A bit of a departure from our regularly scheduled program. This is an interview originally intended to be a part of Blackbird Programming, but we decided to upload it on this feed as it turned into more of a podcast format. There are no visuals unlike what was said at the beginning of the episode; we invite you to visualize many pretty things as you listen. We hope to be back to our regular schedule soon and apologize for any disruption.

Sleepy and root sit down with Dave Ashton, the Denver Program Manager for KGNU radio. KGNU is an independent, noncommercial community radio station with hubs in Boulder and Denver. Dave talks radio, what it can do and why it's important, listener demographics that might surprise you, control of media, and the pressures that might attempt to shape what we hear on the airwaves. Dave talks hip-hop beginnings, college radio, and his path to KGNU. Tune in at 88.5 FM or 1390 AM in Denver and Boulder, and 99.1 FM in Golden. You can find more at KGNU's website or by emailing Dave at dave@kgnu.org. You can also download the KGNU app on your smartphone.

Questions? Comments? Deep occult workings found in an ancient tome you feel strangely compelled to share with an unsuspecting world? We want to hear 'em. Email us at blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com and find more on IG @ theblackbirdrenaissance

Denver Tea Party Clips from a while ago - Question: How do we make politicians less important?

Sleepy and root chat with Jessica Fenske, former and future candidate for Arvada City Council. We talk politics, what they're good for, the games and the ugly truth of public life. Journalistic integrity wearing thin, corporate interests run amok, and libertarian values we all may hold without even knowing it. How to use a ballot to share your values and your message. Conspiracies abound.

You can find Jessica on many platforms by visiting her linktree here

Hear anything in the episode you simply must chime off about? Have any insight of your own on the topics we hit? Any good music recommendations? Sound off and send us an email at blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com

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The cast and crew of Blackbird Programming (soon to be released on YouTube--watch for new announcements) chats about themselves, the road so far, and future directions. No Denver Tea Party Clips this week because I (root) spaced on posting the episode and wanted to get it up ASAP. More to come very soon. Thanks for listening!

Questions? Comments? Tactics for surviving within the blast radius of a Tomahawk cruise missile? We are all ears at blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com

We chop it up with our good friend Javi to talk about Holism in education and life in general. Integrating the old into the new, arguments to push education toward a greater potential, the roadblocks ahead and the hopes to overcome them. Approaches to view life more holistically and the benefits that arise from them.

Denver Tea Party clips - Why is art important? How can we make politicians less important?

Email us at blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com with questions, comments, thoughts on the 1979 classic horror film Alien, or really anything else that's on your mind.

IG @ theblackbirdrenaissance

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Sleepy and root chat with Jean Marie McKee, the current Artistic Director of Naked Angels. Founded in 1986, Naked Angels is a New York City theater company with a focus on community outreach through theater and the arts. We discuss Naked Angels' evolving work over the years in New York City's theater world. We talk New York City and changing landscapes, Jean Marie's personal work as Artistic Director, free weekly development sessions for script writers and actors, outreach in alternative schools in NYC, challenges and successes, and future outlooks. How do we create a world where "Artist" is an accepted middle class profession? Much more.

Visit the Naked Angels website here to learn more and support.

More Denver Tea Party clips from 1/5/24 - Why is art important?

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Questions? Comments? Conspiracy theories? Let us hear 'em by emailing blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com –

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Sleepy and root chat with Ricardo Bogaert-Álvarez, Ph.D about his life and experiences as an émigré of the Dominican Republic. We talk about the history and politics of the Dominican Republic, including the rise and fall of the dictator General Rafael Trujillo, the current political landscapes of both the Dominican Republic and US of A, hopes and concerns for the future, and the difference between Renaissance and Revolution.

Denver Tea Party Clips probably recorded on 1/5/24 at the Mercury Cafe.

Doctor Ricardo J. Bogaert-Álvarez is a retired Dominican-American chemical engineer and award-winning poet. He was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and grew up in a hacienda. He obtained his B.S. in chemical engineering at the PUCMM in Santiago. Then he attended the University of Delaware where he graduated with his chemical engineering masters and PhD. He has lived in the United States since 1981 and resides in Denver with his beloved wife Laura. He has published poems in the “El Sol” newspaper and in the magazines “The New Press” and “Ribbons” among other publications. He taught chemistry and chemical engineering in several universities. He has published four bilingual poetry books: “The Samurai Poet”, “The Dance of the Phoenix,” “Romance and Haiku Elixir” and now “Chronicles of a Young Dominican.” In those books, each poem is in Spanish and English. He is a member of the Columbine Poets, Inc, which is a poetry club at the state level in Colorado. In poetry contests of this club, he has won several awards. He also presented several workshops in that club. He’s also a member of the Tanka Society of America. He’s the treasurer of the Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Author (CALMA). Ricardo is currently working on revising Chronicles of a Young Dominican as well as multiple new collections of poetry.

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Questions? Comments? Plans for establishing and defending a small island nation? Let us hear 'em by emailing blackbirdpodcast@protonmail.com

Youtube - @blackbirdrenaissance

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