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.  

In the Money

1/6/25: Sen Jo Comerford: bracing for Trump, newly passed bills, & 2025 priorities. Hamp Mayor GL Sciarra: municipal money, capital Improvements — SEXY! & the Main St. Project. Daniel Cantor Yalowitz, Recorder columnist & former Chair, Gfld Human Rts Comm: surviving dark times well. Megan Zinn w/ romance novel legend Loretta Chase: “My Inconvenient Duke.”

Under Oath

1/3/25: MTA Pres Max Page: change K-12 funding & other 2025 priorities. Bill & Buz: the meaning of the oath that Congress takes today. Donnabelle Casis w/ New England Visionary Artists Museum Co-directors Michael Tillyer & Susan Foley. Community Action’s Claire Higgins on Housing in Place. Human Rights Attorney Laura Pitter: the issue is genocide.

Darkness & Light

1/2/25: Rep Jim McGovern: terror in New Orleans & scary stuff in Washington. Rabbi Riqi Kosovske & JM Sorrell on “We Will Dance Again: Surviving October 7th,” a film about the Hamas massacre. Ed Orzechowski & Darlene Volpe on “Becoming Darlene: The Story of Belchertown Patient #3394.” Ruth Griggs w/ Director Jeff Olmsted: Valley Jazz Voices &  the January 12 concert.

Auld Friends

12/31/24: First Night archguitarist Peter Blanchette plays live in the studio. Bill gives Buz & Dan a 2024 political quiz – they flunk (but still impress Newman). From GCC –science prof Brian Adams w/ Natural Resources Coordinator Tony Reiber: New Year’s resolutions for the earth. Hampshire Prof of Peace & World Security Studies Michael Klare on Jimmy Carter, Ukraine & NATO.

Loss & Found

12/30/24: Amherst School Superintendent Dr. Xiomara Herman: wrapping her arms around her job.

Bill Dwight: a trip down memory lane — Pleasant St. Video, the removal of Main St. benches & Jimmy Carter remembered. Megan Zinn’s favorite reads of 2024.

Rebelle

Time to ReBelle

12/27/24: Rep Mindy Domb: this week’s big legislative victory. MTA Pres Max Page: 2024’s top ten Mass. education stories. Amherst Coll Prof Austin Sarat: Biden’s death row commutations & democracy (?) under Trump. First Night performers Kalpana Devi & Manou Africa of ReBelle.

Sherrif-Cahillane

On ICE

12/26/24: Hampshire Co. Sheriff Pat Cahillane on ICE enforcement. Rev. Carole Bull: Jesus, the Archangel & the manger. UMass Isenberg School prof Anna Nagurney: Trump, tariffs & tradeoffs. Remembering some who passed in 2024.

Tones

12/24/24: First Night: The Northamptones sing the Beatles. Astronomer Salman Hameed: flying fast across the universe — not Santa, a NASA probe. Political expert Josh Silver: a silver lining in Trump’s victory? Duke Goldman: Rickey Henderson & the Hall of Fame. Santa Claus stops by the studio.

shabazz

Heri za Kwanzaa!

12/23/24: Afro-Am Prof Amilcar Shabazz & Ayanna Crawford: what, why & where is Kwanzaa? Local musical icon Ray Mason: First Night Rocks! Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman: building a library, the middle school & CRESS– alternatives to police responses. Megan Zinn’s “Whatcha Readin?” w/ Mo Turner — writer, editor & journalism instructor.

Fire & Rain

12/20/24: Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: mental health on Beacon Hill; MTA Pres Max Page: MCAS as grad req’mt — again? New Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren: fire & ambulance mutual aid among our cities & towns. EM Kennedy Inst CEO Adam Hinds: the ghost of gov’t shutdowns past.

Recent Headlines

4 hours ago in National

Jury selection to begin in South Florida for 4 charged in 2021 assassination of Haitian president

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in the U.S. federal trial of four men charged in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages are charged with conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or kill Haiti's former leader, plus related charges.

5 hours ago in Trending, World

Iran names Khamenei’s son to succeed him, signaling no letup in war as oil prices surge

Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel. Oil prices surged as Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the U.S. and Israel bombed targets across Iran.

3 days ago in Sports, Trending

Ohtani has grand slam, 5 RBIs as Japan routs Taiwan 13-0 in its WBC opener

Shohei Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game, then hit a go-ahead grand slam and an RBI single in a 10-run second inning to lead defending champion Japan over Taiwan 13-0 Friday night in its World Baseball Classic opener.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Britney Spears arrested and released, California sheriff’s records show, though charge is not clear

Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Southern California and booked early Thursday, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's office, which didn't say what charge she faces.

4 days ago in National

Dow drops 1,000 points after oil spikes to its highest price since the summer of 2024

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points Thursday after the price of oil spiked to its highest level since the summer of 2024 because of the war with Iran.