The New Yorkers Podcast

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Dan Smith! He is a guitarist, Singer-songwriter, performer, and teacher. You've probably seen his “Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar” posters all over the city!

Kelly asks Dan where he's from. Dan talks about being from Massachusetts, where he first started taking guitar lessons, studying abroad in Paris, playing guitar as a street performer, and ultimately landing in New York to pursue acting. 

Dan tells Kelly that the first time he heard the strum of a guitar, it was magical. He then asked his mom if he could learn, and she reluctantly allowed him to learn with a big caveat... No Rock and Roll!

Dan and Kelly talk a bit about the process of learning guitar: Dan can tell what kind of music each student will make based on their initial handshake. He talks about how important breathing is when you are learning how to play, and he tells Kelly that the most important thing that people need to learn is that it's ok to make mistakes. 

Kelly asks Dan about the flier campaign. Dan talks about how it started and why he initially wanted to teach guitar. He then talks a bit about how it changed over the years based on the different genres of music that he was interested in teaching. And he talks about some of the parodies and spoofs that have been generated by many New Yorkers because of how diligent he was about putting up fliers. 

Dan then talks about where all this has gotten him. He tells Kelly about the HP commercial that he shot in order to promote their new printer and the full-circle moment he had on set that brought him back to his days as an extra on Law and Order. He talks about his time with New York Nico, being interviewed by him during COVID, performing at his film festival opening, and even working with him on the HP commercial!

Finally, Dan plays a couple New York themed songs for us!

But above all else; Dan Smith is a New Yorker.

Dan Smith's Social Media:

@DanSmithMusicNYC

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

In this episode, Kelly talks with nonprofit leaders Aubry Fuller and Sofia Teplitzky! Aubrey is the Director of Women Over Dinner and leads the worldwide women’s movement: Women Are Power. She has grown the organization to gather more than 6,300 women to the dinner table in 30 countries. Aubrey has also edited and published “The Women’s Steps to Unleashing Power”. A book based on the teachings of the founder of Women Over Dinner. Sofia is the Director of Partnerships at Women Over Dinner. She partners with New York staples like Orwasher’s and Magnolia bakeries to bring their dinners to life event after event. And she is writing a book, drawn from her own life, about women's power and what becomes possible when women reclaim it. 

 Kelly asks Aubrey and Sofia about where they're from and how they met. Aubrey and Sofia talk about growing up in California and how strongly they believe in women's empowerment. Aubrey talks about her women's empowerment movement and how she met Sofia through it. Sofia talks about growing up in Southern California around food and how that shaped her current career. 

Sofia tells Kelly about Free Food! A free restaurant they partner with in Harlem that delivers free three-course meals to the people who need them most. They talk about family karaoke nights, how they do arts and crafts, and the different days of the week that they operate. Aubrey also talks about volunteering for the restaurant and how bringing dignity to people who need it is fulfilling. Kelly absolutely loves the idea and is resolved to go see it for himself.

Kelly asks Sofia about working in fine dining. Sofia talks about her time as a hostess working at a Michelin-star restaurant where she saw herself as a director of sorts: Guiding the flow of the restaurant like an artist. She talks about how she learned from the servers how to bring that artistry to Women over Dinner.

Sofia and Aubry talk about Women over Dinner. They describe how it was founded and what its goal is. Kelly asks them about their worldwide reach, and they tell Kelly how they've talked to people around the world who set up events for their own communities. They describe the joy and fulfilment that comes from women who take on the challenge of bringing the event to their family. 

Kelly then asks the women about women over dinner in correctional facilities. Aubrey and Sofia talk about how much they have loved getting to run that program. They talk about the growth that it has seen between their different visits, how the women get excited for them to come and continue to talk about it after they leave. They describe the growth that they've seen in some of the women because of the experience they've had at Women Over Dinner. And they talk about how welcome and at home they have been made to feel because of their experiences. 

Finally, Sofia and Aubrey talk about the first ever Women Over Dinner Gala that they are hosting in Harlem. They talk about all of the activities and events they will be putting together, and the cause that they are raising money for. 

But above all else; Sofia and Aubrey are New Yorkers. 

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

Women Over Dinner: 

https://womenoverdinner.org/

@WomenOverDinner

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by Melissa and Jae as they all answer your questions!

Melissa tells us how she and Kelly met. She talks about her love for New York City, and how she discovered more of it thanks to Kelly's private tours. Melissa talks about being from Buffalo New York, and how she loves to travel to the city a few times a year to see various sites and do various activities.

For the first questions, a viewer asks: What everyone's favoirte observation deck is. Jae offeres an embarrasing omission, and Melissa and Kelly debate which view is better: The empire state building or the top of the rock. 

Next, a viewer asks: what we would do if we only had one day in New York. Kelly and Jae both talk about central park of course, but Melissa talks about all of her favorite winter activities if she were to visit during that time of year. 

Another viewer asks: what are some unconventional places tourists might not visit. Melissa talks about her favoirte village to walk around in, Jae talks about a neighborhood that you can't get to by train, and Kelly talks about an island that he refuses to take the tram to.  

Kelly then asks the group: What are three places that they think tourists should visit. Jae talks about some of his favoirte spots in Brooklyn, Melissa talks about her favorite spots in Manhattan, and Kelly tries to remember the name of a new neighborhood he's been exploring, but Jae helps him figure it out.

Finally, a viewer asks: What is everyone's favorite spot in New York is. Each New Yorker talks about their own favorite park and why they love it. 

But above all else; Kelly, Jae, and Melissa are all New Yorkers!

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Ed Welter. Ed has operated a construction company for more than 40 years, worked as the chief dialysis technician at Kings County Hospital and has volunteered at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. He is also a licensed New York City tour guide who leads tours of the historic Woolworth Building.

Kelly asks Ed about growing up in Alphabet City, where one of his earliest memories is of his grandfather coming home from work and bathing in the kitchen while listening to “Volare.” Years later, Ed visited the Tenement Museum with his father and was reminded of his grandparents’ home.

Ed then talks about his mother’s battle with kidney disease. When she died, she was the longest-surviving woman on dialysis in the world. At only eight years old, Ed was trained to help operate her home dialysis machine. His mother helped found the American Association of Kidney Patients and traveled to the House of Representatives to help secure dialysis treatment for Americans who needed it.

Ed tells Kelly why 38th Street—the street where the podcast studio is located—holds such a special place in his heart. His father’s construction company was based there, his parents met there and Ed later met his wife there. He also talks about getting married, moving to Long Island to raise his family and never quite feeling at home away from New York City.

After separating from his wife, Ed moved back to Manhattan and began volunteering at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. That experience inspired him to volunteer when the 9/11 Memorial opened and eventually become a licensed New York City tour guide. Ed believes many of the best things in his life came from volunteering.

While volunteering at the 9/11 Museum, Ed met Helen Post Curry, the great-granddaughter of Woolworth Building architect Cass Gilbert. She invited him to become a guide at the Woolworth Building, where he met his future business partner, Bob Gelber. After working there as guides, Ed and Bob eventually took over the tour company and helped bring public tours back to one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks.

Ed also tells the remarkable story of how Frank W. Woolworth rose from humble beginnings to build a retail empire and commission what became the tallest building in the world when it opened in 1913.

Finally, Kelly asks Ed to share the heartfelt story of the birdhouse that was left at the 9/11 Memorial to honor one of the victims of the attacks.

But above all else; Ed Welter is a New Yorker.

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

Book a tour with Ed & Bob!

https://woolworthtoursnyc.com

https://www.facebook.com/WoolworthToursNYC

https://www.instagram.com/woolworthtoursnyc/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d34318952-Reviews-Woolworth_Tours_NYC-New_York_City_New_York.html

https://www.viator.com/tours/New-York-City/Official-Woolworth-Building-Lobby-Tour-with-Vault-Access/d687-5643763P3

[email protected]

On this episode of The New Yorkers Podcast, Kelly Kopp sits down with Dan from All Day NYC for a funny, nostalgic, and very New York conversation about growing up in Bensonhurst and Gravesend, Coney Island summers, Canal Street, pizza, bagels, the subway, viral NYC moments, the Knicks championship parade, and what it really means to be a New Yorker.

Dan also shares how All Day NYC got started, some of his favorite viral moments, and his memories of being a 16-year-old high school student in Brooklyn on September 11th, 2001.

We also talk about Kelly’s experience surviving a 2017 NYC subway derailment, whether the subway feels safer today, and why this past summer felt like New York had finally found some of its old energy again.

The New Yorkers are on Summer Vacation this week. So join them as they look back on a previous episode while they look forward to the Halloween season! 

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In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC! 

Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd, on the other hand, talks about being third-generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it. 

Jorge talks about the founding of Thriller in the West Village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another Thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join Thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to. 

Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the timetable is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have.

Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there. 

Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the Halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after. 

But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers. 

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Join Thriller NYC!

https://www.thrillernyc.com/

@Thrillernyc

Donate to the village Halloween parade!

https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/ 

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Dan Rimada! He is the founder of Bodega Cats NYC, Author of the book, and started a campaign to pass the first legislation in New York City surrounding Bodega Cats! 

Kelly asks Dan about growing up! Dan talks about what it was like to grow up in the same neighborhood as The Wu Tang Clan! He talks about going between Brooklyn and Staten Island, and where his parents ended up. Dan asks Kelly about Disney World, and you won't believe the number of times that he's been there!

Dan then talks about his love for Cats! He talks about how he first noticed his local bodega's cat during COVID. Kelly and Dan talked about how time slowed during that time, and how they were able to appreciate more of the little things.

Dan talks about the New York Tour that he does, and tells Kelly a story about how a cat saved Brooklyn Borough Hall! Kelly asks Dan all about his tours, and Dan talks about where his tours go, who he runs them with, and tells us another great story about a famous New York City Cat!

Kelly asks Dan about the Bodega Cats of New York Instagram account. Dan talks about how he originally wanted to keep the account focused on his photos and experiences. But after receiving a lot of requests from other New Yorkers, he decided to start posting submissions. He then talks about how his account got deleted, right at the peak of its growth!  

Kelly then asks Dan about his Book. Dan talks about how he worked with a cat photographer to go to Bodegas across all 5 boroughs to take pictures and write down the stories of the cats who live there. Kelly asks Dan about some of the stories in the book, and Dan tells him the tale of Zorro and how he earned his name!

Kelly and Dan then talk about how Dan started the movement to legalize bodega cats. Dan talks about his initial petition, and the phone call that he received that ended it. Dan talks about the undertaking of changing New York State and City Law. He goes into detail about what the law says, how it's harmful for Bodega Cats, and what his proposal hopes to change. 

Finally, Kelly asks Dan about his upcoming projects, and Dan tells Kelly about a secret project that has not been announced yet, but he asks for Kelly's help with it on the Podcast!

But above all else; Dan Rimada is a New Yorker!

Kelly's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Follow Bodega Cats of New York

@NewYorkBodegaCats

Pre-order the Book: Bodega Cats of New York

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by writer Gabriel Rotello! He is the author of two books: Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men and The CBGB Conspiracy. He became the first openly gay op-ed columnist for a major American newspaper and is the founder of Out Week Magazine. He has also written, directed, and produced dozens of TV documentaries for major networks like HBO, Netflix, and the History Channel.

Gabriel talks about growing up in Danbury, Connecticut, and traveling into the city with his older brother when he was 13! Even at that age, he knew he wanted to move to New York when he grew up. Kelly asks him what life was like in New York in the 1970s. Gabriel talks about how Manhattan was a playground for young adults in their early 20s. He tells us how cheap his rent was, describes the decay of the Bowery in great detail, and talks about how wonderful it was to play music at CBGB. 

Kelly asks Gabriel about CBGB. Gabriel tells us that in the beginning, no one wanted to go there. He describes the "Bowery Bums", the mismanagement of the venue, and its terrible location. He then talks about how it became one of the most famous punk venues in the world. 

Gabriel talks a bit about his book: The CBGB Conspiracy. He tells Kelly that he actually did not want to write a book about his time in the 70s at first. With the aids epidemic looming over it, he thought it too depressing. But when inspiration struck, while walking along the street one day, he came up with the idea of creating a murder mystery, with CBGB as the background and weaving in famous people of the era, along with his personal experiences.

Kelly asks Gabriel a bit about the process of writing, and Gabriel talks about how he was inspired by a past guest of our show, Jonathan Mahler! He talks about reading Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning... and being transported back into that time in his life. 

Kelly then asks Gabriel what gay life was like back in the day. Gabriel describes the streets of the West Village being filled with shirtless gay men dancing and having the best time on a random Tuesday night. He talks about how there was a feud between the East Village gay community and the West Village gay community. He talks about their differences, what it was like to have one foot in both, and he reflects on how his perception has changed since then.  

Gabriel then talks a bit about his partner Hap, who passed during the Aids Epidemic. Gabriel had met Hap when he was studying abroad and just happened to run into each other when he moved to New York. Gabriel talked about how Hap showed him the ropes as a newly out man. He talks about how they dated until Hap's passing. Kelly talks about marching on Washington in support of the movement. Gabriel talks about how it inspired him to start Out Week Magazine, and how he invited outing!

But above all else; Gabriel Rotello is a New Yorker!

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp on all platforms

Buy Gabriel's Book!

Gabriel's Social Media:

@GabeRotello 

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170 

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by Sara Lind! She is the Co-Executive Director of Open Plans: A New York City based advocacy organization working to make streets and public spaces more livable. Sara is a frequent media source on Urban Planning and policy, with appearances on WPIX 11, ABC7, WNYC, and NY1. And she holds a JD from the University of Chicago, an MIA from Columbia SIPA, and a BS from the University of Wisconsin. But above all else… She is a New Yorker!

Kelly asks Sara where she's from. Sara and Kelly talk about their Midwestern roots! Sara talks about how she came to New York by way of Chicago. She reflects on the first time she came to New York to look for an apartment and recalls it feeling like home. Sara talks a bit about her career path and how she went from being a corporate lawyer to working in public advocacy. 

Kelly and Sara talk about New York. Kelly asks Sara about some of the changes that have been taking effect around the city. They talk about Congestion Pricing and how that has been an effective way to alleviate traffic in Midtown. They talk about open streets and how they have been a successful program in helping people feel safer walking in the city. They also talk about how people choose to promote car driving with policy decisions and what those look like. They talk about ways that we can choose to put people first when planning for the city's future.

Sara talks about biking in New York. She talks about the importance of May being Bike Month and how it's important for us to make sure that the city continues to be a safe place for bike riders. Kelly talks about how he loved riding Citi Bike during COVID and how it got him to explore even more of the city. Sara and Kelly talk about how they rode their bikes everywhere growing up, and Sara talks about how she wants her kids to feel safe to do the same. 

Kelly asks Sara about how she gets around the city. Sara talks about how she loves riding the Subway and taking the bus. And with a Citi Bike rack in front of her apartment, she loves to explore the city with them. Kelly also asks Sara about when she thought it was ok for her kids to take public transit on their own. Sara admits that she's far from a helicopter parent, and encouraged her kids to take the subway to go to school and visit friends.

Sara tells us about outdoor dining in New York City. She talks about what the program was like before COVID in 2019. Then she tells us how COVID completely changed the restaurant business and how outdoor dining brought some great positives but also negatives. Kelly then asks about the current program, and she explains the sticky situation that lawmakers put restaurant owners in when they passed the latest legislation. 

Finally, Kelly asks Sara some quickfire questions about her favorite neighborhood, favorite way to get around the city and her favorite local restaurant. 

But above all else; Sara Lind is a New Yorker!

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Follow Open Plans NYC!

@openplansnyc

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170

On this Episode, Kelly is joined by the one and only: Ricki Lake! She is a TV and film actress, producer, and television show host. You can see her star in Hairspray, or host her Ricki Lake talk show, which ran for 12 seasons and aired over 2,000 episodes!

Kelly starts by asking Ricki where she was born. Ricki tells him about growing up and going to school in Westchester and the city. She talks about taking the train in to Manhattan to go to a performing arts school. She and Kelly try to figure out if they share a mutual connection from her high school. Ricki talks about her parents' family business and how she was a true New Yorker. 

Ricki then talks about how 9/11 affected her life trajectory. She talks about living in the West Village at the time and witnessing the plane fly down the Hudson River. She talks about how her home birth was such a powerful experience for her, and that mixed with the events and her contract ending influenced her to move to LA.

Ricki then talks about how she ended up moving back to New York 20+ years later, when her house burned down in the Malibu fires. She talks about her house and what she was doing when the fires started. She tells us how she and her husband stayed to try to fight the fire and save their home, but ultimately decided to leave everything behind. She talks about how difficult it was to rebuild, and she talks about all of the things that she's lost in the process. 

Kelly then asks her about her move back to New York. Ricki talks about how she had a feeling that she didn't want to stay in LA anymore. She talks about how she got the opportunity to spend a few months living in Chelsea at a friend's apartment and how she was able to rediscover the city that way. Kelly asks her about her necklace, and Ricki talks about how she was able to obtain some of the ashes from her house and create a diamond from it, symbolizing her rebirth.

Kelly talks with Ricki about Hairspray! Ricki talks about her casting process and how she went from auditioning for a movie because of a flyer up at her school to getting the lead role in the movie musical. She talks about working with John Waters and Divine, and how the whole cast became a family. Kelly then asks her about her Ricki Lake Talk show, and she gives him the inside scoop on how she got the role. 

Kelly then asks her about some of her other work in documentary film, dancing with the stars, and her second TV show, The Ricki Lake Show. She talks about how documentary filmmaking became a personal passion of hers. She talks about how The Business of Being Born still helps new mothers through childbirth. She tells Kelly about how much she loved getting to do Dancing with the Stars, even though she avoided doing it for so long. Kelly let her know that he thought she should have won her season, but Ricki accepted her third-place position. Ricki then talks about why she wanted to go back and do another talk show. She talks about what she was hoping would be different and how that didn't end up being the case. But she was grateful to win an EMMY for her work, but laments that she lost it in the fire. 

Finally, Kelly has a surprise that he'd been saving for Ricki all show. He tells her and she is absolutely shocked and delighted. 

But above all else; Ricki Lake is a New Yorker 

Kelly Kopp's Social Media:

@NewYorkCityKopp

Ricki Lake's Social media

@RickiLake

Jae's Social Media

@StudioJae170