Best Cass And Em Podcasts (2024)

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August 9, 2024: Hapax Homebody and Chabichou 49:31

4d ago49:31

49:31

We're about to go on vacation here at the show and it feels like we should start our pause with a bang. So for Live Music Friday we welcome the Greenfield-based synth-pop duo Homebody to the studio before their return to the Hatch Shell at Peskeomskut Park for their fifth free Homebody and friends show this Saturday. And ask them about the evolutio…

1
1. Dan Cavicchia - AKA 'Casablanca' 41:41

5d ago41:41

41:41

We were all pretty nervous while preparing for our first real guest interview until we jumped in. Dan was so enthusiastic for this project. Such a talented man and wide open to share his experiences. He tells his stories with generosity and courageous vulnerability, while also talking about some of the deepest parts of the queer experience: open re…

1
August 8, 2024: Collaborative Highlights 50:17

5d ago50:17

50:17

We’re blending the old with the new, musically and agriculturally! Sounds-wise, we’ll hear from renowned jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey who is bringing her savvy touch and bop forward sensibilities to sit in with W. Mass’ own Green Street Trio. We’ll also find out from member of the trio Paul Arslanian what makes her style so compelling, and how thei…

1
August 7, 2024: Rolling through the Quabbin's tunnels 50:21

6d ago50:21

50:21

We’re learning skills to help the community through a near herculean amount of obstacles and circumstances We chat with Cathy Stanton, author of Food Margins which looks at the impetus, trials and tribulations of the Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op. This Saturday will see a celebration of the 10 years of collaboration between the institution with the Mo…

1
August 6, 2024: Frozen diasporic language 50:14

7d ago50:14

50:14

Sweet treats for the people! Which is exactly what we all can get at Flayvors of Cook Farm. 5 generations and 115 years in the cows are still coming home to their location in Hadley and we chat with generations 3 & 4, Debbie and Gordy Cook, about bringing ice cream into the equation, the virtues of their multiple prize winning herd, and how the tim…

1
August 5, 2024: Hope for the doomed 50:06

8d ago50:06

50:06

A whirlwind of information today. First up is Haydenville author David Daley, who arrives to talk about his latest book "Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections". The tome looks at pivotal cases that have lead to several recent decisions, including the undermining of the Voting Rights Act. With this electio…

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August 2, 2024: Spirited 50:13

11d ago50:13

50:13

We head out to Sheffield to sample the wares at Berkshire Mountain Distillers with founder Chris Weld and head distiller Will Wynn, look for the origins of our "love" of the game with Word Nerd Emily Brewster, and geek out for those of us who are unable to go to the ocean this weekend with beachy board games for Nerdwatch.…

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August 1, 2024: Pan American Dreams 50:20

12d ago50:20

50:20

Today on the show, we're exploring the Americas. Yes, plural. There are two continents after all, connected by both peninsula and aspirations. And bringing traditions from south of us is Columbia's Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, stopping by our studios before performing at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton this evening. The group has been bringing …

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July 31, 2024: Free the rocks, free the outdoors, free ourselves 50:27

13d ago50:27

50:27

We accidentally get extra collegiate on the show today. Hampshire College's Salman Hameed talks about the possible answer to Bowie's decades old question: "Is there life on Mars?" Rocks have been collected that show possible signs of life, and Mr. Universe helps us to explore more deeply the methods and answers that we are still seeking to all of t…

1
July 30, 2024: Loud Weekend!! 51:44

14d ago51:44

51:44

We head up to Mass MoCA to hear new sounds from explorative artists. For weeks a cohort of virtuosos have been incubating in North Adams and on August 1-3rd, the public will have a chance to hear some of the many pieces of music they've been working on. We hear members of Bang on a Can All Stars: Pianist Vicky Chow and cellist Nick Photinos, and he…

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July 29, 2024: Cass and Ward 49:53

15d ago49:53

49:53

We sit with Owen Elliot-Kugell, who has just written a memoir about her life, which inherently covers a good portion of her mother's life as well. "My Mama, Cass" taps family and friends of Cass Elliott, most famously known for her work with The Mamas & The Papas", and combines their knowledge with the memories and experiences of Elliot-Kugell for …

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July 26, 2024: Working through music 49:58

19d ago49:58

49:58

Everyone is going through some things. Today we hang out with some folks using music to help that process. And that starts with a 200+ member multi city chorus that will be embodying the music of Queen this weekend in a concert at the Academy of Music. Rock Voices started small but is clearly mightier now, and we talk with some of the members to he…

1
July 25, 2024: A market THCC with hope 50:07

20d ago50:07

50:07

We meet some of the folx behind THCC: The Heavy Culture Collective which is bringing more of the underground music scene together for both networking and finding new places to play. Jen Krassler of Flora and Fauna farm stops by to tell us about some exciting innovations happening at the Easthampton Farmers Market, which she manages, and Congressman…

1
July 24, 2024: Contemporary herons go farther 49:57

21d ago49:57

49:57

We're always interested in folx taking their work farther. Or is that further? Word Nerd Emily Brewster, Senior Editor at Merriam Webster launches us into a discussion about the origins and differences between the two words to see which one goes where. But theater is definitely being pushed further in Ashfield, where the immersive Summer Spectacle …

1
July 23, 2024: Live at Tanglewood for Koussevitzky's 150th 51:33

22d ago51:33

51:33

It's nearly someone's birthday! So we head to the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home to celebrate the person responsible for making this area part of the BSO's year round performances: Serge Koussevitzky. Live from the Tanglewood grounds we speak with Bridget Carr, Director of Archives and Digital Collections at the BSO about the maestro's his…

1
July 22, 2024: A quest to spread the sound 50:11

23d ago50:11

50:11

We love music around here. And it's about the time that Amherst Cinemas launches into its summer series Sound & Vision, which looks at music through a cinematic lens. We speak with George Myers who does programming for the theater about the films that are coming to Hampshire County each wednesday through September, and hear how seeing the many pers…

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July 19, 2024: Chris' big reds 50:14

26d ago50:14

50:14

Chris Pureka joins us for Live Music Friday just before their show at the Egremont Barn tonight, Barry Goldstein lets us in on what he learned in this past week covering the RNC for NEPM's series "Red in a Blue State", and the Tina Turner Memorial Wine Thunderdome reads the signs on the horizon to see that it's gonna be good grilling weather, so Ta…

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July 18, 2024: Apolitical Chalet 50:01

28d ago50:01

50:01

We're digging into the political sphere today. Folk punk author and humanist Billy Bragg joins us to talk about US and UK Politics, the rise of populism, and the evolution of his own work and views over his 40+ years of making music as he prepares to play at the Academy of Music in Northampton this coming Tuesday, July 23rd. Our weekly chat with co…

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July 17, 2024: Sweet Stonehouse Feelings 49:17

28d ago49:17

49:17

Today is all about sweetness. It's in the bounty at Yellow Stonehouse Farm in Westfield. As the only certified organic farm for produce in Hampden county, and a CSA program that meets more needs than many, owners Connie Adams and John Kelch have side-stepped back into agriculture providing healthy options for folx, a safe haven for ecologies to blo…

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July 16, 2024: Tick Talk 49:54

29d ago49:54

49:54

Today on the Fabulous 413 is a first for us because we’re pointing all of our focus on one tiny organism and making a big show about it. We're taking the time to focus on a very tiny arachnid can make a really big impact on our health and the whole laboratory in Amherst that studies them Director of Education at Tick Report Paul Killinger gives us …

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Chris and Teri's Episode Zero - It's a thing, apparently. 22:03

28d ago22:03

22:03

Hello! So happy you're here with us! This is a bit of a sneak preview... We're putting this episode out ahead of all the others just to test the systems and not telling anyone. It gives us a couple of weeks for the remaining song licenses to come through and for the two of us to hide a little longer. If you've found this, please be kind... it get's…

1
July 15, 2024: An intermeditately heavy Jupiter 50:16

1M ago50:16

50:16

It may be Monday, but we're still thinking up good ways to get down in the area. Take for instance a chance to hear a veritable ton of heavy music heading to the woods of Millers Falls. RPM Fest takes place during Labor Day weekend bringing metal, rock and punk bands from all over the Bay State and beyond to western Mass. to elevate the volume for …

1
July 12, 2024: Roots and porches return 50:31

1M ago50:31

50:31

Summer brings wicked fun festivals with it, and this weekend brings the return of two extra fun ones. There's Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, the main portion of which happens July 12 & 13th. The free music celebration has been going on for 10 years, driven and created by the Blues to Green non-profit, and has been getting bigger and better ever…

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BONUS EPISODE: Deep Water 42:40

1M ago42:40

42:40

Our guest Juliana Merullo created for senior capstone project at Brown University, a long-form audio piece looking at the impact of the July floods on Western Mass farmers, the recovery efforts (including state and community support), and these farmers' fears moving into the next growing season. We felt that everyone should have a chance to listen …

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July 11, 2024: When the creek does rise 50:13

1M ago50:13

50:13

It's the anniversary of one of the worst agricultural disasters western Massachusetts has seen in years, so we look back at the floods of July 2023, and their aftermath with Piyush Labhsetwar, Farm and Land Stewardship Manager for Grow Food Northampton, who we interviewed immediately after the waters rose, and reporter Juliana Merullo who created a…

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July 10, 2024: Cuckoo's film collaborative of the day. 50:36

1M ago50:36

50:36

We head to Great Barrington to check out the Berkshire Film & Media Collective and it's executive director Diane Pearlman, who has made her own moves through the film and effects industry and is hoping to teach more folx to do the same with their initiative for Kemble St Studios. We also hunker down with a gritty, visceral, multi-faceted horror nov…

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July 9, 2024: New art for new spaces 50:12

1M ago50:12

50:12

Today is about reemergences. One of those is with Hannah Mohan, formerly of the band And The Kids and Topsy, who is on the verge of releasing her first truly solo album. "Time is a Walnut" comes out on July 12th and will be celebrated with a concert at the Iron Horse on July 12th, so we bring the ingenue into the studio to talk about the evolution …

1
July 8, 2024:To build a stage 48:05

1M ago48:05

48:05

And in the summer, all of western Massachusetts a stage. We have the opportunity to meet a few of the thespians creating and developing works in the area. There's a single performer show written and performed by Jay Sefton, that deals with a difficult subject with humanity and humor. "Unreconciled" The play chronicles a survivor’s journey as he con…

1
July 4, 2024: Cheer the Champion 49:25

1M ago49:25

49:25

A holiday bonus revamp of all the EXTRA stuff we did at solid sound, including a chat with Mark Greenberg, studio manager of The Loft- Wilco's Chicago recording studio, extra songs from Americana/roots harpist Mikaela Davis, and a quick glimpse at the future director Kristy Edmunds has pictured for Mass MoCA and its place in the arts in the Norther…

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July 3, 2024: Blue ink moves 50:24

1M ago50:24

50:24

We speak with journalist, teacher, and author G. Mike Dobbs about his memoir "What They Didn’t Teach You in Journalism School: The Memoir of an Ink Stained Wretch", hear from Ex. Director Brian Boyles and board member Aaron Vega about Mass Humanities and the organization's recent move to Holyoke, and stuff our faces full of the blueberry bounty at …

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July 2, 2024: Traveling through pages 50:25

1M ago50:25

50:25

It's summer reading season, so we speak with two local authors about their recent works: Rachel Lyon's re-imagining of the Persephone myth with "Fruit of the Dead" , and astronaut Cady Coleman's memoir "Sharing Space". We also sit with NEPM Reporter Jill Kauffman to explore her contribution to the New England News Collaborative's series on fun summ…

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July 1, 2024: Welcome newcomers! 50:43

1M ago50:43

50:43

America's birthday is this week, so we speak with someone about to become one of us, Rosa Cuevas Ortiz, Naturalization and Immigration paralegal Harleen Kaur Multani who helps with the process, and director Laurie Millman who's organizing their annual naturalization ceremony in Northampton this July 4th, we corner our musical hero Nick Lowe at Soli…

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June 28, 2024: Live from Solid Sound 2024!!! 1:06:47

2M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

We head to North Adams to speak with the folx behind the biyearly festival at MASS MoCa, Solid Sound! In this eighth iteration, we hear from Wilco founder Jeff Tweedy, his sons Spencer and Sam, Wilco Drummer Glenn Kotche and his band mate from the freeform Saccato Quartet Darin Gray. We also chat with podcaster/musician Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Ex…

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June 27, 2024: Holding up Fernet in India 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

We speak with Emerson professor Bob Nesson, whose film "Holding Up the Sky", a documentary about the post prison evolutions of two ex-cons in Boston, is showing in Orange this weekend, check in with Rep. Jim McGovern about his visit with the Dalai Lama, tonight's debate, Julian Assange and more. And our favorite itinerant bartender, Sean Billson, s…

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June 26, 2024: Wondla's Funner Cabaret 49:41

2M ago49:41

49:41

Local author and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi stops by to talk about the latest tv adaptation of one of his novels: Apple TV+ series "Wondla", we sit with writer/comedian/podcaster John Hodgman to discuss his New England connections, and the fellow funnymakers that will join him in the Comedy Cabaret at Solid Sound this weekend, and Word Nerd Emily …

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June 25, 2024: Myriad communes 50:08

2M ago50:08

50:08

We speak with singer-songwriter Mon Rovia about their work and past at the Green River Festival, Antenna Cloud Farm director and curator Michi Wiancko walks us through their plans for the 2024 season which opens this weekend, and Benjamin Bland of Mass in Motion Springfield shows us how many groups can come together to make better food and physical…

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June 24, 2024: Roberto's Snacktime is far away 51:19

2M ago51:19

51:19

Pizza Quest VIII lands at Roberto's Pizza in Sheffield, we share our tiny but mighty pop-up with Philadelphia band Snacktime from this past weekend's Green River Festival, and Mr. Universe, Hampshire College's Salman Hameed breaks down universe contraction and expansion through the furthest galaxy from us that has ever been observed.…

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June 21, 2024: Live from Green River Festival 2024 53:01

2M ago53:01

53:01

It's our live show from the Green River Festival Roundhouse! We're joined by new festival director, John Sanders, and two of the acts performing Friday sets at the Festival: Twisted Pine, and The Nude Party's Patton Magee.By Monte Belmonte & Kaliis Smith

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June 20, 2024: Little Changes 49:59

2M ago49:59

49:59

We check in with the 5th graders and one of their teachers, Tim Austin, at Fort River School in Amherst to discover their civic engagement class which has them interacting with issues affecting folx in the Bay State and beyond, head to Florence to talk with Clara Li about the downshift from Great Wall restaurant to her family's new restaurant, Litt…

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June 18, 2024: Sustainability is all around 50:52

2M ago50:52

50:52

We take a tour of the many sustainable and innovative happenings at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and learn about a thirst quenching fundraiser they'll have on the 20th, continue our journey at Mumbet Freedom Farm in Sheffield, and check in on the high spirits of NEPM reporter and Celtics Fan Kari Njiiri as team clinched the title this …

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June 17, 2024: A History of Pride Novas 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

Mr. Universe returns from Pakistan on Eid to tell us about the difference between novas and super novas, we chat with David Blood and Alex Torres of Fame Lounge and Eatery in Holyoke about their Pride Block Party happening in tandem with Holyoke Pride, and we head up to Memorial Hall Museum to check out an exhibit about the history of the Green Riv…

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June 14, 2024: Wistful Woodworking 49:03

2M ago49:03

49:03

We head to the hilltowns to hang out in a woodshop with two black woodworkers in Franklin County, Sam French and Charles Thompson, and hear about their experiences in western Mass, sit on the bestest couch ever at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke while we chat with executive director Megan Seiler about their Wisty Wednesday series and it's extra spe…

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June 13, 2024: Juneteeth in history and song 49:32

2M ago49:32

49:32

We speak with musicians and educators Patrick Dailey and Tim Eriksen about "Jubilee: A Juneteenth Concert of Early American Music" happening at Historic Deerfield, and Clark University professor Ousmane Power-Greene wades us into the murky historical context of Juneteenth and the many ways freedom used to be celebrated.…

1
June 12, 2024: Restoring Pride, alright 51:36

2M ago51:36

51:36

We hear from the team embarking on a mission to restore a third Nelson Stevens mural to Springfield's Mason Square: Napoleon Jones Henderson of Afri-Cobra, and Britt Ruhe and Springfield artist SELF of Commonwealth Murals, sit with the Franklin County Pride organizers to hear about their celebrations this weekend, and Word Nerd Emily Brewster is to…

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June 11, 2024: Strawberry Pride Game 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

Carrie Ferguson takes a small break from their Grumpytime Club to throw a Pride Kickoff party at Hawks and Reed this Friday that will also celebrate the release of their new single "The Many I Am", we chat with writer/director/producer Julian Lowenthal about the Franklin County shot and conceived movie "Money Game" which will have a week long resid…

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June 10, 2024: Freedom Found 50:33

2M ago50:33

50:33

We speak with author and Greenfield native Essie Chambers who'll be coming to Odyssey Books to celebrate her debut novel "Swift River" on June 13th, get ready to party with the LGBTQIA2+ youths at queer prom in Holyoke, and get a tour of what's growing at Mumbet Freedom Farm in Sheffield with its lead stewards: Sunder Ashni and Adrian Seneca Bello.…

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June 7, 2024: Suitcase Queen and extra friends 50:03

2M ago50:03

50:03

We speak with Jo Clifford, author and performer of "The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven" who'll be be making her US premier of the work in Northampton this weekend, Live Music Friday brings multi-wreckage player Suitcase junket to the studio just before his show at the Iron Horse on June 8th, and drink beachy coastal white wine with our …

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June 6, 2024: Reminiscing buffalo 49:31

2M ago49:31

49:31

We hang out with Buffalo Tom, whose UMass Amherst origins brought them back to the area to celebrate their latest album Jump Rope, and dig into their longevity, day jobs, and the incestuous natures of local music scenes, and Congressman Jim McGovern gets into those felonies a little more and all the other fallout since that Capitol Hill has endured…

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June 5, 2024: Silent house Painter 50:04

2M ago50:04

50:04

We hear from Damany Gordon of Genuine Culture LLC about their upcoming event on House Music which will center two of the genres pioneers, chat with the illustrious and multi hyphenated Dr Nell Irvin Painter who will be speaking at Bombyx this weekend about her latest collection of essays and her ongoing work on the life of Sojourner Truth, and Word…

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June 4, 2024: Trustees and Municipal Markets 50:19

2M ago50:19

50:19

We speak with the organizing force behind Chicopee's only Farmers Market: Center Fresh Farmers’ Market, meet with the CEO of Trustees of Reservations Katie Theoharities and discover the many ways that group is preserving important cultural and ecological sites for us all to enjoy, and hear a little asparagus science with the duo behind Tumble Scien…

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Cass And Em Podcasts

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