Podcasts
Podcasts
Thursday, July 2, 202607/02/2026
“We have it in Our Power to Begin the World Over Again.” — Thomas Paine, 1776.
7/2/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski.
Award-winning poet Martín Espada on “Shame” – the story of, his poem on, Alligator Alcatraz, featured in this month’s special edition of the Nation Magazine along with pieces by Jane Fonda, Bill McKibben, Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders and other progressive luminaries.
Max Page, Pres of Mass Teachers Ass’n: ballot questions on taxes and rent control stuck from November’s ballot—for different reasons; Trump’s school voucher program in Mass; more $ for our schools?
Congressman Jim McGovern: celebrating the 250th, government dysfunction, the housing bill, wars in Iran, Ukraine & Gaza, USAID, Trump’s 2026 election-rigging plans, & reflections on the reflecting pool.
Kristin Neville, Ex Dir, Blues to Green, & Lorenzo Gaines, Social Media & Community Engagement Guru, on the next weekend’s joyous Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival – free and open to all—an amazing lineup of musicians.
Wednesday, July 1, 202607/01/2026
Dredging Things Up
July 1, 2026, Co-Host Brian Adams
District Attorney for Hampshire and Franklin Counties David Sullivan reviews this week’s Supreme Court decisions – a sobering assessment.
Catherine (Cat) McEachern from ServiceNet’s Autism Connections on the Autism Prom, the Blue Envelope Bill, autism’s stigma—or not, & her journey.
Rosalie Starvish, Water Resource Engineer: the Mill River, Smith College, dredging or not; culverts and Conway – stream restoration; & when a lake is a pond –an existential question for limnologists—and you!
Cool Films with Larry Hott. Larry recommends “Marty, Life is Short” and “Steve (Martin)—a Documentary in Two Pieces.”
Tuesday, June 30, 202606/30/2026
Looking Ahead
6/30/26 Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Lisa Wong, So Hadley Town Administrator: overrides, budget-busting health insurance costs, what towns and cities are saying to each other.
Tara Jacobs, Governor’s Councilor, on pardons, commutations, judicial confirmations & parole board nominees.
Salman Hameed, professor and astronomer, on cotton-candy planets, signs of life, Project Hail Mary & airbags in space.
Laurie Millman & Urszula Wolanska-Fettes, from the Center for New Americans, on becoming a citizen & the July 4th ceremony.
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
The Hustler Files Ep 168
BEFORE WE CALLED IT SOCIAL JUSTICE, THERE WAS FREDERICK DOUGLASS
In the annals of American history there is one speech delivered in 1852, by a former slave, that stood at the precipice of what today, we call social justice. This week on The Hustler Files Dr. LaToya Bosworth of Mass Humanities explores the enduring legacy of Frederick Douglass and the Massachusetts statewide initiative, Reading Frederick Douglass Together. His speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” still resonates around the world, and each year in Massachusetts, from public parks to correctional facilities, communities gather to read Douglass’s powerful words aloud, discovering that his message about freedom, justice, humanity, and hope, the building blocks of social justice, remains as relevant today as ever. In honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, Dr. Bosworth discusses storytelling, historical memory, invisible barriers, community healing, and why understanding our shared past may be one of the most important ways to shape our future. Because some stories aren’t just history, they’re still changing lives.
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.
