4

The species that survives is the one that’s able to adapt to and to adjust best to the changing environment in which it finds itself, according to Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species. And as the human race grapples with its own termination, we’re transforming, pivoting, finding and inventing new ways to hang on for dear life. Read the full episode transcript here. 

“And The Leaves Are Good In Salad”
by Charlie Hoxie
[02:05]

“To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival,” said American novelist and environmental activist Wendell Berry, and in an effort to reconnect with the land, our producer and foraging enthusiast, Charlie Hoxie, harvests a bounty from deep within Prospect Park.

“This Prisoner In My Room”
by Khyriel Palmer
[09:41]

In this first-person audio narrative, Brooklyn resident Mavis Palmer details her experience contracting the Coronavirus, provides a glimpse into the city’s overwhelmed healthcare system, and offers some insight on how to survive the debilitating disease. 

“A Lifetime of Stuff”
by Sachar Mathias
[25:05]

Near the end of April, in the height of the pandemic, over half of polled adults in the United States reported that worry and stress related to the outbreak was affecting their mental health and wellbeing in various ways. This week, we talk to two Brooklyn locals  – on opposite sides of mental healthcare provision – about how they experienced the last few months, their unique relationships to psychotherapy, and how the COVID crisis has transformed both. 

“Back In The War”
by Shirin Barghi
[41:27]

The Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) was one of the largest and longest conventional interstate wars in modern history — killing hundreds of thousands, injuring millions on both sides, and costing over a trillion dollars. In this episode, New York-based journalist Solmaz Sharif tells us how a recent trip to Costco brought back memories from her wartime childhood in Tehran.

“No One Is Counting”
by Taylor Cook, Shirin Barghi, and Emily Boghossian
[44:47]

 The potential shortage of ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic is raising difficult questions  about who will be excluded from potentially life saving treatment when there aren’t enough resources to go around. Here in New York, the state hit hardest by the pandemic, disabled people are being left behind in plans for emergency resource allocation

“The Right To Not Get Sick”
by Stefan Christoff for Free City Radio
[1:02:41]

Free City Radio presents an interview with Mostafa Henaway, a community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montréal who speaks on the campaign to support the rights of immigrant workers within the context of the pandemic who are working at Dollarama distribution centres. Free City Radio is hosted by Stefan Christoff and broadcasts weekly on CKUT 90.3fm in Montreal, the accompanying music for this segment is by Sam Shalabi and Stefan.

“The Divine Spiritual Wisdom of The Universe”
by Chief Ayana Clarke and Justin Bryant
[1:14:05]

African American master percussionist, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, arts educator, and lecturer Chief Ayanda Clarke offers listeners some spiritual vitamins for trying times.

“Weekend Weather with Junior Meteorologist Giff City” was produced by Emily Boghossian, Taylor Cook, and Lauren Germain. Brooklyn USA’s “Messages From Over Here” are produced by Voltron.

 

If you have something to say and want us to share it, all you have to do is...

1. Call (917) 719-0021 to reach our Voicemail Box
2. Tell us your name, neighborhood, email (we’ll edit this out – just want to know how to reach you!)
3. Tell us any and all of the things that you need or want to say.

• It can be a story, a joke, a secret, or a fact.
• It can be something that you overheard from six feet away, or have been thinking about, worrying about, or a thing that made you smile.
• It can be a way that you're coping with, processing, and navigating this moment, and what you’re hoping that the next one holds.
• It can be a movie recommendation, a book you love, a self care tip or breathing technique that you’re finding very useful...
• or anything else that you want to share with the world!

 
And if you’d rather just record yourself and send it in, just...

1. Open up your phone’s Voice Memos / Voice Recorder app and hit RECORD.
2.  Follow Steps 2 & 3 (from before).
3. Email the audio file to brooklynusapodcast@gmail.com.

 
We’re here when you need us, and we can’t wait to hear from you.
 
See you on the other side, in Brooklyn, USA.

Brooklyn, USA is produced by Sachar Mathias, Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Khyriel Palmer, Mayumi Sato and Charlie Hoxie, with help this week from Justin Bryant, Taylor Cook, Chief Ayana Clarke, and Stefan Christoff.

For more information on this and all BRIC Radio podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio.