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 Buz Eisenberg 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), Crime & Punishment (John Pucci), DA David Sullivan, Writers Block (Megan Zinn), Science and Sensibility (Brian Adams), Community Action (Clare Higgins), Righting Wrongs (ACLUM Carol Rose), State Senators Comerford & Mark, Representatives Sabadosa, Blais, 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.  

A Something Overtakes the Mind

12/12/25: MTA Pres Max Page & Berkshire Comm Coll Pres Ellen Kennedy: big threats to higher ed but reasons for optimism Free Press Co-Pres Craig Aaron: Trumps’ EO prohibiting regul AI regulation, media mergers’ threat to 1st Am. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Trump’s DOE killing Sublime Systems’ low-carbon cement production facility. Political Gold w/ Josh Silver: Trump’s vulnerabilities, SCOTUS to kill the Voting Rights Act? redistricting & 2026. Donnabelle Casis w/ poet Matt Dunovan & artist Ligia Bouton on Emily Dickinson & “A Something Overtakes the Mind.”

Miracles

12/11/25: Michael Moriarity, educational specialist: ed reform—a possible Massachusetts Miracle? Professor & astronomer Salman Hameed: a new planet & –amazing– life on asteroids. Rep. Natalie Blais: on the road again, food insecurity & health care. Rabbi Riqi Kosovske: miracles and Hannukah.

Endings & Beginnings, Ups & Downs

12/10/25: Amherst Council Pres Lynn Griesemer: the state of the town, schools, capital projects & $. Bob Schraeder, owner-operator, Chestnut Mountain Tree Farm: yr Christmas tree. Andre′ Boulay, co-owner, A2Z Toy Store: way too much fun! & yr gifts. Larry Hott highly recommends “Soul of a Nation” & “Thank You Very Much.”

Behind the Curtains

12/9/25: Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: AI in schools. Kim Wolcott from Racial Justice Rising: Kwanza in Greenfield. Nation Mag Defense Corr Michale Klare: the National Security Strategy & Ukraine. Duke Goldman w/ Robert Fitts: “In the Japanese Ballpark– Behind the Scenes…”

Live in Studio

12/8/25: Mass banned Christmas — Historian Tim Blagg explains. Megan Zinn w/ Joanna Sokol: “ A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance.” Laurie Millman, Dir. Ctr for New Americans, & Narissa Nields – performing LIVE in studio. Dr. Amilcar Shabazz w/ Amherst Area Gospel Choir’s Jacqueline Wallace & Holla Heather Lord, performing a cappella.

Questions, Some Answers & A Wonderful Life

12/5/25:MTA Pres Max Page & Harry Feder, Ex Dir, Fair Test: high stakes testing in Mass—again?
Community Action’s Lev BenEzra & Jess Thompson: food and heat – for all? Matteo Pangallo (Pres, Valley Players), John Bidwell (Wayfinders) & Chris Rohmann (theatre maestro): “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Josh Silver w/ Ben Scott, Ex Dir, Reset, the int’l org: digital disinformation and democracy. Donnabelle Casis w/ George Kohout, Pres. Friends of N’ton Trails: the mini museums here.

Lines Within and Without

12/4/25: “Borderland” w/ Ari Keigan (PVWC), Ellen Koteen (Interfaith Action), Maria Garcia (St. John’s). Congressman Seth Moulton: why run against Ed Markey? Congressman Jim McGovern: will his War Powers Resolution pass? Ruth Griggs w/ Kyle Homstead: new music venues: Hope Center & De la Luz — the experience.

Safe Passage & Invasions

12/3/25: Safe Passage’s Marianne Winters, Natalie Ulrich & Amanda Lapierre. D.A. Dave Sullivan: prosecuting domestic violence. UMass Prof Bethany Bradley: invasions of invasive species here.
Cool Films w/ Larry Hott: the Academy Awards & “All God’s Children.”

Moving.

12/2: Sen Paul Mark: legislators dress code! book bans & food insecurity. Sci-Tech Cafe w/ MHC Profs Kerstin Nordstrom & Ted Gilliland: birds. Harvard prof James Hankins, co-author of “The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition.” Rich Michaelson w/ local poet Aiyana Masla: “The Underdream.”

Swamped

12/1/25: Court Dorsey, Joe Laur, Izzy Miller & Steve Eldredge: “Swamped.” Megan Zinn w/ Linda Summersea : “The Girl with the Black and Blue Doll,” a memoir.
Rev Carole Bull & activist Crystal Zevan: daily updates from Gaza. N’ton Mayor GL Sciarra: the election & its aftermath.

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