Season 2 of The Montclair Pod kicks off with a deep dive into the heart of local government. Who actually runs Montclair? Where do our property taxes go? And what’s really happening behind the scenes at places like Clary Anderson Arena?

Hosts Farnoosh, Ali, and Mike sit down with Montclair’s newly appointed Township Manager, Stephen Marks, for answers. Marks, a lifelong New Jersey public servant with roots in South Orange and a deep appreciation for Montclair, shares how his job functions like the town’s CEO—managing a $107 million budget, overseeing departments from public safety to recreation, and balancing a long list of resident demands.

From leaking roofs to high taxes, Marks pulls back the curtain on what it takes to maintain aging infrastructure, respond to hundreds of community emails, and stretch every tax dollar. The episode also touches on the differences between Montclair’s municipal budget and the school budget, why the town is hiring a new Complete Streets Director, and how federal grant cuts could impact future services.

Plus, we'll hear directly from residents about their biggest concerns and what they wish they understood better about how the town works.

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

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This episode was originally published on April 3.

The Montclair Pod Team - Mike, Farnoosh, and Ali - eat their way through town and talk to some of the people making it all happen. You’ll hear from local chef and Montclair native Lauren Hirschberg of Turtle + the Wolf and Pineapple Express. We speak to Max Gray of Chow Town Food Tours about why he brings people here. And we hit some true local favorites with content creator and community advocate Wendy Tiburcio (aka The Montclairnista).

The pod team sampled food from no fewer than 10 restaurants that are featured in the show. Jefferson’s Cafe, Minoru, Beyond Pita, Good Chicken, Urban Chicken, Popeye’s… You may be noticing a trend here. The team discovered a fried chicken oasis centered around Lackawanna Plaza and the resulting fried chicken extravaganza featured the ENTIRE Montclair Pod family. It’s magical, people.

Finally, before we take a short post-season break, we dish up our favorite memories and a few behind-the-scenes moments from the past 12 episodes - plus a little bit about what we’ve got planned for season 2 - which begins next week! 

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

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If you’ve ever seen a long line of people on Label Street, chances are it leads to The Human Needs Food Pantry—Montclair’s quiet but essential resource for residents and area neighbors facing food insecurity. In this episode, we talk with executive director Mike Bruno about the growing demand for services, the challenge of operating in a high-cost town, and why 2025 may be one of the toughest years yet. To learn more about how to donate, visit their website. Follow on Instagram.

Additional non-profits in the area, supporting residents facing food insecurity, housing instability, and other challenges::

Toni’s Kitchen: A food ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, providing meals, groceries, and wellness services to individuals and families in need.

Montclair Emergency Services for Hope (MESH): Offers evening meals six days a week and overnight respite during extreme weather to Montclair's most vulnerable homeless adults and families.

Salvation Army Montclair Citadel: Provides housing assistance, hot meals, emergency services, and spiritual support to those in need.

Red Hawk Pantry – Montclair State University: Offers free food and personal care items to Montclair State University students experiencing food insecurity.

Montclair Mutual Aid: A grassroots network collecting and distributing essential resources such as groceries, toiletries, appliances, and clothing to families and individuals in need.

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

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Did you hear? TEDx is coming to Montclair. On today's mini episode, we’re joined by Katina Rodriguez and Nova Pierre Lewis, the organizers behind this year’s TEDx Montclair, themed The Domino Effect. We get the behind-the-scenes on how speakers were selected, why Montclair is the perfect host, and how this TEDx will stand out from others—with a focus on community, connection, and conversations that carry beyond the stage.

TEDx Montclair is happening on June 24 at Montclair Mezzanine.

Learn more here.

[And if you'd like to join a live recording of The Montclair Pod at Loopwell next Tuesday featuring comedian Zarna Garg, click here.]

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

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In his first published interview since a TikTok video criticizing the mural change at Brick + Dough went viral, owner Jason Rosenthal sits down with The Montclair Pod to share his side of the story.

Rosenthal walks us through the decision to paint over the original mural—an evocative 2021 piece by Jayemaich depicting two elderly women, meant to represent “the wear of time being oppressed”—and replace it with a new mural by Jen Flaum that celebrates pizza as a form of art. While the mural swap quietly happened months ago, it only recently caught fire on social media, triggering a wave of backlash and a barrage of negative online reviews from people both near and far.

Recorded mid-morning during his prep shift, this conversation offers a rare and personal glimpse into how small businesses navigate public perception, artistic evolution, and the ripple effects of viral culture. Rosenthal reflects on what he might have done differently and why he still stands by the original mural’s message.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race to become New Jersey’s next governor is officially underway — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive and consequential elections in years. With no incumbent, a crowded field of candidates, and a new primary ballot format that could reshape outcomes, the 2025 election is already stirring big questions about the state’s political future. The primary election is June 10th.

Terrence McDonald, a longtime political reporter and editor of The New Jersey Monitor, is joining us in breaking it all down. We cover who’s in the race, the role of campaign funding, and how Trump’s lasting influence continues to shape political strategies.

And Montclair? We’re right in the middle of it. With two major candidates — Mikie Sherrill and Sean Spiller — calling this town home, local dynamics are starring in the statewide contest.

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

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This week on The Montclair Pod, we’re doing something a little different — and a little fun. We're teaming up with the Montclair Art Museum’s podcast Maybe Actually Museums Are For Me for a cross-promotion episode that celebrates local creativity and community.

Host Alex Pavljuk sits down with Montclair-raised documentary photographer Tyler Chan, whose first solo museum show Montclair Snap Memories debuts at MAM this weekend. Tyler’s work captures what it feels like to come of age in Montclair — from the quiet moments to the chaotic ones — all through the lens of his Gen Z experience.

In this episode, Tyler talks about:

• How a disposable camera obsession in high school led to a career in photography
• Why documenting his peers felt personal and necessary
• The surprising way studying abroad changed his perspective
• His hopes for Montclair Snap Memories — and why he wants everyone in Montclair to come see it (even if you don’t think museums are “for you”)
• Plus: What happens when your high school photos end up in a museum?

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

Just days after wrapping Season 1, the Montclair Pod crew is back—because Montclair never sleeps. In this bonus episode, Farnoosh, Mike, and Ali regroup to cover a powerful local rally held in Brookdale Park as part of a national “Hands Off” movement. Through interviews with attendees—spanning three generations of local women, including a 7-year-old activist-in-the-making—and a stirring moment with a long-time immigrant fearful of deportation, the episode captures the raw emotion, civic energy, and complexity of what’s at stake.

We also hear from Senator Cory Booker, who arrived at a rockstar welcome and delivered a fiery message. The team reflects on the challenges of energizing not just the base but swing voters and what inclusive dialogue might look like moving forward. 

Plus, stay tuned for a preview of Thursday’s upcoming crossover episode with the Montclair Art Museum podcast, Maybe Actually Museums Are For Me, spotlighting local photographer Tyler Chan.

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Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected].

Montclair is known as a food town, and for good reason. People from all around North Jersey come here to eat. Some even come from… wait for it… New York City. But does Montclair really live up to the hype? And more importantly, what is the average culinary visitor, or even the odd local or two, missing out on?

In this week’s episode, our season one finale, the Montclair Pod Team - Mike, Farnoosh, and Ali - eat their way through town and talk to some of the people making it all happen. You’ll hear from local chef and Montclair native Lauren Hirschberg of Turtle + the Wolf and Pineapple Express. We speak to Max Gray of Chow Town Food Tours about why he brings people here. And we hit some true local favorites with content creator and community advocate Wendy Tiburcio (aka The Montclairnista).

The pod team sampled food from no fewer than 10 restaurants that are featured in the show. Jefferson’s Cafe, Minoru, Beyond Pita, Good Chicken, Urban Chicken, Popeye’s… You may be noticing a trend here. The team discovered a fried chicken oasis centered around Lackawanna Plaza and the resulting fried chicken extravaganza featured the ENTIRE Montclair Pod family. It’s magical, people.

Finally, before we take a short post-season break, we dish up our favorite memories and a few behind-the-scenes moments from the past 12 episodes - plus a little bit about what we’ve got planned for season 2. 

Jump to some episode highlights:

03:20 BYOB culture in Montclair

07:30 Food Crawl with Wendy Tiburcio

11:55 Interview with Max Gray of Chow Town Tours

18:21 Interview with Chef Lauren Hirschberg 

33:40 The fried-chicken taste-off

42:34 Reflections on Season 1

46:58 Sneak peek: Season 2 begins May 22

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