KPFA - Against the Grain KPFA

Renowned mycologist Paul Stamets talks about mushrooms, human health, bee populations, psychoactive fungi, and more.
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The rise of the far right has been one of the most alarming developments of the last few years, exercising a gravitational pull on much of American politics. Liberal critics often chalk up the appeal of right to the irrationalism of the downtrodden. But writer Naomi Klein argues that the populist right is, in its perverse, hateful way, addressing often legitimate discontent about an unequal society. She argues that the only antidote is a renewed anticapitalist left.
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Meditation pioneer and world-renowned teacher Sharon Salzberg talks about her book “Real Happiness: A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of Meditation.”
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When we think about nature preservation, many of us picture not just wetlands and forests, but farms and pasturelands. Yet journalist George Monbiot argues that the most destructive effects that humans have had on the planet has been through farming – through deforestation, the destruction of the soil, and the massive loss of habitat.
Resources:
George Monbiot’s TED Talk
Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Regenesis by George Monbiot, read by the author.
The post Fund Drive Special: Regenerating a Damaged Planet appeared first on KPFA.

Audio portions of the award-winning documentary film “Move When the Spirit Says Move: The Legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton.”
The post Fund Drive Special: A Civil Rights Powerhouse appeared first on KPFA.

It’s both a precious resource and a dangerous pollutant, exponentially increasing crop yields, while fouling our waterways with blue-green algae. The element phosphorus has played a crucial role in agriculture and war, while its reserves are unevenly distributed, with much of the world’s supply located in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Writer Dan Egan discusses the double-edged nature of an element that is increasingly depleted and overused.
Resources:
Dan Egan, The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance Norton, 2023
The post Phosphorus: Reaping the Harvest appeared first on KPFA.