Podcasts
Podcasts
Wednesday, August 19, 202608/19/2026
Do Look Up!
8/19/25, Co-Host Brian Adams
Courtney Andre, Dir, Mass. Ctr for the Book: the new anti-censorship, anti-book banning, law in Massachusetts, “An Act Regarding Free Expression;” the upcoming Mass Book Awards; and promoting love of reading.
Julie Sanders, Dir of Clinical Practice at Tapestry Health: the state of reproductive health care and reproductive rights in Massachusetts; tele-medicine, the mobile health van, health care for all.
Allison Bell, co-owner of Quonquont Farm, & Laurie Sanders, naturalist & Co-Dir of Historic Northampton, on “Valley Wild”—raptors, caterpillars & snakes—closeup encounters of an unforgettable kind—this Sunday.
Cool Films with Larry Hott and Smith Professor Gillian Kendall: the apocalypse is coming, the apocalypse is coming, the apocalypse is here — films and books on climate fiction, vampires, zombies, cauliflower heads and Shakespeare.
Tuesday, August 18, 202608/18/2026
For Your Awareness
8/18/26, Co-Host — Carrie Baker.
Amherst-Pelham School Supt Dr Xiomara Herman: a new school, a new school year, incredible offerings at the high school, & where 6th graders belong.
Trevor Dayton, Northampton Recovery Center Outreach Coordinator, & Taylor McDonough, City of Northampton Director of Substance Use Prevention, on Overdose Awareness Day internationally & here, and keeping our kids and communities safe.
The Comedy Quiz with Happier Valley Comedy’s Maddy Benjamin, Holly Ruderman & Scott Braidman. Come play with us — too much fun! The topic is rivers.
Feminist Futures with Smith College Prof Carrie Baker, NEPM investigative reporter Nancy Cohen & Atty Laura Mangini on the current investigations of, and sexual abuse cases against, churches and the clergy and whether the Massachusetts legislature will act.
Tuesday, August 18, 202608/18/2026
Looking Forward and Back
8/17/26, Co-Host Dan Torres
Jonathan Edwards, founder and CEO of Whately-based Virtual Wayback: using AI to make history alive
for all of us.
Michelle Ong-Hendrick, Chester Theatre Co-Artist Director and Director of the current production “Dear Alien.” As in, Dear Alien, I need your advise — Dear Abby for our time and space.
Nathaniel Malloy, Hadley Town Administrator, on new housing developments, including low-income and senior housing, the Overlay District & the successful override.
Republican Francis Rooney, former ambassador to the Vatican and former Florida Congressman, on the midterms, Trumpism & the future of the Republican Party.
Friday, August 14, 202608/14/2026
What’s Next?
8/14/25, Co Host –Josh Silver
Max Page, immediate past Pres of the Mass Teachers Ass’n: educators say to the governor and the legislature, show us the money, please! Also, why the MTA endorses Sen Markey for re-election.
UMass Prof Chang Liu, who was just awarded $1.3million from NIH for his AIDS research, an at-home HIV test with 95% accuracy.
Sen Paul Mark: what the legislature is doing this month, the Markey-Moulton race, & all the ballot questions.
WRSI’s Steve Sanderson and NEPM’s Monte Belmonte have too much fun previewing Transformance—next Tuesday at Look Park.
ArtBeat — Donnabelle Casis w/ Lydia Rivera-Early, UMass prof & organizer of the Latino Arts Festival at the Springfield Museums on August 28.
Thursday, August 13, 202608/13/2026
Some Good News
8/13/26, Co-Host — Andy Bukowski.
Exec Dir of Valley Community Development Corp Alex Breiteneicher: transforming the EconoLodge on Rt 9 in Hadley into affordable housing; the North Amherst affordable home ownership project – a promise fulfilled; permits granted for transforming 133 King Street in Northampton.
Dir of the Early Childhood Dept of the Collaborative for Educational Services Dr Desiree Lalbeharie: the new $1.1million yearly grant for young children’s mental health services here.
Beit Ahavah Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, who has just returned from Israel, on progressive activism and anti-Netanyahu politics there and here.
Northampton Jazz Festival Pres Ruth Griggs with jazz educator Ben Young on Jazz 101 – what you want to know and hear.
Wednesday, August 12, 202608/12/2026
Worlds We Know And Don’t
8/12/26: Co-Host Brian Adams
Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Councilor on the Jones Library, Hampshire College, Wildwood Elementary and the September return of the city called UMass.
Paul Spector, political activist and founder of Friday Action, on the upcoming event with environmental superstar Bill McKibben, the Maine race for the U.S. Senate, and keeping hope alive in dark times.
Jenny Powers, Director of the Springfield Science Museum: the moon takes a bite out of the sun today!!, eclipses, exoplanets & amazing pics from the galaxies beyond ours.
Cool Films with Larry Hott and Nina Kleinberg on “Casablanca,” the secrets of how films are made, and her upcoming presentation at Amherst Cinema.
Tuesday, August 11, 202608/11/2026
Journeys
8/11/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Rep Pat Duffy: Freedom to Read law, the abortion bill, the Protect Act & Child Welfare legislation—all passed by the legislature and signed into law.
Rev. Carlos Anderson of Hope Community Church in Amherst: from a Black Congregational Church with a white pastor to the present day—the strange journey of race and faith in the Valley.
“Sweet Prince” with Hilary Dennis—her one-woman Hamlet, coming to the Center for the Arts.
Talkin’ Baseball with the Duke, Duke Goldman: How About those Red Sox? The owners are greedy and acting stupid—what else is new? How to enjoy this season with a lock-out pending.
Monday, August 10, 202608/10/2026
New Ventures: Listen, Write, Walk, Run
8/10/26, Co-Host, writer and editor Megan Zinn
Northampton’s new school superintendent Annie Azarloza: her personal history, her listening and learning tour, community engagement, the cell phone ban, & working with the School Committee.
Mount Holyoke College Professor Joshua Hotaka Roth: his new graphic memoir, co-authored with his father, titled “Lifelines: Art, Memory , Relationship.”
Mayors Monday with Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the Peace Walkers, CAFO finally!, schools & data centers.
Corrine Corryat, candidate for the Democratic nomination for First Franklin Representative: the issues and the race.
Saturday, August 8, 202608/08/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 8.8.26 – Easthampton Neighbors
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we hear from Mary McCarthy and Sharon Tilbe, who are the President of the Board and the Volunteer Coordinator respectively at Easthampton Neighbors. They serve 55+ in the Easthampton community who need a little help from their friends to get by. With so many people aging in place it is important to have safety nets like EN so that people can get to appointments, the grocery store, have a small repair done, get computer assistance, or just have a friendly face to check in on them. The village-to-village network has taken off across the state and county with many nonprofits like EN right here in the 413. Listen in on how you can help with becomming a member, volunteer, or board member. Save the date for the Cow Plop Derby on 9/13 at Fletchers Farm in Southampton, MA. Sounds like a fun time for everyone. Thanks for listening to the WMBS.
www.easthamptonneighbors.com
Friday, August 7, 202608/07/2026
Maxed Out, Wrapped Up
8/7/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski
Max Page, recent (term-limited) Mass Teachers Assoc President and Matthew Bach, new MTA President, on MTA’s 2026-2027 goals & priorities, the strike in Andover that Matt led, and his history as a history teacher.
Community Action Pioneer Valley Exec Dir Lev Ben Ezra and Family Center Director Kia Burton-King on joy in a backpack and wrap-around services for families.
Astronomer Salman Hameed: the critically important and under-reported story of the Trump administration’s combined attack on science, medicine, universities, and our future.
Documentary Filmmaker Lexi Jamieson Marsh: the world premiere of “I Was a Hurricane” on the Amherst Common tomorrow evening — the story of the 2003 Amherst High School National Champion Ultimate Frisbee Team, a story of belonging, friendship, and trust.
ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis and Ava Harper on Ava’s new and moving solo exhibition at 33 Hawley, “Familial Bestiaries.”
