Every Wednesday, I drove to Bennington, Vt. to have lunch with Thomas Toscano, the fiery and brilliant Sicilian composer and conductor who runs WBTNAM, the radio station that hosts my weekly broadcast, “Talking To Animals.”

Every Wednesday, I take a portrait, I am drawn to his fiery eyes, they are always gleaming with mischief and passion. He is my partner on this mad enterprise.

There were several important things to learn today. One was that a new WBTNAM Amazon Wist List has gone up. There are three new items left on the list, they range in price from $16.94 to $87, they are all items urgently needed for the station, a community radio station working hard to survive in a time when Corporations are buying up media outlets and turning our common ground into a cesspool of anger and division.

I believe we are called to support this little community radio station, they are a last bastion of real community and freedom and individuality.

(I am happy to report that “Talking To Animals” will be re-broadcast every Wednesday evening from 8 to 10 p.m., starting tonight. Those of you who aren’t home to listen during the afternoon can hear the whole show now, if you wish.)

Who else would give me a two-hour show about dogs and other animals? The station is a non-profit entity, and so, when it comes to my show, am I. We all do it to support the idea of community media, disappearing bit by bit every day.

Please check out the Wish List here.

Secondly I am happy to announce that we have signed up the redoubtable Maria Wulf, my life, my love, my partner to be “Talking to Animal’s” first roving correspondent. She is surprised by this, but has graciously accepted and she and I (sometimes just she) will do a segment every week in the second hour of our show, which runs from one to three p.m. EDT US every Wednesday.

She is great on the radio, and we much enjoy talking with one another about our lives with animals. Thomas winked after the show and said “Maria is terrific, you might regret bring her on the show.” Thomas was sort of kidding, but the truth is I am thrilled by every good and successful thing Maria does, from her photos to her videos to her quite amazing art.

It is inevitable that one day Maria will emerge and go whizzing past me, that will bring me nothing but happiness and pride. That is how the world works. We aren’t there yet.

Maria is the real deal,, and it is nothing but a joy for me to see her ascend and grow strong and clear. She takes great photos, makes great quilt, sells vulva stickers, writes beautiful about Goddesses and her own life, makes gorgeous quilt and Fiber Paintings. There is nothing, really, that she cannot do.

I often feel I am standing still as she rushes past me in a great whoosh, leaving only some footprint and a trail of dust.

We will have great fun together for 15 minutes each week, we have a lot to say, apart and to one another.

Finally, I learned that the live streams of the show have gone through the roof. That is something they can measure, and it means a lot of people are listening and streaming. I’m getting a lot of good e-mails – [email protected] – and more calls every week.

You can also go online and download a Simple Radio app. Great reception everywhere in the world there is WI-FI. We are on the move, for sure.

This is community radio. This is your show as well as mine. Call me at 866 406-9286 or 802 442-1010. Or e-mail me your comments and questions, [email protected]. There are some signs that this enterprise is beginning to lift off.

And don’t forget to check out the WBTN Amazon Wish List. Just three items left and some gift card options. Thanks.

Come along for the ride, I promise it will not be boring. This morning, I talked for a whole hour about dogs who eat their poop. How many New York Times Best Selling Authors Do That?