April 28, 2026 - "1972," A Rock Opera, Uli Lorimer on spring sprouts, and Tony V

The intersection of art, activism, and local culture defines this episode, which features three distinct segments. Musicians Chadwick Stokes and Sybil Gallagher detail their rock opera *1972*, which dramatizes the underground network of women providing abortions before *Roe v. Wade*, highlighting music as a catalyst for social activism. Uli Lorimer, director of horticulture at the Native Plant Trust, explains the ecological importance of spring gardening practices, emphasizing the preservation of leaf litter for pollinators and the resilience of native species like trilliums. Finally, comedian Tony V discusses his participation in the *Town and the City Festival* in Lowell, a multi-venue event celebrating Jack Kerouac’s legacy through music, literature, and comedy, while reflecting on the evolution of stand-up and the necessity of maintaining artistic authenticity in a changing cultural landscape.