Roots and Resistance: Earth Day Reflections with Malvina Reynolds
About this episode
This episode reflects on Earth Day by exploring the cultural roots of the environmental movement through the music of Malvina Reynolds.
In this special Earth Day edition of A Political Talk Show, Dennis "Sonar" Greene shifts the focus from policy to people, land, and legacy. Honoring the environmental movement’s cultural roots, Greene revisits the powerful folk music of Malvina Reynolds, the songwriter and activist whose lyrics gave voice to ecological and social resistance. Through songs like "What Have They Done to the Rain" and "God Bless the Grass", Reynolds challenged environmental degradation, urban sprawl, and political complacency. Greene explores how her work continues to resonate in today’s climate discourse, bridging past and present struggles for sustainability. With commentary, historical context, and featured recordings, this episode weaves together environmental justice, grassroots music, and Earth Day activism—reminding listeners that the fight for the planet has always had a soundtrack.
People in this episode
Host: Dennis "Sonar" Greene
Topics covered
- environmental justice
- folk music
- Earth Day
- sustainability
- cultural roots
- activism
Keywords
- Earth Day
- Malvina Reynolds
- environmental movement
- folk music
- sustainability
- activism
- ecological resistance
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: What Have They Done to the Rain, God Bless the Grass
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