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

Valley Advocate Podcast

Jonathan Jenner and Hope on the Western Mass Asylum Support Network

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

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

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

Coronavirus preparations in the Valley discussed by Chris Goudreau

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

Chris Goudreau on the end of free recycling in Western Mass

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

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

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

Chris Goudreau on local independent record labels

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

Pete Redington on guns in the Valley

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Goudreau on Ranked-Choice Voting

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

Bizarro Briefs: Be your own farm

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

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

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

Former Ninja Turtles artist Eric Talbot on becoming a tattoo artist

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

Bizarro Briefs: What is art, anyway?

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

Steve Pfarrer talks historical fiction

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

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Valley Advocate Podcast

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