The Hudson Mohawk Magazine is a locally-produced nightly news hour that provides sanctuary for the discussion of a wide range of topics, scaling from the global to the hyper-local. The show is broadcast on WOOC 105.3 FM, The Sanctuary for Independent Media's low-power radio station based in Troy, NY…
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Ruth Foster of Divest NY speaks on Comptroller DiNapoli's investments in Big Oil. Then, Willie Terry covers the NY Statewide Senior Action Council, "2026 Annual Senior Grassroots Advocacy Day" in Albany. Later on, Diane Mbombo-Tite speaks on growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo and her immigration story on another episode of Triple E's. After that, we hear about “Storytime from Palestine,” part of the “Sowing seeds for Palestine” event taking place at Yesfolk Tonics on May 23. Finally, we hear from Guinean musician Natu Camara ahead of her performance at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on May 15 at 7pm!
Sowing seeds for Palestine is a Fundraiser + Livestream of Beekeepers Storytime taking place at YesFolk Tonics on May 23, from 11am-4pm. This event plants hope to feed the future and preserve life-giving stories. Part of this event is Storytime from Palestine, hearing from Palestinian beekeepers and Bees, Land, & Liberation members who recently returned from a solidarity beekeeping trip in Palestine. Hana' and Nora join HMM producers Cricket and Marrow for a live zoom interview about seeds and their experiences in the West Bank.
The New York State Museum is collecting oral histories from Black New Yorkers connected to the Great Migration. The project, led by Jennifer Lemak, focuses on preserving the traditions and experiences that shaped communities across New York State.
In this episode, Jasmeet Kaur, a student at UAlbany, sat down with Delilah Ramos, a junior at University at Albany, to get more insight into the services Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program provides and how student volunteers help support their peers through difficult moments, stress, and everyday challenges on campus.
Albany Law professor Dale Margolin Cecka joins Hudson Mohawk Magazine to talk about adultification bias — the everyday ways institutions stop seeing Black children as children. Drawing on her recent op-eds in USA Today and Slate, she reflects on her own family, her clinic work, and what it takes for institutions to believe the people they're meant to protect.
On Monday May 11, several hundred people attended Beyond Plastic's lobby day and rally. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act – known as PRRIA - would require producers of single use packaging to reduce the amount by 30% over 12 years and ban 13 toxic chemicals from packaging. The bill has twice passed the Senate but the Assembly Speaker has refused to let it come up for a vote despite having a majority of members as co-sponsors. However, a few days after the rally, the Speaker announced that the Democrat members of the Assembly would be reviewing the legislation in conference. The sponsors recently did an additional 38 amendments to the bill to help with its passage. In part two of our coverage, we hear Dr. Charles Moon of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Chris Alexander of the NYS NAACP Conference, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, and Jay Buckiewicz of the Peekskill NAACP. This has been Mark Dunlea for the Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
More than one hundred New Yorkers were at the Capitol on Wednesday April 13 calling for a three-year moratorium on new data-center development while the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) complete comprehensive reports evaluating the industry's current and projected effects on electricity rates, energy use, water resources, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and electronic waste, and issue new regulations to mitigate those negative impacts. At the rally, we hear from Eric Weltman of Food and Water Watch, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Reverend Dr. Majadi Baruti of PUSH Buffalo, and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg. This has been Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
On This Episode of the TripleE's, Diana Mbombo-TIte tells her story of growing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all the languages she learned in the DRC. she also talks about her story of how and why she immigrated to the United States of America , and Finally she tells H Bosh Jr about starting her business Akula Interpreting and Translation LLC.
On Tuesday, May 11, 2026, Hudson Mohawk Magazine Network Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry covered the NY Statewide Senior Action Council, "2026 Annual Senior Grassroots Advocacy Day" at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, where they were demanding "Budget Equity" for Seniors. In this Labor segment, Willie interviewed Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, about the purpose of Advocacy Day.
The climate crisis is upon us. The upcoming summer is expected to be brutal with dangerous heatwaves, severe drought across the country, wildfires, and extreme storms. We know the solution to the climate crisis is to stop burning fossil fuels, yet, despite his commitment to divest from fossil fuels in 2020, Comptroller DiNapoli continues to invest heavily in Exxon, Shell, Chevron and other Big Oil companies that continue to destroy our climate. In addition, continued investments in risky fossil fuels have hurt the pension fund. Ruth Foster of Divest NY talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine as to why the group decided to endorse comptroller candidates Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle in the democratic party primary. Ruth also discusses the effort to shut down the Sheridan Ave. Steam Plant and convert the Capital Complex to renewable energy, including geothermal.
Today On Hudson Mohawk Magazine we hear from Monday's advocacy day by Beyond Plastics. Then, we have a report on a Mother's Day rally around sentencing reform. Later on, in this week's On the Brink and Fighting Back, Rosemary Armao explores Donald Trump's fiscal policies. After that, we have the latest segment from the Skidmore Labor Series. Finally, from our archives, we hear from author Nancy Castaldo about how water is an environmental justice issue.
Wall Street investment banker Mark Wittman talked at length, but in layman's terms, with Beyond the Brink podcast host Rosemary Armao this week about all those egg-heady issues like investing in gold and politics within the Fed and the national debt that can affect your life. You can listen to him in full on YouTube or Apple, or wherever you like to get podcasts. Wittman describes how President Trump has an uncanny ability to show our enemies what their superpower is. Will he be doing that in this week's trip to China?
On Tuesday May 12, Formerly incarcerated moms, moms of incarcerated children and dozens of lawmakers held a Mother's Day rally at the State Capitol to call for the passage of sentencing reform legislation to reunite families, including the Second Look Act, the Earned Time Act and the Marvin Mayfield Act. We hear from Senator April Baskin, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, Senator Robert Jackson, Dr Franchesca Capellan and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzales Rojas.
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunlea talks with NYPRIG Blair Horner to give an update on the budget. Then, Ren Lee gets an update from Humanities NY, a year after they lost much of their funding due to DOGE cuts. Later on, we hear from Sarah Abrahams who tells us all about pet therapy. After that, Craig Neslor of Albany Comedy Corner has an interview about Laughing Out Loud, an elevated comedy experience show with Duncan Harris and Roger Harris. Finally, this week, Thom Francis welcomes poet, artist, and musician Matthew Klane to the mic. Hosts: Caelan McPherson and Richard Sleeper Engineer: Henry VanHaverbeke
On Monday May 11, several hundred people attended Beyond Plastic's lobby day and rally. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act – known as PRRIA - would require producers of single use packaging to reduce the amount by 30% over 12 years and ban 13 toxic chemicals from packaging. The bill has twice passed the Senate but the Assembly Speaker has refused to let it come up for a vote despite having a majority of members as co-sponsors. The sponsors recently did an additional 38 amendments to the bill to help with its passage. In part one of our coverage, we hear from Senator Rachel May; Kurt Kruperman of Capital District Zero Waste; Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian; singer Taina Asili; Assemblymember Chris Eachus; and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
Humanities NY suddenly lost much of their funding due to DOGE cuts in 2025. One year later, we get an update on the state of their organization and hear from HNY Executive Director Sara Ogger who spoke with Sanctuary Executive Director Ren Lee who relates to this story from personal experience.
This week, Thom Francis welcomes poet, artist, and musician Matthew Klane to the mic. Matthew read poems at the first Year in Review spoken word event at The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, on December 17, 2021. +++++ At the end of 2021, coming out of the pandemic, there were a lot of stories to tell. Albany Poets (soon to be merged with the Hudson Valley Writers Guild) invited eight local poets to perform on The Linda stage in front of their first live poetry show in over a year. The Year in Review was an incredible evening of poetry, art, and community. Matthew Klane was one of the poets who read his work at the event. Matthew is co-editor at Flim Forum Press. His books include Canyons (w/ James Belflower, Flimb Press 2016), Che (Stockport Flats 2013) and B (Stockport Flats 2008). An e-chapbook from Of the Day is online at Delete Press, an e-book My is online at Fence Digital, and a chapbook Poetical Sketches is available from The Magnificent Field. He currently lives and writes in Albany, NY. You can find out more about Matthew at his website matthewklane.com.
First, Elizabeth EP Press brings us coverage of Troy City Council's meeting where local law #3 was discussed. The law is meant to regulate the use of automatic license plate readers in Troy. Then, NATURE Lab Co-Director Ellie Irons tells us about this year's media lab component to the youth Water Justice Lab fellowship. Later on, retired national weather service Hugh Johnson joins us to discuss the weather in this week's weather segment. After that, we hear Conner Lee talking with Gaheul Yi as he shares his parents' migration story from Korea to the Capital District. Finally, this week we have the annual Collard City Growers plant swap, so we hear from Azuré and Christian. Co-Hosts: Sean Bernyk and Lennox Apudo Engineer: Kalix Sausville
This year, Water Justice Lab will also include a Media Lab fellowship, an opportunity for youth to get trained in and create short media to document the summer Water Justice Lab fellowship and specifically the Source to Estuary program. NATURE Lab Co-Director Ellie Irons spoke with the Sanctuary's Programming Manager Sina Basila Hickey about this opportunity. Learn more here: https://www.mediasanctuary.org/project/water-justice-lab/
The City of Troy currently has 26 working Flock Safety ALPR cameras with no public rules and regulations on the books. The Troy City Council is proposing a new Local Law #3 “Establishing Standards Governing the City's Use of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) Systems.” This piece by Elizabeth Press highlights the debate over the possible legislation. OUTRO The Council is hoping to get input from law enforcement before the legislation is finalized. You can also check out the draft legislation here: here:https://www.troyny.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05072026-1823?html=true
New York's budget is now six weeks late, though Governor Hochul claims the numeruos policy issues she has inserted into the budget are now largely agreed to. Blair Horner of NYPIRG talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about how the budget undercuts the concept of democracy, particularly in how the climate issue has been handled.
First, Mark Dunlea talks with NY Renews about climate in the NYS budget as legislative leaders are seemingly nearing an agreement on the long overdue deal. Then, Sina Basila Hickey talks to singer-songwriter Natu Camara about her new album and her upcoming performance at the Sanctuary! Later on, Mirai Abe talks to Dr. Aaron Proffitt about becoming a Buddhist priest in Japan. After that, Amanda Case joins us to talk about her upcoming performance at song city. Finally, We bring you a piece on Black and Wild an outdoor club for people of color. Co-Hosts: Ember, Richard Sleeper | Engineer: Jacob Boston.
Singer-Songwriter Amanda Case talks to Richard and Jacob about her journey as an artist, musical inspirations, and what the audience can expect at her upcoming performance at Song City.
While Governor Hochul on May 7 announced that there was a deal on the budget, legislative leaders disagreed, saying only that they were close. Still, some details have emerged about the status of the Governor's apparently successful push to weaken the requirements of the state's climate law (CLCPA). Stephen Edel, Executive Director of NY Renews, talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
Natu Camara feeds energy from her audience. Her recent album DIMEDI infuses her Guinean roots with Malian sounds and was recorded in Salif Keita's studio. She spoke with Sina Basila Hickey as said the album turned out just as she wanted: "mellow, sweet, and also easy to change on stage, so I can play a soft album into a fire album on stage." Natu also said that concert attendees should bring their dancing shoes but to also be ready for emotion. Natu Camara will perform at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on May 15, 2026. Learn more and get your tickets here https://www.mediasanctuary.org/event/natu-camara/
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunley takes us to the state capitol, where climate activists were arrested while protesting Governor Hochul's inaction on key climate legislation. Then, Willie Terry reports from the Capital District Area Labor Federation "May Day Solidarity Event" at West Capitol Park. After that, H Bosh Jr interviews Diane Mbombo-Tite, an entrepreneur who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Albany in 2015. Finally, Sina Basila Hickey interviews Jean Stoler about visiting Bergen-Belsen, a former Nazi concentration camp and Jean's place of birth.
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine: First, we hear about the Climate Defiance protest against Governor Hochul on Tuesday at the Capitol. Then, we hear about the annual Grannies for Peace Mother's Day vigil at the Albany Tulip Festival. Later on, in On the Brink and Fighting Back, Rosemary Armao discusses the recent US Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act. After that, we hear about the mission of the activist group Indivisible. Finally, we join a research group while they are doing eel sampling in the Poestenkill. Co-hosts: Mark Dunlea and Sina Basila Hickey (also engineer)
On Friday, May 01, 2026, Hudson Mohawk Magazine Network Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry attended the Capital District Area Labor Federation "May Day Solidarity Event" at West Capitol Park in Albany, NY. In this labor segment, Willie recorded excerpts from speakers at the rally and interviewed Shana Davis, Civil Service Employees Association Region 4 President; Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers; and Seth Cohen, President of the Capital District Area Labor Federation. The theme of the 2026 May Day rally was "Workers over Billionaires."
Grannies for Peace will hold the annual Mothers' Day Vigil at the Tulip Festival on Saturday, May 9, from 1-2 PM near the Moses Statue, Washington Park, Albany. The theme this year is DIPLOMACY NOT WAR, focusing on the conflicts with Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine. Granny Mabel Leon talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
Dr. Aaron Proffitt fell in love with Buddhism after picking up a book about Zen at a book store, and now he teaches religious studies and Buddhism as an ordained Buddhist priest.
In this episode, we hear from leaders at Indivisible about what inspired their work, how they support community voices, and what it takes to create meaningful change in Albany.
This weekly series profiles the migration stories of members of our community, whether the migration be their own stories of that of their parents or grandparents, and reminds us that migration touches us all, as it is a part of the human experience. This episode is a part of Season 2 of the Everybody Moves series. Season 2 features stories collected and produced by a team of students at the University at Albany. This week we feature Grace from the U.S.
Old journalism colleagues Rosemary Armao and Phyllis Jordan mull the effects of the Supreme Court's recent ruling nullifying the civil rights era Voting Rights Bill. In this week's peek into the podcast Beyond the Brink and Fighting Back, the political writers examine the Supreme Court majority's view that our society has fixed discrimination and our laws ought to be color-blind. They worry what that view -- along with a do-little Congress -- and president eager to keep a hold on power will mean for the future and the fate of midterm elections.
On This Episode of the TripleE's, Diana Mbombo-TIte tells her story of growing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all the languages she learned in the DRC. she also talks about her story of how and why she immigrated to the United States of America , and Finally she tells H Bosh Jr about starting her business Akula Interpreting and Translation LLC. https://akulainterpreting.com
This week on Albany Comedy Corner we had on Ethan Wilder to talk about his show "Raise a Glass to Comedy" at the Parting Glass at Saratoga Springs and his experience producing comedy shows and speed dating events in the capital region. This week was hosted by Tyler Artis
On Tuesday, May 5, Climate Defiance organized a last-minute protest against Governor Hochul's push to gut the climate law. While the Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee says that a budget deal has been struck, no official details have yet been released. It is understood that lawmakers have agreed to push back by several years the deadline to issue regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to relax the rules related to methane emissions. Hochul's energy agenda has become very similar to Trump's pro-fossil fuel push. The group initially blocked the entrance in front of Hochul's 2nd-floor office and held a teach-in. Later, a group moved to block the second-floor elevator, which finally got the state police to arrest them and charge them with misdemeanors. We hear from Aviv Kresch of Climate Defiance, Assemblymember Claire Valdez, Pete Sikora of NY Communities for Change, Michael Greenberg of Climate Defiance, Jonathan Westin of the Climate Organizing Hub, Assembly candidate Lydia Green, Eric Weltman of Food and Water Watch, and Topher Dean. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
This week, Thom Francis welcomes poets Kathleen Anne Smith and Nathan Smith to the mic. They shared their work at the 2024 Word Fest Open Mic at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts on April 27, 2024. +++++ After years away, Word Fest returned. What began in 2001 as a one-day open mic at Thatcher Park grew into a week-long celebration of poetry and spoken word across the region. On April 27, 2024, the open mic came back to life after a four-year hiatus at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts with an afternoon of featured readers and community voices. Today, we're highlighting two of those poets: Kathleen Anne Smith and Nathan Smith. Kathleen Anne Smith, author of Let the Stones Grow Soft, read poems including “How Do We Home Alone?” Nathan Smith read “Chapters” from his book Cotton Candy Sun and “The Gay Boys Survival Guide: 20 Rules to Reach 25.”
First, Mark Dunlea brings us coverage from the May Day picnic at Washington Square Park where various advocacy groups met to labour rights Then, Marsha Lazurus speaks with Byrdie Kraut & Jared Niemela, the founders of Anicca Bakery about their experience being small business owners. Later on, retired national weather service meteorologist Hugh Johnson joins us on our first weather segment in the month of May. After that, Dr. Thompson talks with Yi Lui about her family's migration story from Britain and Hong Kong to the Capital District in the weekly segment Everybody Moves. Finally, James Mitchell the founder of and president of Young Futures, speaks with Sarah Abraham about how his organization provides children with a space to explore their creative passions. Co-hosts: Lennox Apudo, Sina Basila Hickey Engineer: Kalix Sausville
This weekly series profiles the migration stories of members of our community, whether the migration be their own stories of that of their parents or grandparents, and reminds us that migration touches us all, as it is a part of the human experience. This episode is a part of Season 2 of the Everybody Moves series. Season 2 features stories collected and produced by a team of students at the University at Albany. This week we feature Conner Lee from the U.S.
This weekly series profiles the migration stories of members of our community, whether the migration be their own stories of that of their parents or grandparents, and reminds us that migration touches us all, as it is a part of the human experience. This episode is a part of Season 2 of the Everybody Moves series. Season 2 features stories collected and produced by a team of students at the University at Albany. This week we feature Dr. Thompson from the U.S.
(revised) On Friday May 1, the Capital District Area Labor Federation sponsored a rally at West Capitol Park, the second May Day rally held in Albany. Organizers said they were united in our resolve to fight for a better future for ALL workers abroad and at home, including those targeted by this administration. We take pride in knowing that we are a global movement standing up to the billionaires who are threatening our rights and freedoms. We hear from Sean Collins, President of the Troy Area Labor Council; Troy City Council member Greg Campbell-Cohen; Danielle Bridger, Region 8 Coordinator for the Public Employees Federation; Shana Davis, President of CSEA Region 4; and long time labor activist Fred Pfeiffer. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
In the US, May Day is a traditional day of solidarity with workers. Itnrecent years, support for immigrants has been a major theme, with an increased emphasis this year in opposing the attacks by ICE and in solidarity with those killed by ICE in Minneapolis. I covered two events in Albany, The first was a community solidarity picnic and rally in Washington Park, with many groups participating, including We Are Revolutionary, Palestinian Rights Committee, various DSA chapters, United Tenants, Green Party, Capital District Sanctuary Committee, and Black Lives Matter. We unfortunately lost our interview with BLM but we hear from Greg Giorgio of the Industrial Workers of the World; Pater LaVenia of the Green Party; and Saturn from the Porcupines. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
The suffragettes are activist women who agitated for the right of women to vote. To learn more Ashley Hopkins-Benton, the Senior Historian/Curator at the New York State Museum and co-author of "Votes for Women: Celebrating New York's Suffrage Centennial," spoke with Sina Basila Hickey about New York's role in women's fight for the right to vote in the United States.
Song City is a multi-genre, songwriter showcase, in the round, at The Waiting Room, on the 2nd Tuesday of every other month, 7:30pm. Song City Founder Scott Womer spoke with Arbor Mae about the origins of the project, connection through creation, and the atmosphere of the showcases ahead of Song City's season finale.
First, Elizabeth Press brings us excerpts of The Troy City Council's law committee meeting about how Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests are handled in Troy. Then, Sina Basila Hickey speaks to Ashley Hopkins-Benton of the New York State Museum about suffragettes. Later on, Mark Dunlea speaks with Beyond Plastics National Organizing Director about their upcoming lobby day and rally on May 11th at the Capitol to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. After that, Arbor Mae talks to Scott Womer, the Founder of Song City. Finally, Sephora Quinones speaks with Eli Boonin-Vail, a filmmaker and Professor at UAlbany about the relationship between incarceration and Hollywood cinema.
Today we air excerpts of The Troy City Council's law committee meeting about how Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests are handled in Troy. Topics discussed include training for those filling the requests, procedures and protocols. The piece starts with the voice of Hudson Mohawk Magazine producer, Elizabeth Press.
Jean Stoler was born in the Bergen-Belsen DP Camp, a former Nazi concentration camp. In 2025 Jean traveled back to her place of birth in Germany to understand her roots with her sister, daughters, and a grand kid. Sina Basila Hickey spoke with Jean to reflect on this experience and how this experience changed her world view. Image: a painting by Jean of her mother wearing a Jude yellow star, with a photo of Jean as a baby with her parents held in front.
On Monday, May 11, Beyond Plastics is organizing a lobby day and rally at the Capitol to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA). National Organizing Director Alexis Goldsmith talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. PRRIA applies Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to packaging, requiring manufacturers and distributors to manage the waste from the products they package EANY. Its goals include:Reducing packaging waste by 30% over 12 years for producers with $5M revenue; Improving recyclability and recycling infrastructure; and Banning 13 toxic chemicals commonly used in single-use plastic packaging, such as PFAS, lead, mercury, phthalates, and bisphenols
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunlea brings us to a Fair Immigration Reform Movement press conference about immigrant rights and May Day. Then, Willie Terry speaks with Leon Van Dyke about the late Civil Rights leader, Jessie L. Jackson. Later on, Sina Basila Hickey brings us to a Tax The Rich press conference in Albany. After that, we are joined for an in-studio interview with Avery Stempel--forager and mastermind behind the NY Foraged Foods Festival. Finally, Andrea Cunliffe speaks with Leah Gooch about her work teaching Yoga and Meditation in prisons.
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