Speak Little Forest

Heather Bruegel, Cultural Director of the Stockbridge Munsee-Mohicans, helps illuminate the current and historical connection between the Berkshires and the native nation.

Looking for a little local inspiration? Listen to my chat with activist and children’s book author Ty Allan Jackson, the force behind Read or Else, the Danny Dollar Academy, and six children’s books.

Learn the backstory of one of the Berkshires’ most iconic, philanthropic,

and progressive businesses from brothers and cofounders Seth and Mitch

Nash.

Gift drawings. The tree of life. Farm work as godly worship. Celibacy. Utopia in western Massachusetts. Uncover the story of the pioneering Hancock Shakers with Cindy Dickinson, educational director of Hancock Shaker Village.

What’s the status of black bears in western MA? How do they eat, hibernate, and migrate? Satiate your curiosity with black bear expert and Westfield associate professor Dr. John McDonald.

Tune back in for Part II - the meat and potatoes - of my interview with Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington. We jump right in here to discuss urgent issues on Harrington’s radar like drug addiction and the drug trade in the Berkshires, as well as domestic and sexual violence. Andrea lists some of her greatest inspirations, and she reflects on the challenges and benefits of being a public figure.

If you’ve ever been curious about the extraordinary responsibilities and influence of a district attorney, this is the interview for you. In Part I of the interview, Andrea shares information about both the nature of crime in the Berkshires and how her team works to prevent and prosecute. She also reflects on the years she spent working as a public defender with death row inmates and juveniles, and how this work - and the great minds she encountered in law school - shaped how she approaches prosecution today.

Speak Little Forest seeks to reach across the vast Berkshire Hills to broadcast local voices about timely, captivating issues that connect us to our world within the Berkashires and beyond.

Ever dreamed of opening a winery? Christian and Donna Hanson, of Balderdash winery, made their dream come alive. Here, they share how winemaking evolved from a basement hobby to a cross-country operation landing on the shores of Richmond Pond. To paraphrase: “It took a village.”

In the thick of the pandemic, a local therapist expected panic. Instead, she found wisdom. Here, social worker and Berkshire Community College Human Services Associate Professor Pam McCann reflects on our gifts and challenges in the Berkshires as they pertain to mental health.