In continuation of Luis Fieldman's "Seeking Asylum in Western Mass" series, part 2 of the series explores those in the region who are helping asylum seekers settle in western Massachusetts. Jonathan Jenner, a founder of the Western Massachusetts Asylum Support Network, and Hope, a person from Africa who recently received asylum in the region, talk …

Staff writer Luis Fieldman speaks about the first part of his three-part series on asylum seekers coming to Western Mass. This part focuses on the stories of Ramon and Santiago, whose names we changed to protect their identities as they escaped violence in their home countries.

Valley Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau speaks with Editor Dave Eisenstadter about local preparations for the coronavirus in the Pioneer Valley, based on reporting he did speaking with hospitals, municipalities, and individuals. In the time since this podcast was recorded, medical information has been updated to indicate that in Massachuset…

Since China has stopped accepting much of the United States' recycling, many communities have had to pay to have their recyclables hauled away. Western Mass has been spared that up to now, but beginning July 1 that will change. Writer Chris Goudreau speaks about what this change will mean for many local communities.…

David Brule, president of the Nolumbeka Project, based in Greenfield, speaks about a series focusing on Native Americans in the Valley. The series, which will consist of about a dozen events, is in part a response to this year's Plymouth 400 observance, which is more focused on white settlers and the 1620 Plymouth Rock landing by the Pilgrims.…

Writer Chris Goudreau wrote a recent piece on local independent record labels in the Valley. Those include Feeding Tube Records in Florence, Disques de Lapin in Brattleboro, and Rub Wrongways Records in Northampton.

Writer Pete Redington talks about his recent article about gun owners in the Valley and about how people on opposite sides of the gun issue rarely speak to one another.

A co-sponsor of the ROE Act, aimed at expanding abortion rights in Massachusetts, Northampton state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa talks about the legislation, what it does, and how likely it might be to pass during this session. Sabadosa was one of the people who spoke to reporter Luis Fieldman for his recent story on the ROE Act.…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a man biting a dog while on meth, a new CVS-receipt-based scarf, and a mystery nonhuman uttering "let me out" in Florida.…

Chris Goudreau recently wrote an Advocate cover story on the possibility that ranked-choice voting could be adopted in Massachusetts for the 2022 elections. He talks about both state and local efforts to pass the voting system.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about being your own farm in a dystopian future, generous burglars, and the danger of inviting robots into your home.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a burglar's Christmas surprise, a bald eagle vs. an octopus, and the Valley's best public bathrooms.

Eric Talbot, of Easthampton, was an artist drawing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for more than 30 years. Now he works at Oxbow Tattoo as a tattoo artist. He (along with his tattoo mentor, Tyler Chaney) speaks with editor Dave Eisenstadter about the transition and learning a new art form.

A performance artist eats a $120,000 banana, and then another performance artist writes "Epstien (sic) didn't kill himself" on the wall where the banana used to be. Those stories are among this week's weird news stories discussed by Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Biza…

Valley Advocate writer Steve Pfarrer discusses his recent story about historical fiction writers in the Valley.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a hellish marriage proposal, a belligerent pig on live TV, and an epic use of a narwhal tusk.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about an intruder beaten up by an 82-year-old woman, brother sister bonding, and illegal bologna.

Peter Stilla wrote the recent Advocate cover story "The Return Trip: Psychedelics may come back from the abyss of illegality" looking at how mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline may be poised to be legalized for certain uses. He also speaks about how the drugs combine science and spirituality for those who have studied them and how they affect the brain.…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about dung made into booze, a terrible anti-meth campaign, and a 43-year-old Twinkie.

Javier Luengo-Garrido, coordinator of the Immigrant Protection Project for ACLU Massachusetts speaks about Greenfield's recent city-wide vote to pass a Safe City Ordinance to uphold immigrant rights in the community of Greenfield. He also talks about what is next for the sanctuary movement, including in Northampton and statewide.…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about New Jersey turkey attacks, a mac-and-cheese dry rub turkey recipe, and a gender reveal gone horribly wrong ... in Turkey, Texas.…

Avery Sharpe, a jazz musician and historian, has produced an album called "400: An African American Musical Portrait," which he and his band will perform at UMass later this month. He speaks with editor Dave Eisenstadter about his music and interest in history.

Gena Mangiaratti accompanied a team of paranormal investigators to find ghosts in the Josiah Day House in West Springfield and wrote about it for our Halloween edition. Hear her thoughts on the paranormal and the individuals who seek out life beyond.

The Halloween edition of weird news with Dave and Trumpy. Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about a scary house you don't want to go, Elf on the Shelf cereal, and a cautionary tale for hit men.…

Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau talks about his recent story speaking with young activists in the Valley dedicated to causes including gun control, homeless rights advocacy, and climate change.

Anders Warringer performs eclectic acoustic originals with a side of absurdity.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about a dead practical jokester, the global organization controlling yellow traffic light timing, and a creepy animal-like fungus.…

Musician Julia Clark underwent a transition from male to female and gave up music for a long time because she believed no one would take her seriously, as reported by a recent story by Jennifer Levesque. After a period of homelessness and other difficult life circumstances, she has returned to music and released a record called Errorist.…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about dangerous Cheetos, TP wedding dresses, and animal crises.

Writer Luis Fieldman wrote the Advocate's cover story on Whately strip club Castaway, and it's reopening with some new policies, including having male and queer-identified dancers, lesbian nights, and transgender performers.

Among The Acres combine folk-rock, pop, and Americana with lush vocal harmonies.

Advocate Associate Editor Chris Goudreau wrote about how gas explosions last year in eastern Massachusetts have affected gas pipeline activism locally. He speaks to editor Dave Eisenstadter about the perspectives of the people he spoke with for the article and what the future of natural gas might be in Massachsuetts. Spoiler alert: possibly none.…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about scamming the scammers, a date gone horribly wrong, and drinking a drink with your own toe in it.

Ali Kat and the Revelators perform rocking funk and soul with sax, guitars, and high energy vocals.

Columnist Jennifer Levesque speaks to Truck Stop Troubadours front-man Brian Chicoine about his music and a recent health scare. He also talks about an upcoming show at Poor Richard's in Chicopee.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about disappointing attendance at Area 51 raid, a nonexistent flatulence competition, and biting a camel in self defense.…

Amber Belle is a singer-songwriter with a honey toned voice who performs original folk and country music.

Musician and poet David Berman, who was a part of the UMass Amherst MFA program and went on to front the music group Silver Jews committed suicide last month. Steve Pfarrer wrote about his ties to the Valley and those that remember Berman and his music and writing.

Jake Klar is a local artist who performs folk and blues music with a poetic sensibility. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @JakeKlarMusic @ValleyAdvocate

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Learn this week about explosive bull semen, beating an elevator up a building, and stuffed Cheez-It pizza.

Gena Mangiaratti speaks about her Advocate cover story in which she spoke with Gina Rose Napolitano, a young woman who says she engaged in a sexual relationship with a teacher at her school. The relationship had consequences that affected her mental health, she said. That relationship is legal under Massachusetts law, but Napolitano is working to c…

OroborO combines experimenatal rock with punk, metal, and mathy riffs. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. The Advocate Sessions are a collaborative community project of the Valley Advocate, Northampton Open Media, and Signature Sounds Visit us at Northampton O…

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about awful gun testing, robot priests, and a poop knife.

Editorial intern Jonathan Kermah talks about the night shift, both from his own perspective working nights at a local gas station as well as speaking with first responders and a sleep expert. His article on the topic can be found here.

Blame Cadence is a one woman chorus of looped soulful a cappella pop. For the video recording of this session, as well as over 100 other sessions performances, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @valleyadvocate

Longmeadow resident and activist Michele Marantz was interviewed in the Advocate story "Longmeadow voters say no to gas pipeline project in residential neighborhood," about her community group, which managed to get a zoning bylaw passed that could halt a pipeline project that affects several Western Mass communities. She speaks to editor Dave Eisen…

Lush Honey is a band that makes funky soul and progressive rock ‘n’ roll. The band performed live at the Summit View in Holyoke during the 2019 Best of the Valley Readers’ Poll party. For the video version of this performance, go to session.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter @valleyadvocate

In a piece looking at the upcoming mayoral election in Springfield, writer Chris Goudreau interviewed Mayor Domenic Sarno's challengers as well as leaders in the activist community. Sarno himself declined an interview. Goudreau speaks about what he learned reporting the story.

Valley Advocate editor Dave Eisenstadter and Hits 94.3 host Trumpy talk about the week’s weird news in a podcast version of the Valley Advocate’s Bizarro Briefs section. Hear about peed on peas, moose meat solicitation, and a dirty diaper assault.

Home Body is an electro fever-pop, new wave and experimental pop duo. They recently released their new record, Spiritus, which can be found on their website. For the video version of this performance, go to sessions.valleyadvocate.com. Follow us on Twitter: @valleyadvocate