Podcasts: Talk The Talk
Talk The Talk
Weekdays 8:00 -10:00 a.m. EST; rebroadcast 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST
Bill Newman and Friends host newsmakers, activists, authors, & artists – including:
Mayors Monday(Northampton, Holyoke, Easthampton) & Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman, Salman Hameed’s Universe, the Comedy Quiz, Black In the Valley (Professor Amilcar Shabazz) Political Gold (Josh Silver), Our House (Congressman Jim McGovern), DA David Sullivan, Writers Block (Megan Zinn), Science and Sensibility (Brian Adams), Righting Wrongs (ACLUM Carol Rose), State Senators Comerford & Mark, Representatives Sabadosa, Duffy, & Domb, ArtBeat (Donnabelle Casis), Cool Films (Larry Hott), Feminist Futures (Carrie Baker), Talkin’ Baseball & Fair Play (Duke Goldman), Your State U (MTA Pres. Max Page) All That Jazz (Ruth Griggs & John Anz), Exec. Editor, DHG & Gfld Recorder, Dan Crowley.
The Big Picture
1/14/26: Amherst Councilor Lynn Greismer: schools & the 2026 financial cliff. Phil Ringwood, Ex Dir, Dial Self: homeless youth here. Hillary Caws-Elwitt: light eaters, romantic turtles, talking trees & books. Amherst Cinema’s Alex Horbeck & George Myers: films you really want to see.
Looking Forward and Back
1/13/26: Pat Goggins on commercial rent in Northampton. Prof Amilcar Shabazz on violence in America – yesterday & today. Bishop Talbot Swan: MLK as a radical prophet. Duke Goldman: the Red Sox let another star go.
Taking Time
1/12/26: Amherst author Jill Shulman: choosing a college & taking time to tell them who you are. Megan Zinn w/ Jedediah Berry, author of “The Naming Song,” winner of the 2025 Mass Book Award for Fiction –a decade to write. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garica, Treasurer Rory Casey & Councilor Megan McGrath-Smith: years to change the 1879 law. UMass Prof Amilcar Shabazz: years later, are we honoring MLK’s legacy?
A Stitch in Time
1/9/26: MTA Pres Max Page: strong unions, Social Security & the state budget. Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Lev Ben Ezra & Jess Thompson: the working poor & Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Astronomer Salman Hameed: space station troubles, aliens & galaxies w/o stars. Donnabelle Casis w/ Hannah & Anneke Corbett: “Stitchin’ Kin.”
Proof
Proof
1/8/26: Heartbeat Theater’s Kimberly Gaughan & Jason Rose-Langston on “Proof.” Human rts atty Laura Pitter: Trump’s justifications for ICE’s killing & Maduro’s abduction. UMass Prof Cole Fitzpatrick: new local data on car fatalities. Ruth Griggs w/ Valley Jazz Voices Dir Jeff Olmsted: Saturday’s fabulous concert @ Bombyx.
Brumation & Torpor?
1/7/25: DA David Sullivan: Venezuela, fentanyl & local prosecutions. Broadside Bookshop co-owner Roz Kreshak-Hayden: navigating Picture Main St & new books she loves. Mass Audubon’s Tom Lautzenheiser: brumation, waking up winter, & meadow-jumping mice. Larry Hott’s Cool Films: “The Alabama Solution” & “The Perfect Neighbor.”
Besieged
Besieged
1/6/25: UMass History Prof Kevin Young: Venezuela & war & UMass Amherst — “Besieged From Without, Undermined from Within….” Sen Jo Comerford: the 2026 ballot questions. Congressman Seth Moulton: Trump’s aggression & Congress’ passivity. Sen Paul Mark: some good news from the Beacon Hill.
The Urgency of Now
1/5/26: Bob Flaherty: Trump, the invasion, protests & rewilding. Megan Zinn w/ Margot Douaihy: “Divine Ruin,” third in the Sister Holiday mystery series. At-large Amherst Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke: buy the numbers. Nation Magazine Defense Correspondent Michael Klare: Venezuela & beyond.
Happy New Year? Happy New Year!
12/31/25: Beth Gillis, couples’ therapist: resolutions? Bill Danielson: “Speaking of Nature”— photo of the year. Ben Weil, Northampton Dir of Climate Action: good news! Cool Films with Larry Hott—three recommendations.
Various Views
12/29/25: Gwen Agna: the view from the principal’s office and the school committee. Megan Zinn, Lee Thomson & Alice Hough: “Whatcha reading?”—fantasies to consider. Lucia Dostal—an amazing musician—in studio! Thomas Draudt: “Conversations on Strong”— Picture Main St.
