Hudson Valley Unleashed

Jen C (Jennifer Ciota) storms into the studio and absolutely detonates the place. From cow-farm life and Rhinebeck gossip to OnlyFans brainstorms, Colombian identity, white-people problems, and who in town she’d definitely sleep with—nothing is off limits. Josh almost gets recruited into porn, Dave gets propositioned, and the Hudson Valley gets roasted.This is the episode that proves why we call the show Unleashed.

Today we welcome family: broadcaster, musician, and champion of women and gender-expansive artists, Carmel Holt. Carmel traces her path from Bard College and the early Hudson Valley days—writing copy at WDST, landing “Acoustic Breakfast,” and becoming Music Director—to the leap to WFUV and the mentorship of the legendary Rita Houston. She opens up about why she left the security of radio to build Sheroes, the acclaimed show and podcast where artists actually tell the whole story, and how a pandemic pivot led to syndication on public radio and a Webby-nominated Sonos series (Mixtape Memoir). We also get the inside track on her ambitious multimedia project, The Road to Joni, celebrating Joni Mitchell through the voices of multiple generations. Plus: Kingston memories (yes, gigs at La Parmigiana before it became Terrapin), Poets’ Walk love, O+ Festival shout-out, and a candid look at sustaining independent media—now supported via fiscal sponsorship with AIR. If you care about music, mentorship, and making real space for artists, this one’s for you.

Kevin Zraly wrote the wine book that taught the world to drink with joy—Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, now over 3 million copies sold. His story is rooted in the Hudson Valley, with Sunday magic at the Canal House and John Novi, the farm-to-table pioneer who lit the spark. In this episode, Kevin traces an incredible arc—from High Falls to the 107th floor—why fearless hospitality matters, how wine became conversation for everyone, and the truth that the best bottle is the one that brings your people together. A heartfelt toast to Novi, a love letter to the Valley, and a masterclass from the man who opened the door for millions.

Simi Stone is a singer, songwriter, violinist, and visual artist rooted in Woodstock, NY—and a beacon of the Hudson Valley’s creative spirit. In this episode, Simi sits down with us to talk about building a life in art: how voice and violin found each other, what it means to perform with heart (not ego), the discipline behind joy, and why community is the real amplifier.

Hudson Valley Unleashed sits down with MK Scully — WKZE afternoon host, wedding DJ, bandleader, skier, and certified Renaissance woman. She’s the diplomat of vibes, equally at home keeping uncles and hipsters on the same dance floor, bombing black diamonds at Belleayre, or fronting her tongue-in-cheek band Trailer Swift.We dig into why human-curated radio still matters in the age of algorithms, the high-pressure joys of wedding DJ life, Kingston’s shifting culture, and how skiing became her true north. Along the way: brass bands, new disco obsessions, chaotic wedding stories, and even a peek at the Hudson Valley novel she’s writing.It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part après-ski happy hour — and all unleashed.

This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed, Chef Josh Kroner and DJ Dave Leonard sit down with Hudson Valley’s own Renaissance man, Norm Magnusson. Norm is a visual artist, political activist, actor, scratch golfer, and the founder of Funism—an art movement built on humor, accessibility, and social commentary. From his allegorical animal paintings to the viral “historical markers” that stop people in their tracks, Norm has spent decades creating art that sparks curiosity and conversation.We dive into his evolution from Madison Avenue ad man to full-time artist, why he believes art should invite interpretation instead of shutting people out, and how his work reflects both his playful spirit and his serious commitment to activism. Along the way, there are martinis, bucket hats, Gilligan references, and stories that reveal how one man can help shape the cultural soul of the Hudson Valley.

This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed we sit down with Paul Schiavo — a guy who went from working with iconic recording artists such as Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Merchant, Aretha Franklin (and about a dozen other legends) to guiding fly fishing trips in the Catskills. Paul’s lived about three rock and roll lifetimes: snowed-in sessions with Rush, near-misses with John Mayer's fortune, underground gigs that turned into Woodstock lore. And then, just when most people would be chasing bigger tours, he traded it all for waders and trout.We get into the chaos of the Bearsville years, what it’s like herding John Mayer, why Geddy Lee made him starstruck, and how fly fishing in the Catskills became his true encore. It’s sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll… followed by salmon runs, conservation, and cold beer by the river.

Today we’re unleashing two of the Hudson Valley’s most brilliantly creative minds. Kent Sublette, head writer for Saturday Night Live, has spent the past two decades shaping American satire, sketch by sketch, all while keeping his cool in the madness of live television. Clint Bond, his equally magnetic husband, is a Broadway marketing mastermind who’s sold the magic of Wicked, SpongeBob, and Come From Away to audiences across the country.In this candid conversation, we dive into how these two ended up together (spoiler: it involves Carmen Electra bailing on a magic show), how their lives intersect on cue cards and curtain calls, and why Terrapin is basically their Cheers. From writing SNL classics like Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer sketch to putting Shrek in every high school theater across America, Kent and Clint dish on creativity, community, politics, and why Hudson Valley is the best third act anyone could ask for.It’s part love story, part comedy masterclass, part small-town manifesto—and it’s all heart.🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.🍷 Pair with Prosecco and a side of Uncle Vinny's Rigatoni

In this episode of Hudson Valley Unleashed, we sit down with Emmy-nominated powerhouse Producer Carly Hugo — a film and television producer with a sixth sense for finding stories that matter. From producing the Nora Ephron documentary Everything Is Copy to crafting behind-the-scenes magic with Beyoncé, Carly shares how she balances creative passion with producing prowess. We talk about her early days eating beans in a Kerhonkson barn, her long-time collaboration with Matt Parker, how Couples Therapy made her believe in unscripted truth, and the one explosive story Hollywood wasn’t quite ready for (yet).Fierce, brilliant, and refreshingly candid, Carly takes us behind the curtain of indie film, docuseries drama, and what it really means to be a producer today. Come for the stories about Tom Hanks and Blue Ivy, stay for the insight, inspiration, and a splash of Hudson Valley love.

For over two decades, Chronogram editor and co-founder Brian Mahoney has curated the cultural soul of the Hudson Valley—celebrating the artists, agitators, mushroom foragers, and upstate eccentrics who make this place tick. In this episode, we unpack how a scrappy alt-mag grew into a regional institution, why the horoscopes still slap, and what it takes to say “yes” in an increasingly complicated world. Also: cage sex allegations, cease-and-desist letters from the Grammys, and the Hudson Valley’s finest secret swimming spot.

This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed, we’re joined by elite strength coach John Morgan—kettlebell master, broadsword wielder, and founder of Intelligent Action Training in Red Hook.We talk real world fitness, injury-proofing your body, training for life—not aesthetics—and what to do when zombies come knocking.

This week, we sit down with Amy Hutchings — casting director, Sesame Street alum, photo producer, and proud Hudson Valley local — for a conversation that spans decades of creativity and reinvention.From working with Jim Henson in the early Sesame Street days, to producing tens of thousands of photo shoots, to casting indie horror flicks and cult comedies, Amy’s career has been anything but ordinary. We talk about diversity in media, raising artists, stolen Big Bird feathers, and why sometimes the best path is the one you didn’t plan.It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and full of behind-the-scenes magic.

You might know his work as Producer on movies like, I Dream Too Much, a beautifully tender coming-of-age film Or maybe from Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, where he worked alongside legend Jane Fonda Jonathan’s contributions don’t stop there. He’s also the co-founder of the Nantucket Film Festival, a cornerstone for celebrating the art of screenwriting and storytelling. Today, we’re excited to delve into his incredible career, from his early days behind a camera on classics like Dazed and Confused and Do the Right Thing to his groundbreaking work as a producer and his commitment to fostering new voices in cinema.

He recorded the double-platinum album Afterglow for Sarah McLachlan—and the Billboard #1 reggae album Livin Free by Roots of Creation. He’s mixed records with Simone Felice, produced bands like Tyburn Saints and Bari Koral, and played drums for more artists than we have time to name. He owns the famous Utopia Studios in Bearsville, NY and shares with us some awesome stories from a life in the music business.

Okay, folks, today’s guest is a man who has spent more time backstage than most rock stars... and probably remembers more of it. He’s the wizard behind the curtain at Radio Woodstock, a guy who took a tiny Hudson Valley station and somehow made it cooler than your favorite Spotify playlist.He’s the founder of Mountain Jam—yes, that Mountain Jam—the festival where you go to lose your inhibitions and find yourself. He’s thrown more legendary parties in a field than most of us have thrown in our entire lives. He’s equal parts music mogul, marketing madman, and spiritual Sherpa of the airwaves.  Please welcome the maestro of mayhem, the baron of broadcast, the guy who somehow makes running a radio station look cool as hell.  I also have the honor of calling him my good, lifelong friend. Ladies and gentlemen...please welcome Gary Chetkof.