The Squirrel News Podcast

In this special, personal episode, we continue our conversation about history with a special guest and a special project in which Jonathan's father recently rediscovered the story of Kurt Klein and Gerda Weissmann Klein: two Jews who left Germany during and after World War II, married and became very well-known in the US due to Gerda's book "All but my life" – but remained almost unknown in Germany. In this episode, we speak with their son Jim Klein about how his father Kurt saved Oskar Schindler, lessons from his mother for politics today, and the meaning of re-establishing contact with a left-behind part of family history. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf Links Gerda Weissmann Klein: All But My Life Project Website "Kurt Klein" (in German) Gerda und Kurt, Graphic Novel (German) Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

In this episode, Ed and Jonathan, a Jew in LA and Jonathan a German in Berlin, reflect on current political events and their personal relation and experience with it: The rise of the far-right AfD in Germany, mass protests against it, and how Germany deals with the past in general; and on the other hand, the possible comeback of Donald Trump, racism and antisemitism in US history. By the way, we’re just getting started. Much more to come in our next episodes. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Can psychedelics like MDMA drive positive social change? Journalist Rachel Nuwer wrote a book on "MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World", and in one chapter she describes how taking the drug in a scientific study seems to have helped a former white nationalist leader change his extremist beliefs. In this episode, Rachel explains how this could be possible, how MDMA could have similar effects on others and where the limits are. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf Photo: Gil Gonzalez Stories discussed How a dose of MDMA transformed a white supremacist, BBC Rachel Nuwer, I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023 Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

When thinking about global development, toilets are not the first thing that comes to mind. But facilitating access to toilets for everyone has surprising benefits for health, nutrition, safety, education and the economy. In this episode, Sarika Saluja, General Manager of the World Toilet Organisation, explains why universal access to toilets is more important than we'd think, why even governments are not sufficiently aware of that and how the situation has been improving over the last years. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Mathias Warzecha Questions: (00:4:17) Introduction of Sarika (00:5:00) Whats the World Toilet Organisation and what do they do? (00:7:52) Wow do we get a different view about this issue? (00:10:20) Why is the design of Toilettes different all around the world? (00:11:55) Why is access to toiletts more important than medicine? (00:13:52) Are governments aware about this important problems? (00:15:12) Whats the 6 sustainable development goals? (00:16:10) Why do people, especially women, in developing countries stop eating and drinking in the evening? (00:18:32) What leads to sanitation issues? (00:21:43) India has made significant progress in recent years by constructing over 111 million toilets? (00:23:08) The program in India is the biggest program by a government in the world? (00:24:08) How do job opportunities in India increase due to toilets? (00:25:50) What is the World Toilette Colleague? (00:29:08) When do you think everyone in the World will have access to a toilette? Stories discussed Half of India couldn’t access a toilet 5 years ago. Modi built 110M latrines – but will people use them? CNN World Toilet Organisation Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

A popular saying goes: “nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” and the four-day work week (without any salary cuts) seems to be exactly such an idea. More and more companies around the globe are introducing it. In the UK, the world's largest trial so far has just ended with positive outcomes regarding health, productivity, revenues, job satisfaction and more. In this episode, Dale Whelehan, a behavioural scientist and the new CEO of the NGO 4 Day Week Global, tells us why he wasn't surprised about the results and how the positive outcomes are interconnected. Hosted by Jonathan Widder; edited by Mathias Warzecha Stories discussed Four-day week: ‘major breakthrough’ as most UK firms in trial extend changes, The Guardian A hundred UK companies sign up for four-day week with no loss of pay, The Guardian Four-day week 'an overwhelming success' in Iceland, BBC 4 Day Week Global Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work. - - - - - - - - -

What can citizens do to contribute to halt global warming? Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell set out their plan to turn their London street into a community solar power station. In this episode, Dan tells us why they use art and filmmaking to promote their project, how they crowdfunded the necessary money and how the couple is inspiring more and more neighbourhoods and public institutions to follow their model. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nicolas Antochewicz Photo: Peter Searle Links The ‘solar punks’ turning their London street into a community power station, Positive News Power to the people: the neighbours turning their London street into a solar power station, The Guardian Film „We the Power“ Project website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Classical reparations may be a good idea, but financially such one-off payments are not very sustainable. That's why a congregation from the Bay Area came up with another idea and introduced a zero-interest loan programme for Black homebuyers. In our new episode, Susan Russell from the Black Wealth Builders Fund explains to us how it works and how it can drive change in the future. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Jens Krijger. Stories discussed ‘This is not charity’: A predominantly white congregation attempts reparations, Prism Black Wealth Builders Fund Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Not long ago, nature was our natural environment. Nowadays, more and more children grow up in cities without much contact to trees, hills, meadows and animals. For kids from low-income families it can be even more difficult to spend time outside their towns. And sometimes transport poverty can even prevent necessary hospital visits. San Francisco based non-profit Yoots has taken up the challenge to connect these children with the outside natural world. In our new episode, Yoots founder Craig Flax tells us how they do that and why free public transport would be a good help, but not enough. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Links How A Non-Profit Transport Organization is Connecting Today’s Youth with the World, Sengerio Yoots Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Millions of American families depend on food banks, but why until recently has nobody come up with a better solution? Dion Dawson realised that something is wrong with food banks when he had to wait in the rain with his family for hours only to obtain expiring fruits and some unlabeled can goods. Today he's the founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, a non-profit that delivers free healthful, nutritious food to families in need – an approach that solves multiple problems at once. In our new episode, Dion talks about the advantages of his programme and explains why some people need good food, but not recipes. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Links Dion's Chiago Dream Website: https://dionschicagodream.com/ Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

After having dealt with anxieties for years, Scott Oughton-Johnson created a walking group for men with similar issues. Now more and more of such groups are starting in the UK. In our new episode, Scott tells use why the idea works so well and how it could develop in the future. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Maris Keller. Links The man who set up a mental health walking group for ‘blokes’, The Guardian Website: theproperblokesclub.co.uk Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Can humour help solve social problems? Comedian Jimmy Tingle thinks it can. With his project "Humor for Humanity" he aims to raise spirits, funds and awareness for non-profits and social causes. In our new episode, Jimmy explains to us how that works and shares impressing anecdotes on the President of Moldova and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf & Jens Krijger Links Humor for Humanity, Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

A few years ago, authorities in the Indian state of Rajasthan faced a unique problem: inmates who had served their sentences did not want to leave prison. They had done time in open prisons without wardens or guards, but with their familes instead. Since that moment, researcher and activist Smita Chakraburtty has studied Rajasthan's open prisons and contributed to their spreading in India. In our new episode, Smita explains to us how the systems works, what benefits it has and how she effects reforms in an industry dominated by men. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf. Links India’s ‘Open Prisons’ Are a Marvel of Trust-Based Incarceration, Reasons to be Cheerful Prison Aid and Action Research (PAAR) website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

The positive benefits of playing music are well known. But instruments are expensive and courses even more so. St Louis based non-profit Pianos for People aims to eliminate these barriers by providing both free pianos and free lessons to children of low-income families. In this episode, executive director Matt Brinkmann tells us how the concept works and what impact it has on the children. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf. Stories discussed In the key of joy: Pianos for People gives instruments to St. Louis children, CS Monitor Pianos for People, Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

Severe depression is a taboo, and when people talk about it, they usually do it with utmost seriousness. Angie Belcher, founder of Comedy on Referral, has another approach: She teaches men at risk of suicide standup comedy – and has just won NHS funding for it. In this episode, Angie explains to us how she came up with the idea and how using self-satire on stage makes people stronger and more self-confident. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Stories discussed Standup comedy course for men at risk of suicide wins NHS funding, The Guardian Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

There are several online magazines covering exclusively "good news", but hardly any newspaper. Interestingly, Branden Harvey, the man who founded one of them, had never purchased a printed newspaper in his life before. In this show, Branden tells us why he did it anyway, what kind of impact their stories have, and what the difference is between feel good news and real good news. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf. Links Good Good Good website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Please donate now to help us continue our work.

In our daily lives, we prepare for almost everything, but not for communication about our thoughts and feelings. The organisation Rehearsal for Life prepares young people for crucial situations in daily life using improvisational theater. In this episode, Ed talks with their artistic director, Faith Soloway, associate director and co-writer of the hit Amazon series Transparent, Jackson Jirard, as well as troupe leader Holly Zarnower about how the approach works and what kind of impact it has. HTML Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Links Rehearsal for Live Website Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Donate now to help us continue our work.

Loneliness is now considered a public health issue. Is there a cure? Chuck McCarthy may have invented one by chance, when he started a service that connected people who didn't know each other before to talk a walk together. In our new episode, we're talking to Chuck about the great potential of common walks and the suprising outcome of scheduled conversations with strangers. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Story discussed The loneliness problem in L.A. starts with traffic. Could it end with a walk? Los Angeles Times Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Donate now to help us continue our work.

Playfulness is a quality most adults don't think about, let alone as something desirable or even a skill. Yet, recent research suggests exactly that. In this episode, we talk with René Proyer, a professor for psychology from Austria who has studied playfulness in depth and explains to us why playfulness can be part of the solution for many problems. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Thomas Barth. Stories discussed Why adults should embrace their playfulness, BBC Guest: Professor René Proyer Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Donate now to help us continue our work.

Millions of people struggle with mental health issues, especially in the Black community. So Lorenzo Lewis, founder of The Confess Project had a unqiue idea. He brought mental health to where people go and talk about life; the barbershop. The team trains barbers to become mental health advocates for black men, boys and their families across the country. In this episode, the project's Chief People Officer, Darnell Rice explains to us why and how a haircut can be much more than just a haircut. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Jens Krijger. Stories discussed How America's first mental health barbershop project is changing the look of therapy, The Denver Channel Project website: https://www.theconfessproject.com Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Donate now to help us continue our work.

Social inequality is one of the major problems of our times, and housing is one of the areas where you can feel that immediately. In a movement called incremental development, people who would usually not be able to afford it and sometimes not even think about it help each other aquire residential property, often very successfully. In this episode, we spoke with Mike Keen, a sociology professor who is part of the movement in South Bend, Indiana, and Mary Hall, a journalist who covered the approach. Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann. Story and links The City Owned by Locals, Reasons to be Cheerful Incremental Development Alliance website Monte Anderson, Incremental development pioneer Squirrel News Squirrel News is a free, curated news service. Find our more about Squirrel News on our website or read our latest news. Download our app or subscribe to our newsletter. Donate now to help us continue our work.