What’s Next?

8/14/25, Co Host –Josh Silver

Max Page, immediate past Pres of the Mass Teachers Ass’n: educators say to the governor and the legislature, show us the money, please! Also, why the MTA endorses Sen Markey for re-election.

UMass Prof Chang Liu, who was just awarded $1.3million from NIH for his AIDS research, an at-home HIV test with 95% accuracy.

Sen Paul Mark:  what the legislature is doing this month, the Markey-Moulton race, & all the ballot questions.

WRSI’s Steve Sanderson and NEPM’s Monte Belmonte have too much fun previewing Transformance—next Tuesday at Look Park.

ArtBeat — Donnabelle Casis w/ Lydia Rivera-Early, UMass prof & organizer of the Latino Arts Festival at the Springfield Museums on August 28.

Some Good News

8/13/26, Co-Host — Andy Bukowski.

Exec Dir of Valley Community Development Corp Alex Breiteneicher: transforming the EconoLodge on Rt 9 in Hadley into affordable housing; the North Amherst affordable home ownership project – a promise fulfilled; permits granted for transforming 133 King Street in Northampton.

Dir of the Early Childhood Dept of the Collaborative for Educational Services Dr Desiree Lalbeharie: the new $1.1million yearly grant for young children’s mental health services here.

Beit Ahavah Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, who has just returned from Israel, on progressive activism and anti-Netanyahu politics there and here.

Northampton Jazz Festival Pres Ruth Griggs with jazz educator Ben Young on Jazz 101 – what you want to know and hear.

Worlds We Know And Don’t

8/12/26: Co-Host Brian Adams

Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Councilor on the Jones Library, Hampshire College, Wildwood Elementary and the September return of the city called UMass.

Paul Spector, political activist and founder of Friday Action, on the upcoming event with environmental superstar Bill McKibben, the Maine race for the U.S. Senate, and keeping hope alive in dark times.

Jenny Powers, Director of the Springfield Science Museum: the moon takes a bite out of the sun today!!, eclipses, exoplanets & amazing pics from the galaxies beyond ours.

Cool Films with Larry Hott and Nina Kleinberg on “Casablanca,” the secrets of how films are made, and her upcoming presentation at Amherst Cinema.

Journeys

8/11/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz

Rep Pat Duffy: Freedom to Read law, the abortion bill, the Protect Act & Child Welfare legislation—all passed by the legislature and signed into law.

Rev. Carlos Anderson of Hope Community Church in Amherst: from a Black Congregational Church with a white pastor to the present day—the strange journey of race and faith in the Valley.

“Sweet Prince” with Hilary Dennis—her one-woman Hamlet, coming to the Center for the Arts.

Talkin’ Baseball with the Duke, Duke Goldman: How About those Red Sox? The owners are greedy and acting stupid—what else is new? How to enjoy this season with a lock-out pending.

New Ventures: Listen, Write, Walk, Run

8/10/26, Co-Host, writer and editor Megan Zinn

Northampton’s new school superintendent Annie Azarloza: her personal history, her listening and learning tour, community engagement, the cell phone ban, & working with the School Committee.

Mount Holyoke College Professor Joshua Hotaka Roth: his new graphic memoir, co-authored with his father, titled “Lifelines: Art, Memory , Relationship.”

Mayors Monday with Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the Peace Walkers, CAFO finally!, schools & data centers.

Corrine Corryat, candidate for the Democratic nomination for First Franklin Representative: the issues and the race.

Maxed Out, Wrapped Up

8/7/26, Co-Host Andy Bukowski

Max Page, recent (term-limited) Mass Teachers Assoc President and Matthew Bach, new MTA President, on MTA’s 2026-2027 goals & priorities, the strike in Andover that Matt led, and his history as a history teacher.

Community Action Pioneer Valley Exec Dir Lev Ben Ezra and Family Center Director Kia Burton-King on joy in a backpack and wrap-around services for families.

Astronomer Salman Hameed: the critically important and under-reported story of the Trump administration’s combined attack on science, medicine, universities, and our future.

Documentary Filmmaker Lexi Jamieson Marsh: the world premiere of “I Was a Hurricane” on the Amherst Common tomorrow evening — the story of the 2003 Amherst High School National Champion Ultimate Frisbee Team, a story of belonging, friendship, and trust.

ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis and Ava Harper on Ava’s new and moving solo exhibition at 33 Hawley, “Familial Bestiaries.”

Reasons for Running

8/6/26: Co-Host Andy Bukowski

Atty Michael Fenton, candidate for Governor’s Council, explains what the Council is and does and why he is seeking this position.

Taylor Haas, Ex Dir, the Three County Fair: no horses races but don’t miss the school bus demolition derby, the horse and oxen pulls, agriculture exhibits, the fun animals, the midway and much more.

Congressman Jim McGovern on the corruption in Washington, the wars in Iran, Gaza and Ukraine, the slush fund for Jan 6 insurrectionists, and the Midterms and how Democrats should run.

Ruth Griggs, Pres, Northampton Jazz Festival on Jazz in the Valley and the fabulous artists in our midst.

A Better Tomorrow

8/5/26, Co-Host Brian Adams

District Attorney David Sullivan, advocate for the Protect Act, which prohibits ICE enforcement in sensitive locations in Massachusetts,  e.g., court houses, medical facilities, and schools — on his way the signing ceremony with the Governor.

ServiceNet’s Dr Elaine Campbell on AI in therapy – AI is the compass, therapists are the trail guides; and providing mental health services in the community—how that works.

Western Mass Clean Energy Network’s John Pepi and Keith Hastie: where to site solar arrays, what about wind? NIMBY here? Our path to a better energy future.

Disability Rights Advocate & Northampton City Councilor Jeremy Dubbs on Picture Main Street and is the City addressing the needs of persons with disabilities?

The Valley Rising

8/4/26 Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz.

FishWrap: unionizing the Eric Carle Museum; the First Franklin race debate; Nhmptn City Councilor Laurie Loisel on trans rights—her piece in today’s Gazette.

Black in the Valley w/ the founders– Professors Jacquelyn Smith-Crooks & Carlie Tartakov — & Amilcar Shabazz on Frederick Douglass’ “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will” — applying that statement here and now.

Hannah Rechtshaffen, Ex Dir, Greenfield Business Ass’n, on the new Passport Program, downtown grocery stores, foot traffic, venues, the creative economy & housing.

Lisa Wong, South Hadley Town Administrator: the town’s cannabis ban, food trucks, agricultural entertainment zones, Mount Holyoke College and the PILOT, and the Override vote on Sept 1.

Giving Voice

8/3/26: Co-Host Megan Zinn.

Meg Ryan, Public Health Nurse with FRCOG, on you v. mosquitos and tics; what you don’t know can hurt you.

Whatcha readin’?  Sister talk with Megan Zinn and Joanna Ryan.

Sen Jo Comerford on the Freedom to Read bill, the Protect Act, long-term care legislation, data privacy, workplace violence, energy affordability, economic development, funding for higher ed, and more.

SportsMan Scott Coen on the Red Sox rebound and what they’ll do today– the trade deadline.

Joanna Rubiner, Voiceover Artist: the real and the reel.