Episode 148: The Art of Finding Balance In Choppy Waters With Dana Lyons
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Dana Lyons
Bringing together a mix of comedy, ballads and love songs, Dana’s sharp wit and beautiful voice have him performing at concert halls, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and universities across the US and around the world. Dana’s music receives crossover radio play on country, rock, alternative, community, college and oldies radio stations worldwide.
“Every movement has its minstrel. The unions had Woody Guthrie. The peace movement had Phil Ochs. The environmental movement has Dana Lyons.” —Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
More Praise for Dana…
“One of the finest performers I’ve ever seen.” —Dean Evenson, Co-Founder, Soundings of the Planet
“Leader of a moo-vement…Catapulted to cult status.” —The Portland Oregonian
“Play it once and watch the phones explode.” —Bob Rivers, Twisted Tunes, KZOK, Seattle
“A current-day Pete Seeger…” —The Bellingham Weekly
“An out-of-control Johnny Cash.” —The Western Front, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
Show Notes
On chilling out and rewilding ourselves with humor and music: A conversation with Dana Lyons
In this special episode of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, host Jack Humphrey interviews Dana Lyons, a renowned musician and conservationist known for humorous and inspiring songs like ‘Cows with Guns’ and ‘Love Song to Jane.’
They discuss the importance of appreciating nature, balancing activism with personal well-being, and Lyons’ experiences touring globally.
Lyons shares stories behind his famous songs, performs live, and emphasizes the need to protect and enjoy the wild places. The conversation also touches on themes of patriotism, the impact of national park closures, and the challenges of maintaining work-life balance.
Listeners are invited to enjoy Lyons’ music and insights into environmental and social justice.
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Reconnecting with Nature
01:37 Meet Dana Lyons: A Musical Journey for Environmental Justice
03:36 The Power of Taking Breaks and Rejuvenating in Nature
09:32 Song: A Love Song to Jane Goodall
19:05 Patriotism and Protecting the Wilderness
32:24 Defending Patriotism and Democracy
34:14 Song: My Country
34:47 Political Issues Surrounding National Parks
38:23 Song: Ride the Lawn
40:25 The Story Behind ‘Ride the Lawn’
48:52 ‘Cows with Guns’
57:50 Upcoming Shows and Projects
01:00:18 Conclusion
Extra Credit
- Dana’s website: Cows With Guns
- You can catch Dana on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or anywhere else you listen to music.
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.