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unchARTeDiscussion: Ken Wachsberger - From Underground Press Pioneer to Storytelling Activist
What happens when a "good kid" that all mothers compared their sons to becomes a radical organizer who gets thrown in solitary confinement for refusing to sign a form?
In this conversation recorded in Ken's Ann Arbor, Michigan backyard (complete with construction sounds, playground kids, and friendly crickets), author Ken Wachsberger takes us through his journey from math student to underground press editor to lifelong organizer. We explore how the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 70s shaped not just his politics, but his approach to writing and storytelling.
Ken shares stories from his new autobiography "Thumbs Up" - including that pivotal night in 1970 when 132 students were arrested at Michigan State and he ended up hallucinating in solitary confinement. We dig into his work preserving the history of the underground press movement, the network of alternative newspapers that shared information outside mainstream media during the most turbulent decades in recent American history.
But this isn't just about the past. Ken connects those organizing lessons to today's movements, discusses why he writes his books in restaurants instead of quiet libraries, and reveals how discovering he's ADHD became his greatest strength as both writer and activist.
We explore the power of the underground press network, how yippies and zippies actually operated, why correcting a single typo led to a 20-year friendship, and how one man's refusal to sign a form during a peaceful campus discussion became a catalyst for a lifetime of principled resistance.
Whether you're interested in 1960s history, the power of alternative media, or how personal transformation happens through storytelling, this conversation offers insights into how art, activism, and authentic voice intersect to create lasting change.
Plus: The surprising role phone books played in tracking down underground journalists decades later, and why hitchhiking was once a legitimate form of transportation and community building.
Find Ken's books and blog at kenthebookcoach.com
About unchARTed Creative Community Network: We explore the lives and creative processes of artists, makers, and cultural changemakers through unscripted conversations that feel like sitting around a coffee shop table. No rehearsed talking points - just authentic dialogue about art, life, and the creative journey.
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