WJFF - Trailer Talk

Meet John Pizzolato, the recently elected Supervisor from the Town of Highland NY in the Catskills. It's a rural area of Sullivan County with much of it sitting on the banks of the Delaware River, separating itself from Pennsylvania on the other side. 

Sabrina is joined by John at the kitchen table of the BeeLine camper to find out why this self-described, "non-politician" decided to run for office and what's at stake for this rural and small town community.  

What happens when a political journalist and a political junkie meet? Only weeks away from Election Day, Sabrina welcomes back Nina Burleigh, a political journalist, and invites first-time Trailer Talker, Laury Sejen, who has worked on campaigns and has a passion for politics, to join the conversation following the presidential debate. Nina is a journalist, best-selling author, and publisher of American Freakshow, a Substack newsletter on politics.

She is also a contributing editor at The New Republic and a frequent contributor to The New York Times and New York Magazine. Laury talks with Nina about her analysis following the debate and why it matters for us. Sabrina welcomes folks to join her for stories from America’s kitchen table. 

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]. 

 Nina Burleigh joins Sabrina for a kitchen table conversation about the upcoming election, which many say is the most important of a lifetime. Nina is a journalist, best-selling author, and publisher of American Freakshow, a Substack focused on politics. She is a contributing editor at The New Republic and a frequent contributor to The New York Times and New York Magazine. In the conversation, she shares her thoughts on Trump's animosity toward women, threats to reproductive justice, who will be most affected, and even reaching across the aisle. What do you think is at stake? 

Sabrina is joined in the trailer by Mimi McGurl, who is a director, performer, and landscape gardener. They sit at the kitchen table to talk about her recent project, The Queer Woods. Mimi asks, "What grows, what lives, what thrives in the space of uncultivated wildness? Queer spaces are most often conceived of as built environments; the bookstore, the club, a neighborhood full of rainbow flags." 

She proposes that wild spaces can offer "...a place for self-discovery and acceptance for those of us who never quite fit in..." Sabrina and Mimi converse about science and Queer literary history as Mimi encourages a meditation on the wilderness to explore infinite possibilities of self-expression and identity. 

May 15, 2024, marks the 76th anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians known as "the Nakba" or "the Catastrophe" from what is now Israel. As the crisis unfolds in Gaza, Sabrina is joined by Lauren Seikaly, a Palestinian American who recently hosted a cultural event in Jeffersonville, NY, featuring Palestinian food, film, and poetry.

Lauren shares the story of her family’s 300-year history in Palestine, her community work to raise awareness in Sullivan County, NY, and information about a newly formed organization in their neighborhood, the Upper Delaware Actions for a Free Palestine (UDAFP). 

Sabrina and Lauren discuss their shared experiences as descendants of people who were forced to flee their homes and lands for political reasons and the importance of solidarity and freedom of expression.

Today's guest joins Sabrina to take us on a journey into the Northeastern woods of NY and PA, adding in the history of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and his new offering of tea tastings. Nathaniel Whitmore, an herbalist, Chinese medicine practitioner, wild mushroom and plant expert delves into his knowledge about the woods and ancient medicinal plant practices to help us heal and find liberation through simple acts. He focuses on the plants that surround us and why we need them and the natural world to thrive physically and spiritually.

Nathaniel shares that the tea tastings can provides a ritualized way to be present in a fast moving world.
Want to find out more, feel free to email Nathaniel Whitmore at:
[email protected]. 

Author and journalist Wayne Hoffman joins Sabrina for this conversation about his award-winning non-fiction debut: The End of Her: Racing Against Alzheimer's to Solve a Murder. It's a crime thriller, filled with Jewish history, gay stories and a love letter to his mother all in one gripping book. How does one's past converge with the present as the future is disappearing? Wayne shares this story with us. 

Photo Credit: Frank Mullaney

As a continuing part of Trailer Talk's series on Home and Development, Dara and Erin Smith, mother and daughter who grew up and live in Liberty, NY in the Sullivan County Catskills join Sabrina for conversation. They shared their love of where they live and belief in community service with a nod to the Girl Scouts and other lessons in volunteer service have led them to speak out against irresponsible development and protect what they value about their home. 

Both have taken the steps to run for Village and Town seats as write in candidates. Erin Smith shared with Sabrina that her run last year was an act of protest to send a message that people are engaged, care and are taking steps to ensure their town is protected. Dara and Erin spoke to Sabrina about the importance of civic engagement, and working to protect one's community that embodies both physical and emotional resources. 

Maple Syrup season is here. Join Sabrina for this episode to discover maple facts. Sabrina talks with local tree tapping neighbors and explores the mysteries of the syrup. In New York Maple Syrup weekend is March 16-17 and 23-24.

To explore events around the state there's lots of information at http://www.mapleweekend.com.

Sabrina sits down with the newly elected Sullivan County, NY Legislator and Majority Leader for District 1, Matt McPhillips. At just 28, Matt is in the early weeks of his first term, bringing fresh energy and a deep affection for Sullivan County to his role. 

He discusses his passion for this picturesque Catskills region, his aspirations for its future, and his motivations for stepping into public service. Learn about his commitment to tackling urgent challenges for the benefit of both current residents and generations to come. 

#SullivanCounty #Catskills #NewYork #PublicService #CommunityLeadership #FutureGenerations #LocalPolitics #YouthInPolitics #RuralAmerica #Government #CivicEngagement #Leadership #VisionForTheFuture #MakingADifference