On the latest edition of North Words, the first person to make a solo canoe journey down the entire length of the Hudson River returns to repeat the journey, 35 years later.  Peter Lourie talks about how his Hudson reprise compared to the trip he took in 1990.  Later, an urban sociologist looks at what makes Ottawa the place it is, and at the unique relationship Americans along the border have with Canada’s capital city.  And a sportswriter tries to determine whether hockey goalie Bill Taugher’s one NHL appearance - 100 years ago - really happened.

From North Creek to South Colton, from Old Forge to New Bremen, North Words brings you interviews, on-site recordings, and special features that remind us what makes the North Country region so special. WCNY Community FM is pleased to present this monthly show from our colleagues at North Country Public Radio.

(#89, 1/13/26) In this January 2026 Episode of CNY Latino: cnylatinonewspaper.com/Podcast, Marisol has an interesting interview with both Henry I. Padrón-Morales, a Nuyorican from Brooklyn, NY, who currently lives in Rochester, NY, is a musician, poet and activist, as well as a retired Kindergarten Dual-Language educator; and also with Mara Nicole Criollo-Rivera is a Puerto Rican and Peruvian illustrator, graphic designer, and youth educator whose work celebrates cultural pride and joyful self-expression. We also added some cuts from the 2025 Syracuse Latino festival, not only to provide small diverse content, but also... because we needed to "fill out content".

En este OTRO episodio de enero de 2026, Marisol tiene una interesante entrevista con dos personas: Henry I. Padrón-Morales, un neoyorquino de origen puertorriqueño de Brooklyn, Nueva York, que actualmente reside en Rochester, Nueva York, es músico, poeta y activista, además de educador bilingüe de jardín de infancia jubilado; y también con Mara Nicole Criollo-Rivera, ilustradora, diseñadora gráfica y educadora juvenil de origen puertorriqueño y peruano, cuyo trabajo celebra el orgullo cultural y la autoexpresión con alegría. We also added some cuts from the 2025 Syracuse Latino festival, not only to provide small diverse content, but also... because we needed to "fill out content" - lol También incluimos algunos fragmentos del Festival Latino de Syracuse del 2025, no solo para ofrecer contenido diverso, sino también porque necesitábamos "completar el contenido" (risas).

On this edition of Checkup From the Neck-Up, “Dr. Neckup” psychologist Rich O’Neill’s guest is family psychiatrist, researcher, and author Dr. Nayla Khoury. They discuss yoga, its history, the “eight arms” of yoga practice, how it has been adapted for people with prior trauma, its relationship to meditation, using it to “up-regulate” or “down-regulate the nervous system, and research on its effectiveness.

Community FM presents a special extended edition of “CNY Heroes” in Honor of Veterans Day. Host Dan Cummings is joined by Army veteran Vito Lovecchio Jr. who shares his experiences as a combat infantryman during the Vietnam war, as well as his life following his military service. This discussion dives into the turbulent homecoming after the conflict, changing public opinion on the way veterans are seen in America, and the lasting impact of war, not only on the people who fight, but on America as whole.

Professor of Arts Education James Haywood Rolling Jr. and Syracuse City School District Arts Coordinator Rory Edwards join Director of Education Kate Laissle for a conversation about the vital role diverse arts experiences play in the lives of young people.

As the New Year begins, what should Central New Yorkers be on the lookout for? Central Current’s Editor Chris Libonati shares his thoughts about the biggest items to keep an eye on over the coming news cycle. He shares his own journey as a reporter, his favorite stories from 2025, the reasons he loves reporting in CNY, and explains how he chooses what to cover.

How might changes in the recommended childhood immunization schedule impact public health? Hear from experts on this controversial subject. Could ADHD actually have a positive side? Also this month, human eggs produced in the laboratory and a promising new gene therapy for Huntington’s Disease.

On this edition of CNY Heroes Dr. Rebeccah Bernard updates us on her work in the field as a licensed clinical psychologist with decades of experience in helping veterans, police officers and other first responders deal with PTSD and moral injury. Dr. Bernard is a subject matter expert and frequent public speaker on moral injury, in addition to her private clinical practice. She also serves as a hostage negotiator with the NYS Association of Hostage Negotiators.

Click here for more information on Dr. Rebeccah Bernard - https://drbernardpsychology.com/

We kick off the 2026 version of Check It Out with Syracuse Crunch COO, Jim Sarosy. In this episode, we give out the details of our 4th Literacy Day with the Crunch on January 19th. Many more literacy agencies on hand, raffles for a Zamboni ride and Crunch merchandise and info on discounted tickets for the 1pm matinee. So, get your year off to a good start and Check It Out.

The ARISE - EFR podcast comes to WCNY Community FM from ARISE in Syracuse. Hosted by CEO Bruce Drake, each episode introduces listeners to someone in our community supporting access and independence for those with disabilities.

Join host Bruce Drake of ARISE – EFR as he sits down with statewide systems advocate Phil Phren to unpack how meaningful systems-change happens in the world of disability rights and independent living.

In this episode, we explore:

What it really means to be a systems advocate and how that role differs from direct service.

Phil’s roots in community organizing, his own connection to disability via his sister, and how that experience shaped his work.

The function of independent living centers—what sets them apart and how they empower people with disabilities.

Real wins in advocacy: from improvements to accessible voting equipment to protections around source-of-income discrimination.

The balance between policy-wonk detail and person-centered organizing, and why trust and credibility matter in this work.

Whether you’re a disability-rights advocate, policy-enthused citizen, or simply curious about how grassroots effort connects to institutional change, this episode offers a powerful look at how lasting impact is built—one relationship, one system, one community at a time.

Tune in to discover how empowerment, organizing, and policy intersect to move the needle on justice and inclusion.