All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey... and we’re back for the second series of Somewhere To Believe In, a podcast by the people who bring you Greenbelt Festival.
Each week we’ll meet brilliant guests and chat to them about their life and work. We want to bring you timely, provocative and funny dollops of hopefulness, to keep us all going in these strange times. This time around we’re celebrating artists that we love and we know you’ll love them too.
We’ll also be digging into our love of fields, festivals and communal gatherings – remember those? – and sharing some of the behind-the-scenes Greenbelt stuff. Importantly, too, we want to hear from YOU, whether you’ve danced in a field with us or not.
Our plan is to release this second series of eight episodes in the run-up to Christmas – with a new episode coming out each Friday. We’ve called it ‘Somewhere to Believe in’, because maybe more than ever, we all need that right now. We really hope you like it.
This episode of Greenbelt’s ‘Somewhere To Believe In’ comes in the form of a one-off Christmas reflection; brought to you by our friend Beloved Sara Zaltash, a ‘non-denominational rabble-rouser and soul-soother for a world in crisis’.
It was our pleasure to welcome Beloved Sara to Greenbelt for the first time this year, along with her heavenly spiritual chants and adaptation of the Islamic Call to Prayer. And now she’s back again, reflecting on Christmas, with personal stories of community, songs of hope and prayers of blessings.
As Beloved Sara says, we hope ‘you gather around these sounds in warmth and with whatever is dear to you, and that these words shine a beacon of friendship into your Christmas season.’
This episode features strong language and references to drugs.
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Late this November, Greenbelt Festival’s Creative Director, Paul Northup, called me with a request to collaborate on something like a podcast, that wasn’t quite a podcast, to be shared with the Greenbelt community this Christmastime.
I wish I could say that the first emotion I experienced was humility. I wish I was that saint! In truth, I was overwhelmed with giddy delight. Was I really being asked to share my thoughts, stories and songs with the Greenbelt community, that vital and gorgeous and exceptionally kind bunch of people that had won my heart this summer when I performed at the festival? In truth, it took a whole afternoon of pinching myself before the thrill of Paul’s request subsided, before I could settle into what was being asked of me. Did Greenbelters really want to hear more from me? What can I give them, poor as I am?
As the start of Advent loomed, Paul and I realised that the task ahead was greater than the time available, and that we needed a different approach. Paul wondered about centering the not-exactly-a-podcast on my voice, seeing as it was my voice that had been received so kindly by Greenbelters at the festival. It was then that I remembered a piece of storytelling I had written for a guest slot at Sunday Assembly East End in December 2016 - a personal story, woven with song, that was Christmassy and yet not-exactly-Christmassy. This story is what we have chosen to share with you this year.
Funnily enough, Sunday Assembly thought that the story was actually too Christian for their congregation. For me, this story abridges my whole life’s experience of sincere acceptance, inclusion and welcome into Christian community, regardless of how I have shown up. This story does not promote any specific belief or doctrine, except perhaps the belief in the redemptive power of song.
That’s what we have to give you; we give our hearts.
Thank you for all of the support and willingness offered by the Greenbelt team and not-quite-podcast contributors. Thank you especially to Abigail Maxwell, a Greenbelter and Quaker who provides us with a sobering prayer of blessing that we can hold alongside the gladness of the season. I pray that our offering greets you in the finest health, that you gather around these sounds in warmth and with whatever is dear to you, and that these words shine a beacon of friendship into your Christmas season.
This episode of Greenbelt’s ‘Somewhere To Believe In’ podcast takes a different form. It’s a one-off.
It knits together 45-minutes of reflection, conversation, music and prayer in the form of a listen-and-share service to mark the festival’s 2021 August Bank Holiday weekend incarnation (its 48th) – when only a fraction of the wider Greenbelt community could actually physically be together at the Prospect Farm pop-up camping gathering.
The hope is that the audio form of the service will give everyone the chance to share and be connected in a unifying act of remembrance – wherever they are. Ideally, the audio is designed to be shared in and listened to at 11am on Sunday 29th August. But, of course, it can be listened to at any time. Again and again.
The podcast takes its title from a wonderful poem by the poet Roger Robinson. It also features music from Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and the Wild Goose Resources Group, conversations with activists from Christian Aid, Trussell Trust and Refuweegee and readings and prayers led by Greenbelt’s from all corners of the UK. It is lovingly curated and narrated by Pádraig Ó Tuama – poet, theologian, and conflict mediator. (Pádraig also presents 'Poetry Unbound', a podcast from On Being studios.)
Last year – despite our not being together – you gave an incredible £33,000 in response to our service appeal. This year, let’s see if we can top that generosity!
This year, your generous giving will be split 50/50 once again.
Exile with Rafeef Ziadah
Season 2 · Episode 8
Friday, December 18, 2020 • Duration 01:11:14
In our final episode in this series, we talk to Palestinian spoken word artist, human rights activist and our new favourite politics teacher, Rafeef Ziadah.
We dig into poetry, art, trauma, displacement, equality and justice as Rafeef shares her experiences of being a third-generation Palestinian refugee, exiled from her home and now living in London. Rafeef reminds us that issues like climate change and the pandemic do not respect borders, which makes us reflect on the entire ‘nation-state’ system.
Above all, Rafeef tells us of the strength she gets from the Palestinian people whose resolve and resilience is undiminished despite great challenges, and who continue to tell their stories and create art in the face of occupation.
Plus, Katherine and Paul reflect on their first year of podcasting and Katherine’s new favourite hobby.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT RAFEEF
Rafeef is a Palestinian spoken word artist and human rights activist based in London, UK. Her performances of poems like ‘We Teach Life, Sir’ and ‘Shades of Anger’ went viral within days of release. Her live readings offer a moving blend of poetry and music. Since releasing her first album, Rafeef has headlined prestigious performance venues across several countries with powerful readings on war, exile, gender and racism. Her long awaited third album Three Generations is out December 2020. It can be pre-ordered here: https://www.pozible.com/profile/rafeef-ziadah
We Teach Life, her second album, was a powerful collection of spoken word with original music compositions, which she brings to the stage with Australian guitarist and producer Phil Monsour. Rafeef received the Ontario Arts Council Grant from the Word of Mouth programme to create her debut spoken-word album Hadeel. She regularly conducts spoken word workshops with the aim of empowering expression through writing and performance.
Humanity with Ben Caplan
Season 2 · Episode 7
Friday, December 11, 2020 • Duration 01:12:20
This week we connect with Canadian singer-songwriter and theatre-maker Ben Caplan. Ben joins us from the car park of a Canadian fast-food giant called Tim Hortons, en route to play a socially distanced gig as part of the Small Halls Festival in Ottawa.
We get all the deets about life and lockdown in Canada. Ben has praise for his government’s response to the pandemic – in stark contrast to what we’ve heard from other artists both here in the UK and elsewhere. We talk about Ben’s identity as a Jewish man, his experiences of antisemitism, and how growing up with Jewish values like tikkun olam (literally “repair of the world”) inspires him to make art that leaves a smile on our faces and a question in our hearts.
Plus, after recovering from the shock of hearing someone talk so positively about their government, Katherine and Paul reflect on how heartfelt and eloquent Ben is, which gives us an idea about how we can fix this mess... #BenCaplanForPrimeMinister.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT BEN
Ben Caplan is a songwriter, performer and entertainer in the most time-honoured sense of the word. From the moment he walks onto the stage, you are filled with his infectious spirit, and captivating presence. You can feel Caplan's comfort and ease as he strides in front of the crowd and begins the controlled collective descent into chaos.
In his latest project, Ben Caplan explores themes of immigration, loss, darkness, love, sex, and God. Caplan is touring with a fresh batch of songs which were originally composed for a new musical play called Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story. The award winning play had its international debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won top festival honours, and has been a smash hit. The play has toured internationally including a seven-week run Off Broadway where it picked up a New York Times Critic's Pick, and six Drama Desk Award nominations, among other accolades.
On the podcast this week Katherine and Paul welcome Mimi and Lucy from “queer, feminist, punk-witch band” Dream Nails.
We discuss what it means to be punk – in the cliched sense but also in the Dream Nails sense, which includes: writing badass music, creating safe gig spaces where everyone can dance without fear, shouting ‘women and non-binary people to the front’ at the start of every show and placing hexes on the patriarchy; all done with an immense amount of joy.
Describing themselves as ‘four punk witches from London’, we take the opportunity to summon an old Greenbelt tale about the year “the white witch” came to the field and the subsequent fallout. (Spoiler alert: some people weren’t that happy about it.)
Plus, inspired by Dream Nails’ ‘Gig In a Box’ (complete with a handmade sticky floor tile so you can recreate that small-venue experience at home), Katherine and Paul wonder what a ‘Greenbelt In a Box’ might look like.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT DREAM NAILS
Dream Nails are a punk force to be reckoned with. Founded by feminist activists in 2015, their debut album garnered 4/5 stars from NME, DIY and Kerrang!
The female four-piece have built a reputation across the UK, Europe and Scandinavia for their ‘fierce talent and furious energy’ (Guardian). Dream Nails have taken their riotous live shows on tour with Cherry Glazerr, Bleached and Petrol Girls. In 2019 they headlined Glastonbury's Sisterhood stage for the third consecutive time.
Dream Nails are PRS foundation and PPL Momentum 2020 artists. Having won support from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and Amy Lame (BBC6), Huw Stephens and Jack Saunders (Radio 1), John Kennedy (XFM), and glowing coverage in Billboard, DIY, Upset, Independent, Guardian, VICE, Dazed, NYLON, Clash, i-D, The Skinny and Frieze, Dream Nails’ energy and youthful power promise to set your soul on fire.
Opportunity with Testament
Season 2 · Episode 5
Friday, November 27, 2020 • Duration 01:09:06
This week we’re talking to “jack of all trades, master of ceremonies” Testament: hip-hop MC, writer, theatre-maker and world-record-breaking human beatboxer.
Listen in as Testament discusses his cultural upbringing, including his love of De La Soul as well as the Pet Shop Boys, along with his theory why Glee is not only prophetic, but “the real hip-hop”.
Testament gets real with Paul and Katherine about his own faith, feminism and social justice work. Including his attempts as a rebellious teenager to ‘out-Christian’ his parents, and his acceptance nowadays of his own vulnerability and ‘brokenness’ as a way to help others reflect on their own lives.
He also belatedly apologises for accidentally stabbing his older brother in his hand with a compass when they were growing up, but that’s another story…
Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul get excited about Dolly Parton’s covid vaccine and have a go at guessing what’s inside Dominic Cummings’ cardboard box.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT TESTAMENT
Testament is a Hip-Hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer. Born in North London and growing up in Manchester, moving on to study in West Yorkshire where he currently resides. As a lyricist his critically acclaimed work combines strands of rap, song and spoken word. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice, as well as several spoken word performances for BBC TV and BBC Radio (1xtra, Radio 4 and 6Music). More recently, 2019 he was Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.
This week’s podcast episode is a very important one, so let’s get straight to it. Katherine and Paul speak to writer, human rights campaigner, political refugee, theatre-maker and ‘public enemy’ to Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus, Natalia Kaliada.
Natalia is a founding Co-Artistic Director of Belarus Free Theatre, a collective of artists who use the power of theatre to fight for democracy in Belarus and oppose what’s known as ‘the last dictatorship in Europe’.
We hear about Natalia’s own experiences living a not-so-censored life under an oppressive regime. Including her exile to London and how she continues to fight the same fight her ancestors did (her grandfather survived German concentration camps and Soviet gulags before ever Alexander Lukashenko came to dictatorial rule in his beloved Belarus). Resistance is seemingly in her DNA.
Natalia shares the stories of the Belarus protesters, 15,000 of whom have been imprisoned, raped or killed by the Belarus government this year. We hear how theatre has helped some of them through their imprisonment and how Belarus Free Theatre continues to use art as a tool to take down the dictatorship.
Katherine and Paul reflect on the importance of this conversation and how now, more than ever, we need to stand with the people of Belarus; not just to demand democracy for them, but to actively protect democracy around the world for everyone.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT NATALIA
Natalia Kaliada is a founding Co-Artistic Director of Belarus Free Theatre as well as a writer, human rights campaigner and producer and is one of the most outspoken critics of Belarus’s repressive regime.
Belarus Free Theatre was founded in 2005 in Europe's last surviving dictatorship, by Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin. BFT’s performances take place in selected secret venues around Minsk with audiences alerted to their existence by text message or e-mail. Although forced to operate under cover within Belarus, the Theatre has travelled widely and has gained a growing international reputation. They continue to create exceptional theatre under near impossible conditions underground in Belarus. The company has found a home as associate artists of the Young Vic, London.
Stories with Muneera Pilgrim
Season 2 · Episode 3
Friday, November 13, 2020 • Duration 01:07:23
In the third episode of our second podcast series, Katherine and Paul welcome Bristol-based poet, theatre-maker and powerful storyteller, Muneera Pilgrim.
We hear about Muneera’s experiences growing up as a black woman in Bristol – and what it means for her to finally see the statue of you-know-who toppled. We also talk about Muneera’s unexpected faith journey: from repeatedly falling in and out of love with her Caribbean Christian roots, to eventually finding her home in Islam.
Above all else, Muneera’s infectious belief in the ability for art and storytelling to transform our lives gives us a much-needed shot of hope.
Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul can’t help but laugh over the absurdity that is ‘Four Seasons Total Landscaping’, and we find out what Shakespeare, crosswords and scripture have in common.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT MUNEERA
Muneera Pilgrim is a poet, cultural producer, writer and broadcaster, as well as co-founder of the Muslim female spoken word and hip-hop duos Poetic Pilgrimage and Nana Collective. Muneera conducts expressive-based, purpose-driven workshops, shares art, guest lectures, hosts and finds alternative ways to educate and exchange ideas. She regularly contributes to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, and she is currently an Associate Artist with The English Touring Theatre where she contributed to The Othello Project, and is writing a project that will be revealed in 2020.
This week on the podcast we’re beyond excited to welcome the hilarious comedian and all-round lovely person, Josie Long.
We hear about Josie’s unique journey into comedy, beginning aged just 14. And how she’s determined to extend the olive branch of opportunity to the next generation of young creatives. Needless to say, we talk about the current government's support (or lack thereof) for the creative industries and why she’s decided she’s had enough and is moving to Scotland.
Plus, Paul and Josie have a fan-girl moment over our unofficial resident Geographer, Danny Dorling. While Katherine gives you her two cents about how to be a successful dictator.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT JOSIE
Often described as a unique voice in comedy, Josie is one of the most respected comedians of her generation. She started stand-up at age 14 and went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award. She has continued to perform stand-up around the world and her eighth solo stand-up show, Something Better, had a sell-out two weeks at the Soho Theatre in London, followed by a two-week run at the Barrow Street Theatre New York. Josie has been nominated for the coveted Best Show award at the Edinburgh Fringe three times. Her latest show, Tender, is touring the U.K. in 2020. On TV and radio, Josie has appeared on The News Quiz, Just A Minute, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Skins, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Drunk History. Josie has also worked extensively in factual areas including The Culture Show on BBC2 and as the presenter and writer of Radio 4’s Short Cuts. Josie wrote and starred in the film Super November, directed by Douglas King. The film was nominated for The Discovery Award in the 2018 BIFAs.
Welcome to the second series of Somewhere To Believe In! We’re back by popular demand(ish). This time around we’re coming together to celebrate and hear from artists we love – and we hope you’ll love them too.
Who better to kick things off than Lee Bains of Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, a self-proclaimed ‘deep-south wide-open far-left liberation gospel’ Rock-N-Roll band from Alabama, USA. Lee and his band are on a mission to fight against white supremacy, xenophobia and systems of power, all while bringing their southern hospitality and charm to the table.
With the US elections looming, we hear what it’s like being Christian living under a government that so regularly weaponises the Bible to justify inhuman behavior. Lee gives us a much-needed reminder about the power of the people, making us wonder if the election results matter as much as we think they do. We also get introspective and hear how slowing down has made Lee tackle some big questions about who he really is and what he’s trying to do with his music.
Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul talk about our plans for the 2021 festival and - and we can’t stress the importance of this enough - how happy Katherine’s mum will be that we’re back with a second series of the podcast.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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50% will go towards the vital work that our partners Christian Aid and Trussell Trust do to challenge, advocate, develop and support – globally and domestically.
And 50% will stay with us here at Greenbelt as we work to make sure the festival remains sustainable in these most challenging of times. So we can be back in the fields at Boughton House for a fully-fledged festival in 2022 – and beyond.
34:09 - Rafeef on being denied the right of return to Palestine
35:50 - Rafeef on the wall
38:06 - Rafeef on profit and power over people
39:25 - Rafeef on the US election and Trump
44:37 - Rafeef on the pandemic in Gaza
46:23 - Rafeef on Palestinian resolve and resistance
48:09 - Rafeef on the Christmas story
50:10 - Rafeef on hope
50:45 - Rafeef on burnout
52:28 - Rafeef on how to support her work
53:19 - Rafeef on Greenbelt Festival
53:52 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Rafeef
01:08:16 - How to get in touch with us
01:08:37 - Thank you’s
01:09:40 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
40:47 - Ben on literalist readings of religious texts
45:20 - ‘Truth Doesn’t Live in a Book’ by Ben Caplan
46:23 - Ben on commercial music
48:30 - Ben on performing
49:41 - Ben on brokenness
50:57 - ‘The Happy People’ by Ben Caplan
51:20 - Ben on Greenbelt Festival
54:20 - Ben on what he would retrain as
56:56 - Ben on how to support his work
59:08 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Ben
1:10:07 - Coming up next week
1:10:27 - How to get in touch with us
1:11:06 - Thank you’s
1:11:30 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
11:50 - Dream Nails on releasing their debut album during lockdown
13:54 - Dream Nails on not being able to play live
15:52 - Dream Nails on community
17:36 - Dream Nails on ‘women and non-binary people to the front’
24:07 - Dream Nails on activism and resilience
25:28 - ‘Payback’ by Dream Nails
26:26 - Dream Nails on their music
29:50 - Dream Nails on affirmations
30:22 - ‘DIY’ by Dream Nails
30:55 - Dream Nails on pushback
33:35 - Dream Nails on punk
36:29 - Dream Nails on self-care
39:32 - Dream Nails on witches
45:51 - Dream Nails on Greenbelt Festival
46:24 - ‘Vagina Police’ by Dream Nails
49:08 - Dream Nails on Abortion Support Network
52:47 - Dream Nails on Trump
55:57 - ‘Big Dyke Energy’ by Dream Nails
56:40 - Dream Nails on what’s coming up
59:13 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Dream Nails
01:15:45 - Coming up next week
01:16:30 - How to get in touch with us
01:17:18 - Thank you’s
01:17:58 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
28:50 - Testament on faith, dogma and trying ‘out-Christian’ everyone
32:16 - Testament on Greenbelt Festival
34:10 - Testament on ego and social justice
37:06 - Testament on classic and contemporary art
40:33 - Testament on ‘Woke’ and feminism
47:42 - Testament on racial justice
52:10 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Testament
01:06:00 - Coming up next week
01:07:54 - How to get in touch with us
01:08:08 - Thank you’s
01:08:36 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
Natalia Kaliada has been detained, arrested without access to counsel and threatened with rape for her participation in peaceful rallies that were called “subversive” activities and “unstable elements” by the Belarusian authorities. After the tragic events in Belarus in 2010, she and her husband were smuggled out of Belarus and now live in exile in London.
01:00 - Introducing Natalia and the work do Belarus Free Theatre
05:36 - Natalia joins the conversation
06:44 - Natalia on Belarus Free Theatre
11:20 - Natalia on generations of resistance
16:12 - Natalia on a lifetime of fighting for democracy
21:50 - Natalia on western democracy and dictatorship
29:24 - Natalia on 2020 in Belarus
41:11 - Natalia on theatre as protest
49:07 - How to support Belarus Free Theatre
51:36 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Natalia
1:05:40 - Coming up next week
1:06:09 - How to get in touch with us
1:06:56 - Thank you’s
1:07:29 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
55:00 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Muneera
01:05:39 - Coming up next week
01:06:18 - How to get in touch with us
01:06:55 - Thank you’s
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
55:43 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Josie
01:03:42 - How to get in touch with us
01:04:23 - Thank you’s
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
05:26 - Katherine and Paul on Greenbelt Festival 2021
06:17 - Introducing Lee Bains and his work
08:34 - Lee joins the conversation
09:06 - Lee on Greenbelt Festival
12:56 - Lee on this year and Covid-19
15:42 - Lee on government support in America
20:37 - Lee on independent music venues
24:38 - Lee on not being able to tour
27:47 - Lee on activism and burn out
33:13 - Lee on people, systems and policing
36:10 - Lee on church and power
38:09 - Lee on the power of music
42:49 - Lee on success
51:00 - Lee on the US election
52:15 - Lee on anti-racist rallies and activism in Atlanta
56:00 - Lee on how to support Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
57:13 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Lee
01:02:58 - Katherine and Paul on the future of music venues
01:06:20 - Katherine and Paul on church and power
01:08:50 - How to get in touch with us
01:09:42 - Thank you’s
01:10:24 - Hidden track ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
