Asheville FM

The home of Asheville FM, WSFM-LP 103.3

Show Posts

Reflections on Medical Conditions in Gaza by a Recently Returned Nurse

by

Reflections on Medical Conditions in Gaza by a Recently Returned Nurse

Photo of a bombed hospital in Gaza with rescue workers approaching from the street

Our chat with Louis, an anarchist emergency room nurse who has just returned from a second tour doing healthcare work in Gaza and is about to leave again. During this difficult conversation, we talk about medical conditions that he encountered in Gaza, what aid is getting in and how it’s being distributed, health infrastructure and how this relates to his prior mutual aid and anti-border work in the so-called USA. You can find a prior interview with Louis from Living and Fighting blog.


More Posts for Show: The Final Straw Radio

Dharma from the Public Domain with Sarah B.

by

Twice a year 103.3 Asheville FM changes its on-air schedule to make room for new shows and give current DJs a chance to move time slots or drop from the schedule, based on their needs. (Programming at Asheville FM is done entirely by volunteer DJs and show hosts.)

This article is part of a series introducing you to the new shows hitting our schedule.

Dharma from the Public Domain is a unique addition to the Asheville FM on-air schedule. In this educational program Sarah B. reads from Buddhist books whose copyrights have expired. Along with the reading she offers commentary punctuated with calming musical interludes, or sound meditations. 

In the first episode, Sarah expresses her love for the public domain—which consists of all creative works that aren’t protected by intellectual property laws and can therefore be shared without restriction or permission—by comparing it to a playground. She reveals that the word “dharma” basically means “the teachings of the Buddha.” “No stranger to these airwaves,” Sarah has hosted two past shows at Asheville FM: Songs for Friends and Time & Other Thieves 

In discussing how she picked which teaching to share on the first episode of her new show, Sarah says she was overwhelmed by the options available. She decided to choose from the titles under the first date range listed at HathiTrust.org. Their vast digital library could provide countless hours’ worth of material for future episodes!

Dharma from the Public Domain airs every Sunday morning from eight to nine. You can listen to the lastest archive here.


More Posts for Show: Dharma from the Public Domain

A Personal Experience With Neurodiversity

by

Written By Kyle C.

Simona Rock visited the studio on Tuesday during Open Air’s “Life On Purpose” to share her experience with neurodiversity: its impact on her and the resources that have helped her understand the world. Simona is a holistic nurse focused on cardiac rehab and lifestyle medicine. In her work as a nurse – in addition to her role as educator, performer, and energy worker – Simona teaches mindfulness to help process this world around us. It was through this practice of mindfulness and meditation that she began thinking about the ways in her life she has always felt different.

Simona shared that her diagnosis of being on the Autism spectrum was a slow process that only resulted in a diagnosis about a year ago. She didn’t even consider her status on the spectrum until she began looking back on her childhood through the eyes of her nephews and TV personalities. She recalled her teachers showing concern for what she perceived as just being “quiet.” She remembered instances of feeling overwhelmed by the stimuli of her senses. Simona shared that her life story was one of discovery including through spirituality from Christianity to meditation always in an attempt to find identity. As she explored what in life can offer her comfort, Simona said that connection to the world was like “unlocking the puzzle of me.”

To hear Simona’s full interview and learn how to be an ally of the neurodivergent community or hear resources including Autism coaching click here.


More Posts for Show: Open Air

Twin Leaf Brewery interview

by

Written by Kyle C.

On Tuesday, August 20th, on his show B Sides & Brews, Buffalo Mike interviewed Tim Weber, the owner and head brewer of Twin Leaf Brewery. Tim was happy to share his background and introduction to brewing as well as his more recent endeavors. He has been a professional brewer for 10 years and was a homebrewer for about 8 before that. Twin Leaf opened in March 2014 after Tim moved to Asheville in 2012.

Tim’s beer journey began in college. He majored in engineering but found himself enrolled in a microbiology lab course. The professor talked about working in a yeast lab, and Tim’s curiosity was piqued. He found a summer job at Iron Hill Brewery in Delaware, and by 2006 he was hooked. He bought his own brewing equipment and made brewing his life. He only brewed on weekends, but Tim didn’t own a TV, so all his spare time was spent reading and learning about his craft. He started, as most people do, on the stove, and over the years used his engineering background to build more and more technologies. Eventually, Tim had himself a homebrew robot that did most of his process for him!

Tim’s very first brew was a Hefeweizen. He said he “did almost everything wrong, but I loved it anyway.” His favorite beer style is a German pilsner. He is a beekeeper on the side and says of his hobbies—beer and bees—“the more you learn about them, the more you realize you don’t know what you’re doing.”

To hear the full interview with Twin Leaf’s Tim Weber, listen here at the archives.


More Posts for Show: Brews & Blues

Migrant Solidarity in the Mediterranean Sea by Quoyle (ACAB2023)

by

report back from a wayward American anarchist in the Mediterranean search-and-rescue scene - Sunday 3:30 @ Different Wrld" over a photo of a sailboat and other worn out boat at seaThis week, we’re sharing a presentation from the 2023 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair in so-called Asheville, NC. From the presentation:

The Mediterranean Sea is Europe’s deadliest border. For years, non-state actors like Sea-Watch and other NGO’s have played a part in humanitarian search-and-rescue operations. In spite of legal repression and the technical challenges of maintaining a “civil fleet”, anarchists, anti-fascists, and other activists try to stop needless death at sea.

Hear a report back from a wayward American yacht-punk who spent the summer doing rotations on two different SAR (Search And Rescue) ships. We’ll discuss the general political situation, the reality of everyday operations and how you could get involved.

For more audios from ACABookfair 2023, check out the site. To hear a 2023 interview we conducted with an activist with Maldusa on a similar topic, you can find it at our website and a longer edition of this presentation can be found there as well.

We also have this 2016 interview by A-Radio Berlin that we aired in 2016 about conditions  a No Border Camp in Greece. And here’s one we conducted with an immigrant from Africa and a supporter in Germany in 2016. Also, check out this podcast called The Civil Fleet with voices of others involved in solidarity in the Mediterranean route.


More Posts for Show: The Final Straw Radio

Studies revealed in recent Alzheimer’s conference show air quality affecting dementia

by

Written by Jordan Lenoir 

Environmental degradation, and more specifically wildfire smoke, worsens air quality tremendously and does not only affect the general health of people, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association, deeply affects Alzheimer’s disease and brain health.

In yesterday’s segment of Asheville FM’s Newshour, Patryk Battle interviewed Katherine Lambert of the Alzheimer’s Association regarding exciting developments from the association’s recent conference which discussed wildfire smoke and how it affects brain health, and how to lower risks of dementia diagnosis regarding air pollution.  

The Alzheimer’s Association “has a vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia” and aims for this by not only caring, supporting, and educating, but also lots of research. Lambert dived into the Alzheimer’s Association’s recent international research conference where there were “lot’s of exciting developments on the research front.” Some topics that were discussed at this conference include biomarkers, blood tests, rural and underserved communities, pharmaceutical trial reports, lifestyle intervention, and diagnostic tools. 

In recent years, wildfires have become more and more prevalent in North Carolina, which led Battle to sharing, “wildfire smoke is way more significant than a lot of us may think.” Lambert revealed that she was interested to find out just how prevalent wildfire smoke has become and that “wildfire smoke is an increasing threat to brain health.” Lambert shared that “breathing in wildfire smoke can be particularly hazardous” and “the exposure to wildfire smoke increases the risk of being diagnosed with dementia more than other forms of pollution.” 

Lambert revealed that researchers have shared some ways to lower risks: regularly update home air-filtration systems, stay inside during unhealthy levels of air quality, and wear a mask (outside) when air quality levels reach a certain point.  

For more on this topic, listen to the full episode on Newshour.


More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour