Today's Out and About - Tracy Simmons - Executive Director - Spokane FāVS

 

Our beliefs shape who we are and what we do. A person may not think that they have purposefully adopted any philosophy, religion or modis-operandi, yet their beliefs steer the ship of their life. In fact, sometimes what a person professes as their beliefs may actually run counter to what they unconsciously believe, as manifested by their words and actions. At least, I think this is true.

Today on Out and About, I will be talking with Tracy Simmons. Tracy is the Executive Director of FāVS News. You may have read her excellent columns in The Spokesman-Review. FāVS News is a website that features news from the world of religion and ethics from our corner of the world. Spanning the gap between the secular and nonsecular, FāVS News brings stories that makes all people (believers, atheists, agnostics and everyone in-between) think about what they truly believe and how those beliefs are manifested. We will talk about her work bringing this dialogue to all, and how her journey, as a queer person, has guided her steps of discovery along the way. 

And manifesting as part of my belief system, I will also be telling you (as usual) when and where all the pro-democracy demonstrations will be taking place this week. 

Thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University.

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Nick the Beet's new anti-fascist poem and zine!

 

Nick the Beet has a new poem - Be-etitude and it really is an anti-fascist beauty. Nick is going to donate all proceeds from the sale of the zine, which features rousing illustrations along with the poem. What's next, setting it to music? Yeah. Probably. The zine is only $3, but if you order four, the price comes down to $2.50 each. Best of all, the sales are going to go to Spokane Pride for this year's Pride Festival and Parade. You can check out all the details here - https://maevegriffith.com/nick-the-beet.html

Haiku Friday, April 17, 2026

 

Haiku Friday April 17, 2026

Watching old men walk:

Legs fragile and steps halting, 

One fall from rehab. 

Max Q

this mountain top view

separating these two worlds

and yet where they meet

Bill

A chimp's in office

flinging sh*t around the world.

We can only duck.

April

I hate Pete Hegseth

Disgusting god-botherer

knows nothing of god

April

Cowards at the top

An Empire of the Senseless 

A trap for new fools 

Rikosan

Nick the Beet beats feet

Running from snow seeking heat

Slow words in the sleet

Maeve  

Yesterday's Out and About - Ty Bruner from The People We Meet Podcast...

Yesterday, I had a fun conversation with my friend and fellow Spokane Fire Department retiree Ty Bruner. Retirement is a great time to refocus and retool for new things that you will help bring into the world. Ty’s story is no exception. He took all those interviewing skills that he had employed in the fire department and repurposed them into a new podcast that he hosts. It’s called The People We Meet and you can hear it on every podcasting platform. He interviewed me and I really like the job he did. You can check out his website at https://thepeoplewemeetpodcast.com and take a listen.  

If you missed yesterday’s Out and About, here's a link - https://archive.kyrs.org/mp3/kyrs_260414_160000b.mp3

As always, thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University. 

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Today's Out and About - Ty Bruner, Host of the People We Meet Podcast...

 

Today on Out and About, I will be talking with brother firefighter and podcaster Ty Bruner. After Ty retired as a Spokane Fire Department battalion chief, he launched into a new endeavor of podcasting. He has a great way of making people feel comfortable, while asking some really great questions. Ty’s podcast is called The People We Meet. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Ty interviewed me for an episode, and although it was a little strange not being the one asking the questions, it was a great experience. He produced a great show. Looking forward to our conversation today! 

As usual, I will also be telling you when and where all the pro-democracy demonstrations will be taking place this week, as well. 

Thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University.

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Haiku Friday - April 10, 2026

 

Hearing impaired senior at a Springsteen concert, LA, 4/7/26

“The guitars, the horns, 

“The drums, have all been muffled,”

I hear myself think.

Max Q

A well trodden trail

Leading to the noonday sun

A late winter hike

Bill

The brain that remains 

Seeking Herostratic fame 

To go down in flames 

Rikosan

Immoral Mikey  

Stooge explains his mad king’s words 

Dishonorably

Maeve

Bill's photo - 

Go to HaikuFriday.com for more! 

Submit your haiku to MaeveGallery@gmail.com 

Yesterday's show - Cricket Green from Sew She Can...

 

Yesterday on Out and About, I talked with Cricket Green from Sew She Can. This nonprofit that Cricket founded teaches marginalized women, including refugees and victims of domestic abuse, not only how to sew, but how to translate this skill into making a living. We talked about how she became involved in this endeavor, the social and political aspects of clothing and clothing as a form of protest. Cricket is from India, and we talked about Gandhi’s act of political defiance at the spinning wheel and loom. We also talked about her organizing a recent event that provided free prom dresses and suits to local high schoolers. Cricket is a delight to converse with and I think that really came through in the interview.

The show started with KYRS board member Carol Ellis pitching a small fund drive for the station on April 15. I did my usual listing of protest opportunities this week.  If you missed the show, you can take a listen here - https://archive.kyrs.org/mp3/kyrs_260407_160000b.mp3

As always, thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University. 

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Today's show - Out and About - Tara Mickschl and Cricket Green from Sew She Can...

 

Today on Out and About, I will be talking with Cricket Green and Tara Mickschl from Sew She Can. Sew She Can is a new nonprofit that, in their words, will enable participants to gain “practical tools, creative expression, and economic opportunities that help them imagine and shape their own futures.” If you’ve listened to my show before, you know that fighting destruction and changing the world through creativity is a theme I come back to time and time again. 

We will be getting started five minutes late to make time for an announcement from one of our board members - Carol Ellis. I will also be telling you when and where all the local demonstrations against our fascist, criminal national regime will be taking place this week. 

Thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University.

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Haiku Friday - April 3, 2026

 

Ozymandias

Met his double, Kubla Khan, 

On the White House lawn. 

Max Q 

It’s just a toilet -

A shitter, pissoir, can, john -

And gender neutral. 

Max Q 

I’m sorry, buddy - 

Distracted, forgetful, too. 

Damn those four-way stops! 

Max Q 

Get the shovels out

Six inches of snow today

When will winter end.

Bill

Nice view from up here

Hanging out on a Friday 

Iron Nails Ran In

Rikosan

Golgotha round up

Corralled by MAGA morons

We saints crucified

Maeve 

Yesterday's Out and About - Trans Day of Visibility

Yesterday on Out and About, I had Sloan Poe from Identity and Maggie McGuire from Trans Spokane on air to talk about the Transgender Day of Visibility, all the planned observances in Spokane. We also talked about the persecutions that trans people have been facing, lately, from Fascist politicians. If you missed the show, here is a link - https://archive.kyrs.org/mp3/kyrs_260331_160000b.mp3

As always, thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University. Unfortunately, the computer that has the underwriting announcements on it was down for the day.  

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Today's Out and About - Spokane's Trans Day of Visibility

Today is 2026’s Transgender Day of Visibility! I am wondering if, today, Idaho Governor Brad Little will sign the law banning people from using the restroom which corresponds to their gender. Maybe!  

I will be asking TDOV organizers Sloan Poe and Maggie McGuire what will be on tap for TDOV celebrations this evening at Nyne Bar. I am speaking at the event, but that shouldn’t keep you from attending! I believe Spokane Pride's Matt Danielson will also be on-board today. Yay!

We transgender people were the canaries in the coal mine to detect the insidious, and now overt, evil of the Trump Administration. As the MAGA methane keeps killing off trans and non-trans people in our own country and around the world, hear how some of us “transnaries” have been wearing little SCBAs for the last few years. 

Today’s show will be interesting for trans people and essential for allies and all decent and honorable people who want to stand up against this dishonorable and demonic regime. 

I will play a little music too. 

As always, thank you to my underwriters - Boots Bakery and Eastern Washington University.

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Haiku Friday March 27, 2026

 

Haiku Friday March 27, 2026

Late winter heat wave:

The first prospects of summer, 

Harbingers of hell.

Max Q

Ye olde crossing guard

Waves at the cars passing by: 

Suntanned and stooping. 

Max Q

A trapped waterfall

Waiting for the warmth of spring

For it's release

Bill

Anonymously 

Saying what needs to be said 

Your e-confession

Rikosan

Soccermom Susie 

Is it time for her return?

Contemplate Maxie

Maeve