Valley Advocate Podcast

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News, politics, arts, and more in Western Massachusetts, produced by the Valley Advocate.

Valley Advocate

  • Mar 23, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • monthly NEW EPISODES
  • 19m AVG DURATION
  • 71 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Valley Advocate Podcast

Jonathan Jenner and Hope on the Western Mass Asylum Support Network

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 35:20


In continuation of Luis Fieldman's "Seeking Asylum in Western Mass" series, part 2 of the series explores those in the region who are helping asylum seekers settle in western Massachusetts. Jonathan Jenner, a founder of the Western Massachusetts Asylum Support Network, and Hope, a person from Africa who recently received asylum in the region, talk with Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter about asylum seeker support in Western Mass.

Seeking Asylum in Western Mass Part 1, fleeing violence to arrive

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 24:48


Staff writer Luis Fieldman speaks about the first part of his three-part series on asylum seekers coming to Western Mass. This part focuses on the stories of Ramon and Santiago, whose names we changed to protect their identities as they escaped violence in their home countries.

Coronavirus preparations in the Valley discussed by Chris Goudreau

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 12:11


Valley Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau speaks with Editor Dave Eisenstadter about local preparations for the coronavirus in the Pioneer Valley, based on reporting he did speaking with hospitals, municipalities, and individuals. In the time since this podcast was recorded, medical information has been updated to indicate that in Massachusetts there are 28 presumptive positive cases with one case confirmed.

Chris Goudreau on the end of free recycling in Western Mass

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 19:46


Since China has stopped accepting much of the United States' recycling, many communities have had to pay to have their recyclables hauled away. Western Mass has been spared that up to now, but beginning July 1 that will change. Writer Chris Goudreau speaks about what this change will mean for many local communities.

David Brule on River Stories series on local Native history and culture

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020 24:46


David Brule, president of the Nolumbeka Project, based in Greenfield, speaks about a series focusing on Native Americans in the Valley. The series, which will consist of about a dozen events, is in part a response to this year's Plymouth 400 observance, which is more focused on white settlers and the 1620 Plymouth Rock landing by the Pilgrims.

Chris Goudreau on local independent record labels

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 13:31


Writer Chris Goudreau wrote a recent piece on local independent record labels in the Valley. Those include Feeding Tube Records in Florence, Disques de Lapin in Brattleboro, and Rub Wrongways Records in Northampton.

Pete Redington on guns in the Valley

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 16:58


Writer Pete Redington talks about his recent article about gun owners in the Valley and about how people on opposite sides of the gun issue rarely speak to one another.

Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa on the ROE Act and expansion of abortion rights

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2020 21:06


A co-sponsor of the ROE Act, aimed at expanding abortion rights in Massachusetts, Northampton state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa talks about the legislation, what it does, and how likely it might be to pass during this session. Sabadosa was one of the people who spoke to reporter Luis Fieldman for his recent story on the ROE Act.

Bizarro Briefs: Man bites dog ... while naked and on meth

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2020 12:22


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a man biting a dog while on meth, a new CVS-receipt-based scarf, and a mystery nonhuman uttering "let me out" in Florida.

Chris Goudreau on Ranked-Choice Voting

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2020 15:58


Chris Goudreau recently wrote an Advocate cover story on the possibility that ranked-choice voting could be adopted in Massachusetts for the 2022 elections. He talks about both state and local efforts to pass the voting system.

Bizarro Briefs: Be your own farm

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2020 12:37


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about being your own farm in a dystopian future, generous burglars, and the danger of inviting robots into your home.

Bizarro Briefs: A burglar's Christmas surprise, a bald eagle vs. an octopus, and the Valley's best public bathrooms

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2019 12:13


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a burglar's Christmas surprise, a bald eagle vs. an octopus, and the Valley's best public bathrooms.

Former Ninja Turtles artist Eric Talbot on becoming a tattoo artist

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2019 15:28


Eric Talbot, of Easthampton, was an artist drawing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for more than 30 years. Now he works at Oxbow Tattoo as a tattoo artist. He (along with his tattoo mentor, Tyler Chaney) speaks with editor Dave Eisenstadter about the transition and learning a new art form.

Bizarro Briefs: What is art, anyway?

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 14:21


A performance artist eats a $120,000 banana, and then another performance artist writes "Epstien (sic) didn't kill himself" on the wall where the banana used to be. Those stories are among this week's weird news stories discussed by Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section.

Steve Pfarrer talks historical fiction

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2019 15:02


Valley Advocate writer Steve Pfarrer discusses his recent story about historical fiction writers in the Valley.

Bizarro Briefs: A hellish marriage proposal, a belligerent pig on live TV, and an epic use of a narwhal tusk

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2019 12:58


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a hellish marriage proposal, a belligerent pig on live TV, and an epic use of a narwhal tusk.

Bizarro Briefs: An intruder beaten up by an 82-year-old woman, brother sister bonding, and illegal bologna

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2019 11:56


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about an intruder beaten up by an 82-year-old woman, brother sister bonding, and illegal bologna.

Peter Stilla speaks about psychedelics and legalization

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2019 22:25


Peter Stilla wrote the recent Advocate cover story "The Return Trip: Psychedelics may come back from the abyss of illegality" looking at how mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline may be poised to be legalized for certain uses. He also speaks about how the drugs combine science and spirituality for those who have studied them and how they affect the brain.

Bizarro Briefs: Dung made into booze, a terrible anti-meth campaign, and a 43-year-old Twinkie

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2019 12:00


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about dung made into booze, a terrible anti-meth campaign, and a 43-year-old Twinkie.

Javier Luengo-Garrido of ACLU Massachusetts on Greenfield's Safe City vote

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2019 22:40


Javier Luengo-Garrido, coordinator of the Immigrant Protection Project for ACLU Massachusetts speaks about Greenfield's recent city-wide vote to pass a Safe City Ordinance to uphold immigrant rights in the community of Greenfield. He also talks about what is next for the sanctuary movement, including in Northampton and statewide.

Bizarro Briefs: A Thanksgiving revolt

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2019 14:05


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about New Jersey turkey attacks, a mac-and-cheese dry rub turkey recipe, and a gender reveal gone horribly wrong ... in Turkey, Texas.

Bassist Avery Sharpe talks about his piece "400"

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2019 27:37


Avery Sharpe, a jazz musician and historian, has produced an album called "400: An African American Musical Portrait," which he and his band will perform at UMass later this month. He speaks with editor Dave Eisenstadter about his music and interest in history.

Gena Mangiaratti talks about ghost investigation with Agawam Paranormal

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2019 20:19


Gena Mangiaratti accompanied a team of paranormal investigators to find ghosts in the Josiah Day House in West Springfield and wrote about it for our Halloween edition. Hear her thoughts on the paranormal and the individuals who seek out life beyond.

Bizarro Briefs: Every week is Halloween

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 13:25


The Halloween edition of weird news with Dave and Trumpy. Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a scary house you don't want to go, Elf on the Shelf cereal, and a cautionary tale for hit men.

Chris Goudreau on young activists in the Valley

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 18:49


Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau talks about his recent story speaking with young activists in the Valley dedicated to causes including gun control, homeless rights advocacy, and climate change.

Sessions - Anders Warringer

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2019 28:23


Anders Warringer performs eclectic acoustic originals with a side of absurdity.

Bizarro Briefs: What's your dying wish?

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2019 14:47


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about a dead practical jokester, the global organization controlling yellow traffic light timing, and a creepy animal-like fungus.

Julia Clark on her post-transition return to music

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 24:24


Musician Julia Clark underwent a transition from male to female and gave up music for a long time because she believed no one would take her seriously, as reported by a recent story by Jennifer Levesque. After a period of homelessness and other difficult life circumstances, she has returned to music and released a record called Errorist.

Bizarro Briefs: Dangerous Cheetos, TP wedding dresses, and animal crises

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 13:59


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about dangerous Cheetos, TP wedding dresses, and animal crises.

Luis Fieldman on Club Castaway strip club's LGBTQ-friendly policies

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 16:44


Writer Luis Fieldman wrote the Advocate's cover story on Whately strip club Castaway, and it's reopening with some new policies, including having male and queer-identified dancers, lesbian nights, and transgender performers.

Advocate Sessions - Among the Acres

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2019 31:38


Among The Acres combine folk-rock, pop, and Americana with lush vocal harmonies.

VA Podcast: Chris Goudreau on local gas pipeline activism

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2019 21:48


Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau wrote about how gas explosions last year in eastern Massachusetts have affected gas pipeline activism locally. He speaks to editor Dave Eisenstadter about the perspectives of the people he spoke with for the article and what the future of natural gas might be in Massachsuetts. Spoiler alert: possibly none.

Bizarro Briefs: Scamming the scammers, a date gone horribly wrong, drinking a drink with your own toe in it

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2019 17:01


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about scamming the scammers, a date gone horribly wrong, and drinking a drink with your own toe in it.

Advocate Sessions - Ali Kat and the Revelators

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2019 28:33


Ali Kat and the Revelators perform rocking funk and soul with sax, guitars, and high energy vocals.

VA Podcast: Truck Stop Troubadours front-man Brian Chicoine on his music and a recent health scare

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2019 11:22


Columnist Jennifer Levesque speaks to Truck Stop Troubadours front-man Brian Chicoine about his music and a recent health scare. He also talks about an upcoming show at Poor Richard's in Chicopee.

Bizarro Briefs Podcast: Disappointing attendance at Area 51 raid, a nonexistent flatulence competition, and biting a camel in self defense

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 17:04


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about disappointing attendance at Area 51 raid, a nonexistent flatulence competition, and biting a camel in self defense.

Advocate Sessions - Amber Belle

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 24:06


Amber Belle is a singer-songwriter with a honey toned voice who performs original folk and country music.

VA Podcast: Steve Pfarrer on David Berman and his ties to the Valley

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019 12:52


Musician and poet David Berman, who was a part of the UMass Amherst MFA program and went on to front the music group Silver Jews committed suicide last month. Steve Pfarrer wrote about his ties to the Valley and those that remember Berman and his music and writing.

Advocate Sessions - Jake Klar

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2019 20:15


Jake Klar is a local artist who performs folk and blues music with a poetic sensibility. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @JakeKlarMusic @ValleyAdvocate

Bizarro Briefs: Explosive bull semen, beating an elevator up a building, stuffed Cheez-It pizza

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2019 18:12


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about explosive bull semen, beating an elevator up a building, and stuffed Cheez-It pizza.

VA Podcast: Gena Mangiaratti on Massachusetts consent laws

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2019 12:50


Gena Mangiaratti speaks about her Advocate cover story in which she spoke with Gina Rose Napolitano, a young woman who says she engaged in a sexual relationship with a teacher at her school. The relationship had consequences that affected her mental health, she said. That relationship is legal under Massachusetts law, but Napolitano is working to change that.

Valley Advocate Sessions - OroborO

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2019 25:31


OroborO combines experimenatal rock with punk, metal, and mathy riffs. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. The Advocate Sessions are a collaborative community project of the Valley Advocate, Northampton Open Media, and Signature Sounds Visit us at Northampton Open Media, The Valley Advocate, and Signature Sounds.

Bizarro Briefs: Awful gun testing, robot priests, and a poop knife

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 15:24


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about awful gun testing, robot priests, and a poop knife.

VA Podcast: Jonathan Kermah's Night Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2019 28:08


Editorial intern Jonathan Kermah talks about the night shift, both from his own perspective working nights at a local gas station as well as speaking with first responders and a sleep expert. His article on the topic can be found here.

Sessions - Blame Cadence

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2019 19:04


Blame Cadence is a one woman chorus of looped soulful a cappella pop. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @valleyadvocate

VA Podcast: A victory against residential pipelines

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2019 26:50


Longmeadow resident and activist Michele Marantz was interviewed in the Advocate story "Longmeadow voters say no to gas pipeline project in residential neighborhood," about her community group, which managed to get a zoning bylaw passed that could halt a pipeline project that affects several Western Mass communities. She speaks to editor Dave Eisenstadter.

Sessions - Lush Honey

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 43:03


Lush Honey is a band that makes funky soul and progressive rock ‘n’ roll. The band performed live at the Summit View in Holyoke during the 2019 Best of the Valley Readers’ Poll party. For the video version of this performance, go to session.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @valleyadvocate

VA Podcast: Chris Goudreau on Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno's absence from marginalized communities

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2019 25:11


In a piece looking at the upcoming mayoral election in Springfield, writer Chris Goudreau interviewed Mayor Domenic Sarno's challengers as well as leaders in the activist community. Sarno himself declined an interview. Goudreau speaks about what he learned reporting the story.

Bizarro Briefs: Peed on peas, moose meat solicitation, and a dirty diaper assault

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 17:45


Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about peed on peas, moose meat solicitation, and a dirty diaper assault.

Sessions - Home Body

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2019 27:13


Home Body is an electro fever-pop, new wave and experimental pop duo. They recently released their new record, Spiritus, which can be found on their website. For the video version of this performance, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter: @valleyadvocate

VA Podcast: Lauren Simonds on small business in the world of big cannabis

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2019 19:52


Lauren Simonds returns to the Valley Advocate podcast to talk about the challenges small businesses face now that big companies have become operational in the Massachusetts cannabis market. Read her full article here.

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