Podcasts
Podcasts
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
Thursday, June 18, 202606/18/2026
Music! Music! Music!
6/18/26 (Host – Buz Eisenberg)
Dr. Kathy Bullock Singer & Professor Emerita of Music Berea College: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Tour” a multi-state concert tour and musical pilgrimage retracing the paths of the Underground Railroad At Bombyx Sun June 21 Concert: 4:00pm
Extra Extra with DHG & Gfld Recorder Executive Editor Dan Crowley: Neal cancels debate appearance, no to data centers in Holyoke, & man found not guilty after 28 years in prison.
Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Rocker June Millington on her upcoming performance at The Green River Festival Friday at 545 & Saturday at 430
All That Jazz w/ Ruth Griggs, Pres of the Northampton Jazz Festival, & Jennifer Schantz, Exec Dir of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art & Brian Pinkney, Illustrator of children’s books: Jerry Pinkney exhibit opening; Sunset Thursdays, and jazz and art collaboration at The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.
Wednesday, June 17, 202606/17/2026
Protesting, Haunting, Farming, & Voting
6/17/26 (Host Brian Adams)
Coen from Demilitarize Western Mass: L3Harris in Northampton, confronting the military industrial complex.
Pamela Petro: Guggenheim Foundation award winner & Smith College Professor: her future book Haunts & Haunting: ghosts on Cape Cod & beyond
Lexi Polokoff & Dan Ingram from Climate Action Now : Battling climate change by supporting local farmers
Larry Hott & Kathy Mellon from Movement Voter Project: shifting culture, winning power, & shaping policy
Tuesday, June 16, 202606/16/2026
Flagging Land and Peace
6/16/26 (Host- Amilcar Shabazz)
Michael Lawrence-Riddell, Founder of Self-Evident Education, on their new film “Get a Mule, 40 Acres or So…” at the Northampton Center for the Arts this Saturday at 4:00.
Lily Sexton— performing LIVE in studio—brilliant and beautiful music—a preview of her Splendid Torch Band’s performance at the Green River Festival on Friday.
ReBelle’s Manou Africa & Kalpana Devi: previewing their Juneteenth performance Saturday at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton.
The Happier Valley Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Banjamin, Scott Braidman & Allison Reding w/ Dr. Shabazz as scorekeeper—the topic –flags of the world.
Prof Michale Klare: War and Peace, Iran & Ukraine.
