Vaya Con Muñoz 3.3.18

Filmmaker Larry Hott brings to the conversation Jim Kelly, executive director of the Convenant House for homeless youths in New Orleans. Filmmakers Brent and Craif Renaud made a documentary called “Shelter” about Convenant House. You can watch the documentary here: covenanthousenola.org/shelter-documentary/
He was born female and recently transitioned into being a man. He experiences the world as a man now but also as someone who was a woman. And where before as a Latina she was ignored, now it is his partner, a white woman, who is ignored. Gender, race and ethnicity continue to be a powerful factor, but from a different view.
Maria Contreras-Sweet, the former administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2014 to 2017 under President Obama, just pruchased the Weinstein Company. Tee hee!

Vaya Con Muñoz 2.22.18

Emma González is a senior in high school and already knows too much about how certain politicians sacrifice lives pn the altar of the NRA in exchange for money. We hear a snippet of her powerful speech.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “One of Us,” directed by Heida Ewing and Rachel Grady, about three people who left Hasidic Judaism and what the consequences they faced. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=uBPn5oQNutI
Inventor and author Michael Garjian on his book “Community Capitalism: How Communities Can Use Capitalism to Create a Shared Economy that Works for Everyone.”
Manuel Frau Ramos, fundador y editor del Sol Latino, dice que los políticos que se auto-denominan progresista en Holyoke no lo son cuando aceptan dinero de intereses especiales.

Image of digital poster “What Does It Say Again?” by Natalia Muñoz

Vaya Con Muñoz 2.17.18

We hear a snippet from the interview MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell had with former Vice President Joe Biden. What makes the interview so powerful is that no former vice president has ever spoken so strongly against a sitting president.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews the five foreign language films nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and how they reflect our times. Trailers here: oscar.go.com/nominees/foreign-language-film
Matt Szafranski, founder and editor of Western Mass. Politics and Insight (wmasspi.com), on the role of the Democratic Party — if there is one — in this year’s gubernatorial election.
La crítica de cine Ariadna Goenaga reseña “Call Me By Your Name.”
Throughout, we hear a bit of Santana’s “Samba Pa’ Ti” and we are sung out by El Topo, “Que Yo Lo Haré.”
Image from the movie, “The Insult,” one of the five nominated Best Foreign Film for the Oscar.

Vaya Con Muñoz 2.10.18

We hear a clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live! The comic and entertainer tried to persuade anti-DACA people to rise to their better agnels if they could just meet a dreamer in person. Some bullies never stop. Video clip here: youtube.com/watch?v=5QY5pLQqIYM
Filmmaker Larry Hott waxes philosophical with Monte Belmonte, Bill Newman and I on what the five documentaries nominated for the Oscars Best Documentary say about our time. Clips from the nominated films here: whttp://oscar.go.com/nominees/documentary-feature
Matt Szafranski, founder and editor of Western Mass. Politics and Insight [wmasspi.com] on the tragic consequences one of our best public servants, state Sen. Stan Rosenberg, is facing as a result of alleged misconsuct by his husband, Bryon Hefner.
We are sung out with “Ciega Sordomuda,” by Shakira.
Image from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Youtube.

Vaya Con Muñoz 2.3.18

The firing heard around our world. Women reject narrative Jeff Good put out about his firing.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” directed by Steve James and one of the five nominated documentaries at next month’s Oscars. Trailer here: abacusmovie.com/
La crítica de cne Ariadna Goenaga reseña “The Post”. Cuándo una película es dirigida por Steven Spielberg y protoganizada por la gran Meryl Streep y el gran Tom Hanks y cuenta con un elenco extraordinario de actores en papeles secundarios, puedes apostar que es magnífica. Corto aquí: youtube.com/watch?v=nrXlY6gzTTM
We are sung out with “Parranda del Sopón” by La Tuna de Cayey.
Picture of San Juan beach by Natalia Muñoz.

Vaya Con Muñoz 1.26.18

Westside City Councilor Daniel OÕBrien refers to the increasing numbers of Puerto Ricans entering the West Springfield school system as a ÒburdenÓ and a Òtsunami.Ó The reason that his city has many families entering the school system is because the city has the most hotels in the Western Mass., which is where people from Puerto Rico are temporarily being placed by area Family Resource Centers. Someone please tell him that people are not a burden or a tsunami.
Iconic independentista Oscar L—pez Rivera is asking Americans in Puerto Rico to leave because we Òdo not need anything from them.Ó Yes we do!! A lot of help in reconstructing Puerto Rico, which was knocked to its knees by political corruption. Hurricane Mar’a was the final nail is all.
Floremce Filmmaker Larry Hott review ÒArthur Miller: Writer,Ó a documentary by his daughter Rebecca Miller. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=f0SY4c-c_xc
Matt Szanfranski offers his perspective on whatÕs going on with recreational marijuana in Springfield after the City Council voted to postpone the moratorium, tasking its subcommittee on Economic Development to delve deeper into what the impending legalization of recreational marijuana starting on July 1 could mean for the city.
La cr’tica de cine Ariadna Goenaga rese–a ÒThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,Ó dirigida por Martin McDonough y con Frances McDormand. Corto aqu’: youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU
Mercedes Sosa nos canta ÒLas manos de mi madre.Ó

Westside City Councilor Daniel OÕBrien refers to the increasing numbers of Puerto Ricans entering the West Springfield school system as a ÒburdenÓ and a Òtsunami.Ó The reason that his city has many families entering the school system is because the city has the most hotels in the Western Mass., which is where people from Puerto Rico are temporarily being placed by area Family Resource Centers. Someone please tell him that people are not a burden or a tsunami.
Iconic independentista Oscar L—pez Rivera is asking Americans in Puerto Rico to leave because we Òdo not need anything from them.Ó Yes we do!! A lot of help in reconstructing Puerto Rico, which was knocked to its knees by political corruption. Hurricane Mar’a was the final nail is all.
Floremce Filmmaker Larry Hott review ÒArthur Miller: Writer,Ó a documentary by his daughter Rebecca Miller. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=f0SY4c-c_xc
Matt Szanfranski offers his perspective on whatÕs going on with recreational marijuana in Springfield after the City Council voted to postpone the moratorium, tasking its subcommittee on Economic Development to delve deeper into what the impending legalization of recreational marijuana starting on July 1 could mean for the city.
La cr’tica de cine Ariadna Goenaga rese–a ÒThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,Ó dirigida por Martin McDonough y con Frances McDormand. Corto aqu’: youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU
Mercedes Sosa nos canta ÒLas manos de mi madre.Ó

Westside City Councilor Daniel OÕBrien refers to the increasing numbers of Puerto Ricans entering the West Springfield school system as a ÒburdenÓ and a Òtsunami.Ó The reason that his city has many families entering the school system is because the city has the most hotels in the Western Mass., which is where people from Puerto Rico are temporarily being placed by area Family Resource Centers. Someone please tell him that people are not a burden or a tsunami. Iconic independentista Oscar L—pez Rivera is asking Americans in Puerto Rico to leave because we Òdo not need anything from them.Ó Yes we do!! A lot of help in reconstructing Puerto Rico, which was knocked to its knees by political corruption. Hurricane Mar’a was the final nail is all. Floremce Filmmaker Larry Hott review ÒArthur Miller: Writer,Ó a documentary by his daughter Rebecca Miller. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=f0SY4c-c_xc Matt Szanfranski offers his perspective on whatÕs going on with recreational marijuana in Springfield after the City Council voted to postpone the moratorium, tasking its subcommittee on Economic Development to delve deeper into what the impending legalization of recreational marijuana starting on July 1 could mean for the city. La cr’tica de cine Ariadna Goenaga rese–a ÒThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,Ó dirigida por Martin McDonough y con Frances McDormand. Corto aqu’: youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU Mercedes Sosa nos canta ÒLas manos de mi madre.Ó

Vaya Con Muñoz 1.20.18

Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.

Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.

Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.
Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.

Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.
Long story, short: I hope we get a third season of “Master of None” by Aziz Ansari, whose mistake on a date that caused a woman’s suffering appears to have been based on a misunderstanding, a result of centuries of a power structure that teaches men to and women to see intimacy differently at times. El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico publishes anti-semitic column,then takes it down a week+ later and only after American media and Anti-Defamation League get involved.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Ex Libris,” directed by Frederick Wiseman. Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=Ddjnbbjl0kM
Independent filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn on her film, “Nothing Wihtout Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS.” Trailer here: womanatthereel.com/the-film
Ariadna Goenaga reseña “La hora más oscura”, (The Darkest Hour), directed by Joe White.
Maná featuring Santana sing us out with “Corazón Espinado.”
Image from “Nothing Without Us…” used with permission.

Vaya Con Muñoz 1.6.18

Happy Three Kings Day.
Also, on the increasing crime in Pueto Rico; the surprise of many men that sexual assault and harassment is rampant; is shaming Trump voters a bad thing?

Vaya Con Muñoz 12.30.17

How painful to say so but Hillary Clinton’s Onward Together organization is not transparent.
Larry Hott reviews “Strong Island,” about a black family that is mistreated by the law and order system. More here: strongislandfilm.com
Journalist and attorney — and my favorite former boss — Marie Grady on the critical role of the media in democracy and why playing to your base is bad for democracy.
Lillian Torres, la ponceña por exvelencia, regresó de la Isla y nos cuenta que vió.
We’re sung out with a Christmas song: Soy Boricua/Añoranzas.

Vaya Con Muñoz 12.23.17

Should there be surveillance cameras in downtown Northampton? It’s a conversation worth having many times before the city decides to go one way or another. And BTW, calls for House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step aside aren’t helping. Plus, she’s awesome lady.
How does a film review about doping end up being a discussion about Sen. Al Franken and sexism and racism? Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews “Icarus,” (on Netflix) as much about doping among Russian athletes as it is about politics an power. And Bill Newman and Monte Belmonte join us in the discussion.
In our Spanish-language segment, Carmen Montes and family members talk about having to move here from Puerto Rico because of the devastation wrought by the lethal combination of Hurricane María political corruption.
We are sung out by a Christmas song called “La Luz.”