We aren't a current events podcast, but we all need words of wisdom and songs of hope at this moment. Listen to our special recording of the Montpelier "Protect the Results" vigil on 11-4. 

​“The entire history of this country can be understood as a long and arduous struggle to count the votes, and indeed the lives, of working people, women, people of color, immigrants, and native peoples.” - Andrew Tripp, union organizer. Hear more from speakers, representing VPIRG, Rights and Democracy, and the VT AFL-CIO during a “Protect the Results” vigil in front of Vermont’s State House on November 4th. Best of all, hear from Plainfield singer and artist, Heidi Ann Wilson, as she leads us through songs of remembrance and hope. Recording courtesy of Carl Etnier, host of Relocalizing Vermont. Photo courtesy of sister Daphne Kinney-Landis. Stay strong and stay vigilant. Find “Protect the Results” events near you: https://protecttheresults.com/ 

We have created this special, two part bonus episode to learn and honor the story of “John Henry,” an African American folk hero to whom dozens of folk songs have been dedicated. 

In Part One, we will hear a live performance of “John Henry” by Eric George, a Vermont-based songwriter, sound engineer, and performer of original music and poetry. Eric also shares his relationship to the song and the repertoire of folk music more generally. We also discuss the role of music and culture in shaping personal narrative, social consciousness and social movements. Last, we hear Eric perform an original song off his album, “Songs of Resistance.”

In Part Two, Dylan Kelley, friend of the pod and local journalist, and I dive into the hard history embodied in the story of John Henry. We also discuss the revolutionary history and spirit so clearly embodied in the version we feature as our theme song in Season 1. 

We thought the story of John Henry and Eric George’s performance were so important and incredible, that we are making them available to all of our listeners. However, we will continue producing exclusive content for our Patreon members to show our thanks for being a member of our En Masse community. If you haven’t become a member yet, please consider doing so. Go to patreon.com/enmasse. That’s p a t r e o n .com / e n m a s s e. Thanks so much for your support.

This is a teaser of an exclusive bonus episode for our Patreon members. Hear the full, 53-minute BONUS episode by becoming a Patreon member today: Support En Masse on Patreon.

So you’ve finished Season 1 of En Masse. Maybe you’ve noticed En Masse is a bit different than other podcasts you’ve heard. The interviews are not quite interviews; they’re oral histories. And the oral histories are performed by different narrators. Liz Medina and Dylan Kelley take you behind the scenes to share our process and give some tips in doing your own oral history project!

Please excuse the decrease in audio quality! We are trying to find creative ways to keep on going with only our smartphones during the pandemic.