KUCI: Ask A Leader

Power, Truth, and Joy in Dialogue - Pauline Merry and Adam Smyer

Local activist, artist, and retired higher education administrator Pauline Merry, and Oakland attorney and writer Adam Smyer return to the show - this time on the same program, for a dialogue on the arc of progress in the lives of Black Americans. Music credits: Chimora, "Africano Americano," Sounds of Africa - album; Corcoran Holt, "14th Street Bounce," The Mecca - album

Great Park Amphitheater Stakes AND Law School Enviro Clinic Clothing Swap

All hands on deck with today’s time-sensitive coverage. Doug Elliott with Irvine Watchdog, examines how Live Nation isn’t just wielding their anti-trust might around the country, but performing their own power dynamic inside the Great Park. Tonight, February 21st, 6:30 p.m. Irvine City Council’s special meeting to consider the new terms Live Nation has proposed for the amphitheater. In the second segment (minute 31:21)UCI Law student Bonggeul (Edward) Joo covers the Environmental Law Clinic's mobilizing to reduce the harmful impact of fast fashion on the planet, including the collecting used clothing and hosting the ELC Thrift Swap event on February 28. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Soul Jazz Orchestra, “As the World Turns,” Resistance – album; Gregory Porter “In Fashion,” Magic Radio presents.

“Fish Dreams; A Mother’s Journey From Curing Her Son’s Autism to Loving Him as He Is”

For the full hour is social entrepreneur, artist, and advocate Irma Velasquez, bringing her recently released a book about raising her son Aaro. The title is “Fish Dreams; A Mother’s Journey From Curing Her Son’s Autism to Loving Him as He Is,” and it's published by Deep Living Lab. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Omar Sosa, “Escucho,” A New Life – album.

The Science of R e a d i n g

We devote the full hour to Young-Suk Kim, professor and Senior Associate Dean at UCI’s School of Education. She’s been involved at the forefront of literacy legislation in California, bringing her decades of experience and research on the science of reading. She considers the multi-dimensional cognitive and social processes involved between the reader, the household, the educator, and the environment. Music credits: Lambarena (Hughes de Courson and Pierre Akendengué), “Agnus Dei,”Bach to Africa - album; Sesame Street Workshop, “Let’s Read A Book.”

Extended Beall Center Talk; Focus on Artists

This 20 minute segment of the interview with Tina Rivers Ryan and Paul Vanouse features three of the seventeen artists whose work is on display at the Beall Center for Art and Technology: Keith Piper, The Mongrel Project, and Hasan Elahi.

Cutting Edge Climate Science AND Edgy Digital Art

Lots happening around the UCI campus - from forging ahead researching climate change to exhibiting provocative contemporary art. In the first segment earth system scientists: professor Keith Moore and researcher Yi Liu, will talk about their deeply concerning findings on climate changes’ impacts on ocean currents, recently published in Nature Climate Change. In the second segment (minute 31:29), co-curators Tina Rivers Ryan and Paul Vanouse, present their brand new installation at UCI’s Beall Center for Art + Technology, “Difference Machines: Technology & Identity in Contemporary Art.” The exhibit will remain through April 29th. Details at: https://beallcenter.uci.edu/. An additional, separate segment, from this interview covers three of the artists presented at the installation: Keith Piper, the Mongrel Project, and Hasan Elahi. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Claude Debussy, La Mer “Waves”; Sounds of Liberation, “Billie One,” Sounds of Liberation – album.

Freeing Up CA Water Brain Trust AND ”Growing Up in the Ville in St. Louis, MO”

Today our guests run the gamut of water policy to Black community. We start with Max Gomberg, formerly staff to the CA State Water Quality Resources Control Board, now independent consultant on water affordability and resilience. With his decades of experience in water management, his seasoned takes we fly at roughly 50,000 feet, considering the consequential water policy decisions being made on all levels of government. In the second segment (minute 30:00) local activist and retired higher education administrator Pauline Merry brings her new autobiography, Growing Up in the Ville, in St Louis Missouri, recently released by Great Tales Told Well Publishing. With this genre of Black history, is an uncanny education on lives lived in all kinds of communities. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Bill Beach, “Agua de Beber,” Letting Go – album; McCoy Tyner, “Illuminations,” Illuminations – album.

”Motherland” Speaking Truth$ to Petro

Vic Gerami, editor and publisher of the Blunt Post, as well as host/producer of the “Blunt Post with Vic” on Radio KPFK,” speaks about his recently released documentary, "Motherland" an award-winning documentary feature film about Azerbaijan’s, Turkey’s attack on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2020 and the massacre of 5,000+ people. In his film he details his travels to Armenia several times last year, where he interviews elected officials, eyewitnesses, veterans, refugees, and journalists for the film. That act of aggression, is part of campaign that has associations with our Irvine Mayor, which listeners have heard raised before on this show. The film will be presented at the Irvine City Hall chamber at 6 pm on 1/25th, with Vic Gerami presenting, and Q & A to follow. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Djivan Gasparyan – Dle Yaman.