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.
Celebrate
12/22/25: A First Night preview with Nmptn Arts Council Events Producer Steve Sanderson. Megan Zinn w/Elinor Lipman on “Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters.” Celebrating Kwanza w/ Kwanza Collective Co-founders Dr Amilcar Shabazz & Ayanna Crawford. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Mgr Sam Giffin: $, budget, schools, potholes, MMA, Merry Maple, & Happy New Year.
A Thousand Cuts
12/19/25: MTA Pres Max Page: $ for education, grad reqmts & a living wage for paras. Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa: political and budget consensus? Francis Rooney, former ambassador to the Holy See & Republican Congressman: Pope Leo & Pres Trump. ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Jason Montgomery: Human Nature.
Fire
12/18/25: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk on the looming HEALTHCARE CRISIS in Mass. Daily Hamp. Gazette Ed. Dan Crowley — local fires and X-Mas gifts. Immigration atty Melissa Allen–the legal fights. John Anz w/ Leala Cyr: Hartford Jazz Orchestra holiday show.
New Beginnings
12/17/25: Irene Butter’s story, surviving the Holocaust and lessons for today. Jennifer Polins–ECHOES Explorations in dance, humanity and interconnections (Fri, Sat). First Night Preview w/ Steve: singer, songwriter Eleanor Levine. Jonathan’s goodbye to Hungry Ghost Bread, a new chapter begins. Cool Films w/ Larry and Sarah Salomon & Julie Hahn on new beginnings later in life.
Talk the Talk on 12.16.25
State Representative Aaron Saunders on the health care crisis! Nate Clifford, co-owner of Cornucopia, on reopening in January. Comedy Quiz–Maddy, Mo McElligott, Scotty B., Buz, and Carrie–Ice Sports! Feminist Future Carrie Baker & Marissa Hoechstetter—on doctor abuse and survivor resilience.
Tough Days Ahead
12.15.25 Amherst Super. Dr. Xiomara Herman—budgets, start time, and staff. Writers’ Block w/ Megan Zinn & Karolina Zapal on the Book Reading Challenge. Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby—lean budgets and affordability. EMK Institute CEO Adam Hinds on polarization and the Filibuster.
A Something Overtakes the Mind
12/12/25: MTA Pres Max Page & Berkshire Comm Coll Pres Ellen Kennedy: big threats to higher ed but reasons for optimism Free Press Co-Pres Craig Aaron: Trumps’ EO prohibiting regul AI regulation, media mergers’ threat to 1st Am. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Trump’s DOE killing Sublime Systems’ low-carbon cement production facility. Political Gold w/ Josh Silver: Trump’s vulnerabilities, SCOTUS to kill the Voting Rights Act? redistricting & 2026. Donnabelle Casis w/ poet Matt Dunovan & artist Ligia Bouton on Emily Dickinson & “A Something Overtakes the Mind.”
Miracles
12/11/25: Michael Moriarity, educational specialist: ed reform—a possible Massachusetts Miracle? Professor & astronomer Salman Hameed: a new planet & –amazing– life on asteroids. Rep. Natalie Blais: on the road again, food insecurity & health care. Rabbi Riqi Kosovske: miracles and Hannukah.
Endings & Beginnings, Ups & Downs
12/10/25: Amherst Council Pres Lynn Griesemer: the state of the town, schools, capital projects & $. Bob Schraeder, owner-operator, Chestnut Mountain Tree Farm: yr Christmas tree. Andre′ Boulay, co-owner, A2Z Toy Store: way too much fun! & yr gifts. Larry Hott highly recommends “Soul of a Nation” & “Thank You Very Much.”
Behind the Curtains
12/9/25: Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: AI in schools. Kim Wolcott from Racial Justice Rising: Kwanza in Greenfield. Nation Mag Defense Corr Michale Klare: the National Security Strategy & Ukraine. Duke Goldman w/ Robert Fitts: “In the Japanese Ballpark– Behind the Scenes…”
