That's Life

Lois Richter’s format for That’s Life is mostly interviews. Recurring topics include Davis activities and groups; work and life choices; philosophy and theory; plus birding, cooking, art, and other passions. Lois occasionally breaks into music — from ballads to the slack key sounds of Hawaii to golden oldies rock 'n' roll — but mostly there is just talk.

To suggest a topic for discussion or a person to interview, text Lois or leave a message in the comments here.

Lois seldom (but occasionally) updates her other website. Check it out at https://BirdingWithLois.global

DJ(s): 
Replays Wednesday 12-1pm
Podcast
Music programs are only online for two weeks after they are broadcast.

That's Life with David Paskin

David Paskin, or Rabbi David as he is often called, is an accomplished spiritual leader, a singer/songwriter, a Jewish futurist, a social activist, an award-winning Jewish edutainer, and your Torah Tech Guy.  He's also the "Rock-n-Roll Rabbi".  AND he has published several books.  AND he is a speaker/presenter both online and in person.

AND, most importantly, he is a friend and a wonderful human being.  

Join your That's Life host, Lois Richter, as she gets the story from David.  And then another story.  And another.  These two can really talk!!!

Hope you enjoy the show.

That's Life: author Bill Pieper

Local author Bill Pieper is today's guest.  He has published many works -- mostly short stories.

His most recent book -- Borders and Boundaries -- is a series of ten short stories which reads like a novel.  While each story could stand on its own, the thread of characters and locations ties the book together into a greater whole. 

Listen to him reading from Borders and Boundaries  along then hear Bill and Lois talking about ... well, just about everything.  Bikes? Yup.  Drumming? Yup.  Publishing in the midst of a pandemic? Yup.  Sci-fi porn? Yup. Reading books onstage? Yup.  The effect of places on people and culture? That, too.

Bill lived in Nevada City for many years, and his stories often are set in a western locale.  Now he lives in Sacramento and comes to Davis weekly to be part of the Blue Moon  -- a writers' group hosted by Scott Evans*.  

Bill Pieper is working on writing a new book (no date  set yet); and he is hoping to resume the promotion of Borders and Boundaries  once restrictions ease and a new tour can be arranged.

You can see a list of his books at:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/708305.Bill_Pieper

That includes his popular Belonging - A Tale of Downieville and California's Modern Gold Country  and Forgive Me, Father: Twelve Stories.

But if you want to walk on a wilder side, read his most-popular-story-ever, at: https://www.redfez.net/fiction/sci-fi-alien-dreams-616

PS: This episode also aired on Thanksgiving, 11-25-2021  and on 2025-04-09.

That's Life with an Energetic Kevin Wolf

 

Kevin Wolf is a name well known in Davis.  And Kevin Wolf is a person well worth knowing.

Lois met him in the 1970s and has worked with him in several projects -- Davis Food Co-op, Davis Community Network, DCTV, KRDT, politics, and others.  Kevin is probably most famous as a founder of the CoHousing project on N Street.  

Currently he is involved in the WindHarvest project which offers a easier, simpler, less problematic solution to getting energy from wind than the giant wind turbines currently in use.  More info at WindHarvest.com 

This episde has chatting about the past and enthusiasm about the future.  Hope you enjoy it.

[This show aired 2025-02-05, 02-12, and 02-19.]

 

 

That's Life with Women Making Music

Wo-Ma-Mu !!!   That's short for "Women Making Music".  As their website says, it "is a nonprofit organization devoted to bringing music and other creative arts into women's lives through education, participation, and personal empowerment".  They do that with retreats in the hills of California where (ta-dah!) women get together to make music! -- also to be creative, get immersed in nature, enjoy each other, and recharge. 

The current Artistic Director is Marianne Barlow -- who joins Lois on today's show.  (Judy Fjell was the group's first Artistic Director and has now retired.)

To get info on upcoming retreats, go to  https://womamu.org/  

That's Life with John Muir Laws

Jack's back!  

John Muir Laws is an artist, naturalist, educator, and author.  Jack was on the "Birding With Lois" video show in 2022 -- viewable as "How to Observe Better" at:  https://BirdingWithLois.global 

Today we talk about his new book -- "The Laws Field Guide to Sierra Birds: Updated Edition".  We also dive into NATURE JOURNALING and how observing the natural world can change our lives for the better.  

Be sure to check out the dozens of classes Jack has for FREE on his personal website -- https://johnmuirlaws.com/blog-archives/  -- and the events/ activities on the Wild Wonder Foundation -- https://www.wildwonder.org 

 

[This show aired 2025-01-01 and  2025-02-26.]

That's Life has MOVED !!

 

NEW TIME!  NEW DAY !!  Same host and program.

"That's Life" will now be broadcast at NOON on WENZDAYS.  

Archives remain in the same place --  https://kdrt.org/programs/thats-life  --  and at this time there is no weekly re-broadcast.

If you have comments or suggestions, contact Lois Richter at the show eddress -- KDRT.ThatsLife@gmail.com

 

 

That's Life with Gitane, a French woman

Gitane is French! 

French-Canadian to be precise.  She grew up in an entirely French-speaking area of Canada and says she didn't truly learn English until she moved to Santa Monica and no one spoke French!  

French to English.  How does that work?  How do you move from speaking (and thinking in) your birth tongue to speaking (and maybe thinking in?) a different language.  Aside from the spelling and  pronunciation, there is also a difference in philosophy between French and English.  Dr G used as an example the first book she ever read in English -- The Little Prince.  In the English version, the fox says  "there is a secret place ..."; while in the original French version, the fox says "there is a mysterious place ...".  (Gitane highly recommends this book as something to help one think about serious matters in a light way.)

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Comments

I love listening to your Hawaiian music choices and your comments on Hawaii when you play Hawaiian music. :-)

-- Arielle

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2012 - 1:16pm

I forgot about all this great music...thanks for reminding me.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/16/2009 - 10:42am

Great show! Never knew so much about green building...great guest. [Casa Verde]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 10:31am

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