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.  

Neighborism

Neighborism
3/16/26: Olivia Aguilar, MHC Prof & Dir of Miller Worley Ctr for the Environment: “A Latine Outdoor Experience.”
Megan Zinn w/ Anne Fadiman on “Frog and Other Essays” coming to Broadside.
Oscars Recap & Reactions w/ Megan Zinn & Kerstin Nordstrom.
MA LUCE Immigrant Justice Hotline w/ Lena Entin & Michael Kane.

We Remember

We Remember

3/13/26: We remember Paki Wieland.

The War in Iran w/ Smith Professors Naveed Mansoori & Brent Durbin.

Josh Silver: the politics of the War.

Edo Mor: the Valley’s music scene.

“Mean Girls” at NHS.  

ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Michael Tillyer of NE Visionary Artists Museum: “Headspace Two.

We the People

We the People

3/12/26: We The People—EHS teacher Kelly Brown & three students—on their way to the National Championship!

Rabbi Riqi Kosovske: reflections on today’s world.

The housing crisis here with John Bidwell (Way Finders) Laura Bandara (Pioneer Valley Planning Comm) & Kerry Spitzer (UMass Donahue Inst).

Remembering Natalie Graves.

Preparing & Repairing

Preparing & Repairing

3/11/26: Amherst Town Councilor Lynn Griesemer: fighting ICE & repairing potholes.

Daniel Bullen: “Daniel Shays’ Honorable Rebellion” & lessons for today.

Joe Boisvert, owner of North Hadley Sugar Shack: maple syruping and fab breakfasts.

Cool Films w/ Larry Hott: pairing for the Oscars.

Voices from Inside

Voices from Inside

3/10/26: Mean Girls @ NHS w/ Dave Grout & Ruby Ferrari – performing/singing LIVE in studio!
Rep Patricia Duffy: the Protect Act – restraining ICE in Mass.
Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: school budget crises.
Mass Review Ex Ed Britt Rusert: the Incarceration and Family issue – inside the razor wire.
Talkin Baseball w/ Duke Goldman: Spring training, World Baseball Classic, balls & strikes.

Doing and Undoing

Doing and Undoing

3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke’s Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int’l law.

Explosive Content

Explosive Content

3/6/26: Hampshire Coll Prof & astronomer Salman Hameed: the Iran War & other Black Holes.

MTA Pres Max Page: AP scores –we’re no.1!, rural school $, the Bright Act & the tax cut referendum.

Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Ex Dir Lev BenEzra & Bd Pres Charity Day: Help—an emergency need for fuel assistance funds & the lived experience.

Donnabelle Casis w/ Heart for the Soul Gallery Ex Dir Sierra Meyers: the Inhairitance Exhibit.

Music To Our Ears

Music to Our Ears

3/5/26: Lora Wondolowski, Gfld City Council Pres & state rep candidate: humility & effective public service.

Live in the studio—N’mpton HS Chamber Choir, previewing the Local Vocal Chord Bowl—amazing!

 The recently greatly honored E’mpton artist, marquetry master Silas Kopf.

Congressman Jim McGovern: the war, Epstein, Bondi & the budget.

Ruth Griggs w/ Dee Boyle-Clapp & Casandra Holden: the creative economy here.

Taking Care & Taking Wing

Taking Care & Taking Wing
3/4/26: DA David Sullivan: protecting ourselves from consumer rip-offs & ICE.
Jeremy Dubs — Nhmptn Ward 4 Councilor, disability rts advocate & star of “Tallywacker.”
Magic Wings’ new co-owner Vytautas Sukys: talkin’ butterflies.
Larry Hott w/ Yvonne Russo & Nicholas Pike: their Oscar-nominated song “Sweet Dreams of Joy” can be heard in the film “Viva Verdi,” available on Jolt.film.

The Future Is Now

3/3/26: The Future Is Now

Sen Paul Mark: our creative Mass economy.
Ken Comia, new Pres, Mass Chapter, American Planning Ass’n: the Pioneer Valley’s future.
Forbes Library Dir Lisa Downing w/ Bill Scher, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library Standing Comm President: Coolidge’s history & the future.
Free Press Co-CEO Jessica Gonzalez & Ruth Livier, Campaign Mgr, Democracy & Civil Rts Team & author of “Complicit…”: rampaging authoritarianism & how to fight back.

Recent Headlines

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis gets 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur

An aging ex-gang leader was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting of rap icon Tupac Shakur near the Las Vegas Strip.

1 day ago in National

Cornell suspends fraternity parties, gives state police role in investigating campus assault reports

Cornell University suspended parties at fraternity houses until next year and is giving state police a role in investigating reports of sexual assault on campus in the school's latest response to outrage over its handling of a gang rape allegation.

1 day ago in Trending, World

Surgery confirms pope has lung cancer and he had the lower lobe of his right lung removed

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday that confirmed that he has lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. The tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin after the surgery.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

RJ Mitte, ‘Breaking Bad’ actor and disability rights champion, dies at 34

Actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte, who brought a lifetime of experience with cerebral palsy to fictional family struggles in an essential role on "Breaking Bad," died Monday at age 34, authorities and his representatives said.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Selma Blair accused of attacking 2 flight attendants and assaulting a police officer and nurse

Actor Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got there.