The Forum

Join Steve Werner, Ph.D., as he informs us on the origins and development -- and complexities --of the calendar we use today. Steve Werner moved to Kansas City four years ago to study at UMKC. He came from St. Louis, where he had taught college courses on religion, mythology, Christian history and American culture. He is a composer of songs such as “Irish Farewell” and “Where’s my fifteen minutes, Andy Warhol?” He wrote an opera based on The Epic of Gilgamesh. Check out his YouTube page: “TheCosmicMundane.” His books include “The Handy History Answer Book: From the Stone Age to the Digital Age,” “How to Study Religion: A Guide for the Curious,” and “Life Sucks!: An Exploration of the Pain and Suffering in Life.”

Kerri VanMeveren is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Amazing Traditions, LLC and the creator of Smart Like a Fox™, a community education program that helps people recognize scams, evaluate information, and make more informed decisions. With more than a decade of experience conducting research, strategic planning, and organizational assessments for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, she brings a practical, evidence-based approach to every presentation. Kerri’s workshops are designed to give people real-world tools they can immediately apply to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. Musical Guests: The Wanderlast Band

History is often presented as a collection of settled facts, but the stories we tell about the past are shaped by the questions we ask. What happens when we stop asking whether queer people existed in history and start asking how they lived, loved, performed, and imagined their futures? In this interactive lecture, artist and historian Joseph Germain Keehn II explores what it means to view history through a queer lens — examining the people, relationships, performances and possibilities that traditional historical narratives have often overlooked. Drawing on the research behind Queertauqua — a traveling tent show inspired by the late-19th and early-20th centuries Chautauqua movement — this hands-on program combines historical storytelling with plushie-making, inviting participants to become “producers” for Queertauqua’s inaugural production, "A Series of Unmentionable Acts." Perfect for anyone curious about history, creativity and the stories that refuse to stay buried. Joseph Germain Keehn II is a cultural…

Gary Jenkins, local hisorian, author, and documentarian will discuss the history of the Underground Railroad in Kansas ans Missouri. The Underground Railroad was anetwork of abolitionists who worked to help escaped slaves to freedom in the period leading up to the Civil War. Musical Guest: Izzy Heller

Nicoya Helm is our featured speaker this week. She unites expertise in education and modern mindfulness to help people look deeper, dream bigger and live better. She’s also passionate about reducing stigma around mental health challenges. Her presentation is entitled “Mental Health First Aid.” Also this week,, we are presenting a community moment presentation from Kansas City Oasis. Aidan Ready will speak to us about the Flying Scotsman, the famous railway locomotive that went around the world. Our musical guests this week are the Nite Owls, Wyatt Brewer and Sarah Lynn

Dr. Micah W. Kubic, Executive Director, America Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, will discuss the amendment on the upcoming ballot to amend the Kansas Constitution to authorize the election of state Supreme Court justices and abolish the existing state Supreme Court nominating commission. With more than 20 years of experience in civil rights and racial justice work, Micah leads one of the largest advocacy organizations in the state, defending and strengthening the rights that belong to everyone under the Constitution. Musical Guest: Josephine Eve

The episode contains two presentations from the Unitaraian Universalist Congregation in Lawrence, KS. The first one is by Annette Hope Billings - a reading of her poetry with some story telling thrown in. This will be followed by a conceret by award winning pianist, Melane Hadley Lina.

Marci Renée is the founder and director of Creative Voices of Freedom (creativevoicesoffreedom.org) and the founder and director of The Strawberry Girls (strawberrygirls.org) — a Spanish anti-trafficking, nonprofit organization working with Moroccan women exploited through the “Red Gold” strawberry industry of Spain and into the brothels. She feels called to be a voice for the “Silent Ones.” Marci will discuss her work with broken, traumetized women in Spain and elsewhere. Musical guest: Ivory Blue (https://www.facebook.com/IVORYBLUEMUSIC)

Duncan Payne is a musician, athlete and academic who recently received his master’s degree in Dublin studying cognitive science, a discipline straddling the line between neuroscience, philosophy, psychology and computer science. Specializing in emerging theories of mind collectively known as ‘4E’ (embodied, embedded, extended, enacted), Duncan’s presentation engages questions of the nature of consciousness, individuality and subjectivity, social neuroscience and the relationship of the brain/mind to the body. Though technically within the scope of ‘hard’ science, these schools of thought stress the interconnected nature of life and thought, and the need for life to be lived to be understood. Musical Guest: Heath Church

Missouri Executive Director Luz María Henríquez and Major Gifts Officer Reva Wood will discuss how the ACLU of Missouri employs the federal and state constitutions to advocate for government that is fair, equitable, and respectful of individuals’ dignity. (Rebroadcast from April 23. 2024)

Join Carol Estes as she discusses an actual instance of "doing justice" where she had to make an ethical choice. Rebroadcast from November 26, 2024

Graham Kreicker will combine a light hearted approach with some serious insights that may help us all better understand and appreciate several aspects of time. He will whiz through celestial time, geologic time, nanosecond time and wasted time.

Nate Hofer, local photographer and musician, uses a pedal steel guitar along with descriptions of his photography to explain his commitment toward arms control and nuclear disarmament. Musical Guest -- Jack Summers

Cami Travis-Groves, author and transformational coach, shares some new perspectives on self care. Musical Guest - Ivory Blue

Sharareh Hashemy from Amnesty International, the world's oldest human rights group, presents an overview of the organization, including its history and work today. The presentation was recorded at Kansas City Oasis (kcoasis.org) on November 3, 2024. Additionally, the presentation includes music by local artist, Nick Schnebelen (NickSchnebelenKC.com) And, as a bonus, a presentation from Al Ortega, "Tips for a Better 2025" is included.

Effective Altruism is a 21st-century philosophical and social movement that advocates impartially calculating benefits and prioritizing causes to provide the greatest good. It is motivated by "using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis. Alex Hedtke and Nathan Dunkerly will discuss the philosophy behind Effective Altruism and some tools you can use to determine where your efforts and contributions will have the greatest effect. The program also features music from Dandelion Lakewood. This edition was recorded at Kansas City Oasis on November 11, 2024.

Join the Hon. Marci Francisco, Kansas State Senator from the 2nd district, for a look at the upcoming 2025 legislative session in Kansas. Ms. Francisco recaps the results of the recent election and speculates on what that will mean in terms of proposed legislation i the upcoming legislative session.

Join Carol Estes as she discusses an actual instance of "doing justice" where she had to make an ethical choice.

Dr. Ron Ruhnke discusses the difference between "big T" trauma and "little t" trauma. He discusses the effects these types of trauma in our individual experience and development, and how to deal with and potentially mitigate these effects. Additionally, there is music by local musician, Fenwa Teryen. The presentation was made and recorded at Kansas City Oasis, September 8, 2024.

Graham Kreicker will describe current conditions and what must be done to assure high quality of life for ever growing number of those in the final stages of their existence. The presentation is based on Dr. Atul Gwande’s acclaimed book, Being Mortal. (Rebroadcast from June 11, 2024)

Missouri Executive Director Luz María Henríquez and Major Gifts Officer Reva Wood will discuss how the ACLU of Missouri employs the federal and state constitutions to advocate for government that is fair, equitable, and respectful of individuals’ dignity. (Rebroadcast from April 23. 2024)

Recently joined UUCL member and K.U. Ph.D. candidate, Brenna Pritchard, will present the highlights of her dissertation on Futurian Masculinity. It is an examination of science fiction fandom as a masculine gendered space. She will trace the history of science fiction as a genre, then dive into the way that male science fiction fans built their identity and carved out a place for themselves using science fiction as a model and guide.

Rev. Shelley Page discusses an important chapter in early Unitarian history by looking at the utopian community of Racovia in Poland in the 1500-1600s, founded by the Polish Brethren. Hear what these very radical Poles were all about as they sought to live in alignment with their deeply held values of love, peace, equality and reason. Their liberal experiment left a legacy that still reverberates through Unitarian Universalism today.

Graham Kreicker will describe current conditions and what must be done to assure high quality of life for ever growing number of those in the final stages of their existence. The presentation is based on Dr. Atul Gwande’s acclaimed book, Being Mortal.

Masha will share highlights of her incredible journey from Russian schoolgirl during WWII, to university student, to meeting and marrying Jake Kipp and coming to the U.S. and on to professor, mother and grandmother! (Recorded at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence, KS, 5/19/24)

Natasha Herdman created Pawsperity because she believes in a two-generation, “all-in” approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. Basic needs for food and shelter must be met before a parent can guide children through school and out of poverty. A living-wage, family-flexible career for the parent is key. Go to https://pawsperity.org to learn more.

Missouri Executive Director Luz María Henríquez and Major Gifts Officer Reva Wood will discuss how the ACLU of Missouri employs the federal and state constitutions to advocate for government that is fair, equitable, and respectful of individuals’ dignity.

Maggie Childs will discuss how Buddhism has spread from its origins in ancient India and and how it has evolved to include a wide variety of beliefs and practices. In Japan, as elsewhere, these have ranged from the belief that Buddhist deities will answer your prayers for good health and well-being to the belief that enlightenment/liberation from suffering can be achieved through self-discipline and meditation.

Courtney Masterson, Executive Director and Ecologist of Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, will share the joys and benefits of native landscapes, at home and in wild Kansas. She will also share introductory information on native gardening, lawn conversion, and how to engage with the native landscape restoration community in the region.

Kyra Gross, manager of the Brookside Market, and Alicia Ellingsworth, executive director of the KC Farm School, will describe the multitude of opportunities to obtain locally and regionally produced food in the Kansas City area, and talk about ongoing efforts to grow a community food system.

An annual tradition, this is is a series of 5 minute presentations by All Souls Forum attendees on topics of their own choice. Presentations are followed by a question and answer period.

Attorney Bob Eye has represented Kansas abortion providers and was an attorney involved in the 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling that affirmed women have a constitutional right to seek an abortion. Bob will discuss where the legal struggle goes from here both in Kansas and the nation.

New Health Director and nationally-recognized "40 Under 40 in Public Health Leader," Dr. Marvia Jones discusses the lessons learned from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, how it will impact the role of public health leaders going forward, and how public health is so much more than healthcare.

2022 Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Melinda Henneberger recounts her investigation into corruption in the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Unified Government offices in Wyandotte County -- where the complete lack of accountability and transparency prompted a retired FBI agent to call it "the land that time forgot." (Recorded 5/29/2022)

Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and visiting Professor at the University of Utah, discusses the economics of infectious diseases and why it’s important to all of us that people on the other side of the earth get competent protection from infectious conditions. (Recorded 4/17/2022)

Hilary Noonan specializes in sustainable landscape design and Mark Samborski, a minister and community advocate, operates Antioch Urban Growers. They will cover the importance of soils within our interactive planetary ecosystem, how we can mitigate the climate crisis by restoring soils to their original condition, and recent developments in this growing effort.

Local League of Women Voters Board Member Mary Lindsay weighs the impact of gerrymandering, the current state of affairs for redistricting Missouri state and Congressional seats, the lost Clean Missouri initiative and what the public can possibly do about it.

In this episode, Dr. Teri Finneman discusses the portrayal of women candidates in political campaigns. This presentation was originally made at The Universalist Congregation in Lawrence, KS in March, 2020. Dr. Finneman's comments describe the treatment of women candidates in American politics over the past 100 years and in the recent campaign, which was underway when she gave this talk. Teri Finneman is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. She previously worked as a print journalist and multimedia correspondent covering state government, business and enterprise. Her research focuses on news coverage of U.S. first ladies and women politicians, as well as the U.S. suffrage movement. She is the author of Press Portrayals of Women Politicians, 1870s-2000s, which was named a 2016 finalist for the Frank Luther Mott - Kappa Tau Alpha book award for best research-based book about journalism or mass communication.

All Souls Forum is on hiatus until after Labor Day. In its stead, we have this presentation from The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Lawrence, KS. Audra Fullerton, Program Director of the Peaceful Families Program at the Family Peace Initiative, will present the "River of Cruelty" model and discuss how it is used in the curriculum at the Topeka Correctional Facility. The Peaceful Families Program is a trauma-informed program serving women who are incarcerated. Using many of the principles and approaches of our Family Peace Initiative curriculum, this program helps participants begin to process through the adverse experiences and traumatic events that are far too common for imprisoned women. Using the “River of Cruelty” model as a foundation, the Peaceful Families Program has proven to be a transformative process for many of those we have served.

Gary Hobin gives an insightful history of the struggle for a homeland by the Kurdish peoples of the Mideast. Gary is a former State Department Foreign Affairs officer and his forum presentation describes the many different political organizations and parties within the Kurdish struggle that span across the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Wayne Besen, author of Anything but Straight and founder of "Truth Wins Out," has been journalistically covering "conversion therapy" (CT) for over a decade. CT is a controversial practice for trying to change sexual orientation. Its media coverage is also controversial. Through the generosity of Friends of Community Media, Mr. Besen will explore the bias and hypocritical media coverage associated with conversion therapy.

September 20 began an international "Climate Strike", called in part by Extinction Rebellion (XR), which started in the UK, the US-wide Sunrise Movement, and other groups in Kansas City. At 6:30 in the early morning, some 40 people with the Kansas City chapter of Extinction Rebellion held rally in front of the Kansas City Star demanding they "Tell the truth" about climate change. Around noon, roughly 250 students at the University of Missouri at Kansas City marched from Theis Park to the Miller Nichols Library demanding action to limit the threats of ecological collapse from the Sixth mass extinction since the appearance of large animals just over half a billion years ago. Shortly after 5 PM, over 500 people gathered in Mill Creek Park to listen to talks by politicians and leaders of different groups concerned about global warming. The master of ceremonies (MC) for the 5 PM event was Khiana Harris of Sunrise KC. In addition to introducing the speakers, she led the crowd in chants like, "What do we want?…

Tonight's program is a special one hour RadioActive Magazine show. RadioActive host Bill Clause interviews poet, author, book publisher and college professor Dr Fred Whitehead who gives a fascinating history of populism in America. Also, Reverend Donna Simon, St Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church, explains what it means that her church is now `a "sanctuary church". Cheryl and Will describe what life has been like for a homeless couple trying to find work and shelter in Kansas City MO. All Souls' Forum returns from summer break in a couple of weeks.

This episode of All Souls Forum includes audio from the Medicare For All Town Hall meeting held on Monday, July 30th featuring Dr Ed Weisbart of Physicians for National Health Program with added commentary by congressional candidates Winston Apple and Brent Welder, The town hall was sponsored by Health Care Now and co-sponsored by Democratic Socialists of America and Our Revolution.

A forum featuring eight of the eighteen Kansas gubernatorial candidates was held in the Johnson County Central Resource Library last Saturday, July 7. Roughly 250 people came for a room with seating capacity for 150. Roughly 200 listened for over two hours as candidates answered questions. This episode of All Souls Forum will feature each candidates answers to the first three questions plus opening and closing remarks. The candidates, in the order they spoke were Rick Kloos (Independent), Joshua Svaty (Democrat), Jeff Caldwell (Libertarian), Carl Brewer (Democrat), Arden Andersen (Democrat), Patrick Kucera (Republican), Laura Kelly (Democrat), and Jim Barnett (Republican). The forum was organized by the NAACP of Johnson County, KS, Alpha Kappa Alphy Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Rho Omega Chapter, El Centro, Inc., Johnson County Latina Leadership Network, KCK NAACP, MORE2, the Olathe Latino Leadership Network, and Opmicron Xi Chaper of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. It was moderated by Vanessa Vaughn West, the…

We bring you this event sponsored by "Communities Creating Opportunities" recorded onJune 28, 2018, Location: Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2310 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, The invitation to give shelter to those who are without it, give water to those who are thirsty, and to ease the pain of those who are suffering are universal principles in most of our religious traditions. The children and families coming to the border need our care and compassion, not condemnation. It is time for people of faith to come together to powerfully declare that the actions being taken by President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are cruel, inhumane and an affront to our shared faith traditions. In this moment we are called to stand with families.

Patrick Tuohey is the Director of Municipal Policy for the Show-Me Institute, a Missouri organization that promotes responsible market solutions for Missouri public policy. He will speak about good governance versus gimmickry and about several Kansas City issues including KCI and the misuse of tax increment financing.

Leymah Gbowee (pronounced beau we), 2011 Nobel Peace laureate and Liberian peace activist, received the 2016 Community of Christ International Peace Award on Saturday, June 4 during the Community of Christ World Conference. Ms. Gbowee was honored for organizing Christian and Muslim women, empowering them to join in prayer and public protest. Her efforts played a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s civil war in 2003. Gbowee has selected the charitable Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa-USA to receive the $50,000 grant, funded by Community of Christ, which is included with the denomination’s International Peace Award. Gbowee was featured in the 2008 documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which included details about her confronting ruthless leaders, and coordinating public protests and a sex strike. Her memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, describes how Gbowee’s calling to promote peace began to take shape when she started asking: “Why were women, who bore the brunt…

Robert Del Tredici, founder of the Atomic Photographers Guild, will share nuclear photographs and stories of what was required to get them. His nuclear journeys have included Hiroshima, Rocky Flats and Semipalatinsk. His experiences have enabled him to formulate his “Laws of the Bomb,” six universal principles that describe the place of the bomb in our collective awareness. You can listen to a more intimate discussion with Robert, held immediately after this talk, here: https://kkfi.org/program-episodes/robert-del-tredici-overtime/

Can a firm be “too big” in a culture that values efficiency and scale? Has Antitrust Law Policy lost the necessary vocabulary even to consider the issue? Ann Marie Marciarille, who teaches Antitrust and Fair Competition Law at UMKC School of Law, will discuss the implications of this dilemma for the republic and our common good