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.  

Neighborism

Neighborism
3/16/26: Olivia Aguilar, MHC Prof & Dir of Miller Worley Ctr for the Environment: “A Latine Outdoor Experience.”
Megan Zinn w/ Anne Fadiman on “Frog and Other Essays” coming to Broadside.
Oscars Recap & Reactions w/ Megan Zinn & Kerstin Nordstrom.
MA LUCE Immigrant Justice Hotline w/ Lena Entin & Michael Kane.

We Remember

We Remember

3/13/26: We remember Paki Wieland.

The War in Iran w/ Smith Professors Naveed Mansoori & Brent Durbin.

Josh Silver: the politics of the War.

Edo Mor: the Valley’s music scene.

“Mean Girls” at NHS.  

ArtBeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Michael Tillyer of NE Visionary Artists Museum: “Headspace Two.

We the People

We the People

3/12/26: We The People—EHS teacher Kelly Brown & three students—on their way to the National Championship!

Rabbi Riqi Kosovske: reflections on today’s world.

The housing crisis here with John Bidwell (Way Finders) Laura Bandara (Pioneer Valley Planning Comm) & Kerry Spitzer (UMass Donahue Inst).

Remembering Natalie Graves.

Preparing & Repairing

Preparing & Repairing

3/11/26: Amherst Town Councilor Lynn Griesemer: fighting ICE & repairing potholes.

Daniel Bullen: “Daniel Shays’ Honorable Rebellion” & lessons for today.

Joe Boisvert, owner of North Hadley Sugar Shack: maple syruping and fab breakfasts.

Cool Films w/ Larry Hott: pairing for the Oscars.

Voices from Inside

Voices from Inside

3/10/26: Mean Girls @ NHS w/ Dave Grout & Ruby Ferrari – performing/singing LIVE in studio!
Rep Patricia Duffy: the Protect Act – restraining ICE in Mass.
Hadley School Super Anne McKenzie: school budget crises.
Mass Review Ex Ed Britt Rusert: the Incarceration and Family issue – inside the razor wire.
Talkin Baseball w/ Duke Goldman: Spring training, World Baseball Classic, balls & strikes.

Doing and Undoing

Doing and Undoing

3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke’s Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int’l law.

Explosive Content

Explosive Content

3/6/26: Hampshire Coll Prof & astronomer Salman Hameed: the Iran War & other Black Holes.

MTA Pres Max Page: AP scores –we’re no.1!, rural school $, the Bright Act & the tax cut referendum.

Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Ex Dir Lev BenEzra & Bd Pres Charity Day: Help—an emergency need for fuel assistance funds & the lived experience.

Donnabelle Casis w/ Heart for the Soul Gallery Ex Dir Sierra Meyers: the Inhairitance Exhibit.

Music To Our Ears

Music to Our Ears

3/5/26: Lora Wondolowski, Gfld City Council Pres & state rep candidate: humility & effective public service.

Live in the studio—N’mpton HS Chamber Choir, previewing the Local Vocal Chord Bowl—amazing!

 The recently greatly honored E’mpton artist, marquetry master Silas Kopf.

Congressman Jim McGovern: the war, Epstein, Bondi & the budget.

Ruth Griggs w/ Dee Boyle-Clapp & Casandra Holden: the creative economy here.

Taking Care & Taking Wing

Taking Care & Taking Wing
3/4/26: DA David Sullivan: protecting ourselves from consumer rip-offs & ICE.
Jeremy Dubs — Nhmptn Ward 4 Councilor, disability rts advocate & star of “Tallywacker.”
Magic Wings’ new co-owner Vytautas Sukys: talkin’ butterflies.
Larry Hott w/ Yvonne Russo & Nicholas Pike: their Oscar-nominated song “Sweet Dreams of Joy” can be heard in the film “Viva Verdi,” available on Jolt.film.

The Future Is Now

3/3/26: The Future Is Now

Sen Paul Mark: our creative Mass economy.
Ken Comia, new Pres, Mass Chapter, American Planning Ass’n: the Pioneer Valley’s future.
Forbes Library Dir Lisa Downing w/ Bill Scher, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library Standing Comm President: Coolidge’s history & the future.
Free Press Co-CEO Jessica Gonzalez & Ruth Livier, Campaign Mgr, Democracy & Civil Rts Team & author of “Complicit…”: rampaging authoritarianism & how to fight back.

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.