The Roundtable

We learn now about this weekend's Forever Farmland event - connecting local farmers with the community to celebrate a special collaboration between the Argyle Brewing Company and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.The event on Sunday from Noon – 5 PM at the Beer Garden at Argyle Brewing Company in Greenwich, NY is a perfect opportunity to meet the dedicated farmers behind ASA-conserved properties, learn about vital local conservation efforts, and raise a glass to our vibrant agricultural community.

For more than three decades, the Chester Theatre Company has been a Berkshire summer tradition, known for intimate productions that spark big conversations. Today, we're joined by Co-Artistic Directors Christopher Baker and Michelle Ong Hendrick.Together, they've crafted a 2026 season that looks toward the future through four distinctive works: a portrait of visionary Buckminster Fuller, a musical celebration of civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer, the world premiere thriller 'Amchitka,' and the East Coast premiere of Liz Duffy-Adams' 'Dear Alien.'

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert - Theresa Bourgeois, The Empire Report's JP Miller, Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick, and Political Consultant and Lobbyist Libby Post.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Executive Director of Communities for Local Power and former White House Advance Lead Anna Markowitz, the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project. She is also a columnist for The Free Press and a Greene County resident Larissa Phillips, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Lecturer of Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former Fulbright US Scholar to Egypt Jackie Berry, Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, Senior Fellow, Bard Center for Civic Engagement Jim Ketterer, and the Arthur Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts at Skidmore College where she teaches International Affairs and Business Management Pushkala Prasad.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Principal, Faith in the Public Square and Co-Principal of The Religious Nationalisms Project the Reverend Peter Cook, CEO of The Business Council of New York State Heather Mulligan, Siena University Professor of Economics Aaron Pacitti, and an Associate Professor in the department of sociology at Vassar College. Her research is on health, wellness, and medical knowledge Catherine Tan.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College. He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy Robert Brigham, Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and Former Longtime Editor of 'The Daily Gazette' Judy Patrick, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University Fran Berman, public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are former New York 19th Congressman and NY Assemblyman John Faso, Former Mayor of the City of Albany, New York Kathy Sheehan, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, and Professor of Government at Dutchess Community College and since 2023, she has been President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley Karin Riedl.

Today is the last day of the producer of The Roundtable Sarah LaDuke. She has worked at WAMC for 20 years and worked on the Roundtable for 18. Her career at WAMC has been amazing and extensive. She has done countless interviews with organizations, artists, musicians, Broadway stars, authors, and the list goes on. She also worked hard behind the scenes to make The Roundtable run smoothy all these years.She will be sorely missed, but her history and career at the station will live forever.

Barbara Kopple is an award-winning director and producer and here at BIFF she will be in conversation with Mary Mott after the Special 50th Anniversary screening of the Academy Award Winning Documentary ‘Harlan County USA' at 2:15 p.m. today.Barbara Kopple is director of ‘Harlan County USA,' and other world-class docs: ‘American Dream,' ‘Bearing Witness,' ‘Wild Man Blues,' ‘A Conversation with Gregory Peck,' ‘My Generation,' ‘Running from Crazy,' ‘Miss Sharon Jones,' ‘Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing,' and ‘Desert One.'

Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, The Berkshire International Film Festival will present a screening of ‘The Choice.'Yotam Haim was an Israeli hostage mistakenly killed by IDF troops after escaping Hamas captivity in Gaza.The documentary film, ‘The Choice,' follows his mother, Iris Haim's search for meaning. The search led her to Dr. Edith Eger, an Auschwitz survivor whose story reshapes Iris's path to healing.‘THE CHOICE,' is directed by John David Coles who joins us now along with Iris Haim and her son, Tuval.

The Delegation of the European Union to the United States has selected the Berkshire International Film Festival as the inaugural U.S. festival partner for its newly launched Transatlantic Rising Stars Project. The initiative is designed to deepen cultural connections and spark creative collaboration between the EU and the United States.As BIFF enters its third decade, the partnership underscores the festival's growing role on the international stage. Together with the European Union and U.S. based partners, the Transatlantic Rising Stars Project aims to elevate creative dialogue, broaden public engagement, and support the ongoing development of global artistic exchange.EU film directors applied to be a part of the 2026 cohort and we are joined by filmmaker and Film Program Director of the Transatlantic Stars Program Seanne Winslow; director of ‘SLEEPLESS CITY,' from Spain, Guillermo Galoe; and director of ‘UNDER THE GREY SKY,' from Poland, Mara Tamkovich.The EU films are screening during BIFF, and the Tea Talk featuring the five filmmakers is taking place on Saturday, May 30 at 3:00 PM right here in The Indigo Room at The Mahaiwe.

At this year's Berkshire International Film Festival, actor Karen Allen is being honored for a career that has moved effortlessly between blockbuster adventure, comedy classics, independent film, and the stage. Allen became part of movie history as Marion Ravenwood opposite Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark, while also leaving an indelible mark on audiences in films including Starman, The Sandlot, and Animal House.Speaking of Animal House, actor and director Peter Riegert is here, His sharp, grounded performances have made him one of the most recognizable character actors of his generation. From Animal House and Local Hero to Crossing Delancey and acclaimed television work, Riegert has built a career defined by intelligence, wit, and versatility.

Welcome to the Roundtable's LIVE broadcast from the 20th annual Berkshire International Film Festival which kicked off last night. Now they will present a blockbuster lineup and celebratory weekend of films, events, and very special guests. The festival runs through May 31st in Great Barrington and Lenox.BIFF will honoring Award-Winning Actor Karen Allen and then will close with the Sundance Hit Documentary about global tennis icon and activist, Billie Jean King in 'Give me the Ball!' with director Elizabeth Wolff in attendance.Founder and artistic director Kelley Vickery is here with a preview. Janis Martinson, ED of the Mahaiwe and Ben Elliott, Creative Director of the Triplex, will be joining me.

Tig Notaro is an Emmy and Grammy nominated stand-up comedian, actor, writer, podcaster, and producer – ‘Rolling Stone' named her one of the “50 best stand-up comics of all time.” But you don't have to take Rolling Stone's word for it – I'm telling you: Tig is the best. Put her on stand-up Mount Rushmore where she's all 4 faces but with slightly different haircuts.She's bringing her new stand-up tour to The Egg in Albany, New York for two shows on June 4 - tickets to the 9:30 show are available.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Principal at Faith in the Public Square and Co-Principal of The Religious Nationalisms Project the Reverend Peter Cook, Former Mayor of the City of Albany Kathy Sheehan, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College Donna Welton.

Alison Larkin's hit show ‘Grief… A Comedy' comes to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on June 12 and 13, where it will be filmed before a live audience for an upcoming special, directed by Scott Floyd Lochmus with music by Gary Schreiner.

Humorist and essayist David Sedaris has spent decades turning everyday awkwardness or family disfunction and travel disasters to some of the sharpest comedy in American letters. From ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day' to his longtime contributions to ‘The New Yorker' and ‘This American Life.' Sedaris has mastered the art of sounding both brutally honest and hilariously off hand. His brand-new book and collection is ‘The Land and its People.' David Sedaris will be at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck on 5/27, the speaking event is sold out. However, the singing line tickets are available.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Lecturer of Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former Fulbright US Scholar to Egypt Jackie Berry, The Ulster County Comptroller and the former president and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley March Gallagher, Editor at large/columnist/editorial writer for the Times Union Jay Jochnowitz, and Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin.

Novelist and memoirist Courtney Maum has built a career exploring ambition, identity, creativity, and the strange pressures of modern life. Her previous books include 'Touch,' 'Costalegre,' and the publishing-world favorite 'Before and After the Book Deal.'Her new novel, 'Alan Opts Out,' takes sharp aim at consumer culture and suburban status anxiety. The book follows a successful Connecticut advertising executive who suddenly decides to abandon capitalism after a disastrous pitch meeting — moving into his backyard playhouse to live off the land while his wife fights for social acceptance in elite Greenwich circles. It's funny, pointed, and surprisingly tender.

In recent years, Senator Chris Murphy has stepped forward to challenge the Trump administration's assaults on our democracy. In his new book, 'Crisis of the Common Good,' he draws on history and political philosophy to expose how six different cults have seized hold of American life and paved the way to our current troubles.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Associate Professor of Music at Vassar College Justin Patch, Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and longtime editor of The Daily Gazette Judy Patrick, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio.

Each weekday morning, The Roundtable's Joe Donahue is joined by various experts, journalists, educators, and commentators to discuss current events. On Roundtable Panel: The Week in Review, we feature your favorite panelists discussing news items from the previous week.

Martha Banta has returned to the Adirondack Theatre Festival. Martha was ATF's founding Artistic Director for its first 13 seasons, where she directed numerous premieres that went on to be produced in New York City and across the country.She directed the first of many ATF productions in an empty Woolworth's storefront on Glen Street and later helped spearhead its transformation into the Wood Theater. Most recently, Martha directed Mamma Mia! for its return to Broadway and the national tour.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College Robert Brigham, and Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and longtime editor of The Daily Gazette Judy Patrick.

'Under Four Flags' is program by the Musicians of Ma'alwyck being performed in the region from May 26 – 30. The program is a World War I tribute featuring a screening of the 1918 Allied propaganda silent film with an original live score by Max Caplan, alongside chamber music honoring the era and fallen soldiers.The concert opens with a work by Mihail Jora, written while he was recovering in a hospital after being wounded on the Eastern Front. His music is a personal response to the devastation of war. The major work is Samuel Gardner's piano quintet, composed after the death of violinist David Hochstein, who was killed on the Western Front in France in October 1918.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond and Former Mayor of the City of Albany Kathy Sheehan.

The 20th annual Berkshire International Film Festival is coming up next week and they will present a blockbuster lineup and celebratory weekend of films, events, and very special guests. The festival runs from May 28 - 31 in Great Barrington and Lenox. Founder and artistic director Kelley Vickery will be here with a preview.BIFF will honoring Award-Winning Actor Karen Allen, opening with Steal this Story Please!! with Award-Winning journalist, author and investigative reporter Amy Goodman in attendance, and closing with the Sundance Hit Documentary about global tennis icon and activist, Billie Jean King in Give me the Ball! with director Elizabeth Wolff in attendance.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Former NY elementary teacher and now 2nd year PhD student at RPI Sophia Acquisto, Former U.S. Army officer and State Department Diplomat who taught at Bard College for six years and is now a Senior Fellow at Bard's Center for Civic Engagement Ambassador Fred Hof, and Wall Street Investment Banker Mark Wittman.

This week's Book Picks comes from Connie Brooks and Heather Boyne from Battenkill Books in Cambridge, NY and Sharon Weinberg and Amy Zimmerman from Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, NY.

For decades, Americans' views on abortion remained surprisingly consistent, even amid fierce political battles. But the 2022 Dobbs decision sparked a major shift.In the new book ‘Not Going Back,' the authors trace changing public attitudes on abortion from Roe v. Wade through the 2024 election and into 2025, examining how debates over access, regulation, and government involvement continue to reshape American politics.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College in Oneonta Laurel Elder, Author, lawyer, consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneur Fatimah Gilliam, and Associate Professor of Music at Vassar College Justin Patch.

Fatimah Gilliam is an author, lawyer, consultant, WAMC panelist, and founder of the Azara Group where she works on issues of leadership, equity, and organizational culture. Her new book 'Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won't Tell You' tackles the everyday assumptions, comments, and behaviors that often shape cross-racial interactions in America. Drawing from personal experience and professional insight Gilliam explores everything from microaggressions and white privilege to the hidden social codes that can quietly damage relationships and workplaces. Rather than focusing only on theory the book offers practical guidance for readers hoping to better understand race, challenge misconception, and engage more honestly across differences.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow at the Bard Center for Civic Engagement Jim Ketterer, Founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project and columnist for The Free Press Larissa Phillips, and Political Consultant and lobbyist Libby Post.

Each weekday morning, The Roundtable's Joe Donahue is joined by various experts, journalists, educators, and commentators to discuss current events. On Roundtable Panel: The Week in Review, we feature your favorite panelists discussing news items from the previous week.

At our most recent WAMC on the Road event with CulinaryArts@SPAC – the featured cookbook was ‘Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.'‘Heartland Masala' presents recipes from Indian cooking instructor Jyoti Mukharji with cultural and historical essays by her son Auyon Mukharji – folk musician and member of the band ‘Darlingside.'

For many Americans James Comey remains one of the defining figures of the Trump Era. The former FBI Director fired by Trump and more recently once again drawn into public controversary amid investigations and escalating political attacks. Comey has also become a best-selling crime writer channeling decades inside the justice system into a series of legal thrillers. His latest is 'Red Verdict' which follows Deputy U.S. Attorney Nora Carleton. As she investigates the poisoning deaths of a defense industry executive in Manhattan, a murder that may connect to Russian Intelligence, espionage, and conspiracy reaching deep into American power circles.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Organizer with Protect Trans Futures' Harmony Boyd, The Ulster County Comptroller and the former president and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley March Gallagher, a full professor in the History Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) Allison Kavey, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

The Sharon Playhouse, in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, is proud to announce its 2026 Season - a lineup of musicals, special events, and YouthStage productions that celebrate resilience, community, and the stories that define the American spirit.As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the 2026 season looks to reflect the heart of America - stories of hope in hard times, generosity in moments of crisis, and joy created through music, laughter, and community. From Golden Age Broadway classics to contemporary favorites, the season invites audiences to come together for live theater experiences.

With 10 premieres, returning festivals, and artists from around the world, PS21's 2026 season turns its Chatham campus into a living laboratory for contemporary performance.These artists are interrogating the role of American culture and history reflected around the world; engaging PS21's landscape in ever bolder ways; and seeking out community members to help co-author place-based work. Groundtone and Commonground return for the second year—two festivals on each end of the summer, each featuring unexpected performances across the grounds.

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2026 will begin with the Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 20, and present ticketed performances from Wednesday, June 24 through Sunday, August 30.The Festival will feature indoor performances in the landmark Ted Shawn Theatre and the newly-opened Doris Duke Theatre, as well as outdoor performances on the Henry J. Leir Stage. In addition to showcasing acclaimed dance companies from the United States and around the world, the summer Festival will feature a wide range of programs - including livestreams, talks, classes, exhibits, parties, community events, family-friendly activities, workshops with artists, and more.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University Fran Berman, Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, an Associate Professor in the department of sociology at Vassar College. Her research is on health, wellness, and medical knowledge Catherine Tan, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman. James Lasdun will be joining the panel for a portion of time to discuss the overturn of Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions. James Lasdun is a poet and author, his works have appeared in the 'New York Times,' 'London Review of Books,' 'The New Yorker,' and more.

Grassland Bird Trust is a nonprofit land trust conserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened and rapidly declining grassland birds. The group has conserved over 250 acres of prime habitat in the heart of the Washington County Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) since their founding in 2010.GBT owns and manages 78 acres at their Alfred Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area in Fort Edward, located in the heart of the Washington County Grasslands IBA. This area supports 10 of 11 of New York's most imperiled grassland bird species.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College Bob Brigham, Editor at large, columnist, and editorial writer at The Times Union Jay Jochnowitz, Associate Professor of Music at Vassar College Justin Patch, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College Donna Welton.

This week's Book Picks comes from Cheryl McKeon from The Book House in Albany and Marketblock Books in Troy, NY Suzanna Hermans from Oblong Books in Rhinebeck and Millerton, NY.

Mystery novelist Alison Gaylin has built a career exploring obsession, secrets, and the dark corners of modern life. An Edgar Award winner known for novels like 'The Collective and If I Die Tonight,' Gaylin has also stepped into the world of Robert B. Parker, continuing his beloved Sunny Randall series.In 'Robert B. Parker's Booked,' Boston private investigator Sunny Randall is hired by a bestselling author to uncover the identity of an online reviewer whose brutal takedowns are threatening careers. But when the critic turns up dead, the literary feud becomes a murder case tangled in grudges, publishing politics, and social media fury.

James Lasdun's latest is 'The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh,' turns to the real-life Southern saga that captivated the country. Lasdun digs beneath the headlines surrounding disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh, tracing generations of privilege, power, corruption, and violence in South Carolina's Lowcountry.The result is part true-crime page-turner, part portrait of a family dynasty collapsing in public. His novels, memoir, poetry, and short story collections have won many awards, and his essays have appeared in the New York Times, the London Review of Books, and The New Yorker, among other publications.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Executive Director of Communities for Local Power and former White House Advance Lead Anna Markowitz, The Empire Report's JP Miller, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio, and Former Mayor of the City of Albany Kathy Sheehan.