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 Fire This Time
11/10/25: Eric Reeves on the genocide in Sudan. Megan Zinn w/ Gish Jen on “Bad Bad Girl.” Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia on election results, new school(s) & big political fights. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/Charles Walker-Hoover, Pres UMass NAACP chapter: this weekend’s fire & Friday’s protest.
Blaising Forward
11/7/25: Live from Elmer’s in Ashfield – Rep. Natalie Blais w/ Jillian Morgan (Food Bank of Western Mass) Kristen Tillona-Baker (the Mary Lyon Foundation) & Sheryl Stanton (Mohawk Trail School Super). Then, More Blais! w/ Lev Ben Ezra & Janna Tatreault (Community Action Pioneer Valley) and many others: combatting the SNAP cuts & providing food. Astronomer Salman Hameed on a visitor from another solar system. Art Beat w/ Amanda Herman (UMass Museum of Contemporary Art) w/ Liz Chalfin (Zea Mays Printmaking).
Education
11/6/25: Max Page w/ Harvard Grad School of Ed Prof & author Jal Mehta: “In Search of Deeper Learning.” Attorney Laura Pitter on food as a human right. Our House w/ Representative Jim McGovern. Ruth Griggs w/ Peter Hamelin of Signature Sounds & the Parlor Room Collective.
Talk the Talk on 11.5.25
11/5/25: Children’s Advoc Ctr Ex Dir Carol Conragan: child sexual abuse cases skyrocketing. Brian Adams w/ Smith’s Dir of Sustainability Beth Hooker: the College’s $210 million (!) geothermal project. Larry Hott w/ Mark Roessler, author of “Fairsted: …how (Frederick Law) Olmsted helped heal a fractured democracy” on” Olmsted Panoramic” – a multi-media & musical presentation — coming to AoM.
Resistance
11/4/25: Sen Paul Mark: SNAP, gov’t shutdown & resistance. Valley Light Opera’s Michael Budnick & Elaine Caine: “HMS Pinafore” at AoM this week—an operetta of resistance. Smith Prof Carrie Baker: “The Erosion of Women’s Rights Under Trump” & how we resist. Yakov Konrad, former councilor candidate: resisting toxic social media.
Elections
11/3/25: Stan Moulton, N’ton councilor: the high stakes tomorrow. Megan Zinn w/ local author Debra Jo Immergut on creativity, writing, teaching & portals. N’ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: the candidates he supports & why. Former N’ton City Council Pres Jim Nash: Main St redesign, POP & the future.
The Weekend Before
10/31/25: Max Page w/ Prof Sanjay Arwade on the need to pass the Drive Act. Candidate Garrick Perry for N’ton City Councilor. Candidate Tiffany Jewell for N’ton At-large School Comm. Ex Dir Geoff Naunheim of Franklin/Hampshire United Way: SNAP recipients need food NOW. Art Beat w/ Linda McInerney of Eggtooth Productions.
Stop, Look, Listen
10/30/25: “Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay” with GTMO atty Joshua Colangelo-Bryan. N’ton at-large City Councilor candidate Benjamin Spencer. WHMP “Sports Guy” Scott Coen: a spectacular World Series. John Anz w/ Mark Gionfriddo: “It’s The Wildest” at Bombyx 11/8.
Elections & Selections
10/29/25: Marianne Labarge, N’ton Ward 6 Councilor & re-election candidate. Lindsi Sekula, Easthampton mayoral candidate. Brian Adams w/ Kestrel Land Trust Ex Dir Kristin DeBoer: 2,000 acres preserved! Larry Hott w/ photographer Terry Abrams: the power of images.
A Day to Remember
10/28/25: Josh Silver: Trump’s approval rating & his influence on local politics. MHC prof Kerstin Nordstrom w/ UMass Prof Yanfei Xu: “Plastics” @ Sci-Tech Café. G’fld City Council Pres Lora Wondolowski: housing, paradise & a parking lot. Duke Goldman: the World Series – a night to remember.
