The Hill Is Steep with poet and investigative journalist Greg Palast

Twice 5 Miles Radio hosted by James Navé welcomes poet and investigative journalist Greg Palast to the microphone. In this probing conversation titled The Hill Is Steep, Palast and Navé discuss in depth the perils, so many people face when they try to improve their lot in life. You may have encountered Greg's journalistic work on MSNBC, or BBC, Democracy Now, or The Guardian. If so, you know he is a fearless investigative journalist who writes and fights for those who have no platform from which to speak. You may also know that in addition to being an investigative journalist, Greg is also a committed poet who writes poetry that speaks to the cultural dilemmas we all face in these crazy times. Indeed, the hill is steep for most of us. So, of course, Greg drills down into the hill is steep idea when he talks about his modest beginnings in a Los Angeles area called Sun Valley Pacoima, where smokestacks towered over his childhood home. In this conversation, Greg and I talk at length about how he managed to climb the hill and escape the smokestacks and other toxic environmental elements, so many in his childhood mates were unable to escape. You may be, as I was, surprised, maybe even shocked, to learn that one of Greg's high school classmates became a notorious monster. When you listen to this interview, you will know who he is and remember what he did. Although the hill is steep, you may have already guessed that unlike Greg, his classmate did not climb the hill. Indeed, Greg climbed the hill because he knew how and where to reach. Some people who escape never look back. This is not true for Greg Palast; he looks back every day and takes his inspiration from those who could not climb. Greg is a poet who knows the hill is steep. Greg will never stop climbing and probing for answers. Enjoy this interview. I learned a great deal, and I hope you will too.