Bar Crawl Radio
Society & Culture
About
Did you ever have a really interesting conversation at a bar -- sharing ideas over a couple of martinis -- and wish you could've bottled it? That's Bar Crawl Radio . Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson invite amazing people to bars all over the word -- make a toast -- and then talk about about whatever inspires them -- makes their lives worth living. We talk to all sorts of interesting people doing important work for their community at a neighborhood bar -- composers -- actors -- musicians -- medical ethicists and practitioners -- playwrights & poets -- journalists -- politicians -- social activists -- community organizers & NGOs -- scientists -- brewers & mead makers -- businesspersons -- and fellow podcasters -- recording mostly in Manhattan's UWS. Who knows? BCR might be at a bar -- near you. Tell us what you think of our programming. CONTACT: <a href="mailto:barcrawlradio@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blan
Episodes
- Gal Beckerman asks: "Should I be a dissident?"
Throughout human history the political dissident has been imprisoned, tortured, murdered. Today’s dissident opposing the U.S. war machine is silenced by corporate media and punished by U.S. courts. And mostly – unseen. Why do they do…
- Nature of the U.S. Military: Carl Dix
This BCR conversation with Carl Dix was recorded at Gebhards Beer Culture Bar on the UWS. Mr. Dix is a leader of the RevCom Corps for the Emancipation of Humanity. Our conversation focused on his his experiences with the U.S. military when…
- Nature of the U.S. Military: Matthew Hoh
For many of us, our country is walking a tightrope between democracy and autocracy. I am a US American civilian. I avoided serving in the US military during the Vietnam War. My father and son were in the military – one in WWII – the o…
- Steven Fechter: "The Big Breeze"
I spoke with Steven Fechter about his newest novel -- "The Big Breeze" -- the story of Joseph Bye a phenom baseball pitcher who at the peak of his career was hit by a car and crippled. Eventually, he became a painter of baseball…
- Choosing Humanism Over War
Rebecca McKean and I started this program asking why so many U.S. Americans call Mayor Mamdani a "communist" and then explore the humanist idea that we all live in individual "landscapes" that form our perspectives and emotions -- and that…
- 3 Witness Palestine Christians
A conversation with three men who recently traveled to Palestine to witness the state of Palestinian Christian communities living in Israel-occupied West Bank. What they experiences was horrific and hopeful. Horrific in the brutality of th…
- William Hartung: Stand-Up & U.S. Military War Machine
William Hartung -- senior researcher at The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft -- reads from his new book "The Trillion Dollar War Machine" and talks about The Big Five -- the U.S. military industrial complex using American tax do…
- Anjali Mehta: Conquering the 7 Summits & Gender-Based Violence. Pt 2
Anjali Mehta is a 31 year-old mountain climber challenging the "seven summits" to support international agencies fighting gender-based violence and to bring attention to the rights of transgender girl athletes. In the first part of this tw…
- Anjali Mehta: Conquering the 7 Summits & Gender-Based Violence - Part 1
Anjali Mehta is a 31 year-old mountain climber challenging the "seven summits" to support international agencies fighting gender-based violence and to bring attention to the rights of transgender girl athletes. In this first part of a two-…
- Zuccotti Park Redux?
This BCR program opened with a bit of Richard Harris' rendition of "MacArthur Park" and then quoted Daniel Libeskind -- whose architectural firm rebuilt the World Trade Center site; he described the slurry wall that held back the Hudson Ri…
- Theatre Critics -- David Cote & Zoe Kaplan
For this Park Bench Chat edition of Bar Crawl Radio podcast we talked about the changing nature of the New York City theatre review and how Tik Tok might be dumbing down the craft of the NYC theatre critic. Joining us on a park bench in th…
- Story of the Amsterdam Hostel: Institutional Dignity
NYC's Upper West Siders might know the 142 year-old, block long, many-storied, red-brick building on Amsterdam Avenue at 103rd Street. Completed in 1883 and designed by Gilded Age architect Robert Morris Hunt – famed for the Biltmore Estat…
- Stop the Chop: The beat goes on -- w/Melissa Elstein & Ken Coughlin
“Stop the Chop” exists to eliminate non-essential helicopters from the skies above New York City – because – according to the "Stop the Chop" website: “Tourist, charter and commuter helicopter flights dramatically reduce the quality of lif…
- Fasting for Gazans: Kathy Kelly's "Other Lands Have Dreams -- Day 33
Day 33 -- Veteran's For Peace "Fast for Gaza." This will be the final of the "Fast for Gaza" conversations with peacemaker Kathy Kelly. It was the beginning of a brutal heat wave in NYC; we found a shady spot on the UN side of 1st Av…
- Fasting for Gazans: Kathy Kelly / How bad is it? -- Day 26
Day 26 -- Veterans for Peace "Fast for Gaza . This BCR podcast begins and ends with music -- "Let My People Go" -- from “System Ali” – nine musicians -- Jewish and Arab -- singing in their native languages – Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Yiddis…
- Fasting for Gazans; Kathy Kelly / Joy Metzler -- Day 23
Day 23 -- VFP Fast for Gaza. I spoke with peacemaker Kathy Kelly and former member of the US AirForce Joy Metzler and asked them about their life choices that led them to join the "Fast for Gaza." Joy Metzler, 23, is a…
- Fasting for Gazans -- Kathy Kelly / Madleen Peace Boat -- Day 19
Monday – June 9, 2025 -- 19th day of the VFP Fast for Gaza -- talking with peacemaker Kathy Kelly and friends, as they consume no more than 250 calories a day for 40 days in solidarity with the citizens of Gaza who have been forced to exis…
- Fasting for Gazans; Kathy Kelly / Brian Terrell -- Day 16
This is Day 16 of the Veterans for Peace "40-Day Fast for Gaza." Since May 22, 2025, I’ve been talking with peacemaker Kathy Kelly who has been fasting to raise awareness about how the citizens of Gaza are starving. It is the day before Ei…
- Fasting for Gazans; Kathy Kelly / Global Solidarity for Peace in Palestine -- Day 12
Monday - Day 12 of the 40 day fast -- Veterans for Peace's "Fasting for Gaza. I met up with peacemaker Kathy Kelly as she was starting a Zoom call with Global Solidarity for Peace in Palestine. Afterward, I asked her about Dr. Mazin Qumsiy…
- Fasting for Gazans; Kathy Kelly / Mike Ferner -- Day 9
Friday - Day 9 of the 40 day fast -- Veterans for Peace's "Fasting for Gaza." When I arrived at the US Mission across from the United Nations in Manhattan, a dozen peace activists where facing 1st Avenue with their signs calling Israel and…
- Fasting for GAZANS -- Kathy Kelly -- Day 6
I am talking with peace activist and Nobel Peace nominee Kathy Kelly as she fasts for 40 days in solidarity with the Palestinian people starving in Gaza. This is the sixth day of her fast. I first spoke with Catholic Worker Martha Hennessy…
- Fasting for GAZANS -- Kathy Kelly -- Day 1
A NEW BCR SERIES: Starting on May 22, 2025, several peace activist will fast for 40 days -- vigiling in front of the United States Mission to the UN. They demand an end to US support of Israel's military and urge the American government to…
- NYC Sleep Doctor -- Dr. Janet Kennedy
We were out in Riverside Parks at the "You've Got Mail" Promenade bench of our choice talking with NYCSleepDoctor.com Dr, Janet Kennedy. The tourist helicopters were ubiquitous and our UWS neighbors had many questions for Dr. Kennedy about…
- Gabriel & Diana Guillen at the West Side Community Garden
A podcast featuring people working for their neighbors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Cellist Joseph Darcourt @ West Side Community Garden - May 2025
West Side Community Garden on May 25, 2025 – Joseph Darcourt is an American-born Peruvian-Taiwanese cellist who has been honored by three US presidents. When he was 12 -- he debut at Carnegie Hall. And at 16 he began researching the p…
- Helping UWS Migrant Neighbors
Bar Crawl Radio is back at the West Side Community Garden talking with UWSers helping those in need on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.Wendy Straus and BCR producer Alina Larson talked about their work for Open Hearts Initiatives and Past…
- Ross Barkan's "Glass Century": Opinion Columnist & Novelist
Ross Barkan’s newest novel “Glass Century” is a panoramic story of New York City from our crime-ridden 70s. through the tragedy of 9/11 to the COVID lockdowns. The story focuses on Mona Glass a photojournalist in love with tenni…
- Talking About THE AMERICAN-pt. 5: We Are Not Your Soldiers
A conversation with two veterans of American wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan – about their work with “We Are Not Your Soldiers” – informing high school and college students about the morally unpleasant truths of the US military. In 2008 th…
- Talking About THE AMERICAN-pt.4: Dear on Merton on Violence
For this BCR series I have been asking American peacemakers: “What are we talking about when we talk about ‘The American’?” This program looks to a Jesuit priest and peacemaker Thomas Merton. At the end of “The Root of War” published…
- Talking About THE AMERICAN pt. 3: How'd we do w/AIDS?
This is the third in the BCR series "Talking About The American" -- We are asking American peacemakers to try to explain how they see the qualities of our countrymen. This episode – How’d we do with AIDS? I was in Syracuse for a Veter…
- From Conflict to Collaboration with Rob Fersh
Rob Fersh talks about collaborative problem solving and his new book, co-authored with Mariah Levison “From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems” – As our country divides up its wealth between a few gazillionair…
- Talking About THE AMERICAN pt. 2: Brad Wolf on Philip Berrigan
This BCR Podcast series will be asking American peace activists a question borrowed from Raymond Carver: “What are we talking about when we talk about ‘The American’ ?” This episode looks at an anti-Vietnam War, anti-nuclear peace activist…
- Talking About THE AMERICAN pt. 1: Burying Gaza Babies
TALKING ABOUT "THE AMERICANS": BURYING GAZA BABIES On December 9, 2024 -- I talked with several of the nearly 50 protestors holding a mock funeral on a plot of grass at the front of the Syracuse Federal Building . It was a rainy and cold m…
- Church of Stop Shopping with Rev Billy
For this BCR recording we were at the Hollow Nickel Bar in Brooklyn NY. Why a hollow nickel -- check out their website. We had a wild, funny and crucially important conversation about the work of the Church of Stop Shopping wit…
- Composer's Concordance: Contemporary Music Explosion
Once again -- recording on the porch of Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar located in Manhattan's Upper West Side -- BCR hosts Rebecca McKean and Alan Winson talk with the four composers and performers and leaders of Composer's Concordance about "…
- Ought to Give Iowa a Try: Hot Air Brewing
July, 2024. BCR visited the Hot Air Brewing in Creston, Iowa this summer. It is a bastion of liberality and acceptance. We were in Iowa to visit our friends Brian Terrell and Betsy Kennan of the "Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm,"…
- 26th Kateri Peace Conference: A Panel on War.
The 26th Kateri Peace Conference held in Fonda, NY in mid-September, 2024 was entitled “What’s Love Got to do with it?” The outcome of peace activism is the end of always-war. If, indeed, we are all connected on this minusc…
- Melissa Bramble on the St. Kateri National Shrine and Historic Site
Mid-September. BCR moderated the 26th Kateri Peace Conference panel with anti-war and anti-nuclear deterrence activists. We took that opportunity to talk with Melissa Bramble the Director of Operations of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Nat…
- Eli Northrup: Future of Politics and Justice
Back in early Spring 2024 -- we net Bronx Public Defender Eli Northrup as he was beginning his run for NY State Assembly representative for the UWS. We were recording outside the Goddard Riverside Community Center at West 88th St and…
- Harris OR Trump? Report from Mexico & Scotland
BCR podcast traveled to Mexico and Scotland in August and asked what citizens of the world were feeling about the U.S. Presidential election. Nearly everyone I met was aware of the election and had significant and personal feelings about "…
- Walk Thru Maloy Iowa with Brian Terrell
Mid July, this year -- 2024 – Rebecca McKean and I flew into Chicago and then drove to Maloy Iowa – a few miles north of the Missouri border. We passed Joliet – Dekalk – Moline – Iowa City – Cedar Rapids - Ottunwa - Mt Ayr – then…
- History of the West Side Community Garden
For the past three years BCR podcast has recorded on Sundays in June from the West Side Community Garden, As usual, we talked with neighbors doing amazing work for their community and featured the music of local artists performing in the G…
- Scott Munson Jazz Quintet @ the West Side Community Garden / June 2024
Complete performance of the Scott Munson Jazz Quintet at the West Side Community Garden on June 16, 2024. CONTACT: barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- La Manga @ West Side Community Garden - Full Concert - June 2024
A full length presentation of a performance by La Manga in the West Side Community Garden in June 2024. For a conversation with La Manga founder, Daniela Serna, go to BCR #230. Alan Winson barcrawlradio@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast…
- David Andersson of Pressenza @ the WSCG
For the fourth time this summer Bar Crawl Radio podcast is not at a bar. But we are continuing to have conversations with neighbors doing positive work for their community. We will be talking with a citizen journalists who work…
- Walking for Peace in Inwood Park
For this BCR conversation we were not at a bar having a conversation with people working positively for their communities – but at Inwood Park – in upper Manhattan – former home of the Lenape People. Catholic Worker, Anthony Donovan, opens…
- Chance & Choice @ the West Side Community Garden
For this BCR conversation at the West Side Community Garden we investigated the stories of two ladies--one affected by chance--the other by choice. The first story is about a chance phone call that led to instant and fleeting fame – and th…
- Kumara @the West Side Community Garden Concert
Kumara is a uniquely global trio of musicians who create a synthesis of sound that is unique and beautifully inspiring across and within cultures and communities. I spoke with Samite who plays African Harps and the Kalimba and Shem Gu…
- Stop the Chop & Kumara @ WSCG
It was another post COVID, pre climate catastrophe Sunday on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Rebecca McKean and I – Alan Winson – co-hosts of BCR podcast – had erected our sound studio in the southwest corner of the West Side Commun…
- "The Keeper": Film about suicide in the U.S. military
This BCR conversation talks about suicide in the U.S military. A growing statistic: Women and men who had dedicated their lives and minds to the most destructive military ever – are killing themselves at increasing rates. I spo…