This week I talk with the former Mayor of San Juan, famous for standing up to Trump during Hurricane Maria, about the Latino Scholarship Fund. We’ll catch up with Irida K. the Russian woman who was recently free to leave sanctuary, no longer under fear of deportation. What is she up to now that she’s free? What are the Democrats going to do now that the Senate won’t even debate the For The People Act. US Congressman Jim McGovern gives us his thoughts. And we’ll hear how aliens have taken over the NY Times from Mr. Universe.

Fresh back from the Cape, I managed to avoid being swallowed by a whale but lots of talk this week about the man allegedly sucked in by a humpback. Taking a look at the first official Massachusetts and US celebration of Juneteenth! Meanwhile, what will Northampton do with its police budget and will it fully fund the newly created Department of Community Care? Drinking fortified wines with the wine snobs and more.

An original musical just in time for Pride month, written by the students at PVPA. Now that we are heading out of the panny, is food security stabilizing? We’ll talk with LOTS of people on the frontlines of fighting hunger-including the folks behind a mobile farmers market and our US Congressman, Jim McGovern. Looking back on the 100 anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, with a woman who grew up in the Greenwood neighborhood and had never even heard of Black Wall Street. Spelunking and scripophilia with Word Nerd Emily Brewster and more.

Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd with scenes from this past year’s protests. The Valley and the world has lost another children’s literature giant, just weeks after the death of the Phantom Tollbooth’s Norton Juster, the legendary Eric Carle has passed away. I’ll revisit one of my conversations with the Very Hungry Caterpillar author and illustrator and we’ll hear from another Valley author and illustrator who interviewed Eric Carle at the Eric Carle Museum. We’ll hear how our very own Mr. Universe is about to be the Bill Nye The Science Guy of Pakistan.

Now that the pandemic if drawing to a close, are we finally ready to grieve? One Goshen woman tells her story about losing her mother and the activism that inspired through a group called Marked by COVID.

Congressman McGovern on why Mike Pence’s own brother doesn’t want to launch an investigation into why homegrown fascists tried to hang him outside the Capitol. Saving the endangered shortnose sturgeon, and maybe getting arrested with McGovern in the process. Plus teaching kids about growing food and food justice at the same time.

Merriam Webster defined non-fungible token and then MW turned the definition of NFT into and NFT. I talk with editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski. Congressman Jim McGovern on the GOP eating their own and the removal of Liz Cheney. On Chinese space junk, American propaganda and Elon Musk’s SNL damage control campaign. The story of the 1676 Indian Massacre at Peskeomskut. And the story of how Turners Falls got it’s name and how Turner met his end.

Should the vaccine patent be released to the world? Congressman Richie Neal says “no.” President Biden says “yes.” What doesn’t Congressman Jim McGovern think? Remembering the oft forgotten hero, Astronaut Michael Collins. Are you an arcotophile? Find out what the heck that is with Emily Brewster from Merriam Webster. A small business story. A family business story. And a love story-all in one story. This is a week of mornings.

A look at the Western Mass connection to the Oscar winners. Congressman McGovern’s thoughts on the President’s address to the joint session of Congress. A unicorn black hole! I chat with Mr. Universe. A first in the nation hotline designed to stop domestic violence before it starts. What is a “stonk” with Merriam Webster’s Emily Brewster. Cote du Rhona virus with the Wine Snobs.

Accountability in the murder of George Floyd. We’ll hear Congressman McGovern and your thoughts on the conviction of the former cop who murdered him. A Wright Brothers moment on Mars. Mr. Universe and I talk about it moments after it happened. Beer made with fruit. Bread made with Buddhist principles. And a whole lot more. This is a week of mornings.

The incomparable Laurie Anderson and her long time musical collaborator Roma Baran-on the red vinyl re-release of their groundbreaking 1982 album, Big Science. Congressman McGovern-on reparations, comfort dogs, and George Clooney. A double shot of Word Nerd. And drinking with the Wine Snobs.