Podcasts

Podcasts

Podcasts

Friday, June 7, 202406/07/2024

The Hustler Files Ep 65

In The Hustler Files

FROM PRISON BARS TO REBAR & MORE

In the very male dominated field of Ironworkers, Bricklayers and Cement Masons, otherwise referred to as the Trades, a guiding light to help justice impacted WOMEN succeed after prison, has taken shape.  Outside of Seattle, Washington, Business Agent, Heather Kurtenbach is leading the charge to see women who are nearing the end of their time behind the wall, participate in a program called TRAC, Trades Related Apprenticeship Coaching. TRAC is run by the Department of Corrections and the local trade unions and offers qualifying women a course in a trade, which then guarantees them a job upon their release.  Down the road a piece in Portland, Oregon, Anna Martin is also leading the charge to help women at the Coffee Creek Correctional Center find success upon release. With some entrepreneurial spirit and an Ironworker background, Anna pulled together her local trades in Cement Masons and Bricklayers to form U-PACT, also an apprentice-based program.  U-PACT is grant funded and not only offers the training and curriculum to the incarcerated women, but also the wrap-around services needed for equipment and clothing.  With such a shortage of employable people in the U.S., these programs are a shining star to help justice involved individuals start over. 

Left to Right: "Jesus Queen of Heaven" w/ playwright & actor Jo Clifford, Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Stewart, & First Churches Pastor Sarah Buteux.

Friday, June 7, 202406/07/2024

Budgeting: Schools & Love

In Talk The Talk

6/7/24: MTA Pres Max Page w/ N’hmptn Assoc. of School Employees Pres Andrea Egitto & MTA Training Dir Ricardo Rosa: Northampton & other school budgets. Donnabelle Casis w/ Tori Lawrence, Founder, Atland Artist Residency in Chesterfield. Clare Higgins, Exec. Dir, Community Action & Comm’r, Mass. Poverty Commission. “Jesus Queen of Heaven” w/ playwright & actor Jo Clifford, Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Stewart, & First Churches Pastor Sarah Buteux.

Thursday, June 6, 202406/06/2024

No Film Over These Eyes

In Talk The Talk

6/6/24:  Rep Jim McGovern: D-Day, immigration & Gaza. Rev Andrea Ayvazian & N’hmptn City Councilor Garrick Perry on reparations. Filmmaker Larry Hott: Super-Size Me’s Morgan Spurlock & RETROGRADE. Ruth Griggs w/ Adam Kahan, from the Oslo Freedom Forum, producer of the film “Buster Williams Bass to Infinity.” 

Thursday, June 6, 202406/06/2024

Panorama — Episode 80 — Allison McDonald, Managing Editor of the Amherst Current

In Panorama

Originally aired on May 4, 2024: Co-Host Dan Torres interviews Allison McDonald, the Managing Editor & Web Producer of The Amherst Current. They discuss the revival of the Amherst Current, the importance of local journalism to civic life, and the latest controversial stories from Amherst.

Wednesday, June 5, 202406/05/2024

The Rule(s) of Law

In Talk The Talk

6/5/24: DA David Sullivan: the MAGA threats & the UMass protest cases. Dr. Nell Irvin Painter: race, Sojourner Truth, & art. Brian Adams w/ John Feffer, Dir, Institute for Policy Studies: slivers of hope in the climate crisis. Bill Feinstein: immigrants living at Logan.

Tuesday, June 4, 202406/04/2024

Polls, Pols & Mush

In Talk The Talk

6/4/24: Tatishe Nteta, Poli-Sci Prof & Director of UMass Poll: the election polls today. Marla BB of Hilltown Sled Dogs: mushing at minus 40 degrees. Sen Paul Mark: housing here and now. Richie Davis: 42 years of Western Mass. stories for the Gfld Recorder.

Left to right: Megan Zinn and Jen Jabaily-Blackburn

Monday, June 3, 202406/03/2024

Reflections

In Talk The Talk

6/3/24: UMass prof Amilcar Shabazz reflects on Bill Strickland & recent arrests of protesters. Northampton Mayor Gina Louise Sciarra: the school budget. Mary Cowhey & Kat Brow: Families with Power. Megan Zinn w/ poets Jen Jabaily-Blackburn (“Girl in a Bear Suit’) & Amanda Shaw/ (“It Will Have Been So Beautiful”).

Saturday, June 1, 202406/01/2024

Hustler Files Ep 64

In The Hustler Files

DEFYING THE ODDS, ONE STATE & ONE JUSTICE IMPACTED PERSON AT A TIME

Imagine spending a full day, as a volunteer, sitting right next to, or across from, a justice impacted person, except you’re behind the wall with them! You’re shaking their hand, sharing ideas, their ideas to transform their lives, maybe start a business when they get released, and at the end of the day, watching them put on a cap and gown, maybe the first they ever had, and walk across a stage to accept a graduation certificate for participating in a program that brings leadership, empowerment, self-care, healing, and entrepreneurial ideas to paper.  Well at Defy Ventures, you don’t have to imagine it.  Since its beginnings over a decade ago, Defy Ventures has connected 7,200 volunteers with almost as many justice impacted individuals behind the wall.  They’ve also connected many of those same individuals once they are released and have met reentry stability goals, with people and programs to move them forward with their business ideas.  None of what Defy Ventures accomplishes is easy, but with Executive Directors, like Melissa O’Dell of Defy Ventures Illinois, even providing opportunities to ONE individual, like Cordelia Spivey, is life changing! 

John Pucci

Friday, May 31, 202405/31/2024

Talk The Talk: Convictions

In Talk The Talk

Convictions
5/31/24: Attorney John Pucci: Trump’s convictions. Artbeat: Donnabelle Casis & 50 Arrow Gallery’s Jason Montgomery: the Low End Theory show. Amherst’s new CRESS Director Camille Theriaque: alternatives to an armed police response. Amherst law and poli sci prof Austin Sarat: the politics of Trumps convictions.

Friday, May 31, 202405/31/2024

Talk The Talk: Life and Live in the Studio

In Talk The Talk

Life and Live in the Studio
5/30/24:  ACLU of MA ED Carol Rose: campus protests & the Supreme Court. Harvard Chaplain & atheist Greg Epstein on Gaza. GCC science prof Brian Adams w/ UMass Extension Service’s Jon Clements: fruit and fruit trees. John Anz w/ clarinetist & vocalist Evan Arnsten — coming to the Drake.

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