Finding Kindness

Allison discusses the ability to be kind to one another in spite of differences. The lack of kindness. The power of forgiveness, and finding grace and gratitude within agreeing to disagree. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

These Connected Parents Leslie Ponzo and Julie Walters come to bring awareness to the disorder PCDH19 that effects a significant amount of children in our world today, and teach us about signs, symptoms, and treatments so these children can lead a healthier life. As a long-time educator and the mother of a daughter with PCDH19 Epilepsy, Leslie has experienced the mentoring process from both sides. She knows only too well the many questions parents can have when told their child needs to be evaluated or diagnosed, and how overwhelming all those questions can feel. If there’s anything she’s learned from her own experience, it’s that the journeys of life can be challenging but empowering. In her work supporting students and their families, she strives for empathy and understanding, and that’s something she hopes to bring to this community as well. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities and Professor of Politics, Philosophy, and Human Rights at Bard College. Professor Berkowitz authored The Gift of Science: Leibniz and the Modern Legal Tradition (Harvard, 2005; Fordham, 2010; Chinese Law Press, 2011). Berkowitz is editor of The Perils of Invention: Lying, Technology, and the Human Condition (2022) and co-editor of Thinking in Dark Times: Hannah Arendt on Ethics and Politics (2009), The Intellectual Origins of the Global Financial Crisis (2012) and Artifacts of Thinking: Reading Hannah Arendt's Denktagebuch (2017). His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The American Interest, Bookforum, The Forward, The Paris Review Online, Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, and many other publications. He is a co-editor with Drucilla Cornell of Just Ideas, a book series published by Fordham University Press. He is the winner of the 2019 Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought given by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Bremen, Germany. Professor Berkowitz joins us to discuss this upcoming event narrated below and shared directly from the event website. The thinking behind this idea which originally came from Hanna Arendt herself, as well as curated thoughts and ideas stemming from a prolific group of political thinkers and people. "What is friendship and why have we as a nation isolated ourselves so much that we fail to confide in others as well as fail to rejoice?" Berkowitz discusses that while Hanna Arendt believed in the power of intimate friendship, Arendt also understood what she called “the political relevance of friendship.” The world is not humane simply because it is made by human beings. Rather, the things of this world only become human “when we can discuss them with our fellows.” For Arendt, it follows that in public life, “friendship is not intimately personal but makes political demands and preserves reference to the world.” The common world is thus held together by friendship." From the Bard Politics and Friendship conference site: "Politics and friendship both are based in the act of talking with others. There are no absolutes in either friendship or politics, where everything emerges from the act of speaking and acting in concert with others. Thus, Arendt insists there is no truth in politics. In politics it is opinion and not truth that matters. Absent truth, what holds the political world together is friendships, our sober and rational love for our fellow citizens.That friendship emerges in conversation and that conversation, and not the revelation of truths from on high, is the source of political consensus. That is why Arendt can say, with Cicero, “I prefer before heaven to go astray with Plato than hold true views with his opponents.” She means that friendship more so than truth is the foundation of a meaningful political world. Both intimate and political friendships are in crisis today. Studies show that Americans have fewer and fewer friends with whom they can share their joys and sorrows. The crisis of friendship means the loss of a place in the world. And the crisis of political friendship means the loss of spaces and institutions where one can talk honestly and directly with those whom one shares a world amidst disagreements. Such institutions are threatened by echo chambers and algorithms that surround us only with like-minded acolytes. The Arendt Center conference on Friendship and Politics brings together writers, thinkers, activists, and artists to collectively think about the importance of friendship in our world." Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Doron is an Israeli born professional portrait photographer whose work is conveyed through a distinct cinematographic lens. Every project he embarks upon is meticulously organized, planned, executed and structured to give a strong impact. In his portraits and commissioned work, Doron’s anthropological inquisitiveness shines. The people Doron photographs either fascinate him or simply inspire him to spend time with them. His subjects are protagonists, never idle, never surplus, ever present. Each image is long before created in his head and regardless of the number of shutter clicks on the day, the search is for that one image. Nothing is accidental or left to chance. Doron is always acutely deliberate in his process ultimately creating beautiful imagery that deeply explores individuals and the space they live and/or work in, engaging the viewer’s experience of the story told. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Kaitlyn Murray of Apreslamour.com returns to the show to share her plans about Hudson Valley Sustainable Fashion Week and teach us more about sustainable fashion and how we can save the planet by shopping our closets, and reworking old clothing. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Jeanne Flemming is an award winning celebration artist from New York who organized the Harbor Festival fair in 1986, the centennial land celebration for the Statue of Liberty, and is the creative director and producer for the NYC Halloween parade. Jeanne is also the creator of the Hudson Valley Sinterklaas celebration and parade which has become a word wide event and celebrated procession. Fleming talks with us about the history of bringing Sinterklaas to the Hudson valley, why it takes a village of volunteers to bring it to life each year, and more of her daily dreams, wishes and endeavors she practices year round to bring uniqueness to every annual event! Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Professor Karen Sullivan is the Irma Brandeis Professor of Romance Culture and Literature at Bard College. The author of Eleanor of Aquitaine, As It Was Said: Truth and Tales about the Medieval Queen; The Danger of Romance: Truth, Fantasy, and Arthurian Fictions; The Inner Lives of Medieval Inquisitors; Truth and the Heretic: Crises of Knowledge in Medieval French Literature ; The Interrogation of Joan of Arc; and numerous articles on medieval French and Occitan literature. Professor Sullivan discusses the history or religion, spirituality, the divine, women warriors and the common historical themes from the medieval to modern times. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Life as a successful banker had Rick Hail living a fast life. Money, success, friends, celebrations, alcohol... he had everything he thought he wanted. But life took a turn that brought Rick to his knees and a crossroads where a decision for change was imminent. Through discovering the practice of Buddhism and meditation, this man was able to get himself back on his feet, sober, and with a second chance at a healthy life. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Within the constant search for healing and answers oh how we can heal and make this world a better place, the signs of gratitude and grace are right at our fingertips and feet. If we only took more time to notice them? Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it's most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women. Summer is a trigger for anyone struggling with an eating disorder, body image issues or a mental health condition. The lack of structure in the summer months can lead to disrupted routines, which can lead to an increase in emotion dysregulation and unhealthy behaviors. In the mental health field, research has found that the summer months often make eating disorders and mental health symptoms worse. We observe an increase in anxiety, depression, body dissatisfaction and negative self-talk. More clients report skipping meals, over-exercising and spending time obsessing about their bodies and food. This doesn’t just affect young adults, females, or people who are in recovery. People of all ages and genders are susceptible to the summer vulnerability factors. In this show I speak to help those who may be struggling with these illnesses to identify their symptoms and seek help. I also talk to those who do not know how to identify a friend or loved one that may be in need, so they can aid others in finding help and recovery. Produced by Matty Rosenberg and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff