I'm popping up for a quick holiday hello - and to solve a big Maplewood mystery about a classic Christmas film. Why is Maplewood, NJ mentioned in the 2004 film The Polar Express? Listen now to find out!

Links: 

Dickens Village

https://maplewoodvillagenj.com/dickens-village 

SOMSD Parenting Center & Rent Party Toy Drive

https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/news/2024/11/19/toydrive

Holiday Food Drive

https://www.somapso.com/calendar-list-view/holiday-food-drive 

In the last episode of season two, I talk with Maplewood native Mihali, leader of the popular jam band Twiddle. The Columbia High School grad headlined Maplewoodstock as a solo artist in 2023 where he performed the song "Maplewood" from his album "Effection."

We had a great chat about his music, going solo, his love of weed and his hometown - with shout outs to the Village Trattoria, Bagel Chateau and the Milburn Deli.

Mihali will perform at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on June 13 - and just announced - a free show in Montclair on June 21!

Pick up your copy of "Effection" on vinyl at Tea & Tunes in Maplewood - inside the General Store Shops & Cafe. 

Thanks to Soma Confidential for introducing this episode.

Links:

Mihali - https://www.mihalimusic.com

Twiddle - https://www.twiddlemusic.com

Maplewoodstock - https://maplewoodstock.com 

We alll know that Bruce Springsteen is New Jersey's Greatest son! And you probably know that the Mighty Max Weinberg is a Columbia High School grad! But I was curious - in all his years of performing, has The Boss ever played a concert in our little towns? 

With a little help, I explore some of the history of this area's music scene and try to stake a small claim to the Springsteen legend. 

Thanks so actor/musician Charlie Pollock of the Local Heroes band for introducing this episode - https://www.somalocalheroesband.com

Links: 

Financially Speaking with Mitch Slater podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5RRYy7WN2jaHuqA9LcRXXz 

Jim Marino - https://jimmarinomusic.com 

David Hajdu - http://www.davidhajdu.com 

Music City Mike - https://musiccitymike.net 

Before he was a bestselling author, James Kaplan wrote for the Columbia High School newspaper and spent countless hours devouring books at the South Orange Public Library. 

In the years since, he wrote two definitive biographies of Frank Sinatra and collaborated with the likes of Jerry Lewis, John McEnroe and Henry Winkler on their "assisted memoirs." His new book, 3 Shades of Blue, explores the lives of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bill Evans as they made the seminal jazz album Kind of Blue. 

We talked at length about his impressive career, some of his most famous subjects and growing up in South Orange. 

Thanks to Maplewood Garden Club President Lisa Lackey for introducing this episode. Their 87th annual plant sale is currently underway!

Buy 3 Shades of Blue at [words]: [words] Bookstore | 3 Shades of Blue (wordsbookstore.com)

James Kaplan Website: www.jameskaplan.net 

James Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jckaplan 

James Kaplan on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jckaplan 

Maplewood Garden Club: www.maplewoodgardenclub.org 

Jessica, a client at JESPY House in South Orange, is a 3 sport Special Olympics New Jersey athlete - competing in basketball, soccer and track & field. She joins me to talk about the daily challenges she faces, training for the Special Olympics and how JESPY has helped her live a full life in our community.

Update: Since this interview, Jessica and her JESPY basketball teammates won bronze at Special Olympics New Jersey!

Thanks to South Orange mayor Sheena Collum for introducing this episode.

JESPY House: https://jespyhouse.org

Visit www.mapsopodso.com 

Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mapsopodso

Four time Olympian Joetta Clark is a legend at 800 meters - an event that she never once lost as a member of the Columbia High School track team! The New Jersey and Columbia High Hall of Famer joins me to talk about mental toughness, the evolution of women's running and growing up in South Orange with her father Joe Clark - the Eastside High Principal that inspired the film Lean on Me. 

She now simply goes by the name Joetta as she travels the country as a motivational speaker and oversees her company Joetta Sports & Beyond.

In an incredible moment for Maplewood at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials, Joetta faced off against her younger sister Hazel (Columbia High School grad) and her sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark. All three were coached by Joetta's brother J.J. Clark (Columbia High School grad). They finished 1-2-3 landing all of them a trip to the games in Sydney.  

2000 Olympic Trials Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLp9yvotC0 

Joetta Sports & Beyond - https://joettasportsandbeyond.com

Joetta on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joettaolympian 

New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmeGvilUVEA 

Fresh off of his long run as Alexander Hamilton on Broadway, Maplewood resident Miguel Cervantes is here for an in depth conversatoin about his past, present and future. 

In the longest episode yet, we discuss all things Hamilton, the tragic loss of his daugther Adelaide to Epilepsy, his ties to MAPSO and his new business - Dingers NJ, an incredibly cool batting cage facility in Maplewood. And, of course, the big question - will he act again???

Dingers NJ: www.dingersnj.com 

SHUCADDY: https://shucaddy.com 

Cure Epilepsy: https://cureepilepsy.org 

Kelly Cervantes: www.kellycervantes.com (Get her book, Normal Broken, at Words)

Your Seton Hall Pirates have won the 2024 NIT Championship! Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press joins me to recap the tournament and his trip to the finals in Indianapolis. Nobody knows New Jersey basketball better than this man!

Follow Jerry on X at @NJHoopsHaven and read his latest columns at https://www.app.com/staff/2647567001/jerry-carino

Seton Hall Basketball: https://shupirates.com/sports/mens-basketball 

The crew of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit called Joel de la Fuente "Mariano" for his ability to nail the final scene. The Maplewood actor comes by the house to close out the podcast for 2023 and chat about his decade long recurring role as technician Ruben Morales, his work on The Man in the High Castle and more!

Also on the agenda: remembering Andre Braugher, TV vs. film acting, the new SAG contract and enfuriating the Phillippine government with his part on Madam Secretary! We also talk about little known Japanese American hero Gordon Hirabayashi, the subject of Joel's one man show Hold These Truths. 

Look for Joel in the upcoming second season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon!

Website: www.joeldelafuente.com 

Instagram: joeldelafuente

Thanks to Erin, Katrina and Deanna, owners of The General Store Shops & Cafe in Maplewood, for introducing the episode!

While you're relaxing on the couch this Thanksgiving, Yosh Nijman will be clocking in for work! The Columbia High School grad and current offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers is heading to Detroit for a pre-turkey meeting with the Lions. But first, he joins me to talk Cougar football, becoming an "a-hole" on Sundays and his favorite slice at the Village Trat. 

Thanks to Columbia High School Football Coach Gary Mobley for introducing this week's episode.

Yoshi blocking a Raiders field goal this season: https://www.nfl.com/videos/packers-ot-yosh-nijman-blocks-daniel-carlson-s-53-yard-fg-attempt-before-halftim

Columbia High Game Footage: https://www.hudl.com/profile/2528577/Josh-Nijman/highlights