar Us*.

Follow Janet Coburn on Facebook.

Watch This Week in Science: Turning Dead Spiders Into Robots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wiQZdbeeI8

Bipolar Me by Janet Coburn, book cover — **Bipolar Us: The State of Mental Health (Episode 146)** Sep 20, 2023
Janet Coburn writes about mental health on her award-winning blog, *Bipolar Me*. She draws her insights from direct experience, as she has lived with bipolar disorder for decades. Her book of valuable mental health information and personal stories, *Bipolar Me*, was published in 2018. Her collection of short essays, *Bipolar Us*, which appeared in 2020, includes chapters on work, family life, self-care and caregivers, society and stigma, treatments and medications, and treating bipolar disorder sucessfully with help and caring. In this discussion, hear her speak candidly about experiencing bipolar II disorder, psychiatric treatment options, mental health care in the United States, and more. Coburn lives in Ohio with her husband and cats.

Before the featured interview, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée enter *The Blanket Fort* for much needed heart-to-heart time and virtual hugs. In *This Fortnight I Learned*, Wendy reveals the world’s most faked artist and Robin reveals the meaning behind a popular song by Squeeze. In the *News*, there is an Australian government proposal to add Indigenous representation in Congress via a vote to change their constitution, there are multiple impeachment attempts around the US, a stolen Van Gogh is returned, an absurd “Jersey Man” story, the 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes, and a Herculean kitten rescue on Long Island.

Things to do:

If you are struggling, help is available. Text or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Read Janet Coburn’s blog, *Bipolar Me*.

Buy the books: *Bipolar Me* and *Bipolar Us*.

Follow Janet Coburn on Facebook.

Watch This Week in Science: Turning Dead Spiders Into Robots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wiQZdbeeI8

**In Conversation Against Fascism (Episode 145)** Sep 08, 2023
Alice Leibowitz is a longtime activist and facilitator who provides support for progressives and changemakers to find hope and keep their sanity in the face of rising fascism and other global crises. Her coaching and facilitation firm, Conversations Against Fascism, provides love, power, creativity, and focus in response to the question, “How are we going to do what it takes to meet this moment in history?” Hear about her activism journey, the role personal growth can play in social/political movements, and thoughts on finding your own niche in it all.

In the new *This Fortnight I Learned* segment, Wendy Sheridan learned that our human ancestors nearly went extinct and Robin Renée was awakened to the level of respect that is possible for Black American English (AAVE). In the news: the continuing strike in Hollywood and approval rates of unions, the Burning Man deluge, the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in Texas, the “one weird trick” buglars in Wales are using, a successful lawsuit in Montana for the right to a clean and healthful environment, and the passing of Jimmy Buffett.

We are very sad to announce the passing of Arretta Cuff, lifelong friend of Robin and family and the featured interviewee in History and Hope (Episode 68): An Oral History of Race From the 1940s – Today.

*The Geekscape* meets *Why Is This Awesome?* is a combined segment before the main interview as Wendy and Robin discuss their impressions of the movie of the summer.

Things to do:

Join Conversations Against Fascism on Facebook and Instagram.

Subscribe to Alice Leibowitz’ YouTube channel.

Follow #BiVisibilityMonth on social media.

Go see

and share your thoughts!

Read “‘Barbie’ is the New Innana” in *The Wild Hunt*.

Listen to the *Fucking Cancelled* podcast.

Check out Robin Renée aka DJ Andrew Genus on Mixcloud.

Just… watch this madness. 😀 Yacht Rock Episode 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEw3_6xWkDs

**20 Years of CineKink (Episode 144)** Jul 06, 2023
Lisa Vandever is the co-founder and director of CineKink Film Festival, which is just entering its 20th anniversary season. A writer, producer and consultant in film and communications, Lisa was formerly the director of programming for a regional network of public television stations, worked as a development executive for two New York-based independent production companies, and she currently freelances with a wide range of organizations and companies. Active in local political organizing, she lives in Rahway, New Jersey with her husband and their two ginger tabbies, Clive and Radley. *Leftscape* co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée chat with Lisa about kink, the upcoming festival on August 2nd – 6th, and celebrating adult sexuality, connection, and self-expression.

Robin is in the hot seat for the *Artscape* segment, as Wendy asks about their latest writing, gigs, and other musical projects. Earlier in the show, the *Random Facts* of the day involve the creature with the world’s largest eyes and catching up with Christian Cooper, who was made famous for “birding while Black” in Central Park. In the *News*, there is the recent challenge to authority in Russia, a flurry of decisions from the US Supreme Court, hospitality workers on strike in Los Angeles, Australia becomes the first country to allow prescriptions for psilocybin and MDMA, and strides in renewable energy in Spain and Portugal.

This is the last show of the season! Until next time, enjoy the redux episodes and stay connected on social media @Leftscape. Thanks for listening!

Featured photo @ top of page by Stacie Joy

Things to do:

Attend CineKink! Save the dates: August 2 – 6, 2023 at Wild Project, in New York City.

Follow CineKink on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and FetLife.

Read *Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World* by Christian Cooper.

Support QuEAR Candy!

Get Robin Renée music on Apple iTunes and Spotify.

Listen to Saved By Zero on Yacht Rock Discord Sundays at 9pm ET, Radio PVS Thursdays at 9am ET, and anytime on Mixcloud.

Watch a 1987 Hawaiian Punch commercial composed by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo:

https://youtu.be/SIfh0XMrg6w

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Big Sister Plaster Caster (Episode 143)** Jun 21, 2023
Vince Osborn resides in Chicago, is an avid cyclist, and is a devoted music enthusiast. He is a Founder of the Museum of Post-Punk and Industrial Music in Chicago, which was established by drummer Martin Atkins in 2021. He met co-host Robin Renée in the Devo fandom around the same time he first connected with Cynthia Dorothy Albritton, better known as Cynthia Plaster Caster. In this interview he recalls his longtime friendship with Cynthia, her art, and her stories of a rock ‘n’ roll life as “just a fan.”

In *The Earthscape* segment, Robin and co-host Wendy Sheridan discuss their results of the 7 Identities Test for gender. In *News:* the historic indictment of Donald Trump, recent major US Supreme Court decisions, the confirmation of Nusrat Choudhury, the US’ first female Muslim federal judge, the grand jury indictment of Marine veteran Daniel Penny on charges connected to the fatal choking of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, the remarkable house painting of Tash Frootko in Gloucester UK, and Illinois becomes the first US state to ban book banning in libraries, which leads to the question: How many book bans would a book ban ban ban if a book ban ban could ban book bans?

At the top of the show, Wendy and Robin reveal *Random Facts* about ant life and a tiny unit of time. The show is rounded out by the *You Got Questions? We Got Answers?* inquiry of the day, “Have you been told you look like someone famous? If so, who was it?”

Happy Summer (and Happy Winter to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere)!

Things to do:

Follow Vince Osborn on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Learn about the Cynthia Plaster Caster Collection at the Kinsey Institute.

Visit the Museum of Post-Punk and Industrial Music.

Listen to the entire 37-count federal indictment against Donald Trump read by MSNBC host Ali Velshi.

Listen to “More Perfect presents: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl.”

Take the 7 Identities Test.

Listen to “Plaster Caster” by KISS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4x2Vlcar5o

Watch “Open Your Heart” by Madonna.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snsTmi9N9Gs

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Cynthia Plaster Caster collage — **Big Sister Plaster Caster (Episode 143)** Jun 21, 2023
Vince Osborn resides in Chicago, is an avid cyclist, and is a devoted music enthusiast. He is a Founder of the Museum of Post-Punk and Industrial Music in Chicago, which was established by drummer Martin Atkins in 2021. He met co-host Robin Renée in the Devo fandom around the same time he first connected with Cynthia Dorothy Albritton, better known as Cynthia Plaster Caster. In this interview he recalls his longtime friendship with Cynthia, her art, and her stories of a rock ‘n’ roll life as “just a fan.”

In *The Earthscape* segment, Robin and co-host Wendy Sheridan discuss their results of the 7 Identities Test for gender. In *News:* the historic indictment of Donald Trump, recent major US Supreme Court decisions, the confirmation of Nusrat Choudhury, the US’ first female Muslim federal judge, the grand jury indictment of Marine veteran Daniel Penny on charges connected to the fatal choking of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, the remarkable house painting of Tash Frootko in Gloucester UK, and Illinois becomes the first US state to ban book banning in libraries, which leads to the question: How many book bans would a book ban ban ban if a book ban ban could ban book bans?

At the top of the show, Wendy and Robin reveal *Random Facts* about ant life and a tiny unit of time. The show is rounded out by the *You Got Questions? We Got Answers?* inquiry of the day, “Have you been told you look like someone famous? If so, who was it?”

Happy Summer (and Happy Winter to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere)!

Things to do:

Follow Vince Osborn on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Learn about the Cynthia Plaster Caster Collection at the Kinsey Institute.

Visit the Museum of Post-Punk and Industrial Music.

Listen to the entire 37-count federal indictment against Donald Trump read by MSNBC host Ali Velshi.

Listen to “More Perfect presents: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl.”

Take the 7 Identities Test.

Listen to “Plaster Caster” by KISS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4x2Vlcar5o

Watch “Open Your Heart” by Madonna.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snsTmi9N9Gs

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Designs on Body Inclusivity (Episode 142)** Jun 07, 2023
Founded in 2014, Jenn Iannaconi’s company, Valkyrie Apparel, is a passion project born of spite and rage — rage towards an exclusionary fashion industry that neither understands nor wants to understand the needs of plus-sized customers. Jenn was born in New Jersey but now lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, their dog, and several creepy old dolls that certainly DO NOT watch you as you move around the room. In this conversation with co-host Wendy Sheridan, she shares thoughts on attitudes toward body size, the process of creating and maintaining her business, and another fun and educational project with a focus on LARPing with children.

In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Robin Renée is excited about discovering Black punk rockers. *All the News We Can Handle* includes the ongoing anti-trans Bud Light boycott, gay and bisexual men now permitted to donate blood in the US, the Barbie film causes a pink paint shortage, when and why Georgia drivers are being asked to keep their clothes on, promising research centering on the shingles vaccine to prevent Alzheimer’s, and the positive effect of news stories featuring acts of kindness. The *Random Facts* at the beginning of the show involve vending machines in Japan and another great talent of scientist Alan Turing. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers?* Robin and Wendy respond to a question sent in by bi+ activist, Robyn Ochs.

Things to do:

Check out Jennifer Iannaconi’s Valkyrie Apparel website, Instagram, Facebook page, and TikTok.

Learn more about the LARP Adventure Program.

Support Bi Women Quarterly during Pride Month through giveoutday.org.

Listen to Robin’s Afropunk History playlist from Episode 19 of the *Saved By Zero* show.

Join the Yacht Rock Discord server to catch *Saved By Zero* Sunday nights 9pm ET (Contact Robin for an updated link if needed) or listen on Melbourne Australia internet station, Radio PVS, Thursday mornings 9am ET (11pm AET).

Kurt Esslinger wearing a feminism t-shirt — **Korean War and Peace, Part 2 (Episode 141)** May 17, 2023
Our interview with Kurt Esslinger in the last show was too good to leave any on the cutting room floor. As a refresher, Kurt Esslinger works on behalf of the Presbyterian Church USA with an ecumenical council of churches in Korea to help bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. A Texas native, he has been living and working in Korea for ten years. This conversation is a look at then President Donald Trump’s part in the beginning of peace talks between North and South Korea, the vastly different perceptions of him and his role in those talks between progressives in Korea and the US, outcomes then, and what is possible in the future.

*This is part two of this in-depth conversation. If you haven’t yet, please listen to Korean War and Peace, Part 1 (Episode 140) for the first portion of the discussion.*

This time in the *Geekscape*, R obin Renée schools Wendy Sheridan in essence of music genres including new wave, yacht rock, sophistipop, “Cookie Monster” death metal, classic country, and more. Earlier in the show, the *Random Facts* cover a possible cure for hangovers and Robin begins the *Geekscape* vibe early with a definition of witch house. In *News*, Turkish President Erdoğan and challenger Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu appear headed to a runoff, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoes a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks (the veto was overridden after recording time), a roundup of Trump legal tanglings including the liable verdict in the sexual abuse case brought by E. Jean Carroll, and Swedish singer Loreen wins her second Eurovision title for the song, “Tattoo.” In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Wendy and Robin respond to “What is a widely accepted belief that needs to be dead and buried?”

Things to do:

Sign the Korea Peace Appeal.

Check out a history of electronic music mapped out to the circuit board of a theremin.

Watch Loreen – “Tattoo” – Eurovision 2023 Winner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3vJfR81xO0

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Korean War and Peace, Part 1 (Episode 140)** May 04, 2023
Kurt Esslinger is assigned by the Presbyterian Church USA to work with an ecumenical council of churches in Korea to help with their campaign for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Having grown up in Texas, he has been living in Korea for the last 10 years. Since middle school he has been wrestling with what it means to identify as a Christian while also identifying as left-wing (“jwa-pa” in Korean). In this interview, he explains the basics of the conflicts between North and South Korea, what led to them, and his understanding of the current situation. Be ready for some perspectives you may have never heard before.

*This is part one of this in-depth conversation. Listen in now and look out for the next episode, too.*

Earlier in the show, co-hosts R obin Renée and Wendy Sheridan wish those who celebrate a happy Beltane. They share the requisite *Random Facts*, this time about the former president of Turkmenistan and that seafaring cereal monger, Cap’n Crunch. “*All the News We Can Handle*” includes the same-day pink slips for Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, increasing fighting and evacuations in Sudan, Paris protests on International Workers Day, Jack Dorsey’s Twitter alternative, Bluesky, new advancements in plastic recycling, and Uber’s intriguing lost and found index. Just before the featured interview, Wendy and Robin spend some time in *The Blanket Fort* contemplating experiences of coming out. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, the question of the day is “Would you rather hear the good news or the bad news first?”

Things to do:

Sign the Korea Peace Appeal.

Read *The Path to Peace*.

Watch “The Danger of a Single Story” TED Talk:

https://youtu.be/D9Ihs241zeg

Listen to “Invited In (Episode 137).”

See how much has changed by the 31st century.

https://youtu.be/UNNoI0b9flo

Featured image: A demonstration outside the US Capitol after a drive from Los Angeles to Washington, DC for the NCCK Korea Peace Treaty Campaign, 7/28/2016

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Forging a Path, Keeping a Tradition (Episode 139)** Apr 19, 2023

Suzan Nickelson is the CEO and Director if Operations of Holistic Solutions, a cannabis dispensary in Waterford Township, New Jersey. It is the 33rd medical cannabis dispensary to open in New Jersey and the first black and woman-owned dispensary in the state, which was very recently approved for adult recreational sales. She also runs Ital Daughters, LLC, a cannabis and hemp consulting company that specializes in assisting minorities, women, veterans, municipalities, and stakeholders in understanding the regulatory aspects of the cannabis industry. Nickelson comes from a long line of herbalist women who have curated cannabis on the island of Jamaica for hundreds of years. In this enlightening conversation, she discusses her path to business ownership, the importance of working toward racial and economic equity in the industry and the law, and she shares lovingly about cannabis as a natural part of her family tradition.

Before the featured interview, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée serve up the *Random Facts* of the day about the Scotch Pine and the most boring day in the world. The attempt at the SpaceX Starship test launch, the Supreme Court’s temporary preservation of the FDA approval of the mifepristone abortion pill (RU-486), a landmark bill working through the California legislature that would make Hindu castes a protected class, Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News, the largest natural explosion in over a century and remembering the great Al Jaffee of *Mad Magazine* fame are all in the *News*. In *The Artscape*, Robin interviews Wendy about her recent paintings and upcoming art exhibits. At the end of the show for *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* they ponder, “What was your biggest ever waste of money?”

Things to do:

Visit Holistic Solutions, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram,

Learn more here:

Minorities for Medical Marijuana

New Jersey Cannabis Business Association

Minority Cannabis Business Association

See the artwork of Wendy Sheridan at the 2023 Union County Senior Citizens ART EXHIBIT, April 20 – June 1, HELIOsphere on April 28, and at Balticon 57, May 26 – 29.

Check out *Mad Magazine*.

Support *The Leftscape* on Patreon and be privvy to humorous TMI!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Stars My Destination - artwork by Wendy Sheridan — **Forging a Path, Keeping a Tradition (Episode 139)** Apr 19, 2023

Suzan Nickelson is the CEO and Director if Operations of Holistic Solutions, a cannabis dispensary in Waterford Township, New Jersey. It is the 33rd medical cannabis dispensary to open in New Jersey and the first black and woman-owned dispensary in the state, which was very recently approved for adult recreational sales. She also runs Ital Daughters, LLC, a cannabis and hemp consulting company that specializes in assisting minorities, women, veterans, municipalities, and stakeholders in understanding the regulatory aspects of the cannabis industry. Nickelson comes from a long line of herbalist women who have curated cannabis on the island of Jamaica for hundreds of years. In this enlightening conversation, she discusses her path to business ownership, the importance of working toward racial and economic equity in the industry and the law, and she shares lovingly about cannabis as a natural part of her family tradition.

Before the featured interview, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée serve up the *Random Facts* of the day about the Scotch Pine and the most boring day in the world. The attempt at the SpaceX Starship test launch, the Supreme Court’s temporary preservation of the FDA approval of the mifepristone abortion pill (RU-486), a landmark bill working through the California legislature that would make Hindu castes a protected class, Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News, the largest natural explosion in over a century and remembering the great Al Jaffee of *Mad Magazine* fame are all in the *News*. In *The Artscape*, Robin interviews Wendy about her recent paintings and upcoming art exhibits. At the end of the show for *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* they ponder, “What was your biggest ever waste of money?”

Things to do:

Visit Holistic Solutions, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram,

Learn more here:

Minorities for Medical Marijuana

New Jersey Cannabis Business Association

Minority Cannabis Business Association

See the artwork of Wendy Sheridan at the 2023 Union County Senior Citizens ART EXHIBIT, April 20 – June 1, HELIOsphere on April 28, and at Balticon 57, May 26 – 29.

Check out *Mad Magazine*.

Support *The Leftscape* on Patreon and be privvy to humorous TMI!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Hard-Wired for Touch (Episode 138)** Apr 04, 2023
Edie Weinstein is a colorfully creative journalist, licensed social worker, psychotherapist, and the author of *The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary*. She is also a public speaker and the founder of Hugmobsters Armed With Love, which offers free hugs worldwide. She recently experienced a longtime dream come true by offering her first TEDx talk — *Overcoming the Taboo of Touch*. Edie was first featured on the show way back on Episode 36 in 2019. In this new conversation with co-host Robin Renée, she tells her story about her journey to the TedX stage, the importance of touch, and the many healthy ways we can pursue meeting this vital need.

In the *Earthscape* segment, co-host Wendy Sheridan heads up a discussion on spring gardening in the Garden State. The two *Random Facts* of the day pertain to a song honored at the 1972 Academy Awards and the intestinal tract of the pigeon. This time in the *News*: Donald Trump’s indictment and arraignment, Mozilla:ai, a startup building a trustworthy, independent, and open-source AI ecosystem, water treatments in development designed to eliminate “forever chemicals,” Representative Michaela Cavanaugh continues to filibuster in the Nebraska senate to defeat anti-trans legislation, endangered baby tortoises with cute names in Houston, and, well… mammoth meat. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, a random fact topic flies back around to bookend the show.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/us/houston-zoo-tortoise-babies.html#:~:text=Pickles%20welcomed%20three%20tortoise%20hatchlings,endangered%20species%20rarely%20produces%20offspring.

Things to do:

Find Edie Weinstein online and follow her on Facebook.

Watch “Overcoming the Taboo of Touch | Rev. Edie Weinstein | TEDxFaurotPark”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZQGcp7zf64

Read “The Famous Celibate Physicist Inventor Who Fell Madly In Love With a Pigeon.”

Listen to Radio PVS! The North West Coast show currently airs on Fridays, 8pm EDT.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Books on Amazon by Dr. Lulu — **Invited In: Hearing Our Queer Kids (Episode 137)** Mar 22, 2023
Dr. Lulu, aka the Momatrician, is a Nigerian-born pediatrician, parent coach, author, and the CEO of Dr. Lulu’s Life Coaching Lounge. She is the mother of a transgender young adult and works with parents struggling with accepting and supporting their LGBTQ+ children. A former Lt Col and Commander in the US Air Force, Dr. Lulu is also an award winning LGBTQ+ and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advocate. She has been featured on local, national, and international media, including Oprah Winfrey’s *The Life You Want* masterclass. In this powerful conversation, she covers topics including the intersectional experiences of queer immigrants of color, common mistakes parents make with their queer children, and how we will all do better to reframe “coming out.”

At the beginning of the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan welcome spring and offer the Random Facts of the day on the origin story of a rock classic and how to extend the life of rubber bands. *All the News We Can Handle* is a lot: rumors of Donald Trump’s impending arrest, destruction in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi by Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a new anti-drag law in Tennessee, and a roundup of the illiberal trend in Florida. The mood is brightened by a study showing positive impacts of legalization of cannabis and the 10th Annual Bi+ Health Awareness Month. In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Wendy is excited about *Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio*. It won Best Animated Feature at the 2023 Oscars after this segment was recorded. Spoilers abound.

Things to do:

Learn more about Dr. Lulu and her work.

Follow Dr. Lulu on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Pre-order her book, *Invited In: How to Become the Parent Your LGBTQ+ Child Needs*.

Watch “Rethinking the Closet: Coming Out LGBTQ* vs Inviting In”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=60B-NChtNiA&ab_channel=TEDxTalks&fbclid=IwAR1FPPIUNe0eUZRe036c0evQ6g7oQBHfTosleTk6wQz7H7S9blJM828Xta0

Listen to “Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won’t be silenced by new Tenn. law” on *Fresh Air*.

Take part in Bi+ Health Awareness Month! Learn more, get resources, and show support for the bi+ community’s health and wellbeing: BiHealthMonth,org

Read books by Dr. Lulu:

Watch *Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio* on Netflix.

Listen to Radio PVS. The North West Coast show airs on Fridays, 9pm EDT.

Listen to this classic rock earworm!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfirxs_NUcE

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Catching Up With AI (Episode 136)** Mar 08, 2023
Writer and game developer Arinn Dembo has been involved with game development for over 25 years. She has helped build a number of popular franchises in science fiction gaming including Homeworld and Sword of the Stars. She has also worked on two different Artificial Intelligence projects and has been interviewed for the AI Ethics course taught by Athabasca University. Dembo recently spoke with Wendy Sheridan about the expert systems that are in use for making artwork today — how they work, their capabilities, limitations, biases, and the need for our laws and ethics to catch up with the current use of artificial intelligence that shows no signs of slowing down.

Earlier, Robin Renée picks Wendy’s brain about sound recording technology in *The Geekscape*. The *Random* *Facts* of the day involve an escaped cow and the fear of belly buttons. The *News* ranges from serious to silly: The Supreme Court case regarding user content on social platforms, Gonzales v Google, a Donald Trump lawsuit roundup, another Ohio train derailment, a snow plow naming contest, and a Tennessee whiskey fungus all make the cut. At the end of the show in the *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* segment, Wendy and Robin respond to a question sent in by friend of the podcast, Tom Limoncelli.

Things to do:

Follow Arinn Dembo on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Dembo Jam – The digital notebook of Arinn Dembo

Read *Monsoon and Other Stories* by Arinn Dembo.

Watch *Fantastic Fungi*: *Fantastic Fungi* on Netflix

Support *The Leftscape*.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Monsoon and Other Stories - Arinn Dembo - book cover — **Catching Up With AI (Episode 136)** Mar 08, 2023
Writer and game developer Arinn Dembo has been involved with game development for over 25 years. She has helped build a number of popular franchises in science fiction gaming including Homeworld and Sword of the Stars. She has also worked on two different Artificial Intelligence projects and has been interviewed for the AI Ethics course taught by Athabasca University. Dembo recently spoke with Wendy Sheridan about the expert systems that are in use for making artwork today — how they work, their capabilities, limitations, biases, and the need for our laws and ethics to catch up with the current use of artificial intelligence that shows no signs of slowing down.

Earlier, Robin Renée picks Wendy’s brain about sound recording technology in *The Geekscape*. The *Random* *Facts* of the day involve an escaped cow and the fear of belly buttons. The *News* ranges from serious to silly: The Supreme Court case regarding user content on social platforms, Gonzales v Google, a Donald Trump lawsuit roundup, another Ohio train derailment, a snow plow naming contest, and a Tennessee whiskey fungus all make the cut. At the end of the show in the *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* segment, Wendy and Robin respond to a question sent in by friend of the podcast, Tom Limoncelli.

Things to do:

Follow Arinn Dembo on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Dembo Jam – The digital notebook of Arinn Dembo

Read *Monsoon and Other Stories* by Arinn Dembo.

Watch *Fantastic Fungi*: *Fantastic Fungi* on Netflix

Support *The Leftscape*.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Science, Revelations, and Insights (Episode 135)** Feb 22, 2023
A graduate of Cornell University, JD Stillwater is a science ambassador and an author who writes and speaks about profound insights from natural reality that drive paradigm shifts and cultural awakening. He spoke with us back in April 2020 for Episode 79, *The End of Certainty*, about his presentation, Seven Candles. In this conversation, he shares his current thoughts on science as a point of common understanding, the origins of humans’ propensity for world harm, and the potential course-correcting power of Religious Naturalism.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée are happy to be back after a winter hiatus and catch up at the beginning of the show before offering the day’s *Random Facts*, this time about Al Capone’s New Jersey hideout and world record-breaking conga canines. Before the featured interview, Robin and Wendy enter *The Blanket Fort* to hide from/grapple with grief. In the *News*: a predicted sudden stratospheric warming event, ways to help those in Turkey and Syria affected by the recent earthquakes, increasing far right tendencies in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, a bill aiming to stop the teaching of scientific theory in Montana schools, the return of the monarch butterfly, and former President Jimmy Carter’s choice to receive hospice care at home at the age of 98. The show comes full circle with a *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* question from JD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Ha6s3KRac

Things to do:

To help those in Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of earthquake, donate to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC.org) or PublicGood.com.

Visit JD Stillwater’s website and follow him on social media including Twitter, Instagram, and Mastodon, and TikTok.

Watch JD Stillwater and Darryl Purpose in The Great Turning Roadshow – Kickoff event livestream Thursday, March 2nd, 2023.

Learn more about Religious Naturalism.

Visit the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester, PA on March 19, 2023 at 10am when JD Stillwater will lead the service.

Read *The Sacred Depth of Nature* by Ursula Goodenough.

Read *My Grandmother’s Hands* by Resmaa Menakem.

Check out the record-breaking conga line of dogs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXhdCglQNnQ

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Men Have Feelings, Too (Episode 41 Redux)** Feb 08, 2023
Please enjoy our last redux episode before our new season begins. This conversation is another of our favorites: John Tod shares about creating a space for honest, vulnerable conversation among men. What started with one other friend in Fort Wayne, Indiana grew into a weekly safe container where men can talk about all the things they were taught not to express. John was originally featured way back in Episode 41, “Of Memes and Men.” Take a listen to this inspiring story of how the members of a men’s group can grow together, help each other deal with and embrace emotions, and bust the myth of the rugged individual.

A brand new podcast will be out in two weeks!

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com Show Your Support! The Leftscape on Patreon

**Monarchy, Democracy, Autocracy, Art (Episode 131 Redux)** Jan 11, 2023
Happy New Year! Please enjoy this redux episode while we’re on winter break.

In “Traversing Democracies (Episode 131),” Wendy interviewed Kat Ardern. Kat is an artist, a part-time student (Fine Art BA), and a full-time carer for her wife who has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). She shared her insight and knowledge about the various versions of democracy she has experienced while living and working in New Zealand, Australia, and currently, the UK. They spoke in the unique time frame just after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and during the very short tenure of Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Thanks for listening. We’re working on a brand new season and will be back soon with new episodes for you!

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com

**Go Forth and Be Brilliant! (Episode 123 Redux)** Dec 28, 2022
While we’re on winter break, we chose a few of our favorite interviews to reshare. This one is with Susan Billmaier, whose professional background is in Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy and whose personal exploration encompasses healing arts, religious ritual, and study of the “big questions” like “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” In this interview from our season of exploring FREEDOM, Susan speaks about living and working with deep intention around spirituality and the betterment of community, discerning true seeking from spiritual bypass and cultural appropriation, the practices she has come to rely on to uncover “natural divinity,” and the essence of *moksha*, or freedom from ego. The conversation was first released in “Better and Better Together (Episode 123).” Susan Billmaier’s website is *WithPearls.com.*

We’ll be back in 2023 with a brand new season. If you missed our greeting of the sunrise on Winter Solstice, you can still view the glory that is Househenge. We always love to hear from you on social media @Leftscape and please join us on Patreon to support the show and to catch up on all our bonus content and events.

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com

**Fighting for Big Things (Episode 118 Redux)** Dec 14, 2022
Happy Holidays to one and all! While we’re taking our winter break, we hope you enjoy the show rewinds we’ve scheduled for you.

We first featured a conversation with Halina Brooke back in Episode 97, “Therapy, Activism, and Reclaiming Freedom.” She is a therapist at Recourse Counseling, a mental health counselor, and a longtime advocate in Phoenix, Arizona. This is an encore presentation of our second interview with Brooke, which was featured in Episode 118, “Navigating Pay-to-Play Politics.” This conversation, first posted during our season focusing on FREEDOM, approaches the complex question, “How free are we to work within our governmental systems to get bills passed in our legislatures?”

We’ll be back in the new year with a brand new season. On the morning of December 21st, you can ring in the Winter Solstice with us: Join us for Househenge! Reach out to us anytime on social media @Leftscape and join us on Patreon to catch up on all our bonus conversations and events.

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com

David M. Higgins making a funny face — **The Science Fiction Conversation (Episode 134)** Nov 30, 2022
David M. Higgins is a Senior Editor for the *Los Angeles Review of Books*, and they are the Chair of the English Department at Inver Hills College in Minnesota, where they teach classes on science fiction, graphic novels, and American literature. They are the author of *Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-Victimhood*, which won the 2021 Science Fiction Research Association Book Award. *Leftscape* co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée have a lively discussion with Higgins on the meaning of reactionary victimhood, how it is enabled by reverse colonization fantasy by many on the political right, takes on current science fiction writing and television series, and more.

Before the featured interview, Wendy geeks out about *Star Trek: Lower Decks* in *The Geekscape* segment. After a post-Thanksgiving check-in at the top of the show, Robin and Wendy’s requisite *3 Random Facts* tip the hat to “the father of theatrical jazz dance,” competitive art in the Olympics, and the movements of sperm cells. In this edition of *All the News We Can Handle*: Merriam-Webster’s 2022 word of the year, the high count of US mass shootings, the Senate vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, the recent state election in Victoria, Australia, the first potential payment of reparations in Barbados, and one of the planet’s most massive creatures, *Patagotitan mayorum*.

This is the last show of the season of DEMOCRACY! At the end of the episode, Robin and Wendy share some reflections, think of a few holiday plans for listeners to keep an eye out for, and wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a great start to 2023.

Things to do:

Read *Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-Victimhood* by David M. Higgins.

Follow David M. Higgins on Facebook and read their articles for the Los Angeles Review of Books.

Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Explore the work of N. K. Jemisin and Joy Sanchez-Taylor.

Play Coyote & Crow.

Listen to *We Should Be Recording This* on *The Leftscape*‘s Patreon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3RkBKedKWw

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Reverse Colonization book by David M. Higgins — **The Science Fiction Conversation (Episode 134)** Nov 30, 2022
David M. Higgins is a Senior Editor for the *Los Angeles Review of Books*, and they are the Chair of the English Department at Inver Hills College in Minnesota, where they teach classes on science fiction, graphic novels, and American literature. They are the author of *Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-Victimhood*, which won the 2021 Science Fiction Research Association Book Award. *Leftscape* co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée have a lively discussion with Higgins on the meaning of reactionary victimhood, how it is enabled by reverse colonization fantasy by many on the political right, takes on current science fiction writing and television series, and more.

Before the featured interview, Wendy geeks out about *Star Trek: Lower Decks* in *The Geekscape* segment. After a post-Thanksgiving check-in at the top of the show, Robin and Wendy’s requisite *3 Random Facts* tip the hat to “the father of theatrical jazz dance,” competitive art in the Olympics, and the movements of sperm cells. In this edition of *All the News We Can Handle*: Merriam-Webster’s 2022 word of the year, the high count of US mass shootings, the Senate vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, the recent state election in Victoria, Australia, the first potential payment of reparations in Barbados, and one of the planet’s most massive creatures, *Patagotitan mayorum*.

This is the last show of the season of DEMOCRACY! At the end of the episode, Robin and Wendy share some reflections, think of a few holiday plans for listeners to keep an eye out for, and wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a great start to 2023.

Things to do:

Read *Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-Victimhood* by David M. Higgins.

Follow David M. Higgins on Facebook and read their articles for the Los Angeles Review of Books.

Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Explore the work of N. K. Jemisin and Joy Sanchez-Taylor.

Play Coyote & Crow.

Listen to *We Should Be Recording This* on *The Leftscape*‘s Patreon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3RkBKedKWw

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Thinking, Fast and Slow book cover — **Swing State Reflections (Episode 133)** Nov 16, 2022
Susan Szanyi is a lifelong resident of Ohio. Thanks to her job as a Program Manager for an international company, she is fortunate to travel throughout the US and Europe and she has gotten perspectives on the US political landscape from around the world. Advocating for animals was her first foray into politics. She got engaged with electoral politics starting with the 2016 presidential election. She was a volunteer for the Elizabeth Warren campaign in 2020. Susan shares her thoughts on the recent midterm election, the dynamics of politics in the swing state of Ohio, and the need for reflection and deep dialogue between those of differing political viewpoints.

Before the interview, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan register this episode’s *3 Random Facts.* This time they’re all about whale gas, music for cheese, and the start of the War on Christmas. The *News* takes us to the disturbing implementation of Sharia Law in Afghanistan, US midterm election results including better-than-expected showings for Democrats and some abortion rights victories, Donald Trump’s likely bid for re-election, and Elon Musk’s Twitter weirdness. On the personal news front, Wendy will be at the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention (Philcon) this weekend with art by her and by her cat, Friday through Sunday at Doubletree by Hilton in Cherry Hill, NJ. In the new *Earthscape* segment, Robin and Wendy discuss and debate the value of manifestation and money magic.

Happy start to the holiday season to all who will be celebrating in the coming weeks!

Things to do:

Check out resources curated by Susan Szunyi:

“In Ohio, one man’s quest to get more voters to agree to disagree” in the Christian Science Monitor

Listen to a conversation with Ted Wetzel, Executive Director of Fighting to Understand on “The Sound of Ideas”

Fighting to Understand

Read *Thinking, Fast and Slow* by Daniel Kahneman

See and buy Wendy Sheridan’s art at:

Philcon 2022 – Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention
Friday – Sunday, November 18th – 20th
Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

*Featured image of downtown Cleveland, OH by Steve DiMatteo

Business man hand holding wooden cube with flip over block FAKE to FACT. rumor News, false, myth, evidence and disinformation concepts — **Mythbusting: Body Facts and Birth Control (Episode 132)** Nov 02, 2022

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take a look at a growing issue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this past June — a movement to make access to birth control the next to go. Sparked by a recent article from the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, they look at the lack of information, purposeful disinformation, religious fervor, and social media efforts merging to form this latest threat to choices and autonomy. Wendy gives an apparently much-needed 101 on the menstrual cycle and reminds everyone about the importance of reproductive health. Robin reminds listeners to help guide those you know who may be going down a path of lies and incorrect info. VOTE to keep future bans at bay!

Before the main topic discussion, Robin interviews Wendy in *The Artscape* about her current visual art and the upcoming shows where you can view and buy her work. She has been busy painting in watercolor and acrylics, drawing cats for greeting cards, and developing a signature style. Catch her upcoming art shows if you can (info below).

In the *News,* Bolsonaro loses to Lula da Silva in Brazil, the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in cases against the University of North Carolina and Harvard University regarding race-conscious admissions, “poll watchers” appear at ballot drop boxes, Liz Truss is replaced by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the UK after having spent only 4.1 Scaramuccis in office, Paul Pelosi is recovering after a politically-motivated attack, and Dead Kennedys drummer, D.H. Peligro passes away suddenly at his home in Los Angeles. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Robin and Wendy respond to a quote sent in by a listener on Americans’ potential receptivity to dictatorship. The *3 Random Facts* that kick off the show involve the 340th most popular name in the U.S., the very first Pokémon, and an animal that has 2,500 teeth.

Things to do:

VOTE on or before Tuesday, November 8th!

Know Your Rights! – Voter Intimidation

See and buy Wendy Sheridan’s art at:

The Rahway Craft & Art Fair
Saturday, November 5th, 11am – 5pm, Free Admission
275 East Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ

Philcon 2022 – Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention
Friday – Sunday, November 18th – 20th
Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon beginning at $1/month! Check out the latest conversation on red, yellow, and green flags in relationships and friendships.

Try The Sloganator!

Watch The Janes trailer:

https://youtu.be/pRbquE2BAkQ

Listen to Stick Men:

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Mythbusting: Body Facts and Birth Control (Episode 132)** Nov 02, 2022

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take a look at a growing issue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this past June — a movement to make access to birth control the next to go. Sparked by a recent article from the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, they look at the lack of information, purposeful disinformation, religious fervor, and social media efforts merging to form this latest threat to choices and autonomy. Wendy gives an apparently much-needed 101 on the menstrual cycle and reminds everyone about the importance of reproductive health. Robin reminds listeners to help guide those you know who may be going down a path of lies and incorrect info. VOTE to keep future bans at bay!

Before the main topic discussion, Robin interviews Wendy in *The Artscape* about her current visual art and the upcoming shows where you can view and buy her work. She has been busy painting in watercolor and acrylics, drawing cats for greeting cards, and developing a signature style. Catch her upcoming art shows if you can (info below).

In the *News,* Bolsonaro loses to Lula da Silva in Brazil, the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in cases against the University of North Carolina and Harvard University regarding race-conscious admissions, “poll watchers” appear at ballot drop boxes, Liz Truss is replaced by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the UK after having spent only 4.1 Scaramuccis in office, Paul Pelosi is recovering after a politically-motivated attack, and Dead Kennedys drummer, D.H. Peligro passes away suddenly at his home in Los Angeles. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Robin and Wendy respond to a quote sent in by a listener on Americans’ potential receptivity to dictatorship. The *3 Random Facts* that kick off the show involve the 340th most popular name in the U.S., the very first Pokémon, and an animal that has 2,500 teeth.

Things to do:

VOTE on or before Tuesday, November 8th!

Know Your Rights! – Voter Intimidation

See and buy Wendy Sheridan’s art at:

The Rahway Craft & Art Fair
Saturday, November 5th, 11am – 5pm, Free Admission
275 East Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ

Philcon 2022 – Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention
Friday – Sunday, November 18th – 20th
Doubletree by Hilton, Cherry Hill, NJ

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon beginning at $1/month! Check out the latest conversation on red, yellow, and green flags in relationships and friendships.

Try The Sloganator!

Watch The Janes trailer:

https://youtu.be/pRbquE2BAkQ

Listen to Stick Men:

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Democracy: The Long View (Episode 129)** Sep 08, 2022
Dr. Elisebeth VanderWeil on Democracy, Fear,

the Future, and How History Can Help

Elisebeth VanderWeil, PhD , is the author of *Apocalyptic Best Practices: A unique approach to fear and change*. She also works as Organization Development Specialist for Pioneer Human Services and Principal Consultant at Hand in the Dark Consulting, as well as volunteer librarian for The Whidbey Institute. When she isn’t doing one of these things, she is expanding her amigurumi crochet repertoire, playing with her dog, or discussing the finer points of Star Trek. Dr. VanderWeil was the guest on Episode 67, “To Be Free, With Fear.” In today’s episode’s engaging conversation, she speaks about how history helps her cope with the political landscape, the shaky future of democracy as we know it, and how listening to fear while acting with compassion may be the key to living better now.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the show with their check-in and *3 Random Facts* about the Atlantic hurricane season, the events in the heptathlon, and how crickets make pretty good thermometers. In the *News* this time is Joe Biden’s speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the predictable link between doomscrolling and poor health, changes at CNN and other mergers, a faculty strike at American University, a special election in Alaska, and the Bucks County Kind project. In *The Artscape* segment, Robin shares a deeply personal reading on music, race, and cultural demands called “Love Night.”

Things to do:

Read *Apocalyptic Best Practices: A unique approach to fear and change* by Dr. Elisebeth VanderWeil.

Navigate change with Hand in the Dark Consulting.

Check out *This Day in Esoteric Political History*.

Read *The Unwritten Book* by Samantha Hunt.

Consult the Media Bias Chart.

Watch President Biden’s speech at Independence Hall on “extremist threat to democracy.”

Read *DAME* Magazine.

Join Bucks County Kind and do nice things.

Know Your Meme — Dark Brandon!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Dark Brandon memes - @ne0liberal — **Democracy: The Long View (Episode 129)** Sep 08, 2022
Dr. Elisebeth VanderWeil on Democracy, Fear,

the Future, and How History Can Help

Elisebeth VanderWeil, PhD , is the author of *Apocalyptic Best Practices: A unique approach to fear and change*. She also works as Organization Development Specialist for Pioneer Human Services and Principal Consultant at Hand in the Dark Consulting, as well as volunteer librarian for The Whidbey Institute. When she isn’t doing one of these things, she is expanding her amigurumi crochet repertoire, playing with her dog, or discussing the finer points of Star Trek. Dr. VanderWeil was the guest on Episode 67, “To Be Free, With Fear.” In today’s episode’s engaging conversation, she speaks about how history helps her cope with the political landscape, the shaky future of democracy as we know it, and how listening to fear while acting with compassion may be the key to living better now.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the show with their check-in and *3 Random Facts* about the Atlantic hurricane season, the events in the heptathlon, and how crickets make pretty good thermometers. In the *News* this time is Joe Biden’s speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the predictable link between doomscrolling and poor health, changes at CNN and other mergers, a faculty strike at American University, a special election in Alaska, and the Bucks County Kind project. In *The Artscape* segment, Robin shares a deeply personal reading on music, race, and cultural demands called “Love Night.”

Things to do:

Read *Apocalyptic Best Practices: A unique approach to fear and change* by Dr. Elisebeth VanderWeil.

Navigate change with Hand in the Dark Consulting.

Check out *This Day in Esoteric Political History*.

Read *The Unwritten Book* by Samantha Hunt.

Consult the Media Bias Chart.

Watch President Biden’s speech at Independence Hall on “extremist threat to democracy.”

Read *DAME* Magazine.

Join Bucks County Kind and do nice things.

Know Your Meme — Dark Brandon!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**A Need To Survive (Episode 128)** Aug 22, 2022
Featured guest Stacy Staggs is a wife and mother to twin girls who are the lights of her life. The girls also live with complex medical needs and disabilities. Since the twins’ birth, Stacy has been advocating for their access to healthcare, public education, and community inclusion. She volunteers across a number of organizations mainly as the Director of Community Engagement for Little Lobbyists and as a Consultant with Long COVID Families. Listen to her compelling stories about family, healthcare activism, her perspective as the democratic process threatened the Affordable Care Act, and the importance for all people, regardless of ability, to live fully engaged lives.

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée get the show started with *3 Random Facts* about our bacterial inhabitants, anarcho-primitivism, and places called Bristol. In the *News*: Authorities in Kyiv ban large public events for Ukraine’s 31st anniversary of independence, Michelle O’Bonsawin, an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation, is selected for Canada’s Supreme Court, Omicron-specific COVID boosters are on the way, the world’s smallest sea turtle hatchlings are discovered off the coast of New Orleans, and former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison apparently gave himself a few extra cabinet positions. Spoiler Alert: In the Geekscape segment, Wendy geeks out on *The Sandman*.

Things to do:

You Got Questions? We Got Answers! Serious or silly, send ’em to Wendy and Robin here.

Learn more about Little Lobbyists and Long COVID Families.
Read “What to Know About Long COVID in Kids” in *TIME Magazine*. The article includes information about a pacing guide created in partnership between Long COVID Families and ME Action.
Watch The Sandman.

Do The Bristol Stomp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h74lmWlxmn8
Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Stand and Be Counted (Episode 127)** Aug 10, 2022

Tolley Casparis has been a progressive activist since the age of 15. Now at 57, she continues to work tirelessly to uphold democracy and civil rights. She lives in Los Angeles and works as a casting director and a death doula. In this inspiring interview, Casparis talks about the deeply important activities and indirect effects of grassroots activism, the issues she champions including the environment, bodily autonomy, and gun control, and why the connections we form and cultivate matter so vitally.

All the news co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée can handle this time includes the U.S. Senate’s passing of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the vote in Kansas to keep abortion rights in the state constitution, the loss of icons Nichelle Nichols and Olivia Newton-John, the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb on an Italian river bank, the F.B.I. search at Mar-a-Lago, the latest on monkeypox, and new polio concerns. At the beginning of the show, Wendy and Robin share *3 Random Facts* on space junk, Alden Park Manor, and a musical instrument called the sipsi, then introduce the end of the *Ikigai* segment era and the beginning of *The Earthscape*. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers?* they respond to a listener question on how the podcast comes together.

Things to do:

Join Tolley Casparis’ online group, My Liberal Agenda.

Follow Tolley Casparis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and learn more about her work as a Casting Director.

Follow the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Follow Tolley Casparis’ journey as a Death Doula.

Read “A Large Object Landed on His Sheep Farm. It Came From Space.”

Watch “Turkish Sipsi From Bamboo.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaQaRV9eHqk

Rock out to “Space Junk” by Devo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFCU_Ld9snU

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**In the Town, For the Town (Episode 126)** Jul 27, 2022
Danny Vargas is a freelance graphic designer, musician, activist, and the youngest member of the Rahway Democratic Committee. He’s committed to making the city he grew up in a place where he wants to live his best life and to make the area a destination for music and art. In the first featured interview in *The Leftscape* season on DEMOCRACY, Vargas recalls joining his local committee, what it does and how it works, talks about the things he finds most important in politics, and also shares some tales of the indie musician life.

After a check-in at the top of the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share *3 Random Facts* about gravitational lensing, phrenology used to judge presidential candidates, and wild mustard, a parent species of several vegetables you know and love (or not). In the *News* this time is the most recent January 6th Committee hearing, Monkeypox, Canada’s upcoming ban on single-use plastics, lack of shade in urban areas and a “cooling paper” invention among other solutions that may help, and legal protection for UK beavers. Local libraries are the topic in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment. At the end of the show, Wendy and Robin answer an age-old question from the Icebreaker Deck.

Things to do:

Follow Danny Vargas on Instagram.

Learn more about the Rahway Democratic Committee.

Check out Danny Vargas’ band, Red House/Bluehouse, on Bandcamp.

Listen to RedHouse/Bluehouse on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1gR5RkdkpFWxE9ip8jdqhZ

View Political Broadside, “This Settles the Presidency!…The Candidates Phrenology Considered,” 1884.

Get information on monkeypox from the CDC and *The Guardian*.

Learn about public libraries and find one near you!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Back to the Blanket Fort (Episode 125) Jul 13, 2022

Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan are back from summer vacation and are ready to begin a new season of The Leftscape. This season’s theme will be on DEMOCRACY. Upcoming shows will explore the U.S. democratic system, how we might rescue and preserve it, which systems might work better, democratic approaches in small groups and relationships, what we can learn about democracy from other times and places, and more.

In this episode, Wendy and Robin start off with a check-in about what they did over the break followed by Three Random Facts about boar taint, dolphins passing the pufferfish, and counting to high numbers. In the extended News segment, there is government overthrow in Sri Lanka, Boris Johnson’s resignation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Washburn fire in Yosemite, 4th of July shootings outside Chicago and in Philadelphia, President Biden’s executive order on abortion access, and the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Then they head to The Blanket Fort to talk about how to deal with the constant barrage of depressing and disturbing news with help from a Twitter thread by author and disinformation expert, Cindy Otis. At the end of the show, Robin and Wendy tackle two listener questions — one from Facebook involving humor, the show’s focus, and the meaning of leftism and another about UFOs from EV VanderWeil (whose name gets pronounced poorly).

Things to do:

Read a Twitter thread by Cindy Otis on handling the endless torrent of negative news.

Call or text the new Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 988 after July 16, 2022. Emotional distress and suicide prevention help is available now and always at 1-800-273-8255.

Watch dolphins pass the puffer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVqObIauPJA

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Life The Way I’m Supposed To Be Living It (Episode 109 Redux)** Jun 15, 2022
Caroline Vahrenkamp has a cancer diagnosis AND is living her best life more authentically than she could have imagined possible. While undertaking her cancer journey, she navigated and accepted her identity as a transgender woman. As the host of the *Wonders of the World* podcast, she shares her love for travel, food, and history. Caroline joined us on Episode 109, “Just Figuring Things Out.” Here is a reprise of that interview.

Check out Caroline’s moving message from International Women’s Day.

Keep in touch while we’re on break! Reach out on social media @Leftscape and join us on Patreon for our bonus segment, *We Should Be Recording This*. We’ll be back in July with brand new episodes.

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com

**Not Every Stupid Law is Unconstitutional (Episode 121 REDUX)** Jun 01, 2022
It’s time for a break! While we’re off doing summery things, we will repost a few of our favorite interviews. First up is Professor David S. Schwartz from “Where’s the Freedom? (Episode 121). Wendy talks with her brother about which commonly understood freedoms in the United States are written down in the Constitution, which have been interpreted from the founding documents, the current conservative Supreme Court, and what we each can do to keep our freedoms from eroding. Professor Schwartz teaches and writes in the areas of Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Civil Procedure at the University of Wisconsin.

While we’re away, you can always give us a shout on social media @Leftscape and join us on Patreon for extra content. Have fun, take care of yourself, and we’ll be back in July with brand new episodes.

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée
Facebook: Leftscape Twitter: @leftscape Instagram: @leftscape Email: insight at Leftscape.com

**Why Not Me? (Episode 124)** May 19, 2022
Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro Act Locally

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée have recently been reminding listeners of the growing importance of local politics. Wendy takes a deep dive into her local political landscape in this episode by way of an interview with candidates Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro:

Casey Probus was born and raised in Rahway, NJ, where she lives with her daughter who attends a Rahway Elementary School. Casey attended Rahway public schools where she was a part of the 2003 State Championship Girls Basketball team. She currently works as a union mechanic and crane operator and is the first union employee chosen to lead an Employee Resource Group. Casey graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida A & M University and has an associates degree from Tallahassee Community College.

Running for council at-large on the Casey Probus for Mayor team, Lisa Ferarro is a Past President of Indivisible Rahway and owner of Sonic Bliss Yoga as a local yoga and wellness instructor. Lisa graduated from Westminster Choir College with a B.A. in Music and is a proud union member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She has lived in Rahway for 10 years with her husband and daughter.

Also in this episode, Robin and Wendy celebrate four years of *The Leftscape*! They look back at the show as a whole and highlight favorite episodes from the season of Freedom. In *The Artscape*, Robin interviews Wendy about her current creative works, challenges, and inspirations. The day’s 3 Random Facts bring levity with a ridiculous California law, a popular “Native American” poem which turns out to be fakelore, and some TMI about koala genitalia. There are even pictures! The *News* is much more sobering. The primary topics are the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Saturday’s protests in Washington, DC and in many cities across the US, and the mass shooting in Buffalo, NY.

*The Leftscape* will be on spring/summer break until July 13th. Until then, there will be some redux episodes for you to enjoy. Thanks for listening!

Things to do:

VOTE in your upcoming primary election.

Check out the One United Rahway website.

Like and follow One United Rahway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Listen to some favorite interviews from the Season of Freedom with Eliot Katz, Halina Brooke, David S. Schwartz, and Susan Billmaier.

Attend the Balticon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and check our Wendy’s work in the art show! May 27-30, 2022.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Why Not Me? (Episode 124)** May 19, 2022
Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro Act Locally

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée have recently been reminding listeners of the growing importance of local politics. Wendy takes a deep dive into her local political landscape in this episode by way of an interview with candidates Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro:

Casey Probus was born and raised in Rahway, NJ, where she lives with her daughter who attends a Rahway Elementary School. Casey attended Rahway public schools where she was a part of the 2003 State Championship Girls Basketball team. She currently works as a union mechanic and crane operator and is the first union employee chosen to lead an Employee Resource Group. Casey graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida A & M University and has an associates degree from Tallahassee Community College.

Running for council at-large on the Casey Probus for Mayor team, Lisa Ferarro is a Past President of Indivisible Rahway and owner of Sonic Bliss Yoga as a local yoga and wellness instructor. Lisa graduated from Westminster Choir College with a B.A. in Music and is a proud union member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She has lived in Rahway for 10 years with her husband and daughter.

Also in this episode, Robin and Wendy celebrate four years of *The Leftscape*! They look back at the show as a whole and highlight favorite episodes from the season of Freedom. In *The Artscape*, Robin interviews Wendy about her current creative works, challenges, and inspirations. The day’s 3 Random Facts bring levity with a ridiculous California law, a popular “Native American” poem which turns out to be fakelore, and some TMI about koala genitalia. There are even pictures! The *News* is much more sobering. The primary topics are the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Saturday’s protests in Washington, DC and in many cities across the US, and the mass shooting in Buffalo, NY.

*The Leftscape* will be on spring/summer break until July 13th. Until then, there will be some redux episodes for you to enjoy. Thanks for listening!

Things to do:

VOTE in your upcoming primary election.

Check out the One United Rahway website.

Like and follow One United Rahway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Listen to some favorite interviews from the Season of Freedom with Eliot Katz, Halina Brooke, David S. Schwartz, and Susan Billmaier.

Attend the Balticon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and check our Wendy’s work in the art show! May 27-30, 2022.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Happy 420! Weed or Kink? (Episode 122)** Apr 20, 2022
This episode is a bit… different. Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée are celebrating 4/20, so aside from the pre-recorded interview, the banter is a bit loosey-goosey. Join in on the fun in whatever way you choose!

Featured guest Malcolm Underwood describes himself as “born in the south, forged in the north and sharpened by the road and the world.” He is doing what he can to help make his little corner a safer place for everyone. One of his dwelling places is in the world of BDSM (bondage and domination, sadism and masochism). BDSM is often misunderstood and is frequently seen only through a scope of toxic sexuality. Malcolm has a lot of information to share about healthy BDSM as a category of exploration. Unlike the myths many have heard, it offers a place were people can come to find freedom of expression unlike anything available in day-to-day life. Listen and learn from this informative, grounded conversation.

Earlier in the show, the *3 Random Facts* segment morphs into 3 Weed Facts and the *News* is definitely News Lite. *The Geekscape* slides into *The Blanket Fort*. Later in *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* Robin and Wendy tackle 420-friendly topics such as “Is cereal soup?” and “Isn’t a hot dog just an American taco?”

Things to do:

Follow Malcolm Underwood on Twitter and on Instagram.

Check out FetLife and scope out a local munch.

Play Absurdle.

Find out where to buy weed legally in New Jersey beginning 4/21/2022.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Schwartz Family Vacation 1974. David Schwartz holds a newspaper with the headline, "Nixon Resigning" — **Where’s the Freedom? (Episode 121)** Apr 06, 2022
A Primer on Freedom in the Constitution and Beyond With David S. Schwartz

Professor David S. Schwartz first appeared on *The Leftscape* back on Episode 65 to talk about his then new book, The Spirit of The Constitution: John Marshall and the 200-Year Odyssey of McCulloch v. Maryland published by Oxford University Press in 2019. He teaches and writes in the areas of Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Civil Procedure. His scholarship includes articles published in the Georgetown, Notre Dame, and University of Pennsylvania Law Reviews, and he has co-authored two casebooks. In this episode, he speaks with co-host Wendy Sheridan (who happens to be his sister) about which freedoms are specifically guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, how those came to be interpreted from the founding documents, and what we can do as individuals to ensure these freedoms aren’t taken away. They discuss some of the more troubling legal developments like “Don’t Say Gay” in Florida and the anti-abortion law in Texas. “Not every stupid law is unconstitutional, unfortunately,” he says.

After a check-in at the beginning of the show, Wendy and Robin Renée offer up *3 Random Facts*, this time involving early 2000s cartoon Ozzy & Drix, The Festival of the Steel Phallus, and the origin of Christmas ham. In *News*, the latest from the war in Ukraine has been incredibly disturbing. On positive notes, Amazon workers unionize in New York, Ketanji Brown Jackson makes progress toward her seat on the Supreme Court, Jon Batiste wins five Grammys and has recently married, and the EU is calling for an end to fast fashion by 2030, according to *Squirrel News*. In *The Blanket Fort*, Robin and Wendy reflect on their current actions and emotions relating to the pandemic. At the end of the show, they answer the question, “Have you been told you look like someone famous and if so, who was it?”

David S. Schwartz on vacation with his parents. The “NIXON RESIGNING” headline on the newspaper gives away the time frame.

Things to do:

Read The Spirit of The Constitution: John Marshall and the 200-Year Odyssey of McCulloch v. Maryland by David S. Schwartz.

Donate humanitarian aid, volunteer your time, and/or make a donation to help Ukrainians live through the war: SOS UA

Here is a list of top rated charities to help the Ukraine relief effort.

Sign up to receive Midterm Madness actions you can take every week to gear up for the most important elections of 2022.

Use CovidActNow.org to keep track of COVID risk and vaccination rates where you are.

Watch 5x GRAMMY Winner Jon Batiste Comes Home to The Late Show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvozYO7eow0

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Finding the Words (Episode 120)** Mar 23, 2022
Tanya Shaffer is an award-winning playwright and author of the acclaimed travel memoir, *Somebody’s Heart is Burning: A Woman Wanderer in Africa*. Her stories and essays have appeared on Salon.com and in more than a dozen anthologies. She blogs on a range of topics, from parenting to Buddhism to creativity to travel, and hosts the podcast *Off-Leash Arts: Conversations on Creativity*. Currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she leads writing workshops in a practice she calls Off-Leash Writing. Shaffer reads from a recent essay on women and aging and shares wisdom on freeing the writer within.

Before the featured interview, Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan get into Wordle and related word games they really like in the *Why Is This Awesome*? segment. In the *News*: Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination hearing, new Daylight Saving Time legislation, the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the crafting of the January 6 narrative, US declaration of genocide against the Rohingya by the Myanmar army, and a remarkable long lost sheep. You can learn about the oldest known koi, pink noise, and one more fascinating thing about glitter in *3 Random Facts*. A holiday dinner question is on the table for *You Got Questions? We Got Answers*! at the end of the show.

Things to do:

Follow Tanya Shaffer’s blog and podcast, Off-Leash Arts.

Like and follow Tanya on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Donate humanitarian aid, volunteer your time, and/or make a donation to SOS UA to help Ukrainians live through the war.

Read *Somebody’s Heart is Burning: A Woman Wanderer in Africa*.

Play Wordle!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Big Questions on Doing Something (Episode 119)** Mar 09, 2022
Peter Gil-Sheridan on His New Comedy, *This Space Between Us*

Peter Gil-Sheridan is a playwright and a professor at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Peter was a founding member of The Pool, a pop-up theatre company formed with Lynn Rosen and Susan Bernfield and he is a regular writer-in-residence with the Silverton Theatre Mine in Silverton, CO. His new play, *This Space Between Us*, is running off-Broadway, produced by Keen Company, at Theater Row on 42nd Street. Wendy Sheridan speaks with him about this new comedy, which explores the expanse of cultural and political differences within a family as one member decides to head to Africa for a cause. Some questions the play evokes are: “How can we drop our complacency and get active?” “How much giving is enough?” “What does freedom look like for each of us and what does it cost us?”

In *The Artscape*, Wendy asks Robin Renée about hir latest creative endeavors; there are new songs in the works and an anxiety-producing technological learning curve to bring them into fruition. Earlier in *3 Random Facts*, Robin and Wendy share some trivia about the invention of glitter, the origin of the term “salad days,” and why a certain jar of Vegemite in New South Wales is so special. The *News* gets to serious issues including closing arguments in the trial of January 6th defendant, Guy Reffitt (The day after recording Reffitt was found guilty on all charges), Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and others’ application to join the European Union (there are complications), resistance against the new, terrible anti-trans law in Texas, a statewide student walkout in Florida against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and a campaign in the UK introducing guidelines for individuals to help combat global warming with lifestyle changes. In other, stranger news, the “killing stone” in Japan has split in two. Has the spirit of an evil nine-tailed fox been unleashed? At the end of the show, Wendy and Robin take on a listener question, “What book scared you when you read it?”

Things to do:

Get tickets for *This Space Between Us* by Peter Gil-Sheridan.

Like and follow Peter Gil-Sheridan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Help keep Robin inspired about making new music on the Robin Renée fan page!

Read the book that scared Wendy.

Watch this in the spirit of Wendy’s glitter fact:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-jN3vH26NQ

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Room for Improvisation (Episode 117)** Feb 09, 2022
Stephanie Sellars on Polyamory and Her Film, *Lust Life Love*

Stephanie Sellars is a New York-based filmmaker, writer, and performer. Her award-winning debut feature film, *Lust Life Love*, premiered at the Berlin Independent Film Festival and was recently released by 1091 Pictures on worldwide VOD platforms. She has also written, produced, directed, and acted in many award-winning short films, and her jazz album, *Girl Who Loves*, can be found on Spotify, iTunes and other music platforms. She holds an MFA in film from Columbia University and is finishing her MFA in creative writing at Bennington Writing Seminars. In this featured interview, Stephanie talks about the many hats she wore during the making of *Lust Life Love* and the real-life navigation of polyamorous relating that inspired the film.

Earlier in the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan venture into *The Geekscape* to geek out on *Futurama* Season 5, Episode 4, “A Taste of Freedom.” The *3 Random Facts* offered this time involve The Beatles on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, the nature of frogs’ eyes, and “dream cheese.” The *News* includes anti-vaccine mandate protests by truckers in Canada, censored Black history and other “controversial” topics in U.S. schools, the Māori party of New Zealand’s call for a “divorce” from the crown, athlete complaints at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, another look at the impact of Neil Young and friends’ departure from Spotify, and a ridiculous brawl over steak in Bensalem, PA.

Things to do:

Watch *Lust Life Love*.

Keep up with Stephanie Sellars on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Watch Futurama episode, “A Taste of Freedom,” on Hulu.

Get tickets for *This Space Between Us,* a new off-Broadway comedy by Peter Gil-Sheridan (Wendy’s nephew!) — Running February 22 – April 2, 2022

Explore the connection between cheese and dreams. You can find some “dream cheese” at Di Bruno Bros.

Send your questions to Wendy and Robin for *You Got Questions? We Got Answers*!

Watch the melee at Golden Corral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq4cpBDCNEs

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Futurama - A Taste of Freedom. Zoidberg holding the flag with a bite out of it while standing next to Nixon's head in a jar — **Room for Improvisation (Episode 117)** Feb 09, 2022
Stephanie Sellars on Polyamory and Her Film, *Lust Life Love*

Stephanie Sellars is a New York-based filmmaker, writer, and performer. Her award-winning debut feature film, *Lust Life Love*, premiered at the Berlin Independent Film Festival and was recently released by 1091 Pictures on worldwide VOD platforms. She has also written, produced, directed, and acted in many award-winning short films, and her jazz album, *Girl Who Loves*, can be found on Spotify, iTunes and other music platforms. She holds an MFA in film from Columbia University and is finishing her MFA in creative writing at Bennington Writing Seminars. In this featured interview, Stephanie talks about the many hats she wore during the making of *Lust Life Love* and the real-life navigation of polyamorous relating that inspired the film.

Earlier in the show, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan venture into *The Geekscape* to geek out on *Futurama* Season 5, Episode 4, “A Taste of Freedom.” The *3 Random Facts* offered this time involve The Beatles on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, the nature of frogs’ eyes, and “dream cheese.” The *News* includes anti-vaccine mandate protests by truckers in Canada, censored Black history and other “controversial” topics in U.S. schools, the Māori party of New Zealand’s call for a “divorce” from the crown, athlete complaints at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, another look at the impact of Neil Young and friends’ departure from Spotify, and a ridiculous brawl over steak in Bensalem, PA.

Things to do:

Watch *Lust Life Love*.

Keep up with Stephanie Sellars on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Watch Futurama episode, “A Taste of Freedom,” on Hulu.

Get tickets for *This Space Between Us,* a new off-Broadway comedy by Peter Gil-Sheridan (Wendy’s nephew!) — Running February 22 – April 2, 2022

Explore the connection between cheese and dreams. You can find some “dream cheese” at Di Bruno Bros.

Send your questions to Wendy and Robin for *You Got Questions? We Got Answers*!

Watch the melee at Golden Corral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq4cpBDCNEs

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Poetry and Politics With Eliot Katz (Episode 116)** Jan 27, 2022
Eliot Katz is the author of seven books of poetry including *Unlocking the Exits* and *Love, War, Fire, Wind*. His most recent books include a readable, scholarly volume, entitled *The Poetry and Politics of Allen Ginsberg*, and the free, downloadable *President Predator — poems to help make america trump-free again*. Called “another classic New Jersey bard” by the late, great poet, Allen Ginsberg, Katz has been a longtime activist for a wide range of peace and social justice causes, including many years spent as an advocate for Central Jersey homeless individuals and families. In this interview, Katz discusses Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms and how we might think about and work for freedom today, his own activism, and he shares some moving and inspiring poems. (CW: As the son of a Holocaust survivor, he reads a particularly intense poem based on his mother’s recollections at about 1:15:40).

Before the interview, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée head into *The Blanket Fort* for a self-care check-in and to contemplate the question, “What Freedoms Do We Allow Ourselves (or Not)?” In *News*: January 6 Commission subpoenas, New Jersey passes the Reproductive Freedom Act, COVID tests covered by insurance, Neil Young’s stance against Joe Rogan’s misinformation on Spotify, LAPD cops who chose Pokémon over police duty, and an article sent in by a listener on the language of “officer-involved incidents.” This episode’s 3 *Random Facts* give the 411 on dolphin anatomy, an unlikely human physical feat, and some Titanic trivia. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Robin and Wendy respond to “If there were no dietary consequences, what one food would you eat for the rest of your life?”

Things to do:

Visit Eliot Katz’ website, eliotkatzpoetry.com.

Download his 2020 anti-Trump volume, *President Predator.* Free PDF

Get your free COVID-19 tests and get reimbursed for at-home tests by your health insurance.

Learn about housing programs Amandla Crossing and Imani Park.

Learn about Elijah’s Promise community kitchen.

Keep up with legislation in real time with LegiScan.

Watch “Meat Loaf –Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5hWWe-ts2s

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Finding Freedom (Episode 115)** Jan 12, 2022
Welcome to the first show of 2022! Over the course of this new season, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan and their guests will explore aspects of FREEDOM. The season’s featured interviews begin with Robin’s conversation with Brian Loebig.

Brian Loebig is an enthusiastic small business owner, entrepreneur, teacher, and speaker who loves to share his knowledge with groups large and small. He has extensive expertise in social media marketing, search engine optimization, and online advertising and is a sought after speaker and presenter on those topics. Brian comes from a large, eclectic, and diverse family which gives him a unique perspective on business, partnerships, and networking. In this interview, we are most interested in his work as a former drug and alcohol counselor. He shares his thoughts and experiences in helping others find freedom from addiction and criminal thinking.

In the *Why Is This Awesome*? segment, Wendy raves about *The Dawn of Everything*, the *New York Times* bestseller that has the potential to shift our understanding of human history. At the top of the show, Wendy and Robin check in and then share *3 Random Facts* about Lee Highway, sticky rice, and the design of Poké balls. The *News* takes a more serious tone with topics including Afghan refugees stuck in Calais, France, the sentencing of the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, tragic fires in Philadelphia and New York City, and a recognition of the amazing life of Sidney Pointier. There’s also some silly news about bad travelers and cool news on the discovery of a giant “sea dragon” fossil in the UK. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, the question of the day is “Who’s your favorite Golden Girl?” sent in by former guest Anne Sabagh.

Things to do:

Visit Brian Loebig’s Criminal Thinking Therapy Resource Site for more on the Criminal Thinking and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to change.

Check out Brian’s company, Loebig Ink, LLC, and follow him on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Find a therapist through Psychology Today.

Consider SMART Recovery for science-based, self-empowered addiction recovery.

Read *The Dawn of Everything* by David Graeber and David Wengrow.

Learn more about ichthyosaur.

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

The Dawn of Everything book cover — **Finding Freedom (Episode 115)** Jan 12, 2022
Welcome to the first show of 2022! Over the course of this new season, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan and their guests will explore aspects of FREEDOM. The season’s featured interviews begin with Robin’s conversation with Brian Loebig.

Brian Loebig is an enthusiastic small business owner, entrepreneur, teacher, and speaker who loves to share his knowledge with groups large and small. He has extensive expertise in social media marketing, search engine optimization, and online advertising and is a sought after speaker and presenter on those topics. Brian comes from a large, eclectic, and diverse family which gives him a unique perspective on business, partnerships, and networking. In this interview, we are most interested in his work as a former drug and alcohol counselor. He shares his thoughts and experiences in helping others find freedom from addiction and criminal thinking.

In the *Why Is This Awesome*? segment, Wendy raves about *The Dawn of Everything*, the *New York Times* bestseller that has the potential to shift our understanding of human history. At the top of the show, Wendy and Robin check in and then share *3 Random Facts* about Lee Highway, sticky rice, and the design of Poké balls. The *News* takes a more serious tone with topics including Afghan refugees stuck in Calais, France, the sentencing of the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, tragic fires in Philadelphia and New York City, and a recognition of the amazing life of Sidney Pointier. There’s also some silly news about bad travelers and cool news on the discovery of a giant “sea dragon” fossil in the UK. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, the question of the day is “Who’s your favorite Golden Girl?” sent in by former guest Anne Sabagh.

Things to do:

Visit Brian Loebig’s Criminal Thinking Therapy Resource Site for more on the Criminal Thinking and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to change.

Check out Brian’s company, Loebig Ink, LLC, and follow him on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Find a therapist through Psychology Today.

Consider SMART Recovery for science-based, self-empowered addiction recovery.

Read *The Dawn of Everything* by David Graeber and David Wengrow.

Learn more about ichthyosaur.

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Christiana Gaudet: The Wheel Turns (Episode 111 Redux)** Dec 15, 2021
Please enjoy this interview with Tarot Grandmaster Christiana Gaudet while we take a brief winter break. Christiana has some wonderfully insightful things to say about wisdom we can draw from The Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, and the Death/Rebirth cards. Check out the whole episode and show notes at The Four Cards of Acceptance (Episode 111). You can always find us on social media @Leftscape and here on Patreon.

Have a wonderful, safe holiday season and Happy New Year! We’ll be back with new episodes of *The Leftscape* in January.

Love,

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée

**Pedro Serrano on Being the Stranger (Episode 114)** Dec 01, 2021
Pedro Serrano was born in Newark, NJ and grew up in the Columbus Homes Housing Projects. His childhood memories include “riots, cockroaches big enough to ride to school, and cherry blossoms in the spring.” He is a spoken word artist, was the producer and host of Generation Q, a gay community affairs program on WRSU 88.7 FM, and is a longtime member of the NJ punk rock scene. In his bio for The Good Men Project, he says, “… consider me a product of public housing, food stamps and PBS.” In this last featured interview in this season’s Acceptance series, Pedro talks about the importance of calling out dogma on the left and his experiences of bridging communities and being “the stranger” among skinheads.

This time in *The Artscape* segment, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan talk about Wendy’s current projects and inspirations and which items she brought with her for sale at the recent Philcon event. The *Three Random Facts* for this episode teach us about the origins of the political terms “left” and “right” according to *The Dawn of Everything*, the Amen Break, and the very special original purpose of graham crackers. In *News*, a number of major fashion brands contribute to deforestation, convictions in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Kyle Rittenhouse’s not guilty verdict and the laws that made it possible, the latest for January 6th insurrectionists, and Merriam-Webster chooses its word of the year. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!* Wendy and Robin respond to “What is your wish for the next year?”

Have a great December, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Things to do:

Keep up with Pedro Serrano on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Check out the Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set.

Check out *SKIN: A Graphic Novel for Adults* by Peter Milligan

Happy Birthday to Wendy on December 3rd! Give her the perfect gift by making a purchase from wendycardz @ Etsy and becoming a Leftscape patron.

Read “Spell Slots and Spoon Theory” by Dani Kirkham.

Check out 50 songs that sample The Winstons’ “Amen, Brother.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2K54S0Z10U

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Spanish Model album cover - Elvis Costello — **Talking Race on a Road Trip (Episode 113)** Nov 17, 2021
Kyle Schickner is a writer, director, filmmaker, and activist. He is the driving force behind Fencesitter Films, a film company that focuses on telling stories about people of color, women, and BLGTQ communities. Kyle’s latest film is *A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop*, a documentary of his cross country road trip focused on having down-to-earth conversations about race and racism. In the featured interview, Kyle speaks with co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée about his journey through Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and other towns and cities across the US. He shares what he learned and why white liberals need to see this film, however uncomfortable it may be.

Wendy and Robin check in at the top of the show; Wendy’s gives a rundown on what it was like to be a poll worker for the first time for the recent NJ state elections. In the news, COVID-19 rates increase in Europe, the Kyle Rittenhouse trial draws to a close and weapons charges are dropped, Biden signs the Infrastructure bill, Steve Bannon turns himself in, and anti-vaccine protesters in New Zealand have been told by a Māori tribe to stop using the “ka mate” haka. This episode’s random facts involve The Gap Band, Ronan the sea lion, and a 3-in-1 fact about things that happened on November 17th. In *Why Is This Awesome?*, Robin gushes about *Spanish Model*, the new Spanish language take on Elvis Costello’s 1978 release, *This Year’s Model*.

Things to do:

Learn more about Kyle Schickner’s work on the Fencesitter Film website.

Keep up with Kyle and his work on Instagram and Twitter.

Watch the *A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop* trailer.

Get Elvis Costello’s *Spanish Model*.

Attend Philcon, November 19-21, 2021, Cherry Hill, NJ. Check out Wendy’s merch table!

Listen back to Episode 108, “As I Fell In Love With The World,” featuring Beth Anne Yeager.

Chill out with Yacht Rock Miami.

Boogie to Ronan the sea lion’s favorite song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=god7hAPv8f0

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Emma of Plate Less Ordinary — **Food Stories (Episode 112)** Nov 03, 2021
Emma is a writer, editor, and multimedia storyteller based in the Washington, DC metro area. She is the person behind *Plate Less Ordinary*, where she shares stories about food, culture, and technology. In a world that prioritizes quantity — see social media algorithms and food porn — Emma chooses quality. She believes everyone owes it to themselves to eat well and hopes those who visit her website will learn something and come away with a new perspective. In this featured interview, Emma brings to light some of the ways food can be an offering or collaboration to connect people of differing lifestyles and backgrounds. She also gives us some tips for how to think and talk about food in a way that is welcoming rather than othering. Listen to the end for her cookware and food-to-share favorites.

The *Three Random Facts* Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée impart earlier in the show this time involve how to escape the jaws of a crocodile, an interesting offer to made to prisoners in Paris in 1719, and coincidences between the people Robin knows named Wendy. Andrew Yang’s new Forward Party, COVID-19 deaths worldwide, the latest from SCOTUS on abortion laws and representation for Washington, DC, and *The Washington Post* timeline of the January 6th insurrection are all in the *News* segment. In a bit of positive nature news, five dozen bison were released on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota and monarch butterflies return to Pismo Beach in force. Robin and Wendy return to the comfort of *The Blanket Fort* for an emotional check-in and at the end of the show, they respond to a question from the Icebreaker Deeper Talk Deck.

Things to do:

Keep up with Emma at platelessordinary.com, on Twitter, and on Instagram.

View a vintage menu from Ginsberg & Wong, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Listen back to Episode 111 to hear the interview with Christiana Gaudet that inspired Wendy!

Please leave *The Leftscape* a review wherever you listen.

Watch “Wolakota Buffalo Release Celebration (2021).”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l6T4acS0IQ

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

John Leman on a boat — **Paint With Ambiguity (Episode 110)** Oct 06, 2021
John Leman is a world traveler, outdoor adventurer, and curiosity-driven extrovert who is intent on exploring the depths of the human experience. Formerly a special education teacher, he is currently enrolled in the M.S.Ed. program in Mental Health Counseling and Counselor Education at Indiana University, where he also serves as a Research Coordinator with the Kinsey Institute. While he currently resides in Indiana, he has previously lived in Singapore, upstate New York, and Philadelphia. John tells the story of his deconversion from Evangelical Christianity, flowing through diverse ideas, opening to ongoing self-acceptance, and the importance of approaching all with compassion.

In the *Ikigai* segment, Wendy discusses how *ikigai* has been misunderstood and gives a revised introduction to the subtle topic via the five pillars of *ikigai*.

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the episode with a *Rewind* from last show’s *3 Random Facts* – a moose laws update! This show’s facts are more seasonal than random. They involve the Statue of Liberty’s arrival to the US, pumpkin pie (Thanks, Emma, at Plate Less Ordinary!), and a month Shakespeare never mentioned. In the *News*: the October 2nd Women’s Marches held in Washington, DC and around the US, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security new border priorities, the Pandora Papers, and the importance of upcoming elections. At the end of the show, Robin and Wendy respond to a listener question about cartoons and music.

Things to do:

Check to make sure you are registered to vote! Vote.org

Tell us about your experiences with cultural diversity and interfaith dialogue.

Read books by Ken Mogi on *ikigai* and more.

Listen to “Decoding the Pandora Papers” on *Pod Save the World*.

Drunk moose can really be an issue! Read the story of Buzzwinkle in the *Anchorage Daily News*.

Revisit “Daniel Kaye: Making Life Better (Episode 105).”

Watch videos for our favorite cartoon characters’ favorite ’80s songs!

Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “Bad Reputation” – Official Music Video (1983)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO6YL09T8Fw

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

BethAnne Yeager, winter day — **As I Fell in Love With the World (Episode 108)** Sep 08, 2021
Beth Anne Yeager is recovering from practicing law, and is now seeking wisdom through studying Ecopsychology, training in Somatic Experiencing, and practicing and teaching yoga and meditation. Her passion is Nature, dancing in the snow, and loving all things wild. In the featured interview, she interweaves the desperate seriousness of climate change with American exceptionalism, white supremacy, and denial, as well as our human potential to mitigate the damage with prosocial behaviors, empathy, and learning from other species with which we share the planet.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée start off the show with a “water is dangerous” *Rewind*, then report *3 Random Facts* involving unisex baby names, Kenny Loggins’ wedding, and the mammals who menopause. In the *News*: US troops’ departure from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years, the terrible new anti-abortion law in Texas, and something positive: Happy Bisexual Visibility Month! In *Why Is This Awesome?* Wendy talks about the joy of gardening in The Garden State.

Things to do:

Read books referenced by Beth Anne Yeager:

The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Hall Kimmerer

My Grandmother’s Hands, Resmaa Menakem

Get back to activism with Crooked Media’s No Off Years.

Attend a Women’s March on October 2, 2021 to defend reproductive rights.

Support Planned Parenthood and the National Network of Abortion Funds.

Enjoy some essential yacht rock. 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS52sEUqxMo

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Wendy Sheridan drawing of feelings — **Your Body is Beautiful (Episode 107)** Aug 24, 2021
Serell Brown is the mother of two teens. She describes herself as a fun-loving hard worker with old school morals. She is the founder and creator of Nubian Nudist, an organization for black nudists and naturists that is based in New Jersey and has members across the US as well as some abroad. Serell talks candidly about the origins of her nudism, creating social spaces for body-positive acceptance, and releasing shame to begin loving all of yourself.

Before the featured interview in *The Blanket Fort*, Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take a personal look at the important work of processing negative emotions. The *3 Random Facts* that get things started this time involve koala fingerprints, penguin urine, and a fateful moment in the life of LBJ. In the *News* is the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and help needed for abandoned Afghans, Andrew Cuomo’s replacement by new New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Proud Boys v. Antifa in Portland, rally boos for Trump, a Sex Pistols legal battle, and two “water can be dangerous” stories. At the end of the show, Robin and Wendy address a listener’s question, “What are the real reasons people are choosing not to get vaccinated and what would change their minds?”

Things to do:

Check out the Nubian Nudist group on Instagram and Twitter.

Learn about the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).

Find your representatives and senators. Call them to say you care about all the abandoned Afghans and want them evacuated as quickly as possible using Categorical Humanitarian Parole.

Find a therapist. Read about finding a non-judgmental therapist.

Read “Facebook Fauxlore: Kerouac, Burroughs, and a Fight Over the Oxford Comma That Never Was.”

Support *The Leftscape* on Patreon.

You got questions? We got answers! Write to us!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Patterns by '89 the Brainchild - cover art — **Meet ’89 the Brainchild (Episode 106)** Aug 11, 2021
’89 the Brainchild is a rap performer and entertainer from New Jersey. He flew under the radar for years and began finding buzz through performing in the NJ/NYC area just before the pandemic shutdown. Also a stage production manager, ’89’s recordings include “Father’s Day,” *Not Who I Thought I Was (the last of my rage)*, and *Patterns*, which has been described as a mix of hip hop, house, techno, and nu-disco reminiscent of Jungle Brothers, Heavy D, and Big Daddy Kane. He speaks with Wendy about the dreams and experiences that led to his music, hip hop technology, ageism in the music industry, and self-acceptance around fantasy vs. reality of life as a creative artist.

Before the featured interview, co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan share *3 Random Facts* about outsider musician and artist Wesley Willis, time at the North Pole, and an infamous 1968 fight between Beat Generation icons Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. In the *News*: being a realtor and shopping for a home while black in Wyoming, MI, a very serious report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), how delta variant symptoms may differ from the original COVID-19, 1000-year-old remains of a nonbinary leader, and how, once again, Donald Trump will NOT be regaining the US presidency (Louder for the people in the back!). In *The Geekscape*, Wendy and Robin reveal their useless superpowers. In *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, the question is “How is COVID impacting music festivals and how are musicians adapting?” sent in by Linda Gaffney.

Things to do:

Download tracks by 89 the Brainchild on Bandcamp.

Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Read the IPCC’s stark warning.

Be aware of concerts and festivals that are rescheduled or cancelled due to the pandemic.

See the inadvertent origins of the name of the new mini-segment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GitK6i3HQdU

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Daniel Kaye: Making Life Better (Episode 105)** Jul 28, 2021
After a short summer hiatus, *The Leftscape* is back with a new theme for the second half of 2021. This is the season of ACCEPTANCE. What does acceptance mean to you? When is it passive and when is it powerful? What things ought we accept? What must we never accept? Let’s see how this theme weaves in and out of the conversations through the rest of the year. The first featured guest of the season is Daniel Kaye.

Daniel Kaye has been a writer and artist for over 25 years, working as a journalist, editor, columnist, editorial cartoonist, and book illustrator. He is the creator of the comic strip, *MILO K., hermit crab*. His most recent book, with text by Rabbi Howard Bogot, is *Never Tell a Hermit Crab We Can’t Repair the World*. Daniel is also the Director of Life Enrichment and Community Engagement at a Life Plan Community in the Philadelphia area. He shares openly about dealing with anxiety and depression and the many ways he works toward making life better for himself and others.

Earlier in this episode: The exploration of *Ikigai* continues. This time, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée focus on the plusses and minuses of monetizing what they most enjoy doing. In the news, the Tunisian government has been dismissed by the president, Joe Biden authorizes funds to help evacuate Afghani interpreters as the U.S. leaves the 20-year war, attempts to stifle discussions of racism in schools abound, and a queer valedictorian in South Jersey gets rudely cut off, then completes his moving speech. Oh, and a guy spent some time trapped in the mouth of a whale. Robin and Wendy get things started with *3 Random Facts* about B1 cells, The Final Concert, and the origins of the pop out cake. At the end of the show is the new mini-segment, *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Robin responds to “Is Guardians of the Galaxy yacht rock?”

Things to do:

Learn more about the work of Daniel Kaye and order his books. All proceeds go to charity.

Check out *MILO K., hermit crab* on webtoons.com.

Watch *Cells at Work!* on Netflix.

Consult the Yachtski scale at yachtornyacht.com.

Watch Bryce Dershem deliver his inspiring valedictorian address:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxLwg9lsbqY

You Got Questions? Send ’em to insight@leftscape.com. We Got Answers!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Never Tell a Hermit Crab We Can't Repair the World — **Daniel Kaye: Making Life Better (Episode 105)** Jul 28, 2021
After a short summer hiatus, *The Leftscape* is back with a new theme for the second half of 2021. This is the season of ACCEPTANCE. What does acceptance mean to you? When is it passive and when is it powerful? What things ought we accept? What must we never accept? Let’s see how this theme weaves in and out of the conversations through the rest of the year. The first featured guest of the season is Daniel Kaye.

Daniel Kaye has been a writer and artist for over 25 years, working as a journalist, editor, columnist, editorial cartoonist, and book illustrator. He is the creator of the comic strip, *MILO K., hermit crab*. His most recent book, with text by Rabbi Howard Bogot, is *Never Tell a Hermit Crab We Can’t Repair the World*. Daniel is also the Director of Life Enrichment and Community Engagement at a Life Plan Community in the Philadelphia area. He shares openly about dealing with anxiety and depression and the many ways he works toward making life better for himself and others.

Earlier in this episode: The exploration of *Ikigai* continues. This time, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée focus on the plusses and minuses of monetizing what they most enjoy doing. In the news, the Tunisian government has been dismissed by the president, Joe Biden authorizes funds to help evacuate Afghani interpreters as the U.S. leaves the 20-year war, attempts to stifle discussions of racism in schools abound, and a queer valedictorian in South Jersey gets rudely cut off, then completes his moving speech. Oh, and a guy spent some time trapped in the mouth of a whale. Robin and Wendy get things started with *3 Random Facts* about B1 cells, The Final Concert, and the origins of the pop out cake. At the end of the show is the new mini-segment, *You Got Questions? We Got Answers!*, Robin responds to “Is Guardians of the Galaxy yacht rock?”

Things to do:

Learn more about the work of Daniel Kaye and order his books. All proceeds go to charity.

Check out *MILO K., hermit crab* on webtoons.com.

Watch *Cells at Work!* on Netflix.

Consult the Yachtski scale at yachtornyacht.com.

Watch Bryce Dershem deliver his inspiring valedictorian address:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxLwg9lsbqY

You Got Questions? Send ’em to insight@leftscape.com. We Got Answers!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Ask Us Anything! 100th Episode Celebration, Part 2 Jul 14, 2021

On Friday, April 23, 2021, The Leftscape celebrated having just posted the 100th episode. Here’s the second half of the Zoom celebration where Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée field questions from their first Ask Us Anything. Hear how Robin and Wendy met and their thoughts on the fun and challenging parts of producing a podcast. Who are their fantasy guests and favorite toons? What do they think about negotiating sex in pandemic times? The wide-ranging and light-hearted conversation features previous show guests Cedric Maurice, JD Stillwater, and John Tod, plus patrons and questions from the Facebook page.

The new season starts with Episode 105 at the end of July!

Listening Party! 100th Episode Celebration, Part 1 Jun 30, 2021

On Friday, April 23, 2021, The Leftscape celebrated having just posted the 100th episode. Listen in to the Zoom party where Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée caught up with previous show guests. Cedric Maurice (Mo Love) speaks about co-creating the new podcast, Black Fluidity: Bi Black Men Talk, JD Stillwater shares insights from his forthcoming book, Implications: The Interfaith Promise of Science, and John Tod gives an update on the growth and current process of the men’s group he founded and facilitates. Leftscape listeners Johnny Hallelujah and Laurence Peters join the conversation.

Don’t miss the next post which will feature the second half of the party — Robin and Wendy field questions from their first Ask Us Anything!

**Art and Inspiration (Episode 104)** Jun 17, 2021
Dr. Edward Vessel is a Senior Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt, Germany. His research group, the Visual Neuroaesthetics Lab, uses behavioral and brain imaging techniques to study the psychological and neural basis of aesthetic experiences, such as when a person is aesthetically “moved” by visual art, poetry, architecture, music, or natural landscapes. Through his work and service, Dr. Vessel aims to elevate the international profile of neuroaesthetics research: he is a board member of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics, and hosts events focused on neuroaesthetics both at MPIEA and international conferences. He received his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California and is former co-director of the New York University Artlab. Listen to learn about his latest research on understanding connections between being moved by art and creative inspiration.

Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée begin the news with something personal — the sad report on the passing of their former coven sister, Ladywolf. In international news, Benjamin Netanyahu is out as Israel’s Prime Minister. In the US, The Department of Justice upholds religious schools’ right to discriminate against LGBTQ students then updates the court filing on the issue. The celebration of Juneteenth (June 19th) is coming up this week. It will now become a federal holiday! Robin praises the pure excellence of 7-time US Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles and Wendy reports on newly-classified flying squirrels (continuing her quest to find Devo and squirrel facts Robin doesn’t know). The *3 Random Facts* at the top of the show involve capuchin monkey hygiene, humans’ establishment of gut flora, and why sea otters hold hands. In *The Artscape*, Robin interviews Wendy about her creative “origin story,” her work with Music for the Goddess, the *Goddess Mandala* CD, and other creative expressions.

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon to check out the *We Should Be Recording This* segment for June where Robin and Wendy discuss what has changed and what they have learned since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Things to do:

Visit the website of Dr. Edward Vessel.

Learn about the Visual Neuroaesthetics Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics.

Read “Aesthetically Appealing Art Increases Creative Inspiration” in *NeuroscienceNews.com*.

Learn more on the International Network for Neuroasthetics website.

Get into the creative works of Wendy Sheridan!

Support her wendycardz shop on Etsy.

Buy her music at musicforthegoddess.com.

Watch “Simone Biles Floor 2021 US Gymnastics Championships Day 2.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8w_WV-A608

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Featured image credit: MPI for Empirical Aesthetics

**Warning: Triggers (Episode 103)** Jun 02, 2021
Genea Barnes is committed to the elevation of humanity. Her work as an Elevation Guide focuses on helping individuals and groups to create greater effectiveness and ease in their lives. Neuro Linguistic Programming and hypnosis are among the tools she uses to neutralize self-sabotaging behavior, unwanted patterns, and emotional triggers with the aim of increasing self-worth and self-esteem. Genea speaks with Wendy Sheridan about elevation, the challenges/opportunities most of us find ourselves in, and what it looks like to apply the healing methods she uses in everyday life.

Happy Pride Month and African American Music Appreciation Month! Of course, the *3 Random Facts* for this episode have little to nothing to do with these June celebrations. Instead, we learn about the names of the months in ancient Rome, Middle Eastern and North African Americans according to the U.S. census, and a strange Alaskan law. In *News*, the metaphorical “triggers” in the main interview are all too real: Robin Renée talks about a close-to-home New Jersey mass shooting. Then Wendy and Robin share info on the growing number of restrictive voting laws and add Jaden Smith’s pay-what-you-can vegan restaurant to the mix for a little news in the positive column. In *The Blanket Fort*: We Can’t Relax, We Have to Relax: navigating activism and self-care.

Things to do:

Visit Genea Barnes’ website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Check out her podcast, *Self-Sabotaging Sagas*.

Read “Mindfulness for Activists” in *Tricycle: The Buddhist Review*.

Like the Loving Day NJ page on Facebook and take part in Loving Day Online on Saturday, June 12th.

Read “Why Does Bitcoin Need More Energy Than Whole Countries?”

Read about Texas voting restriction legislation in *The Washington Post*.

Listen to Marvin Gaye’s *What’s Going On*:

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**A Radical Expression of Love (Episdoe 102)** May 19, 2021
Sharice Richardson is a nonbinary, queer, Pagan healer and proprietor of Sun Crow Hands-On Healing. They are a Cuddle Sanctuary trained Professional Cuddler and Level II – Usui Reiki Practitioner, who trained under Reiki Master Sea. Sharice is deeply committed to utilizing the spiritual power of love and compassion to liberate, heal, and energetically transform lives. Having first met years ago in the Rutgers University LGBT activist community, Sharice and Robin catch up on their respective spiritual paths, gender evolution, both/and identities, and muse about political histories and the ultimate importance of love.

The *3 Random Facts* co-hosts Robin Renée and Wendy Sheridan have to share for this episode involve the MyPlate nutritional guide that replaced the old food pyramid, a few things about robins, and a gemstone carved by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. Wendy is rightfully proud to have come up with a Devo-related fact that Robin didn’t know. The news ranges from a wild cat jump and Van Morrison’s “tinfoil millinery” to the new CDC mask guidelines, a worrisome upcoming review by the Supreme Court of a Mississippi abortion law, and the latest Israel-Palestinian conflict (and uncertainty about how to think and talk about it). In *The Geekscape*, Robin dives into the deep end of electronic music genres, subgenres, and microgenres. Watch this space for a playlist of some of the exploration-in-progress.

Things to do:

Connect with Sharice Richardson about Sun Crow Hands-On Healing.

Check out Cuddle Sanctuary.

Read the CDC guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Read “Israel-Gaza Conflict: What You Need to Know.”

Like the Loving Day NJ page on Facebook and take part in Loving Day Online on Saturday, June 12th.

Geek out on the history of electronic music.

Watch “Kraftwerk live oct.1978”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdubMwbOndo

Watch “Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares — Full performance (Live on KEXP)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFgzzWT3zX4

Listen to “Laiska”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-zqzGAVGFU

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Rodney Whittenberg & Mx Chris Paige — **What the World Needs (Episode 101)** May 05, 2021
The new documentary film, *Angels and Saints – Eros and Awe,* grapples with an American culture which has historically seen the body as “bad” and the spirit as “good.” It features a diverse group of clergy, sex educators, therapists, and workshop leaders who have learned to integrate eros with wisdom or spiritual awareness. Combined with dance, music, poetry, *Angels and Saints* offers their personal stories and broader insights. *Leftscape* co-host Robin Renée speaks with Rodney Whittenberg, Emmy-Award-winning “renaissance man” who handled co-production, camera, composing, and editing for the project, and Mx Chris Paige, author of *OtherWise Christian: A Guidebook for Transgender Liberation*, who appears in the film.

The *3 Random Facts* of the day include henotheism, when people tend to be most altruistic, and something unique about the month of May. This time in the *News*: Some families that were separated at the US-Mexico border have begun to be united, a disco tune inspires vaccination in Singapore, “reintegration” challenges for people as lockdowns are lifted in some places, ways to help those in India who are dealing with COVID-19 devastation, the VAX LIVE concert event, and an update for German gymnasts’ competition sportswear. Later, co-host Wendy Sheridan leads a discussion on what the world needs and finding one’s way to contribute while seeking *Ikigai* balance.

Things to do:

Learn more about and watch the trailer for *Angels and Saints – Eros and Awe*.

Explore the work of Mx Chris Paige: Transfaith, OtherWise Engaged Publishing.

Explore the work of Rodney Whittenberg on IMDb.

Help people in India who are dealing with COVID-19. View How to Help Amid India’s Devastating COVID Surge and “10 Places to Donate to Help India Amid the COVID Crisis.”

Watch VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World on Saturday, May 8th, 8 PM ET/PT, 7 PM CT on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App.

Watch a catchy, disco “V is for Victory over COVID” video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZzjMw5V9WU

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

birthday cake with candles lit and "100" in front — **Celebrating 100 Episodes!** Apr 21, 2021
*The Leftscape* is proud and excited to celebrate 100 episodes! This installment is one big *Why Is This Awesome?* as co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take a look back at favorite conversations along the journey since its beginning in May 2018.

Before the discussion of conversations past, the show starts off with a quick *Rewind*, *3 Random Facts* and the *News* (some upsetting and a little purely positive). The facts this time include stuff you may or may not have always wanted to know about manatees, Hulk Hogan, and The Squirrel Index. In the news, sadly, gun violence seems to be moving along at the usual pace. Then there’s the police officer who was fired after pepper spraying a black Army officer, the virtual no-show for a series of White Lives Matter rallies, and the guitarist who became the first to plead guilty to charges for the January 6th riot at the Capitol. In the decidedly good news column, the Ingenuity helicopter became the first powered flight on another planet and the “Heart (Parts 1 & 2)” episode of *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power* is up for a Hugo Award!

Things to do:

**RSVP and JOIN US on Facebook Live this Friday, April 23rd at 8pm for the Leftscape 100th Episode Celebration!!**

Ask Us Anything and watch for your questions answered during the event!

Listen to the full episodes that include the interview excerpts featured in this show:

Bi In the World: Social Activist Cedric Maurice (Episode 17)
Of Memes and Men (Episode 41)
Laughter Matters: Jaleesa Johnson of Mueller, She Wrote (Episode 49)
Oral Sex With Reid Mihalko (Episode 69)
The End of Certainty (Episode 79)
Yolandananda! (Episode 87)
Anji Marth’s Paintings From Quarantine (Episode 89)
Cognitive Dissonance With Pandora Scooter (Episode 91)
Getting It — Read Up on Healthy Hookups (Episode 94)

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Former Co-Host Mary McGinley appears in some featured audio clips.

Robin Renee and Wendy Sheridan at PFLAG Queens Awards Luncheon, 2020-02-02 — **Celebrating 100 Episodes!** Apr 21, 2021
*The Leftscape* is proud and excited to celebrate 100 episodes! This installment is one big *Why Is This Awesome?* as co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée take a look back at favorite conversations along the journey since its beginning in May 2018.

Before the discussion of conversations past, the show starts off with a quick *Rewind*, *3 Random Facts* and the *News* (some upsetting and a little purely positive). The facts this time include stuff you may or may not have always wanted to know about manatees, Hulk Hogan, and The Squirrel Index. In the news, sadly, gun violence seems to be moving along at the usual pace. Then there’s the police officer who was fired after pepper spraying a black Army officer, the virtual no-show for a series of White Lives Matter rallies, and the guitarist who became the first to plead guilty to charges for the January 6th riot at the Capitol. In the decidedly good news column, the Ingenuity helicopter became the first powered flight on another planet and the “Heart (Parts 1 & 2)” episode of *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power* is up for a Hugo Award!

Things to do:

**RSVP and JOIN US on Facebook Live this Friday, April 23rd at 8pm for the Leftscape 100th Episode Celebration!!**

Ask Us Anything and watch for your questions answered during the event!

Listen to the full episodes that include the interview excerpts featured in this show:

Bi In the World: Social Activist Cedric Maurice (Episode 17)
Of Memes and Men (Episode 41)
Laughter Matters: Jaleesa Johnson of Mueller, She Wrote (Episode 49)
Oral Sex With Reid Mihalko (Episode 69)
The End of Certainty (Episode 79)
Yolandananda! (Episode 87)
Anji Marth’s Paintings From Quarantine (Episode 89)
Cognitive Dissonance With Pandora Scooter (Episode 91)
Getting It — Read Up on Healthy Hookups (Episode 94)

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Former Co-Host Mary McGinley appears in some featured audio clips.

**NJ Assembly Candidate Elizabeth Graner (Episode 99)** Apr 07, 2021
Elizabeth Graner is an educator, a mom, and a Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District. She grew up just outside Pittsburgh as the oldest child of five siblings in a first-generation Irish American home. She moved to New Jersey after college and worked in New York City in corporate human resources and immigration law before realizing her true calling as a teacher. Elizabeth wants to further that calling to advocate for her students and their families in state government. Wendy Sheridan talks with the candidate about how she found her way to politics, what it’s like to be in the race, and her desire to level the economic and opportunity playing field for all NJ citizens.
At the beginning of the show, Wendy gives a *Rewind* on mass shootings in the U.S. The *Three Random Facts* of the day involve Indonesian baseball player, “Mr. Nasty,” a grand parade of Egyptian mummies, and the strange demise of the singer of “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.” In *Leftscape News*: The next episode will be the 100th! In celebration, Wendy and Robin will host a 100th Episode Celebration (It may have a better name by then) on Friday, April 23rd at 8pm. Save the date and keep an eye out for more info. In other news: Terrible, Jim Crow-style voting laws in Georgia, President Biden’s “reefer madness” stance on cannabis, an updated interactive Media Bias Chart, royal unrest in Jordan, and good, local South Jersey news — The charming Clementon Park has been bought and the new owner intends to reopen. The first *Artscape* segment debuts later in the show. Wendy interviews co-host Robin Renée about hir musical and poetic work. Robin shares one new and one old spoken word piece in memory of close friend and musician, Kevin Coyle.

Things to do:

Contribute to Elizabeth Graner’s campaign fund.

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 23rd at 8pm for the 100th Episode Celebration. Ask Us Anything and watch for your questions answered during the event!

Watch scenes from the ancient Egyptian mummy parade.

Check out the new Interactive Media Bias Chart.

Explore the high weirdness of The Church of the SubGenius.

Listen to Robin Renée on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you download or stream music.

Watch The Mutant Mountain Boys perform “Whip It (Barn Dance).”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LuNcesGwVk

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Thomas the goose, partners & chicks — **Therapy, Activism, and Reclaiming “Freedom” (Episode 97)** Mar 10, 2021
Halina Brooke is a therapist, mental health counselor, and longtime advocate in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a PhD student with a research focus on how therapists cope with ethical and clinical mistakes. When she’s not being the squeaky wheel for a good cause, you can find her teaching and mentoring college and grad students or wading through research on professional ethics and counselor education. In this featured interview, Halina discusses her work on a campaign to stop SB 1482, legislation that prevents the banning of so-called conversion therapy. She shares her ideas on the importance of engaging in substantive political conversation, how much the words and framing we use really matter, and she takes a look at Bisexual Health Awareness Month through a therapist’s lens.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée check in at the beginning of the show and let listeners know about the observances happening this month. March is Women’s History Month, Endometriosis Awareness Month, Craft Month, and Bi Health Month (as noted during the interview). The *3 Random Facts* of the day involve The Great Vowel Shift, the life and loves of Thomas the goose, and the case for why March could be known as Alliteration Month.

In *All the News We Can Handle:* Jury selection begins in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, a mask burning on the Idaho Capitol steps, Sailor Sabol’s national anthem is a YouTube “hit,” Kings of Leon release an album as an NFT, the COVID relief bill passes in the Senate, and the CDC has issued post-vaccine guidelines. Later in the *Ikigai* segment, Wendy and Robin contemplate what they’re good at and how Impostor Syndrome might play a role in their perceptions.

Things to do:

Visit Halina Brooke’s website, Recourse Counseling, and follow her on Medium, Quora, and Pinterest.

Read the CDC’s recommendations for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Utilize the Bisexuality-Aware Professionals Directory.

Read “The Problem of CryptoArt” by Joanie Lemercier.

Support *The Leftscape* on Patreon and listen to the most recent *We Should Be Recording This* segment, “Grief Anniversaries.”

Buy *Goddess Mandala* by Wendy’s band, Music for the Goddess.

Things not to do:

Do not consume more than seven pounds of spinach a day.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Breaking Free (Episode 96)** Feb 23, 2021
Mrs. Shay Cook on Financial Freedom and How *Conspirituality* Keeps an Eye on Cult Thinking

Mrs. Shay Cook is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Crusaders for Change, LLC, which she began in May 2016. C4C is focused on empowering and equipping the broader community with tools they need to become financially free through counseling, coaching, and classes. Shay is a certified Accredited Financial Counselor® and Financial Fitness Coach®. She also holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in psychology. Mrs. Shay Cook lives in Odenton, MD with her husband and English Bulldog. In this featured conversation, she shares her thoughts on taking the right steps toward creating a healthy relationship with money and some of the psychological and class-based stumbling blocks that can show up to challenge us.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée start out the show with a check-in and a *Leftscape* update. The *Three Random Facts* of the day are comprised of two cat facts and one non-cat fact — some cicada info from Wendy to break the mold. In the *News*, there are the efforts by Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to help those caught in the Texas weather and energy crisis, the wildly successful Quentin Quarantino Rush Limbaugh Memorial Planned Parenthood Fundraiser, the Brood X cicada emergence, and a few things that are happening in celebration of Black History Month (See “Things to do” below). In the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, Robin talks about what is wonderful and important about the *Conspirituality* podcast.

Things to do:

Find out more about Mrs. Shay Cook and Crusaders for Change, LLC.

Follow Crusaders for Change on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Check out the *Conspirituality* podcast.

Celebrate Black History Month!

Attend The Philly Soul Food Scene: Past, Present, & Future.

Listen to the February episodes of *The United States of Anxiety*.

Follow @NoHomoNoHetero on Twitter as they highlight Black bisexual men during Black History Month.

Donate to AOC’s fund to support relief efforts in Texas.

Donate to Feeding Texas.

Check out Quentin Quarantino on Instagram and contribute to his Planned Parenthood Fundraiser.

Turn yourself into a cat on your next Zoom meeting.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Je ne suis pas un chat — **Breaking Free (Episode 96)** Feb 23, 2021
Mrs. Shay Cook on Financial Freedom and How *Conspirituality* Keeps an Eye on Cult Thinking

Mrs. Shay Cook is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Crusaders for Change, LLC, which she began in May 2016. C4C is focused on empowering and equipping the broader community with tools they need to become financially free through counseling, coaching, and classes. Shay is a certified Accredited Financial Counselor® and Financial Fitness Coach®. She also holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in psychology. Mrs. Shay Cook lives in Odenton, MD with her husband and English Bulldog. In this featured conversation, she shares her thoughts on taking the right steps toward creating a healthy relationship with money and some of the psychological and class-based stumbling blocks that can show up to challenge us.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée start out the show with a check-in and a *Leftscape* update. The *Three Random Facts* of the day are comprised of two cat facts and one non-cat fact — some cicada info from Wendy to break the mold. In the *News*, there are the efforts by Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to help those caught in the Texas weather and energy crisis, the wildly successful Quentin Quarantino Rush Limbaugh Memorial Planned Parenthood Fundraiser, the Brood X cicada emergence, and a few things that are happening in celebration of Black History Month (See “Things to do” below). In the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, Robin talks about what is wonderful and important about the *Conspirituality* podcast.

Things to do:

Find out more about Mrs. Shay Cook and Crusaders for Change, LLC.

Follow Crusaders for Change on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Check out the *Conspirituality* podcast.

Celebrate Black History Month!

Attend The Philly Soul Food Scene: Past, Present, & Future.

Listen to the February episodes of *The United States of Anxiety*.

Follow @NoHomoNoHetero on Twitter as they highlight Black bisexual men during Black History Month.

Donate to AOC’s fund to support relief efforts in Texas.

Donate to Feeding Texas.

Check out Quentin Quarantino on Instagram and contribute to his Planned Parenthood Fundraiser.

Turn yourself into a cat on your next Zoom meeting.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**PolitiCALM in the Chaos (Episode 95)** Feb 10, 2021
Christina Romelus is the founder of PolitiCALM, a new organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals entering, engaging in, and exiting public life. She was elected to public office as a Boynton Beach, FL City Commissioner at the age of 27 in 2016. Through her years in public service, she strived to be a voice for those not normally represented in government. Romelus launched PolitiCALM on Inauguration Day, January 20th, the same day this featured interview was recorded. She shares her thoughts about that historic day plus how PolitiCALM aims to provide coaching, mental health support, and campaign guidance to those in the government space.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley are back from January break and start the show with a check-in followed by *3 Random Facts*. Find out what casinos and shopping malls have in common, what Wendy found while cleaning her desk, and what classic singer is current Twitter royalty. *All the News We Can Handle* includes the latest on face mask efficacy, a vote-by-mail reminder, and the beginning of the second impeachment trial for the former president. In *The Blanket Fort* segment, Wendy, Mary, and Robin discuss ask vs. guess culture and think about ways to achieve more honest communication.

Things to do:

Visit the PolitiCALM website, like PolitiCALM on Facebook, and follow on Twitter and Instagram

Read “This column will change your life” on ask vs. guess culture in *The Guardian*.

Learn more about the efficacy of various face coverings in *Science Advances*.

Pennsylvania Voters: Register to vote and request your mail-in or absentee ballot. The deadline is May 11th in order to vote in the May 18th primary election.

Follow Dionne Warwick on Twitter, where her bio reads, “I am not writing a bio.”

Watch Dionne Warwick sing “I Say A Little Prayer” on *The Ed Sullivan Show.*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERmrf48qe4

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Playwright Rich Orloff at Cabana — **Psychedelic Journey, Pandemic Times (Episode 78 Redux)** Jan 27, 2021
While *The Leftscape* co-hosts finish up their January break, check out these segments from “Neon Blessings, Beautiful Wounds (Episode 78).” Playwright Rich Orloff is the author of 18 full-length plays (most comedies, mostly award-winning) and over 80 short plays, which have received 2,000 productions on six continents – and a staged reading on Antarctica. His exploration of psychedelic-assisted underground therapy in recent years led to deepening perception and unexpected spirituality as well as to his autobiographical monologue, *It’s A Beautiful Wound*. In this conversation with co-host Robin Renée, Orloff reads an excerpt and describes the ways guided experiences with psychedelics have helped him with moving through and beyond trauma. This episode first posted on April 15, 2020. As a New York City resident, Rich also shares a great deal about life at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

The *Three Random Facts* that usually start the episodes aren’t often included in redux shows, but facts about the strange dietary choices by Wendy Sheridan‘s cat, the truth about the COVID-related toilet paper shortage, and radical Grandpa Walton seemed worth revisiting. After the interview, Wendy reads from the profound essay, “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*,” in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment.

Things to do:

Learn more about Rich Orloff and *It’s a Beautiful Wound*.

Attend an online fundraiser performance of Rich Orloff’s newest theater piece, *Blessings From the Pandemic*. 100% of the income from performance will benefit Romemu, an eclectic Jewish community dedicated to opening body, heart, mind and spirit. The performance will be streamed on Saturday, February 13 at 7 pm EST* and will be followed by a dance party! Learn more and make your reservation.
*The performance starts at 7 p.m, preceded by a 6:30 p.m. Havdalah service of prayer and song. All are welcome.

Read Rich Orloff’s comedy, *The Whole Shebang*.

Read “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*” and other essays by Julio Vincent Gambuto.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape* and listen to “Insurrection to Inauguration,” Wendy, Robin, and Mary’s conversation about the emotional roller-coaster that January 2021 has been and how they’ve been coping.

Stay connected!

Website: leftscape.com
Email: insight@leftscape.com
Facebook: facebook.com/leftscape
Twitter: @leftscape
Instagram: @leftscape
Get the newsletter, The Leftscape Lookout

face masks theater design — **Psychedelic Journey, Pandemic Times (Episode 78 Redux)** Jan 27, 2021
While *The Leftscape* co-hosts finish up their January break, check out these segments from “Neon Blessings, Beautiful Wounds (Episode 78).” Playwright Rich Orloff is the author of 18 full-length plays (most comedies, mostly award-winning) and over 80 short plays, which have received 2,000 productions on six continents – and a staged reading on Antarctica. His exploration of psychedelic-assisted underground therapy in recent years led to deepening perception and unexpected spirituality as well as to his autobiographical monologue, *It’s A Beautiful Wound*. In this conversation with co-host Robin Renée, Orloff reads an excerpt and describes the ways guided experiences with psychedelics have helped him with moving through and beyond trauma. This episode first posted on April 15, 2020. As a New York City resident, Rich also shares a great deal about life at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

The *Three Random Facts* that usually start the episodes aren’t often included in redux shows, but facts about the strange dietary choices by Wendy Sheridan‘s cat, the truth about the COVID-related toilet paper shortage, and radical Grandpa Walton seemed worth revisiting. After the interview, Wendy reads from the profound essay, “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*,” in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment.

Things to do:

Learn more about Rich Orloff and *It’s a Beautiful Wound*.

Attend an online fundraiser performance of Rich Orloff’s newest theater piece, *Blessings From the Pandemic*. 100% of the income from performance will benefit Romemu, an eclectic Jewish community dedicated to opening body, heart, mind and spirit. The performance will be streamed on Saturday, February 13 at 7 pm EST* and will be followed by a dance party! Learn more and make your reservation.
*The performance starts at 7 p.m, preceded by a 6:30 p.m. Havdalah service of prayer and song. All are welcome.

Read Rich Orloff’s comedy, *The Whole Shebang*.

Read “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*” and other essays by Julio Vincent Gambuto.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape* and listen to “Insurrection to Inauguration,” Wendy, Robin, and Mary’s conversation about the emotional roller-coaster that January 2021 has been and how they’ve been coping.

Stay connected!

Website: leftscape.com
Email: insight@leftscape.com
Facebook: facebook.com/leftscape
Twitter: @leftscape
Instagram: @leftscape
Get the newsletter, The Leftscape Lookout

Basic Wiccan Ethics book cover — **Susan R. Kagan & She-Ra (Episode 73 Redux)** Jan 13, 2021
While *The Leftscape* co-hosts take a January break, check out these excerpts from “Wiccan Ethics, Activate! (Episode 73).” Wendy Sheridan speaks with New Orleans author and Third Degree High Priestess Susan R. Kagan about her books, *Ruxandra, Granddaughter of Vlad the Impaler* and *Basic Wiccan Ethics: Avoiding a Perilous Path*. The conversation between longtime friends flows into an array of topics including productive procrastination, organizing (in one’s house and in the community), the impending (1st) impeachment, the importance of #VoteBlue, and the folly of being a progressive Puritopian. Then Wendy and Robin Renée enter *The Geekscape* to discuss the exploration of friendship in *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Season 4* (Spoilers abound!).

Things to do:

Read *Basic Wiccan Ethics: Avoiding a Perilous Path* and *Ruxandra* by Susan R. Kagan.

Watch *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power* on Netflix.

Stay connected!

Website: leftscape.com
Email: insight@leftscape.com
Facebook: facebook.com/leftscape
Twitter: @leftscape
Instagram: @leftscape
Become a patron: patreon.com/leftscape
Get the newsletter, The Leftscape Lookout

**Getting It – Read Up on Healthy Hookups (Episode 94)** Dec 30, 2020
Allison Moon is the author of five books including the award-winning sex-ed guide Girl Sex 101, the erotic memoir Bad Dyke, and the Tales of the Pack series of novels about lesbian werewolves. Allison was a 2011 Lambda Literary Emerging LGBT Authors Fellow and she has a degree in Neuroscience from Oberlin College. As a sex educator, Allison has presented her workshops — on polyamory, sexual self-expression, erotica writing, strap-on sex, and more — to thousands of people around the US and Canada. Her new book, Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex, has just been released by Ten Speed Press. Hear her share from this new, inclusive, non-judgmental resource about developing good communication, boundaries, “The Casual Sex Bill of Rights,” and other tips that can benefit anyone wanting to develop healthy sexual relating. Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley, start off the episode with *3 Random Facts and the News*. This time the facts involve the birthday of musicologist Alfred Einstein, the blue whale’s hefty tongue, and the erstwhile function of goosebumps. The news features The CASE Act, which was signed into law as part of the recent stimulus package. The Case Act allows writers and musicians to sue for remedies for the theft of their intellectual property without having to first hire a lawyer. Also highlighted are the many new species discovered in 2020 including a turtle good at hiding among rocks and a snake that had been hiding in plain sight for years. In the Geekscape segment, Wendy gives her take on *Wonder Woman 1984*. Consider this your spoiler alert!
Things to do:

Visit Allison Moon’s website girlsex101.com and follow her on Instagram.

Order your copy of Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex.

Order books from local booksellers at bookshop.org.

Learn more about abortionfunds.org.

Watch *Wonder Woman 1984* on HBO Max.

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon to listen to the latest *We Should Be Recording This* conversation, Transgressive Behavior: Where are the lines? It starts with Jeffrey Toobin’s infamous Zoom meeting and goes on from there as Wendy, Mary, and Robin explore where the lines are within each of them.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Getting It - Allison Moon book cover — **Getting It – Read Up on Healthy Hookups (Episode 94)** Dec 30, 2020
Allison Moon is the author of five books including the award-winning sex-ed guide Girl Sex 101, the erotic memoir Bad Dyke, and the Tales of the Pack series of novels about lesbian werewolves. Allison was a 2011 Lambda Literary Emerging LGBT Authors Fellow and she has a degree in Neuroscience from Oberlin College. As a sex educator, Allison has presented her workshops — on polyamory, sexual self-expression, erotica writing, strap-on sex, and more — to thousands of people around the US and Canada. Her new book, Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex, has just been released by Ten Speed Press. Hear her share from this new, inclusive, non-judgmental resource about developing good communication, boundaries, “The Casual Sex Bill of Rights,” and other tips that can benefit anyone wanting to develop healthy sexual relating. Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley, start off the episode with *3 Random Facts and the News*. This time the facts involve the birthday of musicologist Alfred Einstein, the blue whale’s hefty tongue, and the erstwhile function of goosebumps. The news features The CASE Act, which was signed into law as part of the recent stimulus package. The Case Act allows writers and musicians to sue for remedies for the theft of their intellectual property without having to first hire a lawyer. Also highlighted are the many new species discovered in 2020 including a turtle good at hiding among rocks and a snake that had been hiding in plain sight for years. In the Geekscape segment, Wendy gives her take on *Wonder Woman 1984*. Consider this your spoiler alert!
Things to do:

Visit Allison Moon’s website girlsex101.com and follow her on Instagram.

Order your copy of Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex.

Order books from local booksellers at bookshop.org.

Learn more about abortionfunds.org.

Watch *Wonder Woman 1984* on HBO Max.

Join *The Leftscape* on Patreon to listen to the latest *We Should Be Recording This* conversation, Transgressive Behavior: Where are the lines? It starts with Jeffrey Toobin’s infamous Zoom meeting and goes on from there as Wendy, Mary, and Robin explore where the lines are within each of them.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**The Quest for Sisterhood (Episode 93)** Dec 16, 2020
Dr. Stephanie Brown on Black Women Post-Election, Creating Community, and Self-Care for All

Dr. Stephanie Brown is a family physician who has been practicing for over 20 years. Over the past few years, she decided to expand her wellness focus to include emotional, spiritual, and relational healing as well as physical. She became a life coach because of her desire to create a safe space for women to overcome anything that may be holding them back. In May of 2020 she launched *S.O.A.R.* (Sisters Overcoming and Rising). It is a platform that includes a radio show, a podcast, a virtual community, and more. The goal is simply to empower, educate and uplift women — especially Black women. In this featured interview, Dr. Stephanie Brown talks about creating *S.O.A.R.*, the role Black women play on the U.S. political landscape, creating community, what it’s like on the COVID-19 front lines, and she shares guidance about much-needed healing and self-care to help us live our most joyful and empowered lives.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée announce two *Leftscape* holiday events, Househenge to celebrate Winter Solstice and a New Year Chillout party. Click the links below to get more info and to RSVP! In the *Ikigai* segment, Wendy, Mary, and Robin contemplate, “How do we know what we love to do?” Among *All the News We Can Handle* are the COVID vaccinations just beginning in the United States, the Texas lawsuit against swing states that SCOTUS won’t hear, and the Cleveland baseball team’s decision to drop an offensive name and logo. The 3 Random Facts that start off the show teach us about how to report phishing texts, who coined the acronym EGOT, and a skill comparison between humans and sharks.

Things to do:

Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Brown at Stephanie Brown Coaching.

Listen to the S.O.A.R. radio show Sundays at 7pm on MyI95 and the S.O.A.R. podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.

RSVP for *The Leftscape* holiday happenings!

Househenge: A Winter Solstice Event

A Leftscape New Year Chillout

Volunteer and donate to help in the Georgia runoff elections with Stacey Abrams’ organization, Fair Fight, and Crooked Media’s Adopt-A-State campaign.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Samantha Poole as Tank Girl — **Asexuality. Animaniacs. (Episode 92)** Dec 02, 2020
Samantha Poole has been a member of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) since it began in 2002. She was recently credited by members of AVEN as being the first person to coin the now frequently-used terms describing romantic attraction apart from sexual attraction. She defines herself as heteroromantic asexual. Samantha is a psychiatrist with a special interest in the LGBTQ+ population. In her spare time she likes to bellydance, play the banjo, attend cosplay cons, as well as DEVOtional, the annual Devo fan gathering, where she met co-host Robin Renée in 2005. Listen in to Samantha’s conversation with Robin as she shares candidly about her journey toward understanding her asexuality, navigating relationships, and finding community.

The *3 Random Facts* Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley impart this time to begin the show involve public transportation in Iceland, the political structure in Ethiopia, and how biological sex works for clownfish. *All the News We Can Handle* is a Thanksgiving holiday report followed by the harsh reality check of the dire COVID-19 third wave in the United States. Dr. Deborah Birx warns that if you travelled for Thanksgiving, you have to assume that you were exposed and became infected. The COVID Act Now website added a color beyond red — maroon now indicates severe outbreak. There is hope in coming vaccines including one from Moderna. In other news, Biden’s bone break and action to take to help get out the vote in Georgia. Later, Robin raves about the new *Animaniacs* reboot in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment.

Things to do:

Connect with Samantha Poole on Facebook.

Learn more about the Asexual Visibility & Education Network.

Stay home as much as possible to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Visit COVID Act Now.

Help elect Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the US Senate: Adopt a State

Wish Wendy a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on December 3rd!

Follow *The Leftscape* on Facebook and attend Househenge: A Winter Solstice Event on December 21st!

Watch The Mutant Mountain Boys: “Bob” Dobbs is Watching Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YaNX0OfGyw

Watch *Animaniacs – Official Trailer (2020)* and check out the show on Hulu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeOrUvOPfgg

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Cognitive Dissonance With Pandora Scooter (Episode 91)** Nov 18, 2020
Pandora Scooter is a poet, performer and provocateur. She’s an award-winning playwright and spoken word artist. She is the winner of Best Musical with Rachel Felstein for her punk rock, all-female feminist musical, *wRETCH*. Two of her solo shows, *OUTwordly Fabulous* and *I AM ENOUGH*, both focused on helping LGBTQ+ teens, have toured the U.S. She has taught at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Drew University, Rider University, and currently teaches at NYU. In this featured interview from August 2020, Pandora reads from her work-in-progress, *Cognitive Dissonance* or How to Speak to Woke White People. She critiques liberals’ tendency to hide from their complicity with oppression and inequality, shares her experience as a biracial person in conversations on race, talks about taking on the most challenging, real-life topics in the theater arts, and much more.

Earlier in the show, Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley discuss “all the news they can handle,” including congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Moderna’s promising COVID-19 vaccine trials, the Space-X launch headed for the International Space Station, and a charity run in Philadelphia from the famous Four Seasons to the lesser-known spot. As usual, *Three Random Facts* kick off the show. Find out about the leaf sheep, The Outer Space Treaty, and the longest one-syllable word in the English language. Later in *The Blanket Fort*: a vulnerable conversation about panic and anxiety. What does it feel like when there’s even more to deal with than the overall fears that 2020 brings? What are some of the tools we have to handle it all?

Things to do:

Visit pandorascooter.com and contact Pandora to find out more about her work.

Read *A People’s History of the United States* by Howard Zinn

Do the Fraud Street Charity Run from Four Seasons Total Landscaping to Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia

Try an expressive writing technique to help with emotional regulation.

See Wendy’s sympathetic magick for the presidential election: “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai puzzle

Check out even more leaf sheep!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_twa1nd3Rc

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**A Socially-Distanced Samhain (Episode 90)** Nov 04, 2020
Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée discuss the U.S. presidential election and try to manage their stress as votes are counted. They have some fun with random facts, speculate about what could be happening in voting trends, and contemplate the challenges to making the best case for liberal and progressive candidates. Robin and Mary report on The Leftscape Election Night Hangout, which included previous show guests, John C. Tod, Anne Sabagh, Elisebeth VanderWeil, and Analysis. Then the co-hosts recount their recent socially-distanced Samhain gathering and spend some time remembering loved ones and other notable people who have died in 2020.

Congratulations go out to Sarah McBride, who made history as the first transgender woman to be elected to the state senate in Delaware. Congrats also to Arizona, South Dakota, Montana, and *The Leftscape*‘s home state of New Jersey for passing legislation legalizing recreational cannabis. Fingers crossed for the presidency.

“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai

Things to do:

Learn about celebrating Samhain.

Watch the Philadelphia City Commissioners Live Stream as election workers count the ballots.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape*!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Featured image by ksyfffka07 from Pixabay

Anji Marth - The Horrors book cover — **Anji Marth’s Paintings From Quarantine (Episode 89)** Oct 22, 2020
Anji Marth been a professional tattoo artist and painter since 1999. Her published books include *Tar and Gravel*, *Knuckle Sandwich*, the *resonant eyes* series, and *The Horrors* coloring book for adults. Her current project is a series of abstract paintings, *Paintings From Quarantine*. She also works in taxidermy as assemblage art as well as illustration. Anji grew up in coal country, Pennsylvania and has lived in the Pacific Inland Northwest for 24 years. She and Wendy share a wide-ranging conversation on the left/liberal/conservative/right political spectrum, what it is to be a prepper, and her painfully beautiful paintings in response to this very heavy year.
The show kicks off as usual with *3 Random Facts and the News*. In the Facts Dept. are some revelations about the stone heads on Easter Island, Travis Gienger’s big win at the 2020 World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, and the U.S. tornado count in 2010. Then co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée discuss the U.S. Presidential election that is now less than two weeks away, early voting, and opportunities to volunteer to get out the vote (See links in “Things to Do” below.). In non-voting news, Amy Suskind published “This is Not Normal” in *The Washington Post*, a list of things that shifted during the Trump presidency (and need to be rolled back or otherwise remedied) and Jeffrey Toobin’s masturbation misadventure. Later in *The Geekscape*, Mary, Robin, and Wendy talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly among beliefs and remedies sometimes called “woo.”

Things to Do:

Make your plan to volunteer and VOTE: VoteSaveAmerica.com

Learn more about Anji Marth at resonanteye.net and follow her @resonanteye on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and support her on Patreon.

Back Anji Marth’s *Paintings From Quarantine* coffee table book project on Kickstarter.

Get Anji Marth prints and art and check out her books.

See how *Pro Publica* and *The Guardian* are tracking mail-in ballots in critical states.

Fight Voter Suppression with Reclaim Our Vote.

Help out one or more of these Democratic GOTV postcard campaigns.

Use USVoteFoundation.org’s Where’s My Ballot page to find and use your state’s ballot tracker.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

painting Anji Marth — **Anji Marth’s Paintings From Quarantine (Episode 89)** Oct 22, 2020
Anji Marth been a professional tattoo artist and painter since 1999. Her published books include *Tar and Gravel*, *Knuckle Sandwich*, the *resonant eyes* series, and *The Horrors* coloring book for adults. Her current project is a series of abstract paintings, *Paintings From Quarantine*. She also works in taxidermy as assemblage art as well as illustration. Anji grew up in coal country, Pennsylvania and has lived in the Pacific Inland Northwest for 24 years. She and Wendy share a wide-ranging conversation on the left/liberal/conservative/right political spectrum, what it is to be a prepper, and her painfully beautiful paintings in response to this very heavy year.
The show kicks off as usual with *3 Random Facts and the News*. In the Facts Dept. are some revelations about the stone heads on Easter Island, Travis Gienger’s big win at the 2020 World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, and the U.S. tornado count in 2010. Then co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée discuss the U.S. Presidential election that is now less than two weeks away, early voting, and opportunities to volunteer to get out the vote (See links in “Things to Do” below.). In non-voting news, Amy Suskind published “This is Not Normal” in *The Washington Post*, a list of things that shifted during the Trump presidency (and need to be rolled back or otherwise remedied) and Jeffrey Toobin’s masturbation misadventure. Later in *The Geekscape*, Mary, Robin, and Wendy talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly among beliefs and remedies sometimes called “woo.”

Things to Do:

Make your plan to volunteer and VOTE: VoteSaveAmerica.com

Learn more about Anji Marth at resonanteye.net and follow her @resonanteye on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and support her on Patreon.

Back Anji Marth’s *Paintings From Quarantine* coffee table book project on Kickstarter.

Get Anji Marth prints and art and check out her books.

See how *Pro Publica* and *The Guardian* are tracking mail-in ballots in critical states.

Fight Voter Suppression with Reclaim Our Vote.

Help out one or more of these Democratic GOTV postcard campaigns.

Use USVoteFoundation.org’s Where’s My Ballot page to find and use your state’s ballot tracker.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Change the Calculus (Episode 88)** Oct 07, 2020
Lisa Yancey on Reframing Business and Building Abundance

Lisa Yancey is an entrepreneurial strategist who has built a practice solving problems for nonprofit organizations. Through her company, Yancey Consulting, she specializes in strategic organizational planning, leadership coaching, and much more. She is also the co-founder of The We’s Match, which is dedicated to creating an ecosystem of scale wealth and wellness for Black women entrepreneurs and of SorsaMED, a biologics company dedicated to building plant-based options for chronic pain management with a focus on sickle cell anemia. Lisa Yancey is a member of the New York State Bar Association and lives in Mount Vernon, NY. In this featured interview, find out about her exciting projects that help everyone involved thrive. Lisa shares a powerful message about doing work that centers community, collaboration, and holistic profit. Hear her advice for getting on the path of living your best life without apology.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée start the show off with *3 Random Facts and the News*: The facts this time involve this day in birthdays (Toni Braxton and Vladimir Putin among them), cats’ toes, and a tip for autumn – the benefits of planting garlic. In the news is Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, the skepticism and conspiracy theories that cropped up immediately, and the policing of how we should feel about it. Speaking of conspiracy theories, QAnon is increasing in alternative health and spiritual communities. Also in the news, Proud Boys problems, the Nobel Prize for the discovery of hep C, and a new project by artist Anji Marth, *Paintings From Quarantine*. In the *Ikigai* segment, Wendy leads a discussion on what she’s learned about the Japanese concept of *ikigai,* discovering one’s life purpose, creating community connections, doing meaningful work, and living well overall.

Things to do:

Learn more about Lisa Yancey and Yancey Consulting, The We’s Match, and SorsaMED.

Listen to “The Rise of Conspirituality,” a conversation with yoga instructor Seane Corn on *On The Media.*

Read about this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus.

Back Anji Marth’s powerful Kickstarter project, *Paintings From Quarantine*.

Read *Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life* by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.

Try working with *My Little Ikigai Journal* by Amanda Kudo.

Watch “Make Our Garden Grow” from *Candide*.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlVD-jrq_Yk

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life — **Change the Calculus (Episode 88)** Oct 07, 2020
Lisa Yancey on Reframing Business and Building Abundance

Lisa Yancey is an entrepreneurial strategist who has built a practice solving problems for nonprofit organizations. Through her company, Yancey Consulting, she specializes in strategic organizational planning, leadership coaching, and much more. She is also the co-founder of The We’s Match, which is dedicated to creating an ecosystem of scale wealth and wellness for Black women entrepreneurs and of SorsaMED, a biologics company dedicated to building plant-based options for chronic pain management with a focus on sickle cell anemia. Lisa Yancey is a member of the New York State Bar Association and lives in Mount Vernon, NY. In this featured interview, find out about her exciting projects that help everyone involved thrive. Lisa shares a powerful message about doing work that centers community, collaboration, and holistic profit. Hear her advice for getting on the path of living your best life without apology.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée start the show off with *3 Random Facts and the News*: The facts this time involve this day in birthdays (Toni Braxton and Vladimir Putin among them), cats’ toes, and a tip for autumn – the benefits of planting garlic. In the news is Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, the skepticism and conspiracy theories that cropped up immediately, and the policing of how we should feel about it. Speaking of conspiracy theories, QAnon is increasing in alternative health and spiritual communities. Also in the news, Proud Boys problems, the Nobel Prize for the discovery of hep C, and a new project by artist Anji Marth, *Paintings From Quarantine*. In the *Ikigai* segment, Wendy leads a discussion on what she’s learned about the Japanese concept of *ikigai,* discovering one’s life purpose, creating community connections, doing meaningful work, and living well overall.

Things to do:

Learn more about Lisa Yancey and Yancey Consulting, The We’s Match, and SorsaMED.

Listen to “The Rise of Conspirituality,” a conversation with yoga instructor Seane Corn on *On The Media.*

Read about this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus.

Back Anji Marth’s powerful Kickstarter project, *Paintings From Quarantine*.

Read *Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life* by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.

Try working with *My Little Ikigai Journal* by Amanda Kudo.

Watch “Make Our Garden Grow” from *Candide*.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlVD-jrq_Yk

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

YolandaNanda album cover — **YolandaNanda! (Episode 87)** Sep 23, 2020
Rev. Yolanda is a singer/songwriter/trans-femme genderqueer performance artist and interfaith minister, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama — the hit recording capital of the world. Rev. Yolanda has been honored with induction into the GLBT Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, and also with two MAC Awards from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. A brand new recording, *YolandaNanda,* is based on her love for mantras of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh traditions. She shares her story of journeying from a Christian background to growing to understand her sexuality and gender to life and spirituality through The Radical Faeries and an interfaith seminary to the music ministry she has today. Don’t miss her excellent anecdotes and memorable music!

The Episode starts off with *3 Random Facts*: Wendy Sheridan teaches us that octopi can change in more ways than most of us may have heard, Mary McGinley tells us about a company’s attempt to make broccoli more appealing to kids (epic fail), and Robin Renée speaks of mysterious appearances by a flute-playing André 3000. The *News* turns to the heart-wrenching loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the new Bob Woodward book, *Rage*, cannabis legalization on the ballot, and a “UFO” over New Jersey. At the end of the show, Wendy, Mary, and Robin enter *The Blanket Fort* to process grief, think about creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to offer congrats to recently newlywed friends and family. Reminder: Be kind to yourself.

Things to do:

Get the new album, *YolandaNanda*!

Attend Church With a Two Drink Minimum.

Learn about Drag Queen Story Hour.

Get ready to VOTE and find out how you can VOLUNTEER at VoteSaveAmerica.com.

Learn about Celebrate Bisexuality Day and follow hashtags #BiVisibilityDay, #BiWeek, #BiVisibilityMonth for events and conversation.

Watch *My Octopus Teacher* on Netflix.

Check out the Church of the SubGenius. Get ordained, get some sacred SubGenius music downloads, and more. Praise “Bob!”

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Mrs. America promo — **Time Management for Busy Activists (Episode 86)** Sep 09, 2020
Tom Limoncelli is a time management author and trainer from New Jersey who also happens to be an internationally recognized bisexual activist. In this featured interview, he merges his knowledge in these fields with life, work, and LGBTQ equality movement experiences to share advice on time management for activists. Listen in for tips you can start using right away like “Invest 5,” “The Small Batch Principle,” and “Time Boxing” to get more done and to achieve better focus so there is less to do. Tom’s books include *Vol 1: The Practice of System and Network Administration*, *Vol 2: The Practice of Cloud System Administration*, and *Time Management for System Administrators*. He is also the humorist behind the wonderful Leftscape “sponsors” featured in recent episodes. Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley are happy to be back to *The Leftscape* after summer break. They begin the show with *3 Random Facts*, this time involving employers and your COVID-19 status, a cool study on the acoustics of ancient Stonehenge, and the color of cats (A *Geekscape* segment on cats facts appears to be forthcoming.). They discuss a few lighter items from the firehose that is the news: the ill-fated boat parade, Novak Djokovic’s ill-fated U.S. Open moment, and Bi Visibility Month. There is one essential news item/reminder: the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 3rd and the importance of making sure you’re registered and have a solid plan to vote. In the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, Wendy talks about the historical drama, *Mrs. America*, its telling of the 1970s feminist movement for adoption of the ERA, and its conservative opposition. Spoilers abound.
Things to do:

Learn more about Tom Limoncelli at Tom on Time.

CONTACT TOM NOW if you can help him make connections to reach his goal of teaching time management to 100 tech workers at political campaigns working to defeat Donald Trump.

Visit Can I Vote to register to vote, check your registration status, find your polling place, become a poll worker, and more.

Watch Mrs. America on Hulu.

Read about a study on the acoustics at ancient Stonehenge.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape*!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

We are on vacation this August. Aug 07, 2020

We’re on vacation! Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. Look for new Leftscape shows in September.

But we won’t be completely idle this month. We’re doing an August Patreon Membership Drive.

Your support helps us out with our production costs and equipment so we can continue to produce the podcast and create content you’ll love. We had the opportunity to produce a very limited edition of Leftscape pins and we are offering them to the first five people who join our Patreon at the Stage Door ($5/mo) level or higher, in addition to the perks listed on Patreon. You’ll get those, too.
If you are already supporting us at that level, or if you increase your support level, there is a pin for you. Tell your friends… and THANK YOU!

August Patreon Membership Drive
BECOME A PATRON

Ginny Sassaman and friends promote Gross National Happiness at a climate march — **The Happiness Paradigm (Episode 85)** Jul 22, 2020
Ginny Sassaman is a co-founder and past president of Gross National Happiness USA. She has a Masters in Mediation and a Certificate in Positive Psychology. Ginny created the Happiness Paradigm as a platform for teaching, writing about, and advocating for greater personal happiness and creating systems change for maximum well-being for all. Since 2013, she has served as a lay preacher in Unitarian Universalist churches on these topics. A book of 16 of these sermons, called *Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World,* was published in May 2020 by Rootstock Publishing. In this uplifting featured interview, she talks about how factors like childcare, attention to climate, friendship, personal fulfilment, as well as the economy can be taken together to gauge overall societal wellbeing. Listen in for tips on cultivating personal happiness and the creative, grounded optimism needed for effective activism.

Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley start off the show as usual with *3 Random Facts and the News*. Info about tennis scoring, Wendy’s weather station, and vending machines vs. sharks bring some levity to offset the harsh news: the killing of the son of Judge Esther Salas, unmarked agents detaining activists in Portland, the CDC’s decreasing access to coronavirus information, and the passing of Civil Rights giant, John Lewis. After the interview in the *Ikigai* segment, the co-hosts vent frustrations about the practical matter of sorting through way too much email and share a few pointers and positive effects of deleting digital clutter.

Things to do:

Order *Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World* from your local independent bookstore.

Contact Ginny Sassaman for information on her classes, workshops, and UU teachings.

Learn more about Gross National Happiness USA. Get involved!

Discover your greatest strengths: VIA Institute on Character

Read *Geography of Bliss* by Eric Weiner.

Refer to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Read information on BIPOC and COVID-19 by Jennifer L. Kasten, MD.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape*!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Preaching Happiness book cover - Ginny Sassaman — **The Happiness Paradigm (Episode 85)** Jul 22, 2020
Ginny Sassaman is a co-founder and past president of Gross National Happiness USA. She has a Masters in Mediation and a Certificate in Positive Psychology. Ginny created the Happiness Paradigm as a platform for teaching, writing about, and advocating for greater personal happiness and creating systems change for maximum well-being for all. Since 2013, she has served as a lay preacher in Unitarian Universalist churches on these topics. A book of 16 of these sermons, called *Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World,* was published in May 2020 by Rootstock Publishing. In this uplifting featured interview, she talks about how factors like childcare, attention to climate, friendship, personal fulfilment, as well as the economy can be taken together to gauge overall societal wellbeing. Listen in for tips on cultivating personal happiness and the creative, grounded optimism needed for effective activism.

Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley start off the show as usual with *3 Random Facts and the News*. Info about tennis scoring, Wendy’s weather station, and vending machines vs. sharks bring some levity to offset the harsh news: the killing of the son of Judge Esther Salas, unmarked agents detaining activists in Portland, the CDC’s decreasing access to coronavirus information, and the passing of Civil Rights giant, John Lewis. After the interview in the *Ikigai* segment, the co-hosts vent frustrations about the practical matter of sorting through way too much email and share a few pointers and positive effects of deleting digital clutter.

Things to do:

Order *Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World* from your local independent bookstore.

Contact Ginny Sassaman for information on her classes, workshops, and UU teachings.

Learn more about Gross National Happiness USA. Get involved!

Discover your greatest strengths: VIA Institute on Character

Read *Geography of Bliss* by Eric Weiner.

Refer to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Read information on BIPOC and COVID-19 by Jennifer L. Kasten, MD.

Become a patron of *The Leftscape*!

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

**Black Masculinity and the She-Ra Finale (Episode 84)** Jul 08, 2020
Dillon Carmichael is the founder of Redefining Black Masculinity. The Redefining Black Masculinity project works to document and express the black masculine identity in all of its facets, with the intention of providing insight and helping to expand the culture through deeper understanding. In this interview, Carmichael, who hails from Irvington, NJ, shares the family story that helped spark the project, he explains a bit about how black masculinity is traditionally policed with “no homo” assertions and more, and he talks about what he learned about masculinity and race while attending an all boys’ school in Pennsylvania. He discusses his quest to capture not only the struggles, but the joy and happiness of an inclusive black masculine experience through interviews, poetry, dance, and beyond. Carmichael is doing a lot for someone who humbly calls himself, “just a 24-year-old trying to find his way.”

The *3 Random Facts* that begin the show include New York’s law making it legal for women to go topless in public, a tale of Coke and Pepsi, and Robin remembers her father, who passed away 14 years ago to the day this episode first posts. Then in *News*, Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley discuss the horrors of Russian bounties for US soldiers, the exciting news about polyamorous domestic partnerships now recognized in Somerville, MA, and proposals for combination online and in-person college classes that has Mary wondering if it’s safer to retire. (Post-recording, Wendy wondered if maintaining some in-person classes is a move by the universities to retain their foreign students in the US on student visas since ICE has announced that any college students attending a 100% online school must leave the country.) Robin gives a report on a beach trip, during which social distancing was possible, but the behaviors of some were cause for concern.

SPOILER ALERT for the *Geekscape* segment — It’s all about *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power*, with an emphasis on its fifth and final season. Wendy, Mary, and Robin consider the relationships between Scorpia and Catra, Bow and Glimmer, and Catra and Adora, the portrayal of and instrumental role of Entrapta, and the journey to the Heart of Etheria as a metaphor for inner work and possibly environmentalism. They celebrate the overall queerness of the series and the way it advances portrayals of queerness in media. Is *She-Ra* a playbook for how to fight fascism? Will love save us in the real world?

*Apologies for the sound quality at times during this show. Robin will have a new headset in time for the next episode… Promise!

Things to do:

Follow the Redefining Black Masculinity project on Instagram.

Watch Redefining Black Masculinity videos on YouTube.

Watch She-Ra and the Princesses of Power!

Become a patron of *The Leftscape* and help mold *the shape of progressive conversation*.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Season 5 poster — **Black Masculinity and the She-Ra Finale (Episode 84)** Jul 08, 2020
Dillon Carmichael is the founder of Redefining Black Masculinity. The Redefining Black Masculinity project works to document and express the black masculine identity in all of its facets, with the intention of providing insight and helping to expand the culture through deeper understanding. In this interview, Carmichael, who hails from Irvington, NJ, shares the family story that helped spark the project, he explains a bit about how black masculinity is traditionally policed with “no homo” assertions and more, and he talks about what he learned about masculinity and race while attending an all boys’ school in Pennsylvania. He discusses his quest to capture not only the struggles, but the joy and happiness of an inclusive black masculine experience through interviews, poetry, dance, and beyond. Carmichael is doing a lot for someone who humbly calls himself, “just a 24-year-old trying to find his way.”

The *3 Random Facts* that begin the show include New York’s law making it legal for women to go topless in public, a tale of Coke and Pepsi, and Robin remembers her father, who passed away 14 years ago to the day this episode first posts. Then in *News*, Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley discuss the horrors of Russian bounties for US soldiers, the exciting news about polyamorous domestic partnerships now recognized in Somerville, MA, and proposals for combination online and in-person college classes that has Mary wondering if it’s safer to retire. (Post-recording, Wendy wondered if maintaining some in-person classes is a move by the universities to retain their foreign students in the US on student visas since ICE has announced that any college students attending a 100% online school must leave the country.) Robin gives a report on a beach trip, during which social distancing was possible, but the behaviors of some were cause for concern.

SPOILER ALERT for the *Geekscape* segment — It’s all about *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power*, with an emphasis on its fifth and final season. Wendy, Mary, and Robin consider the relationships between Scorpia and Catra, Bow and Glimmer, and Catra and Adora, the portrayal of and instrumental role of Entrapta, and the journey to the Heart of Etheria as a metaphor for inner work and possibly environmentalism. They celebrate the overall queerness of the series and the way it advances portrayals of queerness in media. Is *She-Ra* a playbook for how to fight fascism? Will love save us in the real world?

*Apologies for the sound quality at times during this show. Robin will have a new headset in time for the next episode… Promise!

Things to do:

Follow the Redefining Black Masculinity project on Instagram.

Watch Redefining Black Masculinity videos on YouTube.

Watch She-Ra and the Princesses of Power!

Become a patron of *The Leftscape* and help mold *the shape of progressive conversation*.

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Drew Yowell selfie — **Love Is All We Have (Episode 83)** Jun 24, 2020
Talking With Songwriter, Composer, and Producer Drew Yowell

Drew Yowell is a producer, songwriter and artist who has worked with legends like Phoebe Snow, David Lasley, Desmond Child, David Benoit, Dae Bennett, and Herb Alpert. He has played guitar for Sophie B. Hawkins and Kristin Hoffmann, among many others. He was recently nominated for his original composition on an MTV prosocial promo campaign. In addition to composing for MTV, he composes and produces music for VH1, LOGO, and Centric. In this conversation with Robin Renée, Drew offers some much-needed inspiration. He shares stories about working from home as a musician and storytelling through song, his friendship and writing experiences with Phoebe Snow, stepping into and ducking out of politics, coming back stronger after a serious brain injury, a recent instrumental piece called “Ascending,” and the making of his forthcoming album, featuring “Love Is All We Have.”

After sharing *3 Random Facts* at the beginning of the show about Isabella Furnace, a law made in 2009 in Canada about saying “sorry,” and the premiere of the Yacht Rock web series in 2005, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée dig into the news. Topics include Juneteenth, the mystery and theories around frequent fireworks, and the tragic killing of Rayshard Brooks which prompts a personal story that puts a fine point on racial bias in policing. SCOTUS rulings provide some recent good news: no discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in the workplace and the ending of DACA has been blocked. Also, the Trump campaign was issued a cease and desist letter by the estate of Tom Petty for the use of “I Won’t Back Down” at his very underattended rally in Tulsa, OK. After the featured interview, Robin goes off in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment about the wonders of yacht rock.

Things to Do:

Get music by Drew Yowell.

Read Robin Renée’s interview with Phoebe Snow.

Like *The Leftscape* on Facebook, view Parade of Prides Past photos, and join the conversation.

Watch and share “Ascending” by Drew Yowell:

https://www.facebook.com/DrewYowell01/videos/10157508920908877/

Watch “Love Is All We Have” by Drew Yowell and share the love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgVXYMBrXw

Get into Yacht Rock and Hartford Yacht Goats.

Listen to Certified Yacht Rock:

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli
Web hosting by InMotion
Remote recording by SquadCast

Williamstown NJ George Floyd protest, June 6, 2020 — **When the World is On Fire (Episode 82)** Jun 10, 2020

It is not a time for business as usual. This episode of *The Leftscape* has no featured guest, light-hearted second segment, or messages from mock sponsors. After only a few Random Facts regarding Superman’s flight, the founding of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Possum Drop, the conversation turns to the seriousness at hand. The world is on fire in protest against the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. And there is a pandemic. And there is an anti-racist tide that can make one dare to be hopeful.

Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley talk heart-to-heart about how they’re feeling, what they’ve seen, and which actions they’ve taken since Floyd’s death. Robin expresses experiencing fear and panic, interspersed with cautious optimism. Mary is frustrated by the lack of ground gained by previous protests. Wendy sees some changes happening like police reform policies proposed in New Jersey and nationwide and reading lists passed among white people on anti-racism. Hear about protests they’ve been to and how they’ve been taking care of themselves, from watching a peaceful video on how to prune grapevines to simply drinking enough water. Listen in and share online about what you’re learning and how you’re balancing staying well while keeping the spark of this massive shift growing.

Things to Do:

Read “Democrats unveil broad police reform bill as Floyd’s death sparks protests nationwide.”

Read about the Excellence in Policing Initiative in NJ to Promote Professionalism, Accountability, and Transparency in Law Enforcement.

Donate to Help Protests Against Police Brutality.

Study “The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TED Talks, and Books to Add to Your List.”

Explore the “Talking About Race” Web Portal by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Support Black-Owned Businesses including these awesome goth/punk brands and Etsy shops.

Learn from Victoria Alexander’s anti-racist reading list.

Featured image by roegger from Pixabay

Black Lives Matter protest, Williamstown, NJ 6/6/20 — **When the World is On Fire (Episode 82)** Jun 10, 2020

It is not a time for business as usual. This episode of *The Leftscape* has no featured guest, light-hearted second segment, or messages from mock sponsors. After only a few Random Facts regarding Superman’s flight, the founding of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Possum Drop, the conversation turns to the seriousness at hand. The world is on fire in protest against the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. And there is a pandemic. And there is an anti-racist tide that can make one dare to be hopeful.

Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley talk heart-to-heart about how they’re feeling, what they’ve seen, and which actions they’ve taken since Floyd’s death. Robin expresses experiencing fear and panic, interspersed with cautious optimism. Mary is frustrated by the lack of ground gained by previous protests. Wendy sees some changes happening like police reform policies proposed in New Jersey and nationwide and reading lists passed among white people on anti-racism. Hear about protests they’ve been to and how they’ve been taking care of themselves, from watching a peaceful video on how to prune grapevines to simply drinking enough water. Listen in and share online about what you’re learning and how you’re balancing staying well while keeping the spark of this massive shift growing.

Things to Do:

Read “Democrats unveil broad police reform bill as Floyd’s death sparks protests nationwide.”

Read about the Excellence in Policing Initiative in NJ to Promote Professionalism, Accountability, and Transparency in Law Enforcement.

Donate to Help Protests Against Police Brutality.

Study “The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TED Talks, and Books to Add to Your List.”

Explore the “Talking About Race” Web Portal by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Support Black-Owned Businesses including these awesome goth/punk brands and Etsy shops.

Learn from Victoria Alexander’s anti-racist reading list.

Featured image by roegger from Pixabay

Pilot Dwayne Smith and son — **Talk Like L.O.V.E.R.S. (Episode 81)** May 27, 2020
Dwayne Smith on Communication in Relationships and Lessons from Polyamory

Dwayne Smith, a PhD student in computational social science at George Mason University researches criminal justice policy reform, restorative justice initiatives, and the impacts of public policy on black communities. He works in cyber security. He is a pilot and a fitness competitor. When he’s not working on all those things and more, he finds the time to work on a book on communications with Life Coach Lori Carpenter and to tell *The Leftscape* all about it. Check out what Dwayne has to say about what he’s discovered through polyamory in regard to fostering healthy relationships. The L.O.V.E.R.S. steps to resolving conflict are memorable and useful for anyone.

In this episode’s edition of *3 Random Facts and the News*, co-hosts Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan highlight a very loud U2 concert held on May 27, 1987, explain the meaning of “octothorpe,” and remember a famous horse named Mr. Tiz. After a quick rewind to “Let Your Bi Flag Fly (Episode 80)” for a correction and some thoughts on the last show’s conversation, *All the News We Can Handle* includes Memorial Day crowds in a pandemic, “Costco Kevin,” Robin’s encounters with safer and not-so-safe retail experiences, and *The Leftscape*‘s upcoming celebration of LGBTQ Pride on Facebook. In *The Geekscape*, Wendy geeks out on some gardening tips and shares what she’s planted this season.

Things to do:

Keep up with Dwayne Smith on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out Lori Carpenter at What If… ? Coaching and on Instagram.

Listen to *I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships* by Michael S. Sorensen

Learn About Loving More, the premiere nonprofit serving the polyamory and ethical non-monogamy community since 1985.

Like *The Leftscape* on Facebook and join us in June for a Parade of Prides Past.

Read the Statement by the Ad Hoc Coalition of Former BiNet USA Leaders, released on May 22, 2020.

Enjoy Wendy’s garden photos (Click for full image).

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli

**Talk Like L.O.V.E.R.S. (Episode 81)** May 27, 2020
Dwayne Smith on Communication in Relationships and Lessons from Polyamory

Dwayne Smith, a PhD student in computational social science at George Mason University researches criminal justice policy reform, restorative justice initiatives, and the impacts of public policy on black communities. He works in cyber security. He is a pilot and a fitness competitor. When he’s not working on all those things and more, he finds the time to work on a book on communications with Life Coach Lori Carpenter and to tell *The Leftscape* all about it. Check out what Dwayne has to say about what he’s discovered through polyamory in regard to fostering healthy relationships. The L.O.V.E.R.S. steps to resolving conflict are memorable and useful for anyone.

In this episode’s edition of *3 Random Facts and the News*, co-hosts Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan highlight a very loud U2 concert held on May 27, 1987, explain the meaning of “octothorpe,” and remember a famous horse named Mr. Tiz. After a quick rewind to “Let Your Bi Flag Fly (Episode 80)” for a correction and some thoughts on the last show’s conversation, *All the News We Can Handle* includes Memorial Day crowds in a pandemic, “Costco Kevin,” Robin’s encounters with safer and not-so-safe retail experiences, and *The Leftscape*‘s upcoming celebration of LGBTQ Pride on Facebook. In *The Geekscape*, Wendy geeks out on some gardening tips and shares what she’s planted this season.

Things to do:

Keep up with Dwayne Smith on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out Lori Carpenter at What If… ? Coaching and on Instagram.

Listen to *I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships* by Michael S. Sorensen

Learn About Loving More, the premiere nonprofit serving the polyamory and ethical non-monogamy community since 1985.

Like *The Leftscape* on Facebook and join us in June for a Parade of Prides Past.

Read the Statement by the Ad Hoc Coalition of Former BiNet USA Leaders, released on May 22, 2020.

Enjoy Wendy’s garden photos (Click for full image).

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli

**Let Your Bi Flag Fly (Episode 80)** May 13, 2020
A Conversation with Nicole Kristal and Ashlei Shyne

Ashlei Shyne is an actress, improviser, writer, filmmaker, and activist. After recognizing the lack of LGBTQ+ representation within the comedy community, she created Rainbow Bright Comedy, an LGBTQ+ improv troupe, in order to give queer people of color a platform. As an Out & Proud Black Bisexual woman, Ashlei uses her unique voice and perspective to fight racism, bi erasure, and biphobia in all communities.

Activist and author Nicole Kristal created Still Bisexual in 2015 after growing frustrated with the lack of social acceptance for bisexuals despite wider gains for gays and lesbians. She thought if we could make folks realize the bisexual identity for most was lifelong and that bisexuals in committed monogamous relationships hadn’t “picked a side,” but instead were still bisexual, we could finally start to debunk some of the stereotypes. She is the co-author of *The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe*.

Our featured conversation begins with a recent debacle over the rights to use the bisexual pride flag (Spoiler Alert: Anyone can use the bi pride flag!). It deepens into challenges our activist communities face around racism, inclusivity, cultural and generational differences, cancel culture, glory-seeking, and more. The aftermath of the flag controversy reveals a potential for community growth, lessons for leadership, continued conversations, and a stronger overall network.

At the top of the show, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée share *3 Random Facts* — this time involving springtime snow in New York City, the day’s celebrity birthdays (Stephen Colbert, Stevie Wonder, and Darius Rucker), and Goxua, a dessert from Basque Country. *All the News We Can Handle* covers county, state, and national parks beginning to reopen, voting by mail, an informative article on COVID-19 infection by Erin Bromage, PhD Biology, UMass Dartmouth, and the recent arrests made in the tragic shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.

Things to Do:

Explore the Still Bisexual project.

Take part in the #Out4MentalHealth project by the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network.

Read “The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them” by Erin Bromage on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read “Keep Calm and Carry On: How to Vote By Mail During the Coronavirus Outbreak” by the ACLU. Get the details you need for applying and voting by mail in your state.

Learn more about Ashlei Shyne on IMDb, Instagram, and Facebook.

Read *The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe* by Nicole Kristal and Mike Szymanski.

Buy bi pride stuff from BisexualShirts.com, the Bisexual Resource Center, or wherever bi pride stuff is sold. And get creative and make your own!

Watch the video that launched the #StillBisexual project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RxCncYErug

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli

**Let Your Bi Flag Fly (Episode 80)** May 13, 2020
A Conversation with Nicole Kristal and Ashlei Shyne

Ashlei Shyne is an actress, improviser, writer, filmmaker, and activist. After recognizing the lack of LGBTQ+ representation within the comedy community, she created Rainbow Bright Comedy, an LGBTQ+ improv troupe, in order to give queer people of color a platform. As an Out & Proud Black Bisexual woman, Ashlei uses her unique voice and perspective to fight racism, bi erasure, and biphobia in all communities.

Activist and author Nicole Kristal created Still Bisexual in 2015 after growing frustrated with the lack of social acceptance for bisexuals despite wider gains for gays and lesbians. She thought if we could make folks realize the bisexual identity for most was lifelong and that bisexuals in committed monogamous relationships hadn’t “picked a side,” but instead were still bisexual, we could finally start to debunk some of the stereotypes. She is the co-author of *The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe*.

Our featured conversation begins with a recent debacle over the rights to use the bisexual pride flag (Spoiler Alert: Anyone can use the bi pride flag!). It deepens into challenges our activist communities face around racism, inclusivity, cultural and generational differences, cancel culture, glory-seeking, and more. The aftermath of the flag controversy reveals a potential for community growth, lessons for leadership, continued conversations, and a stronger overall network.

At the top of the show, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée share *3 Random Facts* — this time involving springtime snow in New York City, the day’s celebrity birthdays (Stephen Colbert, Stevie Wonder, and Darius Rucker), and Goxua, a dessert from Basque Country. *All the News We Can Handle* covers county, state, and national parks beginning to reopen, voting by mail, an informative article on COVID-19 infection by Erin Bromage, PhD Biology, UMass Dartmouth, and the recent arrests made in the tragic shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.

Things to Do:

Explore the Still Bisexual project.

Take part in the #Out4MentalHealth project by the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network.

Read “The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them” by Erin Bromage on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read “Keep Calm and Carry On: How to Vote By Mail During the Coronavirus Outbreak” by the ACLU. Get the details you need for applying and voting by mail in your state.

Learn more about Ashlei Shyne on IMDb, Instagram, and Facebook.

Read *The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe* by Nicole Kristal and Mike Szymanski.

Buy bi pride stuff from BisexualShirts.com, the Bisexual Resource Center, or wherever bi pride stuff is sold. And get creative and make your own!

Watch the video that launched the #StillBisexual project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RxCncYErug

Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan
Show notes by Robin Renée
Fake sponsor messages by Thomas Limoncelli

Rich Orloff at Sarasota Gallery — **Neon Blessings, Beautiful Wounds (Episode 78)** Apr 15, 2020
Rich Orloff on Psychedelics, Writing, and New York City in the Time of COVID-19

Playwright Rich Orloff is the author of 18 full-length plays (most comedies, mostly award-winning) and over 80 short plays, which have received 2,000 productions on six continents – and a staged reading on Antarctica. His lifelong journey of inquiry, growth, and humor is reflected in his work, but an exploration of psychedelic-assisted underground therapy in recent years led to a deepening of perception and unexpected spirituality as well as to his autobiographical monologue, *It’s A Beautiful Wound*. In this conversation with Robin Renée, Orloff reads an excerpt and describes the ways guided experiences with psychedelics have helped him with moving through and beyond trauma. As a New York City resident, he also shares about life at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are less than comfortable with the scatological, you may find the beginning of this episode’s banter between Robin and Wendy Sheridan to be a bit TMI. Poop talk abounds in the *3 Random Facts and the News* segment! Facts include Wendy Sheridan’s cat Groot’s taste for elastic and a less obvious reason for the toilet paper shortage. There is also a major ’70s throwback with some info on the coolness of Will Geer (aka Grandpa Walton). Hair dye panic buying is in the news along with the disturbing trend of the government seizing PPE and other supplies from states that purchase them. Later in *Why Is This Awesome?*, Wendy reads from the profound essay, “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*.”

Corrections: At the beginning of the show, Wendy says there are 139 days until Election Day. We actually have a little more time — 202 days. Near the end of the show, Robin mentions Pete Seeger but meant Woody Guthrie. Duh.

Things to do:

Learn more about Rich Orloff and *It’s a Beautiful Wound*.

Read Rich Orloff’s comedy, *The Whole Shebang*.

Read “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting*” by Julio Vincent Gambuto.

Order masks on the wendycards Facebook page, which helps pay for others that are donated to essential workers and health care professionals.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter:
Subscribe to The Leftscape Lookout
Watch “The Waltons — After They Were Famous”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYHo3Ytcb0M&t=1399s

Daryle Lamont Jenkins in a restaurant — **A Very Useful Sword (Episode 77)** Mar 30, 2020
Daryle Lamont Jenkins on Documenting Hate in Charlottesville and Beyond

Daryle Lamont Jenkins believes “the pen is mightier than the sword” and has been writing about, filming, and otherwise getting the word out about neo-Nazi and other hate organizations for decades. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show and AM Joy with Joy Reid, ABC’s 20/20, and in countless articles and documentaries (*Alt-Right: Age of Rage*, *Erasing Hate*) focusing on antifa’s fight against the so-called “alt-right.” Daryle co-produced the short film, *Skin*, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. He first joined a counterprotest against a KKK rally in New Hope, PA in the early nineties and founded the anti-hate organization One People’s Project in New Brunswick, NJ in 2000. In this conversation with Robin Renée, he talks about early experiences that inspired his work, an on-the-ground account of documenting and protesting the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, and what you can do to help the anti-fascist movement.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley begin the show with *3 Random Facts and the News*, though the facts are more timely than random. Learn about how the results of the U.S. census information is used, National Ferret Day (April 2nd), and a theory of the origin of April Fool’s Day. In the news, people are using 3-D printers to make respirator valves and other much-needed medical equipment to deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic. There is also a lot or misinformation and disinformation out there, so listen to the COVIDiocy PSA and take heed. Later in *The Blanket Fort*, Wendy, Robin, and Mary check in about how they’re coping with social distancing and personal connections facilitated by Zoom.

Things to do:

Like and follow Daryle Lamont Jenkins on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Keep up with One People’s Project news at Idavox.com.

Read NJ Homeland Security’s COVID-19 Rumor Control and Disinformation Updates

Watch “Protecting Your Family From COVID-19 by Dr. David Price“:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YitWZj9QhdQ

shield and Klan hood in the One People's Project office — **A Very Useful Sword (Episode 77)** Mar 30, 2020
Daryle Lamont Jenkins on Documenting Hate in Charlottesville and Beyond

Daryle Lamont Jenkins believes “the pen is mightier than the sword” and has been writing about, filming, and otherwise getting the word out about neo-Nazi and other hate organizations for decades. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show and AM Joy with Joy Reid, ABC’s 20/20, and in countless articles and documentaries (*Alt-Right: Age of Rage*, *Erasing Hate*) focusing on antifa’s fight against the so-called “alt-right.” Daryle co-produced the short film, *Skin*, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. He first joined a counterprotest against a KKK rally in New Hope, PA in the early nineties and founded the anti-hate organization One People’s Project in New Brunswick, NJ in 2000. In this conversation with Robin Renée, he talks about early experiences that inspired his work, an on-the-ground account of documenting and protesting the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, and what you can do to help the anti-fascist movement.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley begin the show with *3 Random Facts and the News*, though the facts are more timely than random. Learn about how the results of the U.S. census information is used, National Ferret Day (April 2nd), and a theory of the origin of April Fool’s Day. In the news, people are using 3-D printers to make respirator valves and other much-needed medical equipment to deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic. There is also a lot or misinformation and disinformation out there, so listen to the COVIDiocy PSA and take heed. Later in *The Blanket Fort*, Wendy, Robin, and Mary check in about how they’re coping with social distancing and personal connections facilitated by Zoom.

Things to do:

Like and follow Daryle Lamont Jenkins on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Keep up with One People’s Project news at Idavox.com.

Read NJ Homeland Security’s COVID-19 Rumor Control and Disinformation Updates

Watch “Protecting Your Family From COVID-19 by Dr. David Price“:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YitWZj9QhdQ

**A Balance of Intensity (Episode 76)** Mar 18, 2020
Health Coach Julio Cortés With Tips on Staying Well — Just When We Need Them Most

Julio Cortés, of Mind and Body 360, is a health coach and consultant who helps clients create the life they desire by evaluating and balancing key areas including stress levels, fuel, sleep, movement, and recovery. He draws from having studied with numerous health and wellness experts, extensive martial arts training, and his time spent training others in a corporate environment in Japan. As a longtime activist, he is particularly interested in helping others engaged in activism to maintain their energy and wellbeing. Though this interview was recorded before the scope of the coronavirus pandemic was in full view, the conversation is apropos as we try to keep up our health and spirits worldwide.

Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley open the show with *Three Random Facts and the News*. Not much news feels relevant beyond coronavirus and the social distancing necessary to slow its spread. The Peace Corp has suspended activities and Donald Trump offered a large sum to Germany to secure exclusive access to a vaccine for the United States. The mood lightens a little with the mention of “wonder plant” seedlings being planted in Wales. The random facts celebrate National Awkward Moments Day, National Introverts Week, and marvel at a Smurf rally in Landerneau, France. Later in *The Blanket Fort*, Mary, Wendy, and Robin hide out from coronavirus and talk about getting oriented toward working from home. There is much more to the complete conversation, which is available for free on the Leftscape Patreon page.

Things to do:

Wash your hands, stay safe, help keep others safe, and shelter in place if needed.

If you are in New Jersey, stay aware by visiting the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

Stay aware via the World Health Organization.

Watch Julio Cortés’ video, “Eat that frog!”

Read *The Power of Full Engagement* by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.

Relax with the Good News Network.

Watch “World record-breaking Smurf gathering takes place in France“:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s85xG9Ol3Po&feature=youtu.be

*No one who appears in this episode is a doctor and opinions expressed do not constitute medical advice. If you have questions or concerns regarding your health, consult a medical professional.

What Women Really Care About (Episode 75) Mar 04, 2020

Jennifer Reitman on DAME Magazine and its Mission

Jennifer Reitman is the Founder and Publisher of DAME Magazine, an online news and commentary site that looks at the social, political, and cultural trends of our time through women’s perspectives. By creating DAME, Reitman set out to fill the void she experienced in traditional media for women – think health & beauty and fashion – with what she and the women in her world really care about like politics, reproductive rights, and social justice. Wendy Sheridan‘s January 22nd conversation with Jennifer Reitman explores DAME’s focus on long-form journalism covering topics that go beyond flashy corporate media headlines, the “Can we elect a woman as president?” question, the importance of down ballot political contests, the rise in incarceration of women, a glimpse at how DAME works behind the scenes, and more.

In the Ikigai segment, Wendy, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley get into work/life balance and whether some of their artistic endeavors will be primary sources of income or if they are better kept as side hustles. All the News We Can Handle this show includes another challenge to the Affordable Care Act headed to the Supreme Court, preparedness for Coronavirus, and thoughts on Pete Buttigieg dropping out of the presidential race. The pace of news being what it is, this conversation happened just before Amy Klobuchar’s exit from the race, Super Tuesday voting, and Michael Bloomberg’s announcement that he is also ending his campaign. The 3 Random Facts at the top of the show have a few extra facts embedded. They involve blue whales, unicycles, women’s history, and bisexuals.

Things to do:

Read DAME Magazine.

Spring Forward! Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 2am.

Learn about Bisexual Health Awareness Month.

Celebrate Women’s History Month.

Enter the Wendycards monthly giveaway! Like and comment on the pinned post for your chance to win.

Attend Celebrating Women’s Voices: International Women’s Day Open Mic, Sunday, March 8th, 6-8pm in Rockville, MD – Robin Renée will be the featured artist.

Find out about the California law affecting freelance workers.

Wash your hands and groove to “Jealous Coronavirus,” a music video from the Vietnamese Health Dept.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9YirNgAzXI&feature=emb_title

**This is a Super Sexy Show (Episode 74)** Feb 19, 2020
Rachel Green has been called a shaman and proudly calls herself a sexy, slutty comedian. She came to standup comedy when she realized her sex and dating stories were too interesting not to share with the world. In this super sexy episode, Rachel talks about enjoying sex and her comfort with speaking of it without shame, learning to turn everyday life into funny stories and observations for the stage, the purpose of comedy, and creating great shows without the typical comedy bro pitfalls. Also an actor, singer, violinist and voiceover artist, Rachel Green was featured in the New York Comedy Music Festival, has headlined at Hartford Funnybone, and can be seen on *Law & Order SVU*, *Bull*, and the upcoming Shonda Rhimes series on Netflix. *The Leftscape* is excited to share her humor and insight in this interview.

The sexy stuff continues in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment, when co-hosts Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley get candid in a conversation on Knowing Your Sexual Self. Comic relief and sex talk is very much welcome after *All the News We Can Handle*, where Mary, Robin, and Wendy fret about dark times: ICE in Boston, environmental rollbacks that the press and presidential candidates aren’t talking about, and U.S. Attorney General William Barr seemingly bypassing the “justice” part of the DOJ. The 3 Random Facts at the top of the show include George Harrison and Miles Davis music history trivia, info on how dolphins do it, and a birthday shout out. Happy Birthday to Wendy’s daughter, Ariel Sheridan Berenzon!

Join *The Leftscape* Patreon for the rest of the Knowing Your Sexual Self conversation, plus more special content and cool stuff. The show is going bi-weekly, so look for the next episode on Wednesday, March 4th.

Things to do:

Contribute to help win the 2020 election: Leave it All on the Field

Visit Rachel Green online to find out where you can catch her live shows.

Keep up with Rachel Green on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Learn some surprising dolphin sex facts.

Read *The Vagina Bible*.

Watch “Rachel Green Comedy at The Lantern:”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=50&v=i6hBXdAdMl8&feature=emb_logo

Susan R. Kagan, author — **Wiccan Ethics, Activate! (Episode 73)** Feb 12, 2020
Author Susan R. Kagan on Wiccan Ethics, Writing, Decluttering, Politics, Activism, and Why NOT to Be a Puritopian

Susan R. Kagan was born and raised in a small town in Indiana, from which she fled for more cosmopolitan environments as soon as she could. She is the author of *Ruxandra*, a supernatural historical fiction novel about the granddaughter of Vlad the Impaler and the nonfiction book *Basic Wiccan Ethics: Avoiding a Perilous Path*. Susan is a Third Degree High Priestess associated with Bee Hive Coven. From her home in New Orleans, she speaks with Wendy Sheridan on discovering the need for a Pagan book of ethics, creative imagination, creative procrastination, politics, exercise, organizing (in the community and the house) and why it is essential that we #VoteBlue. Listen to this frank and fluid conversation between longtime friends. And if all else fades from memory, remember this advice: “Don’t be a freakin’ Puritopian!”

Later in The Geekscape segment, Wendy and Robin Renée talk about the exploration of friendship in *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Season 4*. If you haven’t watched it yet and plan to, let this serve as your MAJOR SPOILER ALERT. At the top of the show, the 3 Random Facts explain Vienna’s culture tokens offered for CO2 reduction, give some Valentine’s Day history, and mention the U.S. states and territories that hold caucuses (Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa). Later in the News segment, there’s the State of the Union, the very much cooler LGBTQ State of the Union by Billy Porter, and the dates of the upcoming Democratic primary elections. Robin and Wendy also talk about their experience attending the PFLAG Queens NYC Annual Awards Reception & Luncheon, where Robin accepted the Brenda Howard Memorial Award for bisexual activism. In a quick Rewind, Robin shares some thoughts by Kevin A. Patterson on “Men Have Feelings, Too (Episode 41 Redux).”

Things to do:

Read *Basic Wiccan Ethics: Avoiding a Perilous Path* and *Ruxandra* by Susan R. Kagan.

Like The Leftscape on Facebook.

Watch She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix.

Read about Lupercalia.

Check out Wendy Sheridan’s monthly giveaway on the Wendycards Facebook page.

Book a Robin Renée concert.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWCQL4M/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Cover art by Wendy Sheridan

Maria Lodge at Vida Asana — **Movement, Breath, Energy: A Conversation With Maria Lodge (Episode 72)** Feb 05, 2020
*The Leftscape* is back after a month-long hiatus. New episode #72 features Mary McGinley’s interview with Maria Lodge. Maria has 32 years of experience as a physical therapist. She is a longtime yoga practitioner, a Reiki Master, and she is certified in Thai Yoga Bodywork. Maria is also Mary’s niece! The conversation takes us through Maria Lodge’s time with First Aid Squad, her yoga teacher training in Costa Rica, how she presents Reiki to skeptics, and the emphases and intentions at her own business, Asana Wellness Physical Therapy in Delran, NJ.

In the new segment at the top of the show, *3 Random Facts & the News*, Mary, Robin Renée, and Wendy Sheridan announce Black History Month, share some thoughts on the occasion of Trayvon Martin’s birthday, and discuss the basics of the noble gas, krypton. In the news, there is the upcoming presidential debate (February 7th), primaries for New Hampshire (February 11th) and South Carolina (February 29th), and the Nevada caucus (February 22nd). Other topics include the 2020 census, John Bolton’s book, the celebration of Imbolc, and the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant. In *The Blanket Fort*, the co-hosts take on the concept of “good wellness” vs. “bad wellness.” How do you decide when to try an alternative health recommendation and when to take a pass?

Next week on the show: Wiccan author Susan Kagan, plus a conversation about *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power*, now in its 4th season. *She-Ra* was first discussed in Episode 29, “She-Ra’s Feminist Challenge.”

Things to do:

Like *The Leftscape* on Facebook

Find out more about Asana Wellness Physical Therapy on the website and on Facebook.

Take a class with Maria Lodge at YogaTree in Riverton, NJ.

Get the date of the primary elections in your state: Ballotpedia

Explore the Nutrition Action website.

Attend the Poly Living conference, February 7th-9th, at Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport.

Learn more about krypton.

Watch John Bolton’s Terrifying Ideas Sung by Michael Bolton:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyVVO9GN8c4

Men Have Feelings, Too. (Episode 41 Redux) Jan 29, 2020

John Tod wanted to create a space for honest, vulnerable conversation among men. What started with one other friend in Fort Wayne, Indiana grew into an every Wednesday safe container where men can talk about their experiences – a space where men who were taught not to express or even acknowledge their feelings can learn how to open up and do some emotional heavy lifting with one another. Listen to this inspiring interview originally posted in “Of Memes and Men (Episode 41)” on how the members of a men’s group can grow together and help bust the myth of the rugged individual.

A brand new podcast will be out next week!

Things to do:

Check out No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover

Explore The ManKind Project

Visit Brené Brown’s website

Watch “The Power of Vulnerability,” a TED Talk by Brené Brown

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en

Coming Back To Joy (Episode 13 Redux) Jan 22, 2020

This week, The Leftscape revisits the featured interview from one of its most popular episodes, “Blossoming (Episode 13).” Wendy Sheridan visits Worldcon 76 in San Jose, CA in August 2018 and talks with an old friend, Joy Denebiem. The two speak frankly about Joy’s MTF transition, including coming out, physical and brain chemistry changes, and stepping into life as a middle aged woman. It is a freewheeling, educational conversation of the whys and hows of gender confirmation, and Joy’s partner, Cheryl Martin, adds her insight and perspective.

The Leftscape will be back with a brand new show in two weeks. Thanks for listening!

Things to do:

Learn about and support transgender advocacy organizations.

Find out more about Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention.

Support us on Patreon! Listen to exclusive content and grab some cool Leftscape swag.

Edie Weinstein, Hug Mobster (Episode 36 Redux) Jan 15, 2020

Author, therapist, Cuddle Party facilitator, and touch educator Edie Weinstein talks about her life of choosing joy and helping others do the same. She’s been in the news recently, including this great radio interview on The Why. The Leftscape joins in spreading the good word with this rewind back to Edie’s interview on Episode 36 (February 20, 2019).

Things to do:

Visit Edie Weinstein online at her website, opti-mystical.com and on Facebook.

Read The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary.

Read “Meet Edie ‘the hug mobster’ Weinstein, who roams Doylestown ‘armed with love‘” in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Listen to our interview with Cuddle Party co-originator, Reid Mihalko.

Listen to Edie’s hug flash mob song, “Give a Little Bit” by Supertramp:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9JOut9yh5g

David Bowie Was (Episode 1 Redux) Jan 08, 2020

While The Leftscape is on a brief hiatus, please enjoy this throwback to the very first episode. Today (January 8th) is the birthday of David Bowie, so what better time to listen back to an excerpt of “Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (Episode 1)” from May 30, 2018. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée talk about their first Bowie experiences, Robin and Wendy share their impressions of the David Bowie is exhibit, and Robin unboxes the David Bowie Tarot.

Things to do:

Read about the David Bowie is exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum

Read about the David Bowie Tarot, now known as the “Stardust” Tarot Deck

Go to a Philly Loves Bowie Week event!

Get active and get ready to VOTE!

Robin Renee and Wendy Sheridan, Facebook Live, 11/8/2019 — **Live Evil! (Episode 71)** Jan 01, 2020
Happy New Year and new decade! This episode is the audio of the Facebook Live event recorded at Philcon on November 8, 2019. Join Wendy & Robin’s casual hangout as they announce *The Leftscape*‘s Patreon page while enjoying a few adult beverages. And don’t worry, no actual evil was invoked in the making of this show (nor does it have to do with Miles Davis or Black Sabbath). It’s called “Live Evil” because for some unknown reason, this is how the title showed up on Facebook when Wendy began the live broadcast: noclihP morf eviL. This may indeed remain an unsolved mystery of the 2010s.

Thanks for listening and for inspiring us throughout the year. Onward into 2020!

Things to do:

Become a patron of *The Leftscape*. Your support matters. There’s exclusive content and fun swag waiting for you!

Subscribe for automatic downloads and to catch up with shows you’ve missed. New regular episodes will begin again in February.

Watch the video: The Leftscape Live, 11/8/2019

httpss://www.facebook.com/leftscape/videos/568606683893940/

Holiday Tales (Episode 70) Dec 25, 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Blessed just past Solstice and Joyous almost Kwanzaa! Happy Holidays to one and all from The Leftscape. This special edition digs into the spirit of the season with holiday anecdotes from friends and listeners. Enjoy the stories of childhood folly, workplace defiance, wacky family tall tales, and more. Later in the Ikigai segment, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée put on their entrepreneur hats and discuss the elements of creating a useful business plan for the new year.

Despite the festive time of year, the news doesn’t take a break. This edition of All the News We Can Handle includes movement on the case regarding the 2016 Twitter attack on Kurt Eichenwald, calls for “Moscow Mitch” to recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial, Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s movement from the Democratic to the Republican party and its repercussions, and Donald Trump’s disturbing executive order regarding his new definition of Judaism (Hint: It is incorrect.). On a lighter note, there are the year-end announcements of Athlete of the Year, Person of the Year, and Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year.

There is an abundance of traditional and weird celebrations this week: Christmas (December 25th), Thank You Note Day, Boxing Day, and Whiner’s Day (December 26th), National Short Film Day and National Card Playing Day (December 28th), Tick Tock Day (December 29th), National Bicarbonate of Soda Day and Bacon Day (December 30th), Make Up Your Mind Day, Universal Hour of Peace, and New Year’s Eve (December 31st). Birthday people of the week include Justin Trudeau, Annie Lennox, Shane MacGowan, Sissy Spacek, Caroll Spinney, Lars Ulrich, Hayley Williams, Denzel Washington, Stan Lee, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and PSY.

This is the last show of the year. Thanks so much for listening and for your support. Onward to 2020!

What you can do:

Work on your 2020 financial goals! Thanks to Wendy Sheridan for creating and sharing this.
DOWNLOAD: Financial Goals 2020 Template

Read “The Great Thanksgiving Ratatouille” by Janet Coburn.

Write to us with your yearly planning tips and post your holiday tales.

Join us on Patreon and listen to “Knowing and Being at Ease with Your Sexual Self.”

Explore the 2020 Election Interactive Map.

Watch “Merry Something to You” by Devo.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUKku3MhCPs

Watch “Fairy Tale of New York” by The Pogues.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8

Watch “Gangnam Style” by PSY.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH1XGdu-hzQ

Reid Mihalko lying down, wearing a tux, surrounded by colorful sex toys — **Oral Sex with Reid Mihalko (Episode 69)** Dec 18, 2019
Sex and relationship geek Reid Mihalko teaches internationally, running workshops and speaking on communication skills, alternative relationship styles, and shame-free sexuality. He helps adults and college students create more self-esteem, self-confidence, and greater health and accountability in their relationships and sex lives with a mixture of humor, personal stories, insight, and comprehensive sexual health information. Listen in for what Reid has to say to longtime friend Robin Renée on dispelling sexual myths, mental and physical arousal, what “counts” as a 69, and the two most important things you need to know about genitals.

The winter holiday season is upon us and Robin, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan share about their favorite traditions in the latest edition of *Why Is This Awesome?*. Earlier in the show, *All the News We Can Handle* touches on the Judiciary Committee Report on Impeachment, Finland’s female-led government, extremists in New Jersey, and how negotiations for parental leave are hitching a ride with Space Force. Here is the week in celebrations: National Re-Gifting Day (December 19th), Winter Solstice/Yule (December 21st), Festivus and the beginning of Chanukah (December 23rd), and Christmas Eve (December 24th). Birthday shout outs include Brad Pitt, Christina Aguilera, Katie Holmes, Keith Richards, Steven Spielberg, Peter Criss, Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Zappa, Meghan Trainor, Eddie Vedder, Ricky Martin, Lemmy Kilmister, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and New York City’s own… The Naked Cowboy.

Things to do:

Follow Reid Mihalko on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Find out where Reid is teaching around the world: ReidAboutSex.com/calendar.

Learn about Reid’s restorative justice-based accountability process.

Do some holiday shopping at wendycardz and RobinRenee.com

Become a patron! Patreon.com/Leftscape

Arretta Cuff and Robin Renée wearing "I Voted" stickers after the 2018 U.S. midterm elections — **History and Hope (Episode 68)** Dec 11, 2019
An Oral History of Race from the 1940s – Today
by Arretta Cuff

Mrs. Arretta Cuff grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey and graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1954. She has owned a cleaning business, worked in sales, and has gathered abundant life experience along the way with stories to tell. Listen as she shares her personal account of being black and navigating a world imbued with racism in the early-mid 20th century, thoughts on how people of color may fare differently today, and her hopes for the future. Share the link, tag a friend, and help others hear these memories and perceptions of today.

Earlier in the show, Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley tackle some news including the Supreme Court hearing its first major gun case since 2010, some crazy abortion bills, and Billy Dee Williams’ thoughts on gender identity and expression. Mary, Wendy, and Robin are also very pleased to announce and gush about the wonderful wedding of Mr. & Mr. Kevin and Jonathan King. Congratulations, friends! After the interview, the co-hosts chat about the holidays and ways to navigate the thornier issues with family.

What is there to celebrate this week? Well, there’s National App Day (December 11th), National Day of the Horse, National Violin Day, and Pick a Pathologist Pal Day, which is weird even among weird holidays (December 13th), Monkey Day (December 14th), Cat Herders Day and Bill of Rights Day (December 15th), and Barbie and Barney Backlash Day (December 16th). Birthday shout outs and acknowledgments go to Jermaine Jackson, Mos Def, Bob Barker, Dionne Warwick, Jamie Foxx, Taylor Swift, Dick Van Dyke, Don Johnson, Jane Austen, Beethoven, and The Pope.

Things to do:

Do you have a funny or interesting holiday story to tell? Contact The Leftscape for a chance for a holiday show interview!

Do some holiday shopping at wendycardz and RobinRenee.com

Become a patron! Patreon.com/Leftscape

Jonathan & Kevin King, cutting the wedding cake 12/1/19 — **History and Hope (Episode 68)** Dec 11, 2019
An Oral History of Race from the 1940s – Today
by Arretta Cuff

Mrs. Arretta Cuff grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey and graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1954. She has owned a cleaning business, worked in sales, and has gathered abundant life experience along the way with stories to tell. Listen as she shares her personal account of being black and navigating a world imbued with racism in the early-mid 20th century, thoughts on how people of color may fare differently today, and her hopes for the future. Share the link, tag a friend, and help others hear these memories and perceptions of today.

Earlier in the show, Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley tackle some news including the Supreme Court hearing its first major gun case since 2010, some crazy abortion bills, and Billy Dee Williams’ thoughts on gender identity and expression. Mary, Wendy, and Robin are also very pleased to announce and gush about the wonderful wedding of Mr. & Mr. Kevin and Jonathan King. Congratulations, friends! After the interview, the co-hosts chat about the holidays and ways to navigate the thornier issues with family.

What is there to celebrate this week? Well, there’s National App Day (December 11th), National Day of the Horse, National Violin Day, and Pick a Pathologist Pal Day, which is weird even among weird holidays (December 13th), Monkey Day (December 14th), Cat Herders Day and Bill of Rights Day (December 15th), and Barbie and Barney Backlash Day (December 16th). Birthday shout outs and acknowledgments go to Jermaine Jackson, Mos Def, Bob Barker, Dionne Warwick, Jamie Foxx, Taylor Swift, Dick Van Dyke, Don Johnson, Jane Austen, Beethoven, and The Pope.

Things to do:

Do you have a funny or interesting holiday story to tell? Contact The Leftscape for a chance for a holiday show interview!

Do some holiday shopping at wendycardz and RobinRenee.com

Become a patron! Patreon.com/Leftscape

Tables, Bins, & Books: The Camden County Pop Up Library (Episode 66) Nov 27, 2019

Tom Martin of Haddon Township, NJ has a passion for books. His dream of having a bookmobile grew into the creation of the Camden County Pop Up Library, through which he promotes literacy and community by giving away books four to five times a week. His regular stops include underserved areas in Camden and nearby locations such as outside a methadone clinic, transportation center, and soup kitchen. Listen in as he shares his inspired and inspiring thoughts on the project with co-host Robin Renée.

In All the News We Can Handle, Robin, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan discuss people with weapons too close to home in Edison and Pleasantville, the guilty verdict for Roger Stone, and the ever-present impeachment news. On the upside, they send kudos to Lil Nas X, the first openly gay black man to win at the Country Music Awards, and announce Kevin A. Patterson and Alana Phelan’s For Hire: Audition book release party on December 4th. At the end of the show, the Ikigai segment centers on inner wisdom, action, and the challenges of working as an independent musician.

The week in celebrations and observances includes National Craft Jerky Day (November 27th), Thanksgiving Day and the National Day of Mourning (November 28th), Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, National Native American Heritage Day, and Flossing Day (November 29th), National Personal Space Day, Meth Awareness Day, Small Business Saturday (November 30th), Rosa Parks Day and Day With(out) Arts (December 1st), National Mutt Day and Cyber Monday (December 2nd), and Giving Tuesday (December 3rd). December is AIDS Awareness Month, Car Donation Month, Human Rights Month, Write a Business Plan Month, and Spiritual Literacy Month. Birthday shout outs go to Bill Nye, Jimi Hendrix, Jon Stewart, Randy Newman, Sharon Needles, Billy Idol, Chrissie Teigen, Bette Midler, Janelle Monae, Robert Irwin, Sarah Silverman, Zoë Kravitz, Lucy Liu, Ozzy Osbourne, and co-host Wendy Sheridan.

Things to do:

Learn more about the Camden County Pop Up Library from the CCPUL website, like it on Facebook, and follow the project on Instagram.

Donate to the Camden County Pop Up Library; contact Tom Martin about donating books.

Read more about the CCPUL in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Contact your senators about moving on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.

Shop at wendycardz for the holidays!

Book Robin Renée for shows for 2020!

Watch “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7qovpFAGrQ

Floss!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGiYrY2bUPc

**A Revolution in Acceptance (Episode 64)** Nov 13, 2019
Laura Peters on Finding our Political Voices and Loving our Genders Out Loud

Laura Peters is the Maryland Legislative Coordinator for Amnesty International. She has worked in politics and education for most of her career, first as a counsel to an education subcommittee for the U.S. House of Representatives and then as a political appointee for the Clinton administration. Listen to her conversation with Robin Renée on creating a more welcoming environment for immigrants, small acts that can make a big positive impact, and the importance of giving back. Laura then shares candidly about her journey of cross-dressing, coming to embrace her gender identity, and finding the joys of living in full self-expression.

In podcast news, the Leftscape Patreon page is official today! Robin and Wendy Sheridan also discuss other news items including Jane Fonda’s recent arrests, prisoners released in Oklahoma, closed-door impeachment hearing transcripts, and how we can look forward to Mueller Memos for years to come. In *The* *Blanket Fort*, Robin feels renewed at the beginning of the Pagan New Year. Wendy isn’t there yet, but is trying her best to make time to get to the self-care on her to-do list. Both share trials, triumphs, and small tips for health and balance along with a few laughs.

Reasons to celebrate this week: World Kindness Day (November 13), World Diabetes Day and National Pickle Day (November 14th), America Recycles Day and National Clean Out Your Fridge Day (November 15th), International Day of Tolerance (November 16th), National Take a Hike Day and Homemade Bread Day (November 17th), World Toilet Day and National Princess Day (November 18th), International Men’s Day and National Play Monopoly Day (November 19th). Birthdays celebrations are in order for Jimmy Kimmel, Whoopi Goldberg, Rev. Run, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lisa Bonet, Danny DeVito, RuPaul, Martin Scorsese, Kirk Hammett, Indira Gandhi, and last but not least, Mickey Mouse.

Things to do:

Visit Laura Peters’ website or contact her on Facebook about Gender Life Coaching

Support Amnesty International

Read “Time for the Media to Help Change the Xenophobic Border Narrative,” an article for Amnesty International by Laura Peters

Help end poverty with A Wider Circle

Please support us as a patron and spread the word!

Do you have reflections or advice on self-care and finding balance? Let us know and we’ll share it in *The Blanket For*t.

**Remembering Alan Semok (Episode 63)** Nov 06, 2019
We are sad to announce the passing of two members of our Leftscape family. Alan Semok, Mary’s husband, passed away on Sunday, October 27th. In this episode, Mary enumerates his many creative accomplishments and speaks from the raw place of recent loss. Known as “The Dummy Doctor,” Alan Semok was a ventriloquist with a special expertise in repairing and restoring ventriloquist dummies. He was an accomplished actor and had many unique credits including performing as Larry of *The Three Stooges* and becoming the voice of Bela Lugosi. Tragically, Mary’s beloved nephew, the funny and talented Pat McCann, also died one week before Alan. Thank you for listening, helping Mary through an extraordinarily difficult time, and honoring their lives.

Considering the distressing nature of the recent events, *All the News We Can Handle* is on the lighter side. Stories include tracked eagles accruing outrageous roaming charges, Trump getting booed at the World Series, and a ridiculous “Florida Man” story. In a special *Rewind* segment, Robin and Wendy discuss Episode 60 featuring David Jamison and why Jewish people were not mentioned anywhere in the conversation on how we divide ourselves by race. The show begins in celebratory form, with mentions of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, Saxophone Day (November 6th), National Men Make Dinner Day (November 7th), National STEM/STEAM Day (November 8th), World Science Day for Peace and Development and the US Marine Corps Birthday (November 10th), and Veterans Day (November 11th). The birthday people of the week are former pro tennis player Ana Ivanovic, Emma Stone, Sally Field, Lorde, Marie Curie, Gordon Ramsay, Carl Sagan, Emma Gonzalez, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Peaches.

In anticipation of the official launch of the Patreon page next week, *The Leftscape* will podcast LIVE on Facebook, Friday, November 8th at 7pm from Philcon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ. Mark your calendar, tune in, and become a patron!

with Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée

More things to do:

Help Mary with medical expenses, final expenses, and incidentals after the loss of her husband, Alan

Read “Alan Semok – The Dummy Doctor – We’ll Miss You!” by Daniel Jay Robinson

Protest by Postcard w/ wendycardz

Watch ‘Lock him up’: Trump greeted with boos at World Series

Watch Alan Semok in “Total Raisin Bran Ventriloquist Commercial from 1989”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrVRHI-5P8w

Watch “Alan Semok and Eugene Wood”

**A Handmade Halloween Haunt (Episode 62)** Oct 30, 2019
Holiday Fun in Asbury Park by Joey Schweigert

Every year just after Christmas, “amateur haunter” Joey Schweigert sets out on a mission. He begins his plan to create the best home Halloween experience ever. His Halloween wonderlands for kids at his home in Asbury Park, NJ, are more of the retro and whimsical variety than the frightening kind. This year’s creation will be a wizard’s den and dragon nursery where each child must pass three tests before receiving a special handmade gift. Hear him chat with Wendy Sheridan about this as well as previous themes like Mad Scientist Lab, Jurassic Cottage, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and Night Circus. Learn how Joey seeks to inspire neighborhood kids, and in case you were wondering, the secret to making gnome toenails and chicken lips!

November begins this week, and the show starts with things to celebrate in the new month: Native American Heritage Month, Adopt a Senior Pet Month, Movember, NaNoWriMo, NoSHAVEember, and Vegan Month all happen in November. Daily celebrations and observances this week include National Candy Corn Day (October 30th), Halloween, Samhain, and Girl Scout Founder’s Day (October 31st), National Author’s Day (November 1st), Deviled Egg Day and Bison Day (November 2nd), and National Chicken Lady Day, which honors Dr. Marthenia “Tina” Dupree. (November 4th). Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3rd, and Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day. Birthday acknowledgments go to Henry Winkler, Piper Perabo, John Candy, Vanilla Ice, Tim Cook, Nelly, Elizabeth Smart, Adam Ant, and Diddy.

In *All the News We Can Handle*, Wendy and Robin Renée bid farewell to Rep. Elijah Cummings and discuss the importance of getting informed, voting, and supporting candidates in challenging races around the country. In the *Why is this Awesome?* segment, Robin asks Wendy for a primer on King Crimson and their classic, *In the Court of the Crimson King*. Wendy happily shares about one of her favorites.
Things to do:
Go to Asbury Park on October 31st and you may discover Joey Schweigert’s Halloween experience!

Follow the whimsical happenings of Joey Schweigert on Instagram and buy his cool creations by on Redbubble.

Get information on your local election at Ballotpedia.

Go to Vote Save America to see what you can do to help in important 2019 elections.

VOTE on Tuesday, November 5th!

Contribute if you can: bit.ly/helpalan

See the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!

httpss://www.flickr.com/photos/9387202@N02/30069064773/in/photostream/

Listen to *In the Court of the Crimson King*:

Ghoulfish and Halloween rabbit — **A Handmade Halloween Haunt (Episode 62)** Oct 30, 2019
Holiday Fun in Asbury Park by Joey Schweigert

Every year just after Christmas, “amateur haunter” Joey Schweigert sets out on a mission. He begins his plan to create the best home Halloween experience ever. His Halloween wonderlands for kids at his home in Asbury Park, NJ, are more of the retro and whimsical variety than the frightening kind. This year’s creation will be a wizard’s den and dragon nursery where each child must pass three tests before receiving a special handmade gift. Hear him chat with Wendy Sheridan about this as well as previous themes like Mad Scientist Lab, Jurassic Cottage, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and Night Circus. Learn how Joey seeks to inspire neighborhood kids, and in case you were wondering, the secret to making gnome toenails and chicken lips!

November begins this week, and the show starts with things to celebrate in the new month: Native American Heritage Month, Adopt a Senior Pet Month, Movember, NaNoWriMo, NoSHAVEember, and Vegan Month all happen in November. Daily celebrations and observances this week include National Candy Corn Day (October 30th), Halloween, Samhain, and Girl Scout Founder’s Day (October 31st), National Author’s Day (November 1st), Deviled Egg Day and Bison Day (November 2nd), and National Chicken Lady Day, which honors Dr. Marthenia “Tina” Dupree. (November 4th). Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3rd, and Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day. Birthday acknowledgments go to Henry Winkler, Piper Perabo, John Candy, Vanilla Ice, Tim Cook, Nelly, Elizabeth Smart, Adam Ant, and Diddy.

In *All the News We Can Handle*, Wendy and Robin Renée bid farewell to Rep. Elijah Cummings and discuss the importance of getting informed, voting, and supporting candidates in challenging races around the country. In the *Why is this Awesome?* segment, Robin asks Wendy for a primer on King Crimson and their classic, *In the Court of the Crimson King*. Wendy happily shares about one of her favorites.
Things to do:
Go to Asbury Park on October 31st and you may discover Joey Schweigert’s Halloween experience!

Follow the whimsical happenings of Joey Schweigert on Instagram and buy his cool creations by on Redbubble.

Get information on your local election at Ballotpedia.

Go to Vote Save America to see what you can do to help in important 2019 elections.

VOTE on Tuesday, November 5th!

Contribute if you can: bit.ly/helpalan

See the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!

httpss://www.flickr.com/photos/9387202@N02/30069064773/in/photostream/

Listen to *In the Court of the Crimson King*:

Analysis with arms outstretched — **Analysis: Poetry of Justice (Episode 61)** Oct 23, 2019
Analysis, a spoken word poet who hails from Baltimore, MD, is a lover of justice and human rights. This focus shines through all he does, be it public speaking, his work as a rad bookseller, minister, and educator, his poetry performances across the Mid-Atlantic and New England, or when he is hosting Red Emma’s Mother Earth Poetry Vibe. Hear him read from his chapbook, *Somewhere Through the Haze*, and speak to a range of experiences including youthful conservatism, anti-Apartheid work in Southern Africa, revolutionary Christianity, and his passion for progressive activism.

In the *All the News We Can Handle* segment, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée discuss the sudden U.S. withdrawal of troops from Syria, the Nobel Prize in Economics given to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer for their experimental approach toward poverty alleviation, and the passing of Essie Mae Washington-Williams. Some very unexpected personal news also came up in the last week: Mary’s husband Alan suffered a stroke. A fund has been started to help defray enormous medical bills. Please help if you can.

Wendy introduces the new *Geekscape* segment and true to geek form, she begins with a discussion of *Star Trek.* Its early credo of “infinite diversity in infinite combinations” is the jumping off point. A longer version of this conversation will be available at no cost on the *Leftscape* Patreon page. At the top of the show, the co-hosts chat about days to celebrate or recognize including National Mole Day (October 23rd. Think chemistry, not small mammal.), National Food Day, United Nations Day (October 24th), Frankenstein Day (October 25th), National Financial Crime Fighter Day and Pumpkin Day (October 26th), Black Cat Day (October 27th), National Chocolate Day (October 28th), and National Cat Day, Oatmeal Day, Hermit Day, and World Stroke Day (October 29th). Birthdays mentions this week go to Ang Lee, Pelé, Martin Luther King III, Drake, Katy Perry, Pablo Picasso, Hillary Clinton, Seth MacFarlane, John Cleese, Bill Gates, Frank Ocean, Julia Roberts, and Bob Ross.

Things to do:

Please help Mary and Alan in any way you can: Medical Support for Actor/Ventriloquist Alan Semok

Connect with Analysis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ArtistEcard

Read *Somewhere Through the Haze* by Analysis

Visit Red Emma’s Mother Earth Poetry Vibe, hosted by Analysis (1st Saturdays in February, May, August, and November)

Read *The New Jim Crow* by Michelle Alexander

Listen to “Sticks and Stones,” the latest episode of *On the Media* on freedom of speech and American exceptionalism.

Order or download *This.* by Robin Renée

Attend the Philcon conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror and look for Wendy!

Learn about Star Trek’s “Far Beyond the Stars” and watch it on Netflix.

Watch “Bob Ross vs. Pablo Picasso – Epic Rap Battles of History”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGN5xaQkFk0

Featured image of Analysis by Turtleberry Press

False Divisions: David Jamison on Race (Episode 60) Oct 16, 2019

This episode’s featured guest is David Jamison, Assistant Professor of History at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL. His doctorate is in African Diaspora history and his dissertation was on slave resistance during the colonial era. His mission is to inspire others to learn about, reanalyze, and deconstruct our ideas about race. The racial categories we’ve been born into believing in have not existed since the beginning of time, but only for about 400 years. Listen in to David’s conversation with Robin Renée about how we have learned to divide ourselves to our own detriment and how we may begin to question racial categories and their assumptions. David Jamison’s approach is as welcoming as his ideas are challenging.

There are two big podcast announcements this week: This episode features the first installment of the new segment, Ikigai, on finding the balance of work, purpose, fulfillment, and financial reward. AND… You can now get extra content, fun swag, and more by supporting The Leftscape on Patreon! In the less fun news of the week, Robin, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley discuss the Supreme Court’s oral arguments challenging the status of LGBT people as protected by nondiscrimination on the basis of sex. There are also text messages between U.S. diplomats on efforts to have Ukraine investigate the Bidens and Donald Trump’s appeal of an order by a federal judge to hand over the tax returns.

Did you know that it’s Food Bank Week, Freedom of Speech Week, and Save for Retirement Week? Other days to take note of or celebrate include Global Cat Day, Fossil Day, and Take Your Parents to Lunch Day (October 16th), National Edge Day, Pasta Day, and Black Poetry Day (October 17th), National Mammography Day (October 18th), National LGBT Center Awareness Day (October 19th), and Wendy’s Anniversary (October 22nd). Birthday shout outs go to Angela Lansbury, Flea, Ziggy Marley, Zac Efron, Kamala Harris, Snoop Dogg, “Space Mom” Carrie Fisher, and others.

Things to do:

Read “Lynching research volunteers preparing for MOSH exhibit” in The Florida Times-Union

Visit the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, FL for The Legacy of Lynching: Confronting Racial Terror in America (now through March 1, 2020).

Read What is “Your” Race? by Kenneth Prewitt

Read “What is your Ikigai?” by Marc Winn

Get cool stuff created by Wendy Sheridan on Etsy: wendycardz.

Download music by Robin Renée on CDBaby.

Become a Patron!

emospacebird live — **The Musical Diaries of emospacebird (Episode 59)** Oct 09, 2019
Erin Dillard, better known in musical circles as emospacebird, moved to Philadelphia last March from Columbia, MO on a wing and a prayer (and with a cold). After a nap and a cheesesteak, she set out on a path of musical and cultural discovery. The youngest of eight siblings in a solidly musical family, emospacebird’s atmospheric voice blends with electric ukulele, looping technology, and other instruments to express about love, loss, world events, and to record moments in time. In this interview, emospacebird talks about the origins of her enigmatic moniker, the necessity of music in her life, and finally feeling proud to be a black woman. Listen in to this conversation with this artist whose star is on the rise.

*All the News We Can Handle* in this episode centers on the torrent of info coming out on Donald Trump’s phone call with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée, discuss the legal ramifications of the content of the call transcript, questions about the safety of the whistleblower, and the shifting opinions on impeachment. Some hopeful news comes in the form of research that quantifies the reforestation needed to stop the climate crisis. In *The Blanket Fort*, the co-hosts reflect on their experiences with Impostor Syndrome and how to combat it.

What are this week’s reasons to celebrate? It’s National Work at Home Week and Fire Prevention Week. Days to celebrate include Stop Bullying Day and Moldy Cheese Day (October 9th), World Mental Health Day (October 10th), National Coming Out Day (October 11th), I Love Yarn Day, Freethought Day, and Chess Day (October 12th), National No Bra Day (October 13th), Native American Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day (October 14th), and National Grouch Day (October 15th). The birthday people of the week include John Lennon, Jackson Browne, Alana Phelan, Mario Lopez, David Lee Roth, Cardi B, Eleanor Roosevelt, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Doc Coyle, and Usher.

Things to do:

Check out emospacebird on Instagram and Facebook

Listen to emospacebird on SoundCloud

Download emospacebird music on Bandcamp

Keep up with Wendy Sheridan’s INKTOBER creations

Buy political postcards and other cool stuff in Wendy’s Etsy store!

Explore the DIY Philly! musician’s network

Learn more about Impostor Syndrome

Watch emospacebird on YouTube

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enXk8j4OecE

Bill Lutz with a baguette in Paris — **Bill Lutz on Countering the Far Right (Episode 58)** Oct 02, 2019
Bill Lutz has worked in state, local, and county-level government, has taught subjects including rhetoric and argument, and served on the Gilmore Commission in the aftermath of 9/11 to develop counterterrorism measures. He took notice when a conference claiming to be dedicated to combating racism, violence, and authoritarianism scheduled to take place in Pitman, NJ listed a host of far-right speakers on their schedule. In a conversation with Robin Renée, he tells the story of the groundswell of protest against the event that caused its first venue to cancel, shares his understanding of how hate groups arise, and gives his thoughts on countering the far right with repairing systemic issues and creative, non-violent protest.

On a much lighter note, in the Why is This Awesome segment, Mary McGinley tells us about the Shakespeare-inspired Scotland, PA. In All the News We Can Handle, Wendy Sheridan finds hope in the impressive and moving Climate Strike, the fallout from the Whistleblower complaint about Trump’s call to Ukraine continues to grow wildly, and “Stairway to Heaven” is back in court for possible copyright infringement.

October gives us may reasons to celebrate including LGBT History Month, Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, World Menopause Month, Self-Promotion Month, and Bat Appreciation Month. It is also the month for Domestic Violence Awareness, Family Sexuality Education, Toilet Tank Repair, Squirrel Awareness, and Sarcastic Awareness (Yeah, right.). This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, Spinning and Weaving Week, and World Space Week (October 4th – 10th).

Days to celebrate include Name Your Car Day (October 2nd), Vodka Day (October 4th), and Plus Size Appreciation Day (October 6th). Special birthday wishes go to Alan Semok, The Dummy Doctor (and Mary’s husband!) on October 2nd. Other birthday shout-outs this week go to Sting, Gwen Stefani, India.Arie, A$AP Rocky, Russell Simmons, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Thom Yorke, Jesse Jackson, and others.

Things to do:

Read and listen to “Changing minds or spreading hate? Controversial event puts South Jersey town on edge” from WHYY

Support South Jersey activists, Cooper River Indivisible

In honor of Self-Promotion Month…

Buy stuff from Wendy’s Etsy shop! wendycardz

Download Robin’s music! Robin Renée Music

See Scotland, PA at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City

Listen to this “Stairway to Heaven” vs “Taurus” comparison:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deVNnnuf24w

Robyn Ochs in Knoxville — **Celebrating Bisexual+ Identities with Robyn Ochs, part 2 (Episode 57)** Sep 25, 2019
This episode features part two of a conversation with activist, writer, and speaker Robyn Ochs in honor of Bisexual Awareness Month. Part one is featured in last week’s episode. Robyn is known worldwide for her work on LGBTQ issues with a focus on bisexual+ identities. She is the editor of two anthologies: the 42-country collection *Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World* (with co-editor Sarah Rowley) *and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men* (with co-editor H. Sharif Williams). She also edits the *Bi Women Quarterly*, which will soon begin its 38th year of publication. This time the conversation addresses shifting perspectives about labels (the word “heterosexible” is accidentally invented), gathering the diverse voices included in the *RECOGNIZE* anthology, and ways to be a good ally to bisexual+ people. Later, for Podcast Appreciation Month, co-hosts Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée talk up their favorites.

The friendly feature conversation raises the mood from the week’s News segment, which includes major cases reaching the Supreme Court on October 8th regarding whether Title VII protects LGBTQ+ people, an ICE training facility, and the loss of rock musicians Eddie Money and Ric Ocasek. Notable days mentioned at the top of the show: National Women’s Health & Fitness Day (September 25th), National Shamu the Whale Day (September 26th), Drink Beer Day, Save Your Photos Day, and National Public Lands Day (September 28th), and National Love People Day (September 30th). Birthday shout outs go to Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino, Will Smith, Mark Hamill, Barbara Walters,Ronnie Barker, Olivia Newton-John, Serena Williams, Brigitte Bardot, Halsey, Elie Weisel, T-Pain, and Jimmy Carter.

Things to do:

Follow Robyn Ochs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Check Robyn Ochs’ calendar and hear her speak.

Buy BiProducts on Etsy!

Support bi+ organizations like BiNetUSA and Bisexual Resource Center

Celebrate Podcast Appreciation Month: Tell a friend about *The Leftscape* and give us a good review wherever you get your podcasts!

Explore podcasts Mary, Robin, & Wendy are listening to:

Mueller, She Wrote / The Daily Beans

Dumb People Town

Hysteria

Invisibilia

Pod Save America

Lovett or Leave It

Welcome to Night Vale

History Chicks

Two Bi Guys

2 Dope Queens

With Friends Like These

The Bowery Boys

Watch “Shakin'” by Eddie Money

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tcD_dVcXE4

Watch “Magic” by The Cars

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Kv6vxZwL8

Featured image of WeHo Bi Pride 2019 by Cedric Maurice

Breaking News: Congress Did Something Today Sep 24, 2019

Nancy Pelosi announced today that the House is going forward with Impeachment proceedings. Also the Senate was unanimous about getting the Whistleblower documents. Wendy got very excited about this and made Robin and Mary come to the microphone to talk about it.

This is a bonus minicast (10:52). Episode 57 drops at midnight tonight.

Celebrating Bisexual+ Identities with Robyn Ochs, part 1 (Episode 56) Sep 18, 2019

Activist, writer, and speaker Robyn Ochs is known worldwide for her work on LGBTQ issues with a focus on bisexual+ identities. She is the editor of Bi Women Quarterly, the next issue of which will begin its 38th year of publication, and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World (with co-editor Sarah Rowley) and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men (with co-editor H. Sharif Williams). In this first part of a two-part conversation with Robin Renée marking September’s bi awareness celebrations, Robyn talks about the history of bi visibility, breaks down her frequently quoted definition of bisexuality, and encourages those of nonbinary sexualities to communicate and work together. Pansexual, bisexual, omnisexual, queer, curious, or just want to learn more? Give this a listen!

Earlier in the show, Robin, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley chat about recent news: The appearance of illnesses related to vaping, potential cancellation of Republican primaries, Hurricane Dorian survivors kicked off a ferry, and some ways to help in the aftermath of the hurricane such as the HeadKnowles GoFundMe effort and Homestead Bahamas Hurricane Relief. After the interview, the co-hosts reflect on the Pagan celebration of Mabon and contemplating balance at the time of the Autumn Equinox.

Here are some reasons to celebrate: Bisexual Awareness Week (September 16th – 23rd), Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th), National Dance Day (September 21st), Elephant Appreciation Day, American Business Women’s Day, and Hobbit Day (September 22nd), Mabon and Celebrate Bisexuality Day/Bi Visibility Day (September 23rd), National VOTER REGISTRATION DAY and National Punctuation Day (September 24th). Birthday shout outs are in order this week for Jada Pinkett Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Adam West, George RR Martin, Stephen King, Bill Murray, Joan Jett, Ani DiFranco, Bruce Springsteen, and Jim Henson.

Things to do:

REGISTER TO VOTE!

Follow Robyn Ochs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Buy BiProducts on Etsy!

Find Bi Visibility Day events.

Watch “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins” by Leonard Nimoy

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC35cQKHwzg

Watch “Phonetic Punctuation” by Victor Borge

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_TDuhk3No

Featured Image:

9/11: Looking Back, Moving Forward (Episode 55) Sep 11, 2019

Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée are back from their end-of-summer vacation. On the 18th anniversary of 9/11, they return from a relaxing time away to some very serious topics. Each share their memories of the shock of September 11, 2001, how they dealt with it spiritually and emotionally, and how they experienced the world around them in response to the attacks. The conversation segues into the originally intended topic, gun control: What are the gun laws in your state? Can we not only mourn the losses to gun violence, but also affect change? Which norms are changing? Could a shift in our cultural story make a difference? Have you participated in gun control activism?

In the News, Wendy describes coming out of her blanket fort only to be bombarded with the madness, including the latest on Brexit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson finding himself in the minority (He may be out in a Scaramucci or two.), and confusing British politics in general. In other news, the American president is the self-appointed Chosen One, parodied expertly by Randy Rainbow, and poor Moscow Mitch doesn’t like his hashtag. Later, Wendy lets us in on one of her vacation pastimes and gives her impressions of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Mary preferred watching the more peaceful, less eventful Travels by Narrowboat.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, Preparedness Month, International Update Your Resume Month, Courtesy Month, Piano Month, Save Your Photos Month, Self-Care Month, and Self-Improvement Month. The array of foods celebrated for the entire month include whole grains, honey, mushrooms, chicken, Italian cheese, papaya, potato, rice, and the strangely specific blueberry popsicles. Days to celebrate include Patriot Day and Make Your Bed Day (September 11th), Video Games Day (September 12th), Uncle Sam Day and National Blame Someone Else Day (September 13th), Eat a Hoagie Day, National Sober Day (September 14th), National Step Family Day, Play-Doh Day, and Working Parents Day (September 16th), Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (September 19th). Birthday honorees this week include Ludacris, Harry Connick Jr, Moby, Farrah Moan, Stanislaw Lem, Jennifer Hudson, Neil Peart, Roald Dahl, Amy Poehler, and others.

Things to Do:

Get information and resources for suicide prevention: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

View the List of Mass Shootings in the United States in 2019

Read “Why Americans won’t give up their guns” by Gary Younge in The Guardian

Listen to “Tuesday’s Lament” from Dancing with Hecate by Music for the Goddess

Watch The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance trailer

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aV5jFRsnFI

Watch “Cheeto Christ Stupid-Czar” by Randy Rainbow

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW2SEpWWqXM

See Randy Rainbow on November 1st at The State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ

Green Paper Ballots (Episode 54) Aug 21, 2019

Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée get together this time around to chat about ways we can all vote with our dollars. Whether electronic, plastic, or old-fashioned green “paper ballots,” we have the power to choose to spend or not spend our money in each potential transaction. Do you choose Costco over Walmart? Do you avoid Hobby Lobby, Chik-fil-A, or Wendy’s? How much effort do you put into supporting businesses you think are a net positive in the world? Listen to this conversation as Mary, Wendy, and Robin weave through the questions and complications. Scroll down to explore links that can help you make choices about your buying power. Thanks to friend and listener Scott Brown for this political discussion topic and the link suggestions.

The news is mostly an unwanted topic in this episode. An update about the Mueller, She Wrote and The Daily Beans podcasts turns out to be no news, which is good news. Celebrations and political actions this week include Congressional Startup Day (August 21st), Krishna Janmashtami (August 24th), National Power Rangers Day and National Rainbow Bridge Rememberance Day (August 28th). Birthday shout outs go to Kenny Rogers, Beenie Man, James Corden, Yvie Oddly, Rick Springfield, Kevin A. Patterson, Elvis Costello, Gene Simmons, Rob Halford, Sean Connery, Tim Burton, Cesar Millán, Paul Reubens, and Robin Renée. Word nerd alert: Wendy and Robin get inventive with their uses of “blanket forting” and “conject.”

The Leftscape co-hosts are taking a short vacation. Look for the next show on Wednesday, September 11th.

Things to do:

Say hello on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and send in your topic ideas for upcoming shows.

March on Washington or in a solidarity event on Saturday, September 21st: We the People March

Get informed and think about where you prefer to spend your money:

“Hobby Lobby: Women’s Rights v. Corporate Beliefs” in FindLaw

“30 Fortune 500 companies that donate to Democrats and Republicans” in Business Insider

“Did your favorite company donate to Democratic or Republican campaigns? This startup will tell you.” in The Washington Post

“Consumers Should Be Voting Every Day – with Their Wallets” in fee.org

“You Have the Power in Your Wallet” in FreeFromBroke.com

“Vote with Your Dollar Toolkit” by GreenAmerica.org

Watch “United Breaks Guitars” by Dave Carroll:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Watch an adorable and “controversial” Cheerios commercial:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIb4QHW-X8

Featured image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

authors Kevin A. Patterson and Alana Phelan — **Represent: The ‘For Hire’ Superhero Novels of Alana Phelan & Kevin A. Patterson (Episode 53)** Aug 07, 2019
The latest novel by Alana Phelan and Kevin Patterson is on its way! In this episode, Kevin and Alana speak with Robin Renée about their *For Hire* book series, superhero novels where queer, polyamorous, people of color are centered. *For Hire: Audition* will focus on Vanessa, a barista, and a veteran superhero, B-Girl, who get together after dealing with life’s disappointments to jump-start their careers. Find out about what sparked the co-authors’ collaborations, their experiences with educating through workshops and creating community, and the importance of telling stories where people of color, LGBTQ, and polyamorous people exist beyond their necessity for a plot point. Get in on the crowdfunding of *For Hire: Audition*, pick some perks, and get ready for a super fun story. If you haven’t read it yet, there’s an option where you can double down and check out the first book, *For Hire: Operator*, at the same time.

Later on in the show, Wendy Sheridan shares her impressions of Amazon’s *The Boys* and *The* *Expanse*, then takes exception to the mansplaining and shoddy physics on *Another Life* from Netflix. Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony and its aftermath is the News topic at hand. Mary McGinley starts things off with the week in celebrations: Varalakshmi Vratam (August 9th), Left Handers Day (August 13th), National Nonprofit Day and National Honey Bee Day (August 17th), and the 50th anniversary of Woodstock (August 15th – 17th). Birthday shout outs go to Roger Federer, Joe Jackson, Bob 1 of Devo, Halle Berry, Magic Johnson, Francis Bean Cobain, Bill Clinton, Madonna, Wendy’s brother David, *Dimebag Darrell, and others.

Things to do:

Hurry up and back the *For Hire: Audition* crowdfunding project!

Read *Love’s Not Color Blind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities* by Kevin Patterson.

Explore relationship support, workshops, and more at Alana Phelan’s website, The Polyamorous Librarian.

Speak your mind with Wendy Sheridan’s Protest Postcards.

Read “Actually, Robert Mueller was Awesome” by Renato Mariotti in POLITICO

Read “Forget the Theater Criticism — Mueller’s Conclusions are the Real News” by David A. Graham in *The Atlantic*

*The passings of these two rock guitarists were conflated in the Birthdays and Celebrations segment: Darrell Lance Abbott, aka Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed while performing with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004. Great White guitarist Ty Longley passed away in a fire started during the show by pyrotechnics at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island on February 20, 2003. RIP.

For Hire: Audition by Alana Phelan and Kevin Patterson - cover — **Represent: The ‘For Hire’ Superhero Novels of Alana Phelan & Kevin A. Patterson (Episode 53)** Aug 07, 2019
The latest novel by Alana Phelan and Kevin Patterson is on its way! In this episode, Kevin and Alana speak with Robin Renée about their *For Hire* book series, superhero novels where queer, polyamorous, people of color are centered. *For Hire: Audition* will focus on Vanessa, a barista, and a veteran superhero, B-Girl, who get together after dealing with life’s disappointments to jump-start their careers. Find out about what sparked the co-authors’ collaborations, their experiences with educating through workshops and creating community, and the importance of telling stories where people of color, LGBTQ, and polyamorous people exist beyond their necessity for a plot point. Get in on the crowdfunding of *For Hire: Audition*, pick some perks, and get ready for a super fun story. If you haven’t read it yet, there’s an option where you can double down and check out the first book, *For Hire: Operator*, at the same time.

Later on in the show, Wendy Sheridan shares her impressions of Amazon’s *The Boys* and *The* *Expanse*, then takes exception to the mansplaining and shoddy physics on *Another Life* from Netflix. Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony and its aftermath is the News topic at hand. Mary McGinley starts things off with the week in celebrations: Varalakshmi Vratam (August 9th), Left Handers Day (August 13th), National Nonprofit Day and National Honey Bee Day (August 17th), and the 50th anniversary of Woodstock (August 15th – 17th). Birthday shout outs go to Roger Federer, Joe Jackson, Bob 1 of Devo, Halle Berry, Magic Johnson, Francis Bean Cobain, Bill Clinton, Madonna, Wendy’s brother David, *Dimebag Darrell, and others.

Things to do:

Hurry up and back the *For Hire: Audition* crowdfunding project!

Read *Love’s Not Color Blind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities* by Kevin Patterson.

Explore relationship support, workshops, and more at Alana Phelan’s website, The Polyamorous Librarian.

Speak your mind with Wendy Sheridan’s Protest Postcards.

Read “Actually, Robert Mueller was Awesome” by Renato Mariotti in POLITICO

Read “Forget the Theater Criticism — Mueller’s Conclusions are the Real News” by David A. Graham in *The Atlantic*

*The passings of these two rock guitarists were conflated in the Birthdays and Celebrations segment: Darrell Lance Abbott, aka Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed while performing with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004. Great White guitarist Ty Longley passed away in a fire started during the show by pyrotechnics at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island on February 20, 2003. RIP.

**Ask the Bi Guy, Kel Monroe! (Episode 52)** Jul 24, 2019
In this episode, *The Leftscape* welcomes writer and activist, Kel Monroe. Ask The Bi Guy, Kel’s latest endeavor, puts his skills and knowledge toward assisting those who could use a boost in the world of dating. From creating classes to helping rewrite online profiles to one-on-one coaching, the Ask the Bi Guy project is gearing up to help people make higher quality connections. Spoiler alert: This creative, bisexual man with the lived experience of successful dating and authentic relating has a secret mission. It’s to reframe old scripts around dating and masculinity, dispel myths, and by facilitating better communication and more fulfillment, make the world a better place.

The News begins with a few show-related and personal notes. Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan welcome new listeners who connected with *The Leftscape* on International Nonbinary Day. Wendy shares about her new mandalas on Etsy and Instagram. Robin describes an upsetting event on the beach. The national news is an exercise in overwhelm and outrage fatigue with racist tweets against “The Squad,” a proclamation honoring an early KKK leader, migrant detentions, the Jeffrey Epstein case, and too much more. A bright spot is the inspirational talent and forthrightness of Megan Rapinoe and the U.S. women’s soccer team.

In the Blanket Fort segment, Mary shares enthusiastically about the healing experiences she has through dancing to music that evokes the elements. Other reasons to celebrate include National New Jersey Day and National Love is Kind Day (July 27th), Whistleblower’s Day (July 30th), Lughnasadh/Lammas and National Minority Donor Awareness Day (August 1st), National Coloring Book Day (August 2nd), and National Underwear Day (August 5th). August is International Peace Month, Water Quality Month, Happiness Happens Month, Black Business Month, and Back to School Month. Birthday salutations go out to Amelia Earhart, Jennifer Lopez, Bindi Irwin, Iman, Scott Mathews, Mick Jagger, Helen Mirren, Jerry Casale, Soulja Boy, J.K. Rowling, and Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Things to do:

Connect with Kel Monroe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Learn more about the Bisexual Resource Center.

Get Wendy Sheridan’s Postcards Against Fascism and Asylum Seekers Postcards.

Get Wendy’s coloring book, Harlequin and Other Fantasies to celebrate Coloring Book Day.

Download Robin Renée’s *All Six Senses* album.

Dance the Elements with a playlist by Mary McGinley:

**If you are in an abusive relationship or think you may be, you are not alone and there is help.**

httpss://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/getting-out-of-an-abusive-relationship.htm

Nonbinary graphic - umbrella terms — **Ask the Bi Guy, Kel Monroe! (Episode 52)** Jul 24, 2019
In this episode, *The Leftscape* welcomes writer and activist, Kel Monroe. Ask The Bi Guy, Kel’s latest endeavor, puts his skills and knowledge toward assisting those who could use a boost in the world of dating. From creating classes to helping rewrite online profiles to one-on-one coaching, the Ask the Bi Guy project is gearing up to help people make higher quality connections. Spoiler alert: This creative, bisexual man with the lived experience of successful dating and authentic relating has a secret mission. It’s to reframe old scripts around dating and masculinity, dispel myths, and by facilitating better communication and more fulfillment, make the world a better place.

The News begins with a few show-related and personal notes. Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan welcome new listeners who connected with *The Leftscape* on International Nonbinary Day. Wendy shares about her new mandalas on Etsy and Instagram. Robin describes an upsetting event on the beach. The national news is an exercise in overwhelm and outrage fatigue with racist tweets against “The Squad,” a proclamation honoring an early KKK leader, migrant detentions, the Jeffrey Epstein case, and too much more. A bright spot is the inspirational talent and forthrightness of Megan Rapinoe and the U.S. women’s soccer team.

In the Blanket Fort segment, Mary shares enthusiastically about the healing experiences she has through dancing to music that evokes the elements. Other reasons to celebrate include National New Jersey Day and National Love is Kind Day (July 27th), Whistleblower’s Day (July 30th), Lughnasadh/Lammas and National Minority Donor Awareness Day (August 1st), National Coloring Book Day (August 2nd), and National Underwear Day (August 5th). August is International Peace Month, Water Quality Month, Happiness Happens Month, Black Business Month, and Back to School Month. Birthday salutations go out to Amelia Earhart, Jennifer Lopez, Bindi Irwin, Iman, Scott Mathews, Mick Jagger, Helen Mirren, Jerry Casale, Soulja Boy, J.K. Rowling, and Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Things to do:

Connect with Kel Monroe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Learn more about the Bisexual Resource Center.

Get Wendy Sheridan’s Postcards Against Fascism and Asylum Seekers Postcards.

Get Wendy’s coloring book, Harlequin and Other Fantasies to celebrate Coloring Book Day.

Download Robin Renée’s *All Six Senses* album.

Dance the Elements with a playlist by Mary McGinley:

**If you are in an abusive relationship or think you may be, you are not alone and there is help.**

httpss://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/getting-out-of-an-abusive-relationship.htm

Gary Wilson: Full Interview, June 3, 2019, San Diego, CA (Episode 51 Bonus) Jul 10, 2019

Bonus post! Listen to the full conversation Gary Wilson had with Robin Renée on June 3, 2019 in San Diego. In addition to the thoughts shared in the edited version in “The Endicott Dreams of Gary Wilson (Episode 51),” hear Gary on gigging with Todd Rundgren, working in Woodstock, NY, his concerns about life on the road, and more. Enjoy!

Read Robin Renée’s interviews and articles on Gary Wilson:

“From out of an Endicott, New York basement in 1977 came a brilliantly insane record almost no one heard. A short run self-released LP, Gary Wilson’s You Think You Really Know Me featured titles like “Chromium Bitch” and the enigmatic “6.4 = Make Out.” Copies were passed hand-to-hand and dorm room to dorm room, and it became a strange-beyond-words underground classic. Luckily for long-time adherents and those new to the Gary Wilson phenomenon, there is renewed interest in his avant garde work.” – Read more at weirdomusic.com

“With this fantastic journey through a surreal night of the soul, we can dare dip our toes into the waters of temporary insanity, into a state of crying out unfiltered for love, loss, hope, and wanting. To grow to truly love the music of Gary Wilson is to have the meta experience of obsession with obsession.” – Read more at Biff Bam Pop!

“I will say that I’ve described various aspects of Gary with the terms “outsider rock groove,” “obsessive teenager in love,” “punk-influenced,” “maniacal repetition,” and “Steely Dan with a Love Unlimited Orchestra attitude.” All those still hold, and don’t even begin to cover it.” – Read more at The Dream Between

**The Endicott Dreams of Gary Wilson (Episode 51)** Jul 10, 2019
Gary Wilson, the rightfully self-declared “King of Endicott” is an off-the-beaten-path musician who in his own outsider way is living the dream. About a month before heading out on his July-August U.S. tour, Gary took the time to chat with superfan Robin Renée about his career from its beginnings with the band Lord Fuzz to being rediscovered in the 1990s and re-rediscovered at the start of the new millennium. He flows through stories of his childhood in Endicott, NY, adventures in hippie/post-hippie/pre-punk New York City of the late 60s and early 70s, and his current collaboration with kindred spirit, R. Stevie Moore. Gary shares his thoughts on politics in the arts, talks about what keeps him fascinated with his early years and influences, and sheds light on his “tormented teen idol” aesthetic.

In News, Wendy Sheridan leads the discussion on the real-time tragedy of migrant camps in the U.S. and the Close the Camps protests manifesting around the country. Also in the news is Robert Mueller’s testimony coming up on July 17th and Mueller-related artistic and awareness-raising endeavors. Robin reports on her attendance at World Pride / Stonewall 50.

At the top of the show, Mary McGinley sends birthday shout outs to a motley crew including Nikola Tesla, E.B. White, Richard Simmons, Harrison Ford, Patrick Stewart, David Hasselhoff, Angela Merkel, Vin Diesel, Nelson Mandela, John Glenn, Cat Stevens and others. More reasons to celebrate are National Cheer Up the Lonely Day (July 11th), National Nude Day (July 14th), National Toss Away the “Could Haves/Should Haves” Day (July 20th), as well as Junk Food Day, Ice Cream Day, and Be Someone Day (July 21st).

**Things to do:**

Listen to Robin Renée’s full interview with Gary Wilson in an Episode 51 bonus post.

Watch “The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts.”

Read “Too Much Coffee Man’s Creator is Turning the Mueller Report Into a Graphic Novel.”

Like Gary Wilson on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Listen to *You Think You Really Know Me*:

Listen to “Hey Gary (Have You Seen My Girl)” by Gary Wilson and R. Stevie Moore

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Ke21mBVvQ

Watch “Linda Wants to be Alone”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1rZuSGcd-Q

Check for show details and go see Gary on tour!

The Women Most Likely to… (Episode 50) Jun 26, 2019

… Kick Ass, Take Names, and Become President of the United States of America

For months now it has felt too soon, but with the primary debates upon us, the Leftscape co-hosts have decided it’s time to talk about the Democratic presidential candidates. Wendy Sheridan thought that the guys in the race have been getting quite enough air time and wanted to focus this conversation on the female candidates for the highest office in the U.S. Listen to the impressions, considerations, concerns, and hopes each of the co-hosts has about the six women contenders: Tulsi Gabbard, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Marianne Williamson.

In the News segment, Robin Renée keeps it upbeat with Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s win of “Best Real-Life Hero” at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. She also announces the Philadelphia Podcast Festival from July 17th – 28th and the very first RESPECT: Women’s Podcast Festival August 24th-25th at Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse in Philadelphia. The first Democratic debates will be held Wednesday, June 26th and Thursday, June 27th from 9 to 11pm EDT.

Mary McGinley went with Wendy to Union County Family Pride Day and Robin went to Philly Pride. All reported back about fun had, connections made, and moving moments. The New York City Pride March is coming up on Sunday, June 30th, in the middle of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which occurred on June 28th to July 1st, 1969. June 27th is the day to observe National PTSD Awareness Month. July is National Ice Cream Month, UV Safety Month, and Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Other days to celebrate of varying importance are Independence Day (July 4th) and National Dive Bar Day (July 7th). Birthday shout outs at the beginning of the show go to Ariana Grande, Derek Jeter, Helen Keller, Mel Brooks, Michael Phelps, Missy Elliott, Pamela Anderson, Larry David, Thurgood Marshall, Malia Obama, and Bill Withers.

Things to do:

Read about the women who are running for president in Ballotopedia:

Watch the debates Wednesday, June 26th and Thursday, June 27th:

Official TV broadcast: NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo

Free online stream: NBCNews.com, NBC News apps, Telemundo, NBC News’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Additional coverage: Watch CBSN for live coverage of the debates before, during and after.

Featured Images

Tulsi Gabbard photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Kirsten Gillibrand photo, Congress [Public domain]

Kamala Harris photo, Office of Senator Kamala Harris [Public domain]

Amy Klobuchar photo, Amy Klobuchar United States Senate [Public domain]

Elizabeth Warren photo by Tim Pierce [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Marianne Williamson photo by Marc Nozell from Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA [CC BY 2.0]

Jaleesa Johnson with Mueller soda — **Laughter Matters: Jaleesa Johnson of Mueller, She Wrote (Episode 49)** Jun 12, 2019
To kick off the second year of *The Leftscape* in style, Robin Renée speaks with Jaleesa Johnson, comedian and co-host of the Webby Award-winning podcast, *Mueller, She Wrote.* Jaleesa shares about the ordeal of living through Hurricane Katrina in her home city of New Orleans, the development of her passion for politics, the humor, bawdiness, and serious mission of MSW, and the importance of “uncomfortable” comedy. She gives insight into her newest podcast project, *The Racial Maddow Show*, finding constructive ways to confront racism, sadness, and anger, and she gives props to some of her heroes and influences including Rachel Maddow, Kanye West, Oprah, Ellen, and Mac Miller. Don’t miss this lively conversation with a fresh voice in entertainment, political consciousness, and LGBT visibility.

Earlier in the show, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée contemplate the news: Robert Mueller finally speaks, Kamala Harris is protected from a stage crasher by Karine Jean-Pierre, and the president gets a “warm welcome” in the UK. Reasons to celebrate include Loving Day (June 12th), Weed Your Garden Day (June 13th), Juneteenth (June 19th), Hike with a Geek Day (June 20th), Summer Solstice (June 21st), and the very important Ignore Donald Trump Day (June 14th). Birthday shout outs go to Timothy Simons, Timothy Busfield, Boy George, Ice Cube, Courtney Cox, Neil Patrick Harris, John Cho, the Olsen twins, Anne Frank (who would have turned 90 years old), and others. In The Blanket Fort segment, Robin talks about the healing quality of body-positive and sex-positive workshops and similar places and events.

Click to view:

A.G., Jaleesa Johnson, and Jordan Coburn, Miracle Theatre, Washington, DC 3/29/2019

Gifts from *Mueller, She Wrote* fans… including Andrew McCabe!

Jaleesa Johnson hosts Out at the Fair, San Diego County Fair, 6/1/2019

Robin Renée & Jaleesa Johnson, San Diego, CA 6/3/2019

Things to do:

Listen to Mueller, She Wrote

Listen to The Racial Maddow Show

See how Sky News trolled Trump in advance of his recent UK visit.

Watch Democrazy! by Jaleesa Johnson

httpss://vimeo.com/70061590

Watch “Self Care” by Mac Miller

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKT0s5J8ko

Explore Body-Positive and Sex-Positive Resources:

Human Awareness Institute

Naked Yoga Alliance

Asking for What you Want

Where in the World is Monique Darling?

ReidAboutSex.com

No Bathing Suit, No Problem: Best Clothing-Optional Beaches in the U.S.

A.G., Jaleesa Johnson, and Jordan Coburn 2019-03-29 Miracle Theatre, DC — **Laughter Matters: Jaleesa Johnson of Mueller, She Wrote (Episode 49)** Jun 12, 2019
To kick off the second year of *The Leftscape* in style, Robin Renée speaks with Jaleesa Johnson, comedian and co-host of the Webby Award-winning podcast, *Mueller, She Wrote.* Jaleesa shares about the ordeal of living through Hurricane Katrina in her home city of New Orleans, the development of her passion for politics, the humor, bawdiness, and serious mission of MSW, and the importance of “uncomfortable” comedy. She gives insight into her newest podcast project, *The Racial Maddow Show*, finding constructive ways to confront racism, sadness, and anger, and she gives props to some of her heroes and influences including Rachel Maddow, Kanye West, Oprah, Ellen, and Mac Miller. Don’t miss this lively conversation with a fresh voice in entertainment, political consciousness, and LGBT visibility.

Earlier in the show, Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée contemplate the news: Robert Mueller finally speaks, Kamala Harris is protected from a stage crasher by Karine Jean-Pierre, and the president gets a “warm welcome” in the UK. Reasons to celebrate include Loving Day (June 12th), Weed Your Garden Day (June 13th), Juneteenth (June 19th), Hike with a Geek Day (June 20th), Summer Solstice (June 21st), and the very important Ignore Donald Trump Day (June 14th). Birthday shout outs go to Timothy Simons, Timothy Busfield, Boy George, Ice Cube, Courtney Cox, Neil Patrick Harris, John Cho, the Olsen twins, Anne Frank (who would have turned 90 years old), and others. In The Blanket Fort segment, Robin talks about the healing quality of body-positive and sex-positive workshops and similar places and events.

Click to view:

A.G., Jaleesa Johnson, and Jordan Coburn, Miracle Theatre, Washington, DC 3/29/2019

Gifts from *Mueller, She Wrote* fans… including Andrew McCabe!

Jaleesa Johnson hosts Out at the Fair, San Diego County Fair, 6/1/2019

Robin Renée & Jaleesa Johnson, San Diego, CA 6/3/2019

Things to do:

Listen to Mueller, She Wrote

Listen to The Racial Maddow Show

See how Sky News trolled Trump in advance of his recent UK visit.

Watch Democrazy! by Jaleesa Johnson

httpss://vimeo.com/70061590

Watch “Self Care” by Mac Miller

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKT0s5J8ko

Explore Body-Positive and Sex-Positive Resources:

Human Awareness Institute

Naked Yoga Alliance

Asking for What you Want

Where in the World is Monique Darling?

ReidAboutSex.com

No Bathing Suit, No Problem: Best Clothing-Optional Beaches in the U.S.

Philly Bi Visibility Pride 2019 — **Our First Year! (Episode 48)** May 29, 2019
Happy Birthday to us! *The Leftscape* premiered on May 30, 2018, so in this episode the co-hosts celebrate a year of exploring “the shape of progressive conversation” and podcasting together. From fun with mythbusting, being introduced to the new *She-Ra*, and memorable conversations with guests, Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée run down some of their favorite episodes. What have been some of your favorite moments from the first year of *The Leftscape*? Listen to some back episodes and get in touch with your appreciations, comments, and ideas for the future.

June is Pride Month, and events will abound around the country. World Pride will be in New York City in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. See the “Things to do” below for more Pride info. Birthday remembrances and shout outs go to JFK, Bob Hope, CeeLo Green, Mel Blanc, Morgan Freeman, Rafael Nadal, and Steve Vai.

Unfortunately, the news is not all celebration. Extreme abortion bans are cropping up around the country. Robin, Wendy, and Mary talk about how best to turn the trend around. What would effective “taking to the streets” look like? Not nearly so consequential but in the sad category go the recent farewells to Doris Day, Tim Conway, and Grumpy Cat. A bit of good news is that the CES Innovation Award that had been taken away from Lora DiCarlo for the Osé, a hands-free personal massager, has been restored. Will a Go Fund Me campaign for sex toy reviews be a new project for The Leftscape? We shall see!

Things to do:

Check heritageofpride.org for World Pride NYC/Stonewall 50 events.

Go to New Jersey’s 28th Annual LGBTQ Pride Celebration, Sunday, June 2nd, Asbury Park

Go to Philadelphia’s Pride Parade and Festival on Sunday, June 9th. Robin will be marching with Philly Bi Visibility. Feel free to join – Meet at 13th & Spruce, 10:15am – The more the merrier!

Learn about The 3% Solution.

Read *Maus*.

Featured birthday photo by Amponsah Nii Davidson from Pexels.

Harlequin and Other Fantasies - Wendy Sheridan — **Mythbusting Day II (Episode 47)** May 15, 2019
Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan had so much fun busting myths in Episode 26 that it’s time to do it again! Listen in to find out about the beauty and spaciousness in New Jersey, the genders (or the lack thereof) of math and cooking, the health threats of migrants vs. anti-vaxxers, wet dog smells, and why lesbians are lesbians. If you have myths you’d like to hear *The Leftscape* bust in the future, send them to insight@leftscape.com!

Earlier in the News segment, the co-hosts discuss the letter that continues to gain signatures from former federal prosecutors who say Donald Trump would be indicted for obstruction of justice were he not president. Then there is the baby beluga “spy whale,” which leads to a side conversation in which Wendy confuses Yanni and Raffi. Later in *Why is this Awesome?*, Wendy tells us what’s great about the new *Twilight Zone* hosted by Jordan Peele and humorous tongue-tied mix-ups of Rod Serling and Rod Stewart ensue.

At the top of the show, we find out about some of the great things to celebrate this week: Honor Our LGBT Elders Day and Sea Monkey Day (May 16th), National Endangered Species Day (May 17th), HIV Vaccine Awareness Day and Armed Forces Day (May 18th), Rescue Dog Day (May 20th), and Waitstaff Day (May 21st). Birthdays include Birdy, Mark Mothersbaugh, Tina Fey, Malcolm X, Grace Jones, Cher, Busta Rhymes, Notorious B.I.G., Harvey Milk, Morrissey, and Janet Jackson (Miss Jackson, if you’re nasty).

Things to do:

Listen to “Mythbusting Day (Episode 26).”

Watch *The Twilight Zone*.

Consume reliable news. Look at the Media Bias Chart we discussed in “Magic & Media (Episode 31).”

Find out about the legend of the Jersey Devil.

Get Wendy Sheridan’s *Harlequin and Other Fantasies – Meditative Coloring for Grown-Ups*.

Listen to *Armed Forces* by Elvis Costello:

Game of Thrones - Photo @HBO — **Summer is Coming (Episode 46)** May 01, 2019
Of Game of Thrones and Beltane

As much of the world is talking about the final season of *Game of Thrones*, *The Leftscape* joins the party! Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée talk about who’s watching and who isn’t, what is entertaining about the show and what is frustrating, fantasy vs. science fiction, and the misogyny in the fantasy genre that can put a damper on its appeal. Wendy offers up some ideas for fantasy works she particularly enjoys in which women live in their power. Later in the show, Robin, Mary and Wendy welcome the warm season with a discussion of Beltane and the various traditions of this prominent Pagan holiday.

After having a little time to get a sense for the impact of the Mueller report, the co-hosts share their thoughts and speculations in the News segment. Also in the news is the worrisome development that the Supreme Court will decide on a case on whether or not Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bans employment discrimination against people who are LGBTQ+. On a more hopeful note, an article in *Medium* praises the practice of cisgender people announcing their preferred pronouns to make it easier for transgender and gender-nonconforming people to do so.

There are some great reasons to celebrate during the month of May. It is both Meditation Month and National Masturbation Month! This week there is Beltane and May Day (May 1st), World Naked Gardening Day and Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You), and Cinco de Mayo (May 5th). Birthdays include Wes Anderson, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), David Beckham, Adele, Meek Mill, George Clooney, Bob Seger, and let’s all wish Mary a very happy birthday on May 5th!

**Note:** *The Leftscape* is going on a bi-weekly summer schedule. The next show will drop on May 15th. In the meantime, be sure to keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and say hello anytime through the *Leftscape* website.

Photo @HBO

Things to do:

Read an opinion piece in the New York Times by Paul Krugman, “The Great Republican Abdication.”

Watch *Game of Thrones*.

Find out more about the *Pern* series by Anne McCaffrey.

Read about Beltane.

Celebrate the season! Listen to Robin Renée’s “Beltane Tunes” playlist.

**Ridiculous! Tales from the Mind of D.L. Carter (Episode 45)** Apr 24, 2019
Mary McGinley meets up with prolific author D.L. Carter this week on *The Leftscape*. D.L. Carter, who hails from the Australian Outback, has been telling stories before she could even write. Her fanciful tales grew nonstop from a child’s imagination through *Doctor Who* and *Star Trek* fan fiction and into her many titles including *Ridiculous!*, *Obstreperous*, *The Use of Changing Magic*, and *First Destroy All Giant Monsters*. She speaks with Mary about her works in Regency romance, fantasy, mystery, and science fiction, as well as misogyny in history, humor, the creative process, and the very demanding voices in her head.

At the top of the show, Wendy Sheridan gives us the week’s celebrations. By far the most discussed is Hairball Awareness Day (April 25th). A few others have potential: National Superhero Day (April 28th), Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Bugs Bunny Day, National Honesty Day (April 30th). The news in this episode still held the pre-Mueller Report jitters and speculation. Recorded just after Julian Assange’s arrest, the discussion reveals that the largest portion of everyone’s concern seems to go to Julian Assange’s cat. Robin Renée recognizes the powerful positive influence and complicated legacy of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Later, she shares a poem from her NaPoWriMo efforts, plus some others on themes of poetry, politics, sex, loss, and longing.

Things to do:

Get books by D. L. Carter.

See Embassy Cat on Instagram.

Watch *Nipsey Hussle: A Celebration of Life*.

Find poetry and other thoughts on Robin Renée’s woefully neglected blog.

Spread the word with a *Leftscape* T-shirt and mug!

**Ridiculous! Tales from the Mind of D.L. Carter (Episode 45)** Apr 24, 2019
Mary McGinley meets up with prolific author D.L. Carter this week on *The Leftscape*. D.L. Carter, who hails from the Australian Outback, has been telling stories before she could even write. Her fanciful tales grew nonstop from a child’s imagination through *Doctor Who* and *Star Trek* fan fiction and into her many titles including *Ridiculous!*, *Obstreperous*, *The Use of Changing Magic*, and *First Destroy All Giant Monsters*. She speaks with Mary about her works in Regency romance, fantasy, mystery, and science fiction, as well as misogyny in history, humor, the creative process, and the very demanding voices in her head.

At the top of the show, Wendy Sheridan gives us the week’s celebrations. By far the most discussed is Hairball Awareness Day (April 25th). A few others have potential: National Superhero Day (April 28th), Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Bugs Bunny Day, National Honesty Day (April 30th). The news in this episode still held the pre-Mueller Report jitters and speculation. Recorded just after Julian Assange’s arrest, the discussion reveals that the largest portion of everyone’s concern seems to go to Julian Assange’s cat. Robin Renée recognizes the powerful positive influence and complicated legacy of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Later, she shares a poem from her NaPoWriMo efforts, plus some others on themes of poetry, politics, sex, loss, and longing.

Things to do:

Get books by D. L. Carter.

See Embassy Cat on Instagram.

Watch *Nipsey Hussle: A Celebration of Life*.

Find poetry and other thoughts on Robin Renée’s woefully neglected blog.

Spread the word with a *Leftscape* T-shirt and mug!

J Barrett Wolf — **The Biker & The Bard (Episode 44)** Apr 17, 2019
Poetry Month continues! Award-winning poet J. Barrett Wolf, aside from a lifetime of writing, has been a street musician, salesman, laborer, computer technician, and a police officer. He was raised in the suburbs of New York City, has lived in Connecticut, North Carolina, the Bay Area in California, and currently resides in Binghamton, New York. He has ridden motorcycles for most of the last forty years and is a proud member of The Highway Poets Motorcycle Club. His work has been published in literary and general interest magazines including *Black Bear Review*, *Portland Review of the Arts*, *Amelia*, *Fireheart*, *Scarecrow*, *Cats Magazine*, *Rye Whiskey Review*, and *Carousel*. Wolf speaks with Wendy Sheridan in today’s featured interview, beginning with a heart-rending poem in tribute to one who was lost to the Parkland massacre — much after the fact. He and Wendy move into a discussion between friends on the organized rise of conservative theocracy, the problems with progressive talking points and purity tests, looking toward coherent compromise for a better political movement, touring as an artist, and judging a biker poetry contest.

Mary McGinley shifts gears to tell us all about Shakespeare in the *Why Is This Awesome?* segment of the show. After tackling *Macbeth* in elementary school, Mary found herself on a journey to learn more and more about Shakespeare, and eventually completed the quest during the ’90s to see a production of each of his plays at least once. Mary leads an enthusiastic chat with Wendy and Robin Renée that includes modern interpretations, the sonnets, how Shakespeare changed the English language, advice for those unfamiliar with Shakespeare, and speculations on the key to his success.

The news of the week includes Kirstjen Nielsen’s departure as United States Secretary of Homeland Security, all the “acting” members of the Trump cabinet, and William Barr’s congressional testimony. Wendy announces a time capsule blogging project coming up this summer. This week, birthday shouts go out to Maynard James Keenan, Tim Curry, George Takei, Luther Vandross, Iggy Pop, Queen Elizabeth II, and the aforementioned William Shakespeare. It is also time to celebrate Bat Appreciation Day, Haiku Poetry Day (listen for the high school emo haiku), National Hanging Out Day, Easter, Earth Day, and if you partake, enjoy 4/20!

Things to do:

Follow J. Barrett Wolf on Facebook.

Get a copy of Rubber Side Down: The Biker Poet Anthology

Listen for J. Barrett Wolf’s poetry radio shows on WBDY 99.5FM.

Watch *Binghamton: Valley of Creativity*, which features an interview with J. Barrett Wolf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxtut81oVYw

Check out Shakespeare’s Sonnet 150 by read.my.lips.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_WDSHqzVk8

Jordan Coburn, A.G., and Jaleesa Johnson of Mueller She Wrote — **Like Flesh Covers Bone: Words with Poet Jan Steckel (Episode 43)** Apr 10, 2019
Jan Steckel, award-winning poet from Oakland, CA, speaks with co-host Robin Renée about her life and work and reads from her most recent book, *Like Flesh Covers Bone*(Zeitgeist Press). Arranged into sections that mirror the steps of surgery – Incise, Dissect, Ligate, Excise, and Suture – the book speaks to moving experiences including relationships that are personal and/or informed by the interplay of gender, as well as to the current political climate which can feel like undergoing surgery sans anesthesia. The collection of poems opens up the painful and seeks to move through a process that ultimately brings healing. In this warm conversation, Jan shares her thoughts on being an out and proud bisexual in her poems and in the world, what poetry and other forms of literature can do for us, and the ways writing intersects with activism. The evocative poems she reads aloud touch on themes that range from deep praise for poet friends to sex and sadomasochism to the rise of fascist politics to the odd surprise of being recognized as a bi “elder.”

In the *Why is this Awesome?* segment, Robin raves about seeing *Mueller, She Wrote* live at The Miracle Theatre in Washington, DC. Hosts A.G., Jaleesa Johnson, and Jordan Coburn have been keeping up with the details of the Mueller investigation and all related news in a weekly podcast, plus special episodes for patrons. Rather than winding down after William Barr’s brief commentary on Mueller’s report, their humorous but serious pursuit of justice and an informed public is just getting started. You can listen to the March 29th live show and you can vote for them in the Webby Awards!

Wendy Sheridan helps us all take a break from the intensity of political news this week by geeking out about the Hugo Award nominations and paleontologist Robert DePalma’s recent find in Montana – a fascinating game-changer for our understanding of how the dinosaurs died. She also takes time to celebrate the life and work of science fiction author, Vonda McIntyre. Mary McGinley gives us the week’s reasons to celebrate – National Pet Day (April 11th), National Dolphin Day (April 14th), and National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day (April 16th). Birthday shout outs go to David Letterman, David Cassidy, Tiny Tim, Tom Clancy, Al Green, Seth Rogen, Chance the Rapper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and dearly-missed friend of the Leftscape co-hosts, Anthony Minson.

Things to do:

Read *Like Flesh Covers Bone* by Jan Steckel.

Check out the Bi Women Quarterly.

Support Mueller, She Wrote on Patreon.

Read “The Day the Dinosaurs Died” in *The New Yorker* and “Astonishment, skepticism greet fossils claimed to record dinosaur-killing asteroid impact” in *Science*.

Learn about the life and work of Vonda McIntyre.

The Leftscape is planning another Mythbusting Day! Share your thoughts on myths you’d like to hear get thoroughly busted.

If you’re in the U.S., don’t forget to pay your taxes by April 15th!

Big & Scary (Episode 42) Apr 03, 2019

aka Politics, the Universe, and Everything

In this episode, Robin Renée speaks about policing and intolerance that can show up in our left-leaning communities and begins to confront the long-held fear she has had of doing so. Having hit an emotional wall around responses to major social justice issues that seem to have become sacrosanct, it is a big and scary thing to express ideas that may not always fall in line. With a particular interest in communicating with others of blended backgrounds, more conversations – perhaps eventually taking the form of a book – are on the horizon.

Robin, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley may not have all the answers to complex sociopolitical challenges, but Douglas Adams did indeed point the way to the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. Being that it is show #42, the co-hosts thought it was apropos to talk about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in this week’s Why is this Awesome? segment. Mary and Wendy share their memories of the series in its various incarnations, and Robin reveals why she really does find it useful to always have a towel.

At the top of the show, days of note are Find a Rainbow Day (April 3rd), National Sorry Charlie Day (April 6th), National Handmade Day (April 7th), and National Library Week (April 7th – 13th). On April 4th we remember Martin Luther King, Jr. on the anniversary of his death. Birthdays shout outs include Alec Baldwin, Eddie Murphy, Jane Goodall, Jill Scott, Maya Angelou, and Matthew Healy of The 1975. In the news is post-Mueller musing and decompression, Brexit confusion, and on a positive note, the awesomeness of Wendy’s protest postcards.

Things to do:

Celebrate National Handmade Day by buying something cool from Wendy on Etsy!

Read 16 Fun Facts about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Hear the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aboZctrHfK8

Watch an old school commercial and get the low down on “Sorry Charlie!”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URE0pFN7kBE

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk0xqDcHu04

Mathew Calamari Name Generator — **Of Memes and Men (Episode 41)** Mar 27, 2019
It’s “Of Memes and Men” on The Leftscape! One does not simply “talk about feelings” may be a meme-worthy sendup of a certain type of masculinity, but some men are diving into the difficult emotions and conversations. This week, John Tod talks about hosting and taking part in a men’s group – a chance for men get together to explore and express the things they find most challenging, and to unlearn all that keeps them from their vulnerability.

Later, co-hosts Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée bring women and transgender leaders they admire into the spotlight. They give props to Eleanor Roosevelt, engineer and musician Wendy Carlos, scientist Stephanie Kwolek, artist/scientist Julia Van Etten, and activists Brenda Howard, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Rivera.

The news of the week was harsh with shocking mass shootings in New Zealand and Netherlands. After that and a few more serious topics, the conversation turns to a bit of humor via funny name memes inspired by Matthew Calamari and “Tim Apple.” There are also oddball reasons to celebrate like Manatee Appreciation Day and National Joe Day (March 27th), Weed Appreciation Day (March 28th), and April Fool’s Day (April 1st). March 29th is Vietnam Veterans Day and all of April is devoted to Jazz Appreciation, Mathematics Awareness, and NaPoWriMo. Birthday shout outs at the top of the show go to Mariah Carey, Quentin Tarantino, Lady Gaga, Eric Clapton, MC Hammer, Al Gore, plus the late Cesar Chavez and Marvin Gaye.

Things to do:

Explore The ManKind Project.

View the science-meets-art images of Couch Microscopy.

Pick your “Matthew Calamari” name and your “time-saving” CEO name!

Hello, Ostara! (Episode 40) Mar 20, 2019

Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan are happy to welcome springtime! This episode’s conversation centers around the spring equinox and the various ways of celebrating the corresponding Pagan holiday of Ostara. For some, it is a time of clearing out and making room for the new. For some, it is a time for planting literal or figurative seeds.

A new segment, The Blanket Fort, is introduced later in the show. The Blanket Fort will feature things that foster comfort, healing, and relaxation – ways of finding peace in a chaotic world. In keeping with the week’s theme, Wendy, Mary, and Robin talk about their comfort foods of the season. Who loves chocolate? Who loves matzoh? Who loves nutless charoset? Find out everyone’s favorites at this point on the wheel of the year and comment with your seasonal traditions!

Other reasons for honoring, celebration, and activism: The Week of Solidarity With Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination, National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 20th), National Goof Off Day (March 22nd), and National Tolkien Reading Day (March 25th). Birthdays this week include Fred Rogers, Spike Lee, Ruby Rose, Chaka Khan, Harry Houdini, Nena, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Pelosi, and a trifeca of birthdays for Star Trek fans to enjoy. Even the news took on a somewhat celebratory tone as Grace Slick licensed a song to Chik-fil-A to send the money to Lambda Legal, Arkansas Sen. Stephanie Flowers made an impassioned speech to stop a stand-your-ground law, and metalheads with kazoos got the best of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Things to do:

Enjoy the Ostara song by Wendy’s band, Music for the Goddess, that plays at the end of the episode – “The Ram and the Lamb” from the album Dancing with Hecate.

Watch Arkansas Senator Stephanie Flowers’ amazing speech:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p56mCyqorCE

Revisit Episode 21, and watch the Harry Houdini trick, “Metamorphosis,” performed by his brother, Hardeen.

Featured Image: Robin’s coleus grown from seed, Ostara 2015.

**Sound Affects (Episode 39)** Mar 13, 2019
In this week’s featured interview, Fresno, CA music composition student Alexia Nelson talks with Robin Renée about living with autism. Alexia speaks candidly about difficulties with social cues, anxiety, sensory overload, and being misunderstood by neurotypical people. She also gives us a glimpse at her deep connection with music — favorites include Steely Dan, Devo, Mitski, and The Beach Boys. Listen in to learn about one young person’s joys and challenges, as well as some universal ways to be more understanding and kinder to people with autism.

Wendy Sheridan leads a news discussion that includes sadness about the passing of Luke Perry (*Beverly Hills, 90210*, *Riverdale, Jeremiah*) and the hopefulness of a second person possibly considered cured of HIV. Also in the conversation are votes against the Trump “emergency,” bodily autonomy vs. “host bodies,” and the “Racism Exhibit A” moment in Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony.

Want some reasons to celebrate this week? There’s Pi Day (March 14th), St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th), National Awkward Moments Day (March 18th), and National Introverts Week (March 17th – 23rd). Mary McGinley surmises about why it’s Shakespeare Week and Robin shares a bit about Bisexual Health Awareness Month. Birthday shouts go to Albert Einstein, Simone Biles, will.i.am, Bily Corgan, Queen Latifah, and YouTube star ASMR Zeitgeist.

In the *Why is This Awesome?* segment, Wendy celebrates the birthday of her mother, Paula Schwartz aka prolific novelist Elizabeth Mansfield. She wrote plays and musicals, and had a deep appreciation for Jane Austen. Wendy announces her upcoming project to adapt one of her mom’s musicals into a very different medium.

Things to do:

Explore information from the Autism Acceptance Month website, recommended by Alexia Nelson:

Welcome to the Autistic Community

Self-Advocate Resources

Read books by Elizabeth Mansfield.

Learn about Bisexual Health Awareness Month.

Watch and Listen:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY3hIoNb55o

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Y8FhyGbVk

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woN47pZJsEI

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DSWX4ReYgQ

Sex… & Death (Episode 38) Mar 06, 2019

Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée talk women’s sexuality on this week’s episode – from Freud’s miscasting of the female orgasm to the liberation of pleasure by pro-sex feminists, personal discoveries of pleasure-enhancing household objects, and much more. Wendy shares a list of reasons women could be institutionalized in the late 1800s and Mary recommends The Birth of Pleasure by Carol Gilligan. Robin tries to talk about Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and gets the title ass backwards before singing the praises of Betty Dodson.

Opening conversations take on a more somber tone, as the news includes an Alabama editor who called on the Ku Klux Klan to “ride again” in Washington, DC and the decision on what to do when a juror dies after an opinion is rendered but before it becomes official. The Mueller investigation isn’t dead yet, however, and seems to be moving along despite rumors of its imminent end. Reasons to celebrate this week: National Women’s Day (March 8th), Worship of Tools Day (March 11th), and the birthdays of Kiki Dee, Wanda Sykes, Micky Dolenz, Bow Wow, and James Taylor. Robin remembers singer Christina Grimmie who died in a murder/suicide in 2016 and Wendy honors her father, the late Ira Schwartz. In the Why is this Awesome? segment, Robin raves about Joe Jackson and his recent show at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

Don’t forget to “spring ahead” one hour for Daylight Saving at 2am, March 10th!

Things to do:

Read about the removal of the “father of gynecology” statue from Central Park.

Watch the trailer for Hysteria:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FWReqkTWfA

Watch videos by Joe Jackson:

“Fabulously Absolute”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnc1EasHvZg

“Real Men”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA65lg1HWt4

Ray Cornwall with Deadpool — **Women Doing Stuff (Episode 37)** Feb 27, 2019
Some within our cultures and subcultures have strange ways of reacting to a basic everyday occurrence — women doing stuff. Too often there’s disdain, shaming, or disregard. Sometimes, thankfully, there’s recognition of success and accomplishment, even if in some cases, it is long overdue. This episode turns out to be a look at just a few instances of women doing stuff and the responses that follow.

Ray Cornwall, former co-host of The GAR! Podcast, comics enthusiast, and self-described geek for hire, speaks with Robin Renée this week about #comicsgate and the harassment that women and transgender people have been facing if they dare take part in the world of creating comics. We hear about “The Milkshake Incident,” online attacks against Magdalene Visaggio (*Eternity Girl*, *Kim & Kim*) and others, plus some encouraging examples of people in the comics industry who stand against Comicsgate and advocate for embracing diversity. Later, Mary McGinley talks about the black women she’s been highlighting on the Leftscape Facebook page. The co-hosts share about a few who inspire them including physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, Union spy Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and tennis players Margaret and Matilda Peters.

Wendy Sheridan is doing stuff! Her Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism, has been funded! Thanks to all you backers who helped make it possible. She is busy designing postcards especially suitable for sending messages to your representatives in Congress. Other reasons to celebrate this week are National Polar Bear Day (February 27), Metamour Day (February 28), National Women’s History Month and Will Eisner Week both beginning March 1st, National Grammar Day (March forth!), and Absinthe Day (March 5). Birthdays include Lupita Nyong’o, Dr. Seuss, Karen Carpenter, Anne Sabagh, and Chaz Bono.

Things to do:

Read #comicsgate posts. Consider yourself trigger-warned. This is Comicsgate

Check out Ray Cornwall’s recommendations: Crowded, The Hulk, Cosmic Ghost Rider

Support women in comics.

Find your local Indivisible group.

Learn about absinthe.

Crowded #1 — **Women Doing Stuff (Episode 37)** Feb 27, 2019
Some within our cultures and subcultures have strange ways of reacting to a basic everyday occurrence — women doing stuff. Too often there’s disdain, shaming, or disregard. Sometimes, thankfully, there’s recognition of success and accomplishment, even if in some cases, it is long overdue. This episode turns out to be a look at just a few instances of women doing stuff and the responses that follow.

Ray Cornwall, former co-host of The GAR! Podcast, comics enthusiast, and self-described geek for hire, speaks with Robin Renée this week about #comicsgate and the harassment that women and transgender people have been facing if they dare take part in the world of creating comics. We hear about “The Milkshake Incident,” online attacks against Magdalene Visaggio (*Eternity Girl*, *Kim & Kim*) and others, plus some encouraging examples of people in the comics industry who stand against Comicsgate and advocate for embracing diversity. Later, Mary McGinley talks about the black women she’s been highlighting on the Leftscape Facebook page. The co-hosts share about a few who inspire them including physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, Union spy Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and tennis players Margaret and Matilda Peters.

Wendy Sheridan is doing stuff! Her Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism, has been funded! Thanks to all you backers who helped make it possible. She is busy designing postcards especially suitable for sending messages to your representatives in Congress. Other reasons to celebrate this week are National Polar Bear Day (February 27), Metamour Day (February 28), National Women’s History Month and Will Eisner Week both beginning March 1st, National Grammar Day (March forth!), and Absinthe Day (March 5). Birthdays include Lupita Nyong’o, Dr. Seuss, Karen Carpenter, Anne Sabagh, and Chaz Bono.

Things to do:

Read #comicsgate posts. Consider yourself trigger-warned. This is Comicsgate

Check out Ray Cornwall’s recommendations: Crowded, The Hulk, Cosmic Ghost Rider

Support women in comics.

Find your local Indivisible group.

Learn about absinthe.

Edie Weinstein and hippie man in Ireland - Free Hugs sign — **Choose Joy: A Conversation with Edie Weinstein (Episode 36)** Feb 20, 2019
Joy is a choice and touch is essential. These are central tenets for Edie Weinstein, author, speaker, columnist, medical social worker, certified Cuddle Party facilitator, and Laughter Yoga coach. Edie has written for *HuffPost*, *Elephant Journal*, *Wisdom Magazine, The Good Men Project*, *Beliefnet.com*, and more, and is the author of *The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary*. She speaks with Robin Renée on this episode about her journey as a touch educator who points the way toward healing in a world in which many people grew up in families where touch was nonexistent, limited, or in some way coercive. Offering Free Hugs across Ireland, creating a “wall of love” in Pennsylvania between protesters and a story time event featuring drag queen Annie Christ, and co-facilitating a 400+ person Cuddle Party in the Washington, DC area are among the love and life-affirming adventures she describes.

In News, Wendy Sheridan tells us about the Supreme Court’s stay of Louisiana’s anti-abortion law and all discuss the complicated tale of Jeff Bezos’ extortion claim against The National Enquirer and its potential legal and political fallout. Also in this episode, Mary McGinley reveals her lonely sock problems, we celebrate World Day of Social Justice (February 20th), A Day Without News (February 22nd), National Tell a Fairy Tale Day (February 26th), and there is a strange detour into talk of Bigfoot and dinosaur porn and gay niche erotica writer Chuck Tingle (Don’t ask… Just listen!). This week, we recognize the birthdays of Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Nina Simone, Julius “Dr. J” Earving, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, Steve Jobs, George Harrison, Erykah Badu, Tony Randall, and Johnny Cash.

Things to do:

Visit Edie Weinstein online at her website, opti-mystical.com, and on Facebook.

Read *The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary*.

Find a Cuddle Party near you. Cuddle Party is a workshop created by Marcia Baczynski and Reid Mihalko centered around communication, boundary-setting, and safe, nurturing, nonsexual touch by consent.

Learn about Laughter Yoga.

At some point, every medical professional will be a patient. Contact Edie Weinstein about her upcoming class, “The Other End of the Stethoscope: Listening to the Heart in Our Care,” that will be offered anywhere medical professionals work or are trained.

Wendy proudly embraces the term “Social Justice Warrior:”

The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary - Edie Weinstein — **Choose Joy: A Conversation with Edie Weinstein (Episode 36)** Feb 20, 2019
Joy is a choice and touch is essential. These are central tenets for Edie Weinstein, author, speaker, columnist, medical social worker, certified Cuddle Party facilitator, and Laughter Yoga coach. Edie has written for *HuffPost*, *Elephant Journal*, *Wisdom Magazine, The Good Men Project*, *Beliefnet.com*, and more, and is the author of *The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary*. She speaks with Robin Renée on this episode about her journey as a touch educator who points the way toward healing in a world in which many people grew up in families where touch was nonexistent, limited, or in some way coercive. Offering Free Hugs across Ireland, creating a “wall of love” in Pennsylvania between protesters and a story time event featuring drag queen Annie Christ, and co-facilitating a 400+ person Cuddle Party in the Washington, DC area are among the love and life-affirming adventures she describes.

In News, Wendy Sheridan tells us about the Supreme Court’s stay of Louisiana’s anti-abortion law and all discuss the complicated tale of Jeff Bezos’ extortion claim against The National Enquirer and its potential legal and political fallout. Also in this episode, Mary McGinley reveals her lonely sock problems, we celebrate World Day of Social Justice (February 20th), A Day Without News (February 22nd), National Tell a Fairy Tale Day (February 26th), and there is a strange detour into talk of Bigfoot and dinosaur porn and gay niche erotica writer Chuck Tingle (Don’t ask… Just listen!). This week, we recognize the birthdays of Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Nina Simone, Julius “Dr. J” Earving, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, Steve Jobs, George Harrison, Erykah Badu, Tony Randall, and Johnny Cash.

Things to do:

Visit Edie Weinstein online at her website, opti-mystical.com, and on Facebook.

Read *The Bliss Mistress Guide to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary*.

Find a Cuddle Party near you. Cuddle Party is a workshop created by Marcia Baczynski and Reid Mihalko centered around communication, boundary-setting, and safe, nurturing, nonsexual touch by consent.

Learn about Laughter Yoga.

At some point, every medical professional will be a patient. Contact Edie Weinstein about her upcoming class, “The Other End of the Stethoscope: Listening to the Heart in Our Care,” that will be offered anywhere medical professionals work or are trained.

Wendy proudly embraces the term “Social Justice Warrior:”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Artwork by Mitch Boyer — **Wait Your Turn? (Episode 35)** Feb 13, 2019
Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan all got together at Wendy’s place to talk about “wait your turn” politics. Often in the name of progress, women, people of color, those who identify or are perceived to be LGBTQ, and other marginalized people have been told to wait. If the time for their/our justice is not now, when will it be? Are there times when the request to wait is strategic and valid? Is it always an insult and an injustice? How much does an acknowledgment of the pain caused by being asked to wait matter? The conversation winds through these questions and others, teasing out more questions and inviting continued political discussion and reflection on a centuries-old problem.

Also in this episode, Wendy goes over Robert Reich’s survival guide for two more years of Trump and Robin shares the news that beginning February 1st, New Jersey residents have the right to change their gender identity on a birth certificate. A third, nonbinary option is also available for the first time. If that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, there’s also Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 10th – 16th), Valentine’s Day and National Shut-in Visitation Day ( Feb 14th), National Do a Grouch a Favor Day (Feb 16th), Presidents Day and National Drink Wine Day (Feb 18th), and National Engineer’s Week (Feb 17th – 23rd). Birthday shout outs go to Henry Rollins, Peter Gabriel, Frederick Douglass, and Wendy’s daughter Ariel Berenzon.

Things to do:

Artwork by Mitch Boyer

Listen to “More Perfect: Sex Appeal,” a story in which Ruth Bader Ginsburg convinces an all-male Supreme Court to take discrimination on the basis of sex seriously — and uses an instance of “wait your turn” politics along the way.

Take a look back at Robert Reich’s Summer Survival Guide for the Trump Era, posted for “A Leftscape 4th of July (Episode 6).” Useful reminders in any season!

Learn about *The Jungle* by Upton Sinclair.

The Jungle - Upton Sinclair — **Wait Your Turn? (Episode 35)** Feb 13, 2019
Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan all got together at Wendy’s place to talk about “wait your turn” politics. Often in the name of progress, women, people of color, those who identify or are perceived to be LGBTQ, and other marginalized people have been told to wait. If the time for their/our justice is not now, when will it be? Are there times when the request to wait is strategic and valid? Is it always an insult and an injustice? How much does an acknowledgment of the pain caused by being asked to wait matter? The conversation winds through these questions and others, teasing out more questions and inviting continued political discussion and reflection on a centuries-old problem.

Also in this episode, Wendy goes over Robert Reich’s survival guide for two more years of Trump and Robin shares the news that beginning February 1st, New Jersey residents have the right to change their gender identity on a birth certificate. A third, nonbinary option is also available for the first time. If that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, there’s also Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 10th – 16th), Valentine’s Day and National Shut-in Visitation Day ( Feb 14th), National Do a Grouch a Favor Day (Feb 16th), Presidents Day and National Drink Wine Day (Feb 18th), and National Engineer’s Week (Feb 17th – 23rd). Birthday shout outs go to Henry Rollins, Peter Gabriel, Frederick Douglass, and Wendy’s daughter Ariel Berenzon.

Things to do:

Artwork by Mitch Boyer

Listen to “More Perfect: Sex Appeal,” a story in which Ruth Bader Ginsburg convinces an all-male Supreme Court to take discrimination on the basis of sex seriously — and uses an instance of “wait your turn” politics along the way.

Take a look back at Robert Reich’s Summer Survival Guide for the Trump Era, posted for “A Leftscape 4th of July (Episode 6).” Useful reminders in any season!

Learn about *The Jungle* by Upton Sinclair.

Rev. Dawn Fortune speaking at the Atlantic City Women's March, 1/19/19 — **March and Talk Back (Episode 34)** Feb 06, 2019
Photo by Eric A. Cheavers / Track 3 Productions LLC

On Saturday, January 19th, 2019, Rev. Dawn Fortune delivered the opening prayer at the Atlantic City Women’s March and Rally. In this week’s featured interview, they talk with Robin Renée about the experience of taking part in the inspiring event organized by and centering women of color. Dawn shares about speaking truth to power at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore and the message of unity through acknowledging our interwoven commonalities, differences, marginalizations, and privileges.

Wendy Sheridan reports the news that the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on a challenge to a restrictive abortion law in Louisiana. Also up for discussion is the arrest and indictment of Roger Stone. Later, Wendy tells us about attending a marcher’s reunion and reminds everyone to act now to support her excellent Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism.

At the top of the show, birthday acknowledgments go out for Bob Marley, Natalie Cole, James Dean, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin. Mary McGinley lets us in on the upcoming weird holidays — National Periodic Table Day (Feb 7th) and International Flirting Week (Feb 10th – 16th). Robin introduces a potential new Leftscape theme song.

Things to do:

Visit the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore

Learn about Fannie Lou Hamer. Her life and activism were honored by The Atlantic City Women’s March.

Visit the Atlantic City Women’s March on Facebook

Catch a Free Screening of *Black Panther*

It’s the final week to back (Post)Cards Against Fascism! Reserve your cards now!

Artwork by Wendy Sheridan

Watch Trevor Noah’s take on Roger Stone’s Arrest

Celebrate National Periodic Table Day and sing “The Elements” by Tom Lehrer:
There’s antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium,
And hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium,
And nickel, neodymium, neptunium, germanium,
And iron, americium, ruthenium, uranium, Europium, zirconium, lutetium, vanadium,
And lanthanum and osmium and astatine and radium,
And gold, protactinium and indium and gallium,
And iodine and thorium and thulium and thallium. There’s yttrium, ytterbium, actinium, rubidium,
And boron, gadolinium, niobium, iridium,
There’s strontium and silicon and silver and samarium,
And bismuth, bromine, lithium, beryllium, and barium. There’s holmium and helium and hafnium and erbium,
And phosphorus and francium and fluorine and terbium,
And manganese and mercury, molybdenum, magnesium,
Dysprosium and scandium and cerium and cesium. And lead, praseodymium and platinum, plutonium,
Palladium, promethium, potassium, polonium,
And tantalum, technetium, titanium, tellurium,
And cadmium and calcium and chromium and curium. There’s sulfur, californium and fermium, berkelium,
And also mendelevium, einsteinium, nobelium,
And argon, krypton, neon, radon, xenon, zinc and rhodium,
And chlorine, carbon, cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin and sodium. These are the only ones of which the news has come to Harvard,
And there may be many others but they haven’t been discovered.

Postcards Against Fascism — **March and Talk Back (Episode 34)** Feb 06, 2019
Photo by Eric A. Cheavers / Track 3 Productions LLC

On Saturday, January 19th, 2019, Rev. Dawn Fortune delivered the opening prayer at the Atlantic City Women’s March and Rally. In this week’s featured interview, they talk with Robin Renée about the experience of taking part in the inspiring event organized by and centering women of color. Dawn shares about speaking truth to power at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore and the message of unity through acknowledging our interwoven commonalities, differences, marginalizations, and privileges.

Wendy Sheridan reports the news that the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on a challenge to a restrictive abortion law in Louisiana. Also up for discussion is the arrest and indictment of Roger Stone. Later, Wendy tells us about attending a marcher’s reunion and reminds everyone to act now to support her excellent Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism.

At the top of the show, birthday acknowledgments go out for Bob Marley, Natalie Cole, James Dean, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin. Mary McGinley lets us in on the upcoming weird holidays — National Periodic Table Day (Feb 7th) and International Flirting Week (Feb 10th – 16th). Robin introduces a potential new Leftscape theme song.

Things to do:

Visit the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore

Learn about Fannie Lou Hamer. Her life and activism were honored by The Atlantic City Women’s March.

Visit the Atlantic City Women’s March on Facebook

Catch a Free Screening of *Black Panther*

It’s the final week to back (Post)Cards Against Fascism! Reserve your cards now!

Artwork by Wendy Sheridan

Watch Trevor Noah’s take on Roger Stone’s Arrest

Celebrate National Periodic Table Day and sing “The Elements” by Tom Lehrer:
There’s antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium,
And hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium,
And nickel, neodymium, neptunium, germanium,
And iron, americium, ruthenium, uranium, Europium, zirconium, lutetium, vanadium,
And lanthanum and osmium and astatine and radium,
And gold, protactinium and indium and gallium,
And iodine and thorium and thulium and thallium. There’s yttrium, ytterbium, actinium, rubidium,
And boron, gadolinium, niobium, iridium,
There’s strontium and silicon and silver and samarium,
And bismuth, bromine, lithium, beryllium, and barium. There’s holmium and helium and hafnium and erbium,
And phosphorus and francium and fluorine and terbium,
And manganese and mercury, molybdenum, magnesium,
Dysprosium and scandium and cerium and cesium. And lead, praseodymium and platinum, plutonium,
Palladium, promethium, potassium, polonium,
And tantalum, technetium, titanium, tellurium,
And cadmium and calcium and chromium and curium. There’s sulfur, californium and fermium, berkelium,
And also mendelevium, einsteinium, nobelium,
And argon, krypton, neon, radon, xenon, zinc and rhodium,
And chlorine, carbon, cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin and sodium. These are the only ones of which the news has come to Harvard,
And there may be many others but they haven’t been discovered.

John Cecil Price - selfie with guitar — **Opinionated: The Cultural Activism of John Cecil Price (Episode 33)** Jan 30, 2019
It is almost Black History Month as Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée welcome you to this week’s episode of The Leftscape. February 1st is National Freedom Day, which honors Abraham Lincoln’s signing of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment. Also coming up is the seasonal holiday of Imbolc and its secular analogue, Groundhog Day. On February 5th, the Year of the Pig begins and on that day we are also invited to celebrate National Shower with a Friend Day! Birthday nods and remembrances this week include Jackie Robinson, Portia de Rossi, Brandon Lee, Lisa Marie Presley, Ronda Rousey, Farrah Fawcett, Elizabeth Blackwell, Alice Cooper, Rosa Parks, and Trayvon Martin.

Featured in this episode is Robin’s interview with John Cecil Price, Philadelphia-based promoter and guitarist most recently with THe BaPTist pReacherS. He believes that art and music are storytelling, and that telling your story is, by its very nature, a political statement. As a self-described “loudmouth, opinionated huckster of unpopular thought,” he has a lot to say on topics including the nature of political parties, love, Baby Boomers, Gen Z, singer/songwriter Laura Marling, Permit Patty, The Mummers, cargo shorts, and the silver lining of a Donald Trump presidency.

In News, Wendy tells us about the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the transgender military ban to go forward as the lower courts work through the issue. The co-hosts consider the possibility of adding to the Supreme Court to rectify the conservative leaning. In another edition of Why Is this Awesome?, Mary raves about the “food porn” experience with cooking shows Brothers Green Eats and Flo Lum.

Want to stay politically engaged? Write to your representatives with Wendy Sheridan’s (Post)Cards Against Fascism! Support the Kickstarter project today, get your copies of Wendy’s new political postcard designs, and make your voice heard!

httpss://www.kickstarter.com/projects/528999219/postcards-against-fascism

Back (Post)Cards Against Fascism

Things to do:

Listen to the music of John Cecil Price on SoundCloud:

httpss://soundcloud.com/john-cecil-price

Watch a Food Wars anime “foodgasm:”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1pP9GdvGv8

Watch the *Uzamasa Limelight* trailer:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1a0Ia8wbtE

Watch the Guardians trailer (the “Russian Avengers” movie Wendy couldn’t remember the name of in the podcast):

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIc0NqjOPgc

Get ready for Puppy Bowl XV!

Remembering the Ladies coloring book — **‘Her Stories’ with Carol Simon Levin (Episode 32)** Jan 23, 2019
This week on The Leftscape, Mary McGinley speaks with historian and performer Carol Simon Levin. After minoring in Women’s History at Cornell University, Levin wasn’t yet on her current path of immersion and fascination with the topic. It was a chance meeting at the gym and a conversation about Emily Roebling that led to more and more research, a book, and her one-woman performances that bring to life women from history, many of whose stories have been hidden from view. This discussion winds through stories of women including Jeannette Rankin, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. Thoughts on the voices of women of color and racial divisions within the feminist movement then and now recur throughout, and invite deep, ongoing conversation and analysis.

In the news, the government shutdown continues and problems are growing from missed paychecks to missing personnel in national parks. Some Good Samaritans have tried picking up the slack when and where they can. A federal judge has ruled against a citizenship question on the 2020 census, and we all learned that the FBI opened an inquiry into whether or not Donald Trump was at any point working on behalf of Russian interests.

This week, it’s time to celebrate National Opposite Day (No, it’s not!) and National Meat Week. Silly holidays aside, on January 27th, we have the deeply solemn Holocaust Remembrance Day. Also this week, The Leftscape sends out birthday love for Alicia Keys, Etta James, Ellen DeGeneres, Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, and Robin Renée remembers musician and friend, Warren Zevon.

Things to do:

Visit Carol Simon Levin online at tellingherstories.com.

Check out her coloring book featuring facts about many courageous and tenacious American women: Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates

Find out more about Middlesex-Somerset NOW

Support Wendy Sheridan‘s excellent Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism!

(Post)Cards Against Fascism - Wendy Sheridan — **‘Her Stories’ with Carol Simon Levin (Episode 32)** Jan 23, 2019
This week on The Leftscape, Mary McGinley speaks with historian and performer Carol Simon Levin. After minoring in Women’s History at Cornell University, Levin wasn’t yet on her current path of immersion and fascination with the topic. It was a chance meeting at the gym and a conversation about Emily Roebling that led to more and more research, a book, and her one-woman performances that bring to life women from history, many of whose stories have been hidden from view. This discussion winds through stories of women including Jeannette Rankin, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. Thoughts on the voices of women of color and racial divisions within the feminist movement then and now recur throughout, and invite deep, ongoing conversation and analysis.

In the news, the government shutdown continues and problems are growing from missed paychecks to missing personnel in national parks. Some Good Samaritans have tried picking up the slack when and where they can. A federal judge has ruled against a citizenship question on the 2020 census, and we all learned that the FBI opened an inquiry into whether or not Donald Trump was at any point working on behalf of Russian interests.

This week, it’s time to celebrate National Opposite Day (No, it’s not!) and National Meat Week. Silly holidays aside, on January 27th, we have the deeply solemn Holocaust Remembrance Day. Also this week, The Leftscape sends out birthday love for Alicia Keys, Etta James, Ellen DeGeneres, Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, and Robin Renée remembers musician and friend, Warren Zevon.

Things to do:

Visit Carol Simon Levin online at tellingherstories.com.

Check out her coloring book featuring facts about many courageous and tenacious American women: Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates

Find out more about Middlesex-Somerset NOW

Support Wendy Sheridan‘s excellent Kickstarter project, (Post)Cards Against Fascism!

**Magic & Media (Episode 31)** Jan 16, 2019
Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan are back from their short winter break and wish everyone a very happy 2019! This week, Robin spoke with Christiana Gaudet, one of the most recognizable talents in tarot and the intuitive arts today. She is the author of *Fortune Stellar: What Every Professional Tarot Reader Needs to Know* and *Tarot Tour Guide: Tarot, The Four Elements, and Your Spiritual Journey*. Christiana says, “… we are at our best when we think magically, but at our worst when we fall into magical thinking.” Listen in to the conversation to learn the differences between the two concepts and to consider if and how spiritual practices like Pagan ritual magick, prayer, and meditation affect our inner and external experiences. Please forgive the fact that Robin sounds like she is speaking from inside an aluminum can. Much better sound quality for The Leftscape is in the works!

Later in the show, Mary, Wendy, and Robin discuss the very helpful Media Bias Chart 4.0. This chart is a handy way to cut through the various accusations of “fake news” and to be more informed about the slant, as well as the reliability, of the news you listen to. And in the news, the partial government shutdown continues and the *New York Times* runs a Bruce Ackerman opinion piece on why declaring an emergency to build “the wall” would not be a legal move.

Current celebrations include National Religious Freedom Day, National Nothing Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, commemoration of the first assembly of the League of Nations in 1920, and National Blood Donor Month – the discussion of which prompts Wendy to declare, “The devil doesn’t need a lawyer!” Birthday shout outs go to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Obama, Jim Carrey, Buzz Aldrin, Tom Baker, and Jam Master Jay.

Things to Do:

Book a Tarot reading by Christiana Gaudet

Explore books by Christiana Gaudet

Northwest Tarot Symposium

See Jim Carrey’s political cartoons

Read “Rules for gay blood donors are based on outdated fear, not science”

Help teach about and celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

Appreciate Squirrels!

Check out the Media Bias Chart 4.0 by Vanessa Otero. What does it say about the news you consume most?
httpss://www.adfontesmedia.com/

Anthony Agabatt Minson on a construction project site — **Time Passages: 2018 (Episode 30)** Dec 26, 2018
2018 has been one wild trip around the sun. The onslaught of political news alone has been overwhelming, let alone the personal shifts and changes we all experience. There are many ways to approach a retrospective. In this final episode of the year, The Leftscape honors well-known and lesser known people who had an impact on the world, passed in 2018, and whose lights still shine.

Anthony Minson

Wendy Sheridan begins the conversation by remembering Anthony Agabatt Minson – a craftsman, a powerful worker of magick, and a true friend to all three co-hosts. Wendy, Mary, and Robin share memories and healing laughter. As The Leftscape was recorded live this week in Wendy’s home, it was extra touching that gifts “Batt” had made over the years were all around the room.

Pete Shelley

Robin Renée spoke of Pete Shelley, lead vocalist of the profoundly influential band the Buzzcocks and solo performer of the iconically queer “Homosapien.”

Cicely Berry

Mary McGinley remembered and praised the innovations of John Barton and Cicely Berry, co-founder and voice director, respectively, for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Ntozake Shange

Others we lost in 2018 include Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Mort Walker in comics, brilliant theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Apollo astronauts Alan Bean and John Young, CSS design team member Cindy Li, UN diplomat Kofi Annan, politician John McCain, writers Ursula K. Le Guin and Ntozake Shange, activist David Stroh Buckel, journalist Jamal Khashoggi, playwright Neil Simon, celebrities/performers Penny Marshall, Burt Reynolds, Anthony Bourdain, Tab Hunter, Aretha Franklin, XXXTentacion, Mac Miller, and Delores O’Riordan, and gorillas Koko and Nico. These are just a sampling of the many from pop culture, arts and sciences, and elsewhere who are recognized in the show. Explore the Wikipedia entry on notable people who died in 2018 to learn more about their lives and contributions.

The week’s celebrations include Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and the birthdays of Henry Miller, Steve Allen, Gregg Wayans, Lars Ulrich, and David Sedaris. In shocking news, *Men’s Health* reports that Keith Richards is finally on the wagon.

Happy Holidays and have a Very Happy New Year!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeDksSfuqaU

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5bPZ7jvsJI

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4QQ8Mfjb_g

**Time Passages: 2018 (Episode 30)** Dec 26, 2018
2018 has been one wild trip around the sun. The onslaught of political news alone has been overwhelming, let alone the personal shifts and changes we all experience. There are many ways to approach a retrospective. In this final episode of the year, The Leftscape honors well-known and lesser known people who had an impact on the world, passed in 2018, and whose lights still shine.

Anthony Minson

Wendy Sheridan begins the conversation by remembering Anthony Agabatt Minson – a craftsman, a powerful worker of magick, and a true friend to all three co-hosts. Wendy, Mary, and Robin share memories and healing laughter. As The Leftscape was recorded live this week in Wendy’s home, it was extra touching that gifts “Batt” had made over the years were all around the room.

Pete Shelley

Robin Renée spoke of Pete Shelley, lead vocalist of the profoundly influential band the Buzzcocks and solo performer of the iconically queer “Homosapien.”

Cicely Berry

Mary McGinley remembered and praised the innovations of John Barton and Cicely Berry, co-founder and voice director, respectively, for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Ntozake Shange

Others we lost in 2018 include Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Mort Walker in comics, brilliant theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Apollo astronauts Alan Bean and John Young, CSS design team member Cindy Li, UN diplomat Kofi Annan, politician John McCain, writers Ursula K. Le Guin and Ntozake Shange, activist David Stroh Buckel, journalist Jamal Khashoggi, playwright Neil Simon, celebrities/performers Penny Marshall, Burt Reynolds, Anthony Bourdain, Tab Hunter, Aretha Franklin, XXXTentacion, Mac Miller, and Delores O’Riordan, and gorillas Koko and Nico. These are just a sampling of the many from pop culture, arts and sciences, and elsewhere who are recognized in the show. Explore the Wikipedia entry on notable people who died in 2018 to learn more about their lives and contributions.

The week’s celebrations include Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and the birthdays of Henry Miller, Steve Allen, Gregg Wayans, Lars Ulrich, and David Sedaris. In shocking news, *Men’s Health* reports that Keith Richards is finally on the wagon.

Happy Holidays and have a Very Happy New Year!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeDksSfuqaU

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5bPZ7jvsJI

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4QQ8Mfjb_g

She-Ra’s Feminist Challenge (Episode 29) Dec 19, 2018

Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée do a fair amount of discussing media on The Leftscape, but rarely have they all watched or listened to the show that is the topic at hand. This time, everyone did their homework. Wendy has been watching the new She-Ra and the Princess of Power, and she found what she took for some real talk in Episode 11, “Promise.” Does Catra’s dialogue with Adora point out some of the most uncomfortable truths about white feminism? Listen in to the Leftscape conversation, watch She-Ra on Netflix, and post your thoughts.

This week, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, and Maria Butina are all making big news. According to the Washington Post, some lies have been repeated so often, they warrant a new rating: The Bottomless Pinocchio. Queer Twitter is calling out TERFs of AfterEllen.com and debating about how Pink News dealt with a Pansexual Pride article that misdefined “bisexual.” Patricio Manuel’s debut and win as the first professional transgender male boxer is reason to celebrate.

Other reasons to celebrate: Las Posadas (Dec 16th -24th), Saturnalia (Dec 17th – 23rd), Winter Solstice/Yule (Dec 21st), National Hard Candy Day, and the birthdays of Edith Piaf, Alyssa Milano, Jennifer Beals, and Richard Leakey.

**Progressive Conversation: Half a Year (Episode 28)** Dec 12, 2018
The first episode of The Leftscape posted on May 30, 2018, which means Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée have been at this for just over half a year. As we are moving toward the end of the year when retrospectives are many, Robin, Mary and Wendy decided to take some time out to reflect on the show so far. From 4th of July music to stirred up demons to a great interview to limerick contest laughs, a lot has come together in the past six months. The Leftscape co-hosts are looking forward to learning, growing, and presenting much more progressive conversation well into the future.

In News, everyone shares thoughts on the passing and mixed legacy of George H. W. Bush. Robin mentions an anti-fascist, anti-racist metal festival scheduled for January called Black Flags Over Brooklyn. The week in observations and weird holidays include Human Rights Week, Ambrosia Day, Ding-a-Ling Day, Gingerbread House Day, and Poinsettia Day. Birthday shout outs go to Frank Sinatra, Edvard Munch, Edward G. Robinson, Bob Barker, Dionne Warwick, Sheila E, Jennifer Connelly, Denny Dias, and others.

Things to do –

Check out some of the media Mary, Wendy, and Robin have been watching and listening to:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Miss Sherlock,She-Ra, Bag Man, “A Squirrel’s Guide to Success“

**Free to be HSP (Episode 27)** Dec 05, 2018
Anne Sabagh is a life coach in Fairfax, VA with a special calling. Though she works with all types of clients, she has particular insight into working with Highly Sensitive People. Highly Sensitive People experience sound, light, crowds, or other stimuli more intensely than others, and so have a need to navigate the world with a bit more intention. Anne took some time out last week to speak with Robin Renée about what it is to be HSP and ways it may bear similarities to introversion or being on the autism spectrum. As an HSP herself, Anne shared some tips about how she has learned to thrive and her journey into life coaching to help others.

At the top of the show, Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée greet December and talk about the month in acknowledgments. Some seem intuitive for the time of year such as Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Winter Squash Month, and Recipe Greetings for the Holidays Week. Watermelon Month seems out of season. Bathtub Party Day and International Ninja Day sound like a blast. AIDS Awareness is of utmost importance.

Birthday shouts go out to Walt Disney, JJ Cale, Otto Preminger, Little Richard, John Resnik, Jim Messina, Margaret Cho, and others. The week in news includes worrisome news in the government report on climate change, hopeful news for those with peanut allergies, and some very silly news about political pajamas. Later, Wendy talks about the startling performance/art installation, Romantic Songs of the Patriarchy. All discuss other “great songs with terrible messages.”

Things to do:

Visit Anne Sabagh’s website: Free to be HSP. See what she shares on her Facebook page.

Read about Same-Sex Marriage Laws in the UK.

Read “Why ‘Carousel’ was a problem before #MeToo.”

Check out these great songs (and feel free to discuss and debate their terrible messages!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM8XekYI8kI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzHXtxcIkg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_x6QmuJdms

Here’s the updated version!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzt7JvsYIuI

Mythbusting Day (Episode 26) Nov 28, 2018

Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée have decided that it’s high time for some mythbusting. No, they didn’t go out and reenact strange folk tale situations or test ballistics from film scenarios as you might see in the popular television show. Instead, they give personal accounts from the life experience that makes them qualified to answer burning questions such as: Can black people swim? Don’t all women really want children? Are bisexuals just gay people who are procrastinating? … and a question asked by only the most well-informed individuals… Do Jews have horns? Some may be shocked and amazed to hear tales of true polyamorous love, an Irish grandmother in the temperance movement, and that sometimes size matters (but not in the way most often assumed). The conversation takes on a host of misguided or outright appalling beliefs with some laughter (See: The Masculine Toilet) along with the serious intent to put to rest ideas that wound.

The personal is political in News of the Week as Robin talks about a recent object lesson in everyday racism at a New Jersey diner. Wendy reports about anti-vax enclaves that have led to outbreaks of chicken pox and measles. Later, everyone discusses the effect or non-effect of Mercury Retrograde. At the top of the show, some serious and not-so-serious things to be aware of or celebrated include Historic Bridge Awareness, Aviation History, Family Appreciation, Life Writing, Movember, and National French Toast Day. Also recognized are the launch of Mariner 4 on this day in 1964 and the first pulsar observed in 1967. Mary offers birthday acknowledgments for William Blake, Anna Nicole Smith, Randy Newman, Ed Harris, Karen Gillan, Jon Stewart, Berry Gordy, and others.

Check out the xkcd comic that Wendy mentions: “Family Decals”

Stan Lee and Marvel Comics characters — **Get Off My Lawn, Thanksgiving! (Episode 25)** Nov 21, 2018
Finding Gratitude Beyond Obligation

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and everyone at The Leftscape wishes a happy holiday to all who celebrate! Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley have things to be thankful for, though they are also well aware that the holidays can be fraught with inconvenient backstories and obligation. Wendy and Mary are tired of Thanksgiving as a day that demands large amounts of cooking and/or forced gratefulness. All take a moment to acknowledge that for many Native Americans it is a National Day of Mourning. Robin recalls holiday seasons past that were painful, and talks about how a daily practice of mindfulness can help generate genuine gratitude apart from any one grand day.

Some of the 2018 midterm election results that are still rolling in on the blue wave are reasons to be thankful. Among the winners celebrated are Ruth Buffalo, Democratic member-elect for the North Dakota House of Representatives, Andy Kim in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and Kyrsten Sinema who won an Arizona Senate seat. Great admiration is also in order for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ continued fight for fair voting for all citizens. The Leftscape bids farewell and “Excelsior!” to Stan Lee who passed away at the age of 95. Also in the news, Indivisible has released a new guide to activism that addresses what we can do now that the House of Representatives will have a Democratic majority.

Things to celebrate: foods including banana pudding, pomegranates, sweet potato, stuffing, cookies, and “fun with fondue.” It’s also Jukebox Day, Red Mitten Day, and Tie One On Day. Birthday shout outs go to Rene Magritte, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harold Ramis, Bjork, Dr. John, Goldie Hawn, Nicollete Sheridan, Alexander Siddig, and Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes. In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment, Mary celebrates The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

**Things to do:**

Read “Thankless Thanksgiving: Why Being Ungrateful is Important”

Pick up Wendy Sheridan’s *Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring Book for Grown-Ups*:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

Order or download *Holiday 2018* – 14 tracks by LGBT artists including Robin Renée’s “Hare Krishna Christmas.” All proceeds from *Holiday 2018* go to support Quest of Life Media and Broadcast, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBT songwriters and musicians.

Holiday 2018 cover art — **Get Off My Lawn, Thanksgiving! (Episode 25)** Nov 21, 2018
Finding Gratitude Beyond Obligation

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and everyone at The Leftscape wishes a happy holiday to all who celebrate! Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley have things to be thankful for, though they are also well aware that the holidays can be fraught with inconvenient backstories and obligation. Wendy and Mary are tired of Thanksgiving as a day that demands large amounts of cooking and/or forced gratefulness. All take a moment to acknowledge that for many Native Americans it is a National Day of Mourning. Robin recalls holiday seasons past that were painful, and talks about how a daily practice of mindfulness can help generate genuine gratitude apart from any one grand day.

Some of the 2018 midterm election results that are still rolling in on the blue wave are reasons to be thankful. Among the winners celebrated are Ruth Buffalo, Democratic member-elect for the North Dakota House of Representatives, Andy Kim in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and Kyrsten Sinema who won an Arizona Senate seat. Great admiration is also in order for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ continued fight for fair voting for all citizens. The Leftscape bids farewell and “Excelsior!” to Stan Lee who passed away at the age of 95. Also in the news, Indivisible has released a new guide to activism that addresses what we can do now that the House of Representatives will have a Democratic majority.

Things to celebrate: foods including banana pudding, pomegranates, sweet potato, stuffing, cookies, and “fun with fondue.” It’s also Jukebox Day, Red Mitten Day, and Tie One On Day. Birthday shout outs go to Rene Magritte, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harold Ramis, Bjork, Dr. John, Goldie Hawn, Nicollete Sheridan, Alexander Siddig, and Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes. In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment, Mary celebrates The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

**Things to do:**

Read “Thankless Thanksgiving: Why Being Ungrateful is Important”

Pick up Wendy Sheridan’s *Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring Book for Grown-Ups*:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

Order or download *Holiday 2018* – 14 tracks by LGBT artists including Robin Renée’s “Hare Krishna Christmas.” All proceeds from *Holiday 2018* go to support Quest of Life Media and Broadcast, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBT songwriters and musicians.

red and blue membership cards — **Revoked! (Episode 24)** Nov 14, 2018

In Episode 24, Wendy Sheridan talks about a renewed sense of vulnerability and feeling that as a Jewish person her “provisional white card has been revoked” after the recent massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is a newly deepening awareness of a very old danger at work in the world. Wendy along with Robin Renée and Mary McGinley think out loud about the ingrained white supremacy and patriarchy in American society and how we might work to create change. They challenge themselves and others to find ways to erode anti-Semitism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia in everyday life in whatever ways possible.

Later, the conversation shifts to a feminist discussion of the 1966 Neil Simon musical and 1969 film *Sweet Charity* starring Shirley MacLaine with choreography by Bob Fosse. They take a look at its subject and subtext, style, shortcomings, and powerful depiction of female rage. At the top of the show, designated days, weeks, and months include COPD and PPSI (Pharmacists Planning Services Inc.) and AIDS Awareness Months, Fraud Awareness Week, Nurse Practitioner Week, Kindness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and Spicy Guacamole Day. Thursday is National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day. On this day in history, *Moby Dick* was published in 1851, in 1968 Yale University went co-ed, and in 1969 Apollo 12 launched en route to the moon with crew Commander Charles Conrad Jr, Richard F. Gordon Jr, and Alan L. Bean (Wendy met Alan Bean at space camp and Robin named a dog after Charles “Pete” Conrad.). It is the birthday of Edward White, Claude Monet, Aaron Copeland, McLean Stevenson, Patrick Warburton, Yanni, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, and Rev. Run of Run DMC.

**Things to do:**

Listen to the podcast Robin mentioned on the decreased commitment to democracy among young people and possible ways to re-energize interest in civic participation: *Radiolab*: “Tweak the Vote”

Watch “Big Spender” from *Sweet Charity*

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2TsAJKBwc

Sweet Charity starring Shirley MacLaine promo art — **Revoked! (Episode 24)** Nov 14, 2018

In Episode 24, Wendy Sheridan talks about a renewed sense of vulnerability and feeling that as a Jewish person her “provisional white card has been revoked” after the recent massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is a newly deepening awareness of a very old danger at work in the world. Wendy along with Robin Renée and Mary McGinley think out loud about the ingrained white supremacy and patriarchy in American society and how we might work to create change. They challenge themselves and others to find ways to erode anti-Semitism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia in everyday life in whatever ways possible.

Later, the conversation shifts to a feminist discussion of the 1966 Neil Simon musical and 1969 film *Sweet Charity* starring Shirley MacLaine with choreography by Bob Fosse. They take a look at its subject and subtext, style, shortcomings, and powerful depiction of female rage. At the top of the show, designated days, weeks, and months include COPD and PPSI (Pharmacists Planning Services Inc.) and AIDS Awareness Months, Fraud Awareness Week, Nurse Practitioner Week, Kindness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and Spicy Guacamole Day. Thursday is National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day. On this day in history, *Moby Dick* was published in 1851, in 1968 Yale University went co-ed, and in 1969 Apollo 12 launched en route to the moon with crew Commander Charles Conrad Jr, Richard F. Gordon Jr, and Alan L. Bean (Wendy met Alan Bean at space camp and Robin named a dog after Charles “Pete” Conrad.). It is the birthday of Edward White, Claude Monet, Aaron Copeland, McLean Stevenson, Patrick Warburton, Yanni, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, and Rev. Run of Run DMC.

**Things to do:**

Listen to the podcast Robin mentioned on the decreased commitment to democracy among young people and possible ways to re-energize interest in civic participation: *Radiolab*: “Tweak the Vote”

Watch “Big Spender” from *Sweet Charity*

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2TsAJKBwc

Diwali lamps — **Light at the End of the Election (Episode 23)** Nov 08, 2018
November is off to an intense start. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée welcome listeners to the new month by wishing everyone a Happy NaNoWriMo, Happy National STEM/STEAM Day (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Happy (or Hairy) No Shave Month, and introduce some info on other celebrations and awareness days. But the main topic on everyone’s mind is the U.S. midterm election. After what seemed endless campaigning and ratcheted-up anxiety about the importance of outcomes, voters had their say on Tuesday, November 6th. Political and social activism can hardly afford a break for long, but taking time for a few breaths and a smile over some substantial successes is in order.

Robin and Wendy discuss election results, beginning with kudos to the winners in the New Jersey 2nd, 7th, and 11th Congressional districts and to the activists who helped make the victories happen. They talk about the good news of the House of Representatives being back under Democratic control. Tuesday night also turned out to be a good night for diversity, with victories for notable LGBTQ+, Native American, African-American, Latina, and Muslim candidates. There were some not entirely unexpected, but disappointing losses – Beto O’Rourke in Texas and Andrew Gillum in Florida chief among them, as Stacey Abrams is still fighting the good fight and has not yet conceded in Georgia. While far from creating ideal circumstances, the election results have given liberals and progressives reasons to be hopeful.

Later in the show, Robin interviews Biff Bam Pop! publisher, Andy Burns. Just on the heels of the Halloween season, his new book, *This Dark Chest of Wonders: 40 Years of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand*‘ is on its way from Cemetery Dance Publications. Andy shares about how he came to write the book and gives a bit of a Horror/Stephen King 101 for the uninitiated and offers perspective on the spectacle of U.S. politics from north of the border.

Birthday nods include Bram Stoker, Margaret Mitchell, Minnie Riperton, Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Gordon Ramsay, Tom Anderson (MySpace Tom!), and Laura Jane Grace.

Happy Diwali to all those who are celebrating. May light triumph over darkness!

Things to do:

Read “The Year of Women of Color”

Observe Intersex Day of Remembrance and read this thread on biological sex as a spectrum.

Check out a ’70s classic:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0pwJ5PMDg

Samhain Traditions (Episode 22) Oct 31, 2018

This episode may start out with a bit of silliness as a nod to National Knock Knock Joke Day, but the main topic of the day is the reverent observation of Samhain. This most sacred and solemn of the Pagan holidays occurs at the time of the traditional Celtic new year, and for Pagans today it is a time to remember those who have died. For many, the day is a time for communing and celebrating with loved ones who have passed and for seeking insight through divination. It is a time for quietude in the dark time of the year in the Northern hemisphere, a time for reassessment, and for looking forward to renewal. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée each talk about which Samhain customs speak to them most and how they navigate enjoying the secular version of the celebration, Halloween, in the same time frame. Robin shares a Samhain poem that you can read on her website, and the three co-hosts interpret readings using handmade Viking runes, The Shakespeare Oracle, and The Aquarian Tarot. Wendy gives little-known information about the artist behind the classic Rider-Waite Tarot, Pamela Coleman Smith.

In keeping with the Samhain and Halloween theme, October 31st is also National Magic Day and National Increase Your Psychic Powers Day. It is also Girl Scout Founder’s Day. In the news, there is “creativity” involved in voter suppression and there are dueling hexes and prayers at work fighting a political fight in the metaphysical realm. Birthday shouts go out for Peter Jackson, Ethel Waters, Al Paxton, John Candy, Michael Landon, Neal Stephenson, Bernard Edwards, Willow Smith, and Piper Perabo, who Mary is happy to have worked with on a very funny play by George Bernard Shaw.

Corrections: Mary and Wendy discuss how they were both right in Episode 21 about aspects of the plot of Sophie’s Choice. They each had selective memory, combined with some conflation with Hobson’s Choice.

Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween!

Things to do:

Read: “Pamela Coleman Smith and the Erasure of Black Women in Metaphysics”

VOTE on Tuesday, November 6th!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC-H9gYFWGc

**Changing the Game: Bad Wolves Guitarist Doc Coyle (Episode 21)** Oct 24, 2018
The Leftscape is excited to share an extended interview with Doc Coyle, guitarist for the platinum-selling band Bad Wolves and host of The Ex-Man podcast. A day before heading out on a major tour of Europe, Doc took the time to share candid thoughts on leaving his former band God Forbid and the impetus for starting his podcast, how meteoric success with the song “Zombie” changed the game, and the strange circumstance of having become part of the story of Cranberries singer Delores O’Riordan’s untimely passing. In conversation with Robin Renée, he takes us on an astute journey through his thoughts on the experience of people of color in rock/metal music, opening possibilities within black culture, artists speaking up about politics (or not), the problems with hyperbolic partisan thinking and the need to turn the dial toward empathy.

Mary McGinley expresses frustration with the news this week, as it seems no one is taking Trump to task for the truth about his self-made man myth having been revealed in the *New York Times.* Major world events are happening including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but people are distracted by Kanye West’s visit to the White House. The comment leads to a discussion of a painting by Panhandle Slim (Scott Stanton) of Kanye wearing a Devo energy dome. Robin is psyched that Devo has been nominated for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and fans can vote.

This week, we celebrate United Nations Day, National Food Day, National Bologna Day (because bologna isn’t really a food?), Business Women’s Week, Chemistry Week, and Massage Therapy Week. Among things that happened on this day are the last performance of Harry Houdini in 1926 and the founding of the United Nations in 1945. October 24th birthdays: The Big Bopper, Kevin Kline, Bob Kane, Bill Wyman, Drake, and Denise Levertov. Wendy Sheridan and Mary McGinley go on a journey through their favorite Kevin Kline movies and get a bit turned around about the plot of *Sophie’s Choice.* Wendy likes Kline’s current recurring role as Mr. Calvin Fischoeder in *Bob’s Burgers*.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XaS93WMRQQ

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQP2Iow-4ZA

Mary once worked as a magician’s assistant and performed the Houdini trick, “Metamorphosis.” Here it is performed by Harry Houdini’s brother, Hardeen.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97F8vryo8Sw

Don’t forget to VOTE on November 6th!

Kanye West wearing Devo Energy Dome - painting by Panhandle Slim — **Changing the Game: Bad Wolves Guitarist Doc Coyle (Episode 21)** Oct 24, 2018
The Leftscape is excited to share an extended interview with Doc Coyle, guitarist for the platinum-selling band Bad Wolves and host of The Ex-Man podcast. A day before heading out on a major tour of Europe, Doc took the time to share candid thoughts on leaving his former band God Forbid and the impetus for starting his podcast, how meteoric success with the song “Zombie” changed the game, and the strange circumstance of having become part of the story of Cranberries singer Delores O’Riordan’s untimely passing. In conversation with Robin Renée, he takes us on an astute journey through his thoughts on the experience of people of color in rock/metal music, opening possibilities within black culture, artists speaking up about politics (or not), the problems with hyperbolic partisan thinking and the need to turn the dial toward empathy.

Mary McGinley expresses frustration with the news this week, as it seems no one is taking Trump to task for the truth about his self-made man myth having been revealed in the *New York Times.* Major world events are happening including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but people are distracted by Kanye West’s visit to the White House. The comment leads to a discussion of a painting by Panhandle Slim (Scott Stanton) of Kanye wearing a Devo energy dome. Robin is psyched that Devo has been nominated for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and fans can vote.

This week, we celebrate United Nations Day, National Food Day, National Bologna Day (because bologna isn’t really a food?), Business Women’s Week, Chemistry Week, and Massage Therapy Week. Among things that happened on this day are the last performance of Harry Houdini in 1926 and the founding of the United Nations in 1945. October 24th birthdays: The Big Bopper, Kevin Kline, Bob Kane, Bill Wyman, Drake, and Denise Levertov. Wendy Sheridan and Mary McGinley go on a journey through their favorite Kevin Kline movies and get a bit turned around about the plot of *Sophie’s Choice.* Wendy likes Kline’s current recurring role as Mr. Calvin Fischoeder in *Bob’s Burgers*.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XaS93WMRQQ

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQP2Iow-4ZA

Mary once worked as a magician’s assistant and performed the Houdini trick, “Metamorphosis.” Here it is performed by Harry Houdini’s brother, Hardeen.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97F8vryo8Sw

Don’t forget to VOTE on November 6th!

Rorie Kelly - Sincerely Live — **Rorie Kelly: Let’s Get Uncomfortable! (Episode 20)** Oct 17, 2018
Indie singer/songwriter Rorie Kelly has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Sara Bareilles for her catchy-confessional songwriting style, and to Alanis Morissette and Janis Joplin for her raw powerhouse vocals. She checked in with Robin Renée to talk about life as a full-time indie musician, the entrepreneurial drive that makes it possible, and the activist determination that fuels many of the songs as well as challenging conversations on and off the stage. Rorie also shares about her latest single, “Alternative Facts,” the hopeful “If You Teach a Bird to Sing,” exploring spirituality, and more.

The Leftscape takes a breather from the anxiety-filled news cycle this week to report on two happy happenings and positive actions in the world — the sweet, inspiring Spread the Love! project that is being documented on Instagram, and the wickedly funny activism of Cards Against Humanity Hacks the Election. This Day in History recalls the 1814 London Beer Flood and the OPEC Oil Embargo and subsequent gas rationing in 1973. Birthdays include Ziggy Marley, Gary Puckett, Irene Ryan, Arthur Miller, Evel Knievel, and Eminem. Here are some of the reasons to celebrate, learn, or do something interesting: Dwarfism Awareness Month, Inktober (Wendy Sheridan‘s Inktober drawings can be found @wendycards, Earth Science Week, Alternative Fuel Day, National Pasta Day, National Mulligan Day, Hagfish Day, Black Poetry Day, and World Vasectomy Day. Wendy also talks about Jodie Whittaker as the new Dr. Who and Mary McGinley recalls that her Shakespeare teacher appeared in an early Dr. Who episode.

Wendy and her husband celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on October 22nd. Congrats and a very happy anniversary to Wendy & Rich!

Things to do:

Visit Bandcamp to stream and download music by Rorie Kelly.

Explore the work of some great black poets in honor of Black Poetry Day:

2Deep the Poetess

Lillian Allen

Maya Angelou

Amiri Baraka

Gwendolyn Brooks

Staceyann Chin

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Nikki Giovanni

Langston Hughes

J. Ivy

Ted Joans

Christopher Johnson

Ethelbert Miller

Lenelle Moïse

Poet On Watch

Ursula Rucker

Verandah-Maureen Shepard

Patricia Smith

Lamont B. Steptoe

Kendal S. Turner

Nayyirah Waheed

Saul Williams

Watch a snippet of Mary’s Shakespeare teacher, Tina Packer, on Dr. Who circa 1968:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBP7p2dYuBQ

Watch Wendy open her Cards Against Humanity Midterm Pack:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04BXLJVjMrk&feature=youtu.be

Watch the Comic Relief Dr. Who episode Wendy mentions on this show. She says, “I had it totally backwards! Gah! Dr. Who is played by Rowan Atkinson and the Master is played by Jonathan Pryce. Juila Swahala is the companion. Actually, there are five actors playing the doctor in this comedy episode: Rowan Atkinson, Richard E Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Joanna Lumley.”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp_Fw5oDMao

Featured Rorie Kelly photo (c) Tiger Darson. All rights reserved.

**Rorie Kelly: Let’s Get Uncomfortable! (Episode 20)** Oct 17, 2018
Indie singer/songwriter Rorie Kelly has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Sara Bareilles for her catchy-confessional songwriting style, and to Alanis Morissette and Janis Joplin for her raw powerhouse vocals. She checked in with Robin Renée to talk about life as a full-time indie musician, the entrepreneurial drive that makes it possible, and the activist determination that fuels many of the songs as well as challenging conversations on and off the stage. Rorie also shares about her latest single, “Alternative Facts,” the hopeful “If You Teach a Bird to Sing,” exploring spirituality, and more.

The Leftscape takes a breather from the anxiety-filled news cycle this week to report on two happy happenings and positive actions in the world — the sweet, inspiring Spread the Love! project that is being documented on Instagram, and the wickedly funny activism of Cards Against Humanity Hacks the Election. This Day in History recalls the 1814 London Beer Flood and the OPEC Oil Embargo and subsequent gas rationing in 1973. Birthdays include Ziggy Marley, Gary Puckett, Irene Ryan, Arthur Miller, Evel Knievel, and Eminem. Here are some of the reasons to celebrate, learn, or do something interesting: Dwarfism Awareness Month, Inktober (Wendy Sheridan‘s Inktober drawings can be found @wendycards, Earth Science Week, Alternative Fuel Day, National Pasta Day, National Mulligan Day, Hagfish Day, Black Poetry Day, and World Vasectomy Day. Wendy also talks about Jodie Whittaker as the new Dr. Who and Mary McGinley recalls that her Shakespeare teacher appeared in an early Dr. Who episode.

Wendy and her husband celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on October 22nd. Congrats and a very happy anniversary to Wendy & Rich!

Things to do:

Visit Bandcamp to stream and download music by Rorie Kelly.

Explore the work of some great black poets in honor of Black Poetry Day:

2Deep the Poetess

Lillian Allen

Maya Angelou

Amiri Baraka

Gwendolyn Brooks

Staceyann Chin

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Nikki Giovanni

Langston Hughes

J. Ivy

Ted Joans

Christopher Johnson

Ethelbert Miller

Lenelle Moïse

Poet On Watch

Ursula Rucker

Verandah-Maureen Shepard

Patricia Smith

Lamont B. Steptoe

Kendal S. Turner

Nayyirah Waheed

Saul Williams

Watch a snippet of Mary’s Shakespeare teacher, Tina Packer, on Dr. Who circa 1968:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBP7p2dYuBQ

Watch Wendy open her Cards Against Humanity Midterm Pack:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04BXLJVjMrk&feature=youtu.be

Watch the Comic Relief Dr. Who episode Wendy mentions on this show. She says, “I had it totally backwards! Gah! Dr. Who is played by Rowan Atkinson and the Master is played by Jonathan Pryce. Juila Swahala is the companion. Actually, there are five actors playing the doctor in this comedy episode: Rowan Atkinson, Richard E Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Joanna Lumley.”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp_Fw5oDMao

Featured Rorie Kelly photo (c) Tiger Darson. All rights reserved.

**The Stirred Up Demons (Episode 19)** Oct 10, 2018
When the Blanket Fort Can’t Protect Us

Content Warning: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Emotional Pain

“The Monthiest Month” of October continues. Though the news has been all Kavanaugh all the time, Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley find a little lightness in reasons to celebrate such as Global Diversity Awareness Month, National Apple Month, and American Cheese Month (Wendy wants to believe that Cheez Whiz is actually cheese.). It’s also Work from Home Week, Midwifery Week (aka “Don’t Correct My Pronunciation Week”), Mystery Series Week, World Mental Health Day on October 10th, and National Coming Out Day on October 11th.

Aside from raising the spectre of a conservative Supreme Court for decades to come, the Kavanaugh allegations, hearing, and limited investigation have stirred up painful memories from the past for so many of us who have experienced sexual harassment or assault. Wendy opens up about a frightening episode involving being pursued by young boys when she was nine. Robin talks about having posted a #whyididntreport on Facebook about an incident in college — the most traumatic sexual assault she ever endured. Mary shares her thoughts on why the current atmosphere is bringing out even more stories and tumult than when #metoo gained prominence a year ago. Though deeply frustrated with political maneuvering that seems to show the extent to which women’s well-being and autonomy don’t matter, Robin, Mary, and Wendy look to this most difficult time as an opportunity for profound and previously unaddressed healing.

In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment and in honor of Great Books Week, Wendy discusses *The Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir*. Now the Art Director of the Progressive Nerds Network, she was introduced to this excellent anthology by a fellow member of the PNN, author Nisi Shawl, whose story “Evens” is featured in the collection.

Volunteer and VOTE!

Rant, Rock, Reflect (Episode 18) Oct 03, 2018

Explore Bias, Smash Patriarchy, Dig Devo!

Content Warning: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Language (The Leftscape… Now with Even More Cursing!)

What are the tapes that run in your head? Which beliefs and thought patterns are hidden in your psyche that show up and catch you unaware? What is the assumption behind what you are drawn to and what you avoid? Which preferences are you comfortable with? Which are prejudices that you work to release? Sparked by the main topic in “When Things Blow Up (Episode 15),” Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan reflect on some of their own personal biases regarding gender, intelligence, race, ethnicity, and culture.

The week’s news, still dominated by the Kavanaugh nomination and its fallout, includes the protests at Yale by those who oppose the nomination, and the power and personal impact of #whyididntreport. The conversation morphs into a righteous rant on sexual harassment in the workplace and anywhere/everywhere else. Wendy is mad as hell, and for good reason.

The show begins by welcoming October with mentions of only a sampling of the month’s observances: Self-Promotion Month, Vegetarian Month, Squirrel Awareness Month, Bat Appreciation Month, World Menopause Month, Feral Hog Month, and Sarcasm Month are a few. October 3rd is the date in 1952 that the UK tested its first atomic bomb. On the same date in 1995, O.J. Simpson was acquitted. The first Wednesday in October is also National Kale Day. In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment, Robin sings the praises of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

34 days left until election day. Register, Volunteer, Vote!!

October is the Monthiest Month

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, AIDS Awareness Month, American Cheese Month, Antidepressant Death Awareness Month, Bat Appreciation Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Blindness Awareness Month, Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month, Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Dyslexia Awareness Month, Emotional Intelligence Month, Emotional Awareness Month, Feral Hog Month, Financial Planning Month, Global Diversity Awareness Month, Health Literacy Month, Home Eye Safety Month, German, Polish and Italian-American Heritage Month, International Starman Month (the TV show), International Walk to School Month, LGBT History Month, Month of Free Thought, Animal Safety and Protection, National Apple Month, Bake and Decorate Month, Book Month, Bullying Prevention Month, Chili Month, Cookie Month, Crime Prevention Month, National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Critical Illness Awareness, National Dessert Month, Depression Education and Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Ergonomics Month, Fair Trade Month, Family Sexuality Education Month, Positive Attitude Month, Self-Promotion Month, Squirrel Awareness Month, Vegetarian Month, Workplace Politics Awareness Month, World Menopause Month, Clergy Appreciation Month, Computer Learning Month, International Drum Month, National Diabetes Month, National Pizza Month, National Popcorn Popping Month, National Sarcastic Awareness Month, Seafood Month, Dwarfism Awareness Month

Cedric Maurice - Equality Builders — **Bi in the World: Social Activist Cedric Maurice (Episode 17)** Sep 26, 2018
The Leftscape honors Bisexual Awareness Week and Bi Visibility Month with a conversation with social activist, writer, artist, and secular minister Cedric Maurice. Inspired by the work of queer theologian and black bisexual scholar Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones and the collective work of bi activists such as bi pride flag creator Michael Page in the 1990s, Cedric Maurice has been a longtime outspoken member of the bi community. In this interview, he speaks to his experiences with seeking and creating space for bi people of color, the challenges of dismantling stigma, the potential for social isolation of those who identify as both black and bisexual, and sharing love and desire beyond gender. Listen in to hear about his preliminary plans for an exciting road trip video project, his deep resonance with the “bi” label, and some powerful wisdom for all.

At the top of the show, co-hosts Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley celebrate or otherwise note “holidays” including Active Aging Week, Chimney Safety Week, Women’s Health and Fitness Day, the anniversary of the Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960, and National Dumpling Day. Wendy renames one event “National Paranoia Day” and later coins the homonym, “allegator.” Birthday shouts go out to Serena Williams, Winnie Mandela, Linda Hamilton, and others.

On a more serious note, the controversy over Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s account of his alleged assault are at the forefront of the news. Wendy reads an excerpt from Abagail Adams’ letter to her husband John that still speaks loud and clear for the voices and respect of women. Everyone shares their preliminary thoughts on *Fear* by Bob Woodward and *The Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir* is offered up as a palate cleanser for all the real-life crazy.

**Things to do:**

Read Recognize: The Voices of Bisexual Men (Includes an essay by Cedric Maurice)

Read “Chiron’s Secret: Our Healing,” Cedric Maurice’s fantastic essay on *Moonlight* (2017 Oscar Movie of the Year)

Find Bi Visibility Month Events Around the World

Explore No Homo | No Hetero: Fostering Unity and Eliminating Biphobia in Black Communities Through Art

**Stowin’ Away with a Solar Suitcase (Episode 16)** Sep 19, 2018
Ahoy ye landlubbers! An’ has Th’ Leftscape ever got a show fer ye! Lend us yer ears as Dread Pirate Wendy, Bloody Mary, an’ Robin El Terrible tell ye a tale. . .

September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée give it their best shot in introducing this week’s show. We hear about their favorite pirates Batt and Galen (featured image), Adam Ant, and Errol Flynn as Captain Blood, plus a jolly, bawdy pirate tune by Moss Stern called “Pirates of the Rim.”

Robin speaks with engineer Linda Gaffney about her focus on and pursuit of helping others, particularly in the realm of the environment. From an initial interest in working locally with solar panels, she expanded her scope to assist with solar energy installation in places including Costa Rica, Haiti, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She has taken part in projects involving The We Care Solar Suitcase, which supports maternal health and deliveries in places without reliable electricity, and the We Share Solar Suitcase, which is a kit for teaching students about solar energy and sharing light. In connection with the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program, she recently created “Sea How High,” a fun-to-play game that teaches about sea level rise due to climate change. Also a yoga teacher, Linda speaks about the benefits of returning to a contemplative practice. Tune in to hear more about the work and insight of Linda Gaffney and check below for ways you can start to learn about the environment if you live in, or plan to visit New Jersey.

In News, the co-hosts consider the value or lack thereof of the New York Times Anonymous Op-Ed and the activities it describes. They each commit to reading *Fear* by Bob Woodward and will report back for discussion on the show. The battle against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh continues, and everyone is reminded to do what they can to help.

This week is also Farm Animals Awareness Week, Rehabilitation Awareness Week, Historically Black Colleges and University Week, and Indoor Plants Week. September 19th birthdays include Jimmy Fallon, Twiggy, Lita Ford, Sunita Williams, Adam West, and Tegan and Sara. Celebrate Bisexuality Day is coming up on Sunday, September 23rd. Queen fans can also mark their calendars for *Bohemian Rhapsody* the movie, which is set for release soon (in theaters in the US November 2nd).

Things you can do:

Visit The Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program, an excellent program to find out about environmental issues in New Jersey.

Find out if your New Jersey community has a Green Team: Sustainable NJ

Attend the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve Open House on September 22nd. The JC NERR is a good place to visit to find out about New Jersey’s coastal areas.

Try the Online Pirate Translator

Outro Music: “Pirates of the Rim” – Moss Stern

Shiver me timbers! That’s all we got fer ye. Listen t’ th’ show now, subscribe, ‘n share it wit’ yer mateys!

**Stowin’ Away with a Solar Suitcase (Episode 16)** Sep 19, 2018
Ahoy ye landlubbers! An’ has Th’ Leftscape ever got a show fer ye! Lend us yer ears as Dread Pirate Wendy, Bloody Mary, an’ Robin El Terrible tell ye a tale. . .

September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée give it their best shot in introducing this week’s show. We hear about their favorite pirates Batt and Galen (featured image), Adam Ant, and Errol Flynn as Captain Blood, plus a jolly, bawdy pirate tune by Moss Stern called “Pirates of the Rim.”

Robin speaks with engineer Linda Gaffney about her focus on and pursuit of helping others, particularly in the realm of the environment. From an initial interest in working locally with solar panels, she expanded her scope to assist with solar energy installation in places including Costa Rica, Haiti, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She has taken part in projects involving The We Care Solar Suitcase, which supports maternal health and deliveries in places without reliable electricity, and the We Share Solar Suitcase, which is a kit for teaching students about solar energy and sharing light. In connection with the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program, she recently created “Sea How High,” a fun-to-play game that teaches about sea level rise due to climate change. Also a yoga teacher, Linda speaks about the benefits of returning to a contemplative practice. Tune in to hear more about the work and insight of Linda Gaffney and check below for ways you can start to learn about the environment if you live in, or plan to visit New Jersey.

In News, the co-hosts consider the value or lack thereof of the New York Times Anonymous Op-Ed and the activities it describes. They each commit to reading *Fear* by Bob Woodward and will report back for discussion on the show. The battle against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh continues, and everyone is reminded to do what they can to help.

This week is also Farm Animals Awareness Week, Rehabilitation Awareness Week, Historically Black Colleges and University Week, and Indoor Plants Week. September 19th birthdays include Jimmy Fallon, Twiggy, Lita Ford, Sunita Williams, Adam West, and Tegan and Sara. Celebrate Bisexuality Day is coming up on Sunday, September 23rd. Queen fans can also mark their calendars for *Bohemian Rhapsody* the movie, which is set for release soon (in theaters in the US November 2nd).

Things you can do:

Visit The Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program, an excellent program to find out about environmental issues in New Jersey.

Find out if your New Jersey community has a Green Team: Sustainable NJ

Attend the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve Open House on September 22nd. The JC NERR is a good place to visit to find out about New Jersey’s coastal areas.

Try the Online Pirate Translator

Outro Music: “Pirates of the Rim” – Moss Stern

Shiver me timbers! That’s all we got fer ye. Listen t’ th’ show now, subscribe, ‘n share it wit’ yer mateys!

When Things Blow Up (Episode 15) Sep 12, 2018

aka “The Leftscape Pee Tape”

The Leftscape takes an unexpected vacation from political news to catch up on a personal update as Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée talk about Mary’s Labor Day Weekend mishap. We hear quite a bit about her hospital stay and subsequent bathroom challenges (hence the episode subtitle). Though dealing with broken ankle pain and immobility, Mary makes sure to remind listeners to call Congress to tell them to vote against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Wendy introduces the week’s main topic — when sh*t blows up on Facebook. What do you do when you post a political meme or a comment about the patriarchy and come back later to find your normally mild-mannered friends torching your timeline? She expresses frustration with those who won’t acknowledge legitimate safety concerns women and female-presenting people face. She also acknowledges her own gender bias. Robin wonders about how to talk to “well-meaning white people” (as the phenomenon is often termed on With Friends Like These) and recounts her realization that one can be aware and work through conflict as well as choose to step out of the fray.

Reasons to celebrate: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, National Line Dance Week, Balance Awareness Week (Mary is a lot more aware now), Waffle Week, Days of Prayer and Remembrance, National Video Games Day, National Day of Encouragement (Wendy says, “Do the thing!”), and International Day of the Programmer. Birthdays include Neil Peart, Ben Folds, Maurice Chevalier, and Barry White.

One more reason to celebrate: We have winners! Listen in to hear the winners of the limerick contest held in August, and you can read them here.

“Blowed Up Real Good!”

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHkvD7-u7y8&t=28s

**NOW and the Future (Episode 14)** Sep 05, 2018
This week on The Leftscape, Mary McGinley sits down with her good friend and fellow activist Peggy Farrelly, Program Director of the Psychology and Counseling Department at Seton Hall and the President of the Middlesex-Somerset County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). The friendly conversation and interview brings out gems on defining feminism in a way that is ultimately about empowering *people,* dispelling myths about feminism, and what they’d like younger women to know – a discussion the co-hosts began in “The ‘F’ Word (Episode 12).” Peggy answers questions about how she came to join NOW in January 2017 and actions the members of NOW are currently taking from getting up to speed on the current abortion laws in New Jersey and working toward flipping key districts to weekly rallies in front of the offices of Rep. Leonard Lance and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ. She speaks to feminism as a philosophy and movement that includes women, men, trans and nonbinary people, and all races and ethnicities. The discussion ends with thoughts on the vital role self-care plays in the well-being of activists and all those affected by the challenges of life in current times.

Those who take the advice of taking time for oneself will be in step for September, which is Self-Care Awareness Month. Wendy Sheridan supposes that the harvest season had an influence on the naming of September as the National Month of an array of foods including chicken, honey, mushroom, papaya, potato, rice, and whole grains. Sept 5th is also National Cheese Pizza Day and World Samosa Day. The 1st Friday in September is National Food Bank Day. Birthday mentions go to Raquel Welch, Bob Newhart, Dweezil Zappa, John Cage, and Freddie Mercury (the reason Robin Renée once advocated for September 5th to become Celebrate Bisexuality Day). Mary, Robin, and Wendy speak about the passing of brilliant playwright Neil Simon as well as war hero and Senator John McCain and his complicated legacy. Mary sings the praises of the “Once More, with Feeling” episode of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* in the new segment, “Why is this Awesome?”

(L to R) Cheryl Martin, Joy Denebeim, and Wendy Sheridan at Worldcon76 in San Jose, CA, August 2018 — **Blossoming (Episode 13)** Aug 29, 2018
The Leftscape is back after a week away, which allowed time for Wendy Sheridan to attend WorldCon 76 in San Jose, CA. Wendy brings us news on the women’s sweep of the Hugo Awards given by the World Science Fiction Society, plus a protest outside the convention. This episode’s feature is Wendy’s interview with Joy Denebiem, who tells a wonderfully freewheeling and personal account of her gender transition at the age of 58, with great insight from her partner, Cheryl Martin. The blossoming that Joy has experienced through her journey to gender confirmation is audible and a truly enjoyable, educational listen.

Mary McGinley reminds us that while we’re living it up to get the most from the end of summer, we should remember the meaning of Labor Day – to celebrate workers and labor unions – and to remember the reasonable working conditions that many of us enjoy as a result of union organizing. Robin Renée shares a sound bite of a street action she, Anne Sabagh, and friends staged on the day of the Unite the Right 2 rally. News includes the Scottish efforts to correct the historical record on John A. MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, prison labor strikes in the U.S. and beyond, and the continuing sagas of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. In addition to Labor Day, it’s time to celebrate or recognize Safe At Home Week, International Day Against Nuclear Tests, International Day of the Disappeared (August 30th), and Krishna Janmashtami (September 2nd).

August 29th birthday shout outs go to Michael Jackson, notorious punk rocker GG Allin, and most especially to the late Glenn Walker, who was a pop culture writer at Biff Bam Pop!, co-host of the GAR! Podcast, the French Fry Diary guy, a friend, and a fan of Robin, Mary, and Wendy’s previous podcast adventures.

Next week’s show will feature Mary’s interview with Peggy Farrelly of NOW.

*** The Leftscape’s weird contest is still on! Write a limerick for us about the GOP and post it to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or all three. Tag us @leftscape and use the hashtag #leftscape. The contest ends at midnight, August 31, 2018. We’ll read our favorites on the show and we’ll send the winner(s) some weird prizes. Make us laugh and let your weird flag fly! ***

*This episode is sponsored by *Harlequin and Other Fantasies, Meditative Coloring for Grown Ups*. Use coupon code LEFTSCAPE at checkout for free shipping. (Hurry! Offer ends August 31, 2018).

(L to R) Cheryl Martin, Joy Denebeim, and Wendy Sheridan at Worldcon76 in San Jose, CA, 8/2018

Counterdemonstration in Fairfax, VA 8/12/2018

The protest at Worldcon (more police than protestors)

Things we learned since Episode 12: The official symbol of medicine is not the caduceus, but the Rod of Asclepius. “Robert’s Reich’s Rules for 2018” have been incorrectly attributed. Robert Reich has stated that he thinks the post does have some good advice, but that he did not write it.

Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring for Grown-Ups

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

For Hire: Operator – A Queer, Polyamorous Superhero Novel Centering People of Color!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NTF96TEWc

Protest in Fairfax August 12, 2018 — **Blossoming (Episode 13)** Aug 29, 2018
The Leftscape is back after a week away, which allowed time for Wendy Sheridan to attend WorldCon 76 in San Jose, CA. Wendy brings us news on the women’s sweep of the Hugo Awards given by the World Science Fiction Society, plus a protest outside the convention. This episode’s feature is Wendy’s interview with Joy Denebiem, who tells a wonderfully freewheeling and personal account of her gender transition at the age of 58, with great insight from her partner, Cheryl Martin. The blossoming that Joy has experienced through her journey to gender confirmation is audible and a truly enjoyable, educational listen.

Mary McGinley reminds us that while we’re living it up to get the most from the end of summer, we should remember the meaning of Labor Day – to celebrate workers and labor unions – and to remember the reasonable working conditions that many of us enjoy as a result of union organizing. Robin Renée shares a sound bite of a street action she, Anne Sabagh, and friends staged on the day of the Unite the Right 2 rally. News includes the Scottish efforts to correct the historical record on John A. MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, prison labor strikes in the U.S. and beyond, and the continuing sagas of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. In addition to Labor Day, it’s time to celebrate or recognize Safe At Home Week, International Day Against Nuclear Tests, International Day of the Disappeared (August 30th), and Krishna Janmashtami (September 2nd).

August 29th birthday shout outs go to Michael Jackson, notorious punk rocker GG Allin, and most especially to the late Glenn Walker, who was a pop culture writer at Biff Bam Pop!, co-host of the GAR! Podcast, the French Fry Diary guy, a friend, and a fan of Robin, Mary, and Wendy’s previous podcast adventures.

Next week’s show will feature Mary’s interview with Peggy Farrelly of NOW.

*** The Leftscape’s weird contest is still on! Write a limerick for us about the GOP and post it to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or all three. Tag us @leftscape and use the hashtag #leftscape. The contest ends at midnight, August 31, 2018. We’ll read our favorites on the show and we’ll send the winner(s) some weird prizes. Make us laugh and let your weird flag fly! ***

*This episode is sponsored by *Harlequin and Other Fantasies, Meditative Coloring for Grown Ups*. Use coupon code LEFTSCAPE at checkout for free shipping. (Hurry! Offer ends August 31, 2018).

(L to R) Cheryl Martin, Joy Denebeim, and Wendy Sheridan at Worldcon76 in San Jose, CA, 8/2018

Counterdemonstration in Fairfax, VA 8/12/2018

The protest at Worldcon (more police than protestors)

Things we learned since Episode 12: The official symbol of medicine is not the caduceus, but the Rod of Asclepius. “Robert’s Reich’s Rules for 2018” have been incorrectly attributed. Robert Reich has stated that he thinks the post does have some good advice, but that he did not write it.

Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring for Grown-Ups

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

For Hire: Operator – A Queer, Polyamorous Superhero Novel Centering People of Color!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NTF96TEWc

The “F” Word (Episode 12) Aug 15, 2018

Finding a Feminism for All Ages

This week, Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée discuss the state of present-day feminism. Can feminists of differing ages and cultures understand one another? Where are the disconnects? What can we learn from each other? Who tends to shy away from identifying with the “f” word, and who embraces it? Mary begins the conversation by expressing dismay about a meeting she attended where older feminists waxed poetic about having marched with Dr. King while younger feminists griped about the group’s website and branding. Wendy remembers being raised by a feminist and how her own choices followed suit. Robin says that a good deal of the misunderstanding between feminists stems from some embracing intersectional and sex-positive feminism while others do not. Listeners are invited to send their ideas about how older feminists can make their organizations more welcoming to younger women, along with other thoughts on the topic.

In this week’s news, Mary, Wendy, and Robin talk about the rhetorical slide from “No collusion” to “Collusion is not illegal.” They wonder if disagreement shown by those close to the president is based in any promising reality, such as Melania Trump’s recent statement in support of LeBron James and his I Promise School. Later, they chat about who among them is a fan of their own voice and who is not, language pet peeves, and gender divides in regard to language use and power.

Celebrations and anniversaries of note include Motorcycle Week, Relaxation Day, Naga Panchami, the anniversary of Woodstock, the 1998 bombing in Omagh during The Troubles of Northern Ireland, and Resurrect Romance Week (Consider exploring the work of Wendy’s mother, award-winning Regency Romance author, Elizabeth Mansfield.).

*** It’s also Weird Contest Week, so The Leftscape is having a weird contest! Write a limerick for us about the GOP and post it to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or all three. Tag us @leftscape and use the hashtag #leftscape. The contest ends at midnight, August 31, 2018. We’ll read our favorites on the show and we’ll send the winner(s) some weird prizes. Make us laugh and let your weird flag fly! Are you game? ***

The Leftscape is taking a week off, so there will be no show on August 22nd. Stay tuned for our next episode on Wednesday, August 29th… and send us those limericks!

*This episode is sponsored by Harlequin and Other Fantasies, Meditative Coloring for Grown Ups. Use coupon code LEFTSCAPE at checkout for free shipping! (Offer good for the month of August 2018).

Addendum: In this episode, Robin relays a story about a woman who moved a superhero shirt to the girls’ section in Target. She actually moved “a bunch of NASA tank tops,” but the act was inspired by the Wonder Woman movie.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrWNTqbLFFE

Activism Online and Elsewhere (Episode 11) Aug 08, 2018

Despite the audio issues that gave Robin Renée and Mary McGinley a bit of an echo effect, this episode of The Leftscape is well worth an attentive listen. A listener letter from visual artist Melanie Sinclair (a longtime friend of Robin’s) called out middle-class privilege in assumptions made about online activism in Episode 1. Wendy Sheridan takes the lead in acknowledging the work that is needed to recognize privilege and to make space to understand the circumstances of those who have less. Mary offers a glimpse of balancing life and political organizing time from her perspective. The discussion weaves through re-envisioning the value of online activism in various forms, considers other activist possibilities such as Resistbot and personal conversation as ideals when time and resources are limited, and reaches for a clearer expression of the co-hosts seeking their activism “personal best.”

News of the week focuses on the stories that produce a national/global gaslighting effect — perhaps strong enough to send some of us running for our blanket forts, at least temporarily. A parallel is drawn between “I am not a crook” and the chorus of “No collusion.” Fear: Trump in the Whitehouse by Bob Woodward (available September 11th, 2018) is added to the Leftscape reading list. Also on the list is This Dark Chest of Wonders: 40 Years of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand,’ by Biff Bam Pop! publisher and Leftscape supporter, Andy Burns. Robin is encouraged by the popularity of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” on the life of Fred Rogers.

By way of introduction, the week’s signature mishmash of silly holidays and historical anniversaries include International Cat Day, Happy National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (one of the co-hosts accomplished this weeks ahead of time), the first national march of the KKK in Washington, DC in 1925, and Nixon’s announcement in 1974 that he would resign the presidency the next day at noon. Robin sends a Happy Birthday shout out to tennis champion Roger Federer.

Featured Image: “Jailbait” by Melanie Sinclair, an artistic response to the many advances from men she experienced before she reached the age of consent.

*This episode is sponsored by Harlequin and Other Fantasies, Meditative Coloring for Grown Ups. Use coupon code LEFTSCAPE at checkout for free shipping. (Offer good for the month of August 2018).

Try some eggplant “bacon,” or substitute zucchini. Robin thought it was fab!

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=OlrMU0E4M1w

What We See on the Outside (Episode 10) Aug 01, 2018

Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée were happy to be back in the same room to record this week’s podcast. This episode of The Leftscape was recorded live from Chez Wendy! The main conversation begins as Mary describes an uncomfortable first day of class observation exercise she uses in which she invites students to begin telling each other’s stories before speaking to one another at all. The conversation wanders into the many possible effects of eye gazing before settling into the topic at hand: Whether we are using words or not, we are constantly broadcasting and taking in information. What can we learn about this process of prejudgment? How does stereotyping function? How much are we judged and how much do we judge based on life experience? On what we’ve been taught explicitly or by osmosis?

Nonverbal communication, though an essential tool for navigating through the world, of course has the dark side of negative assumption and outright prejudice. Wendy talks about bizarre and painful Jewish stereotypes. Robin talks about the “not black enough” syndrome.

In other news, August is National Water Quality Month, so Wendy makes a point of shining a light on the social justice and humanitarian problem of continued water issues in Flint, MI. The group also highlights National Minority Donor Day, National Coloring Book Day, the anniversary of the opening the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany, and they have a predictable laugh about how one might celebrate National Grab Some Nuts Day on August 3rd. Mary highlights the Subversive Sirens synchronized swimmers and a shout out goes to the Gay Games happening in Paris, August 4th – 12th.

*This episode is sponsored by Harlequin and Other Fantasies, Meditative Coloring for Grown Ups. Use coupon code LEFTSCAPE at checkout for free shipping! (Offer good for the month of August 2018).

Night and Fog (a WWII documentary with disturbing images)

Hitler watching the 1936 Olympics

Stuff White People Like

Race (trailer for the 2016 movie about Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics)

Robin Renée at Root Studio Open Mic, Friday August 10, 2018 7pm — **Captive on a Carousel (Episode 9)** Jul 25, 2018
With credit due to Joni Mitchell for the lyric “captive on a carousel of time,” the title of today’s episode refers to two topics that come up in conversation for Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée this week, plus the sense of overwhelm that in times like these, can pervade the experience of current events. July 25th is an occasion for several remembrances and celebrations, including National Merry-Go-Round Day. Robin spotted a “Permit Pete” at the beach, and Wendy reveals her decision about running for political office.

Later, we learn that it is Captive Nations Week, which gets nicknamed “Irony Week” because while the proclamation calls for freedom for all, it feels as if the United States is moving in the opposite direction. All three discuss the Helsinki Summit and contemplate pathways toward finding our most effective activism, reaching others about the importance of awareness of the political climate, and manifesting the best outcome for the 2018 midterm elections and beyond.

Buy Harlequin and Other Fantasies by Wendy Sheridan

See Robin Renée at Root Studio, Columbia, MD, Friday, August 10th

Stay tuned for the new and improved MaryMcGinley.com!

Listen to “Merry Go Round” by Lou Reed

Listen to “The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell

Permit Patty Problems (Episode 8) Jul 18, 2018

As uncool as it is when cell phones are the instruments used to call the authorities on unsuspecting black people sleeping, mowing the lawn, or having a barbecue, it is at least a bit heartening that they are also being used to record the altercations for the world to see. Robin Renée shares insight into the everyday perils of living while black, and recalls recording for a previous podcast just after being stopped by police. Wendy Sheridan and Mary McGinley join the political discussion with observations and thoughts on the current barrage of stories of the trouble caused by the likes of Permit Patty, BBQ Becky, ID Adam, and others. Mentioned in the mix is The Nation article, “The Social Shaming of Racists is Working.”

Other news includes the disruption of the Pride in London march by anti-trans lesbians, and all send healing energy out to Elvis Costello as he rests and recovers from cancer surgery. As longtime entrepreneurs who have been trying to survive and thrive since before the naming of “the gig economy,” Wendy, Robin, and Mary highlight National Independent Retailers Week among the list of featured offbeat holidays.

Leftscape Summer Media Favorites

Pod Save America

Lovett of Leave It

2 Dope Queens

The Unofficial Expert

How to Draw Comics

Babylon 5

The Expanse

Florence Foster Jenkins

Armed Forces

Kamakiriad

You Must Remember This

AskBiGirlz

Mueller, She Wrote

Beyond Yacht Rock

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke illustration — **Outrage Fatigue (Episode 7)** Jul 11, 2018
Retreating to the Blanket Fort
Emerging with Purpose

What can you do when so much of the news can easily fill you with blinding anger? What happens when the anger becomes all too much? This week, Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan contemplate outrage fatigue and the never-ending stream that seems designed to wear us down. They consider ways the outrage can be transformed to raw energy and then to positive action – such as focusing on a primary activist issue like reproductive rights, writing to representatives (Wendy has created handy We The People postcards for that), using Resistbot, or starting a podcast. A big question emerges: Will Wendy run for office?

In other news, there is encouragement from the nationwide Families Belong Together protests and recent court orders imposing a greater need for cause in the detention of immigrants and quick reunions of immigrant parents and children who were separated at the border. Wendy speaks of the passing of Harlan Ellison, his beloved writing, and how he elevated science fiction to an art form. Robin remembers Alan Longmuir, co-founder of the Bay City Rollers. Mary recognizes Sarah Eismann for her recent, remarkable feat of Swimming for Shakespeare in order to raise awareness about the Shakespeare Behind Bars program.

PSA: Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke

A Leftscape 4th of July (Episode 6) Jul 04, 2018

Finding Patriotism in Troubled Times

What is patriotism to you in the time of Trump? Do you celebrate the country’s beauty, abundance, power, or potential? Does the current political climate find you shying away from waving the flag? Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley work through their thoughts on love of country, aspects of life in the U.S. both positive and painful, and resolve to reclaim the red, white, and blue.

The political news discussion at the top of the show includes the federal court ruling to expedite reuniting children and adult family members who have been separated at the border, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s encroachment on anti-monopoly rules, Disney’s bid to purchase 21st Century Fox, the Janus decision, and the retirement of Justice Kennedy. Mary has an anecdote about how Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ being asked to leave The Red Hen restaurant took on a personal twist for her. Amidst the worrisome news, the black women-powered justice system in Fulton, GA is another good reason to celebrate.

Everyone takes a moment to share about songs that speak to the American experience. Among the favorites are Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” The Cowsill’s “Love American Style,” and Steve Forbert’s “The American in Me.” Enjoy the Spotify playlist, “A Leftscape 4th of July – Celebration, Observation, Protest.” Listen, follow, share, and have a very happy and safe holiday!

Robert Reich: Summer Survival Guide for the Trump Era

The “B” Word (Episode 5) Jun 27, 2018

This episode of The Leftscape was brought to you today by the letter “B.” Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée discuss the news of the week including Paul Manafort awaiting trial in jail, a Wisconsin gerrymandering case, the devastating separation of families on the U.S. border with Mexico, and the nationwide #FamiliesBelongTogether actions planned for June 30th by MoveOn.org. Bisexuality is the main topic of the day; Robin talks about controversy and debate within LGBT communities over the word “bisexual” and the 4Chan exploitation of such with #droptheB, Wendy wonders about the possibility of claiming a bi identity within a monogamous marriage, and all discuss the varied understandings of “bisexual,” “pansexual,” and other fluid sexualities. Other points traversed: a birthday shout out to the woman who wrote “Happy Birthday to You,” a chat about “dinosaur” bands on tour, and a very moving reading from They Thought They Were Free by Milton Meyer.

Learn more:

Bi Women Quarterly, Summer 2018

Ring, Trudy, “Exploring the Umbrella: Bisexuality and Fluidity,” The Advocate, February 11, 2014

Pagans, Prison, and Propaganda (Episode 4) Jun 20, 2018

A Season for Learning and Action

Summer Solstice is a time of celebration. Robin Renée, Mary McGinley, and Wendy Sheridan take a moment to savor the warmth of the season before diving into the chilling political news of the week. They share their reactions to the alienation of U.S. allies at the G7 summit and the movie trailer-like “inspirational” video Trump had in tow for Kim Jong-un to watch during their meeting in Singapore. In the And Then They Came for… segment, Robin, Mary, and Wendy scratch the surface of a devastating issue that has not affected them directly — the prison industrial complex. They discuss ideas about how to learn more and to begin to advocate for an end to mass incarceration. Mary talks about her admiration of Eleanor Roosevelt and shares info on a women’s history coloring book called Remembering the Ladies by Carol Simon Levin. Wendy has a coloring book for grown-ups called Harlequin and Other Fantasies. Robin has no coloring book endeavors.

Resources:

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Pod Save the People

NOW.org on Women in Prison

Who Is My Representative?

And now for something completely different:

Who Can Be Heroes? (Episode 3) Jun 13, 2018

. . . or Fly, Eagles, Fly . . . Far Away from 45!

The Leftscape is not about punditry. It is about real people considering and working through the social and cultural landscape and political discussion from a progressive perspective. Electoral politics is the first topic up as Wendy Sheridan, Robin Renée, and Mary McGinley reflect on the June 5th, 2018 U.S. primaries in New Jersey and California. Determination, ambivalence, strategy, statement, head, heart, and schadenfreude all come into play. Robin reads an excerpt from Tove Lo’s Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community featured in Billboard. The Philadelphia Eagles’ disinvitation from the White House sparks conversation on protest through sports and celebrity. The episode ends with a lighthearted chat on “What are we watching now?” Answers include Babylon 5, Mozart in the Jungle, Madam Secretary, and silly YouTube videos.

The Leftscape podcast does not own the featured photograph. Rights reserved by Governor Tom Wolf. View the original material and the Creative Commons License.