In celebration of Black history month, folklorist and mythologist extraordinaire – Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia recites three trickster tales from the African continent. First off it’s a story from the Luo people called The Trickster ‘s Encounter – in which spider and hare , two good friends who also happen to be rivals travel to the stars in order to meet and greet spider’s future parents in law, creating lots of mischief and magic along the way. Next its a story from the Kikuyu tribe called One Trick Deserves Another – in which a rich man’s wife is fooled by a clever individual into slaughtering her husband’s beloved calf. The husband then departs home hell bent on performing some trickery of his own. And last but not least its a trickster tale from the Azande people called – Ture Outwits The Rich Woman – in which a man who is often so clever he is nicknamed The Spider, decides to taunt and tease a wealthy woman and her beloved dogs by stealing her food again and again.

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In the conclusion to GRR’s epic 2 part mini series – Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines yogic practices in the west during the 20th century and beyond. First up , as the new century dawns interfaith / interspirituality pioneers continue to translate sacred Sanskrit and Buddhist texts into English , and a modified version of Hatha yoga becomes part of the health and fitness craze then sweeping the United States. By the late 1940’s – the tree of yoga flourishes in the new soil of North America as yogi Indra Devi brings meditation / breathing exercises , postures and poses to the Hollywood movie stars , who need to keep in shape and long for spiritual fulfillment. Then yogic master, Richard Hittleman starts his own daily yoga TV show that forever changes what yoga was thought to be in America and how it was to be taught. Jack also examines the sitar explosion , as George Harrison becomes fascinated with Hindu spirituality is introduced to yoga and transcendental meditation. Convincing the rest of The Beatles to travel to India seeking enlightenment and divine inspiration. Next up, its Harvard research psychologist – Ram Dass , who disillusioned with psychedelic drugs travels to the Himalayas and encounters a type of Hindu saint and is spiritually transformed composing a best selling book – Be Here Now – that tells of the stories of various yoga styles and schools. Paving the way for the New Age spirituality movement and Yoga’s mainstream acceptance by turning his spiritual quest into a lifestyle.

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In part 1 of a special 2 part program – Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the ancient spiritual and religious roots of the healing art of yoga. First off its yoga’s mysterious origins in the sophisticated Indus valley civilization of northern India circa 5000 years ago , and the mysterious semi-mythical figure Pantanjali. Who sometime between 400 BC – 200 AD synthesizes the various Indian spiritual traditions of yoga, composing the Sutras. A text that formalizes the theories and methods of the healing art (chants, mantras, meditation – etc.).
Next Jack gets into the Chakras , energy channels found within the body that the practice of yoga can activate and amplify. Jack also explores the link between the postures and poses of modern Hatha yoga and pre vedic Tantric sacred sexuality (Kundalini yoga). Sacred serpent energy that rises up through our bodies via the chakras networks – when we engage in prolonged sexual activity (yoga sex magic). And last but not least it’s the arrival of yoga in the United States during the late 19th century. As Madame Blavastsky, a cigar smoking , free thinking hefty Russian immigrant helps to translate ancient Sanskrit text into english – paving the way for the modern interfaith / interspirituality movement. While Swami Vivekananda travels to the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair (The White City) and is a  big hit with the crowds , bringing yogic practice to the USA and planting the seed for yogas acceptance into the mainstream of western society.

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In this years Christmas holiday special , Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines The Magi (The Wise Men) and the celebrated celestial event known as The Star of Bethlehem. Jack digs deeply into ancient and obscure texts to present a portrait of who and what the mysterious Magi actually were and investigates the celestial event itself. A spectacular beacon of light in the night sky that compelled The Magi to journey from their home in the east across the desert and into the Holy Land. The Star of Bethlehem was only one among many well documented celestial fireworks found within the records of ancient Babylonian , Hindu and Chinese astronomers / astrologers whose writings testify to the fact that many strange and wondrous things were happening in the night skies during the years 8 to 1 BC (The time of Christ’s birth).

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Noted music historian Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia continues his examination of the often neglected Blues women who gave birth to the genre on 78 RPM recordings , and then were pushed aside by the emergence of the folk blues men who would then dominate the scene. In part 2 – Jack examines the next generation of women blues performers who would stay close to the blues singers like Lil Johnson who would flourish for a brief time in the hokum and dirty blues subgenres using food metaphors for sex and double entendre to great effect, leaving little to the imagination. Other performers like Memphis Minnie and Victoria Spivey would make the successful transition from the Delta blues style to the nightclub blues style of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Next up, it’s another wave of blues women like Wee Wee Booze , Sister Rosetta Tharpe , Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton who blended the flamboyant gospel singing style with swing , boogie woogie and jazz paving the way for the birth of rock n roll. And last but not least its the Queens of the Chicago blues style – Koko Taylor and Etta James who with a hybrid mix of blues, funk and rock recorded and toured endlessly for decades bringing the music of the blues to the entire world.

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In celebration of GRR’s 175th program, noted music historian -Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia returns the show to its roots and finally completes the popular and acclaimed blues trilogy. A series of programs begun during the first season (GRR #6) and continued during the second (GRR #18). Jack examines the evolution of the blues during the early 20th century and its link to the development of the 78 rpm phonograph record. As black women veterans of the minstrel shows and the vaudeville circuit became popular blues performers during the infancy of the genre. Well known ladies of the blues like Mamie Smith, Trixie Smith, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith – who dressed in expensive sequined gowns and belted out timeless blues songs that sold well and had crossover success with both black and white audiences. Next up its the lesser known more obscure and mysterious women of the blues (Ida Cox, Mary Smith Johnson, Little Alice Moore, Bessie Tucker, Fannie May Goosby and Lucille Bogan) whose recordings would have little impact at the time but would have a lasting influence on the genre. Gifted blues poets who incorporated religious imagery , unbridled female sexuality and proto-feminism into their music.

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For this years Halloween celebration, Jack “The Agnostic”Garcia travels back to the bygone days of The Wild West and recites three miraculous, supernatural and macabre stories that were once told around the light of the campfires by grizzled prospectors weary cowboys and native americans alike. First off, its The Lady in Blue – a miraculous tale of a young 17th century Spanish nun ( Maria de Agreda) who each and every night goes into an ecstatic trance while her soul travels across the Atlantic and appears as an apparition descending from the sky to several Native American tribes. Gently urging them to summon the priests and become baptized into the one true faith. Next up, its the tongue in cheek cautionary supernatural story from the Blackfoot nation of the Northwest, The Manwolf – a tale of an aging brave who cannot control his two wives. His young and pretty wives are unfaithful and plot to kill him , but things don’t work out as they had planned as the aging brave  becomes transformed into an angry shapeshifter seeking revenge. And last but not least , its the macabre true story of the legendary mountain man Jeremiah Johnson. A much different tale than the one told in the sanitized 1972 Robert Redford film. For Johnson was both a serial killer and a cannibal whose troubled mind snaps after the grisly murder of his beloved wife. The original american man of vengeance , Johnson fought a one man war against the entire Crow nation, not only killing hundreds of Crow warriors but also feasting on their livers.

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In the conclusion to GRR’s ambitious and acclaimed mini series The War in Heaven, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia (AKA The Heavy Metal Joseph Campbell) examines Adam & Eve in Jewish Myth and Islamic lore and continues GGRs amazing mind movie – The Angelic Rebellion. First off, its our ancestral parents (Adam & Eve) in Jewish mysticism and Islamic legend. Sacred stories about their creation and wedding that are beautiful and descriptive , and often parallel each other – opening the eyes of our imaginations. Next up, its the third and final installment of Jack ‘s amazing theater of the mind representation about the legendary celestial confrontation between the forces of light and the forces of darkness found within the Holy Books of the three Abrahamic religions. As Satan slips past the guardian angels posted at the gates of The Garden of Eden , enters the body of a serpent and seduces Eve with promises of wisdom, knowledge and power. A seduction that brings Sin and Death into the world, and causes The Fall of humanity from the grace of God and the expulsion of Adam & Eve from Paradise and the loss of our innocence forever.

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia continues GRR’s ambitious and epic miniseries / mind movie , as the fallen angels awaken after a nine day fall through the realm of chaos to find themselves swimming in a lake of fire and survey their new home (Hell). Satan’s pride and thirst for revenge remains undiminished as the fallen angels plot their spiteful guerrilla war against God in a devious plan to spoil The Garden of Eden and cause the fall of humanity. But first Satan must convince Sin and Death to join him , and let him pass through the gates of Hell. A type of inter dimensional portal that is the only pathway to Earth. Next up, Jack examines The Garden of Eden and our ancestral parents (Adam & Eve) in both the Old and New Testament, as well as the writings of the early church fathers .

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia continues one of GRR’s most ambitious and epic mini-series, the highly acclaimed and controversial War in Heaven. In part 3 , Jack examines the many different terms utilized within The Holy Books of the three Abrahamic religions (sheoul, hades, the abyss, gehenna, johannam etc.) and also charts the evolution of the underworld. From a universal place for the souls of the dead regardless of their moral or ethical characteristics into a place of divine punishment reserved for those who have transgressed the laws of God. Jack even takes an amazing journey to the seven Hells of Jewish mythology and Islamic lore. Next up, in a remarkable blow by blow descriptive mind movie, Jack combines the sporadic references concerning the angelic rebellion – found within these Holy books with the masterwork of the blind 17th century poet – John Milton. Whose sublime Paradise Lost – would cement the image of the celestial confrontation between the forces of light and the forces of darkness, forever into the imagination of the Western world.

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