Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

Episode Summary

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon explores the intricate dynamics of giving, receiving, and creating community with food entrepreneur and activist Lola Milholland. She shares insights from her memoir, Group Living and Other Recipes, which reflects on her upbringing in a communal household, the lessons of shared living, and the profound role that food plays in connecting people.

We also revisit our conversation with Chuck Collins about his novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun, set in an intentional community in western Massachusetts.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

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Key words: Lola Milholland, communal living, organic food, memoir, Chuck Collins, climate activism, fiction, podcast, podcast, book recommendations, author interview, book podcast, book show

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Key Topics Covered

Communal Living and the Gift Economy

Milholland discusses the philosophy that when we receive something, it’s not meant to be hoarded but to be passed on, even if just in spirit. This idea of giving and receiving as a cycle, akin to inhaling and exhaling, is central to building and sustaining vibrant communities.

She reflects on growing up in a communal household where the guiding belief was, “We only deserve it if we share it.” She connects this to the concept of the gift economy, inspired by Lewis Hyde’s book The Gift, where the act of receiving is intrinsically tied to the obligation of passing something on.

Food as a Spiritual Practice

Food is at the heart of Group Living And Other Recipes and Milholland’s current work as a food entrepreneur. She shares how food not only nourishes but also serves as a means of connecting people, fostering community, and maintaining cultural traditions. Recipes included in her book are gifts from her life’s journey, shared with readers to continue the cycle of giving.

Communal Living, Land Trusts & Other Forms of Living and Owning

Milholland discusses how communal living, co-housing, land trusts and other radical approaches to property and wealth can pave the way for more connected and sustainable communities.

Influences and Inspiration

Learn about the significant influence of Lola’s brother, Zach, who taught her the importance of care in cooking, and how her mother’s involvement with Organic Valley helped shape her views on food and community.

Umi Organic and School Lunches

Milholland talks about her noodle company, Umi Organic, and its commitment to providing nutritious school lunches in Portland, Oregon.

Group Living Recipes, Photos, Music

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, Host Francesca Rheannon welcomes acclaimed author Louise Erdrich to discuss her new novel, The Mighty Red.

Known for her deeply layered storytelling and themes centered on Native American life, Erdrich takes listeners on a journey into the heart of the Red River Valley in North Dakota. Here, she weaves a compelling tale about love, resilience, and the enduring relationship between people and land.

Then, in the wake of hurricanes that battered the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, Francesca revisits her interview with Dr. James Hansen, a pioneering climate scientist and former head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Dr. Hansen, known for his groundbreaking 1988 Congressional testimony on climate change, discusses the urgent warnings he presented in his 2010 book, Storms of My Grandchildren. This conversation addresses the intensifying climate crisis, with a focus on extreme weather events, the critical need for emissions reduction, and the global impacts of rising temperatures.

Read An Excerpt from The Mighty Red

Listen also to our 2013 interview with Erdrich about her novel, The Round House. And read about our 2008 interview with her about The Plague of Doves.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Louise Erdrich, fiction, 2008 farm crisis, Francesca Rheannon podcast, Red River Valley North Dakota, climate change, global warming, James Hansen, hurricanes

Louise Erdrich Interview

Episode Highlights

• Erdrich’s vivid descriptions of the Red River Valley and its flat, expansive landscape.
• The impact of the 2008 economic crisis on North Dakota farming families.
• A unique discussion on the dynamics of love, responsibility, and self-discovery among the main characters.
• Insights into the author’s perspective on modern agricultural practices and their effects on the environment and local communities.

Listen Now
Join Francesca Rheannon and Louise Erdrich as they explore the rich tapestry of life, love, and land in The Mighty Red. Hear about Erdrich’s thoughts on sustainability, her inspiration for the characters, and her take on how land and community are deeply interconnected. This is a powerful episode for anyone interested in storytelling, cultural history, and environmental awareness.

Interview with Dr. James Hansen (encore)

Episode Highlights

• Hansen’s early predictions about coastal flooding, which foreshadowed events like Hurricane Sandy.
• The science behind the “loading of the climate dice” and why it leads to extreme weather patterns.
• The importance of maintaining a stable climate for the survival of ecosystems, agriculture, and human civilization.
• Hansen’s critique of cap-and-trade policies, and his proposal for a more effective carbon tax approach.

Listen to the original full interview

We talk with Abrahm Lustgarten about his book, On The Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America. It’s about how climate chaos means a humanity on the move.

Then, we catch up with journalist and author Ross Barkan about his recent article in New York Magazine, “The Most Endangered Democrat in America: Jamaal Bowman might lose his job over Israel.”

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

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Key Words: climate migration, climate refugees, climate justice, Abrahm Lustgarten, On the Move book, Ross Barkan, Jamaal Bowman, George Latimer, Gaza ceasefire, New York primary

Climate Chaos Means Humanity on the Move

Guest: Abrahm Lustgarten, investigative reporter on climate change

Book:On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America

Key Topics:

• Climate Migration: The massive displacement of populations due to climate change, both globally and within the United States.
• Human Habitability Niche: The ideal climate zone for human habitation is shifting, displacing billions.
• U.S. Impacts: Wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and droughts will reshape the country.
• Heat and Humidity: Rising temperatures and humidity levels will make parts of the U.S. uninhabitable.
• Sea Level Rise: Coastal communities are facing rapid land loss and increased flooding.
  Inequality: Climate change disproportionately affects poor communities and communities of color.
• Economic Impacts: Climate change will cause significant economic disruption, particularly in the southern U.S.
• Food Security: Agricultural yields are declining due to heat and water scarcity.
• Global Perspective: The impacts of climate migration will be far greater in the developing world.
• Loss and Damage: The U.S. and other wealthy nations have a responsibility to aid countries suffering from climate-related losses.
• Economic Opportunities: Addressing climate change can create economic benefits, but requires investment and policy changes.
• Solutions: Reducing emissions, investing in adaptation, and providing foreign aid are crucial steps.

Read an Excerpt from On The Move

Keywords: climate change, migration, displacement, heat, floods, drought, inequality, economics, food security, loss and damage, foreign aid, solutions

Additional Notes: Lustgarten’s book provides a detailed and personal look at the impacts of climate migration. The interview highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the need for immediate action. The discussion emphasizes the interconnectedness of climate change, migration, and social justice issues.

The Most Endangered Democrat in America: Jamal Bowman’s Battle Against AIPAC

Congressmember Jamal Bowman of New York is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming June primary, with AIPAC backing his opponent George Latimer. Ross Barkan, author of a recent article in New York Magazine, joins us to discuss the stakes of this critical race.

Key Points

Bowman’s Stance on Israel:

• Bowman’s position on Israel leans left, advocating for a two-state solution and conditioning military aid to Israel.
• He’s drawn controversy by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and criticizing Israeli government actions.

Latimer’s Position on Israel:

• Latimer aligns with AIPAC’s positions, opposing conditioning aid to Israel and supporting Netanyahu.
• He’s backed by significant funding from pro-Israel donors, including some with ties to Trumpist circles.

The Race Dynamics:

• Bowman’s vulnerabilities, including past controversies and a spending disadvantage, make the race tight.
• Latimer, a well-known local politician, presents a formidable challenge to the incumbent Bowman.

Implications of Bowman’s Defeat:

• Losing Bowman would be a setback for progressive forces, signaling AIPAC’s successful strategy in Democratic primaries.
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Is identity politics keeping us divided? And how can activists build solidarity with others while fighting for their own rights? We talk with activist, educator and organizer Michael Zweig about his book, Class, Race and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism.

Then in honor of Spring, Host Francesca Rheannon reads her story, The Sheep’s Blessing. It’s about an encounter in the backcountry of Provence that illuminated the sacred bond between a flock of sheep, a dog and a shepherd.

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Key words: Michael Zweig, class, race, gender, intersectionality, identity politics, podcast, author interview, politics

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The Rise of Identity Politics

The movements to support identity rights were a key leap forward in the latter half of the twentieth century. The struggles to protect the rights of racial minorities, of women, of LGBTQ people addressed grievous social wrongs and won important victories. Victories that are being undermined today.

But those movements also took place at a time when the movement to support working class rights and unions was on the wane. One could argue that identity politics replaced class politics, especially in the Democratic Party, but also in the sphere of larger mass movements.

Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism

In his book Class, Race and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism, Michael Zweig says the thread that weaves together class, race, and gender oppression is capitalism, a system that divides those it exploits in order to maintain its rule.

Zweig illuminates the fundamental mechanisms of capitalism, unveiling the root causes behind a myriad of pressing issues plaguing our world today, from income inequality to environmental degradation, from militarism to systemic racism and patriarchy. In Class, Race and Gender, Zweig dissects the interconnectedness of these phenomena, tracing their origins throughout US history.

Drawing from his own experience as an activist, educator, and organizer, Zweig offers not only a a deep understanding of structural inequities but also practical strategies for transformative action.

The Sheep’s Blessing by Francesca Rheannonn

Springlike weather over the last few days has put me in mind of another Spring I experienced over 20 years ago in the beautiful back country of Provence, in the foothills of the Alps.

I was living in the house of my friend Fabienne, who had gone off to Paris for several months during the winter. I wrote a story about an encounter with a shepherd I had on the first spring-like day at the end of January, 2002. The story, “The Sheep’s Blessing,” was published in 2003 in an anthology of writings about Provence, Travelers’ Tales Provence: True Stories.

The shepherd Hervé, who I met that day, became a good friend. He turned out to be a true philosopher of his profession, a kind of guru/revolutionary of the shepherd’s life. In the months that followed, I went on many walks with him and his trusty sheep dog, Tango. I share my first encounter with him in this episode of Writer’s Voice.

Transcript of Writer’s Voice Interview with Michael Zweig

Mike Zweig, welcome to Writers Voice.

Great to be with you.

This is a wonderful book, Class, Race, and Gender, Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism. So right at the top there with your title, we have the notion of intersectionality. Intersectionality is something people have been talking about, but I’m not sure they’ve been practicing it as much as they should be. And you say that in order to really understand race and gender, we have to understand their connection to class. So explain that.

And I would also say in order to understand class, you have to understand its relationship to issues of race and gender because these things are mutually determined.

Race and class are different things, but they are not independent of one another.

And the same is true for race and gender, and gender and class.

These things have their independent existence or t...

We talk with Amitav Ghosh about his masterful history of the opium trade, Smoke and Ashes: Opium’s Hidden Histories.

Then, Manjula Martin tells us about her personal and “pyro-natural” history of California wildfires — the ones she lived through in 2020 and the ones Indigenous people lived with before white settlers moved in and took their land. Her book is The Last Fire Season.

And finally, we read a poem from Mosab Abu Toha’s book Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter @WritersVoice.

Key Words: Amitav Ghosh, history, opium trade, author interview, Manjula Martin, climate change, global warming, fire season, memoir, podcast, book podcast, author interview, Writer’s Voice, Francesca Rheannon

Narco States of Colonial Capitalism

When Amitav Ghosh finished the novels of his famed Ibis Trilogy, he became curious about the opium trade. The lives of his characters, 19th-century sailors and soldiers who navigated the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, were intertwined with the currents that carried not just ships, but their precious cargo—opium.

He was surprised to find how much that commodity had shaped the destinies of not only India, but of China, colonial empires — and the United States.

What startled Ghosh even more wasn’t just the historical backdrop, but the realization that his own family history was entangled in that trade.

Enter Smoke and Ashes: a book that combines travelogue, memoir, and historical research to weave together threads of horticultural history, the myths of capitalism, and the enduring impacts of colonialism.

Read An Excerpt

Read The Transcript

Fire Season: Past, Present and Future

Manjula Martin traded city life for the serene woods of Northern California in pursuit of a deeper connection to the wilderness of her childhood. Struggling with chronic pain, she sought solace in tending her garden beneath the majestic redwoods of Sonoma County.

However, the very landscape she cherished was under threat from escalating wildfires exacerbated by climate change.

As wildfires ravaged the West in 2020, Martin and countless other Californians were forced to evacuate amidst a global pandemic. The Last Fire Season delves into the intricate role of fire in the ecology of the Western landscape while at the same time shining a critical lens on the colonialist practices that have contributed to their current plight.

Read or Listen to an Excerpt

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Transcript: Amitav Ghosh

When Amitav Ghosh finished the novels of his famed Ibis Trilogy, he became curious about the opium trade.

The lives of his characters, 19th century sailors and soldiers who navigated the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, were intertwined with the currents that carried not just ships, but their precious cargo, opium.

He was surprised to find out how much that commodity had shaped the destinies of not only India, but of China, colonial empires, and the United States.

What startled Ghosh even more wasn’t just the historical backdrop, but the realization that his own family history was entangled in that trade.

Enter Smoke and Ashes.

It’s a book that combines travelogue, memoir, and historical research to weave together threads of horticultural history, the myths of capitalism, and the enduring impacts of colonialism.

Amitav Ghosh, welcome back to Writers’ Voice.

Thank you very much.

It’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

This book, Smoke and Ashes, Opium’s Hidden Histories, is really a fascinating look into, as you say, hidden, a history tha...