For many years, ALTERNATIVE CURRENTS was broadcast on WERU-FM throughout the state of Maine. Each show is 1 hour in length, and guests ranged from the famous to the lesser known, though all spoke to the heart of their subject matter. I have included a brief description of each show’s “topic,” below, along with a link so that you might research each guest’s work online. Most all guests’ pertinent works were read by me in their entirety before the interviews, and my comments on their written work are included in these descriptions.

Although I regret I cannot provide you with “sound bites” on this website, you are welcome to check out three programs available for listening on WERU’s web archives: http://www.weru.org/audioarchives.html

This will give you a taste of my interview style and a good sampling of the guest speakers.

Check back with this page from time to time, as many earlier shows have not yet been converted to CD from their original cassette tape format. CD’s are for sale as follows, to defray cost of production time, materials and postage:

$15.00 each

GARY EBERLE - SACRED TIME AND THE SEARCH FOR MEANING (October 2003)
We can’t ignore that time seems sped up, these days – how do we who must live in the world rather than meditating on a mountaintop recover a sense of the sacred when it comes to time?
http://www.aquinas.edu/english/faculty.html#gary

GREENFIRE WOMEN – GREENFIRE RETREAT (April 2004) – this group of gifted elders runs a retreat facility on the coast of Maine. Supporting women (and some men) in spiritual emergence, facilitations based on the ancient system of the Enneagram help empower the individual. This conversation with three of the key women running the retreat provides thoughtful insights.
http://www.greenfireretreat.org/

JAMES HOLLIS - THE EDEN PROJECT: IN SEARCH OF THE MAGICAL OTHER (April 2003)
Has the search for love in another human being replaced our search for God? How is it nearly impossible to reflect on early psychic programming until the middle of our lives? Why is it not possible to achieve a higher or better relationship with the divine than we have with ourselves? These questions and more with a longtime Jungian analyst…
http://www.jameshollis.net/

JOHN DAVID EBERT - TWILIGHT OF THE CLOCKWORK GOD
(April 2001) - Another UTNE READER find, this interview was recorded live with listener questions in the second 1/2 hour. Ebert believes we are shifting out of a mechanical model of time, backed by his interviews with fascinating people like Rupert Sheldrake whose work in the sciences leads to a more organic living vision of the cosmos. Some background static noise as it was an old taped program, but quality listening and great interview subject.
http://www.utne.com/pub/2000_103/features/1682-1.html

JULIA CAMERON - WALKING IN THIS WORLD (November 2002)
Although perhaps best known for her book THE ARTIST’S WAY, Julia’s more recent book speaks more to how we can discover the artist within through active contact with nature. Great guest whose work has helped millions get in touch with their creative spirit.
http://www.theartistsway.com/

KEVIN GRIFFIN - ONE BREATH AT A TIME (November 2004)
Kevin does a fabulous job integrating Buddhist spiritual principles with the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. A gentle approach to freeing yourself of addictive patterns in your life.
http://www.kevingriffin.net/

LAURINE MORRISON MEYER - SACRED HOME (March 2005)
Feng Shui for westerners, from western sacred traditions. Meyer is a longtime interior designer who equates home with the womb – a richly symbolic approach to clearing and creating a spiritual living space.
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=J585

MANUEL SCHOCH - HEALING WITH QUALITIES: THE ESSENCE OF TIME THERAPY (July 2005)
An interesting way of going beyond western psychotherapy, utilizing a more holistic method of transforming habitual patterns. Very interesting man, very intriguing interview with some things you’ve likely not heard before.
http://www.sentientpublications.com/catalog/healing.php

LOPON KARMA WANGCHUK - MARATIKA LAMA (August 2003) Visiting Dzogchen monk from Nepal –An interesting conversation with a Buddhist monk from the east – the energy in the studio was definitely enhanced by his presence therein, and though his English was not fabulous, you should have no trouble understanding him.
http://maratika.com/lopon%20karma.html

MARION WOODMAN - CONSCIOUS FEMININITY (October 2002)
I truly do not know where to begin with Marion – she is one of the wisest elders in our culture, and has written extensively on the need for conscious feminine energy, no matter our gender. This conversation covers many basic precepts, as well as getting a feel for her wonderful presence as a guiding light in the realm of deep self transformation.
http://www.mwoodman.org/

MICHAEL CARROLL - AWAKE AT WORK (June 2005 - unedited)
Good for when you dread going into the office because you’d rather be anywhere else. A former student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, this Tibetan Buddhist teaches us how to bring harmony and meaning into the workplace. Michael has over 20 years of business experience holding executive positions with such firms as Bankers Trust, Paine Webber, Simon & Schuster and Walt Disney.
http://www.awakeatwork.net/about/carroll.html

MICHAEL NEWTON - DESTINY OF SOULS; LIFE BETWEEN LIVES (September 2004)
Interesting interview with a doctoral psychologist who has regressed hundreds of people beyond “past lives” to a place in between lifetimes where they can derive greater meaning from the soul’s journey.
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/author.php?id=23225

ORIAH MOUNTAIN DREAMER - THE CALL; THE INVITATION; THE DANCE (November 2003)
“It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream for the adventure of being alive.” (O.M.D.)
http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

PAUL LOEB - SOUL OF A CITIZEN (December 2000 & February 2004)
Another UTNE READER discovery! Paul is a first-class advocate for the common citizen, and this book has become required reading in some college classrooms. This show was so popular, we aired it twice.
http://www.soulofacitizen.org/

PAUL LOEB – THE IMPOSSIBLE WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE
(October 2004) – And then Paul came out with another book, this time a series of stories about everyday people, some of whom became quite well known like Rosa Parks, whose dedication and persistence have made a huge difference in our democratic way of life. Good speaker, good work.
http://www.soulofacitizen.org/newimp/impindex.htm

PHILIP OSGOOD - ON WRITING AND BUDDHISM (July 2004)
Osgood is a Dzogchen practitioner and Brooksville, Maine resident who teaches meditation as a practice for opening to the creative process. The idea is not new, but his teaching style is engaging and you might pick up some great pointers. Live studio interview with listener questions second half.
FMI on his summer retreats in Maine: 207-326-4047

ROBERT ROMANYSHYN – TECHNOLOGY AS SYMPTOM AND DREAM
(February 2005) One of my all-time favorite books and favorite interviews. Robert speaks to the advent of linear perspective in art and the anatomical perspective in science as contributing to a sort of cultural soul loss. He has also written some powerful essays on grief and our need to “unforget”– he is an amazing human being whose work is well worth checking out.
http://www.online.pacifica.edu/romanyshyn/

RON GROSS – SOCRATES’ WAY (May 2003)
Another of my favorite interviews! Gross is so engaging – this is a man who dresses up as Socrates and shows up in the middle of cities to get ordinary citizens involved in asking questions rather than taking another’s truth as one’s own. Using Socratic questioning techniques, Gross will get you thinking better for and of yourself.
http://www.socratesway.com/

RONALD SIEGEL – INTOXICATION (October 2005)
Longtime psychopharmacologist Siegel (UCLA Medical School faculty) puts forth some very interesting information backed by years of research with various addictive substances. He believes that "the desire for intoxication is actually a fourth drive, as unstoppable as hunger, thirst, and sex."
http://www.innertraditions.com/Product.jmdx

SAVITRI BESS - THE PATH OF THE MOTHER (December 2004)
A devotee of Ammachi whom many consider the Divine Mother incarnate, Savitri speaks about her experiences with “Amma” both in the book and on the air, interspersing her personal experiences with Hindu myth and interesting historical details. Live studio interview.
http://www.pathofthemother.com/path.html

SAVITRI BESS – TSUNAMI INDONESIA 2005 (February 2005)
Interesting story of Bess’ personal experience of being in India with Ammachi when the tsunami hit. She speaks of Ammachi’s rescue efforts and enormous humanitarianism during this tragic time. Live studio interview with listener questions second half of the program.
http://www.ammachi.org/

STEPHANIE KAZA – HOOKED! (May 2005)
Stephanie has given us a beautiful collection of Buddhist essays on consumerism in her newly released book. Authors such as Thubten Chodron, Judith Simmer-Brown and Kaza herself, along with many others, speak to untangling the greed that dominates our culture and keeps us from experiencing more authentic lives. Uplifting.
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/1-59030-172-2.cfm

SUSAN MURPHY – IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN (authored by PAT HEIM & SUSAN MURPHY – interviewed Susan 9/03, rebroadcast 12/05) When you see a show aired twice, you know it’s good. Actually I interviewed Susan along with my then-19 year-old daughter Amanda, in order that we could get two generational perspectives on dealing with women in our lives and in the workplace. Women relate differently than men, and learning about these differences can lead to better communication and understanding. Excellent.
http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/speaker/262

TERRY COLE WHITTAKER – EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST, EVERY SINNER A FUTURE (June 2001) Having grown up in Southern California, I remember Dr. Terry and her unique ministry from my youth. She’s still a great inspirational speaker, backing up her guidance with wisdom from both the West and the East. Check out her bio. Live phone interview with small listener feedback in second half of the show.
http://www.terrycolewhittaker.com/

TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS – THE OPEN SPACE OF DEMOCRACY
(August 2004) Not only a brilliant and engaging writer, Williams is passionate about bringing back the heart of democratic principles through allowing differences to coexist. Not that she has left her environmental concerns behind – her body of work speaks to an undying love for the land we live in, from all perspectives. Live studio interview with listener questions the second half.
http://www.oriononline.org/pages/om/04-2om/TempestWilliams.html

WILLIAM FIX - LAKE OF MEMORY RISING (August 2001)
Scholarly yet very approachable work on reincarnation. "Few authors have the background and ability to delve into the many fields of often neglected knowledge that William Fix does. [In this book] he has produced a readable, exciting and compelling case for the spiritual nature of men and women, and he challenges his readers to continue to seek mankind’s ultimate goal of oneness with God." (Edgar Evans Cayce, author of EDGAR CAYCE ON ATLANTIS)
http://www.amazon.com has a good description of this work (search by title).