It's A Question Of Balance with Ruth Copland

Discussing 'How Do We Balance Our Individual Needs With Being Good Citizens Of The Earth?' and Interviewing Lacy J Dalton 13 Nov 2013

On KSCO AM 1080, KOMY AM 1340, and KSCO.com Live Stream

HOUR 1: Talk With Listeners Calling In Live

How Do We Balance Our Individual Needs With Being Good Citizens Of The Earth? Have we become too self-centred in the way we interact with the Earth, animals, and those around us? How do we fulfil our own destiny whilst allowing others to do the same? Is it ever right to sacrifice the rights of the individual for the common good? Are there dangers in valuing the collective over the individual or local community? Are humans more important than anything else on Earth? Join the conversation!

HOUR 2: (Begins at 0:53) Interview with Country Music Treasure Lacy J Dalton

I interview Lacy J Dalton about her music, her new single Next To Me, and the cause so dear to Lacy's heart - protecting the wild horses of the American West and ensuring the humane treatment of horses in captivity. Lacy is one of the most instantly recognisable voices in music- the woman People magazine called "Country's Bonnie Raitt". From the first time Lacy J Dalton caught the public's ear, that soulful delivery, full of texture and grit, has been a mainstay of Country Music and latterly Americana. Lacy's always been a writer and an artist who loved music with a message and lyrics that somehow brought a new awareness to the listener. Her hit singles include million-airplay cuts such as Hard Times, Crazy Blue Eyes, Hillbilly Girl With The Blues, Takin' It Easy, Everybody Makes Mistakes, the worldwide hit Black Coffee and her signature song 16th Avenue. We play tracks from The Last Wild Place Anthology, talk about her passion for music and horses, and why she chose Next To Me as her latest single. You can get her Next To Me and The Last Wild Place Anthology at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LacyJDalton and get more info on Lacy J Dalton and her upcoming gigs at www.lacyjdalton.com

Discussing 'Is It Still A Man's World?' and Interviewing Helene Cardona 6 Nov 2013

On KSCO AM 1080 Santa Cruz and KSCO.com live stream

HOUR 1: Talk with Listeners Calling in Live

Is it still a man's world? Or are we stepping into a women's world? What about a 'partnership' world, where men and women work together as equals to solve the world's problems? Is might always right? Can men gain from increasing their feminine traits and women their male traits? What exactly are masculine and feminine traits? Having been suppressed for thousands of years are women finally coming fully into their own? Or is the uphill battle still in progress? Join the conversation!

HOUR 2: (Begins at 0:54 mins) Interview with Actress, Linguist, and Poet Helene Cardona

I interview Helene Cardona about her life, work, and recent appearance in the film Femme: Women Healing The World produced by Sharon Stone. Born in Paris and raised all over Europe, Helene is fluent in six languages and attended Hamilton College, University of Cantabria, the Sorbonne, and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Film credits include Chocolat, The Muppets, Serendipity, Red 2, Mumford, and Happy Feet and TV credits Law & Order, The New Adventures of Robin Hood, Campbell Scott's Final, and many more. Her beautiful poetry appears in her books Dreaming My Animal Selves, The Astonished Universe and the forthcoming Life In Suspension. Helene also reads some of her poems live on the show for us. To learn more about her check out www.helenecardona.com

Discussing 'What Values Do We Share That Make Us American?' and Interviewing Tyler Stenson 30 Oct 2013

On KSCO AM 1080 Santa Cruz and KSCO.com live stream

HOUR 1: Talk with listeners calling in live

What values do we share that make us 'American'?

Americans are a union of otherwise unrelated "natives". We make and remake ourselves all the time. The parts that make up America are individual men and women, making the United States truly an association of citizens. Our people are Americans simply by virtue of coming together, retaining to lesser or greater degrees remembrances of our origins. We are many in one, yet we stand together as one because of your values. What values make an 'American'? Join the discussion!

HOUR 2: (Begins at 0:53 mins) Interview with American Singer-songwriter Tyler Stenson

I talk to Tyler Stenson about what being 'American' means to him and how it has informed his songwriting, and play tracks handpicked by Tyler. Stenson took time out from his busy music schedule to appear on the show, including recently opening for LeAnn Rimes who tweeted after the show "You make some great music friend. I love your voice". Known as a singer-songwriter of elegant folk he has twice been named Songwriter of the Year by the Portland Songwriters Association and Best Male Artist at the 2011 Portland Music Awards. He has played shows all over America and had songs appear in National advertising campaigns and TV shows. For more information on this amazing artist go to www.tylerstenson.com

Discussing 'Is There Something Wrong With A World In Which Everything Is For Sale?' and Interviewing Michael Marshall Smith 10 Oct 2013

ON KSCO AM 1080 Santa Cruz and www.KSCO.com

Hour 1: Talk with listeners calling in live

Is there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? Across America money is being used to incentivise and define our lives in ways undreamt of 30 years ago. From having a free market economy we have become a free market society, with money defining the way we think about everything. Do we want to live this way? Putting a price on the good things in life can corrupt them by changing our attitudes towards these goods and how we value them. But should we be free to buy and sell whatever we choose? Or are there some things money can't honour and should not buy? Join the conversation

Hour 2: Interview with Michael Marshall Smith (begins at 54 mins)

I talk to New York Times best selling (and Sunday Times best selling) author Michael Marshall Smith about his 20+ year career and latest novel available in the US, Killer Move. Born in Britain, Michael spent some of his childhood in America and has lived in Santa Cruz, CA for 2 years. Michael writes dark suspense fiction with a hint of the supernatural. He is the winner of the Philip K Dick Award, the August Derleth Award for best novel, six British fantasy awards and the only author ever to win the BFS Award for Short Story four times. Stephen King referred to his Straw Men trilogy as a "masterpiece". His novel Spares was optioned by Stephen Spielberg's Dreamworks and his supernatural thriller The Intruders is currently optioned for TV by BBC Worldwide. www.michaelmarshallsmith.com