Podcasts
Podcasts
Wednesday, November 12, 202511/12/2025
Keeping Council & Counsel
11/12/25: Amherst Counsel Pres Lynn Griesemer: local politics, rewilding & money. Patricia Lee Lewis: “Thorns of the Mesquite: …defiance, refuge and unyielding hope.” Arcadia’s new Sanctuary Mgr Maya Rappaport: birds, kids & sanctuaries. Larry Hott w/ Dr. Jon Hallberg: racism; ageing – beauty & relevance; war — prosthetics & Ukraine.
Tuesday, November 11, 202511/11/2025
Shabazz Shazam
11/11/25: Rep Patricia Duffy: the shutdown & the deal. Safe Passage’s Natalie Ulrich & GSB’s Dir of Philanthropy Tara Brewster: the Hot Chocolate Run & tomorrow’s fundraiser. Mark Lee Gardner: “Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & a Reckoning in Tombstone.” Duke Goldman: gambling, an amazing World Series, the Dodgers & diversity.
Monday, November 10, 202511/10/2025
The Fire This Time
11/10/25: Eric Reeves on the genocide in Sudan. Megan Zinn w/ Gish Jen on “Bad Bad Girl.” Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia on election results, new school(s) & big political fights. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/Charles Walker-Hoover, Pres UMass NAACP chapter: this weekend’s fire & Friday’s protest.
Friday, November 7, 202511/07/2025
Western Mass Business Show on 11.7.25 — Whole Children/Milestones and The Friendship Band
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we speak with Chris Harper, Eddy Hougen, Sydney Meininger, and Sari Mohammed from Whole Children/Milestones (ServiceNet) and The Friendship Band. WC and Milestones is inclusive programming for children, teens, and adults with and without disabilities. Founded 20+ years ago they are now a part of ServiceNet. Offering afterschool and weekend classes as well as adult day programming. With a focus on belonging, skill building, opportunity, and community. The Friendship Band is an inclusive rock band with musicians with and without disabilities. Their concert on 11/3 at 7PM at the Iron Horse with Soul Magnets is sure to bring the house down. Inclusion doesn’t mean lowering the bar, it means opening the stage. Listen in as we discuss these topics and more. Thank you.
Friday, November 7, 202511/07/2025
The Hustler Files Ep 135
UNPACKING JUSTICE THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD
In this montage episode, join us on a reflective journey as we share three of our favorite author interviews from the last few years. With highlights from discussions with notable and famous legal figures, Stephen Bright and James Kwak, who delve into the systemic failures of justice in the criminal courts, to Sarah Burns, a documentarian and author, who recounts the harrowing story of the Central Park Five. Additionally, we hear from Laura Love Hardin, whose memoir and Oprah Book Club pick reveals her transformative journey through addiction and incarceration. We hope you enjoy a piece of each of these compelling narratives that challenge the perceptions of justice and resilience. Full episodes of each are available wherever you get your podcasts.
Friday, November 7, 202511/07/2025
Blaising Forward
11/7/25: Live from Elmer’s in Ashfield – Rep. Natalie Blais w/ Jillian Morgan (Food Bank of Western Mass) Kristen Tillona-Baker (the Mary Lyon Foundation) & Sheryl Stanton (Mohawk Trail School Super). Then, More Blais! w/ Lev Ben Ezra & Janna Tatreault (Community Action Pioneer Valley) and many others: combatting the SNAP cuts & providing food. Astronomer Salman Hameed on a visitor from another solar system. Art Beat w/ Amanda Herman (UMass Museum of Contemporary Art) w/ Liz Chalfin (Zea Mays Printmaking).
Thursday, November 6, 202511/06/2025
Education
11/6/25: Max Page w/ Harvard Grad School of Ed Prof & author Jal Mehta: “In Search of Deeper Learning.” Attorney Laura Pitter on food as a human right. Our House w/ Representative Jim McGovern. Ruth Griggs w/ Peter Hamelin of Signature Sounds & the Parlor Room Collective.
Wednesday, November 5, 202511/05/2025
Talk the Talk on 11.5.25
11/5/25: Children’s Advoc Ctr Ex Dir Carol Conragan: child sexual abuse cases skyrocketing. Brian Adams w/ Smith’s Dir of Sustainability Beth Hooker: the College’s $210 million (!) geothermal project. Larry Hott w/ Mark Roessler, author of “Fairsted: …how (Frederick Law) Olmsted helped heal a fractured democracy” on” Olmsted Panoramic” – a multi-media & musical presentation — coming to AoM.
Tuesday, November 4, 202511/04/2025
Resistance
11/4/25: Sen Paul Mark: SNAP, gov’t shutdown & resistance. Valley Light Opera’s Michael Budnick & Elaine Caine: “HMS Pinafore” at AoM this week—an operetta of resistance. Smith Prof Carrie Baker: “The Erosion of Women’s Rights Under Trump” & how we resist. Yakov Konrad, former councilor candidate: resisting toxic social media.
Monday, November 3, 202511/03/2025
Panorama — Episode 130 — Anat Weisenfreund, Ward 2 Northampton School Committee Candidate, Andrea Egitto, and Carrie Foley
In Panorama
Originally recorded on November 3rd, 2025. On January 13th, 2025 the Northampton School Committee appointed Anat Weisenfreund to serve as Ward 2 representative for the next 10 months. Anat is now running for a full term on the school committee (election day is November 4th). On this special episode of Panorama, Andrea Egitto, president of Northampton Association of School Employees, and Carrie Foley, special education teacher at Bridge Street school, join Anat to discuss the Northampton Public Schools (NPS). What is the state of NPS for teachers, staff, and families? What’s going right and what are its struggles? Despite the 32 percent increase in school funding, how is that the schools are cutting positions? And what does Anat mean when she says, “intentional family engagement”? They answer all of those questions and more on this special episode of Panorama.
