The State We're In, 6 August 2011. This week the incredible life story of the philosopher who used to be a bank robber. An Indian Dalit, or untouchable, talks about how she went from an abused, low caste child-bride to head of a multi-million dollar corporation. Two women, each from warring tribes in Kenya, tell tales of the great risks they took to help those in need, even those from the other side. A transsexual Australian soccer star switches to the women’s league and causes a massive controversy, but scores a huge political victory.
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Rein Gerritsen lectures and writes books about physics and philosophy. But when he was a young man, a tragic accident transformed him from a young intellectual into a mafia enforcer, bank robber and convict. This is the epic, sometimes tragic, tale of his life, and how he found himself again.
Rein Gerritsen is the author of Knock-out, an account of prison life (April 2009).
He is also a founding member of the Dutch Pragmatism Foundation.
Link - Documentary on Rein Gerritsen: Door schade en schande (Dutch language only)
The Dalit who dares
Kalpana Saroj is a Dalit, the lowest of all the Hindu castes. She tells host Jonathan Groubert about her journey from abused child bride to becoming the head of a multi-million dollar Indian corporation.
Maureen and Angela both grew up in Kenya, but they each come from different tribes. Maureen is a Luo and Angela is a Kikuyu. When ethnic fighting broke out between their tribes after the presidential election there in 2007, they each took great risks to help people in need, even if they were from the other side.
Links - The New Sunderland Samba website
The Uzima Foundation
Switching teams
Martine Delaney was once Martin Delaney, an elite soccer player in Tasmania, Australia. After becoming a woman, she began playing again, with women. It became a media circus, but Martine ended up scoring a huge political victory.
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I greatly enjoyed your interview with Rein Gerritsen and am seeking his book. It likely has not yet been translated to English, but one hopes that it will be someday.
Hi Linton, glad you liked the interview (we have checked and can't find an English-language version of Knock-out either)
TSWI
Hi. I'm wondering who performs the cover of 'Walk on the Wild Side' played at the 31st minute of this show? Thanks.
An Italian singer names Ornella Pellagrino: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhsqb5H28bQ
OK. Everything is fixed. Please let us know if we missed something. Thanks.
Thanks Moe. We'll do what we can to fix this ASAP.
Mr. Groubert, the streaming player has the correct audio but the downloadable mp3 still switches from "Transformations" to "Souvenirs of War" at 13:29.
Hi Noah. We caught and corrected that pretty quickly, but you were quicker. Download it again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Hey!
I enjoy listening to the podcasts of your show. I wanted to let you know the latest show "Transformations" MP3 seems to start as Transformations but after the first break around 13min in it comes back as "Souvenirs of War".
Always find the show moving and thought provoking, keep up the good work!
Best,
Noah
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