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.
Wings and Roots
7/17/25: Smith Prof James Lowenthal: space travel & NASA cuts. Rabbi David Seidenberg: Tisha B’Av, immigrants, ICE & Israel. Local newspapers’ Ex Ed Dan Crowley: Amherst Guidance Counselor, fired over ant-trans behavior, reinstated. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Dr. Lucinda Canty of Mom-&-baby-focused Lucinda’s House & Anika Lopes on Ancestral Bridges.
Be Cool!
7/16/25: Bill Bowers: “Between Us” mime show at Chester Theatre w/ artistic directors Christopher Baker & Michelle Ong-Hendrick. Cooley Dick’s Dr. Sunny Shukla’s tips for staying out of the ER. Brian Adams w/ Pres Joe Curatone of Alliance for Climate Transition. Bob Cilman w/ Norma Jean Haynes on banjo, Will Amend on percussion, w/ Young@Heart Chorus 7/22 at Look Park.
Our Strength — Together
7/15/25: Rep Aaron Saunders: Trump & Scotus attack education, environs, and farms. Ehamp renters’ rally tomorrow: Atty Joel Feldman w/ tenant organizer Kate Zanetta of Pleasant View–HOUSING RALLY. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Holly Ruderman & Laura Patrick–BLUEBERRY. Prof. Carrie Baker w/ UMass Econ Prof Emeritus Lee Badgett, head of Koppa on the global effort to defend LGBTI+ lives & rights!
Stand up! Fight Back!
7/14/25: Dr. Angel Foster & Dr. D: the Mass Medication Abortion Access Project. Megan Zinn w/ Kate Russo, author of “Until Alison,” coming to the Odyssey. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: local school control & federal $miilions withheld. Ehmptn Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, the new state Commr of Conservation & Recreation.
Changes
7/11/25: We fishwrap Ehmptn Mayor Nicole LaChappelle’s leaving. Community Action E.D. Clare Higgins—a retirement soiree. UMass econ prof Richard Wolff: Nazi Germany and Trump America’s parallels. Photographer Kevin Monaghan: his exhibit “Visual(s) & Lies.” Donnabelle Casis w/ printmaker Pascale Jarvis: “Transcendent Ink.”
Leaders
7/10/25: Ashfield-based human rts Atty Laura Pitter: Trump v. immigrants & 1st Amendment — in Mass federal court today. Doug Selwyn & David Cohen: Single Payer in Mass NOW!! — now more than ever. Rep Natalie Blais: Congrats to Ehmptn Mayor Nicole LaChapelle — new DCR Comm, & also, the rural resistance to Trump. Ruth Griggs w/ Kristin Neville: Spgfld Jazz & Roots Festival—opening tonight!
Aspirations: Some Soaring, Others Pedestrian
7/9/25: Amherst Coun Pres Lynn Griesemer: potholes & schools. UMass Prof Kevin Young: UMass climate goals abandoned & the fed govt v. the environment. Brian Adams w/ former Arcadia Wildlife Director Jonah Keane: a magical place & a magical festival. Larry Hott reviews “Frederick Douglas — When the Lion Wrote History & “The Speech Is the Star.”
Hits and Misses
7/8/25: Bill & Buz: fed cuts = state cuts = local cuts. Todd Gazda, Ed Collab Dir, returning to his elementary school as the principal: “I miss kids!” Actors Rona Leventhal & Patric Madden: “Torch Song.” Duke Goldman: Yanks, Sox & Mets, the All-Star Game & 10 Red Sox visiting Trump.
Bracing for Impact
7/7/25: Atty Jack Godleski: most Mass public defenders now on strike. Megan Zinn w/ bestselling romance novelist Sarah MacLean: “These Summer Storms.” Sen Jo Comerford: preserving women’s health care, protecting privacy & budget contingencies. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: citizenship, impact of federal cuts, & what’s next?
Democracy Sunsets
7/3/25: Immigration atty Dan Berger: mass deportations, deporting citizens & Trump’s lies. Dollars and Sense ed & economics prof John Miller: consequences of the Big Ugly Bill. Rep Jim McGovern: live from Congress — Republicans genuflecting to Trump. Ruth Griggs w/ saxist Ben Malynoski & drummer Jacob Smith: “New Sunsets” at the Carle.
