Orion Magazine Podcast

Author Glenis Redmond reads aloud from her poetic essay for Orion—“What Hangs on Trees”—about her struggle with memory and legacy in her southern homeland.

What do we need to build a better future? Authors Terry Tempest Williams, Sandra Steingraber, Carl Safina, and Simran Sethi discussed the state of environmentalism with Orion readers and friends and read from their essays in Orion's new book, Thirty-Year Plan.

Author Luis Urrea reads his latest Wastelander column—“Life on the Mississippi”—about drifting down the dirt alleys of southeast San Diego while dreaming of Tom Sawyer.

Orion editors Jennifer Sahn and Andrew Blechman discuss the September/October 2012 issue of Orion, including Sandra Steingraber’s essay about the fiftieth anniversary of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring; Sue Halpern’s interview with Vermont senator Bernie Sanders; Rick Bass’s ode to the larch; Matt Black’s haunting photo essay about a village in rural Mexico that has literally lost its moorings; and an excerpt from Barbara Kingsolver’s forthcoming novel.

Can our cities grow health? How about community, or justice? Orion welcomed Jennifer Cockrall-King (author of Food and the City: Urban Agriculture and the New Food Revolution) and urban farmers Jason Mark, Katherine Kelly, and Karen Washington to discuss the urban farming movement’s “principal crops,” which, as Rebecca Solnit says in her July/August 2012 Orion essay, "Revolutionary Plots," go far beyond broccoli.

In a far-ranging and oftentimes personal discussion, author David Sobel and Orion managing editor Andrew Blechman discuss the pedantic state of outdoor education, how it's turning children off to nature, and how to make it exciting again. Mud pies anyone?

Orion editors Jennifer Sahn, Hannah Fries, and Jason Houston discuss the July/August 2012 issue of Orion, including Orion's special anniversary project — Thirty-Year Plan — featuring thirty essays about what we need to build a better future; a photo essay about shamanism; a short story in which roadkill becomes a symbol for grief and healing; a reflective essay by Chris Dombrowski about fly fishing; an article by Rebecca Solnit about urban farming; and poetry, summer reading recommendations, and more.

The population of the United States, and that of many countries, is becoming more ethnically diverse every day. However, the environmental movement has had limited success bringing that diversity into its ranks, despite the fact that people of color greatly support environmental efforts. Orion hosted a roundtable discussion on how that reality can be reversed, with powerful implications for the movement as a whole. Featured guests included Marcelo Bonta of the Center for Diversity and the Environment, Ginny McGinn of the Center for Whole Communities, and Monica Smiley of Tualatin Riverkeepers.

James Gustave Speth, author of a two-part series in the magazine, "America the Possible: A Manifesto Part I" and "Part II," discusses his roadmap for a renewed America and answers listener questions.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Orion's Poetry Editor, Hannah Fries, is joined in a wide-ranging discussion of how the natural world informs verse by three writers who have published poems in Orion: Christian Wiman, editor of Poetry magazine, Maria Melendez, editor of Pilgrimage, and the celebrated author of thirteen books of poetry and prose, Pattiann Rogers.

Author James MacKinnon reads aloud from his latest essay for Orion -- "False Idyll" -- about the need to view nature for what it is versus through rose-colored glasses.

Author Luis Urrea reads his latest Wastelander column about the manifest destiny, the pull of the American West, and why all migrations should receive equal consideration and respect.

Orion editors Jennifer Sahn, Andrew Blechman, and Jason Houston discuss the May/June 2012 issue of Orion, including Craig Childs' piece titled The Rule of the Phoenix about the rise and fall and rise again of civilizations; the second installment in James Gustave Speth's two-part manifesto about envisioning a better future for America the Possible; Wendell Berry's poignant short story about the meaning of home; author James MacKinnon's sobering view of nature; and fascinating photos of food as viewed through a high-powered microscope.

Not even 1 percent of Americans' long-term savings are invested locally, largely because it's just not possible under the current system. But what would our towns look like if a larger fraction of this $30 trillion were in local economies? Local businesses account for half of the jobs and economic output in the U.S., so the effect could be important. During Orion's latest live web event, Michael Shuman, author of the new book Local Dollars, Local Sense, discussed innovative ways that citizens can improve their local economies while growing their own bank accounts.

What is the justice system for? Activists from the Occupy movement to climate justice camps are regularly made examples of by courts while bank and oil company executives avoid prosecution for real crimes. During Orion's latest live web event, Patrick Shea, a lawyer who defended climate justice activist Tim DeChristopher (see "What Love Looks Like" in the January/February 2012 issue of Orion), and Heidi Boghosian, director of the National Lawyers Guild, discussed what activists engaging in nonviolent protest can expect from the justice system.