The Squirrel News Podcast

#40: Solarpunk utopias and benevolent AI

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:11:00 +0100

The solarpunk movement creates utopias of how the future might look if humanity succeeded in solving major contemporary challenges. Jeremy Dela Rosa and Nico Shi are part of it. In this episode, they tell us why the world needs new utopias that are open to technological progress, and how they connect communal living with benevolent AI.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf

Links

www.agartha.one

www.jeremy.love

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#39: From viewing to doing: How to use entertainment to change society

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:11:00 +0100

Nick Hudson and his organisation E2AC (entertainment to affect change) are bridging the gap between two worlds: entertainment and non-profits. In this episode, Nick explains to us, how he came to create a "philanthropic Netflix", how E2AC inspires movie lovers to take action, and why donating and supporting a cause can be addictive.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf

Links

E2AC Website: www.e2ac.org

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#38: The Connection Cure

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:12:00 +0200

In a new medical trend, more and more doctors are prescribing outdoor pursuits and social activities instead of drugs and medication. Solutions journalist Julia Hotz has spoken about this topic on our podcast before. In this episode she returns to talk with us about the book she has written on the subject in the meantime: "The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging."

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf

Links

Julia Hotz, The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. Simon & Schuster

Julia Hotz (Website)

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#37: Meet a Jew

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Tue, 14 May 2024 11:28:00 +0200

Prejudices about Jews are still widespread today. Yet many young people in Germany have never consciously met a Jew. The project ‘Meet a Jew’ aims to change this by bringing Jewish volunteers together with school classes and clubs. In this episode, project coordinator Masha explains what the encounters achieve and why many participants are amazed by them.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Leon Wolf

Links

Project website

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#36: Rediscovering the past to shape the future – with special guest Jim Klein

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder; editing: Leon Wolf) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:28:00 +0200

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)

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#35: Personal notes on current events and the past

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder. Editing: Leon Wolf) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:34:00 +0100

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

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#34: MDMA and social change

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder; Editing: Leon Wolf) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:24:00 +0200

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

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#33: Why toilets are a key to progress

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 25 May 2023 11:14:00 +0200

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

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#32: The benefits of the four-day work week

info@squirrel-news.net (Jonathan Widder. Editing: Mathias Warzecha) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 20:30:00 +0200

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

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#31: The Solar Punks: Bringing power to the people

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:50:00 +0100

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

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#30: Zero-interest loans for Black homebuyers

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder; Editing: Jens Krijger) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:32:00 +0100

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

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#29: 'You can't be what you can't see': How to connect low-income kids with nature

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder; Editing: Thomas Barth) — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 22:04:00 +0100

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

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#28: How to tackle food poverty with the tools of a modern start-up

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:27:00 +0100

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/

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#27: Walking clubs for better mental health

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder, Maris Keller) — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 18:22:03 +0200

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

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#26: Humor for Humanity

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 20:47:00 +0200

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

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#25: India's open prisons

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 22:06:00 +0200

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

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#24: Free pianos for disadvantaged kids

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 11:18:00 +0200

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

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#23: Standup comedy for men at risk of suicide

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:42:00 +0200

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

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#22: The Good Newspaper

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 10:37:00 +0200

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

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#21: Rehearsal for Life

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:29:00 +0200

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

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#20: People Walking

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 22:08:00 +0200

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

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#19: The unknown advantages of playfulness

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 12 May 2022 21:15:00 +0200

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

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#18: The Confess Project – A Mental Health Barbershop Movement

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 22:11:00 +0200

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

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#17: Cities owned by locals – or how to become a landlord with little money

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 21:04:00 +0100

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

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#16: Empowerment Avenue – bringing solutions journalism into prisons

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:42:00 +0100

There are few places where it is more difficult to be heard than in prison. One of our guests in this episode, Emily Nonko helps incarcerated people to publish stories on solutions by pairing them with outside editors – while our second guest, Ryan Moser is serving a ten year sentence in prison himself, and tells us what writing in prison means to him, things that he's learned and how he is preparing for a well-paying job in sustainable industries.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Resources

Stories by Ryan Moser:

Things That I’ve Learned in Prison

Why I’ll Leave Prison Ready for a Green-Collar Career

Empowerment Avenue Website

The Press in Prison guidebook

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#15: Adversity to University: degrees for homeless people

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:28:00 +0100

In this episode, we're talking to two special guests, Becky Edwards and Darren Higginson. Becky has established a pioneering programme at the University of Chichester that opens up access to higher education for people who have experienced homelessness. Darren is one of her students and on the path to doing a sociology degree.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Story discussed

The pioneering university project helping homeless people get degrees, The Big Issue

Toolkit to implement the programme elsewhere

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#14: New Zealand's plan to end smoking, top chefs offer vegan menus, roundabouts saving lives

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:58:00 +0100

In our fourteenth episode, we're talking about New Zealand's unique plan to eliminate smoking, Michelin-starred chefs who are going meat-free, and how roundabouts in Indiana reduce both accidents and emissions.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

New Zealand unveils unique plan to eliminate smoking, New York Times

Out with the meat, in with the plants as world’s top chefs offer vegan menus, The Guardian

How roundabouts reduce carbon emissions as well as accidents, New York Times

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#13: The NGO that introduced a $70,000 minimum wage

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 22:46:00 +0100

In our thirteenth episode, we're talking to Sean Goode, director of the NGO 'Choose 180', who just increased all employee salaries to an annual minimum of $70,000.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

This nonprofit has introduced a $70,000 minimum wage for their staff, Seattle Times

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#12: Changing lives by phone, exchange programme across states, US Navy ship named after Harvey Milk

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:10:00 +0100

In our twelfth episode, we're talking about a buddy system for homeless people via phone, an exchange programme connecting high schoolers from diverse backgrounds, and a new US Navy ship named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

U.S. Navy names ship after assassinated gay rights activist Harvey Milk, NPR

Support system via phone changes lives of homeless people in US, Reasons to be cheerful

The Exchange Program Sending American Teens Across State Lines, Next City

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#11: Special: Solutions for children

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 11:35:00 +0100

In this episodes, we're talking about solutions and progress for children worldwide: from the first malaria vaccine in Africa and a bill banning corporal punishment in Pakistan to mental health days for schoolchildren in Illinois and a partnership in the UK aiming to make school grounds greener and more animal-friendly.

Stories discussed

WHO gives the go-ahead for the first malaria vaccine in Africa, BBC News

Pakistan passes historic bill banning corporal punishment of children, The Guardian

Schoolchildren in Illinois will be able to take 5 mental health days off school, NPR

"Nature-friendly schools" are helping the UK's wildlife-deprived children, BBC News

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Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#10: Owls replacing pesticides, dogs saving koalas, airport pig patrol, sheep on seaweed diet

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:56:00 +0100

In our tenth episode we're talking about some amazing ways animals can help humans and other animals.

Besprochene Beiträge

Vineyards in California substitute pesticides for owls, Bay Nature

Pig patrol keeps Europe's busiest airport safe, BBC News

One dog rescues 100 koalas from the Australian bush fires , Good News Network

Sheep on seaweed diet can curb methane emissions , Euronews

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#9: Female judges in Egypt, death metal eco-baron, rehabilitation through dogs

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:32:00 +0100

In this episode, we're talking about the first female judges in Egypt's State Council, an Irish baron who rewilds his estate, and a dog rehabilitation program in California providing prisoners with hope, love and reduced sentences.

Correction: One headline reported in the show is not quite correct. Instead of "Egypt swears in first female judges to judicial body" it should say "Egypt swears in first female judges to State Council".

Stories discussed

Egypt swears in first female judges to State Council, AP News

Lord of the plants: Irish baron 'rewilds' estate in the name of environmentalism, Euronews

London pub accepts old iPhones and other unwanted tech as payment, Euronews

Rescued dogs help rescue incarcerated people from life sentences, Reasons to be Cheerful

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Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#8: Basic income for Irish artists, paying addicts to stop using, Taekwondo for grandmothers

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:46:00 +0200

In our eight episode, we're talking about a basic income scheme for artists and art workers in Ireland, a bold approach to treating drug addiction, and a surprising self-defense initiative in a Kenyan slum.

Stories discussed

Irish basic income scheme for artists and art workers set to be piloted in 2022, Irish Times

California is paying drug addicts to stop using, NPR

Philadelphia's neighbourhood tree ambassadors are facilitating climate action, Next City

Not absolutely sure about this one, Africa News

Squirrel News

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Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#7: Special – Social prescribing

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:35:00 +0200

In our seventh episode, we're talking about a new approach to tackling physical and mental health issues: social prescribing. Special guest Julia Hotz explains why more and more doctors in the UK are recommending outdoor pursuits or social activities instead of prescribing specific drugs or medications.

Story discussed

A radical plan to treat Covid’s mental health fallout, Wired

Squirrel News

Squirrel News is a free, curated news service.

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Donate now to help us continue our work.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#6: Human library, paid parental leave for fathers, influencers fighting conflicts

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 10:18:00 +0200

In this episode, we're talking about a library of "human books", the global trend towards parental leave for fathers, village women in India protesting for an alcohol ban in order to reduce cases of domestic violence, and how social media influencers in Lebanon use their outreach to mitigate ethnic conflicts.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

Human library helps people challenge prejudices, BBC Sounds

Working fathers push for paid parental leave, 19th News

Protests in India: Could bans on alcohol reduce domestic violence? The Guardian

Lebanese influencers join forces to fight hate speech and de-escalate, DW

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#5: Eco-city Medellin, news literacy in Illinois high schools, mooncakes destigmatizing mental health issues

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:05:00 +0200

In our fifth episode, we're talking about the planned transformation of Medellin into an eco-city, the introduction of news literacy as a subject in Illinois high schools; a simple approach to prevent eviction; and fast-seeling mooncakes that symbolize a shift in attitude towards mental health problems in Shanghai.

Stories discussed

Medellin reinvents itself as Latin America's first eco-city, Aljazeera

Illinois high schools will be required to teach news literacy, NPR

Eviction alert prevents tenants from becoming homeless, High Country News

How mooncakes help to destigmatize mental health problems in Shanghai, Sixth Tone

Squirrel News

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Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#4: 10 billion trees in Pakistan, Congo's children Bearbeitenswap mining for education, free pianos for St. Louis children

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 09:35:00 +0200

In our fourth episode, we're talking about Pakistan's plan to plant 10 billion trees, the impact of free primary education in Congo, and an organisation providing free instruments and music education for low-income families in St. Louis.

Articles discussed

Pakistan will plant 10 billion trees to cut pollution and bring fresh air to cities, Reuters

Congo's free primary education results in falling numbers of child miners, Reuters

Connecting ranchers with land stewards might be the answer to less intense wildfires, Civil Eats

Pianos for People provide free instruments and music education to St. Louis children, The Christian Science Monitor

Squirrel News

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Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#3: Special – Prison reform and the Compassion Prison Project

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:36:00 +0200

In our first special episode, we're presenting amazing approaches like a prison model without wardens and guns in Brazil, and we're talking to Fritzi Horstman, the founder of the Compassion Prison Project.

Further stories mentioned

Brazil's jails reduce recidivism rates without wardens and guns, DW

Reducing incarceration decreases number of violent crimes in the US, Reasons To Be Cheerful

Prison with no fence helps women readjust to life in the community before their release, Charlotte Observer

Fitness entrepreneurship course offers a second chance to the formerly incarcerated, Next City

Two prisoners care for fellow inmates with mental illnesses in pioneering US initiative, The Christian Science Monitor

Former inmates partially run probation system in US, BBC

Prisoners are becoming lawyers in the US, Reasons To Be Cheerful

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.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

#2: Four-day working week, state-financed imam training in Germany, mental health barbershop project

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:19:00 +0200

In our second episode, we're talking about the four-day working week in Japan and Iceland, state-financed imam training in Germany, and a project that makes barbers mental health coaches.

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

Japanese government proposes four-day working week, DW

Four-day working week a huge success in Iceland, DW

State financed imam training starts for the first time in Germany, DW

Mental health barbershop project is changing the way we look at therapy, The Denver Channel

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.

#1: Global minimum tax rate, pig whisperer, lying flat in China

info@squirrel-news.net (Ed Crasnick, Jonathan Widder) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:12:00 +0200

In our first episode, we're talking about the prospect of a global minimum tax rate, a Dutch farmer who invented a unique "pig toilet", and a movement among young people in China who are highlighting the need for a lifestyle change by "lying flat".

Hosted by Ed Crasnick and Jonathan Widder; edited by Nina Bohlmann.

Stories discussed

G7 agrees historic new global minimum tax rate for big businesses, DW

The pig whisperer: the Dutch farmer who wants to end factory farming, The Guardian

The tang ping trend is highlighting Chinese desire to change working culture, BBC News