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.
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.
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.
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.
