Shows
Bar Crawl RadioTalking About THE AMERICAN-pt.4: Dear on Merton on ViolenceFor this BCR series I have been asking American peacemakers: “What are we talking about when we talk about ‘The American’?”This program looks to a Jesuit priest and peacemaker Thomas Merton. At the end of “The Root of War” published in The Catholic Worker in 1962 – Thomas Merton wrote – “The first job of all is to understand the psychological forces at work in ourselves and in society.” That in a nutshell is the purpose of my conversations with American peacemakers.Merton’s autobiography -- “The Seven Storey Mountain” -- is about “a young man who led a full and worldly life an...2025-01-171h 01
Bar Crawl RadioTalking About THE AMERICAN pt. 3: How'd we do w/AIDS?This is the third in the BCR series "Talking About The American" -- We are asking American peacemakers to try to explain how they see the qualities of our countrymen. This episode – How’d we do with AIDS?I was in Syracuse for a Veterans for Peace pro-Palestine rally at the James M. Hanley Federal Building. Before the rally I had breakfast with Christian Caurla – an Italian journalist – at the home of Michael Desalvo -- where he and his partner Nick Orth – have provided home-based care for people with AIDS since October 1992. That morning -- Michael serve...2025-01-1028 min
Bar Crawl RadioTalking About THE AMERICAN pt. 2: Brad Wolf on Philip BerriganThis BCR Podcast series will be asking American peace activists a question borrowed from Raymond Carver:“What are we talking about when we talk about ‘The American’ ?”This episode looks at an anti-Vietnam War, anti-nuclear peace activist, longtime incarcerated American criminal – and Catholic priest – Philip Berrigan. Brad Wolf joined me via Zoom to help. Recently, Brad edited a collection of Berrigan’s writings, entitled -- “A Ministry of Risk”. Brad is a former lawyer, persecutor, professor and community college dean and is the executive director and co-founder of Peace Action Network of Lancaster PA. and he organized the "M...2024-12-271h 01
Bar Crawl RadioTalking About THE AMERICAN pt. 1: Burying Gaza BabiesTALKING ABOUT "THE AMERICANS": BURYING GAZA BABIESOn December 9, 2024 -- I talked with several of the nearly 50 protestors holding a mock funeral on a plot of grass at the front of the Syracuse Federal Building. It was a rainy and cold morning as several peacemakers neatly ripped away the grass and created a shallow oblong hole into which a half dozen babies in the form of bloodied pillows were placed. An oversized tombstone stood at one end of the "grave." Homeland Security officers arrested three of the "grave diggers" who were given citations and released. The action...2024-12-2324 min
Bar Crawl RadioComposer's Concordance: Contemporary Music ExplosionOnce again -- recording on the porch of Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar located in Manhattan's Upper West Side -- BCR hosts Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson talk with the four composers and performers and leaders of Composer's Concordance about "contemporary [classic] music." This music movement has been described by the New York Times as “unpredictable … irreverent …and ingenious.” For over four decades Composer's Concordance has presented concerts in all sorts of New York City area venues of inventive experimental music.Gene Pritsker -- Milica Paranosic – Peter Jarvis – and Seth Boustead -- talk about the history of the organization...2024-11-0857 min
Bar Crawl RadioOught to Give Iowa a Try: Hot Air BrewingJuly, 2024. BCR visited the Hot Air Brewing in Creston, Iowa this summer. It is a bastion of liberality and acceptance. We were in Iowa to visit our friends Brian Terrell and Betsy Kennan of the "Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm," in Malloy, IA -- about 30 miles south of Creston; Betsy and Brian introduced us to Iowan's Katie Davidson and Ryan Fuller. When we talked with her, Katie owned the Hot Air Brewery and Ryan is a farmer with his husband and performs drag as "Cherry Peaks."We wanted to get a sense of what life is...2024-09-2951 min
Bar Crawl Radio26th Kateri Peace Conference: A Panel on War.The 26th Kateri Peace Conference held in Fonda, NY in mid-September, 2024 was entitled “What’s Love Got to do with it?” The outcome of peace activism is the end of always-war. If, indeed, we are all connected on this minuscule green spot in a vast universe – if we are sisters and brothers who care for each other – why do we choose to kill each other in horrific and massive ways? Bar Crawl Radio hosts -- Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson -- moderated the Friday evening panel with Ann Wright, Brian Terrell, Brad Wolf, and Vera Anderson. The panel fo...2024-09-191h 02
Bar Crawl RadioMelissa Bramble on the St. Kateri National Shrine and Historic SiteMid-September. BCR moderated the 26th Kateri Peace Conference panel with anti-war and anti-nuclear deterrence activists. We took that opportunity to talk with Melissa Bramble the Director of Operations of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda NY.Rebecca McKean asked Melissa about the history of St. Kateri and the Shrine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-09-1922 min
Bar Crawl RadioHarris OR Trump? Report from Mexico & ScotlandBCR podcast traveled to Mexico and Scotland in August and asked what citizens of the world were feeling about the U.S. Presidential election. Nearly everyone I met was aware of the election and had significant and personal feelings about "Americans" and their limited choice for leadership. I talked with people from Puerta Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Edinburgh, and Aberfeldy -- tourists, a waiter, a van driver, teens from Belfast, couple of cooks, a photographer and painter, a teacher, an airline worker, Cambridge students, tour guides, Edinburgh Fringe Festival workers and artists, and the Fringe Financial Manager. Let...2024-09-0656 min
Bar Crawl RadioWalk Thru Maloy Iowa with Brian TerrellMid July, this year -- 2024 – Rebecca McKean and I flew into Chicago and then drove to Maloy Iowa – a few miles north of the Missouri border.We passed Joliet – Dekalk – Moline – Iowa City – Cedar Rapids - Ottunwa - Mt Ayr – then – Maloy, Iowa.At one time – not so long ago – Maloy had a small population. Its buildings remain: A medium sized Catholic Church – small Post Office – General Store – Dance Hall – City Hall. Now it is mostly empty – a husk of a town surrounded by massive corn fields.Becky and I were visiting two Catholic Worker friends who had be...2024-07-2543 min
Bar Crawl RadioLa Manga @ West Side Community Garden - Full Concert - June 2024A full length presentation of a performance by La Manga in the West Side Community Garden in June 2024. For a conversation with La Manga founder, Daniela Serna, go to BCR #230.Alan Winsonbarcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-06-141h 03
Bar Crawl RadioDavid Andersson of Pressenza @ the WSCGFor the fourth time this summer Bar Crawl Radio podcast is not at a bar. But we are continuing to have conversations with neighbors doing positive work for their community. We will be talking with a citizen journalists who works in the field of peace activism and whose writing is published in Pressenza – an international news agency pushing ideas of peace, non-violence, and human rightsFor this BCR recording we were ensconced in our mobile studio in the southeast corner of the West Side Community Garden observing Upper West Siders choose their favorite spots to listen to La M...2024-06-1442 min
Bar Crawl RadioWalking for Peace in Inwood ParkFor this BCR conversation we were not at a bar having a conversation with people working positively for their communities – but at Inwood Park – in upper Manhattan – former home of the Lenape People. Catholic Worker, Anthony Donovan, opens this program as he talks to a group of about 20 people who had joined the Veteran's for Peace "2024 Peace Walk" -- for the day. The VFP Walk started in Ogunquit Maine on May 5th and will arrive in Washington, DC July 5th – a nearly 600 mile trek. Some walk for a day – others longer – and one former military person has walked nearly the entire le...2024-06-0729 min
Bar Crawl RadioChance & Choice @ the West Side Community GardenFor this BCR conversation at the West Side Community Garden we investigated the stories of two ladies--one affected by chance--the other by choice. The first story is about a chance phone call that led to instant and fleeting fame – and the other -- a choice to help recently arrived neighbors which will lead to – what?Rebecca McKean and I were set-up in the southeast corner of the West Side Community Garden. As our UWS neighbors sought their favorite spots to listen to the Cassatt String Quartet, we talked with Marilyn O’Day – a high school junior who started...2024-06-0741 min
Bar Crawl RadioKumara @the West Side Community Garden ConcertKumara is a uniquely global trio of musicians who create a synthesis of sound that is unique and beautifully inspiring across and within cultures and communities. I spoke with Samite who plays African Harps and the Kalimba and Shem Guibbory, a classical violinist the day before the WSCG concert. Guitarist Sean Harkness couldn’t make it; he was in a recording studio.This program presents the entire Kumara performance at the West Side Community Garden Concert on Sunday, May 26, 2024.Alan WinsonCONTACT: barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...2024-05-291h 04
Bar Crawl RadioStop the Chop & Kumara @ WSCGIt was another post COVID, pre climate catastrophe Sunday on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Rebecca McKean and I – Alan Winson – co-hosts of BCR podcast – had erected our sound studio in the southwest corner of the West Side Community Garden and waited for our guests. Stop the Chop has worked to rid our city of those pesky, rotor-whirling metal blobs that spew noise and GHG pollution for no positive reason. We spoke with Melissa Elstein and Ken Couglin, leaders of Stop the Chop. and we were oined by Adrian Benepe--NYC Parks Commissioner from 2002 - 2012. Hosted on Acast. See aca...2024-05-2945 min
Bar Crawl Radio"The Keeper": Film about suicide in the U.S. militaryThis BCR conversation talks about suicide in the U.S military. A growing statistic: Women and men who had dedicated their lives and minds to the most destructive military ever – are killing themselves at increasing rates. I spoke with Angus Benfield – an Australian actor – now working in the U,S, -- about his newest feature film – "The Keeper" which he stars in, produced, and co-directed. “The Keeper” is a true story about George Eshleman an artillery officer who participated in Desert Storm. Years after his time in Iraq, he was hit with lingering PTSD and considered sui...2024-05-2746 min
Bar Crawl RadioJody Sperling & Kaoru Watanabe @ WSCGKaoru Watanabe was the featured music artist of the first summer concert in the West Side Community of 2024. Rebecca and I got to the Garden early and set up our portable studio in a corner alcove to talk with Jody Sperling -- dancer and choreographer -- and the Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance which explores environmental performance forms. Also, Jody is the Eco-Artist in Residence at the New York Society of Ethical Culture. We talked about her artistic work to raise emotions about the climate disaster impinging on our wonderful world. And she told us about the upcoming T...2024-05-2345 min
Bar Crawl RadioEllen Jovin: "Rebel with a Clause"This is the first "Park Bench Chat" of the 2024 Summer Season – a production of Bar Crawl Radio. During the warming days of spring and summer, Rebecca and I sit at our favorite park bench in the “You’ve Got Mail” garden in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side and talk with our neighbors. Today’s topic--“grammar.” Ellen Jovin is a self-proclaimed “grammar nerd.” She has degrees from Harvard and UCLA in language-related subjects and has studied bunches of languages because she lives in NYC -- a multi-verse of languages. Ellen is a cofounder of Syntaxis, a communication skills training firm...2024-05-2049 min
Bar Crawl RadioLove Your Street Tree Day -- Spring, 2024The majestic trees in front of Goddard Riverside on the Upper West Side of Manhattan were blushing brightly as the community gathered to learn about and spruce up the beds of our leafy neighbors for the seventh annual “Love Your Street Tree Day” – May 7th 2024. Rebecca and I learned a lot about our urban forest and how to take care of our barked friends – not our barking friends. Which reminds me -- "Don’t piss on our street tree" signs were passed out to our UWS neighbors -- along with buckets of mulch -- and donuts – and coffee.Th...2024-05-1447 min
Bar Crawl Radio"I Am Gitmo": A conversation with film director Philippe DiazPHILIPPE DIAZ is a film director – producer – and promoter of “intelligent films.” Born in Paris France, he studied philosophy at the Sorbonne. Since 1980 he has produced and distributed international films by auteur directors for world audiences. Diaz has directed both documentary and feature narrative films on political, economic and social issues. In 2003, Diaz and his team created Cinema Libre Studios -- producing and distributing socially relevant independent narrative and documentary films. The director was in Manhattan to promote his newest narrative film – “I Am Gitmo” -- premiering at the Cinema Villag...2024-05-0544 min
Bar Crawl RadioVoices of the "Sacred Peace Walk" 2024Rebecca McKean and I walked during Easter week 2024 in the desert north of Las Vegas to the Nevada Nuclear Bomb Test Site– with a community of people who know about the imminent danger of a targeted and ready-to-go American nuclear arsenal. This BCR podcast will not counter the insanity of the deterrence argument – rather here are a few of the people who walked to the white line at the entrance to the most bombed place in the world – run by the U.S. Department of Energy and protected by the U.S military When you are awar...2024-04-121h 07
Bar Crawl RadioWe Are Guantánamo: U.S. Courts are Surreal w/Gabor RonaThis is a must listen conversation with Gabor Rona -- Law Professor at Cardozo Law School – and in the past served as the International Legal Director of Human Rights First. For over 20 years our government has imprisoned 100s of innocent Muslim men in the Guantanamo Prison and tortured them repeatedly for no good reason – and now cannot try them because they were tortured and cannot release them because they are not allowed on US soil, and it is not clear what other countries would do to them – and they are getting old and have been physically and mentally traumatized – and all in...2024-03-1534 min
Bar Crawl RadioWe Are Guantánamo: 7 Voices“We Are Guantanamo” – in other words – you and I -- all of us identifying as "American" are complicit – and insofar as the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp remains an active US military and illegal entity – it belongs to us.Since 2002, the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp has held 779 Muslim men accused of attacking the US on September 11 2001. Nearly all were innocent. 740 have been transferred someplace – 30 remain – 9 died there.I have been speaking with seven people who have tried to close Guantánamo since 2004. My conversation with Gabor Rona – former Legal Director of Human Rights First – will post next week. The...2024-03-0842 min
Bar Crawl RadioLibraries/Radically Open Spaces: Emily Drabinski & Lauren ComitoFor this BCR program, we talked about that age-old American tradition – book burning – or more precisely – thought control. Our guests were two brave librarians – practicing a profession that is at the core of any effective democracy. Emily Drabinski heads-up the American Library Association [ALA] and Lauren Comito leads Urban Librarians Unite [ULU]. According to ALA findings efforts to ban books in this country are growing at a high rate and the groups engaged in this activity probably do not have children. Librarians and authors fight back, but it is an exhausting struggle. Lauren Comito talked about how the ULU k...2024-03-0153 min
Bar Crawl RadioTwo Jewish IsraelisFor this BCR program, we spoke with two Jewish Israeli's. Nahum Schnitzer is my cousin. Ariella Dubrowin is my cousin once removed. Both have raised their families in Israel, Nahum -- 40 years – Ariella – 20. The conflict in Gaza has encased their world in ways that neither I – nor most of you listening to this podcast – can fully get. Ariella wrote me about a month ago. She was troubled about a recent program I posted – "I want to say Kaddish" – which presented both the intense protests in the US against the actions of the IDF in Gaza and the general obliviousness of winter-break...2024-02-161h 05
Bar Crawl RadioAI & Human HealthThis BCR conversation may seem complex but its also simple – and – will possibly end human existence. If your physician can access all of your medical records, she will do a better job. And if generative AI knows all about the health of every human -- what then?We talked with two experts developing the power of Artificial Intelligence to keep us healthy. Dr. Mark Braunstein is the guru of FHIR -- not a misspelling -- an acronym for Fast Healthcare interoperability Resources – a technology helping physicians to access everything about our medical history and condition, easy and fast. M...2023-12-2359 min
Bar Crawl RadioAnti-Nuclear Gadflies: Martha Hennessy & Brian TerrellLate November, 2023 -- John C. Wester -- Archbishop of Sante Fe -- spoke at the Church of Our Savior at E. 38th Street and Park Avenue. About 200 were gathered to honor the 43rd anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day – and – to consider the abolition of nuclear weapons. At the United Nations that week the countries that signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons were meeting. The United States was not one of them.The day after Archbishop Wester spoke – I met with two people who have dedicated their lives to peace in our world -- Brian...2023-12-151h 00
Bar Crawl RadioSustainable Banking: Amalgamated Bank & Ivan FrishbergWhat is a bank?What is a bank for?Can a bank fight evil and right wrongs?Or is a bank no more than a profit-seeking shark working for its investors?Or - both?For this BCR program we had a conversation about a little bank that could … that is, could make our lives better through responsible investments. We invited Ivan Frishberg -- Senior Vice President Chief Sustainability Officer of Amalgamated Bank – to 5Napkin Burger Bar and Restaurant to talk about how he is leading his bank and our world...2023-12-0838 min
Bar Crawl RadioThree Women ComposersAccording to Britannica, a musical composition is the art of conceiving and creating music. I love to sing, and I very much enjoy listening to music. That part I get, but to compose music, to pick out the notes, the instruments… I’m completely at a loss. Fortunately, we have three women composers with us today who will explain what it means to be a female composer in today’s music world.For this BCR program, we spoke with Svjetlana Bukvich, best known for her blending of classical music, media and electronic music. Sarajevo-born and NYC-based...2023-11-1751 min
Bar Crawl RadioEleanor Roosevelt's Trip to the Pacific WarWe are looking forward to sharing a conversation about a great American -- Eleanor Roosevelt. Shannon McKenna Schmidt has focused her literary work on travel. She has written for National Geograpic, Traveler, Nashville Public Television and Arrive magazine – and has appeared on Morning Joe and The Travel Show with Arthur and Pauline Frommer. We spoke to Ms. Schmidt about her most recent book “The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back.” American and architectural historian Deborah Gardner has worked with the Municipal Arts Society for landmark preservation and has written articles...2023-11-0346 min
Bar Crawl RadioNYC's Natural WatersBCR likes NYC and our like has grown since we learned about NYCH2O. For this program we talked with the founder and leader of NYCH2O – Matthew Malina. Matt works to educate New Yorkers about their city’s local water ecology – in order protect our natural water resources -- and with Peter Frishauf -- founder of Medscape – but for today – more importantly – Peter is an UWS community leader who works to make life in your neighborhood lively, diverse, and safe for all its citizens. We also spoke with Sophie Barno who guided us on a most wondrous walk...2023-10-2044 min
Bar Crawl Radio25th Kateri Peace ConferenceRebecca McKean and I drove to Fonda, NY for the 25th Annual Kateri Peace Conference. We spoke with several major players in the contemporary "no war" peace movement in the United States -- who are working to help the rest of us see the insanity of war and its link to the climate disaster. The voices on this program include the following: Maureen Aumond, John Amidon, David Swanson, Gloria Caballero, Nick Mottern, and Debra Sweet. And thanks to Lew Tabackin for allowing us to us his composition "Garden at Life Time" to introduce the show.Alan Winson2023-09-151h 03
Bar Crawl RadioDrag On! Art and PoliticsBecky and I went on a tempestuous drag race at Gebhard’s Beer Culture Bar as we dug down into Drag culture with two young NYC Drag Queens following their command performance for an Open Streets event. We talked with Drag artists Ann Arky and Vampy Von Thickums Galore who had recently performed at the International Drag Queen Celebration on West !03rd Street organized by Park to Park 103 and Open Streets. Before talking to our guest performers we spoke with Bella Gallo a coordinator of the event.Alan Winson Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...2023-09-1049 min
Bar Crawl RadioForgetting Horror: 78 Years After Hiroshima & NagasakiI do not like roller coasters. For me -- the anticipated terror proceeding the drop along with the stomach-churning loss of gravity is not thrilling fun; it is just TERROR!Nevertheless, the roller coaster is a summer-fun staple for many of us. Another stomach-churning staple for fewer Americans is the memory of the United States Air Force dropping two atomic bombs on Japanese cities at the end of World War II. In fact, for many Americans, this was a good thing as it brought the war to an end faster -- despite ending the lives of over 200,000...2023-08-1433 min
Bar Crawl RadioAlice Slater: Ridding the World of Nuclear WeaponsRebecca McKean and I visited Alice Slater in her Upper East Side apartment. Since 1968, Ms. Slater has been an anti-war activist and since 1987 an anti-nuclear bomb protestor. As a young mother she helped organize Eugene McCarthy’s presidential campaign working to end the war in Viet Nam and then got a law degree. Alice is the United Nations NGO Representative of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and is on the Board of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, the Global Council of Abolition 2000, and the Advisory Board of Nuclear Ban-US which supports the mission of the I...2023-08-0435 min
Bar Crawl RadioMozayik @WSCGOne of our regular gigs is the West Side Community Garden Summer Concerts. The final offering of 2023 featured the luscious sounds of Afro-Haitian Jazz performed by Mozayik – led by drummer Gashford Guillaume – who has performed with Haitian superstars -- Emeline Michel and Beethova Obas. And at festivals in Amsterdam, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, St, Lucia, Martinique and many cities around the U.S.In 2000 Gashford and others started “Mozayik” – which is committed to the Haitian jazz genre. I sat down with Gashford – about a week after the concert to talk about Haitian Jazz and its link to the Haitian c...2023-07-0737 min
Bar Crawl RadioStop the Chop & Geoff Burke's Jazz/HipHop @ WSCGA program of good sounds -- mix of classic jazz and hip hop beats -- and noise -- nonessential helicopters circling our City. We talked with leaders of Stop the Chop -- Melissa Elstein and Ken Counghlin -- working to end the incessant noise of private helicopters hovering over our heads.And we caught up with a former BCR guest -- jazz saxophonist Geoff Burke -- and learned about his unique synthesis of classic jazz and hip hop beats. and shared some of the music from the June 2023 concert at the West Side Community Garden on the...2023-06-0946 min
Bar Crawl RadioGolden Rule Sails Against Nuclear WarIn the spring of 1958 – the Golden Rule -- a 30 foot skiff crewed by four -- sailed towards the Marshall Islands where the U.S. military was testing atomic bombs. Their plan was to anchor their tiny boat in the waters close to the Bikini and Enewetak Atolls -- in order to stop the atomic testing.Over six decades later a restored “Golden Rule” sailed up the Hudson River and moored at Chelsea Pier. It was Fleet Week and the skiff's message of nuclear disarmament was displayed on its mizzen mast.For this program I biked over to...2023-06-0228 min
Bar Crawl RadioMicroAid's John Ross at WSCG Summer Concert & Lew Tabackin Jazz TrioMay 21, 2023 - 6pm. West Side Community GardenIt was a delightful evening in the West Side Community Garden in Manhattan. The Bar Crawl Radio audio wagon was set up on the grass in front of the stage in the garden – as neighbors secured a chair or wooden planter ledge to listen to the Lew Tabackin Jazz Trio. Tenor saxophone and flute musician -- Mr Tabackin has been playing these summer concerts for many years. Jon Ross -- founder and director of MicroAid International -- joined us for a pre-concert warm-up conversation. We had ta...2023-05-2639 min
Bar Crawl RadioThe Pain of Suicide: A Global EpidemicRecently – David Brooks of the New York Times – wrote about the suicide of his close friend—Pete—and the feelings that followed. Brooks writes that experiencing the suicide of someone close “is not just sorrow; it is a state of consciousness that distorts perceptions of time, space and self.”In 2015, there were over 44,000 suicides in America – the 10th most common cause of death and rising – I million attempt suicide each year – one every 35 seconds. In the world some kills himself – herself every 40 seconds.Robert Altman's "Mash" [1970] was wrong -- suicide is not painless – it is a health issue that ne...2023-05-191h 01
Bar Crawl RadioDesert Walk #4: Day Three -- It Snows in the DesertRested from our walk thru Las Vegas, the day before, the Sacred Peace Walkers headed out of the Nevada Desert Experience compound for the walk in the desert -- north of the city. I went with Darcy Ike -- who I had spoken with the day before at the MLK statue in Las Vegas -- in his weather-beaten, gear shift sedan to the starting point at Kyle Canyon on Highway 157 several miles north of Las Vegas.We followed the Porto Potty trailer for a while -- but then Darcy said he knew better way --Wh...2023-05-0627 min
Bar Crawl RadioDesert Walk #2: Day One--At the NDEDay One of the Nevada Desert Experience’s “Sacred Peace Walk" -- Saturday April 1, 2023. Walkers were gathering from all around the Unites States at the NDE compound – a former military barracks – bought by the local Franciscan and Catholic Worker community – then given to the NDE in 1982 as a center protestors of the nuclear testing taking place on Western Shoshone land on the Nevada Proving Grounds to the north. The NDE compound consists of three single floor houses, surrounding a central garden patio. I used the day to meet the Peace Walkers.Alan Winson – BCR Producer Hos...2023-05-0428 min
Bar Crawl RadioDesert Walk #1: Las Vegas's Atomic MuseumTowards the end of World War II – my country detonated atomic bombs over Japanese cities, immediately killing thousands of civilians and thousand more soon after and maiming thousands for the rest of their lives. I was born in 1949 -- My generation was taught that this military action was required to end the war – And I bought it --Since 1945, our world has filled with more powerful atom bombs – -- in the hope that the threat of mutual destruction will dissuade their usage.So far – besides Nagasaki and Hiroshima – we have been lucky – but for how long...2023-04-2844 min
Bar Crawl RadioPower of Two Ugandan WomenEarly in the summer of 2022, my Bar Crawl Radio host – Rebecca McKean -- and I travelled with our grandson -- Jackson Castro -- to the family farm of Martha Hennessy – granddaughter of the founder of the Catholic Worker – Dorothy Day. While there, Martha told me of the work of a Catholic priest – Father Philip Gbao -- and suggested we produce a BCR program on his work with African students. Listen to that conversation with Father Philip in BCR #175. For this BCR program, we spoke with two of Father Philip's students about their professional goals and dreams to r...2022-12-1723 min
Bar Crawl RadioSI Ferry Named "Dorothy Day""How rich we are, we who profess voluntary poverty as a foundation for our work as agitators, to be able to take a ferry ride and be, within an hour, in [Staten Island] a rural area which is still part of New York City ... my conversion took place here." Dorothy Day's journal - Summer 1977.November 4, 2022 the newest Staten Island Ferry was commissioned "Dorothy Day." I traveled out to the event and spoke to those there to honor the event.Alan Winson -- BCR Co-host Hosted on Acast. See acast...2022-11-1139 min
Bar Crawl RadioTeaching American HistoryJames Baldwin argued that unlike Europeans, Americans do not know who they are. In "Stranger in Paris," Baldwin argued that the French know who they are—ethnically, historically. But Americans are confused. He writes -- we know one when we see one, but cannot name what we have in common. The idea of “America” is formed in our precollege American History classes. But as Joseph Moreau argues – “Writing history is always political -- always reflects the relationships of power in the society.” For this BCR episode, hosts Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson, talked with American Historian, Joseph Moreau, author of “School Book Nat...2022-11-0455 min
Bar Crawl RadioRonald Guttman in Camus' "The Fall"BCR hosts Rebecca and Alan spoke with actor Ronald Guttman after his one-actor performance in the play based on Camus' The Fall" at the Soho Playhouse bar. Matt -- the bartender -- talks about The Huron Club Bar [THC] -- which was also the set for the play and former speakeasy and brothel for Tammany Hall. THC Bar is an appropriate setting for Camus' final work -- "The Fall" (1956) -- which takes place at a "sailor's bar" in Amsterdam named renamed "Mexico City." Mr. Guttman talks about being up-close-and-personal with his audience as he roams through the audience as...2022-10-3021 min
Bar Crawl RadioSamantha Majic: Sex Work as WorkA few months ago, Rebecca McKean and I spoke with India Thusi about her study of the interaction of sex workers and the police in Johannesburg, South Africa. That conversation explored the current state of prostitution – and -- our attitudes and feelings about sexual intercourse as work. For this BCR conversation, we sat down at one of favorite bars with Dr. Samantha Majic – a professor in Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Prof. Majic studies the links between gender and American politics. We asked her about her 2014 book -- Sex Work Politics: From Protest to Service Provis...2022-07-2941 min
Bar Crawl RadioDouglas Hostetter: TET - CIA assassination attempt - Ending warDouglas Hostetter – Mennonite and Conscientious Objector -- served in the middle of a hot zone during the VietNam War supporting the people who lived there. His is an amazing story. Rebecca McKean and I spoke with Mr Hostetter at Gebhard’s Beer Culture Bar in Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Juneteenth and Father’s day, 2022. We will post our conversation with Douglas in two parts. In the second part of our conversation, Douglas Hostetter describes his daily activities in and around the Tam Ky battle zone during the Viet Nam War – his interaction with the American Marines and...2022-07-1546 min
Bar Crawl RadioDouglas Hostetter: C.O. at WarDouglas Hostetter – Mennonite and Conscientious Objector [CO] -- served in the middle of a hot zone during the VietNam War supporting the people who lived there. His is an amazing story. Rebecca McKean and I spoke with Mr Hostetter at Gebhard’s Beer Culture Bar in Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Juneteenth and Father’s day, 2022. We will post our conversation with Douglas in two parts. This is part one: During the Viet Nam War from 1966 – 1969 -- rather than carrying a gun, Douglas Hostetter organized literacy classes for Vietnamese children and craft training for his neighbors. Rather than the relative...2022-07-0849 min
Bar Crawl RadioScott Munson QuintetRebecca McKean and I were out on a delightfully comfortable summer eve in the West Side Community Garden to listen to the jazz compositions of Scott Munson -- vibraphonist -- performed by his quintet: Dmitri Kolesnik on bass / Scott Neumann on drums / Joe Magnarelli on trumpet / Emma Larsson singing. Before the concert we talked about informal T-shirt wear and straight thighs, messed-up signs, Yankee Stadium, bugs, and the Upper West Side. After the concert we talked with Scott about his career as a performer and a composer. Alan Winson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...2022-07-0143 min
Bar Crawl RadioArgentinian Musical Journey with Federico Diaz & Juana LunaRebecca McKean and I – Alan Winson – were out on a late Sunday summer afternoon at the West Side Community Garden on the UWS of Manhattan -- waiting to take a musical tour through Argentina with guitarist Frederico Diaz and vocalist Juana Luna. And we will talked to these two amazing artists after the concert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-06-2442 min
Bar Crawl RadioSweet Plantain & Super Powers @WSCGRebecca Mckean and I were out on a late Sunday afternoon in June at the West Side Community Garden on the Upper West Side of Manhattan -- waiting to listen to Sweet Plantain – a string quartet -- with occasional trombone and mandalino – playing “a complex mix of Latin American music that artfully fuses western classical traditions” – according to the program. The mic was open to talk with our neighbors about their super powers. After the concert we spoke with Eddie Venegas leader of Sweet Plantain.So imagine this – the band is a bit late due to traffic and a l...2022-06-1050 min
Bar Crawl RadioWSCG Summer Concert - Inti and the MoonBack at the West Side Community Garden -- between W. 89th and 90th Streets – Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues -- and we opened this Bar Crawl Radio podcast with the sounds of "Inti and the Moon" – an Andean / Latin / World Fusion band. It was the second concert of the 2022 summer series in the Garden – organized by Randa Kirschbaum. Rebecca McKean and I were out on a beautiful late spring afternoon to settle an argument about whether it is rude to point – AND – to enjoy some delightful music. At the end of the recording, I talked with Geo Suquillo – founder and le...2022-06-0337 min
Bar Crawl RadioBest Teachers & Jazz at the WSCGRebecca and I arrived early to The West Side Community Garden -- a verdant neighborhood oasis – to record the jazz offerings of Sabu Adeyola's Spiritual Reunion Band and to talk to its leader about his career and memories of his teacher Charles Mingus. By the end of the concert Randa Kirshbaum who produces these summer musical repasts -- renamed the band "Miracle" because halfway through the concert Mr. Adeyola’s bass collapsed – well the bridge of his bass collapsed. And since this is the UWS, there was a professional bass player in the audience who ran up to the stage a...2022-05-2741 min
Bar Crawl RadioPlowshares : Nuclear War : Ukraine : Peace?Catholic Workers – students of peace activism – knowers of Father Berrigan and the Plowshares movement – are already aware that this week was the fourth anniversary of the Kings Bay Plowshares action protesting the U.S. military’s nuclear stockpile. It is also the week that Martin Luther King was assassinated, over three decades ago. Less than a year before he was murdered, Dr. King addressed the National Conference of New Politics and argued that the American society was spoiled by 3 evils – Racism, Materialism and Militarism.Three Evils of Society: Racism, Materialism, and MilitarismThis week -- sitting on the e...2022-04-0852 min
Bar Crawl RadioEscaping UkraineFor this BCR episode, we were privileged to talk with a woman who a few days prior to the recording escaped the war in Ukraine. I teach at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and recently one of my students missed several classes. This was unusual as Mishelle is the sort of student any teacher would welcome – attentive – actively participating – interested in most topics I bring up – and always prepared. In one class -- I had noted a sticker on the back of her laptop -- "F*** Putin" -- and she shared with the class her concerns with what was happe...2022-04-0534 min
Bar Crawl RadioUkrainians in NYCBCR co-hosts Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson and producer. Alina Larson spoke with Ukrainians living, working and protesting in NYC. Andrew Fessak is the president of the Board of Trustees of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Volodymyr located on Manhattan's Upper West Side; Sam and Natasha are owners of the Blintz Box located in the underground Turnstyle Market next to the 59th Street subway station; Aleksandra Pryymak is a yoga instructor at a local Montessori school and a former Soviet athlete. Alina Larson spoke with several Ukrainian and Russian New Yorkers at the March 5, 2022 rally in Times Square protesting...2022-04-0154 min
Bar Crawl RadioPandemic Start-Ups: Kekoa Baby Foods & Sourdough GambitBCR is back podcasting at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We talked with brave people who decided to start a new business during a pandemic – Dan Auld and David Fullner of Kekoa Foods – making forward thinking and tasty natural baby foods. And Adam Simon – a grand master – maybe not at chess – but bread making. He recently started Sourdough Gambit supplying UWS residents with amazing artisanal breads. CONTACT Rebecca, Alan and Alina -- barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-03-1159 min
Bar Crawl RadioBringing Out BabyRecently, Rebecca McKean was on the scene when our second grandchild was born. She lied her way into the birthing room pretending to be a doula or obstetrician -- it is not clear. In any case it was a life-changing experience as she watched Zeva enter the world headfirst from the left leg side of our amazing daughter. Learn some little known facts about bringing out bebe as Alan and Rebecca celebrate at the UWS 5Napkin Bar.Contact: barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-12-1728 min
Bar Crawl RadioMost Unusual JobsPark Bench Chats -- back in Riverside Park in Manhattan -- talking with our Upper West Side neighbors about their unusual jobs. And there were several. Join Rebecca and Alan as they talk with:Sam who was a motion picture projectionist for senior citizen homes and was in charge of painting the lines on NYC street - Al Gorgoni, guitarist, who was involved with most of the big hits that came out of New York City in the 60s including the opening riff of Van Morrison's "Brown Eye'd Girl" which he composed. Al also worked with the Monkees...2021-11-1239 min
Bar Crawl RadioIs Winning the Game "that" Important?Alan Winson here -- co-host of Bar Crawl Radio podcast. I had just lost an important Lawn Bowling competition -- by a "squeaker" -- to my former bowling student and friend -- Joe Kelly. I was happy for Joe, but -- hey -- I lost. It got me thinking about the experience of winning the game. Rebecca McKean and I invited Joe and his life partner, Ryan Hastu, to meet us on a Riverside Park bench below the crumbling Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument to talk with us and our neighbors about the importance of "winning" ... and "losing." Hosted...2021-10-2941 min
Bar Crawl RadioJ.T. Rogers: American PlaywrightThis conversation was first posted on the Hunkered Down Podcast on June 5, 2020.J.T. Rogers urge to move is reflected in the dynamism of his Tony Award-winning play "Oslo" and in the way he perambulated around his office during our conversation. Clearly, this artist thinks on his feet.“Oslo” -- first produced on Broadway in 2017 -- is a heart-wrenching telling of the back-channel meetings started by a Norwegian couple to bring Palestinian and Israeli leaders together to talk about peace—person to person. Of course, in the end, the resulting Oslo Accords failed to bring peace t...2021-10-0846 min
Bar Crawl RadioKathryn Erbe during the lockdownThis is a re-dux of the Hunkered Down Podcast --conversations with creatives who stopped creating during the COVID19 pandemic:For eleven successful seasons -- Kathryn Erbe played Detective Alexandra Eames to Vincent D’Onofrio’s Det. Robert Goren on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Prior to Criminal Intent – Ms. Erbe appeared as a death row inmate on the award-winning TV series OZ. This talented actor has worked steadily in television, film, and theatre since she graduated from NYU in 1989 and most recently appeared in Sam Levinson’s teen slasher film – “Assassination Nation.”For this episode, Ms. Erbe talks a...2021-09-2447 min
Bar Crawl RadioWanna be an Advice Columnist?For this BCR "Park Bench Chats" episode -- once again, recording in Riverside Park, beneath the majestic and crumbling Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument -- Rebecca and Alan challenged Upper West Side, Manhattan neighbors to match wits with "Dear Abby" - "Ask Ann Landers" - and, "Ask Amy." These "amateurs" came up some amazing and insightful advice on several real-life, personal traumas. And -- in our estimation -- exceeded the professionals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-09-0341 min
Bar Crawl RadioHey Men! Let's get pregnant!!Here's a Bar Crawl Radio’s "Park Bench Chat" episode – Rebecca and Alan set up our portable studio in Manhattan’s Riverside Park on the Promenade and we talk to our UWS neighbors about a topic of -- hopefully -- interest. Rebecca went into this question thinking it would be silly and fun. I was expecting vociferous pushback from our neighbors – neither happened. Rather – the idea of a man gestating a fetus within his body -- generated serious – thoughtful – affective responses from four UWS neighbors – out for an afternoon walk in the park: A 30-something man on a bike – a middle-aged, fit...2021-07-2342 min
Bar Crawl RadioMartha and Carmen are free. Well ... sort ofRebecca and Alan talk with two Catholic Workers who have been in prison for protesting U.S. Navy submarines armed with world-ending numbers of nuclear missiles. We first talked with Carmen Trotta and Martha Hennessy on the porch of Gebhard’s Beer Culture Bar in Manhattan in June 2019 – a bit over two years ago. At the time, Martha and Carmen and other members of the anti-war Plowshares movement were under house arrest for trespassing onto the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia, the previous year. They both wore ankle bracelets. Since then -- they were found guilty...2021-06-221h 03
Bar Crawl RadioNita Renfrew: Hands-on Healer. Lover of Central Park wildlife. And a bit more.I met Nita Renfrew feeding her "friends" in an isolated section of the Central Park Rambles. She is a fascinating person -- iconographer, Reiki master, practitioner of Craniosacral Massage Therapy, journalist, and lover of the wildlife existing in our natural cityscape. Becky and I talked about my conversation with Nita recorded in the Rambles. And we talked with our Upper West Side neighbors as they strolled along the Promenade in Riverside Park about their thoughts on hands-on--Reiki-style healing. Stick around for the end of this episode for an interesting reveal.Contact Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson at...2021-06-1840 min
Bar Crawl RadioFor all you naughty children...Being naughty goes along with being a child. Yes? After all, when you brand your sister with a hot ruler who could blame you -- you're a child -- you have no morals or sense of appropriate adult behavior. Return with Rebecca and Alan as they sit on a bench on the Riverside Park Promenade on a beatific NYC afternoon and talk to their neighbors about those carefree days when we roamed our realm wreaking havoc as free spirits -- lording over the flies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-05-2836 min
Bar Crawl RadioKathleen Collins on Why TV MattersThis BCR episode was recorded at a great Upper West Side, Manhattan eateries and bar -- 5Napkin. Finally, we are back having conversations with amazing people in our favorite bars.Kathleen Collins is the Graduate Studies Librarian at John Jay College of Criminal Justice since 2007 – and a whole lot more. She has a double degree in psychology – a degree from the Cultural Reporting and Criticism Program at NYU and has written three books on television – “Dr. Joyce Brothers: The Founding Mother of TV Psychology” [2016] – and “Watching What We Eat: The Evolution of Television. We met at "Studio 25" -- 5Napkin's co...2021-05-141h 06
Bar Crawl RadioJ. Chester Johnson on the Elaine Massacre of 1919This BCR conversation was quite special for Rebecca and me. We had agreed at the beginning of 2020 to investigate how racism permeates our society, our values, and individual behavior. We continue to want to work on our own complicity in what J. Chester Johnson calls this country's "damaged heritage" which is also the title of his new book. "Damaged Heritage” looks deeply into the 1919 Elaine, Arkansas massacre, when over 100 Black Americans were murdered by White posses and soldiers of the U.S. Military. A central part of this story resides in the relationship Chester had with Sheila Walker; both ha...2021-04-221h 03
Bar Crawl RadioJeffrey Swann: Pearly Sounds from the IvoriesConcert violinist Rolf Schulte describes pianist, Jeffrey Swann, as a polymath, speaker of several languages, and a magnificent musician. Mr. Swann has won several prestigious piano competitions – including the Queen Elizabeth Piano Competition in Brussels as a young man and then the Ciani Competition in Italy and a prize at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. The last few years he has run a music festival and teaches at a conservatory in Italy. Early in his career Mr Swann was also a composer and studied with Darius Milhaud. He has lectured on Wagner at the Bayreuth Festival. Presently, he tea...2021-04-1656 min
Bar Crawl RadioSo you wanna talk to your childhood bullyWere you bullied in middle school? Were you the bully? This BCR is for you. We talked with Simone Ellin – a journalist who sought out those in her middle school “cool girl clique” who befriended and then bullied her. Now grown -- some would not talk to her but several did – and her recent re-telling of her experiences in Lilith magazine and the Huffington Post went viral; her Facebook creds skyrocketed. And as she writes in Jmore – “Finally I am the popular girl.”Also, we spoke with Dieter Wolke, a psychological researcher at The University of Warwick near Coventry...2021-03-1949 min
Bar Crawl RadioManhattan's Car CrazyWe live in Manhattan's Upper West Side and Rebecca wants her own car. She has wanted a cute little car -- a Fiat -- for since her "Ruby"-- the sporty plum colored Mercury--died of neglect shortly after we met. I oppose raising another car in our car-infested city and GHG choked world -- but I gave in -- she really, really wants a hunk of well-designed metal. My reasoning? -- If she experiences the trials of city-based car ownership, it will not be long before we will be car-free, once again. So this BCR R...2021-02-2636 min
Bar Crawl RadioBCR & Angst and Daisies: Ending 2020 with friendsThis will be our third visit with the hosts of the podcast -- Angst and Daisies -- Caroline Aaron, co-starring in "The Amazing Mrs. Maisel", and Steve Saporito, lawyer and knower of current American politics. We talked a bit about about the state of our country -- some on the Amazon hit series -- and a morsel on our favorite Christmas tunes and films. It was a lot of fun catching up with our new buddies who are now "old" friends.Contact Rebecca and Alan at barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast...2020-12-2851 min
Bar Crawl RadioAn Elementary School Teacher During COVIDRebecca McKean and I - Alan Winson - were back at our "studio" in the loft at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar in our Upper West Side neighborhood. Rebecca is an elementary school teacher, and I had watched her conduct distant learning classes in our tiny apartment from our dining room table and listened to her concerns about her students for months and wanted to interview her about the difficulties of teaching as an elementary school teacher during the pandemic. This is one dedicated teacher's experience -- that is repeated throughout the world by these dedicated teachers. Hosted on...2020-12-0531 min
Bar Crawl RadioCOVID19 Long-haulers with Nathan LentsThis will be the third visit with scientist and genetics expert -- Nathan Lents. We focused our conversation on the nature of the "long-haul" maladies of those who have had the COVID19 virus. These serious health outcomes are known to effect even those who did not manifest the disease. And we talked to Dr. Lents about the new approach to viral vaccines using the mRNA technique. We also talked to two COVID19 survivors about their experience during and after contracting the infection. Believe it or Not - this thing is serious.CONTACT BCR hosts Rebecca...2020-11-2351 min
Bar Crawl RadioDistraction AttractionsIt's a great time to wake up and get really distracted. If that is your goal -- then this BCR episode is for you. So if you really want to loosen your brain and drop any hope for serious and focused thought -- tune in and zone out while Rebecca and Alan tell you all about ... what was I saying? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-11-1328 min
Bar Crawl RadioBuggin' with Rebecca & Alan @ Gebhards Rebecca and Alan are back at their favorite bar -- Matt Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar on the Upper West Side on W. 72nd Street. It was really good to be back on our old turf recording Bar Crawl Radio. The episode honed in on the behaviors and sounds and bugs that bug us. It was loud and a bit smelly from the fumes on the busy bus-strewned street -- but we had a great time sitting at a real bar and recording our silliness. Contact us at barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...2020-10-2336 min
Bar Crawl RadioMicroAid International - ReduxJon Ross, the founder and head of Micro Aid International joined Rebecca and Alan on the patio of Ellington in the Park on a beautiful Autumn afternoon. Jon Ross was with on BCR #36 at Vino Laventino – where we no longer record because the owner kicked Alan out several months ago – but that is another story. In our previous conversation, we got into some depth on Jon's life and work building single-family, multi-generational homes in third word disaster areas. Now he is carrying out this important work during a global pandemic. Micro/Aid International is a non-profit that goes i...2020-10-0936 min
Bar Crawl RadioConspiracy Theories--This I believeIt's time we just give it up to all of those wonderful, wacky, weirdo conspiracy theories and go along with Rebecca and Alan for one ludicrous and fun-filled romp way past Alice in Wonderland and walk around in the land of the inane and creative. If you are a QAnon-er -- you might just get all down with TAnon -- and become an equal opportunity reviler of authority. Hear us out -- it makes sense and we have the proof. BCR is once again on the street talking with our Upper West Sider neighbors about their favorite conspiracy theories...2020-08-2840 min
Bar Crawl RadioCollateral Damage and the CVD19 CollectiveBar Crawl Radio is now on the street at West End Avenue and 92nd Street -- bringing in guests and talking with neighbors on our open mic. For Episode #104 Rebecca and Alan talked about the collateral damage of CVD19 and then had a most unusual guest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-08-0737 min
Bar Crawl RadioPandemic Films: Why we eat 'em up.It's seems to be the just-right-moment to stock up on all the essentials, preferably canned or irradiated -- find a cozy indoor spot, conveniently chained with a steel door and no windows -- and wait for it to get dark -- so we can listen for the gurgling sounds of the always ravenous walkers of the night. Life has become much like the pandemic films we so love -- Contagion -- Outbreak -- 28 Days Later -- and even -- The Andromeda Strain [Rebecca and I had to pay for this 1971 film getting ready for this podcast. It is not...2020-07-2431 min
Bar Crawl RadioThe United States of America: A Racist CountryThe ugliness of police brutality aimed at Black Americans cannot be ignored – and cannot be papered over with meagre policy changes. We have to recognize the ugly fact that Racism is at the core of this country – is the ground from which arises white rage against dark skin. Rebecca and I feel it is important that we develop conversations about the enormous issue of white privilege and the near impossibility of white citizens to see the true nature of this country as racist.For this BCR 101 episode, we had a respectful and confessional talk with two young Black...2020-07-1058 min
Bar Crawl RadioCall Me RebeccaBCR has gone to the streets -- West End Avenue and 92nd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan -- to be precise. We set up an open mic in the middle of the asphalt and have been taking testimony from UWSers about how they are doing. AND -- one of the BCR hosts makes a life-changing announcement -- proving one more time that it is never too late to change your life. It is part of the 'Don't Be a 'Becky' Movement" #amnotbeckyFor her husband of many decades this is going to be difficult...2020-06-2634 min
Bar Crawl RadioBecky & Alan: RAGE @ a New BarWARNING: Corona virus is mentioned -- in passing -- in this podcast.Announcing -- the official opening of the Windermere Chateau Bar and Grill --the new gathering place on West End Avenue. Masks are optional. Stupidity is celebrated. Meet Bob and Delores -- the arguing couple. Betsy -- the pansexual service person. And -- along with Becky and Alan -- consider your inner rage. CONTACT: barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-05-0133 min
Bar Crawl RadioFrom Prison to College: Second ChancesBar Crawl Radio hosts, Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson spoke with two young men, recently released from Otisville Medium Security Prison—Sam Johnson and Christopher Lee -- and with Professor Richard Hoehler from John Jay College who teaches in the Prison to College Pipeline – an educational program founded by English Professor Baz Dreisinger and administered by the college's Prisoner Re-entry Institute [PRI].Contact: barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-04-241h 07
Bar Crawl RadioTiny EvilsWe sat at the bar at 5Napkin on W. 84th Street, and I looked around at a somewhat crowded bar and restaurant and wondered how it is we were all there together as COVID19 swirled around us. But Becky and I are dedicated to podcasting, and so we put our bodies on the line for our loyal listeners and talked about "TINY EVILS." We asked the question that have alluded great minds: Does EVIL exist, and, if so, what is it? And we came up with an answer -- sort of -- and I -- Alan Winson -- revealed...2020-03-1338 min
Bar Crawl RadioLaundry Room Wars: Conflict by the DryerWhen I started to think -- it became eminently clear that we are constantly engaged in TURF WARS. This battling over small pieces of ground is evident everywhere -- bathrooms -- offices -- couches and beds -- buses and plane -- blankets on a crowded beach -- sidewalks -- subways [think: man-spread} -- and a favorite spot at a beloved bar. Becky and I delved into this ongoing battle over conflicted spaces at 5Napkin Bar located on Broadway and W. 84th street - smack dab in the middle of our most-crowded UWS Manhattan neighborhood. I am sure you can think...2020-01-3129 min
Bar Crawl RadioBeyond WitnessingLast week I -- Alan Winson -- spent a few days with a committed group of people. They regularly protest and get arrested in a nearly impossible attempt to end the horrors of Gitmo -- the U.S. prison in Cuba which, after over 18 years, incarcerates 40 Muslim men accused of 9/11 terrorism. Most of these men are innocent and have been exonerated; yet, they remain in an isolated hell in Guantanamo. The court trials they demand are beyond them -- maybe forever -- because evidence of being tortured are being destroyed by our government. The members of Witness Against Torture...2020-01-1736 min
Bar Crawl RadioBCR: A Look BackHosting and producing Bar Crawl Radio podcasts over the last two and a half years has been a wonderful ride with my favorite person, best pal, lovely and loving wife and co-host -- Rebecca McKean. We have learned over the 75+ episodes of Bar Crawl Radio how to work together to develop conversations. Counting it up we have podcast --in 8 countriesin 23 different barsconversations with 117 interesting peopleon 1 glacierWe've had the privilege to talk with politicians and bartenders, peace activists and gun proponents, novelists, journalists, and poets, podcasters, scientists, farmers, musicians, sculptors, photographers and artists, farmers and environmentalists...2020-01-1055 min
Bar Crawl RadioON Losing a wallet & Finding the Chapstick.Recently, I, Alan Winson, lost my wallet. I was devastated for a few hours, but over the next few days I felt a freedom that came from a sense of being untethered from a thing that had controlled my days. 'Oh God! Where is my wallet -- all my pocessions? This is really not good!!!' TURNED INTO -- I feel lighter -- freerWhen you lose a wallet or purse -- it is certainly inconvenient, but you learn quickly that a wallet can be replaced -- all of those cards and IDs can be duplicated and...2019-11-2239 min
Bar Crawl RadioBCR #29 Extra: "Is this who we are?" -- FridayA long march to the White House. An anti-WAT protestor. And the fast ends.Guantanamo or Gitmo has held many hundreds of men accused of terrorism against the U.S. in connection with the 9/11 2001 attacks – most were innocent of any crime – several dozen remain at the prison on the Cuban island. They have been imprisoned for 17 years in limbo -- beyond judicial recognition.“Is this who we are?” is a podcast series reflecting the actions, arguments, and emotions of the WAT protesters who gathered for a week in 2019 in Washington. D.C. My name is Alan Winson. I...2019-04-051h 00Bar Crawl RadioBCR #29 Extra: "Is this who we are?" -- ThursdayArrests at McConnell's Office.Guantanamo or Gitmo has held many hundreds of men accused of terrorism against the U.S. in connection with the 9/11 2001 attacks – most were innocent of any crime – several dozen remain at the prison on the Cuban island. They have been imprisoned for 17 years in limbo -- beyond judicial recognition.“Is this who we are?” is a podcast series reflecting the actions, arguments, and emotions of the WAT protesters who gathered for a week in 2019 in Washington. D.C. My name is Alan Winson. I lived with the WAT members in the First Luthe...2019-04-0559 minBar Crawl RadioBCR #29 Extra: "Is this who we are?" -- WednesdayArrests at the Supreme Court.Guantanamo or Gitmo has held many hundreds of men accused of terrorism against the U.S. in connection with the 9/11 2001 attacks – most were innocent of any crime – several dozen remain at the prison on the Cuban island. They have been imprisoned for 17 years in limbo -- beyond judicial recognition.“Is this who we are?” is a podcast series reflecting the actions, arguments, and emotions of the WAT protesters who gathered for a week in 2019 in Washington. D.C. My name is Alan Winson. I lived with the WAT members in the First L...2019-04-0558 minBar Crawl RadioBCR #26: Rap & Bullying OR Why DJ King Assassin did not show up.Folks -- this is a weird one. Little worked in this episode as we planned; nevertheless, your intrepid podcasting bar crawlers forged ahead and continued to drink at their moderate rate. That's good--yes?Rebecca and Alan were joined for the intro segment by Paul Alan Ruben -- author of Terms of Engagement -- at Vino Laventino to share Malbec and bad poetry. Alan introduced this episode's ennui by sharing his discouraging experience of The New York Review of Books--Holiday Issue. And Becky ended the intro by describing her "Little Stool."We then gathered ourselves and...2019-04-031h 00Bar Crawl RadioBCR #19: Give U.S. Your Huddled Masses. Riiiiight!!! Part 1CHOOSE TWO:We are a nation of immigrants.We are a nation that does not want immigrants -- keep it right and white.We are a nation that welcomes the talented and those who yearn for a better life and those who are escaping oppression.We are a nation that sticks to our own - outsiders are dangerous.BCR #19 brings together three immigrants -- a Czech -- a Filipino -- an Irishman -- who are now authorized "United Statesians" OR USians. [If you are from the United States -- you are not "American" -- rather you are...2019-04-031h 00Bar Crawl RadioBCR #13: Crime Stories in Two ActsConversations with two "crime" writers. In Two ActsAct 1 -- BCR13, hosts -- Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson -- talked with Michael Wilson who wrote the "Crime Scene" column for the NY Times from 2011 to 2017. In over 300, well-formed narratives, Wilson covered the human-side of crime from both sides of the law. BTW -- did you hear the one about the criminal who "robbed" the frig during the heist?Act 2 -- [@ 00:50:30] A troubling conversation with author Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich -- "The Fact of a Body." Do not miss this writer's description of her na...2019-04-031h 18Bar Crawl RadioBCR #10: Drinking in Iceland & Politicized WomenThis episode celebrated progressive NY women taking over the U.S. political scene. BCR hosts talked with the women leaders of Indivisible We Stand UWS, Indivisible Harlem, and True Blue NY -- socially progressive political groups run by women. Lisa DellAquila, Camille Davis, Andrea Flink, and Lois Gudeon-Sloan argued for getting rid of the NY Senate's IDC and supporting progressive Democratic candidates of either gender. Camille Davis talking with Rebecca McKean of BCR at Gebhards BC Bar.Matt Gebhard and Lindsey Ronchi reported on two of the bar's new brews -- one made from old bread, approp...2019-04-0357 min