On this week’s show, your host, Justin Mog, gets some healing with three incredible guests from Tip It Forward (https://www.tipitforward.org/), a Louisville nonprofit on a mission to provide equitable, trauma-informed, transformative, integrative health services to under-served individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Tune in to hear Founder Kammaleathahh Livingstone, CEO Walter Murrah III, and COO Laurance Levine describe how Tip It Forward elevates the transformative power of therapeutic touch to support the healing capacity and wellbeing of under-served communities. 

Utilizing The Plus Bus, Tip It Forward’s mobile wellness clinic, along with a crew of credentialed clinicians, Tip It Forward operates in collaboration with various neighborhoods and local nonprofits to provide dynamic access to a model of care that actively engages individuals in the healing of trauma and the practice of self-care. Clinic offerings include: 
•  5-NP protocol ear acupressure
 • massage and bodywork
 • movement therapy
 • mindfulness practices
 • health education
 • holistic care kits (take-home) 

Consider supporting their work during their spring giving campaign, and be sure to stop by and see them at the first Waterfront Wednesday on April 23rd, 5-8pm at the Big Four Bridge.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Tip It Forward | Accessible, Trauma-informed Wellness Care | 4-7-25

An interview with Dr. Ken Chilton of Tennessee State University on his research into how large real estate firms and financial corporations, sometimes known as private equity firms, are buying up residential housing in different metro area markets throughout the US.  Many of these homes are being resold to upscale buyers or rented out to those of a middle income class.  Louisville falls into a category where most are rented due to certain characteristics that make Louisville different from cities such as Nashville or Atlanta.  In many cities, large corporations can own a substantial portion of the local housing stock.

Economic Impact | Episode 54 | Interview with Dr. Ken Chilton on Big Corporations and Housing

Ed Harness the  Louisville Kentucky Inspector General, is a graduate of Marquette University School Law. Prior to law school, he was a City of Milwaukee Police Officer.  he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Management of Criminal Justice Operations from Concordia University. 
In 2015, Albuquerque’s Civilian Police Oversight Agency Board selected Ed Harness to be the first Executive Director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency. Like his previous role in Albuquerque, he again is tasked here in Louisville with starting an agency to provide oversight of the police department. 
Mr. Harness is a member of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE). He is a Certified Practitioner of Oversight (CPO) holder.  ED Harness was the 2023 recipient of the NACOLE “Achievement in Oversight Award” and was voted into a three-year term as a Member at Large to the NACOLE Board of Directors.
ED  Harness is also a member of Association of Inspectors General (AIG).  He became a Certified Inspector General in 2023.


Solutions to Vionece | Ed Harness | Louisville's Inspector General | June 16, 2025

Semaglutide medicines for treating diabetes and obesity (like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro) have recently been observed to make mice more sedentary.   Will these drugs have the same effect on humans?  And how were semaglutides discovered, and what does that say about public financing of basic research?  Finally, Dr. Bruce A. Scott, a Louisville physician and outgoing President of the American Medical Association gave a fiery address to the association on June 6th.  What was he angry about?  

Here is the full video of Dr. Scott's talk to the AMA:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIEy5ySMDHE

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode:   https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal 



Bench Talk | Side Effect of Injectable Weight-Loss Drugs - Louisville Physician Speaks Out | June 16, 2025

Dr. Lynn Pasquerella is, among her many and varied roles within the academic community, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU), which put out a public statement on April 22, 2025 decrying the "unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education."  It was signed by over 600 college and university presidents and chancellors.  Her insightful and knowledgeable commentary on current threats to our institutions of higher learning, the historical context and what lies ahead offer listeners a rare, eagle-eye view of the challenges we face in restoring our democracy through the "midwifery" of our educational institutions. 

Election Connection | Dr. Lynn Pasquerella | University Presidents Push Back on Trump Admin | 6-17-25

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, tackles the issue of climate anxiety amongst young people, with three experts who have just released a new study about this topic (https://www.sacredheart.edu/news-room/news-listing/poll-reveals-youth-concerned-about-climate-change-social-justice/). Today’s show features professors at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut: 

Kirk Bartholomew is the Director of the Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice at Sacred Heart (https://www.sacredheart.edu/offices--departments-directory/institute-for-sustainability--social-justice/). Kirk has been an active member of the Department of Biology at for the past 24 years, teaching an array of courses, maintaining an active undergraduate research program and leading several curriculum revision projects. Most recently, he took a lead role in facilitating the development of the Institute of Sustainability and Social Justice initiated as part of Sacred Heart’s response to Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Sí that called for an integrated response by all people of good will to act on climate change and the systemic issues driving its acceleration.

Marylena Mantas-Kourounis is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Global Affairs at Sacred Heart University. She studies education policy and politics, focusing on the enactment and implementation of civic education policies. Her current research projects center around youth political participation, civic engagement, and political trust. She is the author of The Politics of Civic Education: Local Reactions to National Initiatives and State Mandates (Lexington Books, 2024).

Todd L. Matthews, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice at Sacred Heart University. He joined the department in summer 2023. Dr. Matthews is a broadly trained social scientist and scholar-practitioner with particular interests in civic engagement and participatory democracy. His research has appeared in numerous book chapters, as well as the journals Organization Development Review, Organization Development Journal, Social Forces, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Review of Religious Research, Religions, Sociological Inquiry, Sociological Spectrum and many others.

This groundbreaking nationwide survey reveals deep concern among young Americans about climate change, sustainability and social justice, along with a strong sense of responsibility and a call for institutional leadership, especially from higher education and government.
 
The study surveyed U.S. residents aged 15 to 29 to better understand youth perceptions of climate anxiety, institutional trust and their expectations of government and universities. The findings show a generation emotionally engaged, valuing practical and personal skills to act and expecting higher education to respond.
 
As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Climate Anxiety | Kirk Bartholomew, Marylena Mantas-Kourounis & Todd Matthews | 6-23-25

Dr. Ricky Jones, Professor of Pan African Studies at the University of Louisville, author and political analyst, speaks his mind at the Louisville League of Women Voters Annual Meeting, held June 26, 2025, on a number of topics including what he views as race-based hypocrisy, misinformation and interference in academic affairs on the part of Kentucky local and state government.

Election Connection | Dr. Ricky Jones | League of Women Voters Annual Meeting | 6-24-25

A discussion on gun violence with a concerned trauma surgeon as society wrestles with this difficult issue. Hosted by Paul Hoppe, Cohosts Drs Mike Flynn and Gene Shively interview our special guest, Dr Keith Miller.

Single Payer Radio | Dr Keith Miller - gun violence | 06-27-2025

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, goes growth-busting with Dave Gardner, co-host of the GrowthBusters podcast, which is all about coming to terms with limits to growth (https://growthbusters.org) and producer of the documentary, GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth (http://www.growthbustersmovie.org/). Humankind has outgrown the planet, so we’re exploring ways to recover from growth addition. We’re here to help you come to terms with limits to growth. Whether it’s lifestyle, science or politics, we dig into the more fascinating and hard-hitting aspects of sustainable living. It’s all about ending our culture’s love affair with “more,” which is not making us happier and is killing our planet. No half-hearted greenwashing here; we share the often brutal and sometimes joyful truth! 

Dave Gardner directed the documentary GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth, which Stanford Biologist Paul Ehrlich declared “could be the most important film ever made.” His co-host and daughter, Stephanie Gardner, earned her masters in environmental law and policy, and describes herself as a “sustainable energy nerd.” After 35 years as a professional filmmaker producing a PBS series and films for Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola USA and IBM, Dave Gardner decided to lend his media expertise to preserving and defending Mother Earth. He started researching sustainability to produce the 2011 documentary, GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth. The tagline for that film was, “One man takes on City Hall, Wall Street, presidents and prime ministers, as he questions society’s most fundamental beliefs about prosperity.” The film was honored by over a dozen film festivals around the world and was chosen Best Film in the Population Institute’s 2013 Global Media Awards. His short film, Spaceship Earth Passenger Safety Briefing, was selected for inclusion in the 2015 Wild & Scenic Film Festival. 

Today, Dave co-hosts the GrowthBusters podcast after co-hosting The Overpopulation Podcast from 2015 to 2021. He also produced the 2015-2017 syndicated radio series and podcast, Conversation Earth. As if that’s not enough, he also ran for U.S. President in 2024 with a “Dave the Planet” platform. As Dave puts it, “we face an ecological overshoot emergency that demands we stop making dead-planet decisions and start down a bright-future pathway."
 As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Dave Gardner | GrowthBusters | 6-30-25

On June 3rd, Dr. Marcia McNutt (President of the National Academy of Sciences) spoke on 'The State of the Science' in the U.S.  According to Dr. McNutt 'America can’t be great without great science – which is fundamental to U.S. economic growth, national security, and the prosperity and well-being of all our citizens. In my address, I hope to provide a clear picture of the current trends in the research enterprise, likely outcomes, and ways that the scientific community can respond to this new and challenging environment.'  We will present the second half of her talk on our next episode.  To hear the entire lecture (with accompanying charts/figures) you can watch it at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENzD7eVtZA.

We also hear from Scott Miller (physics/astronomy professor at Maysville Community and Technical College in Maysville, KY) about what sights we can see in the night sky in the month of July. 

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal 


Bench Talk | State of U.S. Science (Dr. Marcia McNutt- NAS) - July Night Sky | June 30, 2025

K.A. Owens interviews actor, writer, activist Michael T. about the first 7 months of the 2nd Trump Administration.

On The Edge With K.A. Owens | Michael T. | 7 months in to 2nd Trump Administration | 7-3-25

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, takes a deep breath with Jenna Riemenschneider, Vice-President of Advocacy and Policy at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (https://aafa.org/). In addition to covering the causes of asthma, its connections to air pollution, and what listeners can do to help mitigate it, we take a look at current threats to federal funding to address asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, and the rates are rising in adults as well. As the Congressional budget process moves forward, it is important to understand the impact of the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP) on our state and the President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request. 

The administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” goal of addressing chronic illness and promoting personal responsibility has mentioned asthma. But the President’s budget proposal does not invest in asthma prevention and treatment. In fact, the NACP is at risk of elimination. The program was affected by “Reductions in Force” (RIFs) at the Department of Health and Human Services that occurred on April 1. While positions at the NACP have now been reinstated, the program is not included in the President’s proposed budget and is slated to be eliminated — not because of performance, but because it was assumed duplicative under internal restructuring. But the NACP is not redundant. It is the only federal program solely focused on asthma prevention and surveillance. No other federal initiative plays this role. 

Congress holds the power of the purse. If lawmakers do not include specific funding for the NACP in the FY26 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, the program could be eliminated—despite its long history of bipartisan support and strong outcomes. Nearly 400,000 Kentucky adults and 47,000 children have asthma. During the 2021–2022 school year, there were 39,213 students diagnosed with asthma, making it the most common chronic health condition in Kentucky schools. The Kentucky Asthma Management Program (KAMP) – funded by NACP – created a school-focused program that showed a 97% increase in improved school nurse knowledge of asthma care changes, medications, and administration. KAMP programs reduced pediatric uncontrolled asthma by 35% and improved asthma outcomes for more than 10,000 children. Kentucky receives just over $500,000 a year from the NACP each year and the funded programs save the state more than $36 million a year in reduced health care costs.

Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the U.S., affecting over 28 million Americans, including about 5 million children. Without prevention, costs will rise—especially for emergency care and hospitalizations. The NACP has a proven return on investment. It saves $71 for every $1 spent by preventing unnecessary ER visits and improving disease management. That’s exactly the kind of smart, efficient spending taxpayers expect. Cutting NACP means higher Medicaid and Medicare spending. States will see more ER visits, and higher long-term costs for both public and private insurers. Asthma leads to lost productivity. Asthma is a leading reason for missed school days, which not only affects a student’s academic performance but also causes missed work days for parents and guardians.

 As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Jenna Riemenschneider | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America | 7-7-25

Hear the second half of a speech given by Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences.  Her 'State of the Science' talk was given to the NAS assembly on June 3, 2025.  On our show last week, Dr. McNutt discussed the threats to US leadership in research and development.  This week she discusses what can be done to reverse these threats.  To hear her entire talk (and see the graphs and figures) watch it on YouTube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENzD7eVtZA

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal 


Bench Talk | Part-2 State of U.S. Science (Dr. Marcia McNutt, NAS) | July 14, 2025

Paul Hoppe, with cohosts Drs Michael Flynn, Gene Shively and their guest Dr Brende Lott, DNP, CNM (certified nurse-midwife) discuss Midwifery plus the effects of the draconian women's health laws in the State ok Kentucky.

Single Payer Radio | Dr. Brende Lott | Midwifery | 7-14-25

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, takes you to the forest with three friends on staff at Jefferson Memorial Forest! Join us for a conversation with Naturalist, Autumn Costelle, ECHO Mobile Program Lead, Rodney Perry, and Program Manger, David Grissom! In addition to discussing what is unique and special about Jefferson Memorial Forest, the largest urban park in the U.S., you’ll learn about programming offered at the Forest and the Louisville ECHO (Engaging Children Outdoors) initiative. Learn about the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative and the partnerships and support that has built the vision for it.

Learn more at the website for JMF and ECHO run by their non-profit partner, Wilderness Louisville:  https://www.wildernesslouisville.org/
JMF ECHO program: https://www.instagram.com/louisvilleecho 
https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleECHO/ 
https://www.facebook.com/jmfnaturalareas  
https://www.instagram.com/jmfnaturalareas/
 As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Rodney P., Autumn C. & David G. | Jefferson Memorial Forest | 7-21-25

We are celebrating our seventh year on the air with these stories of 'bizarre science'.  A tree that actually benefits from being struck by lightening?  A broad spectrum anti-venom treatment from a man who allowed himself to be bit by poisonous snakes 200 times?  Serendipitous videos of friendship between classic predators and prey?  All on this week's show!

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

 Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode:   https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal 

 Music ('Mambo Italiano' by Rosemary Clooney) is a public-domain song recorded in 1954. 

Bench Talk | Bizarre Science Stories! (Our 7th Anniversary Show) | July 28, 2025

Patty and Brian learn, reflect and engage with participants who attended the annual International Conference on Critical Thinking in July 2025.

#242 Critical Thinking for Everyone! | Reflections at the Critical Thinking Conference | 073125

On this week's show, we bring you an informed community conversation about brownfield contaminants at the site of Perry Elementary School in the West End (755 Dixie Hwy, at Broadway). This conversation with Audrey Ernstberger of the Kentucky Resources Council was hosted by the West Jefferson County Community Task Force on July 15, 2025.

Perry Elementary is located on property that was owned and operated by Phillip Morris USA, Inc., and was a tobacco stem processing plant. The manufacturing facility used many chemicals that are considered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that remained in the soil when Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) acquired the property. There are concerns about VOCs still currently on the school grounds after construction. If you missed the July 15th meeting at which Audrey Ernstberger, a staff attorney with the Kentucky Resources Council, led the discussion about this concern, you need to listen to this. The recording of the entire meeting is available here at https://transcripts.gotomeeting.com/#/s/d4a36bf5fc8d28119fe8f1e8a59c014cb8cce3193b49420161814284805769a1

Audrey Ernstberger is a staff attorney with the Kentucky Resources Council (https://www.kyrc.org). She graduated from Centre College and earned her JD from UofL's Brandeis School of Law. During law school, her energy law class and experience as a Resilience Justice Fellow researching equitable environmental access for vulnerable communities inspired her to pursue a career in envi-ronmental law. Shortly after law school, she pursued a Master of Laws from George Washington University Law School, attending classes and working as a research assistant to identify legal obstacles to preplanning electric grid development after a natural disaster. Before working for KRC, she worked for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission as a Legislative Analyst for the House and Senate Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee. Her advocacy experience includes her time as a Student Attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, where she and her co-counsel won a government benefits case on appeal.

Do you need more information about environmental concerns and legislation? Please read the “Summer 2025 Work in Motion” by the Kentucky Resources Council (KRC) found at https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:a79b7ed1-5c54-4776-9cca-8cea310b1b19?fbclid=IwY2xjawL5F1tleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMZDRlY2dvTjUwZEZCd2hlAR4xBilIpk_7ajQQdJqCR51YnouHzHV-_rMMocd5ogXm0mVhJ3XpjheUAlIeUg_aem_NREmXRfdsVVHrwdQrHUM1g&viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

West Jefferson County Community Task Force Monthly Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except December) 5:30-7pm online. The Task Forcebrings concerns and important information to residents and businesses about environmental, health and wellness issues that impact our communities. Topics vary each month. Join the conversation. Let your voice be heard and get the answers you need. Monthly topics are posted at https://facebook.com/WJCCTF. For more info, call Arnita at 502-645-3588. 

And we hope you can join us at the annual Environmental Justice Conference organized by WJCCTF, which will be held at the University of Louisville on Saturday, September 20th from 10am-2pm. Registration and more info will be available at https://louisville.edu/sustainability/events/2025-environmental-justice-conference

On Truth to Power each week, we bring you community conversations like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://forwardradio.org. If you like what you hear, share it with someone, donate to keep us on-air, and get involved as a volunteer!

Truth To Power | Audrey Ernstberger | Contaminants at Perry Elementary  | WJCCTF | 8-1-25

Hear more bizarre science stories for our 7th birthday celebration!   An alien spaceship (looking like a comet) traveling towards our sun?  Popping noises produced by plants, and the insects that can hear it?  Macaques who like to watch the same kind of videos that humans do?  Meteor showers, planets, and constellations in our night sky?  A rock on the edge of our solar system that 'dances' with Neptune?  Hear it all on this episode!

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am.

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio

Music ('Bienvenue au cirque' by Jean-Paul V) is a public-domain piece provided by pixabay.com.

Bench Talk | More Bizarre Science Stories! | August 11, 2025

This week, your Sustainability Now! host, Justin Mog, sits down with Robert LeVertis Bell, a JCPS teacher who has recently announced his candidacy for the open Kentucky House District 43 race. Bell’s experience includes social justice activism, teaching in JCPS, and leadership in the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In late July, Robert LeVertis Bell, a community organizer and veteran of Louisville’s progressive movement, announced his campaign to represent Kentucky House District 43 in the 2026 Democratic primary. Bell, a 45-year-old West Louisville native, is a seventh grade English teacher. In 2022, Bell ran for the same seat and lost narrowly to incumbent Pam Stevenson, despite the death of his mother at the end of the campaign and the full weight of the Democratic establishment backing his opponent. This time, the seat is open, as Stevenson is vacating it to run for US Senate.

Bell is entering the race at a moment of rising momentum for democratic socialist candidates across the country. His campaign draws inspiration from New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani’s recent upset victory in the New York City mayoral primary, where Mamdani, backed by DSA and a coalition of labor and progressive organizations, defeated a prominent establishment figure on a platform of housing justice and public investment. 

Bell’s political roots run deep—he is the grandson of Louisville civil rights legend Mattie Jones. He currently teaches English at Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North, an all-boys public school in South Louisville where Bell had also served as a JCTA union representative. 

Bell’s platform centers around four key planks: strong schools, safe and affordable housing, and real political power for working people. His proposals include:
•        Raising the minimum wage and cracking down on wage theft
•        Funding high-paying jobs in public schools for professional educators to teach children with best practices rather than relying on screens and AI.
•        Expanding union rights and collective bargaining across the public and private sectors
•        Fully funding public schools and universal Pre-K
•        Expanding renter protections, including local control over tenant laws and a pathway to rent control  
•        Repealing Kentucky’s anti-trans legislation (SB 150) and restoring abortion rights
•        A Kentucky Green New Deal that resists data center pollution, reins in LG&E, and pushes for public ownership of utilities
•        Securing local revenue authority for Louisville and reversing state interference

The primary election is coming up on May 19, 2026 and all 100 seats in the Kentucky House will be on the ballot next year.

More information on Bell and his platform can be found at https://www.bell4ky.com
Additional links:
Democratic Socialists of America: https://www.dsausa.org
Louisville DSA: https://www.dsalouisville.org 
Forward Radio does not endorse any particular candidates or pieces of legislation, but we do endorse an informed electorate. We offer equal air time to all candidates for any given seat.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Robert LeVertis Bell | Candidate for KY House District 43 | 8-11-25

Solutions to Violence features James Orlick. James Orlick is a higher education leader with more than 18 years' experience advancing inclusive excellence, social justice, and institutional change. He currently serves as Director of Grant Writing & Innovation for Inclusive Excellence at the University of Louisville, where he has helped secure millions in external funding to expand college and career pathways for historically underserved students.
A first-generation college graduate from McDowell County, West Virginia, James is a Pell Grant recipient and a proud member of the LGBTQ community. His lived experience fuels his lifelong commitment to educational equity, social mobility, and systemic change.
James has been a visible voice in Kentucky’s higher education policy debates, with his public advocacy against anti-DEI legislation featured in major news outlets. He successfully challenged the Kentucky Legislature’s violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act, resulting in a formal opinion from the Attorney General confirming the law had been broken.
His leadership spans cross-sector initiatives in diversity, equity, inclusion, workforce development, and place-based education. He has built partnerships with national legal, policy, education, and social justice organizations and helped organize a statewide higher education union uniting faculty, staff, and students.
James is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville


Solutions to Violence | James Orlick | Equitable Higher Education | Aug. 17, 2025

It’s a special live music edition this week, as your Sustainability Now! host, Justin Mog, is joined in studio by three local musicians who make up The Cottonwood Buds (https://www.instagram.com/thecottonwoodbuds). Rina Perlin is a lifelong singer and, for the past several years, also a practicing psychiatrist in Louisville. Jon Riesser enjoys all sorts of guitar, but especially likes flatpicking and accompanying folks in bluegrass and old time music - he plays guitar, banjo, a little harmonica, and sings in The Cottonwood Buds! He also does law professionally. Carolyn Waters is a vocalist and guitarist by night and a consultant for parks, outdoor programs, and ecology projects by day. The band is self-described as three buds playing folk-adjacent tunes in Louisville, KY. Three-part vocal harmonies with acoustic guitar and a few other novel instruments. Learn more about them at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561925151416

Tune in to hear The Cottonwood Buds perform a collection of three absurd climate change songs live in the Forward Radio studio! The set list includes covers of:
- “Vampire” by Neil Young 
- “Waiting for Superman” by the Flaming Lips 
- “Tables and Chairs” by Andrew Bird
After each song, we discuss the inspiration and the broader social issues these songs address.

Don’t miss your chance to see The Cottonwood Buds perform a full set of music out in the community at Deer Park Porchfest on Sunday, September 28th, from 2-6pm (https://www.deerparklouisville.com/porchfest)

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | The Cottonwood Buds | Live in Studio | 8-18-25

Dr Pat Murphy on his holistic approach to addiction treatment. James P. Murphy, MD, DFASAM is founder and CEO of Murphy Pain Center. He serves gratis as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He has earned a Master of Medical Management from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. He has board certifications in Pain Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and Anesthesiology. His Pain Management fellowship was at Rochester, Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic, where he also served on the faculty of the Mayo Medical School.

Single Payer Radio | Dr Pat Murphy - Successful Opioid Addiction Treatment | 8-11-2025

Big crowds turned up at two public meetings to express their ideas, make comments and ask questions regarding what they would like to see happen at these flood-prone parks and other public areas along River Rd between the Big Four Bridge and Indian Hills.  These meetings took place August 11 and 13, 2025 and were put on by the Louisville Office of Metro Planning, Metro Parks and the Department of Transportation.  Everyone was encouraged to fill out an online survey by Googling River Road Land Use Vision Plan and clicking on the "We Want to Hear from You!" icon.

Election Connection | The Public Speaks Out at Champions Park and Beyond Public Meeting | 8-11-25

#244 Critical Thinking for Everyone! | Critical Thinking Coaching | August 21, 2025

This week we bring you a vital community conversation about the impacts of Data Centers and LG&E/KU's plans to power them on our utility bills, our climate, and our environment. On the evening of August 19, 2025, Forward Radio’s proud Community Partner, the Greater Louisville Sierra Club hosted this conversation at United Crescent Hill Ministries with Elisa Owen, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer in Kentucky. 

Corporate energy giant PPL Corporation — parent company of Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) —is pushing a $3.7 billion fossil-fueled expansion and justifying this as needed to meet surging electricity demand from data centers and industrial projects. Instead of making big corporations pay their fair share, PPL wants Kentucky families to foot the bill through higher rates. 

Elisa helps us understand Kentucky’s Public Service Commission and the process of granting a CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity), the issues around emerging data centers, and what we can do as citizen activists to help insure a clean and reliable electric grid that benefits everyone and can power our country into the future while reducing coal and gas emissions, improving public health, and mitigating the impacts of our changing climate. Learn more at https://sierraclub.org/kentucky 

See also the July 30, 2025 Courier-Journal article, 'Who will bear the cost?': Utility rates could rise as Kentucky attracts data centers" https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2025/07/30/data-center-development-could-cause-utility-bills-to-rise-in-kentucky/85273453007
...and the August 8, 2025 article in the Kentucky Lantern, "Kentuckians tell state utility regulator to oppose new gas-fired power for prospective data centers"  https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/08/05/kentuckians-tell-state-utility-regulator-to-oppose-new-gas-fired-power-for-prospective-data-centers  

Another great resource is the Louisville Climate Action Network: https://www.louisvillecan.org/action/datacenters  

Video recording of this event is available at https://www.sierraclub.org/kentucky/greater-louisville-group

On Truth to Power each week, we bring you community conversations like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://www.forwardradio.org. If you like what you hear, share it with someone, donate to keep us on-air, and get involved as a volunteer!

Truth To Power | Elisa Owen | Data Centers and LGE | Sierra Club | 8-22-25

K.A. Owens interviews Robbey Taylor of Black Lives Matter and 50501. Topic: The State of Organizing in America. Recorded Saturday August 23, 2025, 1PM.

On The Edge With K.A. Owens | Robbey Taylor | Black Lives Matter and 50501 | Organizing | 8-23-25

Anita Davis  is a native Kentuckian, raised in Meade County. She has a BS in mathematics education and advanced degrees in educational administration. After teaching high school math for nine years, Anita served as an assistant principal in Marion County. She later served as Asst Supt in Elizabethtown Independent Schools before moving to the Oldham County schools district. There she served as the Asst Supt of Curriculum and Instruction and as the Chief Academic Officer before retiring. 
After watching the attacks on our democratic norms and institutions, she decided to join Kentucky Citizens for Democracy, a grassroots organization based in Oldham County. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Kentucky Citizens for Democracy.. 


Solutions to Violence | Anita Davis | Kentucky Citizens for Democracy | 8-25-25~0

What time of day is best to take pills for high blood-pressure?  There is new research indicating that nighttime dosage of hypertension pills might be best, but is it true?  Then hear an interview with particle physicist Dr. Harry Cliff, about how the current 'Standard Model of Particle Physics' is insufficient.  What gaps are there in our knowledge of subatomic particles and energies?  Thanks to the 'Big Picture Science' podcast for permission to rebroadcast this modified version of their August 11th show:  https://radio.seti.org/beyond-the-standard-model.

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode:  https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio 

Music ('Homeroad' by Kai Engel) provided on public domain by SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kaiengel/homeroad'.

Bench Talk | Timing Hypertension Pills - Standard Model of Particle Physics | August 25, 2025

We bring you something a little lighter and more fanciful on this Labor Day holiday on Sustainability Now!, as your host, Justin Mog, shelves his plans for colonizing Mars with Barry Zalph, retired engineer and environmental advocate. Tune in for a conversation that will debunk some of the myths about our ability to successfully settle humans on Mars and, hopefully, help you understand just how precious Earth is and how important it is that we focus all of our energy and innovation into protecting the only truly habitable planet we know of.

The ideas for colonizing Mars fall into two categories: Living underground for protection from the radiation that bombards the surface; and terraforming Mars to make it more suitable for human habitation. Tune in to hear more about Barry’s top ten list of the stupidest assumptions behind the “terraforming” idea:
1) We can increase the density of the Martian atmosphere by 160x;
2) We can shift the Martian atmosphere from 96% CO2 to match the earth's atmosphere;
3) We can control the CO2 concentration of the reconstituted atmosphere to 350 ppm +/- 100 ppm, outside of which humans can't function;
4) We can bring enough organisms from earth to build not one but many diverse, resilient ecosystems there, so that inevitable fluctuations in ecosystem health don't collapse all life on the planet;
5) We can bring enough small and large animals, not just microbes and plants, to reproduce without inbreeding;
6) We can function well with the day length, year length, sky color, solar radiation, solar wind, weather, clouds, gravity, magnetic field, etc. all different from that with which we have evolved for millions of years;
7) The first group of colonists, no more than a couple hundred, didn't die of boredom, claustrophobia, mutual murder, and alienation while living underground and slaving toward an impossible terraformed utopian ideal;
8) The resident population of Earth would keep busting their asses to provide the ludicrous amounts of energy, materials, and labor over at least 100 years in an attempt to fulfill this dream;
9) There is no life on Mars, or any life on Mars can coexist with our living systems or deserves to be killed off to make room for us; and
10) It is ethically sound for us to colonize another planet. What could possibly go wrong?? 

For more, check out:
Book: A City on Mars (2023), Kelly and Zach Weinersmith - humorous and well-researched. Kelly Weinersmith is a professor of Biology at Rice University in Houston. https://acityonmars.com/
Podcast episode: “Infinite Monkey Cage” episode dated 7/16/2025, “Should We Settle in Space,” with panelists Tim Peake, Kelly Weinersmith, and Alan Davies.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002fwpz

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Barry Zalph | The Folly of Colonizing Mars | 9-1-25

This program features Andrew Owen, Louisville's 9th District Councilman, tackling two topics:  (1) Changes to Louisville's elections as a result of passage of HB 388 in the Kentucky General Assembly.  Starting in 2026, Mayoral and Metro Council elections will be non-partisan; and (2) How Councilman Owen envisions making housing affordable and plentiful, especially in the city center, so that less people will end up homeless.  

Election Connection | Louisville's Switch to Non-Partisan Elections & Affordable Housing | Andrew Owen | 9-2-25

In this conversation from May 2024, Dr. Ricky L. Jones, an esteemed professor of Pan-African studies at the University of Louisville, discusses education, party affiliations, and the enduring legacy of historical figures with Lamont Collins, host of the Roots 101 Podcast and founder in 2020, of the Roots 101 African-American Museum. Located in downtown Louisville at 124 N 1st St., Roots 101 is a place where visitors can see themselves in history, explore the African-American story in its entirety, and gain a greater understanding of the achievements, cultural contributions, and experiences of our community. Get ready for an enlightening exploration of the past, present, and future. Learn more and watch these conversations at https://www.roots-101.org/podcast

Access Hour | Roots 101 Podcast | Ricky Jones | Unveiling Truths | 9-3-25

Patty and Brian discuss Nicholas Carr's new book, but they get sidetracked into hate-reading.

#245 Critical Thinking for Everyone! | Nicholas Carr & hate-reading | September 4th, 2025

Forward Radio was a proud media sponsor of Louisville VegFest - Kentucky’s premier celebration of all things vegan - on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from noon-6pm at the Mellwood Art Center! Formerly known as Bluegrass VegFest, this all-vegan, community-focused event highlights the joy of plant-based eating and conscious, sustainable living. Enjoy delicious food from regional restaurants and food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, inspiring speaker talks, a live cooking demo, an amazing lineup of vendors, kids’ activities, educational exhibits, and so much more. In addition to interviewing several of the vendors and participants, we brought you full, wall-to-wall live coverage of all of this year's speakers, including:

12:15pm  Kennedy Little, Food Empowerment Project
Kennedy Little from Lexington is a senior pursuing pre-Law and Agribusiness with a minor in Public Administration at Morehead State University. After going vegan in 2019, Kennedy began to use her background in agriculture organizing to help change the unethical norms many agriculture workers face. Kennedy works as a Youth Advocacy Team Member for the vegan and food justice nonprofit known as the Food Empowerment Project.

1:15pm  DOMINICK THOMPSON, Activist, Athlete, Creator, Author
Dominick Thompson is a powerhouse voice in the vegan movement - an Ironman triathlete, social entrepreneur, and animal rights activist who has inspired hundreds of thousands through his story and his work. After making the life-changing decision to go vegetarian while incarcerated 24 years ago, he’s gone on to become a leader in the No-Meat Athlete movement, launch his wellness brand Eat What Elephants Eat, and publish a cookbook with the same title. He’s also the real-life inspiration behind the upcoming film Land of Wolves.

2:15pm  BECKI STREIF, Founder of TRIBE ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Becki Streif is the co-founder and managing director of Tribe Sanctuary, a 10-acre haven just outside Louisville that provides lifelong homes to rescued cows, pigs, horses, goats, and other farmed animals - many with special needs. After watching Forks Over Knives in 2013, Becki and her husband, Greg, went vegan and began what would become a life-changing journey into animal rescue.  Becki’s talk, “Creating Sanctuary: Saving Lives and Building Hope,” will take you behind the scenes of what it takes to turn compassion into a mission, build a sanctuary from the ground up.

3:15PM  TODD ANDERSON, Cooking Demo by Chef & Cookbook Author @TURNIP VEGAN
Todd Anderson, better known as @TurnipVegan, is a self-taught chef, content creator, and cookbook author who’s inspiring hundreds of thousands to see plants in a whole new way. With nearly a million Instagram followers, Todd’s laid-back, creative approach to vegan cooking has made him one of the most beloved voices in the plant-based space. After watching a life-changing documentary, Todd transitioned to a vegan lifestyle and hasn’t looked back. Now based in Joshua Tree, he’s busy creating vibrant, flavorful vegan recipes and even building his dream greenhouse in the desert - all while showing the world just how delicious plants can be. His new cookbook is It’s All About Plantz & Mushroomz

4:15pm  NEMANJA GOLUBOVIC, Founder & CEO of Chicago vegan restaurant KALE MY NAME, Host of KALE CREW, the hit vegan travel and food show streaming on UnchainedTV.
Known for his infectious energy and passion, Nemanja has become one of the most influential voices in the vegan movement, inspiring hundreds of thousands through his restaurants, media projects, and advocacy for animals. His Chicago-based restaurant Kale My Name has been crowned “America’s Vegan Restaurant of the Year” by VegOut Magazine, won VegNews’ Veggie Award for “Best Vegan Casual Restaurant,” and has earned national recognition from PETA and the Chicago Reader. At VegFest, Nemanja filed an episode of Kale Krew’s new season and shared how we can harness the power of social media to create meaningful change, from raising awareness and sparking conversations to inspiring action and helping build a more compassionate world.

Full details: https://vegkentucky.org/vegfest

LIVE from Louisville VegFest | September 6, 2025

Michael Slider is the executive director of Kentucky Citizens for Democracy, Oldham County Branch. Kentucky Citizens for Democracy has become the go-to group in Kentucky media and other organizations looking for information on the connections between immigration/ICE and Kentucky jails. Michael Slider has been featured in the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Lexington Herald-Leader and Jeffersonville Indiana’s News and Tribune, Forward Kentucky, the Oldham Era, WAVE 3, WDRB, WLKY and WHAS News. Michael Slider has a blog on Medium.com where he writes on political and societal issues, education, and spirituality. He spoke at rallies in Kentucky at Shelbyville, Louisville, and Lexington. He ran as an independent candidate for U.S. Congress in 2004 in Kentucky’s 4th District. He is a retired, Kentucky high school social studies teacher and principal.

Solutions to Violence | Michael Slider | Kentucky Citizens for Democracy | Sept. 7, 2025~0

This week we summarize and supplement a July 31 article in 'The Atlantic' magazine called "Every Scientific Empire Comes To An End:  America’s Run As The Premier Techno-Superpower May Be Over."  (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2025/07/science-empire-america-decline/683711/).  We discuss repressive regimes that have stifled scientific achievement in the past, and compare that with what is happening in the US now.  The show ends with a survey of the September night sky by Kentucky astronomer Scott Miller.

‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. 

Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode:  https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio 

Music is 'Magic in the Garden' by Rafael Krux (freepd.com).




Bench Talk | Is America Losing It's Scientific Prowess? - September Sky | Sept 8, 2025

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, brings you into the audience, last Tuesday evening, September 4th, when the Louisville Palace played host to a packed audience for Beyond the Bridge: Film Screening & Panel Discussion on Ending Homelessness.

“Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness” sheds light on homelessness and the urgent need for permanent supportive housing, and provides a roadmap for cities to move toward solving unsheltered homelessness. This special event was sponsored by the Coalition for the Homeless, Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Louisville Downtown Partnership, Metro United Way, and Metropolitan Housing Coalition. The panelists included
Louisville Mayor, Craig Greenberg
Don Sawyer, Producer / Director of Beyond The Bridge
Jim Mathy, Milwaukee County Housing Division Administrator
Eric Collins-Dyke, Milwaukee County Supportive Housing and Homeless Services Assistant Administrator
Moderator: Natalie Harris, Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless (https://louhomeless.org)
Thank you by: George Eklund, Director of Education and Advocacy, Coalition for the Homeless
Learn more at https://louhomeless.org/beyond
https://asolutiontohomelessness.com/ 
Home For Good: a shared vision to end street homelessness in Louisville at https://metrounitedway.org/home-for-good

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Sustainability Now! | Beyond The Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness | 9-8-25

Election Connection | Robert and Sarah at Burning Man 2025 | 9-9-25

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   This week, we bring you highlights from the first hour of our live broadcast from the Louisville VegFest on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, noon-6pm, at the Mellwood Art Center! Again this year, Forward Radio was a proud media sponsor of Louisville VegFest —Kentucky’s premier celebration of all things vegan! Admission is FREE to over 19,000 sq ft of indoor space, with additional food trucks and select vendors bringing the fun outside, too! Formerly known as Bluegrass VegFest, this all-vegan, community-focused event highlights the joy of plant-based eating and conscious, sustainable living. Visitors enjoyed delicious food from regional restaurants and food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, inspiring speaker talks, a live cooking demo, an amazing lineup of vendors, kids’ activities, educational exhibits, and so much more. Learn more at https://vegkentucky.org/vegfest

Our first speaker of the day was Kennedy Little from the Food Empowerment Project. Kennedy Little from Lexington is a senior pursuing pre-Law and Agribusiness with a minor in Public Administration at Morehead State University. After going vegan in 2019, Kennedy began to use her background in agriculture organizing to help change the unethical norms many agriculture workers face. Kennedy works as a Youth Advocacy Team Member for the vegan and food justice nonprofit known as the Food Empowerment Project. Learn more at https://foodispower.org/author/klittle/

On Truth to Power each week, we bring you community conversations like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://www.forwardradio.org. If you like what you hear, share it with someone, donate to keep us on-air, and get involved as a volunteer!


Truth To Power | Louisville VegFest Hour 1 | Kennedy LIttle | Food Empowerment Project | 9-12-25

Forward Radio is independent, listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, grassroots community radio WFMP-LP Louisville, Kentucky. We have been broadcasting at 106.5fm and live-streaming at forwardradio.org since April 9, 2017. Please donate at forwardradio.org to keep us on-air. It costs $20/day to keep this programming coming your way.

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