My trip out to Hicksville in Long Island was easy, no real traffic. I really enjoyed my interview on Michael J. Mand's show St. James Infirmary. We had a fun free flow conversation, and I also got Michael to answer my favorite question "What inspires you?" Michael's "day job" is dentistry. Michael is a dentist with an amazing love of music and people. On air he calls himself Michael The Molar Maven a perfect handle.

Here's an MP3 audio of the full interview:

Michael's comfortable style of interviewing revealed his inquisitive nature asking me such questions that ranged from "What's the difference between an engineer and a producer," "Who invented seats that recline?" to "What is it about musicians that make them more activist than dentists?" We discussed the rights of a subway performer, and Michael's experiences meeting other performers. We touched on other subjects ranging from rap as folk music, to violence against women. I performed live, and Michael played my Rise Up (One Billion Rising) song that I wrote for Eve Ensler's V-Day.org. The show is a little over an hour. To the left of the image of Michael and I is the MP3 file of the entire interview

When chatting about New Yorkers Say No To War, apologies to Laura Flanders for mangling her name. And to Willie Nile song One Guitar (completely missed the 2nd verse)… that's my world of live interviews folks!

Eve is one of the most remarkable leaders of our time. A provocative playwright, an intensely adept voice, and a tireless presence wherever violence against women is unveiled. In bringing atrocities to light, she is a fearless seeker of truth. From villages in Africa, campus’s in America, to congressional hearings, her focus is fierce. Her words strong, her action deeply committed. Eve’s campaign of non-violence throughout the world, is essential and worth our support. V-Day is run by a very small group of people committed to ending violence against women. Their efforts are funded through people like you and me.

Congratulations Eve!!

Eve named one of U.S. News & World Report's Best Leaders 2009!

U.S. News Media Group, in association with the Center for Public Leadership (CPL) at Harvard Kennedy School, today released the 2009 edition of America's Best Leaders, available online at www.usnews.com/leadersand featured in the November, 2009, issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine, on newsstands Tuesday, October 27.

V-Day Founder Eve Ensler has been named Best Leader 2009 along with 22 of the country's most exemplary individuals, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Operation Smile founders Bill and Kathy Magee, Artist Twyla Tharp, and Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin.

According to U.S. News press release, the fifth annual Best Leaders issue honors a select group of men and women from a variety of fields including business, public service, education, and arts. These inspiring professionals have contributed to industry advancements with their innovation and achievements, and through their advocacy, service, activism, and philanthropy, have dedicated their careers to improving the everyday lives of people across the globe. "The country has faced exceptional challenges in the past year," said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S.News & World Report. "With our Best Leaders issue, we focused on individuals from a range of industries who have demonstrated unwavering leadership and a commitment to finding solutions in this difficult time."