Jonathan Bastian

Louisville's Public Accommodations Law, 50 Years Later: Marie Porter's Story

Jonathan Bastian — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:45:36 +0000

Marie Porter was child of the Civil Rights movement. She was raised in the west Louisville, and at the age of 11 was one of the first African-Americans to integrate into a predominantly white school.

In 1961, as a high school student, she took part in “Nothing New For Easter,” during which she and others refused to purchase clothing from stores that practiced racial discrimination.

That year, and into 1962, Marie Porter took part other demonstrations, marches and sit-ins that occurred on Fourth Street.

Compassionate City: Matthieu Ricard

Jonathan Bastian — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:10:50 +0000

For the last installment of our interviews leading up to the Festival of Faiths and the visit by the Dalai Lama, I spoke with Matthieu Ricard.

A native of France, Ricard originally studied to become a scientist. But, trips to the Himalayas to commence his studies with many of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters changed his entire life course. At the age of 30, he became a monk. Among his many accomplishments has been revealing the connection between meditation and neuroscience. Ricard has also served as the French translator to the Dalai Lama.

Enjoy the interview.

Compassionate City: Louisville's Father Joe Mitchell

Jonathan Bastian — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:14:44 +0000

Here's the latest installment of our interviews with spiritual leaders as Louisville prepares for the Festival of Faiths conference and a visit by the Dalai Lama.

Compassionate City: A Conversation with Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel

Jonathan Bastian — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:36:39 +0000

This is the first in our series of conversations leading up to the Dalai Lama's visit to Louisville in May.

I spoke with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel about connecting between meditation and compassion. We also discuss the evolving process of translation of Buddhist texts, how Namgyel got interested in Buddhism, and what she'll discuss when she speaks in Louisville for the Festival of Faiths conference beginning May 14. She's also the author of, "The Power of an Open Question."

Listen to the interview below.

The Gavin Newsom Equation: Government + Technology = Citizen Engagement

Jonathan Bastian — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:12:28 +0000

Gavin Newsom, the two-time mayor of San Francisco, and current Lieutenant Governor of California, believes that government must embrace new technology to remain relevant.

This is the subject of his new book, “Citizenville: How to take the town square digital and reinvent government."

I recently caught up with Newsom to discuss this book, and where he sees the connection between citizen engagement and government efficiency.

Garry Wills asks: 'Why Priests?'

Jonathan Bastian — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:21:46 +0000

There’s been a lot of talk about the resignation of the Pope, and the state of the Catholic Church.

And it’s likely, my guest, Gary Wills, takes one of the more controversial positions in his new book: “Why Priests? A Failed Tradition.”

Wills is a prolific author, scholar of religion and spent five years in a Jesuit Seminary.

In his new book, he argues that there is no evidence in the bible or early Christian documents for the creation of a Priesthood. But rather, it was an invention, created after the death of Christ. Check out my conversation with Wills:

Compassionate City: Preparing for the Dalai Lama's Visit to Louisville

Jonathan Bastian — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

There’s been a lot of attention surrounding the Dalai Lama’s visit to Louisville on May 19.

But what some people might not know is that his event will be the final act in week of teachings on the theme of compassion.

On May 14-19, The Festival of Faiths will bring in teachers and educators from an array of traditions. These teachers include the Tibetan Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard, and Franciscan friar, Richard Rohr. And, as Owsley Brown, the co-chair of the program told WFPL's Jonathan Bastian, at the center of these teachings will be an iconic photograph.

The Jared Diamond Interview: Learning from Traditional Societies

Jonathan Bastian — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:16:12 +0000

Jared Diamond likes to rethink the biggest of questions — like how the world became modern, or how societies historically fall apart.

His books include, “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” which won the Pulitzer Prize, and “Collapse.”

His new book is equally ambitious. It’s called, “The World Until Yesterday: What we can learn from traditional societies’.”

Drawing on decades of research living among the tribes in New Guinea, Diamond explores ancient solutions to our most basic of problems, like health, justice and relationships.

The Politics of Extremism: How Did It Get So Bad?

Jonathan Bastian — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:09:54 +0000

Filibusters. Super PACs. Citizens United. Endless party squabbles. How did we get to this point?

That's the exactly the question that Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution has been asking. With Norman Ornstein, they co-authored, "It's Even Worse Than is Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the Politics of Extremism."

Mann diagnoses the situation historically, and ultimately provides solutions. I recently caught up with him for a live interview. Take a listen:

Is Louisville a Leader of Insourcing Jobs? The Atlantic Says Yes.

Jonathan Bastian — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:27:40 +0000

At its height, the General Electric Plant in Louisville employed 23,000 people. That was in 1973.

After that, the plant began to shrink — laying off more and more employees. Like other manufacturing giants, it followed the outsourcing trend, sending jobs overseas, and especially China.

By 2011, GE bottomed-out with less than just 1,900 jobs in the Louisville plant.

But in February of 2012, something began to change. New jobs were created. A new assembly line opened — the first since 1955.