Author Archives: Claudia Shambaugh

“Motherland” Speaking Truth$ to Petrol

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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.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Gerami1-17-23.mp3

“Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of Covid”

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No, we’re not done with the Covid pandemic – Covid is not done with us. It’s quite instructive to do examine a comprehensive list of parts in the politics of the pandemic, like before the next pandemic or crisis ensues. Sara Wallace Goodman, UCI political science professor talks about her new book out entitled, “Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of Covid; How the politicization of the pandemic endangers our lives-and our democracy,” co-written with Shana Kushner Gadarian and Thomas Pepinsky, published by Princeton University Press. Sara Goodman’s team was the first to collect and analyze national survey data asking Americans about their health behaviors and attitudes.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; The Elovators, “People Go,” Defy Gravity – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Goodman1-10-23.mp3

Live To Pay Another Electric Bill

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For the whole hour are: Esperanza Veilma, executive director of Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Dave Rosenfeld, of the Solar Rights Alliance, each bringing useful insights about trends and policies pertaining to electricity distribution. The recent CA Public Utility Commission’s recent ruling has set deadlines for grandfathering solar rooftop panels by 4/14/23. As we continue covering this utility sector, OCPA included, listeners can follow the developments with: https://ceeetruth.org/ and https://solarrights.org/.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; and Hunrosa, “Ransome” Ransome -EP.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/VeilmaRosenfeld1-3-23.mp3

Artistic Treasures At Year’s End

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As we close out this year together, a treat from two performing arts artistic directors. First, the retiring artistic director of America Ballet Theater, Kevin McKenzie offers the long view of his 30 years leading that internationally acclaimed dance company. In the second segment (minute 29:08), South Coast Repertory artistic director David Ivers reflects on coming back full throttle in this season, and offers early next year’s “Voices of America;” two plays in conversation with each other – Little Foxes and Appropriate.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Carlos Simon “Amen;” The Scott Oakley Trio, “Greensleeves,” Jazz for the Holidays – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/McKenzieIversPod12-27-23.mp3

Cleaning Rooms in Irvine’s Inns

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This close to the lore of Mary and Joseph looking for room at any inn, today we look at how workers are faring as they keep clean our hotels. For the whole program Austin Lynch, director and negotiator at Unite Here Local 11; and Maria Balderas, union member and rank and file leader, working at the Irvine Hilton – cover the working conditions for hotel staff as well as Irvine’s recently adopted workers protection ordinance, the first of its kind in Orange County. For those Irvine voters, who have signed the petition circulating to revoke the ordinance, who wish to retract their signatures, they can text 562-688-5867 for instructions. The document to complete is: https://www.unitehere11.org/wp-content/uploads/Irvine-Referendum-Petition-Signature-Withdrawal-Form-00420418xB613E.pdf

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Groupo Nueva Vida, “Las Posadas,” Alabanzas Cristianas Que Llegan al Alma, Vol. 6

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LynchBalderasPod12-20-22.mp3

The Latest on Huntington’s Disease Research and Treatment

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Returning to the show is the world renown investigator on Huntington’s disease, Dr. Leslie Thompson. Accompanying her is Melody Bandley, advocate for her husband and other patients, for advances in Huntington’s Disease research and care. Details on ongoing search and care are available at: https://hdcare.org/. For additional legislative actions that support HD care: https://hdsa.org/news/hdsa-reintroduces-the-hd-parity-act/.

The bonus interview with American Ballet Theater’s retiring artistic director Kevin McKenzie, that was not broadcast on this program, is now available in a separate podcast on this same date. He appears in Orange County during the current run of The Nut Cracker performed at now through December 18th at the Segerstrom Hall.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; and Bill Beach, “Dreams Deferred,” Letting Go – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ThompsonBandley12-13-22.mp3

Kevin McKenzie’s Gracious Bow As Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theater

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American Ballet Theater’s retiring artistic director Kevin McKenzie reviews his 30 years of leadership with the company. Topics include the arc of a dancer’s career, comparisons between the scourges of AIDS and COVID, Russian connections, art education in America, and the baton he hands off to incoming director Susan Jaffee. Mr. McKenzie appears in Orange County during the current run of The Nucracker performed now through December 18th at the Segerstrom Hall, https://www.scfta.org/shows-events.

Music credits: “Amen,” composed and conducted by Carlos Simon.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/McKenziePod12-13-22.mp3

Ethnic Studies Rocks the Classroom AND America’s Unsafe Roads; With and Without the Pandemic

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Emily Penner, professor at the UCI School of Education, returns to the show to speak to the theme of “pedagogy not politics of ethnic studies.

In the second segment (minute 31:06), Caron Whitaker, Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, talks about road safety as we move through the pandemic – looking at you exceptional USA, with our scary trend of raised fatalities bucking the global decline. The continuation is in the second link entry on this day.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Richie Havens, “Peace Train;” and the Gershwin Piano Quartet, “American in Paris.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/PennerWhitakerPod12-6-22.mp3

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/WhitakerPart212-6-22.mp3

Gambling, Problem Gambling, Especially on College Campuses

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In the aftermath of California voters weighing in on Propositions 26 and 27 dealing with gambling, for the full hour Brianne Doura-Schawohl, advocate, consultant, and lobbyist speaks about problem gambling, across the nation, including on college campuses. She contributed extensively to the recent N Y Times 4-day series about the high stakes gambling enterprises, a thorough exposé about the asymmetry of resources and power. If gambling is a problem, support is available by calling 1-800-GAMBLER, (800-426-2537), or text “SUPPORT” to 533242 to get more information about problem gambling behavior.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Gerardo Frisina, “The Obsession,” Modern Latin Jazz = album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DouraSchawohl11-29-22Pod.mp3

Largest Campus Strike Takes Root in UC System AND Presenting “Actually” at The Wayward Artist

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Since “Ask A Leader” listeners can walk and chew gum, you all can continue watching 2022 midterm election results while we take on local union activity. Organizers with the UAW and the UC-AFT on UCI campus have just started a strike, joining 48,000 UC system wide with grievances aplenty among those in lecturing and researching roles, https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/reinstate-fired-lecturers-respect-the-union-contract-restore-justice. Guests include: Nick Maurer, lecturer awaiting re-appointment; Mia Villegas, lab project coordinator and academic workers’ UAW recording secretary; and in absentia, Honora St. Clair, UC-AFT 5810 field representative; and . Returning to the show in the second segment (minute 29:26), is Craig Tyrl, artistic director of The Wayward Artist. He’s got a play this month, a gala next month, and a new season next year.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Sportive Tricks, “Working Man,” Tricks of the Trade – album; Billy Bragg “There is Power in the Union,” Talking with the Taxman about Poetry – album; Sportive Tricks, “The Working Man,” Tricks of the Trade – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/UCSrikeTyrl11-15-22.mp3