Mayors Monday & Watermelon Wednesdays Bookend Sen Jo Comerford & Author Ruth Ozeki

6/1/26  

Watermelon Wednesdays w/Paul Newlin &  world-renown musician Corey Pesaturo: a preview of this week’s amazing concert.

Writers Block w/ Megan Zinn & Ruth Ozeki: “The Typing Lady and Other Fictions”— a preview of her upcoming event at the Odyssey Bookshop, in conversation with Kelly Link

Senator Jo Comerford: the Protect Act, ICE in Massachusetts & the legislative process—getting it right.

Mayor GL Sciarra of Northampton: the schools, the budget, the fiscal stability plan, & an override in our future?

Wounds

5/29/26, Co-Host Josh Silver

MTA Pres Max Page: Trump’s tax credits for private & religious schools, an attack on public education.
Chester Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Chris Baker & Michelle Ong-Hendrick on upcoming plays: “Buckminster Fuller—The History (and Mystery) of the Universe;” “Fanny—The Music and Life of Fanny Lou Hamer;” “Amchitka”—an island off Alaska, the site of nuclear testing;” “Dear Alien”— LOL advise from the columnist!” & a return engagement –“A Hundred Words for Snow.”

Jim Nash, former Nhmtn City Council Pres on overrides in Easthampton June 9 & Northampton next year.

Political Gold with Josh Silver: the mid-terms & what are the odds.

ArtBeat w/Donnabelle Casis & artist Mahwish Chisty and Ehmtn OOO gallery owners Emma Chubb & Matt Cummings on “Wounds” & how you can help repair the wounds of war.

Wrecks and Roses

5/28/26

Eric Jay Dolin, author of “ The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair and Deliverance in the Age of Sail.” An amazing story.

Carol Rose, ACLU of Mass Ex Dir: the ACLU’s fight in Mass federal court against Trump’s Ex Order putting him and his Post Office in charge of voting. The hearing is Tuesday.

Pastor Carole Bull: Having faith in a time of political turmoil.

All that Jazz with John Anz and Liz Longley, coming to the Iron Horse.

Costs

5/27/26 (Co-Host Brian Adams)

Resilient Valley’s Julia Riseman & Lora Wondolowski: camels through the eye of a needle & other fundraising ideas.

Dr. Ethan Chapin, Cooley-Dickinson’s Dir of Emergency Medicine: It’s Stroke Prevention Month—save yr life & the life of a loved one—BE FAST.

Dave Small, Dir of Conservation @ Mount Grace Land Trust:  saving the Ebony Bog Haunter (really!), dragon flies and 40,000 acres.

Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby: the override vote on June 9 –what happens if it passes; what happens if it doesn’t.

Cookies

5/26/26 (Co-Host: Amilcar Shabazz)

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College’s closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs?

The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also,  censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books.

Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival;  her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities.

Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O’Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

You’re Being Paged

5/22/26 (Co-Host Josh Silver)

Max Page, Mass Teachers Ass’n Pres: $ for schools & higher ed this year, and college in three years, not four—the debate is joined.

Rep Mindy Domb. The reveal—she’s a night owl and Stephen Colbert’s last show made her laugh and cry—for many reasons that she shares. Also, the Blue Envelope Bill is close to becoming law. Congrats Rep Dom and Sen Comerford.

Alex Bowman from the new AAA — All Ages and Abilities: shared use trails, electric bikes, the expanding bike trail network, new state regs and laws?

Political Gold with Josh Silver: Trump’s plummeting poll numbers portend what?

ArtBeat With Donnabelle Casis and Will Baczek: his 30th anniversary show featuring Scott Prior and Nanny Vonnegut and other stars and celebrating art here.

Remember

5/21/26

Memorial Day – so much and so many to remember – with Central Hampshire Veterans Service Director Steve Connor.

Extra!! Extra!! w/ Gazette and Recorder Ex Ed Dan Crowley: the Northampton Housing Authority, the Overrides, & Picture Main Street.

UMass Ph. D. & Post- Doc Researcher Yuzhen Zhang on UMass-developed new technology, BactiSee – using a smart phone to detect bacteria in commercial food facilities & in our home kitchens, on cutting boards & dishwashers.

All that Jazz with Ruth Griggs, Paul Arslanian & Tap Dance percussionist Alexis Robbins—Wow!  Coming to the Northampton Jazz Workshop.

Focal Local

5/20/26(Co-Host Brian Adams)

We Fishwrap Picture Main Street and the news on Hampshire’s closing.

From Transitions Through Motion in Hatfield — Leora Barry, Ex Dir, and Theresa Fischer: horses helping people.

Kate Buckman, Aquatic Ecologist with the Greenfield-based Connecticut River Conservancy: happening here – fish on elevators, the great migration, nest building male fish, shad’s return from their world tour, local sea lampreys – don’t call them eels or snakes.

Filmmakers Larry Hott and John Manulis on “Fortunate Sons” – highly recommended.

The Buzz in Paradise

5/19/26 (Co-Host – Carrie Baker)

Paradise City Arts Festival at the Fair Grounds this weekend—we visit with the show Director, Mariah Swanson—200+ artists and craftspersons, musicians (new, larger stages) and perfect weather for the show.

Sci- Tech Café with MHC Prof Kerstin Norstrom & Hampshire Coll Ecology & Global Change Prof Jennifer Van Wyk: bees (gender is a social construct!), No Mow May, and bugs v insects. Also, Hampshire College’s commencement and its closing.

Comedy Quiz –on bugs and bees—with Happier Valley Comedy’s Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman, Sally Ekus & special contestant Carrie Baker.

Feminist Futures with Smith Coll Prof Carrie Baker. Carrie interviews Marianne Winters, Ex Dir of Safe Passage about the two recent domestic violence homicides in our community—at UMass and in Belchertown.

Wars and Pieces

5/18/26 (Co-Host Megan Zinn)

The three not so little bears in Bill’s neighborhood.

Dr. David Gottsegen on plastics in our food and water.

Megan Zinn with Katie DeBonville on “Grace Notes: A Musical Memoir.”

Andrew Zimbalist, Smith Prof and sports expert: the World Cup coming to Mass — an economic boondoggle?

Michael Klare, Five College Prof Emeritus of Peace & World Security Studies: War and Peace (?) — China, Iran, Cuba & Ukraine.