Today’s guests are biologist and environmentalist, Dr. Roger Payne, and literary scholar and author, Jonathan Gottschall! This is our exciting final episode before we go on a hiatus to reflect on and pursue all the wonderful insights and ideas we’ve gained from a year of lightning bugs. This show's central topic has been creativity, and this episode is meant to highlight how art is what is most needed right now. On this episode, we talk about the impact of a good story, what it takes for art to create change, and how to bridge the divide while also being specific and poignant. We reflect on what works in the past have inspired change and how some modern “political” works could be adjusted to have more impact and speak to issues in an approach that everyone can digest and take to heart.

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Today’s guest is biologist and environmentalist, Dr. Roger Payne. In 1970 Dr Payne recorded “Songs of the Humpback Whale” which stands as the best-selling environmental album in history. This album and it’s popularity crafted the “Save the Whales” movement which then led to the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment ten-year global moratorium on commercial whaling, which was observed by all but a few nations. On this episode we talk about what launched Roger’s passion for whales, how music has existed before humans, and trends within whales singing. We also talk about how creativity is the only way to reach the masses regarding the environment and climate change, and how the future looks very bleak without creative voices.

You can submit your questions to Ben here: https://www.speakpipe.com/BenFolds

And check out the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ix6szTyjg3vmx1sIj-Vfw

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is pianist and composer Elena Kats-Chernin! Best known for her opera, Wild Swans, Elena also creates orchestral works, solo pieces, as well as music for various mediums from dance to film. You’ll recognize works such as Clocks, Book of Rags, and Orpheus/Odysseus/Poppea. On this episode we talk about focusing on what you will do today instead of what you did yesterday, snippets of old pieces becoming part of something new, and improvising live. We also talk about if tools influence the work, being a working composer, and not reading to save your eyesight.

You can submit your questions to Ben here: https://www.speakpipe.com/BenFolds

And check out the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ix6szTyjg3vmx1sIj-Vfw

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.