Podcasts
Podcasts
Friday, January 30, 202601/30/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 147
IT’S OK TO SAY THE F WORD
From a felony to the CEO of a Global foundation, Michelle Cirocco knows firsthand that second chances work, because she lived it.
After serving time in prison, Michelle rebuilt her life by taking a job at a call center, inside a local correctional facility. Today, she leads the Televerde Foundation, helping incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women gain workforce credentials, employment, and long-term success. With over 5,000 women served and a
recidivism rate that is under 2%, Televerde’s model is transforming reentry outcomes and economic impact across states like Arizona and Indiana. In a powerful and heartfelt conver-sation, Michelle talks about leadership, the stigma of having a felony, workforce develop-ment, her ‘Cinderellas’, her pet peeves, why failure is not the end, and that it’s okay to say the F word.
Friday, January 30, 202601/30/2026
Bills Come Due
1/30/26: MTA Pres. Max Page: taxing billionaires from Massachusetts to Washington State.
Josh Silver w/ Atty Steve Jonas — Democracy Defenders Fund: can the courts save us? Josh Silver: Nmpton Open Media, YouTube, polarization & diss-course. Donnabelle Casis w/ — Tuman & Newman: “Every Day Is Play: The Art of Dave Rothstein.”
Thursday, January 29, 202601/29/2026
Music to Our Ears
1/29/26: The Northamptones LIVE! And fabulous! Court Dorsey, actor & poet and Grammy Award-winning cellist Eugene Friesen: “Poems with Wings.” UMass Poli Sci Prof Ray La Raja: too much democracy in Amherst? Ehmpton Mayor Salem Derby: what if ICE comes? & other pressing issues. Jon Anz w/ Orice Jenkins: his jazz gems –Tuesday @ City Sports Grill w/ the Green St. Trio.
Wednesday, January 28, 202601/28/2026
Manna from Heaven
1/28/26: Manna Comm Kitchen Ex Dir Niki Landowski & Dev Dir, Kaitlyn Ferrari: combatting hunger here. Cooley Dick Hosp Pres & COO, Kevin Whitney: paying for health care. Citizens Awareness Network Ex Dir Deb Katz: Gov Healey is wrong—No Nukes! “Cool Films” w/ Academy Award voter Larry Hott: his movie recommendations.
Tuesday, January 27, 202601/27/2026
Not Rocket Science, Astro-Physics
1.27 Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman: CRESS (unarmed civilian response to 911) & Snowmageddon. Mt Holyoke Prof Kerstin Nordstrom w/ Amherst’s Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi: GIANT planets and brown dwarfs. Gfld Council Pres Lora Wondoloski: banning surveillance cameras & affordable housing.
UMass Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Amherst DEI’s Philip Avila: honoring Black History Month.
Friday, January 23, 202601/23/2026
Resistance
1/22/26: Ruth Griggs w/Dave Haughey & Natalie Padilla: “Cello & Chocolate” @ Bombyx. ACLU of Mass Exec Dir Carol Rose: how you can resist– now, today, really! Rabbi David Seidenberg: ICE, Rabbinic resistance, religious extremism & Tu BiShvat. Nanette Vonnegut & ACLU of Utah atty Tom Ford: their lawsuit against book banning, including “Slaughterhouse-Five.”
Friday, January 23, 202601/23/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 146
INTELLECTUAL ESPRESSO
Tore Price was serving time behind the wall, in Michigan, when he learned about the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program being taught by the University of Michigan. According to Tore, there were 1,000 incarcerated individuals who rushed to sign up for the weekly class with students from the University. With only 15 slots available lady luck was definitely on Tores side. When asking him to describe the Inside-Out Program, his words were short and sweet, intellectual espresso. For Tore, this was the launching pad that propelled him to not only continue to educate himself but also be an advocate for other incarcerated individuals. Having served his ten-year sentence, Tore is now a training coach and special program coordinator for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. Proof that education is a tool for resistance, dignity, and collective liberation.
Friday, January 23, 202601/23/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 1.17.26 — Mesuda Cafe
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Masuda Abdullah is a first-time restaurant owner in Amherst at 17 Kellogg Avenue but has been a long-time foodie and Pastry Chef. After growing up in a family and culture that is all about hospitality and food, Masuda is well established in the culture and cuisine of Afghanistan. She calls Masuda’s North American cuisine with an Afghan fusion; customers will recognize some dishes but taste different spices, while other dishes might not be as familiar but will fast become new favorites. Using fresh ingredients, they offer breakfast and lunch with two sides to the cafe, one grab and go, while the other is more of a sit down and enjoy, table service option. The restaurant is family run and they extend the family concept to their staff and customers. Open every day except Mondays and available for private events-we didn’t mention the desserts-but try the desserts. Made fresh every day, if the owner is a Pastry Chef, you must try the desserts. Thanks for listening.
Www.masudascafe.com
Friday, January 23, 202601/23/2026
Celebrating and Grieving
1/23/26: MTA Pres Max Page: The Gov’s “State of the Commonwealth” address, Fair Share, social media regs, & cell phones in schools. Political Consultant Josh Silver: Trump, Greenland, Epstein, Davos, NATO & Europe. The Writers’ Mill Founding Members Mary Beth Caschetta & Morgan Griffin: “Industry Want Company.” UMass Poli Sci Prof & pollster Tatishe Nteta: Trump’s continuing popularity? Donnabelle Casis w/ STCC Prof Sondra Peron: “Faces of Grief.”
Wednesday, January 21, 202601/21/2026
Frozen Out in the Cold
1/21/26: Former Amherst Town Council Member Andy Steinberg—crisis in muni budgets? Baseball historian Duke Goldman & Howard Bryant’s Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. All Out Adventure Exe. Dir.’s Karen Foster Cold Plunge, Cool Films with Larry Hott Come See Me in the Good Light & Mistress Dispeller.
