Panorama — Episode 74 — Kirsten Levitt and Ashley Kramer

Originally aired on November 11, 2023. In this episode Stone Soup Cafe co-directors Kirstin Levitt and Ashley Kramer talk about how they see the cafe as a part of the local food system by sourcing from local arms, reducing waste, cooking nutritious meals and building community through a wide network of volunteers. They also talk about the new Stone Soup Culinary Institute and a plethora of other community partnerships with our host Sarah Robertson.

Panorama — Episode 73 — Amherst At-Large Candidates

Originally aired on November 4, 2023. Before Tuesday’s election, Dan Torres talks to five of the six Amherst at-large candidates–Mandi Jo Hanneke, Andrew J. Steinberg, Jamie Danielle Daniels, Ellisha Walker, and Matthew W. Holloway (we were unable to contact Liana C. Sweeney). They discuss revenue, roads, education, and why each candidate is running for office.

Panorama — Episode 72 — J.M. Sorrell, the director of Massachusetts Death with Dignity

Originally aired September 30, 2023. Dan and Sarah talk to J.M. Sorrell, the director of Massachusetts Death with Dignity, columnist with the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and Northampton resident. They discuss the organization’s push to pass a death with dignity act in Massachusetts, the importance of dissent, and life in Northampton.

Panorama — Episode 71– Todd Gazda, the Executive Director of the Collaborative for Educational Services

Originally aired on August 26, 2023. Todd Gazda from the Executive Director of the Collaborative for Educational Services talks to Dan Torres and Sarah Robertson about the state of public education in Massachusetts and America. They debate the needs of schools in western Massachusetts and the need for reform.

Panorama — Episode 70 — Environmental Activist vs PFAS

Originally aired on August 12, 2023. In this episode of Panorama Dan and Sarah talk to Laurene Allen, a clinical psychologist-turned-environmental activist from Merrimack, NH. After Laurene learned her community had been contaminated with a toxic man-made chemical known as PFAS, by a textile manufacturing company called Saint Gobain, she decided to organize a coalition of people impacted to fight back against the companies trying to minimize the harm caused.

Panorama — Episode 69 — A Progressive Blueprint for Greenfield (MA)

This episode aired on July 29th, 2023. In this episode we talk with some of the authors of the “Progressive Blueprint for Greenfield” a political platform that for Greenfield residents ahead of this year’s municipal elections. Jon Magee from the Greenfield People’s Budget, and David Cohen and Doug Selwyn from Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution talk to us about the platform, their frustrations with the city’s political establishment, and how they hope to address these issues by electing progressive city leaders in the November 7 election.

Panorama — Episode 68 — On Teaching Literacy w/ Kimberly Salditt Poulin

Originally aired on July 15, 2023. Dan and Sarah talk to special education teacher Kimberly Salditt Poulin about the teaching of reading, student scores, and the current state of literacy in America.

Panorama – Episode 67 – DNA Amy on the future of Northampton, Massachusetts

Originally aired on April 1st, 2023. Dan and Sarah talk to Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) Amy Cahillane about the closing of Mama Iguanas, and that Northampton is about to welcome six new businesses. They discuss liquor licenses, reimagining Downtown Northampton, empty storefronts, green space and so much more.

Panorama – Episode 66 – Long Covid

Originally aired on March 11. In this episode Dan and Sarah talk to two experts about long COVID, and how the pandemic has worsened disparities in access to healthcare across the state of Massachusetts. Dr. Bruce Levy studies the long-term impacts of COVID-19, and Professor Linda Sprague Martinez’s is an expert on health disparities working for Boston University’s School of Social Work. They talk about the health impacts of the virus, who has access to treatment, and much more.

Panorama- Episode 65 – Organizing for Environmental Justice with Westfield With Activists Kristen Mello and Mary Ann Babinski

Originally Aired on March 4, 2023. Kristen Mello is the founder of Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT) and a city councilor fighting to hold the Barnes Air National Guard accountable for the PFAS pollution from firefighting foam used on the air base. Mary Ann Babinski is a former city councilor and longtime environmental activist working on a number of issues in and around the city. Both activists have a keen sense of how they can protect “environmental justice communities” which have historically suffered the most environmental harm for the sake of development.