Sunday’s Celebrations

9/29/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz

The Forbes Library’s Artisan Fair this Sunday, 10:00-3:00 with 50 artisans, food, entertainment and music on the new Hess Performance Stage. We speak with Library Director Lisa Downing and Friends of Forbes Board Member Martha McCormick about the celebration, the renovations to the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, the children’s room, and much more.

The Cutchins Program for Children and Families’ 10th Superhero Run and Fall Fair, a community-wide event this Sunday starting with a 10k run at 8:30 & a 5k run/walk at 9:00. Superhero-themed activates at the fair include creative sessions with Art Always, cartooning workshops with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, a Sparkle Salon with Salon 180 and much more. We talk with Jennifer Bogin, VP of Neurodiversity Services, about Cutchins’ programs, this celebration and the youth, adult and provider superheroes in the community.

Town Hall Tuesday with Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby. We discuss the spiraling cost of health care, the Neighbors in Need program, Keys to the City nominations, his Mayor’s Monthly program with Easthampton Media and the meeting of Climate Mayors.

The Roger Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award, being presented Sunday at Amherst College at the Ford Student Center to Miguelina Hernandez. Prof Amilcar Shabazz interviews educators Roger Wallace, the outstanding elementary school teacher, and Paul Wiley, former Principal at Crocker Farm and President of the Roger Wallace Excellence in Teaching Foundation, about the award and their journeys in education.

Building Community

9/28/28. Co-Host Megan Zinn

The fight for rights for persons with disabilities. It’s the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Center for Public Representation. We speak with the Founder and first Executive Director, now Special Counsel Steven Schwartz, and the Executive Director Kathy Costanzo. We discuss the Northampton State Hospital Deinstitutionalization Lawsuit and the impact of the Trump Administration cutting funding and targeting people with disabilities. October 8 — An Afternoon of Reflection and An Evening of Celebration.

Writers Block. Megan interviews Shelly Jay Shore, author of “Love Me Like a Rock Song.” They discuss
queer joy, Jewish traditions and sailing against the wind.

Dr. Jane Flieshman with Ali Wicks-Lim and Mara Levy. They discuss ROAR, Rainbow Organizing and Response, and the Queer Joy Collaborative and resisting hate and cultivating joy in queer communities.

Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman and Communications Mgr Sam Giffen: what is happening to Hampshire College’s land and buildings and when– we learn some details. Also, updates on the Jones Library construction and the Amethyst Brook Elementary School.

In Studio — Live and Lives

9/25/26, Co-Host Josh Silver

Max Page & UMass Prof of Economics and Public Policy, Michael Ash ,discuss the new Fed Reserve findings on the wealth, more accurately, lack of wealth, of most families in Massachusetts and how to make our state more equitable.

Live and we mean aLIVE in the studio, Agua de Moringa, a band from Rio de Janeiro, performing at Bombyx on Sunday and on our show today. These musicians, playing the bandolim, clarinet, 6-string guitar, 7-string guitar, cavaquinho and pandeiro, with an out-of -this- world vocalist, are amazing.

Political Gold with Josh Silver: Trump says the U.S. press should be more like China’s—does anyone care? Also, the midterms elections will be nailbiters.

Professor of Peace and World Security Studies Michael Klare on Artificial Intelligence and its potential to initiate a nuclear world. Professor Klare haz just returned from a conference
on this topic at the Arms Control Association in Washinton D.C., where he is a Senior Visiting Fellow.

ArtBeat. Donnabelle Casis’ guest is Jason Montgomery of 50 Arrow Gallery, who speaks about the upcoming Gaon Soloists concerts and the screening of White Nine, the film about the group of disabled activists whose organizing lead to the founding of Stavros. Their conversation touches on art, disability history, independent living, and Stavros’ work today.

Politics and Passion

9/24/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski

Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: her positions on the ballot questions.

ACLU -MA Ex Dir Carol Rose: a voting rights victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, Q4—election day voter registration in MA, & nationwide election protection. Also, the ACLU/AFL-CIO report on the economic impact of Trump’s deportation policies.

Rev Carole Bull, Northampton-based UCC progressive interfaith pastor, on humility.

“A Passion for the Planet.” The performance is at Bombyx, Saturday 9/26, at 7:00. The performers include an instrumental ensemble, the soloists, three choruses and choirs, (24 members each) — the children’s choir from the Community Music School in Springfield, and Concora, adult choral artists. Our guests are the composer Geoffrey Hudson and the solo soprano Alisa Pearson, who preview this story, told in music, of recognition, resistance and inspiration. bombyx.live

The Hot Club of New England ensemble. John Anz speaks with performers Matt and Atla DeChamplain, and we hear some of their music—Gypsy Jazz, Jazz Manouche, friendship, love inspiration, and tears of joy. 5:00 Saturday, part of the Northampton Jazz Festival. northamptonjazzfest.org

Wrestling Porcupines, Your Images, Fat Bears, & Apocaloptimists

9/23/26, Co-Host Brian Adams

Happy 40th Birthday, Hilltown Land Trust! We speak with the Ex Dir Sally Loomis & Community Engagement Mgr Sarah Welch. come celebrate with the wrestling porcupines.

Cooley Dickinson’s Michele Kearsley (Director of Medical Imaging) & Cathy Reed (Dir of Operations) on imaging you—MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, mammograms, xrays & ambulance calls.

Northampton Climate Action Project Administration (CAPA) Director Ben Weil: black bears, heat pumps, MassSave, schools, saving money and heating & cooling yr house.

“The AI Doc Or How I became an Apocaloptimist.” Have a child in the world of AI? Larry Hott reviews this documentary about artificial intelligence and our future, if any.

Speaking Up, Out & Often

9/22/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz

Old Farmers’ Almanac Editor-in-Chief Carol Connare: 2 ½ million copies of 2027 edition just printed, 235 continuous years of publication, the content in the Almanac, why millions buy it, her 20 years at UMass.

Valley and Hilltown theatre icon and Founder of Stonesthrow Theater Court Dorsey w/ Rene Pfister, from the Berklee College of Music: “What I Learned from Years of Therapy, If Anything,” a musical cabaret at the Wendell Meeting House—this Saturday at 7:00, Sunday at 4:00.

Massachusetts Review Ex Ed Britt Rusert on her new book, The Afric -American Gallery,” her local book launch at Amherst Books on October 8 at 7:00; and the new edition of MR that just dropped.

Author and activist Howard Bryant w/ Duke Goldman on the tenth anniversary of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee—what happens and what has happened to professional athletes who want to speak out.

Flocks and Flocked

9/21/26, Co-Host-Megan Zinn

Silas Kopf: his recent honor and recognition from the American Craft Council as a master of marquetry; and also, the effort he led to restore the Civil War 160-year-old marble tablets on the facade of old City Hall — the many Easthampton residents who gave their lives.

Duston Spear: the local launch of her novel “Bird Girl” will be this Thursday at 6:00 at Forbes, sponsored by Broadside Books. The author talks with paintings, and her characters talk to her.

Nathaniel Malloy, Hadley Town Administrator, on the Flock cameras in that town and why there is no plan to discontinue their use. Yes, an image of every car driving East on Rt 9 is being captured.

Gabrielle Oliveira, Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor. Her new book is “Now We Are Here: Family Migration, Children’s Education, and Dreams for a Better Life.”

The Answer to Each Question is Yes

9/18/26, Co-Host Josh Silver

Are public employees’ pensions at risk? Max Page speaks with teacher Matthew Scheffler, a member of the PRIM, the Pension Reserve Investment Management Board.

Is there a substantial risk that Republicans can steal the Midterm elections by refusing to seat duly-elected Democrats? We interview Amherst College Political Science Prof Austin Sarat.

Can you attend an amazing concert that is a benefit for the Amherst Survival Center? We speak with violinist and organizer Amanda Stenroos and Nate Kerbin, from the Survival Center. Short answer: see above. Longer answer: Brahms Requiem, Saturday, Sept 19,
4:00, Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College. 120 musicians and choir members on stage.
Bring a non-perishable food item to donate or another contribution if you can.

Political Gold with Josh Silver: Can the Democrats take back the Senate? Can the Republicans maintain their majority?

ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis: Can you go on a treasure hunt for tiny art? Donnabelle takes us on a tour of the “Fun Sized Art Festival” in Northampton with Kim Carlino and Michael Crigler.

Headlines and Headliners

9/17/26, Co-Host — Carrie Baker

Immunologist Dr. Jonathan Bayuk: infections & diseases here and now—the flu & covid, shots you and your kids need –is this the time? What about measles? RFK, Jr’s influence.

Gazette and Recorder Ex Editor Dan Crowley on covering data centers, artificial intelligence, local responses & the effect in college and high school classrooms.

Feminist Futures with Carrie Baker; At Smith College this Friday and Saturday –“One Body: Dispatches from Idaho.” Carrie is a professor in Smith’s Program for the Study of Women and Gender, a Contributing Editor of Ms. Magazine and an attorney. She interviews Jimmy Maize, the writer and co-director; Jen Jackson Quintano — lumberjill, turned abortion activist and actor; and Maridee Slater, associate producer and co-director.

THE HEADLINER at the upcoming Northampton Jazz Festival—Lakecia Benjamin—Saturday, Sept 26 at the Academy of Music– the 6x Grammy-nominated saxophonist.

Crossroads

9/16/26, Co-Host Brian Adams

Dr. David Gottsegen: diagnosing, treating and living with Parkinson’s. Also, the immunizations you and your kids need now.

UMass Professors Margaret Stratton (Biochemistry) and Eric Strieter (Chemistry) —their new $1.3 million grant to search for the protein in your brain that makes memory –how your memory in yr brain works.

Evolutionary Biologist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Carolyn Tepolt, on
invasive species and what do about them — turn green crabs into whiskey and delicious sauce?

Democracy at a Crossroads: History, Power, and the Fight Ahead: A Conversation with Ken Burns movement.vote/register/8ky1p1vt/ with Larry Hott—a preview of their conversation and the Movement Voter Project event this evening.