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.  

Train Wrecks?

5/6/25: Sen Paul Mark: the fight for local aid. Fmr State Sen Pres Stan Rosenberg, Alden Dreyer & Sam Bartlett on trains, planes, automobiles & trolleys. Josh Silver: Trump’s popularity, Ukraine & Gaza. Cutchins Programs for Children & Families CEO Tina Champagne: the cuts to mental health services for kids.

Resist!

5/5/25: UMass Poli Sci Prof Jesse Rhodes: a future for democracy? Megan Zinn w/ Helen Sheehy on “Just Willa” (a woman w/ indomitable spirit). Amherst Coll Prof & Restless Books publisher Ilan Stavans: NEA funding ripped away. N’mptn Mayor GL Sciarra: Pride, resistance, schools, $, & potholes.

Max Page

MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

5/2/25: MTA Pres Max Page: May Day rally yesterday, MTA Annual Mtg tomorrow. Clare Higgins: Head Start & other Health & Human Services cuts. CEO Erika Kuester & Holly Mott: Treehouse Foundation 5K Fundraiser for kids/families in Foster Care. Salman Hameed: signs of life on a faraway planet? Donnabelle Casis w/ Sunny Allis & Alix Gerber: A.P.E exhibition “River Valley Radical Futures.”

Nothing Certain but Uncertainty

5/1/25: Hannah Moushabeck of Interlink Publishing: anti-Zionist Sim Kern’s “Genocide Bad.” MA Municipal Assoc CEO Adam Chapdelaine: Tough budget season shrouded in uncertainty. Atty Maria Frees of National Comm to Preserve Social Security & Medicare on the threats and uncertainty about Soc Sec. John Anz w/ Anais Reno SUNY college senior and world-class jazz singer.

Pride & No Prejudice

4/30/25: Dir Clay Pearson on Saturday’s Hampshire Pride w/ Co-Founder Mary Wang-Boucher of Northampton Resists. Anika Lopes: Ancestral Bridges new location opening on May 7. Brian Adams w/ Board Pres Gregory Mori & member Susie McCrey of New England Small Farm Institute. Youth Poetry Slam winner Julianys Centeno from Holyoke High School w/ Lyrical Faith.

Legacies & Leadership

4/29/25: Political Consultant Josh Silver: trump underwater; local politics overwater? Sci-Tech Cafe w/ Kerstin Nordstrom & Dmitry Kireev on the Future of Bioelectronics. Prof Chris Appy & Dr Quế Mai: Ellsberg Conference on Legacies of the Vietnam War. Author Gwen Agna: “Community-Centered School Leadership.”

Lisa Wong, Tim Nelson, Paul Bockelman

Good Mischief

4/28/25: Jerry & Kara Noble on Fats Waller: “Keepin’ Out of Mischief.” Megan Zinn w/ owner Hillary Hoffman of Federal St Books in Greenfield. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Amherst Councilor Ellisha Walker on the need to keep DEI front & Center in Amherst. Amherst Town Mgr. Paul Bockelman updates on the budget, library, elementary school, and festivals.

Fighting Hate

4/25/25: MTA Pres Max Page asks us to join him May Day (5/1) in celebrating labor, as well as May 3rd. Rep. Mindy Domb: share your story on how federal cuts impact you, your schools, your business. CEO of Ted Kennedy Inst Adam Hinds on civics education & the future of democracy. Francisco on neo-Nazi group NSC-131 planning demonstration in Northampton Sunday at 1:00. Donnabelle Casis w/ Linda McInerney of Eggtooth Productions’ “Tony Montanaro: A Love Story.”

Chilling and Warmth

4/24/25: London-based journalist Stryker McGuire: Trump v Europe, UK & Ukraine. ACLUM Ex Dir Carol Rose: fighting back in the courts & on the streets. Rev Carole Bull on the homophobic pastor who learned to accept his gay son. Ruth Griggs w/ Bombyx’s Cassandra Holden & vocalist Rochelle Rice.

Timely Topics

4/23/25: Historian Tom Goldscheider w/ author Jennifer Rycenga: “Schooling the Nation: The Success of the Canterbury Academy for Black Women.” Cooley Dickinson Hospital President & CEO Kevin Whitney: Innovations at CDH. Brian Adams w/ Naturalist Josh Rose: Dragonflies and damselflies. Larry Hott: “Selfie” w/ Dir Agosotino Ferrente & Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival Jim Hicks, & Anna Botta.

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.