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.  

Proof

Proof

1/8/26: Heartbeat Theater’s Kimberly Gaughan & Jason Rose-Langston on “Proof.” Human rts atty Laura Pitter: Trump’s justifications for ICE’s killing & Maduro’s abduction. UMass Prof Cole Fitzpatrick: new local data on car fatalities. Ruth Griggs w/ Valley Jazz Voices Dir Jeff Olmsted: Saturday’s fabulous concert @ Bombyx.

Brumation & Torpor?

1/7/25: DA David Sullivan: Venezuela, fentanyl & local prosecutions. Broadside Bookshop co-owner Roz Kreshak-Hayden: navigating Picture Main St & new books she loves. Mass Audubon’s Tom Lautzenheiser: brumation, waking up winter, & meadow-jumping mice. Larry Hott’s Cool Films: “The Alabama Solution” & “The Perfect Neighbor.”

Besieged

Besieged

1/6/25: UMass History Prof Kevin Young: Venezuela & war & UMass Amherst — “Besieged From Without, Undermined from Within….” Sen Jo Comerford: the 2026 ballot questions. Congressman Seth Moulton: Trump’s aggression & Congress’ passivity. Sen Paul Mark: some good news from the Beacon Hill.

Mandi Jo

The Urgency of Now

1/5/26: Bob Flaherty: Trump, the invasion, protests & rewilding. Megan Zinn w/ Margot Douaihy: “Divine Ruin,” third in the Sister Holiday mystery series. At-large Amherst Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke: buy the numbers. Nation Magazine Defense Correspondent Michael Klare: Venezuela & beyond.

Happy New Year? Happy New Year!

12/31/25: Beth Gillis, couples’ therapist: resolutions? Bill Danielson: “Speaking of Nature”— photo of the year. Ben Weil, Northampton Dir of Climate Action: good news! Cool Films with Larry Hott—three recommendations.

Various Views

12/29/25: Gwen Agna: the view from the principal’s office and the school committee. Megan Zinn, Lee Thomson & Alice Hough: “Whatcha reading?”—fantasies to consider. Lucia Dostal—an amazing musician—in studio! Thomas Draudt: “Conversations on Strong”— Picture Main St.

Larry Hott

Christmas & Cover-Ups

Prison Policy Initiative’s Mike Wessler: Christmas in prison. CDH Dr Sunny Shukla: Welcome to the ER. Wayne Feiden: open space, cityscapes, Picture Main St & his gig at UMass. Larry Hott highly recommends “Cover-up”  & “The $ Six Billion Man.”

Rebelle

A Change Is Gonna Come

12/23/25: Eric Reeves: genocide in Sudan. Manou Africa & Kalpana Devi: First Night with Rebelle. Paki Wieland & Nick Mottern: the L3Harris demo & their successful necessity defense. Gfld City Council Pres Lora Wondoloski: housing, housing housing! Fair Play w/ Duke Goldman: the San Quentin Giants.

Lisa Wong, Tim Nelson, Paul Bockelman

Celebrate

12/22/25: A First Night preview with Nmptn Arts Council Events Producer Steve Sanderson. Megan Zinn w/Elinor Lipman on “Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters.” Celebrating Kwanza w/ Kwanza Collective Co-founders Dr Amilcar Shabazz & Ayanna Crawford. Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman & Comms Mgr Sam Giffin: $, budget, schools, potholes, MMA, Merry Maple, & Happy New Year.

A Thousand Cuts

12/19/25: MTA Pres Max Page: $ for education, grad reqmts & a living wage for paras. Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa: political and budget consensus? Francis Rooney, former ambassador to the Holy See & Republican Congressman: Pope Leo & Pres Trump. ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Jason Montgomery: Human Nature.

Recent Headlines

18 hours ago in National

In a time of war with Iran, Americans unite in aggravation over sticker shock at the gas pump

It seems a country divided on so many fronts is finding common ground in pain at the pump, where the cost of the Iran war is hitting Americans squarely in the wallet and aggravating people across the political spectrum.

1 day ago in National

Men who brought explosives to NYC protest cited Islamic State as inspiration, complaint says

Two men who brought explosives to a far-right protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, a court complaint said.

1 day ago in National

Uber’s women-only option goes nationwide in the US

Uber launched a feature Monday to allow both women riders and drivers across the U.S. to be matched with other women for trips, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing concerns about the safety of its ride-hailing platform.

2 days 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.

2 days 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.