Podcasts
Podcasts
Wednesday, July 15, 202607/15/2026
On the Home Front
7/15/26, Co-Host — Brian Adams
“Hatfield on the Home Front” w/ Meg Baker, curator, Hatfield Historical Museum: the beginnings of the Revolutionary War – here, in 1774.
Carolyn Misch, Northampton’s Director of Planning and Sustainability: rewilding land in the City and an update on Picture Main Street.
Jim Johnson, Smith College Prof Emeritus (after 52 years as a professor!) of Sports and Exercise Science: preparing for the World Cup, the heat, the competition & caring for yourself—his most recent Gazette column.
Cool Films with Larry Hott: Larry reviews “John Candy: I Like Me” and the recent documentaries on Steve Martin and Martin Short and their focus on home and fathers.
Tuesday, July 14, 202607/14/2026
Credit Where Credit Is and Isn’t Due
7/14/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Rep Pat Duffy: the commemoration for the airmen who died when their B17crashed into Mt Tom –why she attends, what it says & why it matters; also, the Economic Development Bill the House just passed.
Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: the federal tax credits that will support private schools, part of Trump’s “BBB” legislation — how it will work, what effects it will have, the arguments for and against.
Milan Clark, Amherst Media’s Media & Broadcasting Mananger: the League of Women Voters show (League Talk), community engagement, & how you can become a producer.
Duke Goldman, Negro League expert and BIG baseball fan on why the All-Star Game is ridiculous; why baseball owners are hell-bent on killing the golden goose & destroying the sport; the Home Run Derby on Netflix?! And the book he is writing about Monte Irvin and integrating baseball.
Monday, July 13, 202607/13/2026
Beginnings and Endings
6/13/26, Megan Zinn — Co-Host
Nancy Gertner, U.S. Dst Ct Judge (ret) & Harvard Law Professor: what the recent Supreme Court’s recent decisions mean for democracy, the future, & all of us.
Daniel Mason, the superlative, award-winning novelist on a nationwide book tour — tonight at the Odyssey Books in South Hadley– on “Country People.”
It’s Mayors Monday w/ Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the ban/moratorium on data centers in his city & the $2million/yr in tax revenues one (!) could bring; then, summer in the City.
“And Death Shall Have No Dominion”— the community’s response this weekend.
Kemper Carlsen, Clinical Director, Fisher Home Hospice in Amherst: hospice & end-of- life care—what it is; also, their 20th anniversary & a $100,000 endowment campaign.
Friday, July 10, 202607/10/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 170
YOU CAN’T CHANGE TOMORROW UNTIL YOU HEAL YESTERDAY
You don’t have to be incarcerated for this conversation to matter. We all have had a yesterday experience that shaped us, wounds that followed us, and patterns we sometimes don’t even realize we’re repeating. This week we conclude our first-ever trilogy with a most meaningful yet simple lesson. Over the past few episodes, we introduced you to Oregon’s Transformative Justice Community, their innovative programs at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, and the volunteer-run CREW Safe Rides program that helps women return home safely after release from prison. Now we turn to what may be the foundation for lasting change. Educator and Transformative Justice Community co-founder Taryn VanderPyl, along with healing curriculum developer Tressa Jumps share a new trauma-informed healing curriculum created specifically for incarcerated women. Together, they explore why lasting transformation begins long before release, how unresolved childhood trauma often shapes adult choices, the difference between healing and simply serving a sentence and why understanding what happened to someone can be just as important as understanding what they did. Because it just may be that healing is one of the most powerful forms of rehabilitation.
Friday, July 10, 202607/10/2026
Touching
7/10/26, Co-Host-Josh Silver
MTA President, about to become rank & file member, Max Page: a touching, feel-good story — the Tartan Army, school buses, the World Cup, a magnificent contribution, & Good Morning America; MTA accomplishments during his Presidency & his return to UMass; the labor movement’s recent past and immediate future.
Community Action’s Lev Ben-Ezra (Exec Dir) & Lisa LaPierre (Dir, Youth & Workforce Dev): a win-win-win for the community—well-paying jobs, free training while providing good and safe housing.
Political Gold with Josh Silver & his guest Joe Lyman: audit the legislature, the governor & the courts—really? Boston Globe investigations, transparency & public record requests. Touches a nerve.
Josh Silver on Maine’s U.S. Senate race—who will replace Graham Platner what qualities should the candidate have?
ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Kiah Tinkham of Waterway Arts in Turners Falls: “Please Touch”— we tell you why.
Thursday, July 9, 202607/09/2026
Eyes, Ayes and Ears
7/9/26, Co-Host- Andy Bukowski
Karen Giuliano, UMass Prof & Co-Director of the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation: her just-published break-through study at UMass that will make hospitals safer and improve patient care, using eye-tracking technology.
Rep Aaron Saunders: the ayes have it –approved by the legislature –money for UMass & research, the Bright Act, the Protect Act, and closing a criminal law loophole of sexual exploitation.
Helen Kahn, Farmers Market Manager for Grow Food Northampton – a feast for your eyes –the Tuesday Market, this week’s produce, HIP & your Bicycle Benefit.
All That Jazz with N’hmptn Jazz festival Pres Ruth Griggs & extraordinary musicians Ed Brainerd (trumpet, flugelhorn & piano) & Ethel Lee (vocals) – listen to this!
Wednesday, July 8, 202607/08/2026
Fascinating Facts and Fallacies
July 8, 2026, Co-Host Brian Adams
Lynn Griesimer, Amherst Town Councilor: new schools, new library, new h.s. principal, a new school superintendent on the horizon. Welcome to Amherst, pop 17,000 (summer) 40,000 (when student are back).
Hillary Caws-Elwitt, Nature and Environment Book Group Coordinator at Forbes Library: we start with “Total Garbage” and go from there.
Richard Joyce, Conservation Biologist at Xerces Society: everything you wanted to know about fireflies here and now, lighting up our night sky.
Cool Films with Larry Hott: Larry recommends watching “Natchez,” an extraordinary film on heritage tours—whose heritage—slave owners or enslaved persons? And the names of streets in Northampton.
Tuesday, July 7, 202607/07/2026
Fighting for Freedom
7/7/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Sen Paul Mark, Commission Chair of America 250 in Mass, on how and why we are celebrating the Declaration of Independence; also, freeing children from social media exploiters.
Amilcar Shabazz on freedom in our history, celebrating Juneteenth, & “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Tom Weiner on “In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School.”
Monica Cage, owner of Crown by Cage & Sec of Black Business Assoc of Amherst Area on Black entrepreneurship in western Mass, community support & the road ahead.
Noah Bullock, Ex Dir, Cristosal, the Central American human rts org, on human rts abuses & the death of the rule of law in El Salvador & the tight friendship between Pres Trump &, El Salvador’s authoritarian right-wing President, Nayib Bukele.
Monday, July 6, 202607/06/2026
Facts Force
7/6/26, Co-Host Megan Zinn
Sen. Jo Comerford: Reading Frederick Douglass Together, recent Supreme Court decisions, the legislature’s approval of bonds for our future.
Writers Block — Megan Zinn interviews Cara Benson on “An Armsfull of Birds: A Personal Field Guide to Love, Loss, and Commitment” — at Broadside Bookshop this Wednesday.
Dr. Xiomara Herman, Amherst, Pelham & Amherst Regional School Superintendent: why is she leaving at the end of this school year?
Mayors Monday w/ Northampton’s Gina Louise Sciarra: the July 4 Naturalization Ceremony, the Declaration of Independence this Wednesday at Memorial Hall, and the FACT Force (Fiscal Assessment Community Taskforce) – the override in the City’s future.
Saturday, July 4, 202607/04/2026
Western Mass Business Show on 7.4.26 – Easthampton Council On Aging
In The Western Mass. Business Show
Join us as we have a robust conversation about the Easthampton Council on aging and enrichment center. We are joined by their Director Cynthia Tarail. She talks about how their programming is a two-way street and how they invite contribution, engagement, and leadership into everything that they do. A participant at the center Ron Contois talks about his experience of coming back to Easthampton and finding community at the center. We are also joined by Katya Shapiro, the Easthampton Public Library Director and Tom Geryk the veteran’s agent for Easthampton and Westhampton. Listen as we hear how they partner together and work concurrently to support the residents of the greater Easthampton area. Thank you for listening.
