“Terrence McNally consistently goes for the long ball.”
Robert Wright, The Moral Animal; The Politics of God.
“…Grounds for hope, rays of light, and a damn fine hour of radio.”
Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence; Ecological Intelligence.
Free Forum explores the lives, work and ideas of individuals I suspect hold pieces of the puzzle of a world that just might work. We look at new, innovative and provocative approaches to business, environment, health, science, politics, media, and culture – all based on the fact that I believe we can do better and I want to find out how. Guests include Michael Lewis, Atul Gawande, Temple Grandin, Nicholas Kristof, Cornel West, Arianna Huffington, Craig Venter, and Father Greg Boyle. Recorded from 1996-2014, Progressive Voices streams the most memorable interviews weekly. Podcast are, of course, available any time.
You can browse podcasts below, search by name of guest in the Search window at the top of the site, or check the alphabetical list of guests here.
- BILL McKIBBEN-HERE COMES THE SUN-Recorded at LiveTalksLA event, 09-18-2025
I talk with BILL McKIBBEN (The New Yorker), co-founder of both the global climate campaign, 350.org, and ThirdAct.org, for folks 60 & above. I did publish an episode with Bill in the fall, but then I was invited to talk with him in front of an audience for LiveTalksLA. This is that new conversation, including a bit of audience Q&A. In these dark times, Bill’s new book, HERE COMES THE SUN offers hope – not with happy talk but with a clear declaration of facts: Solar and wind are no longer alternative fuels. They are now the cheapest as well as the cleanest. But winning on the science and the economics is not enough. The power of the people must defeat the power of the fossil fuel industry. Learn more: billmckibben.com, thirdact.org
McKibben-LiveTalks2025-Transcript
Continue reading → - PAUL GILDING (2012)-THE GREAT DISRUPTION: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring the End of Shopping & the Birth of a New World
Here’s my 2012 conversation with PAUL GILDING, former head of Greenpeace International, about his book, THE GREAT DISRUPTION: Why the Climate Crisis will Bring on the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World. GILDING said it was time to stop worrying about climate change and brace for impact. According to him, the coming decades would see loss, suffering, and conflict as our planetary overdraft is paid; however, they will also bring out the best of humanity: compassion, innovation, resilience, and adaptability; and an unmatched business opportunity, as old industries collapse and new companies reshape our economy. In the aftermath of the Great Disruption, he believes we will measure “growth” not by quantity of stuff but quality of life. You can learn more at paulgilding.com
FF_Gilding, Paul-06-10-2012_Transcript
Gilding Alternet article – System Failure
Continue reading → - PETER TURCHIN-The historical forces that explain Trump & what needs to change
As one year ends and another begins, many pause to look backward and forward. We’ll do that on a deep historical scale with today’s guest, PETER TURCHIN, author of END TIMES. In 2010, when Nature magazine asked for a ten-year forecast, he predicted that America was in a spiral of social disintegration that would lead to collapse of the political order. “Political breakdown, from the Roman Empire to the Russian revolution, follows a clear pattern: workers’ wages stagnate while elites multiply.” This echoes Plato’s assertion that democracy inevitably leads to tyranny – the rich always want to get richer and the poor will follow a demagogue who promises to overthrow the rich. You can learn more at peterturchin.com.
Turchin-10-01-2025-Polished Transcript
Continue reading → - RICHARD DAWKINS (2006) THE GOD DELUSION-We start w questions & end w awe
As we celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, here’s my 2006 conversation with RICHARD DAWKINS on his best-seller, THE GOD DELUSION. I consider myself spiritual, thank the universe daily, and feel myself blessed, but I don’t see an entity directing this unfolding pageant. I invite you to listen with an open mind and spirit. Dawkins and I begin with questions and end with awe. Learn more at richarddawkins.com. I wish you and your loved ones joyous holidays with time and space for reflection and renewal.
Dawkins 2006 Alternet – UPDATED
Continue reading → - USArmy Colonel (ret) IKE WILSON-Part 2-Trump’s Abuse of Military + deeper Qs re military
This is Ike Wilson episode # 2. Questions about Hegseth, Venezuela, US cities are bigger than when we spoke in October. We make time to discuss other concerns I have about the US military – morale, Christian nationalism, lack of success despite unlimited resources. With 33 years in the field and teaching at West Point, Columbia, Yale, Arizona State, and National War College, Wilson is former Director of the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, and led the Commander’s Initiatives Group at U.S. Central Command. He writes Compound Security, Unlocked on Substack and hosts The Civic Brief podcast.
Wilson, Isaiah-12-05-2025-transcript
Continue reading → - CHUCK COLLINS – BURNED BY BILLIONAIRES: How Concentrated Wealth & Power Are Ruining Our Lives & Planet
This week when we give thanks, let me say how grateful I am to have these conversations about a world that just might work and that folks take the time to listen, learn, and share. CHUCK COLLINS says a lot of people tell him, “…nothing a billionaire does harms my life.” In response, he wrote BURNED BY BILLIONAIRES: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives and Planet. Collins directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, co-edits Inequality.org and its weekly newsletter, and writes the column, Oligarch Watch at The Nation Magazine.You can learn more at inequality.org and at ChuckCollinsWrites.com
FF_Collins Chuck-10-16-2025_Transcript
Continue reading → - SHERRY TURKLE(2011)-ALONE TOGETHER: Why We expect More from Technology, Less from Each other
With family gatherings upcoming over the holidays and emergence of AI everywhere we look, here’s my 2011 episode with Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT, about her book ALONE TOGETHER Why We Expect More from Technology, Less from Each Other. At that point, Sherry had already been studying the relationships between people and technology for decades, and ALONE TOGETHER signaled a bit of a departure for her. She even called it “a book of repentance.” It was one of the first books to warn about what was being threatened or lost in our headlong rush to 24/7 engagement with screens.
Continue reading → - MELANIE CHALLENGER-HOW TO BE ANIMAL: What It Means to Be Human
I’m not an environmentalist, but rather someone who works to move society toward a healthy relationship with the rest of nature. The notion that we are separate makes no sense to me. So I was drawn to this week’s guest, MELANIE CHALLENGER, who writes on the relationship of humans to the living world. She does field research – including in the Arctic and Antarctica, is an award-winning poet, has written librettos for classical choral pieces, has an opera in the works, and is Vice-President of UK’s RSPCA. Her books include HOW TO BE ANIMAL: What It Means to Be Human. You can learn more at melaniechallenger.com
Continue reading → - DEBORAH TANNEN (2002) – ARGUMENT CULTURE and I ONLY SAY THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
DEBORAH TANNEN, best known for YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND: Women and Men in Conversation, 4 years on the NYTimes bestseller list, 8 months at #1. This conversation is about 2 later books: First, I ONLY SAY THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU on why we have so much trouble communicating within families – could be helpful with Thanksgiving coming up. The second, THE ARGUMENT CULTURE focuses on public discourse. Way back in 2002, she made the point that our society had become overwhelmingly adversarial, with consequences not only in our ability to solve problems but also in our personal relationships. We have all been the victims of how that has played out in the two decades since.
Continue reading → - ANDREW ROSS SORKIN-1929-Are we headed for another crash?
The stock market keeps rising, driven almost entirely by the “magnificent seven” tech giants. No one tries to deny we’re fueling AI and crypto bubbles. Great time to talk with author, producer, and New York Times journalist, ANDREW ROSS SORKIN, about his new best-seller, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at LiveTalsLA. Sorkin’s last words recently on 60 Minutes: “We will have a crash. I just can’t tell you when, and I can’t tell you how deep.” You can learn more at andrewrosssorkin.com.
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