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.
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.
Looking Forward, Looking Back
6/26/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Holyoke’s schools out of receivership — mostly! Eric Reeves: the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. Rev Carole Bull on Mary Magdelene, organized religion & personal spirituality. John Anz w/ vocalist & trumpeter Bria Skonberg – coming to Tanglewood.
Real and Artificial Intelligence
6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: “One Man’s Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on “Ocean with David Attenborough” & “On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea.”
Provide for the Common Defense?
6/24/25: Josh Silver: impending passage of Trump’s Big Bad Bill and local political discord. LIVE in studio — Choro w/ Andrew Lawrence & Brazilian virtuosos Alessandro Peneze, Fabio Peron, Natalia Mitre, & Mauro Correa-WOW!! Michael Klare on Iran, Israel, & US’s bombing. Duke Goldman: Red Sox (mis)management & paying student athletes, women being shortchanged.
The Long Shadow of History
6/23/25: Bombs Away w/ Bill & Buz. Megan Zinn w/ award-winning author Heather Clark on “The Scrapbook.” UMass Afro-Am Studies Prof Amilcar Shabazz: militarism at expense of equality & Reading Frederick Douglass. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Dir Samantha Giffen: alternatives to armed police, vacant positions, no lay-offs, & BIG upcoming events.
Paint the Town Red. And Blue.
6/20/25: MTA Pres Max Page: Gov Healey retracts anti-Fair Share comments. Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: the federal budget v state obligations. Amherst Prof Austin Sarat: political violence, social security & No Kings. FCCPR’s Susan Triolo: Tristate Overpasses for Democracy & other acts of resistance. Donnabelle Casis w/ Common Murals Ex Dir Britt Ruhe: “Paint the Town.”
News Directions
6/19/25: Transgender SCOTUS decision with attys Bill & Buz. Talking Red Sox with sportscaster Scott Coen. Daily Hampshire Gazette Managing Editor Chad Cain the news fit to print. Rabbi David Seidenberg: Israel/Iran, Gaza, & Juneteenth. Ruth Griggs w/ cellist Jeremy Harman: New Directions Cello Fest at Bombyx.
Elevating Conversations
6/18/25: Al Simon & Meg Robbins of Northampton’s Support Our Schools: the volume & tone of debates over schools. Silverthorne Theater’s Bd Pres Ezekiel Baskin, director Gina Kaufmann & actor Sabine Denise Jacques: “The Amateurs” & “Comeuppance.” Brian Adams w/ UMass Dr Zoe Getman-Pickering & Prof Matt Lackner: ELEVATE’s mission -renewable energy- & federal funding rescinded. Cool Films w/ Larry Hott; “Deaf President Now” and “Through Deaf Eyes.”
Fighting to Live
6/17/25: Rep Aaron Saunders: Minnesota, Farmworkers, Cannabis Comm. David Leaf, author of “SMiLE: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Brian Wilson.” Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Mo McElligott. Matteo Pangallo of Valley Players on “A Walk in the Woods.” ED Marianne Winters of Safe Passage on their suit to protect victims of dom viol from Trump threat to funding.
