KUCI: Get the Funk Out!

           
 
Running with Lions is a remarkable story! Dr. Kamau is a tireless advocate for education and equity, among other causes. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Dr. Kamau champions education and equity, supporting African women in STEM and serving on boards to expand minority access to science. His philosophy is rooted in openness, inquiry, and service—striving for a more humane world through healing and storytelling. As a Health Equity Leader, he continues to inspire with a vision of unity and the power of diverse voicesBorn in Kenya and trained in Spain, Pius Kamau has been in surgical practice in the Denver area for three decades. He was a columnist for The Rocky Mountain News and has written for The Denver Post. Kamau’s commentaries have also been featured on NPR, in the Huffington Post and other national magazines and newspapers. He’s also contributed to several books and recently finished his memoir."A perceptive psychological exploration of the impact of racism and colonization."-Donna Bryson, author of It's a Black-White Thing and Home of the BraveAs a boy in colonial Kenya, Pius Kamau learns early what it means to run with lions-both the metaphorical powers that stalk his people and the real leopard he encounters alone in the forest, the first of many times he will stand eye-to-eye with death.Born under British rule and hardened by the unspeakable violence of the Mau Mau Rebellion, Pius grows up where curable illnesses claim loved ones and hope feels scarce. Inspired by his tubercular father, he dares to believe education can be his escape. He flees on foot toward Sudan in search of schooling but is arrested and sent back. He refuses to surrender. A scholarship to Strathmore College in Nairobi leads to medical studies in Spain, where Europe's art, philosophy, and culture widen his world even as he confronts the contradictions of colonialism.Returning to an independent Kenya as a doctor, Pius discovers oppression has simply changed hands. This powerful memoir traces his journey from dirt-poor village boy to physician and eventually to surgeon, proving resilience, intellect, and courage know no color or border.About the AuthorPius K. Kamau, MD, thoracic surgeon and author, has written for HuffPost, Denver's Dailies, and the Denver Gazette. He's been published in NPR's This I believe, Marlo Thomas's The Right Word at the Right Time, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book, and Medical Business. He also penned the mystery novel Doctor's Date with Death. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Publisher ‏ : ‎ Koehler BooksPublication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2026by Pius K Kamau MD (Author)
 
Here's a link to just some of his pieces from NPR News/ KUNCFrom colonial Kenya to Colorado: Local surgeon and humanitarian recalls 'running with lions' in powerful new memoirDENVER, CO., July 14, 2026—Thoracic surgeon, author, and humanitarian Dr. Pius Kamau has released his newest book with Koehler Books. His powerful memoir tells the extraordinary true story of his journey from a small village in colonial Kenya to a career as a physician and surgeon in the United States.Growing up during British colonial rule and the violence of the Mau Mau Rebellion, Kamau witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of poverty, disease, and political oppression. Determined to pursue an education despite overwhelming obstacles, he fled his village in search of schooling, even enduring imprisonment before ultimately studying medicine in Spain and going on to become a respected thoracic surgeon.When asked about how he’s scaled these seemingly insurmountable barriers, he says, “My life may have been full of deep valleys of despair and seeming loss, but it too was a life full of kind people, full of generous men and women. I believe that I did well because I allowed charity and kindness to shine on my dark days and nights. And in addition to my persistence and resilience I kept hope alive. I still keep hope alive.”The memoir explores themes of perseverance, faith, and the enduring pursuit of justice. Through deeply personal stories—including surviving encounters with wild predators, political violence, and life-threatening hardship—Kamau reflects on the experiences that shaped both his character and his calling to medicine.In addition to his work as a thoracic surgeon, Kamau is an accomplished author whose writing has appeared in HuffPost, The Denver Gazette, NPR's This I Believe, Chicken Soup for the Soul of the Cancer Patient, and other national publications. He is also the founder of Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists pursue graduate education in the United States, and hosts Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Kamau's memoir offers readers an intimate look at one man's determination to overcome extraordinary adversity while illuminating the lasting impact of colonialism, the transformative power of education, and the resilience of the human spirit.For more information about Dr. Pius Kamau and his new book, visit koehlerbooks.com.ABOUT PIUS KAMAU, MDPius Kamau, MD, thoracic surgeon and author, has written for Huffpost, Denver’s Dailies, and the Denver Gazette. He’s been published in NPR’s This I believe, Marlo Thomas’s The Right Word at the Right Time, Chicken Soup of the Soul of the Cancer Patient, and Medical Business. He also penned the mystery novel Doctor’s Date with Death. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.  

 
About Lisa Kenner GrissomLisa is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright whose work engages dynamic social issues, often through a female lens. She’s known for creating multi-layered characters, exploring the complexity of human emotion, and finding levity in discomfort.After visiting Vilnius, Lithuania, Lisa began exploring themes of Jewish resistance, resilience, memory, and legacy. Her TV pilot, FANIA IN THE FOREST, was a Top 5 ScreenCraft Fellowship Finalist and an Austin Film Festival Pitch Finalist. Most recently, the pilot was named to The 2026 Women’s List of top unproduced scripts.Lisa also wrote and produced the award-winning short film TATTOO YOU, based on her published one-act play, which has screened at more than 15 film festivals nationally and internationally. Her critically acclaimed play HERE COMES THE NIGHT is currently being adapted as a screenplay.A two-time Kennedy Center O’Neill Fellow, Lisa’s work has been developed and produced across the country. Originally from Boston and based in Los Angeles, she is a graduate of Wesleyan University. 
 
Lisa also shared a recent article about the Jewish partisan forts in Rūdninkai Forest, Lithuania — a place deeply connected to Fania’s story and the history of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. The historic site has deteriorated over the years and now faces growing concerns about preservation and access.
 
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-german-military-base-raises-fears-for-lithuanias-crumbling-jewish-partisan-memorial/
 
 
 
Upcoming Reading of FANIA IN THE FOREST - October 8th at Holocaust Museum LA -  https://www.holocaustmuseumla.org/event-details/staged-reading-of-fania-in-the-forest. 
Date: Thu, Oct 08  
Location: The Goldrich Cultural CenterAfter the 1941 Nazi invasion of Vilna tears her family apart, a defiant 16-year-old Jewish girl fights to earn her place among a band of forest partisans—only to make a reckless mistake that puts the entire brigade at risk.
About the Staged Reading of Fania in the ForestFANIA IN THE FOREST is a fierce coming-of-age television pilot about a rebellious 16-year-old Jewish girl who escapes the Vilna ghetto and fights to earn her place among the male-dominated forest partisans. As she confronts both the brutality of the Nazi occupation and the resistance’s rigid ideas about what a girl can be, Fania discovers the cost and the power of refusing to stay in her place.A Top 5 ScreenCraft Fellowship finalist and Austin Film Festival Pitch finalist, FANIA IN THE FOREST was most recently named to the 2026 Women’s List, recognizing the year’s top unproduced screenplays by women.The reading runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission, followed by a Q&A. FANIA IN THE FOREST is written by Lisa Kenner Grissom and directed by Genevieve Fowler. The team includes Noam Dromi, Executive Producer for Reboot Studios and Lauren Schaffel, Co-Producer.
 
Tix & Details
 
 lisakennergrissom.com IG: @lisa_kenner_grissom_

Daisy Chain Fields: 
Where Music Meets Purpose
Conversations with Daisy Chain Fields’ Nonprofit Partners
This week on Get the Funk Out on KUCI 88.9 FM, Janeane takes a closer look at Daisy Chain Fields, the new music festival celebrating women and girls through music, creativity, community and connection.
With an extraordinary lineup featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan and many more, Daisy Chain Fields promises to be a major celebration of women in music.
But there is another important story happening beyond the stages.
Daisy Chain Fields is also bringing attention to nonprofit organizations working on issues affecting women, girls, families and communities. On this episode of Get the Funk Out, Janeane speaks with several of the festival's nonprofit partners about their work, what brought them to Daisy Chain Fields, and how listeners can learn more about the causes they represent.
Meet the Guests
Madeline Halperin Robinson
Center for Reproductive Rights
Janeane begins the conversation with Madeline Halperin Robinson of the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization that uses law and advocacy to advance reproductive rights around the world.
The Center has been involved in major reproductive-rights cases in courts around the world, including every major U.S. Supreme Court abortion case.
Learn more:Center for Reproductive Rights
Emily Escobar
Public Affairs Advocacy Manager, Planned Parenthood
Next, Janeane welcomes Emily Escobar, Public Affairs Advocacy Manager with Planned Parenthood.
Emily brings an advocacy perspective to the conversation, discussing the work of Planned Parenthood and the importance of access to reproductive health care and advocacy.
Learn more:Planned Parenthood
Naomi Giges Downey
Chief Global Engagement Officer, Jhpiego
Janeane then speaks with Naomi Giges Downey, Chief Global Engagement Officer at Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins-affiliated global health organization.
Jhpiego works to improve health and expand access to quality care, with a particular focus on women, families and communities around the world. Jhpiego's current leadership page lists Downey as Chief Global Engagement Officer.
Learn more:https://jhpiego.org
Uma Iyer
National Women's Law Center
The conversation continues with Uma Iyer of the National Women's Law Center, bringing the perspective of law, policy and gender justice to the discussion.
The National Women's Law Center works through legal advocacy, public policy and research to advance gender justice and equality.
Learn more:National Women's Law Center
Dr. Melissa Walls
Co-Director, Center for Indigenous HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Janeane closes the hour with Dr. Melissa Walls, Co-Director of the Center for Indigenous Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Walls' work centers on Indigenous health and well-being, with an emphasis on research and partnerships that are developed alongside Indigenous communities. Her work also includes a focus on Indigenous health equity and global Indigenous well-being.
Learn more:Dr. Melissa Walls — Center for Indigenous Health
Learn more about the Center:Center for Indigenous Health — Johns Hopkins
 
More Than a Music Festival
Daisy Chain Fields creates a space where music and social impact intersect—bringing artists, nonprofit organizations and communities together around issues affecting women and girls.
These conversations offer listeners an opportunity to go beyond the festival lineup and meet some of the people and organizations working to create change every day.
Listen to Get the Funk Out on KUCI 88.9 FM from UC Irvine, and explore the organizations featured above.
https://www.daisychainfields.com/

 
Directed by: Doug Pray
Written by: David Greene, Ketch Secor
Edited by: Doug Pray
Produced by: Stephanie Meurer, Ashley York, Doug Pray
Executive Produced by: Ketch Secor, David Greene, Foster Phillips
 
RT: 89 minutes
 
“Thought-Provoking, Poignant, A Must See”
Janet Walker, Haute-Lifestyle
 
“Easily one of the most important films of 2026”
Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
 
“A perspective that feels almost radical in a media landscape built on outrage”
Chris Jones, Overly Honest Movie Reviews
 
We’re having the conversation…
 
In the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time at The Covenant School in Nashville, Ketch Secor, lead singer of the popular country-bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show, decided it was time to speak out on gun reform. He wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled, “Country Music Can Lead America Out of Its Obsession with Guns.” It caught the attention of Ketch’s friend, David Greene, former NPR reporter and host of KCRW’s “Left, Right & Center,” and the two set out to kickstart an open dialog about gun rights and gun violence in America. Film director Doug Pray followed Ketch and David as the band toured rural and urban communities, creating the documentary LOUDER THAN GUNS named after a song Ketch wrote for the victims of the Covenant shooting.
 
Known for their signature song “Wagon Wheel,” Old Crow Medicine Show attracts a wide demographic of music fans, stretching to the furthest ends of today’s culture wars. People in the front row of their concerts might not agree on anything besides the music they love, providing this film with one of modern America’s rarest opportunities: the chance to engage with one another respectfully, despite our differences.
 
Smashing stereotypes, LOUDER THAN GUNS brings together the frustrations and hopes of citizens who are asked to listen to one another and try to find common ground. Led by Ketch and David, these emotional and inspiring discussions, in barbeque joints, barbershops, church pews, gun stores, and concert halls, prove that localized, community-led discourse has the power to move the needle on gun reform in ways that today’s polarized media and politicians rarely achieve. Because most people in this country—gun owners and non-gun owners alike— want safer communities.
 
 
LOUDER THAN GUNS screened in LA on July 28 at Laemmle’s Monica Theater and on July 29 at Laemmle’s Glendale Theater. 
 
To view the trailer, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKewN_PayUY
 
 
Official website:
https://www.louderthanguns.com
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

 
 
Dayna Altman is an energetic and dynamic mental health speaker, entrepreneur and advocate. The full force and sole operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, Dayna harvests herpassion for mental health advocacy by using food and baking to create an authentic recipe for vulnerable storytelling.The author of five mental health cookbooks, the facilitator of a variety of mental health presentations and the subject of an award winning documentary, Dayna is a sought after storyteller. She has been invited to speak at national conferences, in community kitchens, on the news and most notably, at the White House in 2022.With experience working in both clinical and advocacy mental health settings, Dayna’s breadth of knowledge in the field informs her work, as does her own recovery. Today, Dayna lives with major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and is in lifelong eating disorder recovery. When she’s not testing out new recipes in her kitchen or quoting her therapists, Dayna is in pursuit of creating art as a means to explore new ways to change the world using her own story.

 
The mission of Neighbors Who Nourish is to  bring communities together by nurturing meaningful connections and providing mental health resources to those facing food insecurity. 
 
Below is our instagram page highlighting the various events they have had so far: 
 
https://www.instagram.com/neighbors.who.nourish?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
 
 
Aafiya MahmoodAge: 16
Co-Founder, Neighbors Who NourishAafiya is a student and co-founder of Neighbors Who Nourish, a youth-led initiative focused on addressing food insecurity while strengthening mental well-being and community connection.
 
Yeshwi SharmaAge: 17Co-Founder, Neighbors Who NourishYeshwi is a student and co-founder of Neighbors Who Nourish, working alongside Aafiya to bring families together through food, mental wellness activities, and community-based support.
 
How We Got StartedNeighbors Who Nourish grew out of our personal connections to food insecurity, mental health, and the isolation that can come with both problems. We realized that food could be more than something people simply receive, it could be a pathway to bring people together. We began hosting community events centered around shared meals, family activities, and mental wellness conversations. Our goal was turning food from a source of stress into a source of connection. We also provide SNAP-friendly cookbooks and mental wellness resources to help people beyond their events.About Neighbors Who NourishNeighbors Who Nourish is a youth-led initiative addressing food insecurity while strengthening mental well-being and community connection. 
 
In two months, we have directly impacted 1,170 people and distributed 1,000+ mental health resources and SNAP-friendly cookbooks. Our work brings together three connected pieces: food security, mental wellness, and community. Through SNAP-friendly cooking demonstrations and bilingual cookbooks, families gain practical nutrition resources. In addition, through community mental health activities, they have opportunities to express themselves and support one another. Through shared meals and activities, those conversations become genuine connections. They have brought these events to people ages 6-80+
 
What We’d Like Listeners to KnowWe want listeners to know that food insecurity isn’t only about whether someone has enough food; it can also bring stress, isolation, and uncertainty. We believe community can help anyone, regardless of their circumstances, and that no one should have to carry their struggles alone. 
 
Through Neighbors Who Nourish, we use food as a starting point for connection, creating spaces where people can feel supported, build relationships, and become more comfortable talking about their mental well-being.

Today's guestAustin Cauldwell is a Los Angeles–based writer/director/actor and acting teacher. His short film IDYLL premiered at the Florida Film Festival in April 2026. He has appeared in various stage, film, and TV roles.
 
In January 2025, devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles. Through firsthand interviews, children reflect on what they experienced, what they lost, what they carried with them, and how their lives have been forever changed; while simultaneously holding onto hope for what comes next.
Co-directed by Nat Wolff and Austin Cauldwell, the film was produced by Mina Sundwall and her company Zenosyne Media, along with Eliza Paprin and Julia Pitch, who also served as Cinematographer. The film was edited by Ben Schwaeber.
According to Wolff and Cauldwell:
“In the wake of the fires, much of the conversation focused on what had been lost: homes, schools, and a sense of stability. What felt missing were the voices of the children living through it. Rather than speaking about them, we wanted to listen to them. So we set out to create a space where kids and families could share their experiences in their own words. 
What we found was not only grief, but resilience, optimism, and humor. Even in the aftermath of tragedy, these children continue to imagine, adapt, and grow. Their stories reminded us that they are not just witnesses to disaster, but rather, they are participants in the future being shaped around them.
Our hope is that this film encourages audiences to think about the world we are leaving for our children. It will be their world. They deserve to have a voice in it.”
 
Austin Cauldwell is a Los Angeles based writer, director, actor, and acting teacher. His short film Idyll, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Florida International Film Festival earlier this year and was an official selection at Fantasia Film Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival. As an actor, he has worked on stage, most notably opposite Edie Falco in the Off Broadway production of The True. His TV credits include Switched at Birth (ABC Family), NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, and Monster.
About the FilmThe project documents the experiences of children during the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Through firsthand interviews, the film captures what the children lost, what they carried with them, and how their lives have changed — while also highlighting their resilience, optimism, and humor. The directors aimed to give voice to the children who were often absent from public discussions about the disaster, focusing on their personal stories rather than just the aftermath 
 
 
THE DIRECTORS: Nat Wolff and Austin CauldwellProducers: Mina Sundwall, Eliza Paprin, Julia Pitch (Pitch also served as cinematographerEditor: Ben SchwaeberPresented by: Zenosyne Media 
About the DirectorsNat Wolff is an American actor, musician, and writer/director. He is known for films such as The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Palo Alto, and for composing music for The Naked Brothers Band. Austin Cauldwell is a Los Angeles–based writer/director/actor and acting teacher. His short film IDYLL premiered at the Florida Film Festival in April 2026. He has appeared in various stage, film, and TV roles
For tickets: Burbank International Film Festival 2026
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

Sagar V. Parikh, M.D., FRCPC is the John F. Greden Professor of Depression and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. As a psychiatrist and former family physician, he focuses on diverse mood disorder treatments: novel medications including psychedelics, psychotherapy, digital tools, ketamine, and TMS.  He conducts research on how to improve health care delivery as well as how to improve public and clinician education about mood disorders. He also works extensively in Workplace Mental Health, identifying best practices for businesses and workplaces to prevent and treat burnout and mental health problems.  He is Medical Director of the National Network of Depression Centers (USA) and a prolific author, with 3 books and over 200 articles on research and treatment of mental disorders.  He has won multiple national and international awards for education, teaching, and research. 
Education Chair, CANMAT (Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments)
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

 
The highly personal, first-person filmmaking of ACTING LIKE WOMEN addresses themes of feminist, activism, performance art, LGBTQ+, herstory, and art. A rebellious art form, exploding onto the scene in the late 1970s and 1980s gave birth to the “performance art as protest” movement seen around the world today. Led by female, feminist, artists determined to bring women’s bodies and voices into the art world, from a foundational feminist art space called The Woman’s Building in Los Angeles, the radical rebellion gave rise to powerful activism at the apex of the Women’s Movement.
 
LOGLINE:Revisiting the groundbreaking feminist performance art movement in 1970s Los Angeles, one artist spotlights the inspirational, transformational, radical community exploding the narrative and status quo.SYNOPSIS:Through interviews, archival footage, and personal reflections, feminist artist Cheri Gaulke revisits the 1970s Los Angeles foundational art space, The Woman’s Building, laying bare how a collective of artists transformed their bodies and voices through performance art into a powerful tool for activism, reshaping the cultural landscape for generations of women.The film includes the voices of over 50 artists including Suzanne Lacy, Judy Chicago, and Senga Nengudi; the works of The Waitresses, Sisters Of Survival, and Feminist Art Workers among others, as well as the music of artists such as Billie Eillish, The Linda Lindas, and Phranc. Original Score is composed by Miriam Cutler.Acting Like Women builds an intimate narrative where art intersects life. Guided through Gaulke’s lens, the film reveals an explosive time of change and individual empowerment with a through-line enriched by her own experience as the daughter of a Midwestern Lutheran minister, through the sexual revolution where she joins the feminist community, to her realized self as noted performance artist, lesbian, educator, and mother of twins.The history of performance art is the herstory of California feminist performance art. It’s not a footnote about artists on the fringes, but a tome on the essential and highly influential period at the core of an artistic medium’s development. Interviews reveal personal stories brought to life alongside visually powerful performances, giving insight into what this period meant and means for women, and those struggling to define themselves today.
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

Julia Hotz, Author of THE CONNECTION CURE (Simon & Schuster), Social Prescribing USA Advisor, Journalist, Keynote Speaker, Fellowships Manager at Solutions Journalism NetworkAuthor of THE CONNECTION CURE (Simon & Schuster)—1st book exploring science, stories, and spread of social prescribing around the world. Speaker at TEDx, ACLM, WONCA, AHIP, Yale, Harvard, and more. Adviser to Walk with a Doc and Social Prescribing USA. Solutions-focused journalist (NYT, The Boston Globe, BBC, TIME) who helps other journalists via the Solutions Journalism Network.
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org