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.  

Democracy? Or Kakistocracy?

Holyoke Mayor, Trump, Racism & Sexism, and 2025 favorite reads.

Max Page

There Oughta Be a Law

1/10/25: MTA Pres Max Page: being at the White House w/ President Biden. Bill & Buz on Trump’s cases. Donnabelle Casis w/ Amherst Coll student curators Mel Arthur & Angie Camarena: “RePresenting: Art Beyond the Color Line.” Kyiv School of Econ students: Asta Motrenko, Oleksandra Horusieva, Marharyta Nechytailo, Karyna Lutsenko. GTMO atty John Chandler: the prison’s 23rd anniversary & the recent transfers

Former Presidents

1/9/25: Jonathan Lash, author & former Hampshire Coll President on “What Death Revealed…” Michael McSherry, Sr Pastor, Edwards Church: he is leaving & we are sad. Marc Lendler, Smith Coll Prof Emeritus of Gov’t: Jimmy Carter’s legacy. Rich Michelson on his new kids’ book, “More Than Enough.”

What We Do and Don’t Want to Know

1/8/25: DA David Sullivan: Trump & ICE & local law enforcement. Larry Hott reviews two great films: “Union” & “Frida.” Brian Adams w/ Ben Weil: Northampton’s proposed fossil fuel free building codes. Raja Khouri & Jeffrey Wilkinson: “The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know About Each Other.”

John Pucci

Sentences

1/7/25: Buz on yesterday’s 11 GTMO transfers & who’s left there. Atty John Pucci: the remaining Trump cases — will SCOTUS bail him out?  Michael Klare on Trump, wars & autocrats, — Gaza, Ukraine, Russia & China, Sen Paul Mark on Trump targeting Massachusetts & the legislature’s transparency. Jessica Gifford: addressing the loneliness pandemic.

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.

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.