“A Sense of Urgency” amplifies voices demanding immediate ecological action through music that both mourns environmental degradation and galvanizes resistance.

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For our 75th episode, host Bart Everson showcases contemporary eco-conscious music reflecting mounting climate anxiety and calls to action. Living Earth’s rallying “Come On!” sets the tone, followed by Reverend Billy’s protest anthem “Not the Only One” and Beth Sage’s clear-eyed but hopeful “People Do Care (Up).” Via Solaria’s “Beneath the Ashes” envisions environmental rebirth, while Sarina Partridge’s delicate “Seeds on the Wind” and The Invisible Bee’s “Love Is Never Gone” offer emotional sustenance for activists. After the break, Cassie Watson Francillon and Val Jeanty blend Haitian traditions with environmental themes, contrasted by AC Lavender’s meditative “Wavewatching.” Indigenous perspectives emerge through Sauljaljui’s Paiwan-language “Harvest Dance” lamenting ecological imbalance and Laura Niquay’s Atikamekw celebration of nature’s colors. Kimyan Law and Fox confront resource exploitation in Congo with “Make It Make Sense,” while Kimwei’s “Hey Police! You’re Being Used” directly addresses climate protest dynamics. The program concludes with Lucky Daye’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s pioneering “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”—acknowledging the long history of environmental music while highlighting how much more urgent the crisis has become since 1971.