Podcasts
Podcasts
Saturday, September 12, 202609/12/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 9.12.26 – Nicole Blais ED of HCS Head Start Inc.
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we speak with Nicole Blais, the Executive Director of Headstart Holyoke Chicopee Springfield. Having been with the organization for over 30 years, she is a testament to why Headstart is so important in the lives of children and families across this nation. In their annual report it shows a picture of Nicole when she was graduating from HCS Headstart many years ago. The fact that she is now their executive director is an incredible testament to the work and the importance of these programs. HCS is a multiservice agency, focusing on early childhood education, preschool with part day and full day program options. Additionally, there are programs for parents and varied wraparound services that help this agency thrive. Headstart began in 1965 and that’s exactly when HCS Headstart opened as well. Nicole has done an amazing job along with her team to grow the organization and is proud of the work they are doing. One of the issues they see is staffing and so they have created a program that’s called Tomorrow’s Teachers in conjunction with other agencies in the area to get more people involved in participating. Join in and listen as we learn from her sage wisdom over the many years that she has participated in the program. Thank you for listening.
www.hcsheadstart.org
Friday, September 11, 202609/11/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 177
KEN W. GOOD – A MILLION-DOLLAR BOND GONE WRONG
Texas bail attorney Ken W. Good breaks down the often-confusing differences between bail, bond and pretrial release, and examines what happens when the safeguards designed to protect the public fail. This conversation centers on the case of Lee Gilley, a Houston man charged with capital murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley. After being released on a $1 million bond with GPS monitoring, Gilley removed his ankle monitor and fled through Canada to Italy using a fraudulent passport. How did he get such a significant head start? Ken explains how electronic monitoring alerts are handled, why GPS technology cannot replace human supervision, what happens when a defendant skips bond, and who may ultimately be responsible for the $1 million bond. This episode also explores Texas bail policy, judicial discretion, public safety and Gilley’s continuing fight against extradition.
Friday, September 11, 202609/11/2026
We Remember
9/11/26, Co-Host Josh Silver
The Price of Democracy. Your hosts, including Max Page, speak with Vanessa Williamson, author of “The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History. She addresses our complete misunderstanding of the Boston Tea Party and why the highest tax rate for the wealthiest has been reduced by almost 70%!
Unpaved Trails for All. Meg Bandarra, Founder of Unpaved Trails for All, and Brian Westrick, from the Trustees of Reservations, on creating accessible trails for all at the local golf courses being rewilded – Beaver Brook, Pine Grove and Hickory Ridge. We are talking about helping out 49% of the population—hear why. And Megs shares her story.
The Taste of Northampton –this Saturday and Sunday! We speak with Karen Carswell, DNA (Downtown Northampton Ass’n) Board Member and Chair of the Taste, about the food, the merch, the bands, the fun.
We commemorate 9/11 with Sam Holleran, author of “Scattered Steel: The Afterlife of the World Trade Center,” and explore memorials and memory.
Political Gold with Josh Silver. We discuss this week’s revelations about how NYC officials lied about the air quality after 9/11 and consider the political effect of Trumpapalooza in Texas and J.D. Vance’s positioning himself as the MAGA heir apparent.
ArtBeat: Donnabelle Casis & Pasqualina Azzarello from Easthampton City Arts on Art in the Meadow and other events—Eho(!!??) is a happening place.
Thursday, September 10, 202609/10/2026
Acts and Celebrations
9/10/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski
The Hull/Hawley Plays at Historic Northampton’s Shepherd Barn. We interview playwrights Betel Arnold, author of “The Widow’s Land,” the story of Bathsheba Hull, a Black woman in 1765 living in Northampton with her children, who the City is evicting from their home; and Harley Erdman, author of “Hold These Truths”— about Joseph Hawley, prominent Northampton lawyer & delegate to the Continental Congress, battling melancholia; and the Producer of Western Massachusetts Plays in Place Tayla Kingston.
The Protect Act is now the law of the Commonwealth! We speak with legislative sponsors, representatives Aaron Saunders and Priscilla Sousa about what the law provides and how and why it was enacted. Rep Sousa shares her and her family’s story of being undocumented.
The Jewish High Holidays. Beit Ahavah Rabah Riqi Kosovske shares the joys, obligations, meaning and history of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
All That Jazz. Northampton Jazz Festival President Ruth Griggs with the amazing Jazz Fest musician, alto saxophonist Sarah Hanahan. We have one word—WOW!
Wednesday, September 9, 202609/09/2026
Wars, Housing and Bears—Oh My!
9/9/26, Co-Host Brian Adams
Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Councilor, on new affordable housing, home ownership, and the future of Hampshire College’s land.
Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: Rail Tail Safety; a $12.2 million grant for new affordable housing on Crafts Ave behind City Hall & rehabbing Meadowbrook Apts.
Dave Wattles, Black Bear Biologist from Mass Wildlife, on bears in your backyard and how the 4,500 of them in Massachusetts get along with us.
Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Larry Hott on “The Soul Patrol”(a unit of Black Soldiers in Vietnam) and “The Warrior Tradition” (Native Americans serving in the U.S. military).
Tuesday, September 8, 202609/08/2026
Welcome Back
9/8/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Rep Patricia Duffy: unions make us strong; cannabis policy & the marijuana ballot question; cell phone-free schools; data privacy & Flock; and more.
Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: we continue the conversation about cell phone-free schools and explore AI in schools—the good the bad & the ugly and then discuss new graduation requirements –are we facing MCAS 2.0?
Negro League expert, baseball historian, Duke Goldman: How about those Red Sox!! —going to the World Series? Chad Tracy for Manager—forget “Interim?” The passing of Sox former manager Joe Morgan; the return to the NY Yankees lineup of Aaron Judge, the best hitter in the game.
Wayfinders President and CEO Keith Fairey: new housing in South Hadley (the Clover), Amherst and Holyoke. The laws and town support that make new housing possible.
Saturday, September 5, 202609/05/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 9.5.26 – Hampshire County Farm Bureau
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we hear from the Hampshire County Farmm Bureau. They are a subgroup of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, which was started in 1915. The Farm Bureau focues on the the farming community, food supply chain, advocacy, and events. They are a member organization that focuses on climate and agriculture, farm labor and immigration, and encouraging the next generation of farmers. Listen to Richard Jeske from Pine Brook Farm and and Meg Jennings who is a lecturer of animal science at UMASS as they talk about farming in the region and how the Hampshire County Farm Bureau supports farmers, agriculture, and production in Western Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation is the largest farming organization in Massachusetts with over 2000 members. They are the voice of agriculture. You can find more about them at www.mfbf.net. Attend their event on 9/27/26 from 10-3 at the Young Men’s Club in Hadley to raise funds for the future farmers scholarship fund. Thank you for listening.
Friday, September 4, 202609/04/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 176
RON WADDELL – THE MEN HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP ON
A second chance only matters when someone is standing there ready to help you believe your life can actually be different. Ron Waddell, co-founder of Legendary Legacies in Worcester, Massachusetts, knows firsthand how easily a young person can fall through the cracks. After losing his mother at 15, experiencing homelessness and navigating instability without many of the supports young people need, Ron eventually found his own path, and a calling to make sure other young men wouldn’t have to find theirs alone. Founded in 2018, Legendary Legacies works with men affected by gangs, violence and incarceration through intensive life coaching, mentorship, workforce development and a deeply relational approach that meets people where they are. With many staff members bringing their own lived experience to the work, the organization is creating something bigger than a program: a community built around brotherhood, accountability, purpose, and opportunity. Because sometimes changing a life isn’t about erasing someone’s past. It’s about helping them build a different future, and a legacy for the generations that follow.
Friday, September 4, 202609/04/2026
Celebrate!
9/4/26, Co-Host Josh Silver
Andy Bukowksi, Josh Silver and Bill Newman Fishwrap the UMass football team’s 37-21 victory over Rutgers— breaking the 16 game!!! losing streak—feels like 16 years. Then—this is extraordinarily serious—the lawsuits involving Trump’s taking over mail-in voting and deciding who can vote. A decision is imminent.
Jen Nery, from the Northampton Information Hub—on coffee and donuts, two upcoming informal Saturday morning gatherings with many Northampton elected officials. You are cordially invited.
Celebrate resistance. Community Action Pioneer Valley Ex Dir Lev BenEzra and Marianne Bouthilette, Dir of Head Start, on the Trump administration’s attack on the program– killing it through new regulations and cutting off its funding. What you can do to help fight back.
Celebrate discovery. Breaking news from outer space. Astronomer Salman Hameed on the demotion of Pluto from its status as a planet—the injustice of it all; the launch or the Nancy Grace Roman telescope—the secrets of the universe that will be revealed.
More breaking news from outer space: dark matter particles discovered? Wow.
Celebrate art and community. ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis and Chloe Torri on the upcoming Flo Fest—the community celebration in Florence.
Thursday, September 3, 202609/03/2026
“As Long As I Have Breath in My Body”
9/3/26, Co-Host Carrie Baker
District Attorney David Sullivan on Tuesday’s primaries, who he endorsed and why.
Smith College Professor Carrie Baker, Chair of the Program for the Study of Women and Gender and Contributing Editor of Ms. Magazine, shares a heartfelt remembrance of Gloria Steinem.
“Your Good Death: Why End-of-Life Healthcare Is So Difficult and How to Make It Work for You.” We speak with the author—the book was published this week– Professor Karen Lutfey Spencer.
Congressman Jim McGovern — the stakes couldn’t be higher: dark money, gerrymandering, Trump’s control of the USPO and voting by mail; the Supreme Court ‘s failure to stop the Trump’s ballroom & Trump’s face on U.S. currency. Also, the Congressman shares his memories of Gloria Steinem.
“All that Jazz” with Northampton Jazz Festival President Ruth Griggs and jazz legend, vocalist and pianist, Johnny O’Neal. No set lists and playing with love.
