Podcasts
Podcasts
Monday, June 29, 202606/29/2026
Staking Our Ground
6/29/26, Co-Host — Megan Zinn.
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, Founder of National Martyrs Day, July 5, honoring social justice warriors who died for the cause. Prof Browne-Marshall is the author of “A Protest History of the United States,” an award-winning playwright, and a Professor of Constitutional Law.
Writers Block. Megan Zinn interviews Debra Curtis on “Laws of Love and Logic,” sisterhood, forgiveness, and the complicated nature of love. Smith College plays a part.
Eric Nakajima, Holyoke Dir of Planning & Econ Devel: new data centers have been banned in the City—why?
“A Stake in the Ground 1774”—opening soon in Historic Deerfield, the resonance of dissent and revolution, with Historic Deerfield’s Claire Carlson and Plays in Place Producing Artistic Dir Patrick Gabridge.
Saturday, June 27, 202606/27/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 6.27.26 – Downtown Amherst Foundation/The Drake
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we speak to Claudia Pazmany Executive Director of the Downtown Amherst Foundation aka the Drake. Many know Claudia from her roles around the region including ED of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Development Director at the MLK Center in Springfield. She is joined by Gabrielle Gould, Founder and President of the Board at the Downtown Amherst Foundation and families face around the greater Amherst area in her past role as ED of the Amherst BID. The Drake has been a huge economic driver for downtown Amherst since it’s inception in April of 2022. Learn how ticketed events add to the vibrancy and economic development of a town and how partnership is the way we must move forward together. We are also joined by Lincoln Allen, Manager of the Drake and Chris Freeman, ED of the Iron Horse in Northampton. Miles for Music is an 8.1 mile run from the Drake to the Iron Horse on September 13th to coincide with the Taste of Northampton. Be a part of the action and sign up early at runreg.com or go to www.thedrakeamherst.org for more information. Thanks for listening.
Friday, June 26, 202606/26/2026
Politics & Cellos
6/26/26, Co-Host Josh Silver
Political Gold with Josh Silver: the secret recording of RFK pushing to elect a loyal Trump Republican. A crime?
Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby: the BIG ongoing World Cup party and performances in his city w/ a sidebar on the Prop 2 ½ Override.
Rep Mindy Domb on Amherst Pride, the Blue Envelope legislation—now law! & the anti-book-banning bill.
Josh Silver on this week’s electoral victories for progressive Democrats & the influence of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the midterms.
LIVE in studio—Jeremy Harman and Stijn Kuppens, members of the Intergalactic Cello Quarter, workshop leaders at this week’s New Directions Cello Festival at Smith College, & the performances at Bombyx this weekend.
Thursday, June 25, 202606/25/2026
Let the SunShine In
6/25/26, Co-Host – Andy Bukowski.
Nancy Talanian, Co-Founder, the western Mass-based Guantanamo Survivors Fund on her fund and tomorrow’s U.N. International Day In Support of Victims of Torture.
Carol Rose, Exec Dir of the ACLU of Mass, on the passing of 40+year ACLUM Legal Director John Reinstein, SCOTUS, birthright citizenship, and celebrating July 4 –”Beyond 250” and “Fired Up for Freedom.”
Carole Bull, Northampton-based UCC Pastor, on Paki Wieland, non-violent direct action, L-3Harris demonstrations, the necessity defense & the relevant lessons of scripture.
John Anz, host of All That Jazz, with pianist and composer Jen Allen on her life in Music & her upcoming performance July 13 at Bushnell Park in Hartford
Wednesday, June 24, 202606/24/2026
A Natural World, Stars & Rising Suns
6/24/26 Co-Host Brian Adams
Stephen Platt, UMass History Prof & 2026 Guggenheim Fellow: China rising, isolated, capitalist, run by CCP, WWII internment camps, & more –a fascinating conversation.
Kevin Whitney, Pres & COO Cooley Dickinson Hospital: emergency & urgent care, how the relationship with MGB actually works, keeping money loca,l & a shout-out for the new coffee shop!
Stephen Rich, UMass Microbiologist: everything you ever wanted and didn’t want to know about ticks & protecting yourself.
Sonya Clark, Amherst Coll Art & Art History Prof & 2026 Guggenheim Fellow: Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye, marigolds, hair, ancestors, creativity, genius.
Tuesday, June 23, 202606/23/2026
You Can’t Trump This
6/23/26, Co-Host — Amilcar Shabazz
Ivy Meeropol — her newest documentary film is “Ask E. Jean,” on E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump’s sexual assault of her— now at the Amherst Cinema.
Paul Newlin, founder and Director of Watermelon Wednesdays, on the upcoming concert of Skye Consort with vocalist Emma Bjorling and the quarter century history of Watermelon Wednesdays.
Lora Wondolowski, Gfld City Council Pres, on the state’s refusal to certify “free cash,” a tough budget year, & alarm over possible layoffs at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
Duke Goldman, Negro Baseball League expert, on ongoing discrimination in professional sports.
Monday, June 22, 202606/22/2026
Fireworks
6/22/26, Co-Host — Megan Zinn
Nate Woodard, recent Gfld H.S. grad; Co-Chair, Gfld Human Rts Comm’n; Student Trustee, Gfld Community College; Youth Leader, Communities that Care Coalition: his extraordinary journey from homelessness & his goal of becoming President.
Laura Zigman—coming to the Odyssey this Wednesday on her new work “The Author Weekend.” (Megan Zinn loves this author.)
Harvard Law School Criminal Law Prof Alexandra Natapoff: “America Unfinished: 250 Years of Law and Governance” – race, class & justice for sale.
Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Mgr Sam Giffen: Hampshire College update, the revised budget, celebrating Pride, upcoming fireworks, & Reading Frederick Douglass Together.
Friday, June 19, 202606/19/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 167
INVISIBLE CAGES: WHEN FREE ISN’T FREE
What happens when one mistake follows you for the rest of your life? Dr. Sheena Meade, CEO of the Clean Slate Initiative, calls it ‘invisible cages’ and for her it was 2004 and an $87 bounced check that led to her arrest. Despite making restitution, that arrest still appears on her record, today, and has created a lifelong lesson about second chances, collateral consequences, and turning her pain into purpose. These barriers are not lost on Sheena as there are millions of Americans still in invisible cages, even long after they’ve paid their debt to society. It was Sheena’s personal journey that led her to becoming one of the nation’s leading voices for automatic record clearance, criminal justice reform, the importance of owning your narrative, and how it is possible to emerge from life’s most difficult moments. This is a conversation about resilience, redemption, freedom, and what it truly means to live your legacy out loud.
Friday, June 19, 202606/19/2026
Live & Local
6/19/26 (Host – Josh Silver)
MTA President Max Page: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision to bar the proposed income tax cut ballot initiative from appearing on the November ballot.
Rep Lindsay Sabadosa & Wildlife Conservationist Emma Howard Boutiette: Legislation to stop SGARS (Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides) – highly potent rat and mouse poisons
Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: Environmental Bond Bill – rewilded golf course in Williamsburg & Economic Development Bond Bill – Quantum Computing, digital revision
Professor Austin Sarat: 50th Anniversary of reinstatement of the death penalty, where the death penalty stands now in the U.S. & the U.S. Iran Peace Deal
Emily Boddy, Co-Founder of Reconnect Western Mass & the Founding Member of The Distraction Free Schools Policy Project: Northampton schools enacting a bell-to-bell cell phone policy
Art Beat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Dean Brown, artist and owner of PULP Holyoke: Art exhibition feat Anna Helper, Sean Sullivan, & Roger Brouard now through July 12
