Hampster History

Today we are talking with Robert Wilson Jr. Rob uses He/ him pronouns and identifies as African-American or black. He’s been a part of the fight for 15 campaign in Chicago, has  canvassed for independent socialist councilwoman rosanna Rodriguez, has organized mutual aids and continues to work with folks who are trying to change their situations He identifies politically as a revolutionary socialist / communist

Today we are talking with River Routen. River is an architect and a visualizer. His Facebook tag line is "I grew up in the woods", and that's true. He grew up in a neighborhood with a big dinner bell that used to call all the kids in the woods home for dinner. There is a book which was celebrated by the Sierra Club called "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv. It's about kids growing up without nature. River says that There is something very mystical when the forest takes over your perception.

Today, we are talking with Samara Powers. Samara (she/they) is a parent of two, a poet, and a demi-theistic, femme gender fluid, queer-postive, trans-positive relationship anarchist. she earned a degree in Creative Writing in 2018, and has a professional background in marketing and graphic design, restaurant work, and writing, and identifies as an artist. She is currently a 2nd-year seminary student at Meadville Lombard Theological School, and has been active at her home congregation as a Worship Associate, a member of their last Ministerial Search Committee, and former chair of the Relationship Advocacy Team. She is a Certified Facilitator for the OWL Curriculum for Older Adults. She co-houses with two other moms in an intentional micro-community called the "Mommune."

Today, we are talking with James Clarke. James is an omnistic UU who was raised as a skeptical Episcopalian in Connecticut. He aspires to be a heavy metal chaplain.

Today, we are talking with Sue Burke. Sue’s next science fiction novels are Dual Memory, coming in May 2023, and Usurpation in May 2024. She has also written the novels Semiosis, Interference, and Immunity Index, along with short stories, poems, and essays. She began working as a journalist while still in high school and eventually became a newspaper editor. As a result of living overseas, she’s also a literary translator, working from Spanish into English. She’s currently enjoying life in Chicago; she grew up in Milwaukee and has lived in Austin, TX, and Madrid, Spain.

Today, we are talking with Tere Parsley Starnes. Tere is a non-binary witch and astrologer. Their astrology is rooted in the cycles and wisdom of the Earth. It is queer, radical, and oriented towards being the change we want to see. For them, astrology is a tool for practicing mindful intention—a blend of self-awareness with a desire for change and manifestation. Tere has been a professional astrologer since 1995. They practice a modern form of astrology that they call Queer Hedge Witch Astrology—a pragmatic blend of liberatory, magical, archetypal, and psychological astrological practices. They use the Placidus house system. They are a writer and teacher, specializing in astrology and earth-based spirituality. The Reclaiming Tradition is one of their spiritual homes, blending reverence for the Earth with a responsibility for action.

Today we are talking with Ron Kanutski. Ron has Ojibway and Cree roots and is from the Bear Clan. He is  a band member of the Red Rock Indian Band (Lake Helen 1st Nation) with his grandmother’s roots from the Moose Cree Nation. As a family man, married for 24 years and with his wife's support and dedication has assisted in raising 25 children in addition to his own. He has been drug and alcohol free for 31 years which he feels has grounded him to be a better version of himself. Ron is a Confederation College Graduate: Native Child & Family Worker 1991 And a President’s Medal Recipient He is an energetic social worker, cultural teacher, group facilitator, college instructor, comedian, promoter, and musician who is a long-term resident of the Ogden East End community in Thunder Bay ON.  As the sole proprietor of With Care Consulting and Ron Kanutski Comedy he works diligently throughout Canada and the USA to wherever he is called which is currently NAN HOPE. He believes in the power of spirit and the importance of connection.

Today we are talking with Ruin Riggs. Ruin is an autistic, queer, nonbinary polytheist who is way into landback, housing justice, queer and trans rights, and labor organization.

Today, we are talking with Joel (Awe) Diamond. Awe is very actively retired.  He says the term re-tired also means "to put on new tires" and keep on rolling. Currently, he is a full time multicultural solidarity volunteer, he works part time in an undercover job, and has a gig protectively supervising a father whenever he sees his son. His past careers included being an elementary school teacher, a social worker mostly working with child abuse, and a probation officer mostly working with sex offenders. Awe was raised by 4 women. He is enthusiastic about Goddess spirituality, feminism, and anti racism. He has been married to Doris for 54 years, and they live a life with love love love and world travel.

Today, we are talking with Steve Smith. Steve is a dreamer and an explorer of ideas, whose eternal inner calling is to push the boundary at the edge of the "desert of the real" toward a vision of a brave and loving world. He completed the Diana's Grove Mystery School Rite of Passage program in 2008, and has worked with several groups to promote that tradition's ritual arts. His enthusiastic curiosity has provided a revolving door of pursuits over the years, but his lifelong loves of martial arts and video games has never left him. He teaches game development part-time at Johnson County Community College, squeezes in indie development when he can, and works as a research and development programmer for an engineering simulation company. He joyfully studies Chen taijiquan with Chen Huixian, and looks forward to the day when he can visit Chen village, the birthplace of taijiquan. He lives near Kansas City with his three cat-shaped marauders.