The Radical Songbook Podcast

Gretchen Bennett on Salem's Community Police Review Board Jun 28, 2021

A conversation with Gretchen Bennett, the Salem, Oregon liaison with that city's Community Police Review Board about how the board works.

Bill Fletcher Jr. on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre May 31, 2021

Bill Fletcher Jr. discusses the 1921 destruction and massacre of Tulsa's Black community by a white mob and explains why this history is important to understanding racism today.

Beatrice Olivo on union bargaining at St Charles May 04, 2021

Beatrice Olivo is a radiation therapist at St. Charles Medical Center who was on the bargaining committee for the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and helped to negotiate the first union contract for 150 medical techs at the Bend hospital. She reflects on what it took to win a union contract and is optimistic about the future of work at St. Charles.

Working Oregon: A Labor History Chronology 4/30/21 May 04, 2021

Ron Verzuh is an active member of the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association and author of a new book titled "Working Oregon: A Labor History Chronology," which takes a long look at the history of working people and their unions in Oregon.

Dalton Miller-Jones discusses Paul Robeson Mar 03, 2021

A conversation with Central Oregon activist Dalton Miller-Jones about Paul Robeson and the Black Freedom Struggle.

Bruce Barthol Feb 20, 2021

Bruce Barthol talks about his musical career from Country Joe and the Fish to the San Francisco Mime Troupe and beyond.

Dave Elsila on Detroit's Red Squad files Feb 17, 2021

Retired union editor Dave Elsila talks about coming of age in Detroit while being spied on by the government for his political activities.

St. Charles United--Tech workers fight for a fair contract Feb 01, 2021

A conversation with Jordan Perry, a tech worker at St. Charles Medical Center, and Sam Potter, organizer for the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, about the fight for a first union contract at the Bend, Oregon, hospital.

Bill Fletcher Jr. on the elections, racial justice and building solidarity Nov 30, 2020

Bill Fletcher Jr. on the elections, racial justice and building solidarity, from The Radical Songbook, November 27, 2020.

A conversation with Amber Keyser of Indivisible Bend about defending democracy Oct 13, 2020

A conversation with Amber Keyser, board member at Indivisible Bend, on the need to protect the vote and defend democracy against the threat of a coup by Doanld Trump.

Luke Richter of Central Oregon Peacekeepers Aug 19, 2020

Luke Richter talks about the work of the Central Oregon Peacekeepers.

Kerstin Arias - Central Oregon Diversity Project Aug 04, 2020

A conversation with Kerstin Arias about what the Central Oregon Diversity Project is doing for our community.

Lauralei Garrity - How white people can challenge and combat white supremacy Jul 08, 2020

A conversation with Bend community member Lauralei Garrity about how white people can challenge and combat white supremacy.

Erika McCalpine on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement Jun 15, 2020

A conversation with Erika McCalpine, Business Professor at Oregon State University-Cascades, about racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Messages on Racism Jun 08, 2020

Six Black residents of Central Oregon speak out about racism, police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement and what needs to change if the U.S. is to move forward. Plus songs of social significance for this time.

Toni Gilpin, author of "The Long Deep Grudge" May 02, 2020

Interview with Toni Gilpin, author of "The Long Deep Grudge," about the militant Farm Equipment Workers union.

7 Hills film about Amman, Jordan skateboard park Feb 08, 2020

Filmmakers Jesse Locke and Amy Doherty talk about the film "7 Hills," which is about a skateboard park in Amman, Jordan, which serves as a gathering place for the community.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Bend Feb 07, 2020

Shelly Smith of the City of Bend and Erin Rook of Allyship in Action on DEI work and homelessness in Bend.

Better Together Jan 21, 2020

Katie Condit, Executive Director, and Whitney Swander, Director of Data and Evaluation, talk about the work of Better Together Central Oregon.

Gerry O'Brien, Editor of the Bend Bulletin Jan 08, 2020

A conversation with Bend Bulletin Editor Gerry O'Brien about the newspaper and the state of journalism today.

This Land is Whose Land? Dec 04, 2019

Abenaki Tribe member and Lula Wiles performer Malo Obomsawin talks about allyship with Native People and Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land."

Andrew Skidmore, Bend Youth Climate Activist Nov 13, 2019

Summit High School freshman Andrew Skidmore talks about the climate crisis and why he is a climate activist.

John Hummel and Adam Foss talk about the Deschutes Co. DA's office. Oct 29, 2019

Deschutes Co. District Attorney John Hummel and Adam Foss, Executive Director of Prosecutor Impact, discuss the work they are doing with staff in the DA's office

WBCN and the American Revolution w/ film director Bill Lichtenstein Oct 15, 2019

Director Bill Lichtenstein talks about his film "WBCN and the American Revolution," a documentary playing at BendFilm.

Worker Power and Solidarity w/ Sara Nelson Oct 07, 2019

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, talks about worker power, labor solidarity and building the labor movement.

Democratic Socialism Jun 10, 2019

Bev Vazquez and Richard Hall of Democratic Socialists of Central Oregon talk about socialist ideas and activism.

Town Hall on Racism May 30, 2019

Dalton Miller-Jones, Beth Hoover and seven local high school students talk about racsim in the schools and restorative justice.

Youth Activism in Central Oregon Apr 17, 2019

Freddie Finney-Jordet, 17-year-old Central Oregon activist, talks about the climate crisis and protest to demand action and social justice.

Embrace Bend/Not In Our Town Apr 17, 2019

Megan Perkins and Cindy Brennen talk about Embrace Bend, the new Not in Our Town affiliate in Central Oregon.

The Crisis in Capitalism Apr 05, 2019

The crisis in capitalism and the rise of fascism with political economist Romir Chatterjee.

Singer-Songwriter Olivia Knox Feb 08, 2019

Olivia Knox, a 15-year-old sophomore at Bend High School, talks about songwriting and plays five original songs including her song "Warrior" which she performed to kick off the Bend Women's March on January 19.

St. Charles Nurses Fight for Strong Union Contract Jan 17, 2019

St. Charles nurses Jennifer Groshong, Heather Bristol and Jackie Howe talk about union bargaining at St. Charles hospital in Bend and why they need a better contract that provides more staffing for patient safety.

Rise Up in 2019 Jan 09, 2019

Nancy Boever of Indivisible Bend and Sid Snyder of The Vocal Seniority talk about moving forward politically in 2019.

Student Town Hall on Race Dec 18, 2018

Interviews with six Bend Lapine high school students and four facilitators who participated in the October 11, 2018 town hall on race.

Marion Davidson Freedom Summer Nov 26, 2018

Bend, Oregon resident Marion Davidson talks about her experiences in Mississippi as a volunteer in Freedom Summer

Satan and Adam, BendFilm, October 12, 2018 Oct 18, 2018

A conversation with film director V. Scott Balcerek and harmonica player Adam Gussow about their film Satan and Adam, which had its Oregon premiere at the 2018 BendFilm Festival.

Veterans of Central Oregon Jun 07, 2018

Conversation with Phil Philiben and Roget Riolla about a new organization--Veterans of Central Oregon.

Riffing with Will Durst May 25, 2018

Political satirist Will Durst riffs about Trump, Indiana Gold, and rolling joints while driving.

ATU 757 contract at Cascade East Transit May 22, 2018

Jacob Foster and Thomas Tsuneta talk about the contract victory for workers at Cascade East Transit in Central Oregon

Karl Marx Birthday May 09, 2018

The Radical Songbook celebrates the 200th birthday of Karl Marx and addresses his relevancy today.

Student Walkout and Gun Safety May 02, 2018

Two Bend High School students--Heather Barclay and Autumn Awbrey--and parent Angela Chisum--talk about the April 20 student walk-out and gun control.

Deschutes River Restoration Apr 25, 2018

Tim Palmer, author of Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy, and Gail Snyder, executive director of the Coaliton for the Deschutes, talk with host Michael Funke about ongoing efforts to protect and restore the Deschutes River in Central Oregon.

Gun Violence and School Safety Mar 28, 2018

Two Bend High School students--Emma Smith & Lauren Hough--talk about the need for more gun control to make schools and students safe. Angela Chisum talks about the Facebook group she organized to support students.

Bullying, Suicide and Racism in Bend, OR Jan 31, 2018

Donavan Adderley talks about his son Deshaun, bullying, suicide, and racism in Bend, Oregon

Being Black in Bend Dec 20, 2017

Anyssa Bohanan talks with Michael Funke on the Radical Songbook about her experiences as an African-American resident of Bend, Oregon.