Podcasts
Podcasts
Friday, March 7, 202503/07/2025
The Hustler Files Ep 102
EMPLOY, TEACH, ACT & HELP
At Baker Industries, an organization dedicated to providing fair chance hiring for marginalized communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, their mission is centered around four simple but powerful words. EMPLOY those who have the most difficulty in getting and holding jobs. TEACH the work ethic through real work experience. ACT as a transition step toward gaining and maintaining outside employment. HELP those who are both able and unable to move on to reach their highest level of achievement. Founded by Charlie and Weezie Baker in 1980, Baker Industries has evolved from a small garage operation into a thriving social enterprise that empowers individuals with disabilities, returning citizens, and those in recovery from addiction or homelessness. Join us as we speak with Nick Watson, the president of Baker Industries, and Nate Bunday, a graduate of their program who recently transitioned back into the workforce after 29 years of incarceration. Together, they share insights on the importance of second chances, the challenges faced by those re-entering society, and the vital role of community support in fostering success. Discover how Baker Industries is reshaping lives and breaking down barriers to employment, proving that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.
Friday, March 7, 202503/07/2025
Bad News, Some Good
3/7/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Trump dismantling DOE & DEI. Clare Higgins: Trump-induced chaos & an upcoming gov’t shutdown? W Mass Code Pink activists Paki Wieland & Susan Triolo on Intl Women’s Day. Astronomer Salman Hameed: planets aligning, Space X exploding, landers tipping over & the upcoming lunar eclipse. ArtBeat — Donnabelle Casis w/ William Baczek: the Landscape Exhibition.
Thursday, March 6, 202503/06/2025
The Essence of Our Being
3/6/25: Human Rights Atty Laura Pitter: Trump-Musk destroying USAID, deserting the world & threatening Sanctuary Cities. Rich Michelson & Eric Lesser — “Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama’s First Presidential Seder.” Rep Jim McGovern: Republicans gutting the gov’t. What hope remains? Ruth Griggs w/ rising star pianist Sean Mason — coming to the Drake.
Wednesday, March 5, 202503/05/2025
Chickens
3/5/25: DA David Sullivan: Trump’s address & local scammers. Amherst School Supt Dr Xi Herman: accused, exonerated & back to work. Brian Adams w/ Underline Farm’s Karl Prahl: organic-fed poultry in Avian flu times. Johnny Memphis previews the Back Porch Festival. Larry Hott: the Oscar-winning documentaries.
Tuesday, March 4, 202503/04/2025
Politics, Poetry, Pucci & Players
3/4/25: Sen. Paul Mark: federal cuts & the future of West-East Rail. Rich Michelson w/ UMass prof, translator & poet John Hennessy: poetry from Ukraine & “Exit Garden State.” Atty John Pucci: DOJ’s new mission: vengeance & retribution. Paul Newlin: “Watermelon Wednesdays” w/ violinist Tim Kliphuis (Django Jazz) & Petri Prauda of the Finnish band Frigg.
Tuesday, March 4, 202503/04/2025
Panorama — Episode 101 — Visions Video
In Panorama
Originally aired on March 1, 2025. Jesse Hassinger and Bill Dwight of Visions Video answer the hard questions — Are they really opening a video rental store in Northampton? Why? How will it work? How will this store be different than other rental locations? And what should Northamptonites expect?
Monday, March 3, 202503/03/2025
A Free Press?
3/3/25: Free Press Pres Craig Aaron: rampant fed govt censorship. Megan Zinn w/ Odyssey’s Robin Glossner: new books to love & authors to meet. Sen. Jo Comerford: federal cuts threatening MA & new legislature transparency rules. Nhmptn Mayor GL Sciarra: the $600,000 request for schools, snow & ice & potholes.
Friday, February 28, 202502/28/2025
The Hustler Files Ep 101
THIS CALL IS BEING RECORDED, SAN QUENTIN PART 2
Every incarcerated person knows the exact date and time of their parole hearing, even if it’s years in the future. For Chan Park, his first parole hearing took place after 13 years, 8 months of incarceration. His rejection by the Parole Board because he hadn’t served enough time. That was the first of what would be three more parole hearings over the next 20 years, four in total. All ended in rejection. One can only wonder how Chan kept his hopes alive. Despite his well-laid out parole plans, his exemplary prison record, his many certifications in a variety of vocational trainings, nothing would circumvent the three-hour interrogations by the Parole Board and their decisions administered in only 30 minutes. Chan would not be released. Yet, Chan stays hopeful. He continues to tweak his parole plan and contribute to the progressiveness of San Quentin, sitting on one of the newly formed, internal Advisory Councils created by Governor Newsom. At the end of the day, no matter what, he says, ‘when you’ve served 3 or 4 or 5 decades, sometimes the only person you have left to talk to is God, and that goes a long way’. Chan is scheduled for his next parole hearing in May 2026. He is hopeful he can reschedule it to sometime this year, in 2025.
Friday, February 28, 202502/28/2025
Have Hope, Have Heart
2/28/25: Rep. Mindy Domb—now Chair of Mental Health, Substance use & Recovery. MTA Pres Max Page on Sen. Markey’s bill to preserve ed funding. Filmmakers Larry Hott & Julia Mintz on her film “Four Winters” — surviving and fighting Nazis. Hope for peace in Palestine & Israel with Roots Co-founders Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger & Khaled Abu Awwad. Dr. Kemar Brown, cardiologist & Am Heart Ass’n volunteer: heart transplants and saving yr loved ones with CPR.
Thursday, February 27, 202502/27/2025
A Really Big Show
2/27/25: ACLUM Ex Dir Carol Rose: the threat to sanctuary cities and town. Rev Carole Bull: a personal relationship with the Higher Power. Jessi Kirley, Pres of Ehmtn-based J Kirley Collective & Common Capital Pres Raymond Lanza-Weil: small loans, big dreams & his testimony at US Senate yesterday. All That Jazz w/ John Anz, Mark Gionfriddo & Brian Lapis—olde time radio show.
