Kickapoo Review
with Charlie Knower & Bill Motlong
Heather Mae – Protest Music
This show, produced by Bill Motlong and Charlie Knower at WDRT was broadcast on Pacifica Radio’s Sprouts show starting March 4, 2026. It features an interview with Heather Mae, activist and singer-songwriter, and the discussion is about protest music in Minneapolis.
March 1st, 2026
In this episode of Radio Free Space, Charlie Knower interviews Stuart Stotts. Singer, songwriter, author and educator, Stotts is also the host of the new podcast How Can I Keep From Singing.
Santikaro Interview, Part Two
Charlie Knower’s interview with Buddhist teacher Sanikaro was first broadcast on Radio Free Space. However, Pacifica Network’s national program, Sprouts, aired it as a two part series on Dec 17 and Dec 24, 2025 with the title Spiritual Life Amidst Suffering: A Santikaro Interview produced by Bill Motlong and Charlie Knower of WDRT radio.
Chicago born Santikaro has been living in the beautiful Driftless Region of Wisconsin since 2006, when his partner and he founded Kevala Retreat. He began serious study of Buddhism during Peace Corps service in Thailand in the early 80’s, subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk, and studied under the Thai Dharma Master Buddhadasa for many years. He continues to translate his teachers work, while teaching locally and further afield. He has also been active among Socially Engaged Buddhists and contemplates the role of spiritual life amidst the world’s sufferings.
Santikaro Interview, Part One
Charlie Knower’s interview with Buddhist teacher Sanikaro was first broadcast on Radio Free Space. However, Pacifica Network’s national program, Sprouts, aired it as a two part series on Dec 17 and Dec 24, 2025 with the title Spiritual Life Amidst Suffering: A Santikaro Interview produced by Bill Motlong and Charlie Knower of WDRT radio.
Chicago born Santikaro has been living in the beautiful Driftless Region of Wisconsin since 2006, when his partner and he founded Kevala Retreat. He began serious study of Buddhism during Peace Corps service in Thailand in the early 80’s, subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk, and studied under the Thai Dharma Master Buddhadasa for many years. He continues to translate his teachers work, while teaching locally and further afield. He has also been active among Socially Engaged Buddhists and contemplates the role of spiritual life amidst the world’s sufferings.
Black Settlers of Cheyenne Valley
This interview by Charlie Knower was originally broadcast on WDRT’s Kickapoo Review and includes several people discussing the Black Settlers of Cheyenne Valley.
“The Cheyenne Valley area near Hillsboro was Wisconsin’s largest rural African American settlement in the 19th century. The State’s early defiance of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the later demise of the slavery system after the Civil War encouraged freed slaves to settle in Wisconsin. Nearly 150 African American settlers, with the assistance of the Quaker religious order, came to Hillsboro, where they successfully farmed. Many settlers became landowners, and a few, like Thomas Shivers who was born on a Tennessee plantation, owned large acreages.
The African American settlers socialized well with neighboring European immigrants, establishing some of the State’s first integrated schools, churches and sporting teams. Thomas Shivers’ son, Alga Shivers, was a notable builder, designing and constructing many of Vernon County’s round barns in the early 20th century. The advent of the automobile, and other elements of change, led to the gradual decline of the rural African American population.”
-State Historical Marker located at Cheyenne Settlers Heritage Park.
Hillsboro, Wisconsin.
September 28th, 2025
Charlie Knower spends the hour with Buddhist teacher Sanikaro. Chicago born Santikaro has been living in the beautiful Driftless Region of Wisconsin since 2006, when his partner and he founded Kevala Retreat. He began serious study of Buddhism during Peace Corps service in Thailand in the early 80’s, subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk, and studied under the Thai Dharma Master Buddhadasa for many years. He continues to translate his teachers work, while teaching locally and further afield. He has also been active among Socially Engaged Buddhists and contemplates the role of spiritual life amidst the world’s sufferings.
August 3rd, 2025
WDRT’s Charlie Knower spends the hour with Buddhist teacher Santikaro.