The Fabulous 413

We’re delving into how every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name. We kid. But, the second-worst Disney movie has a point. CISA’s upcoming storytelling event, Field Notes, seeks to bring farmers, activists, makers, entrepreneurs and more together to tell their stories on stage and bring us all closer to the land we live in. We get to spend time with one of the storytellers, Lincoln Fishman, and hear more about his organization, Momentum Ag, that is helping farmers to discover better techniques to do what they do best. State Senator Jake Oliveira of Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties joins us to talk about his priorities for western Massachusetts, and his concerns about how federal actions may impact the commonwealth.An accumulation of collaboration is happening in Holyoke, and this Thursday you can see the fruits of those projects. Valley Artist Mentors is an organization that pairs local artists together to study art ecology in the area, and we chat with the organizers and participants about their showing at Holyoke Media later this week.

Today, we have happy cow stories, but uncertain science ones. We head to Ashley Falls where 200 acres and 150 head of cattle co-exist happily at Twin Rivers Farm. Owner Bob Kilmer takes us on a tour with the ladies, the robots that milk them, the most challenging breeds and the cutest little calves the winter has ever seen.There, we’re also joined by Dan Carr, technical advisor for Berkshire Agricultural Ventures who shares insight on not just what that organization accomplishes overall, but how it’s building community and how the dairy industry contributes to the agricultural landscape everywhere. And, Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed of Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College, takes on some heavier topics for the scientific community, including the fervor to colonize Mars and the implications of the president's diversity, equity, and inclusion restrictions in NASA.

We're bringing in the bands today. Two of em. Count em two. Westfield native Madison Curbelo joins us for Live music Friday. The sweet voiced singer songwriter is fresh off of her semi-finalist status on The Voice and fleshing out her sound beyond her red six string. We’ll hear the inspiration for the music she plays, and the lessons TV taught her before you can catch her set at the Drake Tomorrow night. And a double Live Music Friday brings the punk aesthetic of Les Derailleurs into the studio. Frontman Joe Pater joins us ahead of the band’s show at the Rendezvous in Turners Falls tonight, and we’ll hear how this particular week is actually tied to the group’s founding. Plus author Megan Tady hits the slopes for a cause bringing her ski focused novel Bluebird day, to an Apres SKi Party at Berkshire East, and we’ll get to learn how a chance encounter on our very show inspired the event, and the many ways that your time on the powder can help your neighbors survive the next snowfalls and plummeting temperatures in Charlemont on Saturday.

We hear that it’s warming up, but we’ll believe that when we feel it. Today we explore piles of delicious things to warm this extra cold day.We venture into Northampton to Local Burger and hear how its menu has evolved to center local produce and beef. We speak with Tabitha Salfrank, Joe Igneri, and Lexi Badelucci to help us discover what keeping local has meant for their expanding business, and where they source inspiration for their unlikely burger combinations.We also invite you to become more familiar with one of Mexico’s most important spirits. On Jan. 24, De La Luz in Holyoke will host a mezcal-pairing dinner, offering folx a chance to educate both mind and palette. We speak with the pair helming the endeavor, Tess Rose Lampert, author of The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion, and chef Neftali Duran, about the appeal and nuances of the beverage and what other tasty treats might be included in the event. And, it’s been an eventful few days since the presidential inauguration on Monday, and Congressman Jim McGovern has much to say about what’s happened so far. We listen to his insights regarding pardons for January 6 insurrectionists, the avalanche of executive orders, and the things that keep him hopeful in these contested times.

We’re examining some of our given rights, to certain freedomsBut how exactly do those freedoms work online? We sit with Professor Amir Houmansadr of Umass to learn about the nature of the TikTok ban, and American digital censorship, and how game theories might help prevent the possibilities of those same security breaches that everyone is nervous about. We’ll also head to Great Barrington, where a theater full of 8th graders are getting a civics and civil rights lesson through a screening of the movie Selma. We’ll chat with Triplex Cinema creative director Ben Elliot, a handful of observant pre-teens, and post movie conversation moderator Shirley Edgerton about the importance of the movie and bringing those lessons into the present day in and out of the classrooms. And we’ll head back to Philadelphia in our hearts and the past with word nerd Emily Brewster as we delve further into the American Dialect Society’s picks for it’s many other words of the year. Because although there’s only one that gets to be THE word, much like other award shows, there’s a whole lot of other accolades that are given out when a room full of linguists and language enthusiasts come together.

The Oscar nominations are due out this week and two of the frontrunners for Best-Picture nominations have connections to the 413. The Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" is making headway in theaters now, and we’ll uncover the connection on the album cover of "The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan" to a prominent business owner here in western Massachusetts. Patrick Pezzati from Turn It Up CDs and More is the cousin of Suze Rotolo, portrayed by Elle Fanning in the new movie. We’ll have him help us separate Dylan fact from Dylan fiction, and discover how the shift she engendered in the folk singer's approach stems from a long running family tradition. And "The Brutalist" is now playing at Amherst Cinema. Right down the street from their theaters is a plethora of Brutalist architecture to explore on the UMass Amherst Campus. We’ll talk with Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, Senior Campus Planner and Architect at UMass to get her take on the film, the architectural style that inspired it, and the impact those buildings have on the institution's grounds. Also we’ll bring in our resident film buff, Mr. Universe, Hampshire College's Salman Hameed, as the two explore the themes on immigration that resonated with each of them in the movie. .

There is an interesting confluence of events happening this Monday where by law we are required to install the new president on Jan 20, and by different laws we celebrate MLK JR Day on the closest Monday on or after his birthday. This year they’re at the same time, lucky usSo we’ll look at the connections between the Rev. Dr. King and the inaugurations of his time, as well as the long activist history of his wife, and the implementation of this holiday happening Monday with Prof. Ousmane Power-Greene of Clark University for another look at the Power of History Live Music Friday sees Aaron Borucki of Behold! True Believers and Abby Hanna making a stop by our studios before you can catch them at Luthier’s Co-Op in Easthampton on January 17th, and we’ll hear how the long tenured band’s sound is continuing to evolve with the time, and maybe how convenient it is when one of your band members works at a music shop. And Dry January makes another stop with Jim Zaccara at Hope and Olive in Greenfield, where their non alcoholic menu has been serving up delicious concoctions for years, and we’ll taste a trio of beverages for the thunderdome.

In space no one can hear you scream, but if you’re looking at footage of earth FROM space, that might be unsettling, so the videos on the ground get a soundtrackWe’ll speak with one of the people making the sounds those videos are tracking to. Guitarist, composer and engineer Steve Thomas has had his work paired with videos of earth from the International Space Station, and he’ll be playing some of that work this weekend in Northampton with a giant pile of other talented musicians , and we’ll get to ask about making a score for the earth, and how the music he makes for the planet ties into the other compositions he makesAnd we can’t talk about things seen on the Space Station without bringing in the person we know in the area who’s actually BEEN on the ISS. So we welcome real life astronaut Cady Coleman back to the studio to talk about the importance of sharing the views of earth from this particular perspectivePlus our weekly chat with Jim McGovern, sees the congressman with an awful lot on his mind, including Biden’s Farewell address, the recent ceasefire agreements, Cuba’s change in categorization, the tiktok ban, the fact that it’s 4 days until the inauguration. Not to mention what indeed could the official be looking forward to or worried about with the incoming administration.

We have a dream that is still hoping to be realized after 6 decades and as we continue to create a more equitable world.It's one that you can help celebrate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services is once again helming a grand celebration, “Pursue Justice: Persist in Peace,” in Springfield, and we speak with organizers Shannon Rudder and Rania Kfuri about the many arms of the organization and preparations for Monday’s event.One of the event’s featured artists, Vanessa Ford, is on a mission to uplift other artists in the community to pursue their passions. She stops by the studios to tell us more about the Trust Transfer Project Artist Development Fellowship, a cohort of 80 local artists to engage their crafts to build community and a resilient career in the arts. We even find out how you can get involved! Plus, Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam-Webster, is back from living our linguistic dreams in Philadelphia at the American Dialect Society’s vote for word of the year. We hear all of her highlights from the affair.

We’re looking into legacies of sound, old and not quite as old.For instance, we’re traveling about 13,000 years in the past with tales by Indigenous people who have been storytelling on this land for millennia. On Jan. 19, the Wendell Meetinghouse will host a presentation of "New Lights in the Dawnland," an audiodocumentary which brings Indigenous voices together to weave the history, story, and song of Northfield and beyond. We speak with producer and archivist Michael Kline and one of the featured voices, David Brule of the Nolumbeka Project, about this important auditory journey.And this Saturday, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra will kick off its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration concert. We speak with Conductor Jeri-Lynne Johnson and violin soloist Melissa White about the importance of integrated programs, their experiences in musical education, and the ways each of their ensembles are changing the world of symphonic and chamber music. We also talk to the SSO’s own Heather Caisse-Roberts to fill us in on the connections this program continues to bring to the greater Springfield community.

We’re off to the farm again, but this time we’re looking at an innovative approach to agriculture that is helping folx nationwide, and Western Mass is right at the epicenter of it’s network this week. Prospect Meadow Farm has been growing rapidly for a little over a decade to now three locations in Hampshire and Berkshire counties, as a department of Service Net umbrella to build community and prosperity for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and mental disabilities.And it turns out that although they were the first in the state to start a model of this nature, they’re by no means the only ones in the country doing it. And Today through Wednesday they’ll be bringing in folx from all over the nation who are doing this work to the valley for the first ever Care Farming Network National Conference So we’ll head to Hatfield to hear about the nature of Care Farming, the Story of Prospect Meadow Farms, and get a tour of the grounds from the administrators and farmhands working there, while discovering what this concept of CARE farming is all about and how you can learn more about it too at their workshops over the next few days. Plus Mr. Universe, Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College's Salman Hameed, talks about the interesting confluences of astronomy and astrology, including an explanation of what retrograde actually means so everyone out there worried about Mars can settle down.

We’re blissing out and detoxing while we’re at it since January is often a time when people take breaks.For all those people and the folx that love them, a previously online-exclusive non-alcholic beverage shop is getting a brick and mortar location in Easthampton. Dry Humor is here to prove that beverages can totally be tasty without pesky ethanol getting in the way, so we chat with founder CJ Mutti about the rapid growth of the business and the industry and sample one of her wares. Plus, we learn about the New England Synth Fest, an interactive event for electronic sound happening at The Clark Institute in Williamstown this weekend. But, there’s a huge range of what synths are and could be, so we speak with organizer Kent Lundberg and performer NXOR about the vast array of sounds one my encounter in the galleries, the ways you can get hands on with the music at their Synth Petting Zoo, and get a preview of one of NXOR’s works for Live Music Friday.

We’re in the presence of royalty, because a third generation in Columbia's cumbia legacy is landing in Amherst this evening to spread the sound of the genre. Yeison Landero, the grandson of “King of Cumbia” Andrés Landero, stops through our studios before Secret Planet brings him to The Drake in Amherst this evening for a little live music Thursday. But even though Yeison has been playing music since he was seven all over Columbia and beyond, you might not know much about the legacy that his grandfather engendered, so we’ll hear a bit of context from Dj Bongohead, Pablo Yglesias of Peace & Rhythm Records, on the history of cumbia, it’s importance in Columbia in particular, and the Landeros’ very large place in the genre’s standing. And it’s our first Thursday back and our first chat of the year with Congressman Jim McGovern, where the woes of 2024 carry over into Social Security, the Laken-Riley and Leahy acts, ongoing issues in Gaza, and how all of those tie into a speech he gave recently. Not to mention the flurry of activity in the executive branch with the day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter’s passing, and the distribution of Medals of Freedom.

If we mention Texas Longhorn Cattle, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not Western Massachusetts, but today, we’re going to take you on a tour of a farm in Granby that may change your mind about that. Cote Cattle Company, (also known in some parts as Double C Ranch) switched its beef herd to being a purely Texas Longhorn dedicated operation and since have become nationally trusted stewards for the breed despite being one of a handful of locations raising this particular animal in the commonwealth. In addition to getting the story on how proprietor Charlotte Cote and her family came to this direction of agriculture, we get a hands-on tour of their farm’s innovative pastures, and absolutely adorable and astounding head of cattle. Hooray for happy cow stories! Unless you are a vegetarian, for there is much smiting, it is a beef farm after allBut where smiting is concerned, we could be talking about affection or fighting, which seems like a good time to bring in Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam-Webster, to look at the etymology and usage of the word Smite. Not just for all of you paladins and clerics out there, and the people smitten with them.

Today the Fabulous 413 is all about growth, large and small and near and far as well. 'Cause it turns out that there’s folx in Beantown that want to know about your business’ meteoric rise. The Boston Globe has partnered with Statista to discover businesses bolstering economic growth across the region. The search is on for New England's Fastest-Growing Companies 2025 and we speak with Michelle Micone Senior Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives for Boston Globe Media about what might make your enterprise what they’re looking for. And growth is at the heart of an organization that has been fostering young folx for over a century, including a most dangerous time for those of us with a sweet tooth and poor impulse control. This weekend marks the start of cookie season for the Girl Scouts, with an official cookie drop happening for troops of the area to gather their delicious wares this weekend. But how did the girl scouts get started with cookies anyhow? ANd why are some of your favorites no longer available? We’ll ask Theresa Lynn & Dana Carnegie from Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass all about it. Even NEPM’s own Chris Schwantner, Chief Engineer of Television is involved with the organization. And we’re psyched to hear that story too, even if it was just for the cookies cause we get it.

We’re back at it, and ready to face the new year in the four countiesAnd we’re not the only ones. Greenfield Mayor Ginny DeSorgher is on the verge of completing her first year in office, and we invite her to the studio for a post-mortem of how her inaugural time has fared, The triumphs and trials that have visited the city under her purview, and what’s in store for the city formerly known as a town in the months to come. Plus, an action packed double header with Mr. Universe, Kainat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed, who brings to light the incredible journey and findings of the Parker Solar Probe, and what insights can be found by being the closest man-made research unit to the sun. So take that Icarus and Christopher Nolan, because in addition to being our weekly astronomer, Salman Hameed is also on the board of Amherst Cinemas. And seeing that the Golden Globes just happened last night, we’re betting that he might have an opinion or two about the nominees and winners as well.

It’s our last show before we take a tiny little winter break, so let's party! We’re looking straight past Christmas to New Years Eve, where folx will be heading out to welcome the new year. Our last guest of our week showcasing some of the music that you’ll hear at First Night Northampton is Henning Ohlenbusch, who’ll be pulling double duty on the last night of the year performing solo and with the fawnsBut we’ll double back for all you folx not interested in skipping ahead, but already missing Halloween. Because it turns out that Christmas is totally frightening actually, and Folklorist Jeff Belanger will give us a quick rundown of why that is before you can hear all of his horrifying holiday tales live at the Shea Dec 22nd And year ends make us reminisce quite a bit so we’ll bring the whole Fabulous 413 fam together to chat about some of the holiday shenanigans we might get up to in our time off.

Today we're squeezing a LOT of music in, to match our energy for the season. We bring Slant of Light in to the studios to perform just before you can catch them at The Drake in Amherst. Band members Kris Banks, Trevor Healy, Jay Labbe, Kelly L'Heureux, and Josh Owsley gives us a small glimpse into their origin story (and that of two of the guitars built by one of their guitarists) along with tight interwoven riffs and intricate melodies and rhythms that will delight all who get to see them on December 20th. (And oh yeah, one of Kaliis' bands, Ex-Temper, is also playing that same show, double wins for full disclosure) Then it's back to Northampton to continue our immersion into the bands playing First Night. The Mitchells have been a staple of the valley scene for just over 3 decades. What started as a beloved joke from MST3K has evolved into catchy, heartfelt songs that have resonated over 4 albums, and we bring 2/3rds of the band to the studio where Caleb Wetmore and Jon Herbert talk about their tenure and evolution in sound and the joys of playing First Night after a COVID-forced hiatus.And Congressman Jim McGovern speaks with us for the last time in 2024, amid growing concerns over a shutdown, and who might truly be in charge after the new administration comes to power in 4 weeks.

More ways to celebrate this year coming to a close, because it’s good to reflect sometimes and bestow kudos where kudos are due! We’ll check in with the folx at the Triplex in Great Barrington, who are celebrating the one year anniversary of their revival. Ex. dir. Ben Elliott speaks with us about the triumphs and challenges of their first year as a non-profit community cinema, and how it’s shifted the organization’s perspective going into their second year. Plus, more First Night performers join us, as the legendary Ray Mason joins us in the studio before you can catch him on the very last night of the year in Northampton. We’ll hear in songs and in stories how his incredible tenure has evolved into his latest album “You Never Lose That Grip”And although Merriam-Webster has made polarization their word of the year, their senior editor and our resident wordster Emily Brewster opens our perspective to what topped the lists for some of the other dictionaries around.

Today is about togetherness. Yes, every day is about togetherness, but let's not digress. We're bringing folx together through one of the newest holidays on the block: Kwanzaa. After learning about the holiday's origins with prof. Ousmane Power-Greene, we're all eager to find places where we might celebrate festivities locally. Luckily for us, the Kwanzaa Collective has a full week of activities planned up and down the 91 corridor that you can participate in. We chat with Ayanna Crawford and UMass Amherst professor Amilcar Shabazz about the local importance of Kwanzaa and what the collective has planned for you to join in with them. It's also in bringing a pile of your talented friends together. We continue our preview of the bands you can catch at First Night Northampton with the supergroup All Feels. Headed by Candace Clement, and including Kate and Noah Dowd, Jon Shina, and Will Meyer, who between them also represent more than 10 other local bands, have joined forces to bring sounds hovering between lo-fi pop, indie rock and basement jams to life through lyrics fueled by introspection, longing and somewhat sarcastic assessments of modern life, both in performance, and their debut EP: "This Place is a Message".And it's in the folx encouraging you from the sidelines. We try some of the tastiest granola around with Chelsea Beaudry of Sweet Babu in Chicopee, and hear the story of how a hobby grew from her kitchen, to farmer's markets, to a full blown wholesale operation right here in the 413.

We’re barrelling headfirst into the year end celebrations, including newer ones built to create bigger, more cohesive communities. Kwanzaa starts next week and is nearing the 60th anniversary of its incarnation, which means it’s a perfect time to bring in professor Ousmane Power-Greene of Clark University to discuss it’s origin story, and how a non-denominational holiday for and of the people still seeks to bring folx of all walks together in search of a brighter future and togetherness.First Night Northampton is only a couple of weeks away as well. And we’ll be bringing you a selection of the bands that you can see all over paradise city on the last night of the year, which today means the ever intriguing, ever shifting avant-garde sounds of The Leafies You Gave Me. And Mr. Universe, Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed is reviewing the milestones from this year in Astronomy, including where you can discuss your own favorites with other space minded folx tomorrow night, and drones over New Jersey, which is it's own whole thing.

Art, art and more art. And holiday spirits all over!It’s live music Friday and we’re getting a holiday visit from a collective bringing ska, dub, and rocksteady to western Mass and beyond. The Valley Moonstompers are celebrating a brand new seasonal single and a show next week at the Marigold Theater, and we’ll get our skank on when they swing through the studio.And once we’re in the spirit, we’ll sit with artist Gayle Kabaker. She’s responsible for several handfuls of New Yorker covers, and is teaching a workshop for all to make paintings of their own this weekend. We speak with the seasoned creator about teaching, the restorative process of making art for yourself, and the surprising things that bubble up when making art becomes a more regular activity. And tis the season for the bubbles to be in glasses, but bubbles doesn’t always mean champagne, but it does pretty much always mean celebrations. So we set the champers aside to taste some exciting offerings from unlikely places and grapes in Shelburne Falls at Juicebox Wine Bar with owner Alice Thompson.

We’re joining in song, and heralding ourselves, sorta.A big project is coming to NEPM TV, on Dec. 12th. A new documentary created to take a deeper look at the black experience within the four counties of western Massachusetts. Legacies: Stories of Black History in the 413 premiers this evening and we’ll talk with the creative team that drove the film Erika Slocomb, Joe Aidonidis, and Evan Goodchild about what they decided to highlight, and the importance of making afro-diasporic life local. And we’ll get you involved in the song when we chat with conductors Tian Hui Ng and Anthony Ferreira, along with Youth Orchestra Director Hannah Smeltz about Pioneer Valley Symphony’s Holiday Pops Concert where you can sing favorites of the season with the ensemble. We’ll find out more about the organization’s origins, the appeal of this festive offering, and where you can lend your own joyful noises to the occasion. And U.S. Representative Jim McGovern weighs in on the 1500 acts of clemency and pardons issued by President Joe Biden, shifts in the democratic caucus, and problems arising with a major city’s police department in his district, and some of your questions of course.

Today has a bit of history, a touch of the theatrical, notorious nominees, and a hat to boot. We’ll share a glimpse into the past interpreted through pedal steel with Myk Freedman. A memoir of one of his ancestors gives a unique glimpse of Jewish life for one woman in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century is being put on it’s feet and through musical lens at Bombyx on Dec. 12th, and we’ll hear about the process of bringing ones family to the stage in his show "About this: It Is Not Yet Written".Speaking of stages, folx are making them wherever they can, and that includes your local brewery. The Valley Players are staging a reading of Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale” for their 2nd Bard in the Bar event on Friday, and we speak to president Matteo Pangallo, and company members Kiki Drzik and Tracy Grammer, about the 400 yr appeal of the work, and the community that can be built onstage. And Mr. Universe, Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed, talks about the incoming president’s pick to lead NASA, and an adorable chapeau shaped galaxy giving us more information about stars.

We’re putting down and picking up roots, because it takes care to maintain both community and forestsSo we’re checking in with a pillar of the drag scene as they close a chapter. Drag Brunch with Hors and Friends has been a staple of the queer community for over a decade but is brunching its last brunch this Sunday in West Springfield. We chat with founder Hors D'Oeuvres about the event’s run and origins, the evolution of W.Mass’ drag scene, and the many ventures House of Hors is moving onto in the coming months. And we’ll head to Westfield to see how the 4th generation of a local lumber family is making strides to keep wood local. Gerry Lashway Jr. and Josh Devon at Mill River Slabworks give us a tour of their showroom and milling facility which smells amazing, and give us some insight to the local lumber economy, as well as the expanse of the Lashway family's 4 generations, and 3 businesses over 2 counties. Plus we discover how trees native to the area account for some of the best projects, and ways in which they could help you with yours.

A joyful noise and a measurement of what peaks our interest as a society.Amherst Media is bestowing its 15th Jean Haggerty award, so we sit with the board president, Vira Douangmany, to learn about the award’s namesake, the previous winners of the award and the many ways Amherst Media continues a community-forward legacy. We also hear from the award recipient, Jacqui Wallace, director of the Amherst Gospel Choir, about her leadership journey with the choir and how you can join their celebration this weekend.And, it’s the time where everyone tallies up how the year went, including our friendly local dictionary in Springfield. Our resident wordster and senior editor at Merriam-Webster, Emily Brewster, and her colleagues have made the list, checked it twice, and declared their word of the year for 2024. We discuss the winner and those bridesmaid words that got really close to getting the gold.

We’ll start by heading to the Berkshires where the beer you drink or get for the folx in your life who like beer is helping keep our neighbors warm through these colder months. Hot Plate Brewing is hosting an event this weekend in support of their Hearth and Home Campaign. We head to Pittsfield to talk with Co-owner Mike Dell’Aquila about how a pint can help keep the heat up. Then we’re off to Greenfield to explore the bounty of local beers, wines, and ciders on offer at Ryan & Casey Liquors, where they’ve been uplifting and highlighting local producers for decades. Kristie Faufaw and Isaac Sissam help us explore the expansive world of beverages produced in the 4 counties, and a little beyond. And if snow is your thing, but the holidays maybe aren't, have we got a concert that’s right up your alley. Erin McKeown is performing an anti-holiday show at the Iron Horse tomorrow, the name of which we cannot say on air, and they’ll join us for live music friday to explore a little bit of the seasonal not-cheer, you can enjoy tomorrow night, swears and all.

You may have noticed that we’re a bit wry on this show, nay even a bit sarcastic and kitschy. And if you or any of your loved ones are similarly inclined, there’s a business in the Berkshires that make make easy of your gift giving. Today we head to Pittsfield for a tour of Blue Q, whose myriad of adorkable, often foul mouthed products are not just great conversation pieces, but helping people across the county as well. We chat with founders Seth and Mitch Nash, and even more of the amazing folx that work there about the company’s evolution from flat cats to catnip and everywhere in between Plus, although we got to take the stage as part of NEPM’s Christmas Carol, the Dicken’s classic is getting an even more modern revamp this Friday and Saturday at the Shea Theater. This year’s "Home for the Holigays" sees it’s main character, Mr. Drag, scrooge-ified. We talk with the creative force behind it, Joe Delude II, about this iteration of the persona, and the drag family it brings with it. Also, our weekly chat with congressman Jim McGovern where we’ll see if he’s fully recovered from the March, hear his take on the Hunter Biden pardon and a listener question about the potential demise of tax exempt status as we know it

Last week western Mass came out en masse to show incredible generosity to the Food Bank via the means of a 43 mile walk.But today we’ll hear about yet another quirky event that helps to inspire generosity from the community over a much shorter distance: The Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage, happening for the 21st time in Northampton this Sunday. We’ll talk with Safe Passage Executive Director Marianne Winters about the organization's mission, as well as development director Natasha Ulrich about how over two decades of support for the organization through this specific event is helping to prevent domestic violence and is helping survivors thrive. We’ll also learn about the confluence of physics, biology, pure mathematics and Journalism, through a new book. We talk with Smith math professor Chris Gole and author Nancy Pick about "Do Plants Know Math" and explore the photo exhibit of some of the photography they included in the book while exploring how spirals and sequences naturally occur all around us. .And Word Nerd Emily Brewster from Merriam-Webster give us the etymology of her moniker when we learn the history of the word "nerd", and other names that have evolved from their much squarer origins.

We're exploring the gift of generosity today. It's in the well loved libretto and words re-imagined through a more American Lens. Electric Root's show "The Sound of (Black) Music" which takes the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical and gives it a pan-diasporic glow up, and it's latest tour brings the ensemble to Amherst on Dec. 8th, so we meet with Electric Root founder Jono Gasparro, musical director Charenee Wade, and conductor and vocalist C. Anthony Bryant to hear about their inspirations, aspirations, and opposition the show has engendered. We also hang out with Justin Cohen, aka Studebaker Hawk, and dig through his proverbial crates as we hear more about the Northampton Record Fair, and the copious amounts of Vinyl that will soon descend upon Union Station this weekend for all those looking for golden sounds in a surprisingly popular medium. And Oh yeah, it's Giving Tuesday. A day evolved to offset the capitalism you fever dreamed on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But what it really means is that many causes you support are asking for that support today, and that includes us too!.

oh gosh we blinked and it's December!Some of us got snow over the past week and some of us were not so lucky And some of us are not so lucky as to be able to heat our houses in the colder months we speak with Jess Thompson and Claire Higgins from Community Action Pioneer Valley about the Heat Up/Fuel Up campaign helping our neighbors to stay warm and more as the temperatures dip and the dark creeps up the clock. We'll also cozy up with a good book to read during those colder months. Local author Megan Tady’s latest book "Bluebird Day" comes out tomorrow with a launch party at Odyssey books in South Hadley. We'll chat with the author about the compelling power of family secrets to bubble up and the dynamics of the mother daughter relationships we see in her pages And Mr. Universe, Hampshire College and Kainaat studios' Salman Hameed, is recently back from a visit to China. We'll dig into that nation 's entrance and perseverance in the space race and what that means for the US's endeavors into the black, and what teaching there can teach all of us.

Tomorrow is a holiday for some, but for many in the indigenous and first nation communities across the commonwealth and the continent, it is instead The Day of Mourning. So we are expanding our awareness of indigenous culture and history through art and Education. Boundless is a collection of indigenous work presented through the Mead Art Museum in four stages. The third of those, a k-12 digital education component, has just been released, and we speak with Professor Kiara Vigil about working with her students to create this next stage of the exhibit, and how it differes from the other four sections of the ongoing exhibit.And yesterday Monte concluded leading the March for the Food Bank 15 through rain and cold to Greenfield's center, and we’ll hear a bit of what 43 miles sounds like on the other end of walking to combat hunger. (hint: A lot like a party)

The March for the food bank continues traversing 6 towns and 2 counties as Monte Belmonte leads a coterie from Northampton to Greenfield. A new costume awaits, and more places that feel the impact of all the food bank is able to provide to Western Massachusetts. We’ll hear from folx along the way from all walks and needs of life including State Representatives, city and county officials, those on the front lines of the fight against hunger, and those who see its impact. Then we dig into more of the problems the food bank faces in light of changing state and federal policy. It’s the second leg of the March for the Food bank, with Elphaba at the helm to hone in on issues of hunger in our area even in, and despite, the rain.

Today on the Fabulous 413, The March for the Food Bank 15 begins. We’ll check in with Monte and the Marchers as they walk 17 miles from Mason Square in the heart of one of Springfield’s biggest food deserts through Hampden County to Northampton on the first leg of the effort. The event not only helps the only food bank west of Worcester to do what it does, but intends to raise more awareness about the increasing and endemic issue of hunger in our area and across the nation. We’ll hear from state and federal legislators, city officials, pantry personnel, food advocates, fellow marchers, and the man in the pink dress himself Glenda the good witch- a.k.a. Monte Belmonte.

We head to the Berkshires, where literal hundred of high school kids are immersing themselves in the bard. The Fall Festival of Shakespeare has just opened, and we’ll speak with some of the folx involved about the beginnings of the festival over 3 decades ago, the lessons that theater can teach, and more with Education Programs Manager Meg Marchione and Director of Education Kevin ColemanAnd we’ll hear from a band that is all grown up now with a new album headed our way. Lux Deluxe releases their new album next week capped with a release show at the Iron Horse. The Band makes a stop to the studios for Live Music Friday to show off how their sound has evolved over the years. And it is the season of the new, even though everything is dying outside. It is officially Beaujolais season. We have a tricksy tasting of this years freshest varietal with Ben and Mary Daire at Dare Bottleshop & Provisions in Lenox.

We’re addressing a couple of proverbial elephants in our democracy and bringing your kids with us so we can all learn together. With season one of their podcast wrapped, opening a collaborative art exhibit at Mead Art Museum, and the impending repercussions of the recent election, the folx at EmbraceRace are having a busy year. We sit with organization founders, directors, and podcast hosts Melissa Giraud and Andrew Grant-Thomas to explore their growing arsenal of tools that can help a growing multicultural society to talk about race, especially with kids. And, as the countdown to the March for the Food Bank continues, Monte takes a lesson from makeup artist Joe Delude II, designer of the original looks for both Elphaba and Glenda in the original Wicked production, so he can add the perfect touch to his costumes for the 43 miles to come.Plus, we have our weekly chat with fellow marcher Rep. Jim McGovern and we’re going to dial into hunger, its root causes, its potential solutions, and if anything can be done in the federal government.

Today is about copious amounts of art we can engage.We’ll head to the Hilltowns to an art enclave that’s been teaching craft for 3 decades. We’re smack dab in the middle of Snow Farm’s seconds sale and we’ll get a tour of their amazing grounds and anachronistically impeccable wares with Neal Bastek, Laura Stadtlander, and Keely Quirk and hear how you and maybe that art loving teen in your life can learn some of what they do also. In Easthampton, this years Pay It Forward grant cohort closes with Swazy, an up and coming producer, hip hop artist, and founding member of the collective Keep Us Alive, who’ll bring her curated show The Maverick Sessions to City Space this Saturday. We’ll hear from the artist about her journey to hip hop and the curation of the show, and from the grant program’s director Zoe Fieldman about their plans for next year’s program. Plus Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam-Webster is breaking open some bread with us. Bread words that is, as the March for the Food Bank is rapidly approaching and reminding us all to share ours.

We are re-arranging the way we look at the world: through the eyes of youth, the tales of history, and the roots that get put down. We head to Smith College, where a class of 12 from all five of the colleges in the consortium have contributed to the exhibit Signs of solastalgia, which deals with each of the artist’s interaction with climate grief. We speak with a trio of the student contributors about the experience and their work that you can see through Nov. 22nd. It’s in the stories from here that are still being uncovered. Julian Saporiti a.k.a No-no boy joins us before he takes the stage at the Drake this evening, and explore some of the Asian diasporic American tales that have found their way into his music and beyond. And we’ll get a tiny little jump on the holiday season by heading to Ashfield as it’s almost time to get a tree, should you be one of those tannenbaum needing houses. We chat with Seth Cranston of Cranston’s Tree Farm as they get ready to open their fields for the cutting and more this weekend.

We are sorta playing 6 degrees of the Food Bank of Western Mass (although you’ll only need 2 for the furthest connection, honestly).So we head to the Easthampton Community Center to speak with the folx feeding "Whoville" at one of the largest and most expansive food pantries in the area.As they give out turkeys for this year's holidays, we get the full scope of the center’s operations by chatting with some of the patrons, some of the volunteers, and the executive director coordinating all of it:Robin BialeckiThe Toys for Joy campaign has just started, but the program has a legacy that is over a century old and brings together businesses and people throughout the region. We chat with Major Donald Spencer of and Danielle Lataille of the Salvation Army about their goals for this year, how they’ve managed to adapt their services to the needs of the community, and how some of those services do indeed connect their offices with those of the Food Bank of Western Mass. And if we go just a little further out, we’ll learn how the folx rescuing fabric from landfills and bringing them to turner’s falls connect to the food Bank through the upcoming March. Because every year Monte needs a new costume to walk all 43 miles in, and every year the people at Swanson’s Fabric valiantly rise to the task.

Today we're making interesting brushes with history. This Saturday at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners (Great) Falls, the Nolumbeka Project having a Beaver Moon gathering featuring author Angela Marcellino. Her book "The True Natives of Cape Cod and Their Foodways" explores her own history alongside that of the Mashpee Wanpanoag peoples who have resided in the area for millenia. We talk with her about the links between people, place, and food that create a lasting culture before you can engage with her yourself on November 16th. Live Music Friday brings Jim Hewitt of the Easthampton based Lost Film to the studios. Their wide ranging sound creates sparkly and brooding pop that is catchy but hard to put a finger on. In both cases, it's great for your ears and you can indulge that with the full band at the Dream Away Lodge in Beckett on Nov. 22nd. And our prodigal wine thunderdome returns to the site of its origins when we descent to the basement of State Street Deli, Wine, and Spirits to explore a contested area along the Italian/Austrian border where a super localized grape thrives on the land and in our glasses.

Today on the Fabulous 413, we’re speaking is a gaggle of folx who are actively being the change they’d like to see in the world. Because book banning is hitting a little extra close to home this year, we’ll chat with writer and director John Tedeschi, whose short film “A Book By Their Cover" is getting a screening at the Triplex in Great Barrington tonight, Nov. 14th. The work’s core story is ripped right out of the town’s headlines from earlier this year, and we’ll hear how presenting stories like these are crucial to the evolving cultural landscapeAnd because equity is multi-faceted, we’ll head to Holyoke to check out the Holyoke Compost Hub. The endeavor is the latest from the Holyoke Food and Equity Collective and we’ll chat with Margot Wise and Neftali Duran about how this fits in with their many other efforts, and how you can learn more about all they do next week. And our returning US Congressman for the 2nd District returns to our weekly conversation where he’ll address several listener questions and the ongoing onslaught of recent cabinet appointments.

If you are still wondering how did we get here, we’re about to speak with a group of students that have been covering it for NEPM.We speak with the group that made up The Latino Election Project. High School students Evanni Santos, Halima Mohamed, and Ian Burger have been examining the national political landscape through a local lens this Autumn, guided by Julio Varelas of The Latino Newsletter. We get their take on the fallout from the fifth and what they’ve learned about themselves and the country by taking a micro view. We’ll also head back to Ashfield where their winter market is about to bounce into action. We chat with champion lettering artist Nan Parati, whose work you have definitely seen all over the 4 counties of Western Mass, about the beginnings of the market, her fraught journey to Ashfield and it's New Orleans connections, and about dancing your blues away at an event this Friday with the band Timeless. (And about how you can tell your food or foodways connected story onstage for CISA's upcoming Field Notes Event at the Academy of Music)And Word Nerd Emily Brewster moons us with beavers and strawberries as the senior editor from Merriam Webster talks to us about the names of moons, and a couple of bonus astronomical terms!

Today we're seeking food for the body and soul as we head to where the internet fears to tread, and to where our region’s hunger needs are greatestIn Ashfield, a project exploring the life of artist Leonora Carrington is shifting and expanding for a new location and audience. Double Edge Theater’s current production “Leonora: La Maga y la maestra” takes a look at the surrealist artist’s life through the medium of her work, and we tag along with a gaggle of franklin county high school students to interact with this maelstrom of the earthly, the divine, the uncanny, and the very real. Plus we'll let you know about a recent book that speaks with Executive Director Stacy Klein about the previous incarnation of this work, along with essays and conversations about Leonora's influence on other artists and authors including Tilda Swinton, Samantha Sweeting, Heidi Sopinka, and others. And in Chicopee, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is getting ready for its biggest push of the year. THE MARCH. But the day to day operations of the only food bank west of Worcester is much more than donations and distribution. We chat with Laura Sylvester Public Policy Manager about how edict can aid their mission to reduce and prevent hunger in western mass, and hear some of the success stories of their advocacy that might encourage you to walk some or all of 43 miles to help them in their mission. We'll also hear about an event in Boston on Nov. 13 where you can help the HIP program regain it's previous aid levels.

Are we still reeling from last week? YesAre we still looking for ways we can affect change here to bolster community for whatever may come? Also yes. So we’re headed to Greenfield to take a tour of Stone Soup Cafe. The organization is multi-faceted in it’s approach to combating hunger and building community, so we’ll explore the kitchens and programs under the All Souls Church with director Kirsten Levitt, and Board director Whitney Robbins, to learn how they are teaching, supporting, and feeding the people of Western Mass. Also on this Veteran’s Day, it’s in how we are providing services to those who have served the country. Steve Connor, Director of Veterans affairs for Central Hampshire County, speaks with us about what they provide to those returning from military service, the needs of the office, and how the ways the public can help. And post election, Mr. Universe, Kainaat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed, explores what it means for American Space exploration now that Elon Musk has been inserted into the conversation, including a possible shift in focus from the moon to Mars.

We’re bringing you lots of things that might make you feel a little better. With the uplifting and resonant songs of Jake Klar for Live Music Friday, and we’ll learn about the movie he’s in and the famous gardener who once lived in his house before you can catch him this evening at the Dream Away Lodge in Beckett. And a well loved work making its way to the stage in updated context. The Valley Light Orchestra presents one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular compositions: The McAdo this weekend. So we head to the Academy of Music to check in with the company about adjusting this work for a modern time from its problematic original form, the appeal of the work, and how light opera fits into the evolution of theater with music onstageAnd many of us may have felt the need for a drink this week, so we head to the women owned and operated Tip Top Wine shop in Easthampton to pit two Syrahs against each other with proprietors Lauren Clark and Miranda Brown. .Because we may need a little help letting whatever will be to be.

Alright, we’ve had a day to process, Now it’s time to look at what the landscape is and see where the changes we need can be made, and get prepared to make themSo today on the Fabulous 413, we’re speaking with the director of a new documentary that takes a very a la minute look at the issues concerning book bans, with a focus on three teens in South Carolina who approach the issue head on. We Chat with Filmmaker and educator Kate Way about “Banned Together” which is getting a screening at Bombyx in Florence tonightWe’ll also look at shifts in the state’s efforts to ensure that everyone is fed. It’s just been announced that the Healthy Incentives Program (or HIP) is taking a big cut that will drastically reduce the benefits folx will receive across the commonwealth. But that cut adversely affects farmers too, and we’ll talk with the farmers at Northampton’s Tuesday market about the impact of the shortfall, and how you might be able to help. And our weekly chat with the recently re-elected Jim McGovern addresses the elephant that has recently regained the oval office, and the repercussions a second term for the 45th president may mean for the nation’s future.

Everyone is reeling a bit because, WHOA. So welcome to oasis part deux, so to speak. A tiny bubble outside of the goings on if it’s overwhelming for you because everything is a lot right now. We'll go adjacent to the election with Julio Ricardo Varelas of the Latino Newsletter, who’s been working with the students in Media Lab to cover... that thing that happened yesterday, so we’ll hear about what’s going on with the next generation and their thoughts and interactions with voters in this election season. And we’ll get a bit of music in with Glen Fant. Not only has he launched a new locally focused booking series in the valley with Fantastic Shows, but he’s also at the start of a brunch series at the Iron Horse. We’ll hear about covering the Singles soundtrack, and what tasty threats you can break your fast with this Sunday. Plus, Word Nerd Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster gets into the furious history and many uses of the word Mad. Because there's almost as many as a certain word starting with the 6th letter of the alphabet we’re not allowed to use on the radio due to FCC restrictions.But on a day like today, we wish we could.

Well, we are finally here. The day the nation has been gearing up for since basically January 1st. (may the votes be ever in your favor, and may you convince someone out there who hasn’t made a plan to vote to figure it out.) We here at the Fabulous 413, have decided that we are gonna be an island of respite in this sea of overwhelming anxiety and information, because we all deserve a break. But that doesn’t mean we won’t share information at all! In fact, we’ve got another power of history lined up for you to learn about the first black woman to run for President: Shirley Chisholm. Professor Ousmane Power Greene of Clark University breaks down the key facets of her campaign and political career, and even her ties to Western Mass. And then Then we’ll segue to the Judicial branch where household disputes are presented and presided upon in podcast form. Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn are taking their justice on the road and making a stop in Turners Falls This week, so we speak with the two of them about the allure of being right, and adjudicate a few disputes of our own.

Today on the show, we take a look at what could come, and at ways to ease some of those anxieties you might have.The Toy Box in Amherst has a gaggle of games, , and much more and they too are sensing some tension in the air, so we chat with proprietor Liz Rosenberg about games to play to relax your mind, light-hearted gifts to lift the spirit, and the return of their “So you think you’re too old for a toy store” event going on this Thursday, Nov. 7th that will help you remember that fun is an important part of your life to maintain. Maybe it’s music that helps you ease through things. So we also hear about a retreat in the Berkshires bringing sounds from all around the globe together to broaden our ears and bring us all together. Barbes in the Woods is coming up for three days of musicians descending on Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield Mass. We hear from Edo Mor of Secret Planet, and Olivier Conan of the original Barbes in Brooklyn about the importance of hearing the world in our own backyard and building a path for smaller artists with big impacts to tour our corner of the US. And Mr.Universe, Kainat Studios and Hampshire College’s Salman Hameed espouses the details of what could happen to the scientific community and development depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s election.

Hello November!Time to drive those spookies away with a little bit of laughter and a lot of looking at the way things are and wanting to change them. So today on the Fabulous 413, humor hits the road with Laughter Unlimited. Comedian Tim Lovett takes us aboard the Chuckling Charlie, bringing folks, food and comedy together for an experience that traverses the county. We get a tour of the comedy bus, and find out why the local comedic scene is putting its jokes on wheels. And Live music Friday brings the ever amazing Pamela Means to the studio as she prepares for a solo show at the Parlor Room Tonight. We’ll hear why songs that address the issues of now are just as important as the songs that force you to reckon with yourself, and give you a glimpse of the fantastic fretwork she’ll display this evening in Northampton. Plus Table & Vine Wine ambassador Michael Quinlan, the only purveyor we drink with who has held office, brings us to northern California to show us the evolution of the region’s Pinot Noir for this week’s wine thunderdome.