The Fabulous 413

This time we're bridging the gap between the page and screen. Big screens. Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed, puts on his other hat, that as a member of the directorial board for Amherst Cinema, to inform us about their Science on Screen series, starting with the film adaptation of "After Yang" (which is also a pretty great novella, if you're into reading it as well). We check in with NEPM Reporter Nirvani Williams who spoke with Northampton locals Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner, authors of a new book for children on gender, "True You: A Gender Journey". And director/actor/screenwriter/novelist John Sayles stops by to talk about his impressive body of work, including his new book "Jamie MacGillivray: The Renegade's Journey", which he'll be promoting at Odyssey Bookshop later this week.

To paraphrase one of our guests, the mountains were very much the backbone of this show. Nestled in them, we found ourselves back at the Clark Art Institute with director of communications Vicki Saltzman, perusing some of their new acquisitions and finding out how they are celebrating the 50th birthday of their building. The mountains were a large factor behind the two regions of wines we sampled as we once again entered the Wine Thunderdome. This time led by Michael Quinlan of Table & Vine in West Springfield, we get to experience a bit of a play on the concept, and get a bonus opinion in the room! And in the studio, we brought music that you can hear in the Berkshires this weekend at their Saturday show at the Egremont Barn. Mike Stinson and Johnny Irion swing by to regale us with a few selections from their brand new album ”Working My Way Down”. Correction: Within the show we refer to Egremont Barn as being in Stockbridge, which is in error. Egremont Barn is located in Egremont, MA.

In our plywood ramp to the weekend, we dig into some more art. We head to Williamstown to tour the Clark Art Institute with director of communications Vicki Saltzman and hear where the bones are buried. And also see the painting that was the founder's favorite. In mcgoverning with Rep. Jim McGovern, we hear about reading banned books to children at the Library of Congress. (There's tons of art in those, we hear) And former valley resident, current tv actor, fake judge, author, and comedian John Hodgman talked about his new series on Hulu, "Up Here." It's a musical comedy so we can now add "singer" to his long list of accomplishments. We ask his feelings on a small historical BBC production, just to be niche.

Illumination was the name of the game for us, in that it's spring so more things should be brought to light after a full season of dark times. And to that end we begin our new series "Meet the Mayors" with Holyoke's own, Joshua Garcia, who tells us not just of the fun fusion foods the St. Patrick's Day parade brings, but of many of the uphill battles the city faces as they move toward the future. It's hard to understand what's really happening with several grand juries and our former president, (even though he wasn't actually indicted or arrested today), so we asked professor at Western New England University School of Law, Jennifer Taub, to explain the intricacies to us. And love. Where is it? What is it? We go to resident wordster, Emily Brewster of Merriam-Webster to find out what the dictionary, and some enterprising patrons, have to say about the origins of the word "love". And we're taking questions and informal cases for John Hodgman, who'll be on the show tomorrow. send in your question to [email protected] or text to [1-800-639-9120](tel:18006399120) and maybe we'll ask the judge to give a verdict on your behalf!

What today needs is a little action; a little something to remind us that it's spring. So we dance with the Martha Graham Company as they arrive in Amherst and Storrs, CT with new and old work in tow. Artistic director Janet Eilber and current company dancer Anne Souder show us how legacy work can still innovate, and how far Graham's technique truly reaches. Then we head off to Sunderland to Thomas Farm & Dairy, where it is kidding season. No really, Laurie Cuevas' herd has had 40+ goat babies so far this season and that's just to start. Monte and Kaliis set out to hug them all, because they are the absolute cutest, and sample their cheeses while they are at it. Plus on the show for Wednesday, we begin our 'Meet the Mayors' segment with Holyoke mayor Joshua Garcia. Got a question for the mayor? Email [email protected] or send a text to [1-800-639-9120 ](tel:18006399120)and we may just ask your burning inquiry on the show!

As Sun Ra says: space is the place. So we brought folx into the studio who could bring us to the stars. Shelburne astronaut Dr. Cady Coleman joins us to bring light to life on the space station (she was there for nearly 6 months), including who gets to go these days. Also she tells us details of her training to become an astronaut, just in case you're looking into the process. The visit of one Space focused person surley deserves another. So we also have astronomer Dr. Salman Hameed, Mr. Universe himself, drop by to explore the details of the new spacesuits for the proposed moonwalk. And since our local astronaut is also a flutist making an appearance at The Drake in Amherst this weekend with the band, Minstrels in the Gallery, we invite that band's frontman Chris Devine, resident Ian Anderson impersonator, to play a tune and expound on the appeal of Jethro Tull.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh uilig amuigh ansin! Ár gcéad seó le gach Aoi beo! For St. Patrick's Day, we decide to be extra Irish by learning the language! So we invite Fulbright Scholar Emer Maguire and Gerald Costello of Elms College to come and teach us a few phrases. They also give us a quick look at how the language has evolved and endured, even here in western Massachusetts! Rosemary Caine delights us with her harp and some traditional and original tunes with her band The Wild Irish Shenanigans, just before their shows in Northampton and Greenfield this weekend. And Sean Barry of Four Seasons Wine & Spirits opened our first whiskey thunderdome! Whose spirit will reign supreme? You'll have to listen to find out!

We cover a lot of ground today! Rep. Jim McGovern gives us his thoughts on what's happening with the recent approval of Alaskan drilling, reparations, and pitfalls not to fall into while digging yourself out of all the snow we just got. Louise Dunphy of Celtic Crossings shows us a quick guide to all your Celtic entertainment this St. Patrick's Day weekend. Artistic director Kristen Van Ginhoven speaks on the importance of activism and theater working together, as her company WAM Theater gears up to present "What The Constitution Means to Me" in the spring. And we eat our way through Pizza Quest II! At the behest of listener Jennifer Vose (and several others), we try out Family Pizzeria Europa here in Springfield. (and as always if you have suggestions for places we should go for Pizza Quest, email us at [email protected] or text to [800-639-9120](tel:18006399120))

It's the Ides of March! Perfect time to look at the workforce! But much like Caesar getting senate approval, it's not easy to make a change if employment's what you seek. NEPM Senior Reporter Nancy Cohen shares a story about the digital divide as it applies to employment and western Massachusetts. This, of course, then inspires Monte and Kaliis to test their own digital skills, and the resiliency of recruiting websites for themselves. You may be surprised by their results. The Word Nerd, Emily Brewster leads us into arguably the most fun portion of the Merriam-Webster building: the dungeon...we mean basement. It's where they keep the fun words and sometimes the ones in time out. And, inspired by our work with words this week, Kaliis suggests a few word based games of varying mediums as Nerdwatch makes a brief, but triumphant, return.

We were all about speaking today. First we spoke to the earth, getting the low-down on winter agriculture with Alice Coleman of Stony Hill Farm in Wilbraham and Phil Korman of CISA. Then we got into the guts of linguistics and how it evolves with Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans through his new book "The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language." The book features an essay by NEPM host and Merriam-Webster editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski, so we welcomed him into the studio as well. We're also looking for our next location for Pizza Quest, so if you've got a recommendation in either North Adams or Williamstown, send an email to [email protected], or text to 1-800-639-9120, and we may just feast at your spot! Disclosure: CISA is an underwriter of NEPM.

To break up your Monday doldrums, we brought out some big names. That, we're told, is how you do it. Mr. Universe, Dr. Salman Hameed, teaches us a lot about "moon time", and a little about how awesome the song "Naatu Naatu" is. (You can see videos about everything Monte and Mr. Universe chatted about at Kainaat Studios) Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visited to explain the nuances of a new position developed for the current administration: Director of Rural Affairs, and we got to nerd out about policy. Dr. Mandy Muller gave us some clarity on where western Massachusetts is with COVID, as we celebrated the 3rd anniversary of "The Last Normal Day". And Dave Hayes, The Weather Nut, snow-casted with us, to preview the storm tonight as it passes our way!

Today is full of exciting things to put in your weekend schedule! Local musician Kimaya Diggs sings us selections from her brand new album "Quincy" just ahead of the CD release show at The Drake in Amherst on Saturday. Then we enter the Wine Thunderdome once again, this time accompanied by Benson Hyde and Bruce McAmis of Provisions. We get a look at terroir as well as a preview of the selections from the NEPM Wine and Food Lovers' Weekend, which starts tonight in Springfield. And cultural steward of the Nipmuc peoples Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. teaches us about his involvement with the Smithsonian Crossroads: Museum on Main St series, which concludes on Sunday with an event at The Shea Theater in Great Falls.

There's music in the air today in the 413. First Rep. Jim McGovern joins us for some mcgoverning as we ask questions from you about this state we're in and the policies being made for us. Then conductor Keith Lockhart makes his debut appearance as Tanglewood correspondent! We ask him all about the new season of music up in Lenox, and about cool things happening in classical. And then real live singers in-studio as ethnomusicologist Tim Eriksen gives us a brief lesson on shape note singing, just in time for the Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Convention, happening this March 11 and 12 in Northampton.

It's International Women's Day! Smack dab in the middle of Women's History Month! So we head to Puerto Rico to see what former Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentín, and her wife, Myriam Quiñones, are building there and why it felt right to leave the mainland and return home. Then we stroll around the corner to get our lexicon on with The Word Nerd at the Merriam-Webster headquarters. Plus we want your questions for Rep. Jim McGovern and our upcoming Tanglewood correspondent, Keith Lockhart! Email us at [email protected], or text to 800-639-6120 with your burning inquiries!

There's a Maple Sugar Moon tonight and sweetness in the air. Just in time for Massachusetts Maple Month, for which we travel to Granville to see the official first tap at Maple Corner Farm. Amy Traverso, food editor of Yankee Magazine, joins us to discuss highlights of her career and some cool things to expect this weekend at NEPM's Wine & Food Lovers’ Weekend. And we travel north and head underground to Ten Forward, a new decidedly inclusive artspace helmed by Ang Buxton (and their partner Alex Noonan). They tell us all the cool things going down in their part of Greenfield, even though we were sadly remiss with the Star Trek puns.

Today is all about competitions...sorta. We speak with head coach Lynn Hersey, director of sports and recreation Kristin Hughes, and professor Sam Intrator about the interconnected history of Smith College and women's basketball just as their current team win the regional championship and earn a place in the NCAA Division III’s sweet 16. Then Mr. Universe joins us to explain whether or not space is for everyone, and defend his Oscar picks. And we embark on Pizza Quest: our ongoing journey to find the best pizza western Massachusetts has to offer. Our first stop is near and dear to downtown Springfield, Red Rose!

As the snow times beckon once again, we give you a few things to uplift your weekend! The folx behind Tumble: Science Podcast for Kids give us a quick look at their new winter special coming up, and we talk about... that thing that everybody does. Then the Wine Son and Yankee Sippah invite us into their basement for the first ever "wine thunderdome": two wines enter, one wine leaves. And just ahead of his performance at the Academy of Music as a part of the John Prine tribute for the Back Porch Festival, Peter Mulvey joins us in studio to talk about why Prine was so important, and to regale us with a song or two!

A little old a little new, a lotta ruckus on today's show! Playwright/musician/creator extraordinaire Diana Oh joined us to discuss “My H8 for the Gr8 American Theater,” their show they've brought back to their alma mater, Smith College, this weekend. Along with Daphne Hwang Spencer, a current student and actor in the production, we take a look at some of the issues that show brings to light. The Glad Machine brings us the power-pop sounds of their latest album “Hey!” just ahead of their CD release show at The Divine Theater in Holyoke this weekend. Good rock and roll for what ails us! And we finally check in with Rep. Jim McGovern to let us know how things are going down within the beltway. (A weekly chat with McGovern will be a regular thing here on The Fabulous 413, so if you have questions for them you’d like for us to ask, you can email us at [email protected], or call/text us at 800-639-9120.)

It's the first day of Women's History Month! (and our first week anniversary, woo!) We talk with up-and-coming folk-punk artist Sunny War about all the cool things in their latest album “Anarchist Gospel,” and the realities of large tour schedules. Then professor Lydia Moland delved into the interesting history of another Lydia, abolitionist Lydia Maria Child, including her connection to Florence. We talk to her about her recent book on the subject. And Springfield's own wordster, Emily Brewster, the word nerd, takes us on a tour of the Merriam-Webster headquarters and shows us where the truly huge dictionaries live. Plus we read some of your notes about your snow days, which were delightful!

This weekend Northampton will be full of great music as part of the Back Porch Festival. We chat with organizer Jim Olsen of Signature Sounds about who's coming, how the festival is growing, and what's great about bringing music to western Massachusetts. Then it's off to a small corner of Springfield where Jorge Sosa and the crew of Mi Tierra make some of the best tortillas in the country out of corn grown right here in the four counties (and we try our best not to eat them all). And for all you cold weather enthusiasts, Monte joins a few locals for an icy delight: The Polar Plunge. Hear why some of your neighbors put themselves through this and hear Monte experience his first dip below the ice. Plus we wanna hear how your snow day is going! Send us a text at (800) 639-9120! Hey look! We can get texts now! IT’S THE FUTURE.

What do Massachusetts State Rep. Natalie Blais, former Northampton mayor David Narkewicz, and author Patricia Lee Lewis have in common? Each was an aide in to the late U.S. Rep. John Olver, who represented western Massachusetts first on Beacon Hill, and later in Washington, D.C. We speak with them about the man, his legacy, and how his passion to help his community encouraged them to do the same. We're also joined by Mr. Universe, Dr. Salman Hameed, who gives us a bit of insight on UFOs as they return to the zeitgeist, including an alleged sighting right here in the Berkshires. Plus Dave Hayes, The Weather Nut, weighs in on the storm coming through this evening and explains our sledding prospects.

Florence, Massachusetts, has a long history of abolitionism and utopian communities. Who knew? We took at tour of the David Ruggles Center to learn more of the folx who were inspired to make us a more complete union. Then we sat with local author Margot Douaihy about her recent mystery novel “Scorched Grace,” just before she stops in South Hadley for her book tour. And Ray Berry of White Lion Brewing in Springfield makes a jaunt across the street to raise a glass with us, and discuss equity in the brewing community. Plus, we give you a run down of the recent news of Pearl St. Nightclub's liquor license and possible further changes to that town’s liquor with NEPM reporter Jill Kaufman.

Senator Elizabeth Warren joins us to talk about environmental issues in western Massachusetts, as well as her new position as chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee. Then we chat with screenwriter Sam Bromell about working with Baz Luhrmann and making music come alive on-screen for his adaptation of Elvis Presley's life and career. And how often do you get to sit with someone who has made costumes for “Wicked,” trained with “Sesame Street,” and now uses clowning to help you deal with your feelings? Today is your day as Marta Mozelle MacRostie of Brave Bucket Company meets us in studio to tell us about her latest piece: “Please Ship This Wet Gift.” We want to know how you feel about the possible changes to Northampton’s liquor and pot licenses! Send your thoughts to [email protected]!

Our very first episode, where in addition to over-excited introductions of ourselves, we chat with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey about where western Mass. fits in her overall plans, and GZA about why chess is important to his engagement with his fans. We also share some of your thoughts on the ups and downs of life here in the four counties of western Massachusetts. **Program note: we missed one of our local heroes in the credits, so thank you also to Home Body for the use of their music in our show.

We talk to Bostonians about the dangers and delights of western Massachusetts. Does the border actually exist at Worcester? Are there dragons in them thar hills? Listen to The Fabulous 413 to find out!

Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith bring you The Fabulous 413, a new live, daily radio show and podcast celebrating life in western Massachusetts — and a kind of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for grown-ups. Monte and Kaliis will introduce you to the neighbors who make our western Massachusetts the incredible place it is, with a focus on arts and agriculture, cuisine and colleges, history, happenings and whatever the people of The 413 are talking about today. We’ll explore our fascinating places from The Clark to Clarkdale Fruit Farm, Tanglewood to “The Tofu Curtain,” from Forest Park to the Five Colleges.