Good News York by Growth Mode Content

Adam Ast on Running Syracuse’s Palace Theatre, 35mm Projection, and Making Art Without Chasing Money On Good News York, host interviews Adam Ast (pronounced “Ast”), manager of Syracuse’s Palace Theatre, about running a busy multi-use venue that hosts everything from bands and ballet to meetings and a Volkswagen promo shoot, while balancing high monthly overhead and operating deficits. Ast describes learning the job under pressure, maintaining and renegotiating longstanding rentals, and opening the theatre to local community groups on flexible or split-revenue arrangements, including Syracuse Improv and Syracuse Actors Studio. He recounts his background as a 1990s projectionist at Baldwinsville’s Tri County Theatre, rediscovering 35mm projection at the Palace, teaching others to run film changeovers, and keeping the format alive. The conversation also covers his work in multiple bands and his view that chasing money can corrupt creativity, urging artists to prioritize artistic freedom and personal drive. 00:00 Wild Cold Open 00:11 Meet Adam Ast 00:56 Running The Palace 03:50 Community First Booking 07:07 Malice At The Palace 09:38 Film Projection Origins 10:49 Learning The Booth 13:44 35mm Returns At Palace 16:40 How Reel Changeovers Work 19:00 Splicing And Waterworld 22:13 Working High Stories 22:52 Dropping Acid at Work 23:36 Hammer and Paranoia 25:02 Closing Early Chaos 26:55 Blockbuster Corporate Squeeze 28:22 Life as a Working Musician 32:03 Bands and Collaborators 35:35 Advice for Young Artists 38:34 Money Corrupts Creativity 42:20 Rick Rubin on Audience 44:31 Choosing Meaning Over Money 47:31 Saying No at The Palace 48:58 Gratitude and Sign Off

From NFL Center to Syracuse Project Leader: Mackie McPherson on Identity, Mental Health, and Reinvention On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mackie McPherson, a Syracuse native who played center at CBA and for the Syracuse Orange, served as team captain, and briefly played for the Buffalo Bills. Mackie describes the immense day-to-day NFL pressure and mental health toll, explains the center’s role and on-field communication, and connects sports leadership to teamwork in improv and D&D. He recounts the difficult identity transition after being cut, coaching college football for seven years, and an especially brutal start to 2020 that left him unemployed during COVID, which became a transformative “ego death.” Mackie explains how networking led to a Syracuse University role, progressing to associate director of facility services overseeing multiple departments, and credits his wife, a mental health therapist and former theater stage manager, plus therapy, with helping him build a happier life as he expects a baby boy around Christmas. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:11 Meet Mackie McPherson 00:39 Football Journey Highlights 01:34 NFL Pressure And Mental Health 03:13 What A Center Does 04:03 Reading Defenses In Real Time 06:12 Beyond Football Nerd Culture 06:53 Training Mindset In Improv 08:44 Leadership Lessons From Center 10:55 D&D Improv And Reinvention 12:30 Baby On The Way 13:17 Life After The NFL Transition 15:22 Coaching Years And COVID Reset 17:40 Finding A Career At Syracuse 19:17 Project Management At SU 21:12 Facility Services Leadership 22:47 Therapy And Wife’s Influence 26:17 Redefining Success And Advice 28:50 Beyond Grind Culture 30:12 Reinvest In What Lights You Up 30:33 DND Show And Priorities 31:16 Community Shoutouts And Thanks 32:00 Facing Stage Fear 32:54 Wonderful Wednesdays Origin 34:08 From Football To Spotlight 38:02 Improv Curriculum And Adrenaline 40:09 Humiliation Rituals Build Trust 43:11 Wrap Up And Where To Find

Bruce Coville on Writing, Empathy, and Cherishing Oddballs On “Good News York,” the host interviews children’s author Bruce Coville about his career and the impact of books like “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher” and “My Teacher Is an Alien.” Coville describes writing across formats, his sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Crandall inspiring him (and receiving the dedication), and how “My Teacher Is an Alien” became his breakthrough after years of work. He discusses why negative childhood memories linger, how arts projects and plays matter in schools, and argues that stories teach empathy better than writing to preach lessons. Coville reflects on being an “oddball,” encourages supporting excluded kids, and shares classroom experiences that informed characters. He gives advice to young writers—read, write (keep a journal), and never give up—and previews finishing “The Ghost Saw Red” after decades, with possible self-publishing. 00:00 Dedication Shoutout 00:11 Meet Bruce Coville 00:37 Jeremy Thatcher Love 01:40 Breakthrough Book 02:10 Sixth Grade Spark 02:42 Writing Failures Funny 04:39 Mrs Crandall Moment 05:12 Alien Teacher Origins 06:16 Memories And Doors 08:19 Arts Projects Matter 08:59 Failure Resume Reflection 10:37 Tech In Classrooms 12:02 Teaching Years Recap 12:38 Cherish The Oddballs 14:25 Oddballs In History 14:47 Being A Weird Kid 16:13 Movie Plans And Packaging 17:41 Alien Rumor Inspiration 18:42 Troublemaker Student Story 20:36 Turning One Book Into Series 21:50 Writing the Bad Kid POV 23:16 Empathy Through Story 25:28 Aliens Confront Real World 28:12 Advice for Young Writers 29:37 Journaling as Healing 32:09 Letters From Adult Readers 33:15 Finishing The Ghost Saw Red 38:03 Books vs Influencer Intimacy 40:24 Where to Follow Bruce 40:55 Final Thanks and Outro

Nick-E on Syracuse’s Music Scene, Mental Health, and Building a Career in 2026 On Good News York, host interviews Syracuse, New York artist Nick-E about starting music as a high school freshman, facing both support and ridicule, and using that as fuel to study lyric writing and wordplay. Nick-E describes performing mostly in New York City and Albany, often as an energetic opening act, and explains Syracuse’s diverse local music scene, naming artists like Big Sexy, Skyla Beef, and the VCM crew. He records at Red Brick Recording in Central Square and recommends venues and networking routes such as Song and Dance events and Funk ’n Waffles open mics. Nick-E performs and discusses two songs, “Dark Clouds” (inspired by mental health struggles and recovery after returning home from NYC during COVID) and “Tough Times” (reflecting late high school growth). He cites influences including Mac Miller and pop punk bands, and shares advice on supporting friends, honing craft, and mastering social media and content monetization while keeping a job to pay bills. 00:00 Fuel From Doubters 00:20 Meet Nick E 01:26 First Songs In High School 02:53 NYC Shows And Live Energy 03:41 Syracuse Scene And Shoutouts 05:13 Studios And Getting Involved 06:58 Performing Dark Clouds 10:59 Meaning Behind Dark Clouds 12:50 Influences And Positivity 14:45 Starting Tough Times 15:26 Song Performance Begins 16:07 Hook and Repeat Chorus 16:54 Post Song Reactions 17:06 High School Inspiration 18:14 Support Your Friends 19:48 Inside Joke FMC 20:06 Making Music in 2026 22:03 Finding Local Artists 24:11 Advice for New Musicians 27:22 Funk N Waffles Love 28:36 Where to Find Nick E 29:21 Final Wrap and Thanks

Syracuse Improv’s Johnny Nolan on Spooky D&D Improv, Workshops, and Building a Comedy Community On Good News York, host Noah interviews Johnny Nolan, co-founder of Syracuse Improv, about growing the group from a small library meetup to 40+ attendees per workshop and multiple shows. They promote an upcoming Monday, October 26 Halloween-themed Dungeons & Dragons improv show at the Song & Dance, where performers and the audience create characters and an adventure on the spot, with a twist following monsters instead of heroes, plus costumes, a contest sponsored by Birdie and Dice, and tickets via syracuseimprov.com. They describe beginner-friendly free workshops every other Wednesday focused on community, shared silliness, and confidence, and discuss their own improv history in high school and at RIT. Looking ahead, they plan more shows, expanded classes (Level 1 and new Level 2), and a long-term goal of a dedicated theater, funded through attendance, grants, and donors. 00:00 Anxious And Late Cold Open 00:09 Meet Johnny Nolan 01:35 Dnd Improv Show Explained 02:51 Halloween Monsters Twist 03:36 Origins Of Diceprov 05:13 Ticket Sales Stress 05:43 How To Get Tickets 06:43 Marketing Call To Action 07:23 Workshops Overview 09:48 Community Through Improv 11:12 Embracing Embarrassment 12:10 Boy Scouts Memories 13:06 High School Improv Club 15:52 Rit Improv Life 17:33 Finding Friends At Rit 18:32 Silly Games Build Trust 19:42 Improv Friends For Life 20:46 Rebuilding Syracuse Improv 22:18 Community Connections And Venues 25:01 Working Styles And Friction 28:10 Big Vision For Growth 29:35 Why Take Improv Classes 33:14 Theater Dream And Funding 35:16 How You Can Help Now 37:32 Favorite Scenes And Memories 40:44 Final Thanks And Wrap Up

Jeff the Magic Man on Balloon Art, Magic, and Reimagining the Festival Line | Good News York Host Noah Chrysler welcomes Jeff D’Ambrosio (Jeff the Magic Man) to Good News York, where Jeff introduces himself as a children’s entertainer, balloon artist, magician, stilt walker, and puppeteer. He rapidly makes a balloon dog and shows a more elaborate balloon “person” he often calls Bob, then shares how he started in middle school after being inspired by local “Twin Magicians,” took lessons, and gained early practice volunteering at a church carnival. Jeff discusses competing at the international Twist and Shout conference in Las Vegas, creating small, medium, and large sculptures (including nature-inspired ants/log and a 1960s Americana radio/rotary phone piece with embedded speakers), and demonstrates repurposing uninflated balloons into a rose. He explains goals to eliminate balloon lines using a performance-style crowd setup and a deli-style ticket system, plugs upcoming Halloween events at Destiny and Enchanted Beaver Lake, and closes with more balloon creations, including a balloon “Oscar,” plus ways to find him online. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:48 Balloon Dog Speed Run 02:32 Meet Bob Balloon Person 03:38 Origin Story in Magic 05:45 Community and Mentorship 06:39 Awards and Vegas Competition 08:04 Recycling Balloons into Art 09:24 Inside the Vegas Sculptures 11:28 Sharing Balloon Photos 11:43 Creative Doubt and Perfectionism 13:33 Misconceptions and Ending the Balloon Line 15:00 Making Balloon Twisting a Show 17:06 How to Follow Jeff 18:25 Upcoming Events and Bookings 19:14 Live Balloon Demo and Balloon Sizes 21:47 Giant Balloon Stunts and Longevity 22:43 Oddities Theme and Balloon Oscar 23:58 Final Plugs and Sponsor Thanks

Mark O’Donnell on Strategic Planning, Goal Alignment, and Keys to Successful Leadership On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mark O’Donnell, founder of Operations Excellence and host of the Operations Excellence Podcast, about his consulting work in leadership and organizational development focused on people, process, and strategy. Mark describes helping for-profit and not-for-profit organizations with strategic planning, implementation discipline, and serving as an outside accountability partner, plus leadership development and ongoing coaching. Using Noah’s nonprofit Syracuse Improv as an example, Mark outlines a planning framework: start with a vision statement, then mission (12–18 months), core values, critical success factors, WHY SMART goals, milestones, and action plans with broad stakeholder input to drive goal alignment. They discuss overcoming constraints, the importance of long-term vision, the Peter Principle, and learning through failure. Mark also shares a new online course with Joanne Yarro on successful leadership, executive presence, and culture, offered as seven ~20-minute videos. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:27 What Operations Excellence Does 02:33 Nonprofit Talk and Palace Theatre 04:29 Consulting Approach and Trust 07:05 Strategic Planning Deliverables 10:46 Syracuse Improv Vision Workshop 12:11 Writing a Vision Statement 16:40 Dream Big Beyond Constraints 19:38 Why Vision Matters Long Term 22:46 Mission and Values 23:45 Goals and Why Smart 25:41 Action Plans and Alignment 28:10 Personal Aspirations Link 32:23 Engineer Liaison Story 35:13 Leadership Course Launch 41:54 Peter Principle Lessons 45:46 Attitude and Failure Mindset 48:09 Wrap Up and Links

Bringing Salt Back to Salt City: Syracuse Salt Company on History, Harvesting, and Flavor-Infused Salts Host Noah Chrysler interviews David and Libby of Syracuse Salt Company, a family business started 11 years ago that harvests brine from a ~280–300-foot well in Syracuse, evaporates it into flake salt, and infuses flavors to help “bring salt back to the Salt City.” They explain Syracuse’s salt-industry peak from the 1700s through about 1920 and its decline due to railroads, coastal production, and reduced Erie Canal use; the local brine is about three times saltier than the ocean and originates from an ancient sea. They describe filtering, settling out iron, evaporation tables, drying racks, sifting for grain size, and zero-waste practices. They compare their salt to iodized table salt, discuss finishing salts and cooking uses, do a taste test, and highlight collaborations (Hobey Honey salted honey, Speech Candy brittles/chocolates, Syracuse University “Cuse” salts) plus local sourcing. They share where to buy (local Wegmans, shops, online), invite pickle collaborators via [email protected], and mention restaurants using their salt. 00:00 Meet Syracuse Salt Co 00:35 Why Syracuse Is Salt City 01:59 Ancient Brine Underground 02:52 Drilling Their Own Well 03:30 Old vs New Saltmaking 05:17 From Brine to Flakes 06:46 Batch Variations and Texture 08:44 Flavored Salts and Cooking 09:02 Table Salt vs Local Salt 11:18 Finishing Salt Tips 13:30 Pickle Salt and Partnerships 17:10 Collabs Honey Candy and SU 20:08 Taste Test Cinnamon Brittle 20:44 Peanut Brittle Reactions 21:22 Sampling Flake Salt Basics 21:47 Why Flake Beats Table Salt 22:53 Pinch of Umami Tasting 23:54 Lime Salt and Pairings 25:03 Cuse Salts Orange Chipotle 27:42 Cardamom Salt Uses 29:32 Where to Buy and Visit 32:09 Restaurants Using Their Salt 35:08 Wrap Up and Thanks

Fiber Artist Allison Altafi on Handspun Yarn, Frame Weaving, and Hustling in the Art World On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Syracuse-based fiber artist Allison Altafi about her frame-based weaving practice using handspun wool and cotton “art yarn” to create structural, textural works that blur craft, sculpture, and fine art. Altafi discusses her piece “The Day It Happened,” shown in a Manhattan gallery exhibition (with the show continuing online via Untitled Space Gallery/Artsy), and explains how her work ranges from joyful “color melts” to darker themes of grief and uncertainty. She shares tactical advice for artists about applying widely, handling rejection, and using social media—including going viral and managing online negativity. Altafi describes the handspinning process, collaborations with local spinners/dyers and Syracuse metalsmith Devin of Toltech Works who fabricates custom steel hoops, and previews upcoming work for Stay Fresh Gallery’s Halloween-themed “Dead Man’s Party” on October 23. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:40 What Is Fiber Art 01:31 Handspun Yarn Materials 02:37 Featured Piece Reveal 03:24 Meaning and Themes 05:08 Manhattan Show Experience 06:08 Hustle and Artist Advice 07:10 Going Viral Online 09:09 How Yarn Is Spun 10:24 Local Dyers and Makers 11:13 Custom Hoops and Looms 13:29 More Works and Framing 13:59 Hollow Loom Breakthrough 15:06 Macabre Gallery Piece 16:30 Building the Hoop Loom 18:55 Weaving Outside In 19:41 Hands On Weaving Demo 21:59 Stay Fresh Connections 23:07 Find the Artist Online 23:44 Costumes and Final Thanks

Hassan Stevens on Good Life Youth Foundation: Hip-Hop, Entrepreneurship, and Helping High-Risk Youth Thrive Matt Masur of Good News York interviews Hassan Stevens, a Bronx native and former radio/TV personality (Hot 97.9, Power 106.9, NewsChannel 9) who founded the Good Life Youth Foundation after the media industry downsized. The nonprofit serves high-risk, system-involved, and struggling students in Syracuse and ESM schools, using hip-hop culture to connect youth to entrepreneurship as a “survival framework” to help them thrive long-term and reduce recidivism. The organization runs programs and studios at 101 Wyoming Street (music, content creation, photography, and promotional printing) and has helped students graduate and attend college, including Syracuse University and OCC. Stevens shares funding needs, upcoming fundraisers (Aug 12 golf tournament with Impel, Aug 27 Love Handles event, Oct 3 gala at The Mitzvah), partnerships (Micron, Annie E. Casey Foundation, NYS OCFS), and a $3.2M capital campaign to create a hip-hop youth entrepreneurship center. He also discusses his ventures That Good Media and Hippoh Nation apparel with NFC-enabled hoodies. 00:00 Thriving For Life 00:21 Meet Hassan Stevens 01:05 From Radio To Purpose 02:02 Good Life Youth Mission 02:53 Youth Success Stories 03:32 Entrepreneur Paths For Kids 04:18 Studios And Startup Skills 05:08 Scale And Funding Challenges 06:18 Breaking Into Industries 07:44 How To Support The Program 09:00 Partners And National Model 10:39 Referrals And Prevention Gap 13:21 Hip Hop Center Vision 15:30 Hassan The Entrepreneur 18:07 Final Plugs And Farewell 18:56 Support Good News York