KUCI: Ask A Leader

Black Nonbelievers Live Free From Faith

For the full hour is Mandisa Thomas founder and president of Black Nonbelievers Inc.( https://blacknonbelievers.org/), a fitting spiritual take around the celebration of the preeminent clergyman and civil rights activist, Rev Martin Luther King Jr. After recently stopping by the Humanist Association of Orange County, she offers atheists, secularists, and humanists a home on this community radio platform. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Greydon Square, “Omniverse.”

Literary Prizes Prize Literature Lifting The Orange Curtain

Local enterprising bibliophiles Sarah Rafael Garcia and Andrew Tonkovich bring virtual and physical opportunities for listeners', readers’ and prospective contributors’ consideration. Those opportunities include: LibroMobile Arts Cooperative in Santa Ana and the soon to be launched, "Citric Acid: An Orange Count, California Online Literary Quarterly of Imagination and Reimagination." Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album Robert Glasper YouTube, “Levels.”

January 6th: Before, During, After

Charting where we are as a nation in 1/4/22, is UCI Sociology Professor David Meyer. With his interests in social movements, political sociology, and public policy, he's our guy to break it all down, one year after the insurrection in our nation's Capitol. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra, “America The Beautiful,” Not in Our Name - album.

Strolling Along Newport’s Wild Side AND The Biehl Family’s Connections with Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Nathan Taxel, Orange County Parks resource specialist and interpreter at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, (https://www.ocparks.com/parks-trails/upper-newport-bay-nature-preserve), leads us around this special habitat, stirring our holiday souls with the wonders of nature. In the second segment (minute 42:05), Linda Biehl, co-founder of the Amy Biehl Foundation, returns to the show to reflect on her family’s connections with the late and great Archbishop Desmund Tutu. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Sinne Eeg and the Danish Radio Big Band, “My Favorite Things,” We’ve Just Begun - album; Various artists, including Hugh Masekela, Miriam Mikeba, "NKosi Sikeleli Africa."

Art and Entertainment in the Age of COVID

Richard Chang, Arts and Culture senior editor at the Voice of OC, lecturer in journalism, and former KUCI DJ, offers a cultural map of opportunities and workarounds during the pandemic and a look beyond. Music credits: The Comet is Coming, “New Age,” Channel The Spirits - album; Shabaka Hutchings, “Black Skin, Black Masks,” We Out Here – album.

Keeping and Visiting Sacred Places AND CA End of Life Option Act 2021

Returning to the show is Rebecca Robles, Acjachemen tribal member, culture bearer and activist, fielding queries about: whether during this season she feels heard more than in a long while; what does a land acknowledgement do in the better sense; and how whole is the Puvungna sacred site on the Cal. State Long Beach University campus? December 3rd at 3:00 PT, will be the Putuidem opening in San Juan Capistrano to which the public is invited: https://patch.com/california/sanjuancapistrano/amp/30138076/village-of-putuidem-to-open-in-san-juan-capistrano. The extended version of this interview will include her takes on the how the Biden Cabinet level leaders are advancing Native Peoples and more. In the second segment (minute 30:14, another member of the Compassion and Choices crew appears on this show. Christine Goodwin, a regional advocacy manager at Compassion and Choices, takes stock of SB 380 - the improvement and extension of the CA End of Life Option Act. The 2015 law is hereby extended through 2032.

Familia Meños Sets Our Tables

Setting the table for this Thanksgiving program is the Buenrostro/Flores/Delgado family of the Meños Organic Farm: Manuel Buenrostro and Lupe Flores; their children Nelly Buenrostro, Luis Buenrostro, Ismelda Buenrostro; and their niece Jackie Delgado. Joining them later (minute 39:21) long-time family friend Miguel Esquivel. Their Riverside farm, in operation for over 12 years, is institutionalized at the local farmers markets, including the one nearest to the KUCI station at Mariners’ Church parking lot Saturday mornings. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Corey Harris, “Greens Back in the Day,” Greens Form the Garden - album; Groupo Mono Blanco, “El Coconito,” Fandango Sones Jarochos from Veracruz! – album.

CA Draws The Lines AND COP26 Takes

we’ll start with latest draft maps of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly Districts with Commissioner Linda Akutagawa, of the CA Citizens Redistricting Commission. The nuances are as abundant as are the final days of deliberation. If you don’t know your legislative district maps…. you’re missing out: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/ In the second segment (minute 32:00), Shahir Masri air quality researcher, author and climate change activist; offers perspective about what was achieved or not achieved at COP26 in Glasgow these last several weeks. Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Belá Fleck, "The West County," UFO TOFU - album; Snarky Puppy, “Shofukan,” – We Like it Here - album