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.  

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

7/2/25: D.A. David Sullivan: naturalization & Trump’s lies about crime. Historic Northampton’s Laurie Sanders & Betty Sharpe: “Slavery & Freedom in Northampton,1654- 1783.” GCC Prof Brian Adams w/ Kestrel Land Trust Conserv Dir Mark Wamsley: Vollinger Farm conserved!! GLAD Attorney Jennifer Levi: SCOTUS decisions
attack transgender youth and parents.

Something’s Happening Here

7/1/25: Sen Paul Mark: the state budget (enacted yesterday) defense against federal cuts. ACLU Mass Ex Dir Carol Rose: SCOTUS’ birthright & free speech decisions. Amherst law & gov’t prof Austin Sarat: the Constitution & democracy in crisis. Nhmpton multi-disciplinary artist Inde: “Mirror Mirror,” his exhibit & performance at A.P.E. Gallery.

Chris Baker and Michelle Ong-Hendrick

Royalty in the House

6/30/25: “The Duke: Weekly Conversations with the Last Honest Politician” with author Scott Kerman. Megan Zinn w/ THE Ocean Vuong on life and literature. Alex Leff: his Human Nature Odyssey podcast. Chester Theatre Co-Artistic Directors Chris Baker & Michelle Ong-Hendrick: four fabulous productions this summer.

Defanging Threats

6/27/25: Atty Maria Freese: threats to Social Security & the solution. Adam Hinds, CEO of the Kennedy Center for the U.S. Senate: saved by the parliamentarian? Rep Mindy Domb: a new, improved & more transparent legislature? Laurie Sanders & W’hmptn Library Dir Meaghan Schwelm: Lounging for Literacy. –really! Donnabelle Casis w/ Dean Brown of PULP Holyoke: fabulous new exhibit of Marcy Hermansader.

Max Page

Looking Forward, Looking Back

6/26/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Holyoke’s schools out of receivership — mostly! Eric Reeves: the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. Rev Carole Bull on Mary Magdelene, organized religion & personal spirituality. John Anz w/ vocalist & trumpeter Bria Skonberg – coming to Tanglewood.

Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy

Real and Artificial Intelligence

6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: “One Man’s Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on “Ocean with David Attenborough” & “On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea.”

Provide for the Common Defense?

6/24/25: Josh Silver: impending passage of Trump’s Big Bad Bill and local political discord. LIVE in studio — Choro w/ Andrew Lawrence & Brazilian virtuosos Alessandro Peneze, Fabio Peron, Natalia Mitre, & Mauro Correa-WOW!! Michael Klare on Iran, Israel, & US’s bombing. Duke Goldman: Red Sox (mis)management & paying student athletes, women being shortchanged.

The Long Shadow of History

6/23/25: Bombs Away w/ Bill & Buz. Megan Zinn w/ award-winning author Heather Clark on “The Scrapbook.” UMass Afro-Am Studies Prof Amilcar Shabazz: militarism at expense of equality & Reading Frederick Douglass. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Dir Samantha Giffen: alternatives to armed police, vacant positions, no lay-offs, & BIG upcoming events.

Rep Lindsay Sabadosa

Paint the Town Red. And Blue.

6/20/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Gov Healey retracts anti-Fair Share comments. Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: the federal budget v state obligations. Amherst Prof Austin Sarat: political violence, social security & No Kings. FCCPR’s Susan Triolo: Tristate Overpasses for Democracy & other acts of resistance. Donnabelle Casis w/ Common Murals Ex Dir Britt Ruhe: “Paint the Town.”

News Directions

6/19/25: Transgender SCOTUS decision with attys Bill & Buz. Talking Red Sox with sportscaster Scott Coen. Daily Hampshire Gazette Managing Editor Chad Cain the news fit to print. Rabbi David Seidenberg: Israel/Iran, Gaza, & Juneteenth. Ruth Griggs w/ cellist Jeremy Harman: New Directions Cello Fest at Bombyx.

Recent Headlines

3 days ago in National

FDA staff blindsided by move allowing more e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto US market

Senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration's tobacco center were blindsided by a recent decision that opens the door to allowing more unauthorized electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the U.S. market, The Associated Press has learned.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Paul McCartney helps Stephen Colbert say goodbye to ‘The Late Show’ in ambitious final show

Stephen Colbert chatted with Paul McCartney and joined him on stage for a raucous performance of "Hello, Goodbye" on the final broadcast of CBS' "The Late Show" on Thursday night, a bittersweet farewell for a canceled show that still had a few barbs left for the network that ended its 33-year run.

3 days ago in Sports, Trending

2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after being hospitalized with a ‘severe illness’

Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR's three national series, has died. He was 41. The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given.

6 days ago in Sports, Trending

Billie Jean King, 82, earns a college degree 65 years after starting at Cal State LA

Billie Jean King raised her right arm in triumph. Not for another victory on the tennis court. This time, she was celebrating earning a college degree 65 years after she first took classes.

6 days ago in National

What to watch in Tuesday’s primaries as Trump’s endorsement is put to the test

Is there a future in politics for Republicans who cross President Donald Trump? The signs this year suggest no, and Trump has convinced his voters to defeat his adversaries again and again.