Off Air with Slater and Marjo

This episode features Pittsfield City Council President, Earl Persip. Persip, a lifelong Pittsfield resident, gets candid about his father's jail time, the reason he choices his daughter to Lenox schools, the positives and negatives of the city, voter ID laws, being a gun owner and much more. 

This episode features Lee, MA legend Josh Cohen who opened up Moe's Tavern in 2007. The idea was a craft beer bar with a focus on micro brews - certainly not domestics like Coors Light. In fact, it became so well known that Moe's did not serve the Golden, CO staple, that Moe's website was nocoorslight.com Well, hell has frozen over because in 2026, they now offer it. Join us as we talk about the changing drinking trends, Tanglewood musical acts, teenager vernacular and more.

Season 2 launches with Evan Valenti of Steven Valenti's Clothing for Men as the podcast shifts its focus entirely to Pittsfield and the Berkshires. Valenti addresses the current challenges facing North Street businesses, particularly concerns related to the homeless population downtown. The conversation covers emerging trends in men's fashion and fragrances, the store's decision to expand into women's clothing, and more. As a co-host of the Celtic Beat podcast on the CLNS network, Valenti also weighs in on sports, Wahconah Park, and classic Jim Carrey films. 

This episode features 7th degree Karate black belt Connie Flynn—also a 2nd degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and certified in Sitodyong Muay Thai—as she reveals the unfiltered truth about martial arts training. As the owner of Zenquest Martial Arts in Massachusetts, Connie draws from decades of experience to answer all your biggest questions: Does martial arts truly build unbreakable confidence? How do styles like Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, and Muay Thai compare, and which is best for you? What separates fake self-defense programs from those that actually work in real situations? How do toxic dojo cultures—like Kreese's in Cobra Kai—show up in real life, and how can you spot a healthy one? And what makes martial arts training for law enforcement uniquely different? No hype here—just honest, insightful answers from a lifetime master instructor.

Nicole Ferry spent 12 years as a CSX Railroad Police officer—one of the most dangerous jobs nobody talks about—where every 3 hours in America someone is hit by a train, and she saw the aftermath up close. From chasing armed thieves across moving freight trains and protecting the President’s rail route, to watching a colleague take his own life on duty, being tricked into 140-day rehab for “addiction to leadership,” going temporarily blind from medication, and planning her own suicide (only stopped when her husband intervened), this is her raw, unfiltered story of survival. Today, medically retired, Nicole speaks at the FBI in Quantico 8 times a year, teaching the next generation of first responders how to make it out alive. If you’re a cop, railroad worker, or know someone on the front lines—this one’s for you.

We pivot a bit for episode 28 - Marjo, for the first time since the movie's release 40 years ago, has watched "Back To The Future". The main takeaway? She has the hots for George McFly! (has anyone ever said this?) We break down the most uncomfortable love story in movie history, and we ask the biggest question of all: Is Biff Tannen a villain the world would still tolerate today?

In this episode, our own Marjo Catalano recounts in detail a horrifying situation that has haunted her for years. In 2003, after being let into her apartment in the wee hours of the morning, her upstairs neighbor, in a botched robbery attempt, stabbed her roommate multiple times. Ronald Kyse was ultimately arrested for the crime, served 22 years in prison and was released last year. 

This episode features Mig Girard, a mother of three and a small business owner with her husband in Massachusetts. Girard, a native of Puerto Rico, moved to the U.S. mainland when she was an adolescent with her mother and siblings to avoid their abusive father. This is her story of growing up in poverty, having a tenacious drive to learn English, assimilate, become successful, join the military and more is admirable to say the least. Being a woman veteran, we gather her thoughts on Pete Hegseth's new rules for the military, plus Bad Bunny playing the halftime show, and that infamous joke about Puerto Rico that Tony Hinchcliffe made at a Trump rally in New York City.

Brendon Tomasi liked to party and would occasionally experience black outs when he was a younger man, but it was his experience with psychedelic drugs that was profound. After consuming ayahuasca in 2009, Tomasi's life was forever changed. In this episode, Brendon, who is now sober, takes you through his journey which ultimately led to helping other men find better mental health.

This episode features Shonda Evette, a bartender, dancer, and model who grew up in Brooklyn, NY. We talk about her early days on Tinder before she was engaged to be married, online dating culture as a whole, creepy guys at bars, the massive difference between living in Brooklyn and Western MA, how important looks are, being photographed, a mindset changing bar fight and more! Enjoy.

This episode features Chad Hare, a former morning radio DJ from Colorado. Hare is also pursuing a career in stand-up comedy and is celebrating six years of sobriety. We talk a lot about FM radio - what it was and what it is now - in terms of influence as well as the technical side of it. Hare, who resembles a combination of Pete Davidson and Steve Buscemi, jokes about the benefits of being bi-racial in America and why once a year he is tempted to do drugs again. 

In this episode we feature an old friend who's an acclaimed children's author - Ty Allan Jackson. We discuss the best rapper of all time, Drake and Kendrick, pop music, the power and influence of podcasters and comedians, Cracker Barrel, Target, and more. Plus, we get into Ty's nationally recognized book, "Make Your Own Money", and it's empowering result.

This episode features Tom Nadolny, a firearms instructor and gun enthusiast from Western Massachusetts. Nadolny has taught many firearm classes over the years and knows the law well. Nadolny explains who should own a gun and who should not - as well as some good law reminders. Tom loves a good thrill and a Corvette lover, to boot. Would he ever go electric?

This episode features Dana Connor, a somatic therapist from Colorado. Connor grew up in Western Massachusetts with co-host Marjo and became close friends. Dana gets candid about her early partying days, difficult relationships growing up, her subsequent move to Colorado, and living outdoors to find spirituality and gain empowerment. She now counsels mainly women who strive to find themselves in better mental health. 

This episode features Mike Fazio, a financial advisor from Greylock Federal Credit Union in Western Massachusetts. Fazio is nearly 18 years sober from drugs and alcohol and has adopted a super disciplined way of life including working out 7 days a week . His addiction started with food as a child and quickly progressed to alcohol later on in life. Enjoy as Fazio explains his road to sobriety and how he stays there.

This episode features Craig Spencer-Hopkins, a Gen Z professional wedding DJ and entertainment company owner. Spencer-Hopkins speaks on mental health and addiction tendencies as well as his trip to Kenya for some charity work when he was just 21. We all share differing opinions on Coldplaygate, which people tend to be more racist, and lastly find out whether Marjo is taking Ozempic. Enjoy.

This episode features Paul Procopio, owner and operator of Primo Products. Procopio has recently designed tee shirts for some Boston Red Sox players including Jarren Duran and Romy Gonzalez. He goes into how he built the business and brand and what his current relationship looks like with the Red Sox. We also have some fun talking about drip culture and his uncle's armored truck heist in 1991.

This episode features Bryan House, a former professional baseball player who played AAA ball for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers organizations back in the '80s. House was born in Chicago and shares childhood memories of day games at Wrigley Field and more. We talk about his rise to professional sports, culture of Chicago, his time in a band, his role of youth mentorship now, and how he stays so calm through today's chaotic world. Enjoy.

This episode features Dr. Shivantha Amarnath, a gastroenterologist from Massachusetts who is living and working in the U.S. as part of the H-1B Visa program. The H-1B Visa program made headlines earlier in the year as Elon Musk and President Trump disagreed on its future. Amarnath, a native of Sri Lanka, discusses his trek to America, how he helps prevent colon cancer, the best diet to have, pop culture and more. We hope you enjoy.

This episode features Billy Keane, a musician who spent many years in Western Massachusetts. Billy currently resides in North Carolina where he and his new fiance learned to camel farm. Keane prefers to drive older model cars, loves to think about existentialism, and is off to get a degree in Divinity. Get ready for some laughs and some deep conversation, to boot.