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 Buz Eisenberg 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), Crime & Punishment (John Pucci), DA David Sullivan, Writers Block (Megan Zinn), Science and Sensibility (Brian Adams), Community Action (Clare Higgins), Righting Wrongs (ACLUM Carol Rose), State Senators Comerford & Mark, Representatives Sabadosa, Blais, 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.  

Bracing for Impact

7/7/25: Atty Jack Godleski: most Mass public defenders now on strike. Megan Zinn w/ bestselling romance novelist Sarah MacLean: “These Summer Storms.” Sen Jo Comerford: preserving women’s health care, protecting privacy & budget contingencies. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: citizenship, impact of federal cuts, & what’s next?

Democracy Sunsets

7/3/25: Immigration atty Dan Berger: mass deportations, deporting citizens & Trump’s lies. Dollars and Sense ed & economics prof John Miller: consequences of the Big Ugly Bill. Rep Jim McGovern: live from Congress — Republicans genuflecting to Trump. Ruth Griggs w/ saxist Ben Malynoski & drummer Jacob Smith: “New Sunsets” at the Carle.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

7/2/25: D.A. David Sullivan: naturalization & Trump’s lies about crime. Historic Northampton’s Laurie Sanders & Betty Sharpe: “Slavery & Freedom in Northampton,1654- 1783.” GCC Prof Brian Adams w/ Kestrel Land Trust Conserv Dir Mark Wamsley: Vollinger Farm conserved!! GLAD Attorney Jennifer Levi: SCOTUS decisions
attack transgender youth and parents.

Something’s Happening Here

7/1/25: Sen Paul Mark: the state budget (enacted yesterday) defense against federal cuts. ACLU Mass Ex Dir Carol Rose: SCOTUS’ birthright & free speech decisions. Amherst law & gov’t prof Austin Sarat: the Constitution & democracy in crisis. Nhmpton multi-disciplinary artist Inde: “Mirror Mirror,” his exhibit & performance at A.P.E. Gallery.

Chris Baker and Michelle Ong-Hendrick

Royalty in the House

6/30/25: “The Duke: Weekly Conversations with the Last Honest Politician” with author Scott Kerman. Megan Zinn w/ THE Ocean Vuong on life and literature. Alex Leff: his Human Nature Odyssey podcast. Chester Theatre Co-Artistic Directors Chris Baker & Michelle Ong-Hendrick: four fabulous productions this summer.

Defanging Threats

6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W’hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.

Max Page

Looking Forward, Looking Back

6/26/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Holyoke’s schools out of receivership — mostly! Eric Reeves: the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. Rev Carole Bull on Mary Magdelene, organized religion & personal spirituality. John Anz w/ vocalist & trumpeter Bria Skonberg – coming to Tanglewood.

Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy

Real and Artificial Intelligence

6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: “One Man’s Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on “Ocean with David Attenborough” & “On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea.”

Provide for the Common Defense?

6/24/25: Josh Silver: impending passage of Trump’s Big Bad Bill and local political discord. LIVE in studio — Choro w/ Andrew Lawrence & Brazilian virtuosos Alessandro Peneze, Fabio Peron, Natalia Mitre, & Mauro Correa-WOW!! Michael Klare on Iran, Israel, & US’s bombing. Duke Goldman: Red Sox (mis)management & paying student athletes, women being shortchanged.

The Long Shadow of History

6/23/25: Bombs Away w/ Bill & Buz. Megan Zinn w/ award-winning author Heather Clark on “The Scrapbook.” UMass Afro-Am Studies Prof Amilcar Shabazz: militarism at expense of equality & Reading Frederick Douglass. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Dir Samantha Giffen: alternatives to armed police, vacant positions, no lay-offs, & BIG upcoming events.

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