In the Corner Back By the Woodpile

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #71: From the Ukraine to Nashville

As Jews, Geralda & Yuri Zhislin's parents miraculously survived the Nazi invasion of the Ukraine only to next feel the persecution of the Soviet Union's systematic anti-semitism. But the family endured until they were finally allowed to leave out from the Iron Curtain in the late 1980's. Having to completely rebuild their lives, the Zhislins now live modestly but happily in Tennessee. The sweet couple come back by the woodpile to share their stories and their witness to history. 

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #70: In Earshot of Tito Puente's Timbales

 

Tito Puente was considered hands down the "King of the Mambo", pushing and molding the genre of Latin jazz known by many names over time. To Puente whether it was called Afro-Cuban, Cubop, Cha-Cha, Boogalo or Salsa, it was all the same to him: great dance music. Jim Payne author of Tito Puente: King of Latin Music comes back by the woodpile to discuss the master's life and their time together. 

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #69: Charlie & the Jazz our kids will throw away

Even when Charlie Coleman was a kid, hot jazz was fading from the mainstream public's musical preferences. But knowing great music when he heard it, Coleman continued to dig, collect and support the art form. Some 80 odd years later, Charlie comes Back By the Woodpile to share with us his favorite finds and something about his own life, always in orbit round the first musical genre America could claim as creating.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #68: Tao of Tao IV - Master Hu

Master Hu is Taoist scholar who discusses the relationship between the philosophical and religious spectrum of Taoism, the attempt to incorporate Confucianism, making pilgrimages and his inspiration in ancient poet Li Bai.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #67: 1980's Roller Rink Dumpster V

More highlighting of overlooked artists from the 1980's decade. Including Pseudo Echo, The Lazy Cowgirls, the Roxanne Roxanne answer records, 鄧麗君, 15 60 75 Numbers Band, Judson Spence & X Japan. Also a quick tribute to the film Kung Fury.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #66: Catastrophe Steve

This episode features a guy named Steve C who's had a lot of disappointment in his life. Date-killing bad memory and bowels, opening for a puppet, cock roaches in the drawers and hauling lots and lots of sand. Come- let's laugh at Steve!

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #65: Tryna Herd Cats XII

Another philosophical discussion, this time around on such light subjects as martyrdom, socialism, forgiveness, failure and spilling huckleberries.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #64: Fluorescent Decade on a Hill V

More tripping backwards to the 1980's where this time around we chat about The Kinks doing it again, a Tennessee Waltz crush in Zimbabwe, hanging in a dragon's park, watching sci-fi writers compose at a window and swim team follies.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #63: Joe Torre & his Amiga

Joe Torre has been around the computing block both in soft and hardware since the 1970's. By taking advantage of his luck and pushing discipline on himself, Mr. Torre rose in the ranks of the emerging computer industry, ultimately getting to live the dream by scoring a gig at Amiga Computers in the 1990s. We get to hear all about this and more on this week's In the Corner Back by the Woodpile!

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #62: Mrs. Hattie Bruce of Williamson County

On this week's episode of In the Corner Back by the Woodpile, African-American Hattie Bruce comes from the past tells about her own simple but charmed life. Hailing from Williamson County, Tennessee Mrs. Bruce recalls of cursing without knowing it, hand-me-down dresses causing tears on the dance floor, a community seemingly sheltered from the troubles of the day and quite a bit more.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #61: Tryna Herd Cats XI

More philosophical back and forth, this time around discussing the stuff found in silence, time's changing hands and knowing perfection through wretchedness.

In the Corner Back by the Woodpile #60: Fluorescent Decade on a Hill IV

Not everyone in the 1980's were walking on sunshine. On this installment of our look back podcast, we talk back to bullies, go to Southern Mexico to get into a middle of a bunch of political tangles, stand in Romanian food lines, celebrate the heartache that brought about U2's New Year's Day and witness a rural inter-town break dance battle.