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.
Cuts
8.8.25. MTA Max Page with Jonathan Hecht on reforming stipends. Atty James Winston impact cuts to SSI & SSDI. Nina Kleinberg on Casablanca at Amherst Cinema. Northampton Mayoral Candidate David Dombrowski.
Looking for Truth
8/7/25: Laurie Loisel, candidate for Nhmptn City Council. Human Rts advocates Laura Pitter & Dreisen Heath: reparations both national & local. Congressman Jim McGovern: countering the Republican attack on democracy & elections. Ruth Grigg w/ Felipe Salles: preview of this weekend’s amazing concert @ Bombyx.
Hard Times
8/6/24: D.A. David Sullivan: the public defender work stoppage & a new women’s prison? Christina Maxwell, Program Dir, Food Bank of W. Mass: SNAP cuts & hungry people here. Science prof Brian Adams w/ Susan Theberge, Co-founder, W. Mass. Climate Action Now: the fight here today. UMass Econ Prof Gerald Epstein: Trump, tariffs & taxes.
Leaders
8/5/25: Dan Breindel, candidate for Mayor of Northampton. Bruce Stedman (Back from the Brink) & Jane Virgilio (Greater Springfield Campaign Nonviolence): remembering Hiroshima. Historic Northampton’s Betty Sharpe & Simbrit Paskins: “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton…” Kenny Newman: our oceans. mangroves & Mauritius.
Launches
8/4/25: UMass Prof and NASA collaborator Paul Siqueira: their just-launched satellite. Real Cost of Prisons Project Dir Lois Ahrens: the Gov’s “plan” for a new $360 million women’s prison. Duke Goldman: Gaza & recognizing the Negro Leagues. Nhmptn Mayor GL Sciarra: a big win for the City—new housing.
The Course of Human Events
8/1/25: MTA Pres Max Page: UMass, the feds, the state & $. Prof Kevin Young: UMass protest policy – unfree speech? Activist Ethan Flamand: Amherst rally & a new Decl of Independence. Salman Hameed’s Universe: incredible sites & insights. Donnabelle Casis w/ Daniel Elihu Kramer: “The Case for the Existence of God.”
Champion
7/31/25: Champion for Justice, atty David Hoose: the crisis in Mass courts — defendants without lawyers. Rubik’s Cube World Champion, 2025 Amherst H.S. grad, Levi Gibson – absolutely amazing! Champions for, decency & due process — UU’s David Roitman & CBI’s Sara Weinberger: Sunday’s “Vigil for the Disappeared.” Ruth Griggs w/ internationally acclaimed guitarist Tony Davis — coming to Nhmptn.
Reigning Cats & Dogs
7/30/25: Buz and Dan on Soc Security Administration. Prof Gerald Epstein: Trump’s economic policies. Brian Adams w/ Sr Conservation Ecologist Tom Lautzenheiser of MA Audubon: canines (coyote, fox & wolves) & felines (bobcat & mountain lions) in WMass. Larry Hott w/ Brian Adams on Larry’s film “The Wilderness Idea.”
Leaders
7/29/25: City Stage Pres Burns Maxey & Treas Mike Tautznik: the community’s success & the creative economy. Sports Man! Scott Coen on Sunday’s Hall of Fame inductees, the Sox & Yanks. Amherst Prof of Psychology Catherine Sanderson: why and when groups become mobs (e.g. Jan 6). Michael Klare on Ukraine, Gaza, & Syria, Trump, Putin & Netanyahu.
From the Front Lines
7/28/25: CODEPINK founder Madea Benjamin: tonight’s event – Gaza today. Megan Zinn w/ Forbes Bd Chair Katy Wight “watcha’ readin’?” UMass Prof Amilcar Shabazz: the state of reparations in W. Mass. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman: opioid settlement funds & reparations money.
